Chapter 6 PART 5

Part 5 - Strange Request at the Guest House

As the number of guests at Grandma's house increased, the four girls began to feel bored. They felt like they were surrounded by people much older than them, and they couldn't relate to the discussions about business and cooperation that they didn't understand. Finally, Anyelir decided to take them to the guest house, not far from Grandma's house. It was just a short walk away. Anyelir sought permission from Aunt Ingrid and Grandma before taking them there.

So, the four girls and Emil found themselves in the guest house, which was usually used as a backup when Grandma's main house was full. However, not all of the relatives came to the gathering, so both of these houses were empty for the occasion.

The guest house consisted of two houses, not very close to each other but sharing the same entrance. The first house, closer to the gate, was called the Green House because of its green-colored paint. The other house was called the Cream House because of its cream-colored paint. The two houses were separated by a fish pond with colorful carp swimming in it.

While Nabila, Adinda, and Lala were admiring the Green House, Anyelir decided to take Emil to the Cream House. "Wow, sweetheart, why did you bring me here? Couldn't handle it anymore?" Emil teased.

If Anyelir didn't remember how good this man had been to her over the past year, she might have thrown him into the fish pond in front of them. "Just explain to me, what did you mean by talking about that proposal at Grandma's party?" she asked seriously.

"Hmm, which one?" Emil pretended to forget, raising one eyebrow playfully.

Anyelir gave him an irritated look. "Emil, when did I say I was accepting your proposal?"

"But you didn't reject it either, did you?"

"Not rejecting doesn't mean I'm accepting, Mr. Respectful Emil!" she retorted.

Emil let out a sigh, lifting one of his eyebrows. "We've been close for a year now, Anyelir."

"I told you, I need time."

"How much more time do you need?"

Intensely stared at by Emil, Anyelir bit her fingernail anxiously. She looked restless.

Anyelir decided to walk to the window. The glass was slightly foggy, probably due to the cold weather in the area. Still, she could see her friends chatting near the fish pond not far from where she was standing.

"I want us to catch up to Adinda soon," Emil said, breaking the silence.

"The wedding is not a race," Anyelir replied.

"And besides, Adinda is getting married at the end of the year. We can't get married at the same time as her, right?"

"She's asked me, Bila, and Lala to be her bridesmaids. So it wouldn't make sense for us to get married around the same time as her. I want them to have their turn as bridesmaids for me."

Emil turned and looked at Anyelir. "But it's not fair," he said.

Anyelir raised her head. "When Adinda gets married, she'll ask me, Bila, and Lala to be her bridesmaids. So, of course, we can't get married at the same time as her. I want them to be my bridesmaids instead."

"And besides, Adinda has been in a long-term relationship with Nico. It's natural for them to get married now. They've been together for a long time."

But a long-term relationship doesn't guarantee that they'll make it to the wedding," Emil argued, still looking at Anyelir. She fell silent.

For some reason, her heart felt hurt by his words. She couldn't understand the expressions on this man's face, as if he was disappointed. Was he angry because of her last letter? Or was it because of Emil?

"Have I done something wrong?" Anyelir asked softly.

She was afraid to ask the question, fearing she would regret asking something so foolish.

Emil smiled again, but it pained Anyelir to see it.

Emil stepped closer to Anyelir, and they were just a few steps apart.

Their eyes locked.

"Is it still worth it?" Emil asked.

This wasn't the Emil she knew. He didn't show the face that she could easily understand. It was as if he had done something to make Emil angry.

Was he angry because of her question in her last letter? Or was it because of Emil's presence?

"Should you leave now because your future husband is looking for you," Emil said, gazing past Anyelir's head.

Sure enough, when Anyelir turned around, Emil was standing by the door.

"Nye, the others want to go back to Grandma's house," Emil said.

"The toilet in this house is broken. It's better to go to the Green House," Emil suggested, pointing to the exit.

"Okay, I'll go there first." Emil walked out of the house.

After a while, Anyelir saw Zaldy carrying a bag out of one of the rooms. "I'll go first, Zal. I still have to check the other rooms in case they haven't been locked," Emil said.

"Okay." Zaldy smiled awkwardly, realizing he was the one who had cleared his throat earlier.

Anyelir.

Byan locked the room where Zaldy had placed his bag. Then, he turned to face Anyelir, and suddenly, there was silence. Anyelir was at a loss for words as she saw Byan's gaze fixed on her. If only that gaze were filled with longing, perhaps Anyelir would have smiled with happiness. However, the gaze was so cold.

"He's already proposed, huh?" Anyelir managed to elicit a brief smile from Byan's face.

Honestly, she missed this man. She didn't want to hear those words from Byan's mouth.

"Why didn't you reply to my letter?" Anyelir asked softly.

She was truly afraid to ask that question, afraid of receiving an answer that she would regret for asking something so foolish.

Byan smiled again. But this smile only made Anyelir's heart ache.

Byan took slow steps towards Anyelir until there were only a few steps between them. Their eyes locked.

"Is there still any point to it?" Byan asked.

This wasn't the Byan she knew. Byan wasn't like this, not showing a face that was difficult for Anyelir to interpret. It was as if he had done something that made him angry.

Was Byan angry because of the question in her last letter? Or because of Emil's presence?

"Did I do something wrong?" Anyelir asked softly.

Byan only stared at the beautiful face before him. Slender eyes, a pointed nose, thin lips-it was indeed a combination of her parents' faces. Anyelir had seen their faces in a large framed photo displayed at Grand Ma's house. But upon closer inspection, Anyelir inherited more of her mother's features.

"You should leave soon because your future husband is looking for you," Byan said, looking behind Anyelir.

And it was true, when Anyelir turned, Emil was already standing by the door.

"Nye, the kids are calling us back to Grand Ma's house."

"Wait for me here tonight," Anyelir whispered to Byan before walking towards Emil.

Byan clearly heard Anyelir's whisper. He could only watch her leave, just like when he saw Anyelir leaving Grand Ma's house earlier. He sighed heavily and slumped his tired body onto the sofa Anyelir had been sitting on.

He truly felt exhausted when it came to a girl named Anyelir Amaryllis.