EMBRACE YOU: Presence & Poison
Episode 276's

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“...clean the rifle, return it to the armory, then clean the car from the mud, let me report to—wait a minute! Call connected! Lucky because the signal here is stronger than in other spaces.” I stared at the screen of my phone showing a picture of Bayu still wearing his camouflage uniform, the man was sitting on the chair facing the laptop that was lit on the table. Just now he was talking to the guy in front of his desk before the corner of his eye found his video call was already connected to me.

“Then we do, we will start cleaning it up. Captain relax first.” Another voice answered vaguely on the phone. I remember that voice belonged to Rama.

“OK. I leave it to you.” Bayu nodded, no more answers from Rama, only the sound of his shoes being heard slowly away.

“It looks like you're busy once.” I said to start when Bayu looked at the screen.

“Only our usual activities are done—who are you?? Where's my wife?!”

I laughed at her joke, and she realized that my makeup was a little different than usual. Before leaving earlier, the grandmother had prepared a knee-length dress without arms but covered the chest and neck completely. The fabric inside is made of soft milk brown satin, combined with a pink cherry brocade tile on the outside. I love the choice of this dress.

In addition, my grandmother also prepared two women to dress my face and hair. The result is now that my usual hair is arranged in a modern bun, with the addition of a white cherry blossom patterned circam, matching the dress I wear.

“Tonight I was known as the granddaughter of the Danendra family, not the young mistress of the Jeremy family.”

“Of course it should be! If you don't get them to know you as the granddaughter of the Danendra family, you won't know yourself either.”

“Hmm... Is it really like that?” Bayu's words managed to make me suddenly turn my brain and think hard.

“Then, when the people here first knew I was the grandson of Jeremy's grandfather, they used to talk about me, comparing me to grandfather and father, he said, or expect me to do something amazing as Jeremy's granddaughter. At first I hated it all so much, starting to avoid and reject people who asked about grandfather or father, but grandfather's words when he scolded me were impressive. He said ‘of course you're grandfather's grandson! You can't resist the blood of Jeremy's family flowing through your body! But you also have to decide for yourself the path you will go through, grandfather does not want the influence of the name of your grandfather and father just makes you forget who you really are. If you don't get them to know you as Jeremy's granddaughter, then you won't know yourself either!’”

“Outstanding.” I'm really impressed.

“After grandfather said that, finally my inner conflict subsided.” I laughed at Bayu's reply.

Is correct.

Right now, I am also having an inner conflict. On the one hand I don't want people to know my identity as the granddaughter of the Danendra family, they would expect a lot from me, but the other side, he said, I also cannot deny that I am their descendant because in fact the blood flowing in my body is related to the Danendra family.

“Heard anyone talk about you huh? What event are you attending?” Bayu frowned, looking at me from the phone screen.

“Grandfather and grandmother suddenly invited me to come with them to their friend's birthday celebration. Here are many parents, but in fact events like this to show off children or grandchildren, introduce them to each other and even match them.”

“No wonder, by betrothing their grandchildren, is tantamount to making close friends into family. Then, does anyone want to match you?” Bayu asked while narrowing his eyes, as if that way I did not dare to lie.

This time Bayu smiled widely, “try to show yourself more clearly. Too bad I can't see you in its entirety. From the screen alone, my wife is very beautiful.”

I laughed and moved away in brighter lighting. “I'll send you my photo later.”

Bayu nodded, “have fun there.”

“It won't be perfect if you're not here, but here's a lot of good food, so I'll have fun.” Hearing Bayu's laughter again on the phone, it felt like a long time ago.

“Hah! I miss you so much.” Whisper languishes.

“I also.” My reply.

“But by the way, weren't you busy earlier?”

“Yes. I'll start typing report , it's okay, I'm glad you're with me.”

“So? If so I will continue my meal.” after getting a nod from Bayu, I continue the step towards the drink stand, pick it up and return to my table earlier.

Our video connection was uninterrupted, I put the phone on the table until what was visible on the screen was probably the ceiling of the party hall, I said, while on the phone I can hear the sound of fingers pressing the laptop keyboard button, it means Bayu has started to turn his attention to the report.

“But after completing the report, your work today is in order ‘kan?” I asked without glancing at the phone screen.

“Ya.” The answer was short, there was still the sound of typing in my ear.

“Why?” She asked after not hearing any further response from me.

“Of course because you have to rest. I'm afraid you worked too hard on your first day there.”

“Honey, you—wait a minute.” The sound of typing suddenly stopped, replaced with the sound of a chair being shifted, then the sound of footsteps slowly getting away.

I frowned, grabbed my phone and there was no Bayu on the screen. The chair he had been sitting in was empty, it seemed like he was checking something.

And now there are a lot of people around me. Guests have already started looking for food and looking for tables. Not wanting others to look at me suspiciously because I was staring at an old phone, I ended up changing the camera's focal point. Initially the front camera to connect with Bayu, now I change to the rear camera so I can keep my phone on the table in the reverse position, other people won't know if I'm connected to Bayu, maybe they'll think I'm listening to a song.

Then, the sound of a knock from the mic on the front stage seized the attention of all the guests. A male host who looked my age holding a mic, started to give the welcoming preface to the invited guests.

Furthermore, the welcome of Jona's grandfather and Lelei's grandmother was also his son and grandson who mendo’ them. Along with the passage of the four people on stage, the food on my plate is up but Bayu has not yet returned to the camera of his phone.

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