It was raining. A girl dressed in a baby blue flowering blouse and khaki pants, with a deep brown shawl covering her head, was in a cafe. She sat beside the glass wall that has flower pots with big red roses drawn all over it. Sipping down her cup of tea, her favourite drink, she gazed outside the windows to the people walking either in groups, pairs, or alone. They have their umbrellas with all these colors and patterns.
She's been there for a few minutes, waiting. Waiting for a guy that she had known for years until recently the same guy had opened her heart, to love. She was daydreaming when that guy arrived at the serene and quiet cafe. They were not the only one there but somehow, the crowded cafe was so peaceful. Everyone's enjoying their morning with leisure, no rushing but relaxing.
"Sorry that I'm late, sayang. Have you been waiting long? I'm sorry"
The guy's voice brought her back to reality. She gave him a smile. The guy took his seat in front of her. He put his phone out and silenced it. It's a habit. He didn't want anything to disturb him, especially when he is with this girl.
"How long has it been? 6 months since our last meeting? You look different. Well, fat actually. Did you eat everything you put your eyes on?"
"Ahah, your sense of humor is still the same. Weird. You'll not be here if I'm like what you said."
"And your way of defending yourself is, sadly the same."
No one knows what's so funny, but both of them bursted into laughters. They talked, and talked, and talked until the rain actually stopped. They both saw the sunshine and gave each other a secret sign.
"Out? Now?"
Tha's probably what's on their mind. He paid for the drinks and walked the girl out of the cafe. They are indeed going somewhere. Most likely a place fit for two love birds. However, it didn't seemed like it. He was taking her home. To his parent's house to be exact.
"Scared, sayang? Your first time meeting with my parents."
"I hope that they'll like me, babe. Though I am not the likeable type. Wonder if your mom likes someone who can't sit like a princess, but a prince instead."
"No worries lah, they'll be just fine."
To ease out her anxiety the guy switched on the radio. It was a rock song playing. It wasn't romantic, still they sang and laughed at one another when they got the lyrics messed up.
Moments later, his car arrived at a huge bungalow. She was a little starstruck. All these years knowing him, she never thought that he's so rich, or at least his family is. A middle-aged woman dressed in black 'jubah' and red shawls greeted the couple.
"Masuklah, kami dah lama tunggu adik balik."
Adik, she referred to both of them as adik. Her biological son and the girl. The girl will be her daughter-in-law soon. The girls stepped out from the car and tried to walk as gracefully as she could and shook the woman's hands, whom she called, 'Mak'.
"Maaflah mak, kami lambat. Ada orang tu lambat datang sangat."
She made a spiteful remark towards the guy and he was trying to avoid any eye contact from his mother. He went inside and gestured both of them in.
"Mak, ayah mana? Pagi tadi adik nampak dia dekat luar, siram pokok orkid kesayangan mak tu."
"Ayah dekat atas, adik pergi panggil. Cakap menantu dah lama tunggu ni."
The girl blushed and she's now as red as the woman's shawl. The woman offered her drinks. Politely said thank you, the girl took a cup of tea from the tray. Ah, tea again, but she could not be demanding. After all, she's just a guest. She sipped down the hot tea when a man walked down the stairs. He was wearing 'baju Melayu' and 'kain pelikat'. The guy who at his age shouldn't be called 'adik' followed the man from behind.
They both took their seat at the sofa where the girl and the mother was waiting. The girl smiled at the old couple. She couldn't believe that she's meeting her future parents-in-law. She shy and the couple knew that.
"Beginilah, ayah dengan mak, dah lama tahu pasal kamu berdua. Kami setuju yang kamu akan jadi menantu kami. Tapi ada syaratnya. Lagipun, kamu berdua muda lagi, jadi selagi syarat ayah dengan mak tak complete, selagi tu kamu berdua macam ni."
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