Chapter 15. With the Initials A
The dinner banquet at Aditya Saguna's mansion was quite lively. No less than fifty gathered, both near and distant relatives. There are two people as hosts for the night to be more interactive. Others sing karaoke in the presence of small bands intended to enhance the atmosphere.
Adam had taken his seat at the table of the main family of Saguna. There are Mr. Adyaksa, Mrs. Wursita, Mr. Aditya, Mrs. Padmana, and Gita. However, there were still two empty seats and it should have been Adam's cousin, Desmon Anggara Saguna.

"Desmon is taking too long," Mrs. Padmana complained.
"Where is brother Desmon going, Ma?" Gita asked.
"Pick up his girlfriend," Mrs. Padmana said proudly. Just as the woman was about to call, her son, a tall athletic man appeared from a distance with a typical Adam's face in his hand by holding a beautiful girl with long hair. "Oh, here they come," Mrs. Padmana said to refer to the son.
"You came, Brother Adam," Desmon retorted.
"Yes," Adam responded curtly.
Then Desmon introduced the woman who came with him. "Everybody, this is Laura Paramita, my date."
"Good evening, Uncle, Aunt," Laura greeted Desmon's parents and also Mr. Adyaksa and Mrs. Wursita.
"Hi, Laura." Gita greeted Desmon's lover.
"You must be Gita, right?"
"That's right. And this is Brother Adam." Gita turned to introduce Adam to Laura. They shake.
"How is my daughter-in-law? Beautiful, isn't she?" Mrs. Padmana said with confidence. Laura blushed with praise for her beauty as well as recognition of her status as the future daughter-in-law.
"Yeah, she is beautiful," Mrs. Wursita said. "And so does Gita," she mumbled as she winked at her niece. Everyone sitting at the table was smiling. There were no second passes without competition between these two middle-aged women.
"Besides being pretty, Laura was Hartono Salim's daughter. The owner of the GM group," Mrs. Padmana said. "Sister, you must know him, right?" She went on in a mocking tone.
Mrs. Wursita who feels challenged to a facial expression of discomfort. "Well, yeah. Of course I know him. Laura, are you the child of the first mistress or the second mistress?" She asked Desmon's lover.
The girl was shocked, as was Mrs. Padmana. It seemed that she did not know yet that Hartono Salim had two wives. Mrs. Padmana looked intently toward Desmon, then turned to Laura.
"S-second wife, Aunt," Laura stammered.
"Come on, Pa. Let us introduce Laura to relatives," Mrs. Padmana asked her husband to come along. "Gita, you go too," she added. That was the only way for that woman to save her face from Mrs. Wursita, her sister-in-law.
"Just a moment, I'll get to the phone," Mr Adyaksa said.
"I also want to say hi to the others. Are you coming, Son?" Mrs. Wursita asked Adam if he would come to join her.
Adam shook his head. For a few moments, when the man was enjoying a meal at the table, someone suddenly sat down beside him and greeted him.
"Hello, mas Adam."
Adam stopped his chewing activity and turned to wonder at the girl who had called him out. "Mm … do I know you?" Adam asked.
"She is Luna Maheswari, Dear. Brother Ageng Waskita's daughter. Our distant relative," Mrs. Wursita said on her way along the line with a man who looked as old as his father. "Brother Ageng, this is my son, Adam," Mrs. Wursita said and introduced each other to those two men.
Adam stood up for the man's hand and then greeted Luna once again.
"Luna isn't as famous as may seem, Aunt Wursita . So, Brother Adam can't recognize me." Luna said shyly.
Mrs. Wursita laughed, "Don't blame yourself, Dear. Who in the country doesn't know you? It's just my son's problem. He is not too interested in entertainment. So he didn't know the names of the artists," Adam's mother explained. "Uh, I heard you recently released your new single, Luna?"
"Yes, Aunt Wursita. My second single this year." Luna answered proudly.
"Well, you're very productive thou," Mrs. Wursita exclaimed.
"Luna is so lucky, Sister Wursita. After one movie, came another offer to her. Even while we're not done shooting, we have another recording offer. Then I said, take it. While still young, the time to gain a lot of experiences," Mr. Ageng said.
"Well, that's right. Adam was the same way. He likes drowning in his work more than to have fun. Even though he has many personal assistants, he still doesn't want to leave his responsibility. Understandably, Adam is a perfectionist," Mrs. Wursita said as if he were promoting the son.
Adam just commented on a slight smile. It was not the right time for him to argue or be rude to correct his mother's words.
"Adam, say something, please. Why are you so quiet tonight?" Mrs. Wursita wondered.
"Congratulations on the new single," Adam said to Luna.
"Thank you, Brother Adam. We'll make a video clip soon. Since I heard that you are a perfectionist, can I stop by your office tomorrow for a discussion on the concept of my video clip? In case you have a good idea," Luna pleased by looking closely at Adam.
Adam was surprised to hear Luna's one-sided plans. Then took a card out of his wallet, "I can't make any promises. Maybe you should call me before heading to the office." Adam handed Luna his card.
"Yes, dear luna. Adam's schedule is unpredictable. Everything will be brand-new every morning. It's better to call first, okay?" Mrs. Wursita explained.
"Okay. I'm gonna call you tomorrow, Brother Adam." Luna answered sweetly.
"Yes." Adam sent back a smile.
"Luna darling, come and sing a song for us," Mrs. Wursita asked.
"Of course, Aunt Wursita. With pleasure," Luna replied. But she looked again at Adam, "what song do you want me to sing, Brother Adam?" Luna asked confidently.
Stunned by Luna's question, Adam felt funny then smiled. "Whatever you can," Adam replied.
"Okay. Luna will sing this song for you," she said and then walked toward the small platform on the other side of the park. Adam prepared himself to hear what the voice of Luna looked like.
***
Advance Advertising occupied a building with five floors in Jakarta. Bianca felt fresher after spending a weekend on vacation with her friend in Samarinda. After parking her motorcycle, Bianca went to the main entrance. Just posted an ID card to enter the building, someone from the front desk called her. "Yes. That's me. Why?" Bianca asked a woman named Wiwik.
"There's someone who sent you flowers, Ma'am. Here it is," Wiwik said by giving a purple moon orchid with its pot.
Bianca gave a look of surprise. "From?" she asked.
"There's a card, Ma'am," Wiwik said, which was not the answer to Bianca's question.
The Woman who had worked for the company for five year had never once received any unique flowers until that day. It was not fresh flowers beautifully strung together with paper or ribbon. That time, however, the whole flowers and its medium of vegetation. Six egrets had bloomed in rows on a long dangling stalk.
Hesitantly, Bianca dragged the earthenware pot closer. Then she took a card between the orchid's leaves. There was a piece of paper inside the small envelope, and then Bianca read the contents.
~ I'm not allowed to approach. So may this flower replace me. Can I?
~ A
At the end of the inscription only, which is A. Bianca's black eyeballs moved like scanning her memory, whether she had a friend, an acquaintance, or a relative by her first name initials A. But nun. The paper containing the words she had not understood was gestured above the reception desk. "Who dropped this off?" Bianca asked.
"Courier, Ma'am. Is there a problem, Ma 'am?" Wiwik asked because she saw Bianca getting nervous.
"Nah. Nothing. Okay, I'll take it. Thank you, Wiwik," Bianca said.
"You're welcome, Ma'am. Do you want an office boy to send the flowers to your office?" This time wiwik was asked.
"Never mind. Let me handle it," Bianca rejected politely.
The bag strap on Bianca's right shoulder was removed to the left. By folding the bag, Bianca wished she could take the flowerpot with ease. Bianca usually preferred the stairs to the elevators. However, this time she was forced by the unexpected item she received that morning. She stood behind several employees lining up to use the human transport facility.
"Good morning, Bianca," The voice of a man caught on the left side of a woman carrying an orchid with her hands.
Bianca looked at the man and tugged at her lips to create a beautiful smile. "Good morning, Mr. Fahar."