Erstwhiles
22. Coffee Shop and Invitations

Acha entered the caffee with a carefree humming on her tiny lips. His feelings are much lighter. Unceasingly she spread a smile causing some of the male waitresses to misbehave. It's been twenty minutes someone who promised to have a meeting with him today is too late. But that didn't put his mood down at all. How strange.

"Good day" said the figure standing before him. He greeted me and sat down and introduced himself. "Sorry for the delay. Mr. Hansen as art director could not attend because his plane from Surabaya delay. I'll replace him for today's meeting."

Acha doesn't blink. Time stopped and his world fell apart instantly. Of the many employees under the care of Mr. Hansen, why should he meet him at this time. "Fariz.." he said softly.

The man smiled without burden. No matter what their past was, Fariz did his job to replace Mr. Hansen very professionally. "This is the concept of the event that Mr. Hansen will carry. You can check it first. If I have any questions, I will answer them to my knowledge. Later I will convey to Mr. Hansen for example there are questions that I can not answer or if there is a proposal from you." The man handed his working tablet in front of Acha.

An introductory video was also played. But Acha could not concentrate at all on the content. His head was busy thinking of the man who was now sitting very quietly in front of him.

"Hows it? Any question?" asked Fariz very politely.

"There" Acha answered briefly.

"Please ask" Faris.

"What do you want to drink?" a question that was completely beyond Fariz's expectations.

The man begged not understanding, but returned professional because it was a matter of work. "Thank you, but I'll order it myself. Now I'm at work" Fariz puts emphasis on his last sentence.

"You look more and more tyrannical. Is your fiance too busy that you're not taken care of?" successful sentences make the atmosphere awkward and a little tense. Obviously this time they are not talking about work anymore. Acha brought them up to talk about personal matters.

"You're getting thinner too. Is your fiance too busy that you're not taken care of?" Fariz turned Acha's question around.

The girl cleared her throat, clearly Fariz's question left her devastated. 

"We women are very friendly with the name diet. Ah, this isn't skinny. But lean. Which woman would want her wedding dress to not fit because of being overweight?" he was looking for an excuse.

Fariz nodded his head. "Ah, speaking of marriage, I forgot to give you this." The man searched for something in his bag and placed it on Acha's front desk. "Since you're the one who started not to talk about work and instead talk about personal matters, I think it's the right time to give you my wedding invitation."

There was something sliced when the two Acha netra read the inscription plastered on that tosca-colored piece of paper. Come on, it's just a piece of paper, but why does it contain onions?

"Thank you" Fariz replied. "I guess I'll change to get your wedding invitation. Didn't you mean to invite me?"

Even the date of her wedding Acha did not know. Everything was taken care of by her parents and she was lazy to ask. "I'll give it to you when it's finished printing" elak Acha with a forced smile.

Fariz nodded. "Hopefully I can attend" he commented.

"Are you too busy? To the point of not being able to attend?" the woman in front of him.

"It's not. It's just.." The man's sentence was cut off.

"What only?" Acha demands answers.

"Ah done. Oh, yeah, I heard your office was in a hurry because Karel sent you a parcel?" Fariz shifted the subject.

Acha's eyes widened. Is the rumor about her getting pregnant to the ears of her ex-boyfriend? But wait, how can Fariz know the gossip circulating in his office.

"Where do you know about the news?" acha's eyes narrowed.

Fariz was wrong. He cleared his throat to hide his strange gurgle. "Well, don't we have a technology called social media?" let the man seek a defense. "Anyway, congratulations if the news is true" the man smiled stiffly.

Acha breathed deeply. Why does everyone think there's a fetus in his stomach? But wait, isn't that good? He will not look sad because his former lover is ready to get married while he is still struggling to move on. 

"Thanks" Acha smiled briefly. Maybe the girl will let this misunderstanding remain for a while. "I have to go now. Send the concept details to my email. I'll call Mr. Hansen later" said Acha putting the invitation in her bag.

"Want me to take you?" fariz's sentence made Acha freeze for a moment. Of course he wants to say he wants to, but his ego is too high to agree.

"Thank you. But Karel picked me up" lied Acha before she left.

Karel..where is that man? Anyway Acha want to pre-wedding as soon as possible and then print the wedding invitation. Just look, Acha will look very beautiful on the invitation paper later.