I Don'T Want To Be Cinderella #1
54. Just a story from the past

Just a story from the past (Only a story in the past)

“Pak Supri will return again to Pacet this weekend, who knows he can meet his trusted person Pakde Bayu.”

At this time as usual I was in a video call with Caraka and told about what Mr. Supri reported earlier.

“It turns out looking for your father's family isn't as easy as I thought.”

“Hey, if this will be easy already from yesterday-yesterday I found them.”

“Hahaha, you are right.”

“Oh yes, I asked one more favor to Mr. Supri.”

“What is it?” Caraka was seen casually sitting on a sofa, with a cigarette between her index and middle fingers, behind which was seen a glass door leading to a wide open balcony.

“I asked Mr. Supri to investigate his sister Pakde Bayu.”

“You mean your father?”

“I'm not sure.” I opened the fridge and took a vitamin C drink.

“Takm sure how?”

I walked back to the living room and sat down on the sofa.

“Their names are different.” I unscrewed my bottle after putting my phone on the table propped up on a vase.

“Name is different?”

“Iya.” I sipped my drink. “Maybe it was my father, but it might also be my father's other brother or sister.”

Caraka fell silent then nodded.

“Have you asked?”

I nodded while closing the bottle. “Not yet, but it seems that Mamah does not remember too, if for example she remembers must have given me an additional note, besides H. Joko, Pakde Bayu, Randi Prasetyo, and Bi.”

Caraka smiled as she exhaled cigarette smoke.

“Or it could be that your father was only two brothers. It could be your father's little name, like me ... Caraka, but my family and little friends call me Raka, my business associates call me Mahesa Continent or Caraka Mahesa, few know me as Caraka Continent.”

I nodded in understanding. “That was my thought, but I need to confirm it further that's why I told Mr. Supri to look for more information. I think I should find out H's name. Joko first, because it could not be Prasetyo.”

Caraka nodded in agreement. Java is different from Sumatra or other regions that have family clans, because in Java there is no clan. The name of one family may not necessarily have the same last name, or it may be that the person who has the same last name is not necessarily their family. Like Caraka and Candra, they do not use the name Mahesa at the end of the name. Caraka Continents and Candra Buana, without Mahesa frills behind their names, but everyone knows them as Caraka Mahesa and Candra Mahesa just because his father is Rudi Mahesa the owner of the Mahesa group. Try if they are just ordinary people, their families do not have the Mahesa group, it will still be known as Caraka Continent Candra Buana fund.

Likewise with me and Oka, we do not use the name Prasetyo behind our name. But no one calls me us Kirana Prasetyo, or Asoka Prasetyo, just Nana Kirana and Oka. If there are any frills ... Where is Nana? That's Nana Bu Mega's son who loves Korean dramas.

“So, for some time now don't tell Mr. Supri to escort me, let him work to find the information I requested.”

Caraka was silent looking at me before she finally laughed out loud.

“You know it?”

“Of course, you think all this time I believe that Mr. Supri is only my personal driver considering I don't even need a driver to go home to the apartment.”

“Hahaha. I didn't think up there.”

“Ckkk!” I clucked, but my mouth smiled looking at him who was laughing realizing his own stupidity.

Caraka Continent ...maybe he is a genius in business, graduates from world-renowned universities, but about the tricks of romance should he learn from Korean drama.

***

I entered the office which was immediately greeted by the excitement of the IT and Store children who were laughing loudly.

“Mbak, targeted sales reached!” exclaiming Mr. Ade made me widen my eyes and gap.

“Serious, Sir?” I took Mr. Ade and Mr. Wiradi alternately who smiled widely.

“Iya, hahaha .. finally broke eggs as well.” Mr. Wiradi laughed happily, his belly fat and chubby cheeks swaying, his eyes were already narrowed now look only in line.

“Hahaha, alhamdulillah..incentives to the outside,” selorohku that makes Mr. Wiradi laugh again happily.

“Lunch later I treat.”

“Together all my staff yes, sir, they have worked hard for promo.”

“Iya, bring everything in the office!” exclaiming Mr. Wiradi made me and Mr. Ade cool.

Indeed, people everywhere if shopping will certainly look for the store with the cheapest price even though the difference in price is not how much. That's also what I took advantage of when I saw the price change and quite a lot of prices under Haryanto, making me dare to make a pretty big promo with the slogan “If anything is cheaper, then, we will replace the difference 2x folding”. Of course it is for certain types of goods with terms and conditions apply.

And it turned out to be successful, taking just under two weeks for the sales target to be achieved.

I had to be patient again to see my father.

Lunch as promised, Mr. Wiradi treat us all in the employee cafeteria located in the PTC parking area on the 5th floor. Many food stands are served there with safe prices for bags, most of them traditional foods and home-cooked meals.

I was in line to order my favorite oxtail soup when someone greeted me.

“Halo, Na!”

I furrowed my brows in shock as Elvan was in the employee cafeteria. Yes, although this is open to the public and not a few mall visitors who eat here because of the cheap prices and many choices.

“Not changed turned out, still like oxtail soup.”

I just shrugged my shoulders, lazy to talk. Wasn't our business finished yesterday? So there's no reason for us to talk.

“Pak Elvan!” unexpectedly Mr. Wiradi greeted Elvan making me furrow my eyebrows. “Eat here too, Sir?”

“Iya, Sir,” replied Elvan politely. “Diajakin kids.” Elvan pointed to a long table where there were some people sitting while eating and laughing.

I frowned seeing one of them wearing an id card hanging on his neck very clearly printed on the rope the M logo in a circle as well as my id card as a sign of Mahesa group, it's just that in my case it was printed E-World and they were printed SUHO, which is part of MHG retail. So Elvan works at MHG too? Hadeuh, can runyam if this is the story, because it is certain I will often meet him, at least during my time in Surabaya.

“Have known each other?” asked Mr. Wiradi to look at me and Elvan alternated.

“We ..”

“Tollege friend,” cut me that made Elvan look straight at me. “Excuse me, I first.” I took a tray filled with one bowl of oxtail soup and a plate of rice to the table where the others had sat.

It turns out that my desire to avoid Elvan wasn't that simple. Mr. Wiradi kindly invited Elvan to join us at our table and introduced him to all of us.

“This is Mr. Elvan, GM at SUHO.”

Elvan has it all but me.

“I and Kirana are college friends,” said Elvan while sitting next to Mr. Wiradi making all oh ria.

“Bu Na, what's the lecture time, Sir?” Aileen asked curiously.

“Hmmm .. one of the activists who is quite vocal.”

Inevitably I smiled at him, because it was true first when I was in college I was quite vocal.

“You're more vocal than me.”

“Hahaha, it was back when our minds were still idealistic.”

I nodded in agreement.

“You remember, Na, when we demoed in front of the DPR building demanding the cancellation of the UU detector which was very detrimental to the community?”

I was silent trying to dig up memories that were long enough, until I finally laughed.

“Iya! Hahaha, and you were caught that day.”

“Yes, I had to languish in jail that day, and you demoed in front of the police station with some of our friends.”

The memories made me smile considering how my friends and I used to be vocal enough to call for injustice by the rulers of this country.

“At last I was free, and you cried welcoming me instantly saw me out of the police station that night.”

The table was silent, everyone was staring at us. My hand that was about to bribe the soup hung in the air. This is what I was afraid of when I re-interacted with Elvan. Too many memories, too many events that we passed together that inevitably will appear when we talk about the past.

“Ehm!! It seems not only college friends,” Pak Ade's tease makes everyone smile.

“Friends of Struggle when it used to be demo, no more.” I said while bribing my oxtail soup. I know Elvan is looking at me right now. “It's just a past story, meaning it's been a long way behind us. The most important thing is the present and the future.”

“So there's a future?” Mr. Wiradi smiled seductively making me laugh.

“Iya.” I smiled at Mr. Wiradi who was sitting next to Elvan. “Someone who has always been there for me, supported me, protected me, and .. accepted me for who I am.”

“Ooh, which yesterday Bu Na?”

I smiled as I nodded in response to Aileen's question, then continued to eat me. I want to finish my meal and get out of there.

“You know, Leen?” Yulie asked curiously.

“Iya, yesterday Aileen met Bu Na in Blauran again same guy guanteng-teng-teng, poko’e guanteeeng flueet.”

“Waaah, Ma'am Na, so curious as to what the hell?”

Again, I just smiled and continued eating.

My past memories and stories with Elvan have happened and I can't possibly erase them, however Elvan is part of my past. The memories might come up at any time, but it would just be a story of the past that I had closed and I would never write my future story there.

My future story is a story that I am currently in a series with someone named.

****