Finally, She Tells Them

Aruna stepped out of The Glass Pavilion feeling considerably lighter. She placed the two folders containing the revised cost estimates on the passenger seat, then drove through the midday traffic toward her studio.

Along the way, she stopped at a food shop and ordered three premium lunch sets packed in bento boxes.

Twenty minutes later, the little bell above the door of Aruna Studio chimed.

Marco and Dayu immediately looked up from their work. The moment they saw Aruna carrying a large plastic bag bearing the logo of an upscale gourmet restaurant, their eyes lit up.

“Well, well, looks like someone finally managed to tame the socialite tiger!” Marco teased, immediately clearing the middle table of its rolls of tracing paper.

Aruna didn't answer right away. She placed the two cost-estimate folders beside the lunch bag on the table Marco had cleared.

“So, Mrs.—” Dayu began, then corrected herself with a grin. “So, Bu Anggun's project really went through, Run?” She eagerly approached the table and helped Aruna arrange the lunch boxes. “I was so nervous when Bu Anggun asked to move the meeting earlier. I was afraid she'd suddenly get inspired to change the whole concept to Classic Baroque,” Dayu joked mischievously.

Aruna chuckled as she walked to the pantry in the corner, took three bottles of cold drinks from the refrigerator, and brought them back to the communal table.

“A huge win! Even the Carrara marble and crystal chandelier are officially approved. Our cost estimate ballooned to one hundred and sixty-five million rupiah, and Bu Anggun signed it right away without even trying to bargain.”

“Whaaat …! That officially makes this our biggest contract of the year!” Dayu clapped excitedly.

“That's amazing, Run. No wonder you bought us Wagyu Mentai Truffle bento!” Marco exclaimed happily as he opened his box and took his first bite of the tender wagyu beef, complemented by the distinctive aroma of truffle oil and the rich, creamy, savory mentai sauce.

“But …” Aruna let the word hang in the air.

Marco paused, his spoon hovering just before his lips.

Standing at the end of the table, Aruna smiled mysteriously. Then she slowly raised her left hand and turned it over, showing them the back of her hand.

A small solitaire diamond ring gleamed softly under the studio lights on her ring finger.

“This meal isn't just to celebrate our win with Bu Anggun. It's also to celebrate… this. Danar officially proposed to me last Sunday night.”

The studio fell silent for a few seconds.

Then Dayu let out a muffled shriek and immediately grabbed Aruna's hand, examining the ring up close.

“Oh, my Gooooood! See, Co? I told you that ring was an engagement ring! You finally told us, Run!”

Across the table, Marco merely nodded while continuing to shovel delicious pieces of wagyu into his mouth.

Aruna frowned in confusion. She hadn't expected her two work partners to react so casually.

“Wait. You mean you already knew?”

“Of course, Run. We both saw that ring on Thursday,” Marco replied with his mouth full.

“What? Thursday?” Aruna stared at him, trying to remember as she chewed a tender piece of tamagoyaki.

“Yep. Thursday afternoon, when we were brainstorming ideas for the Alinea Café project,” Dayu chimed in as she poured roasted sesame dressing over her salad. “Marco and I immediately noticed something sparkling on your ring finger. But we pretended not to know. Marco said it was your private business, and we should just wait until you felt like telling us yourself.”

Hearing the explanation from her two closest friends and work partners, Aruna suddenly felt an overwhelming warmth spread through her chest.

They weren't just professional partners. They were also a kind of family—people who understood her and respected her privacy.

“So you've both been holding back your curiosity since Thursday?” Aruna asked, still shaking her head in disbelief.

“Absolutely, Run! Keeping our curiosity under control for four whole days was pure torture!” Dayu exclaimed, making Marco burst into laughter. “That's why you'd better finish your lunch now. After that, you're telling us everything, from beginning to end!” Dayu declared.

Aruna smiled and nodded.

She had just been about to enjoy her first bite of wagyu when the phone on the table began vibrating insistently. The screen lit up, displaying a contact name with a little heart emoji beside it.

Marco and Dayu immediately exchanged glances.

Marco let out a teasing whistle, while Dayu seized the opportunity.

“Speak of the devil. We were just talking about him, and now he's calling!” Dayu teased as she picked up a piece of gyoza with her chopsticks and dipped it into the shoyu sauce.

Aruna smiled sheepishly, feeling her cheeks grow slightly warm. She swiped the green button and held the phone to her ear.

“Hello?”

“Hi, future bride.”

A familiar, gentle voice that always put her at ease came from the other end.

“How did the meeting go? Was it a success?”

“A huge success. The revised contract has officially been signed. I'll tell you all the details later,” Aruna replied, her gaze softening as she looked at the ring on her finger. “I'm really sorry we couldn't have lunch together after all.”

“It's okay. I had to go back to the project site too. There were a few issues that needed attention. I just called to remind you about our plans for this afternoon. We're still on, right?”

Aruna fell silent for a moment as the memory of their plans for later that day came back to her.

They had deliberately set aside some time after work to start making arrangements for their wedding.

“Of course. I haven't forgotten,” she replied confidently.

“Okay, then. I'll pick you up at five. See you this afternoon, future bride.”

The call ended.

Aruna lowered her phone, unable to wipe the smile from her lips.

Across the table, Marco had just finished his bento, while Dayu gave her a look that clearly demanded she keep her promise.

“Come on, hurry up and finish your lunch, Run,” Dayu urged, pointing at Aruna's bento box, where the wagyu was still untouched. “We're both ready to listen to the whole story of how that ring suddenly ended up on your ring finger.”

Aruna laughed.

At last, she took her first bite of wagyu, which she had postponed earlier, savoring the savory flavor and fragrant truffle oil melting on her tongue.

But inside her mind, her attention was now divided between two things: the major living room project for Bu Anggun and the new chapter of life she was about to embark on with Danar.