"WHAT...?! What does that mean?? Isn't this casual style?" Confusion hit Wenceslas's grandson.
Surya and Aruna sighed, realising any explanation would end in vain. The sky brand was young master Wenceslas's everyday outfit.
"Never mind, let's just focus. Is there anything that needs to be discussed at this meeting?" Aruna pruned the topic.
"You two should start discussing the marriage concept from now." Surya explained.
"Is that fast, Sir? Surya? I've just met him twice." Aruna protested.
"That's a request from the elders... Hmmm.. I mean Grandpa and Grandma's request." Surya drove the car more slowly so that the occupants could understand his every word.
"They want your wedding both to take place soon, I still hope you will confirm the fitting of the wedding dress soon." Surya added.
"I'm sorry Mr Surya. For Saturday, it seems we can't confirm it. Saturday, I have a routine schedule with my friend from the Magic Letter team (Aruna's start-up brand) weekly meeting." Aruna complained.
Surya smiled.
"What about Mr Hendra??" Surya deliberately lured his master to comment.
"Oh yes, I remind you again, don't call me MR. I am still 30 years old and not married yet." Surya's words made the two passengers unable to hold back laughter.
"Please admit it if your face is too extravagant (old)" The laugh, which was initially stifled, now shook every corner of the car.
Hendra's expensive expression was beautifully painted with his dimples.
'He can laugh too.' Aruna muttered, catching Hendra's crisp voice.
Surya turned the steering wheel to the left, and the car suddenly stopped at the side of the road. Luckily, the traffic from behind was quiet.
"I applied for permission to finish work early." Surya turned his head back, glaring at Hendra unlike usual.
"No ACC for your request. You keep working on schedule." Hendra replied.
Hendra's dimples once again adorned his face.
"You're really too much. At least give me room to repay you." Surya started speaking informally to his master.
"Oh, sorry Miss Aruna you must be surprised." Surya realised Aruna's confused expression when he saw the interaction of the two people who suddenly changed.
"We're an alma mater on campus. I mean he's my junior." Surya explained.
"Oh yes, you need to know. Actually, at that time, because no one dared to be his friend, I was forced to be his friend. And now that many can't stand being his assistant, I was FORCED to be his assistant." Surya's wordings were so impressive, a flat but piercing reply.
"Yes... Of course, Surya could be forced to be an assistant. I was forced to become a wife." Aruna muttered, glancing at the man beside her.
"Don't you fall for the words." Hendra felt awkward, being attacked by two people at once.
"What are you doing? Don't look at me like that?!? What do you want??"
It was an unimportant statement. Hendra felt cornered.
"Aargh... I want to eat... I'm so hungry..."
Aruna's exclamation pushed Surya to move his feet, pressing the gas pedal. Their car went faster.
***
They arrived at a white restaurant with a relaxed concept. They literally didn't speak until the food was left on the table for dessert.
At first, Aruna thought it was just a coincidence because she and the two men beside her were starving.
But in fact, when Aruna wanted to open her mouth to start a conversation, Surya pointed his index finger right in front of his mouth then smiled as a rebuke to keep Aruna from speaking.
"What kind of marriage do you want?" This time Surya started the conversation. The question was once again directed to Aruna.
"Anything, as long as it is not complicated. Simple and attended by close family and only a few friends." Aruna answered while enjoying her cupcake slices.
"I think it's impossible." Said Hendra
"At least there will be one big party for family colleagues." Hendra added.
Aruna played with her cupcake as a sign that she was getting restless.
"How about the wedding dress? Is there a request from you, Miss?" Once again, Surya asked a question that Aruna didn't want to answer.
"Anything as long as I don't need to wear high heels." Aruna briefly replied.
"Oh yes one more thing, I don't want the dress to hang long or fluffy. Simple light with a little ribbon." Aruna added.
"Now I understand. Mr Wiryo's choice is the most appropriate. Your taste can make the Wenceslas family richer." Surya threw off sarcasm, hoping the other person joined his joke.
"Oh, sorry." Surya immediately adjusted his focus when the two people in front of him were completely uninterested.
"Let me list again what we have to discuss." The assistant spoke for himself.
Aruna blankly stared at the crowd of young people who were eating together. They seemed excited and were joking at each other.
'How can I be here and talk about marriage? Oh my God, I will be divorced in 2 years. What should I do?'
Hendra caught Aruna's restlessness. It seemed that that blank stare characteristic wasn't a coincidence, but rather a habit when the girl felt restless.
"How old are you?" Hendra, who had been watching Aruna, tried to shift his focus.
"Eh, what?? Age? My age?" Aruna was distracted.
"I will be 20 year-old. Uhm... I mean in 3 months I will be 20 year-old." Aruna replied.
That answer made Hendra realise that this unique little girl was indeed talented.
'It turns out that she is still very young but has played a role as a speaker in community activities. A little polish will make it grow even bigger. Just need the right mentor and consistency.' Hendra carefully observed the girl.
"Oh yes, this is the most important. I almost missed it." Surya cut off the little communication of the bride-to-be from the contract marriage.
"Miss, Grandpa Wiryo hopes that you design your wedding invitations yourself. It looks like he knows your start-up provides this service." Surya made a request.
Aruna just shook her head. She felt she wouldn't be able to do it.
"Why not?" Hendra didn't understand what the girl was thinking.
"It isn't easy for a designer to do a design project for herself." Aruna's expression made Hendra aware, especially since he didn't want this marriage.
"I'm sure you have a team. It's not good to refuse this request. Not just to increase people's insights on your start-up, I'm sure this project will upgrade your brand."
"And again you shouldn't ignore the special requests of people who will become your family." Hendra tried to convince Aruna.
Who knew what made the man interested in persuading her.
"Uhmm... But I'm the only designer on my team." Aruna explained.
"I'm sure your team has a solution. Just need a little encouragement, they can definitely finish this project." (They can undoubtedly persuade you) Hendra tried to arrange his words.
'If my marriage only results in widow status, the Magic Letter is my last dream to fight for, maybe I need to try it.' Aruna thought.
"Give me just 30 minutes on your agenda." Hendra added.
Aruna glanced at Surya, hoping his support so that Hendra's request wouldn't need to be answered.
In fact, the assistant nodded in agreement. Even though the boss was known for his evil character, it often made others depressed.
No one could doubt his business instincts. Besides, his strength boosted every division in the mega business, which was inherited for him an individual power that the previous generation had never had.
"But you can't reveal that we're getting married." Aruna requested.
"Why do we need to hide it? Don't be ridiculous, be clear on the project." Hearing Hendra's words, Aruna just looked down in submission.
"How many invitation items will we be working on?" Aruna asked Surya for an explanation.
"At least 2,000 invitations, I'm sure more people will come." Surya explained.
"What?? If we can't solve it, it could be a blunder." Aruna couldn't imagine how to work on that many 3D invitations. Most orders so far were only 300 items.
The order was also in the lobby to reduce demand, selecting certain people who would get a custom 3D Magic Letter invitation.
"Don't worry too much. No matter how bad the results are, after we get married, all your needs will be met, even when we separate, I guarantee you don't lack anything." Hendra tried to read Aruna's restlessness. It seemed to make matters worse.
For Aruna, the words Hendra had just conveyed were the most boomerang she was worried about.
When she had been living with many beautiful dreams and knitted all those hopes with her friends. Suddenly, every effort seemed futile because she was already at the top of the highest mountain.
Whether successful or unsuccessful, all efforts wouldn't matter to anyone's eyes because people only saw her as the daughter-in-law of the Wenceslas family.
Aruna put on a sour face.
"Are you still not sure?" Hendra curiously asked about Aruna's expression.
"We will pay double whatever the price." Hendra gave his final push.
Aruna stared at him. Those blue eyes stared back as if he was challenging her to make an immediate decision.
"Okay, I'll try." Aruna made up her mind.