The First Meet

I walked slowly to the dining table. Usually I'm always excited when it comes to food. But now, I don't even feel like staring at the extra spicy fried chicken in front of me. Geez..., even though it was my favorite menu before last night's talk really disturbed my mood this early.

"Honey, tonight Mr. Cloriea's family is visiting our house. You go straight home after college and help Mama prepare a meal to welcome them."

I, who was eating with a half forced reflex, saw Mama.

"They're coming tonight, so fast."

I winced softly when I realized what I said.

"Dela. Eat right. Papa knew everything was sudden. But you shouldn't be like that."

I froze at Papa's words then nodded. Since last night's conversation I felt he was talking more and more.

"Ma, what..., I know the person who will be arranged with me? And does he also know me?"

I asked after finishing the meal.

I am grateful that my portion of food did not decrease at all. Papa's words made my appetite come back. Besides, why should I lose my appetite?

I need a lot of energy to think about how to get away from this match.

"Not."

"You guys have been friends since childhood. But Mama is sure you can't remember it, at that time you were only two years old while Deri was five years old. Mama is also not sure whether Deri remembers you or not, because not long after that they moved abroad to take care of work."

My forehead narrowed at Mama's explanation. I just wanted to ask another question but Papa had taken over the situation first.

“Now Deri has become the CEO of a branch in their family company."

"For more details, you can ask Deri directly tonight."

My face immediately turned sour. What the heck, Papa even asked me to ask the man named Deri?

Especially when I saw Mama who was chuckling. Geez, they're acting like I'm really curious about this guy named Deri. I took an apple and then left the house.

"Honey, don't forget Mama's message earlier."

"Yes."

I said lazily.

My bicycle smoothly stopped at the parking lot. The distance between home and campus is not too far. It took about ten minutes to get to this place. I purposely chose a campus close to home as well as my course.

“Hy Dela.What's with your face, really frown?"

I smiled at Hiery before answering her question. Hiery is my friend during college here. While my high school friends went to continue their education out of town.

"It's okay. Come on in."

I love making friends like Hiery. He is a gentle, sweet, and of course kind person. The beginning of my meeting with him when he almost got hit by my bicycle. luckily I can dodge it. As a result I fell into the bush. And he helped me, unlike the people around us who were busy laughing. I have to admit that my position at that time was embarrassing.

"Today we are only one subject. How about after this we go to the library?"

Wherever we go, the main destination is the library. One thing that makes Hiery and I get along is that we both love reading books. No wonder other friends call us nerds. I don't mind. Whatever the people say. In fact, books are really fun, especially when it comes to subjects I like.

"Sorry I can't Hiery."

"Why, you have another course lesson huh?"

I looked at Hiery's curious face, it seems that she really wants to go to the library. If not with me he rarely does that. Hiery is both shy and very innocent. She has never even dated even though I am the same as him. It's just that I'm not as innocent as Hiery.

Just now my mouth was about to say something but stopped when I realized that I almost blurted out to him. I don't want the matchmaking matter to be known by anyone including Hiery.

"Em..., I have to help Mama shopping for household needs."

I saw Hiery's languid face.

"Tell you what, we go to the library tomorrow how?"

"Okay, thanks Dela."

I returned Hiery's sweet smile. With a beautiful face, cute smile and gentle nature, many people are attracted to Hiery. It's just that this child is still too innocent to not want to date. Regarding this, I also agree with him.

Recovery was short. Recently I set foot in the house. Mama warned me to hurry to accompany her shopping. I who do not want to make him chatter immediately obey. The trolley that I pushed was filled with various kinds of raw materials, drinks, fruits and ingredients for making cakes. I can't stop thinking, we will only welcome one family but these groceries make me think I want to feed the people at the orphanage.

When I got home what annoyed me the most was how possible Mama told me to cook all the food menus. She herself was only in charge of cleaning and cutting the ingredients.

I know what Mama means behind all this. Surely he wants the Cloriea family to eat my cooking. Mama says, I have to learn to be a good daughter in law. I snorted irritably when I heard that sentence while Mama smiled. It seems my family really wants this match to continue.

This made me even more curious about the person who could brainwash my two good parents. Despite the fact that Deri is a young, smart, talented CEO or something. There must be something in him that made Papa and Mama give up their only child an arranged marriage. I don't want to have a fate like Siti Nurbaya.

And... ping pong. The time that bothered me the most finally came. I had time to massage my head, which felt throbbing pain because of Mama's treatment. After I was told to cook earlier now I'm being "forced" to wear a dress. I'm not the type who likes to wear dresses, in fact I feel uncomfortable just seeing it. And I have to use this thing!?

The dress was neither too exaggerated nor too sexy. Even so, I still don't feel comfortable. I came down from the room with extra care. I don't know why my heart is racing fast Am I nervous now?

"Wow! dela is getting prettier."

"Thank you, Bi."

I said smiling happily. After that my eyes looked around. It seems something is missing. As if she knew the meaning of my gaze. Mama immediately made a sound.

"Deri is going to the toilet honey."

I try to keep smiling in front of these two families. If I don't think about the image then my smile will turn into a creepy gaze. Gosh I have to try to maintain my image and self-respect now.

"There it is."

My eyes are fixed on someone who just came. For a moment our gazes met each other. Just from the way I looked at him I could already guess that person's personality. Cold, expressionless and boring. Very inversely proportional to his beautiful face.

We both looked away as we listened to Mama and Auntie Cloriea.

"Please eat the dish. All the food is Dela who cooked it."

I stared at Mama through the tail of the eye. Good, I feel like I'm being promoted.

Not much happened after that. We ate quickly and, as Mama expected, the Cloriea family immediately praised my cooking. But not with this person in front of me. The expression on his face was still flat and very cold.

His character is very different from his friendly parents. How could I even be matched with someone like this?

I think I want to drown his frozen face. or... could it be, his expression suggests that he also disapproves of this matchmaking. I immediately smiled when I thought about this.

"Why are you smiling?"

I saw it right away. How will he know when I'm smiling?

I think he's a person who is insensitive and does not care about circumstances. Because of what he said, everyone turned his head at me.

“Ah…, nothing. I only think of Adhie's cute face, he really is really cute."

Again, what will happen after this. nobody knows but really, i'm confused what to do That guy sure is so annoying. I don't like it though.

He... Could it be from this world!?

Hated and annoyed.