The Space That Remains

Just then, Aruna’s white car pulled up behind Bayu’s pickup truck. A metallic black car followed a few seconds later.

“Sorry I’m late, Mas Bayu. The traffic was terrible,” Aruna greeted him as soon as she stepped out of her car.

She immediately took her father’s hand and kissed the back of it. “Sorry, Pak.”

“It’s all right. Mas Bayu has already finished taking the measurements.”

Danar got out of his car a few steps behind Aruna.

“Good afternoon, Pak.”

Bram nodded.

“Good afternoon.”

Bayu reopened his measurement notes.

“Here’s the plan, Mbak. For the inner area, we can use two six-by-six-meter sections of transparent tent roofing. We’ll design the wedding dais around the mango tree.”

Aruna immediately turned toward the tree. “The trunk will stay, right?”

“Absolutely. I’ve actually been thinking of building the platform around the trunk. We’ll customize the roof so the branches have enough room.”

Aruna smiled with satisfaction. “Now, that’s exactly what I want.”

She walked closer to the mango tree, examining the position of its trunk and branches.

“This is actually even better. The tree becomes a focal point instead of just another decoration.”

Danar stood beside her. “So my future wife has managed to save a tree.”

Aruna glanced at him. “Your future wife has also managed to save space.”

“Both are impressive achievements.”

“Can you be quiet?”

“I can. But I don’t want to.”

Bayu chuckled.

Aruna then returned to the more serious matter at hand. “Okay. What about the guests’ tent?”

“Three sections of white Roder tent, six by fifteen meters. But the usable area won’t be the full size because we’ll need to leave some space around the plants on either side.”

“What about the Tiffany chairs I messaged you about last night?”

“If we arrange them without tables, we should be fine.”

Rianti suddenly cut in.

“I’ve already calculated that, Kak.”

Aruna turned toward her.

“You have?”

“Yep.”

Rianti raised her tablet.

“The guests’ tent might look like it covers ninety square meters, but we can’t use all of that space for chairs. We need to leave the edges clear so people can walk around without bumping into the plant pots.”

Aruna nodded. “Exactly. That’s what I mean.”

“So, if we use Tiffany chairs without tables, I think fifty to sixty chairs would be the safest option.”

“Fifty to sixty?”

“Yep. We shouldn’t try to squeeze in more.”

Rianti swiped across her tablet screen. “If we add dining tables and everything else, guests will have trouble moving around. It’s better to arrange the chairs in long rows and leave the middle area open.”

Aruna nodded approvingly. “Okay. That makes sense.”

Rianti smiled proudly. “See? I’m smart, aren’t I?”

Danar stifled a laugh.

“Your little sister changes professions the moment she starts working on a layout.”

“Don’t distract her. She’s being serious.”

“I am serious.”

Aruna suppressed a smile.

“What about the wedding dais area?”

Rianti reopened the drawing on her tablet.

“The inner area has a rough total of seventy-two square meters. The platform will be six by three meters, so there’ll still be plenty of room.”

“For chairs?”

“We don’t need many. Maybe twelve to sixteen Tiffany chairs, if we want them. But I think we’d be better off replacing them.”

“Why?”

“Because the people sitting there will be the parents and the family elders. It wouldn’t be comfortable for them to sit on those little Tiffany chairs.”

Aruna nodded. “What do you suggest?”

“Single sofas with armrests. Mas Bayu said Armada Tenda has some.”

Bayu nodded immediately. “We do, Mbak.”

Rianti turned her tablet around to show them several photos.

“These ones. They’ll be more comfortable for the older guests. The armrests will also make it easier for them to stand up.”

Aruna studied the photos. “Those look good.”

Danar leaned toward Aruna and whispered in her ear.

“Darling.”

“Hmm?”

“Your sister isn’t helping us plan a wedding.”

Aruna turned to him. “Then what is she doing?”

“She’s conducting a feasibility study.”

Aruna almost laughed. “Be quiet.”

“I’ve been hearing about chairs, layouts, usable floor space…” Danar shook his head. “I feel like I’m in a meeting with a property consultant.”

Aruna gave him a gentle pinch at the waist.

“Better than just making comments.”

“I’m providing moral support.”

“Nobody asked for it.”

Rianti looked at the two of them.

“Are you done flirting? Can we continue?”

Danar burst out laughing.

Aruna rubbed her forehead.

“Sorry. Please continue, Manager.”

Rianti smiled with satisfaction.

“Right. So, to sum up, we’ll lock in fifty to sixty Tiffany chairs for the guests’ tent, with eight single VIP sofas for the wedding dais area.”

“Eight?”

“Four for Kak Aruna’s family and four for Mas Danar’s family.”

Aruna nodded.

“Okay. Sounds good.”

She then turned to Bayu.

“Now that we have the numbers sorted out, let’s calculate the package price.”

Bayu took out his calculator.

“For three sections of Roder tent, two sections of transparent tent roofing for the wedding dais, fifty Tiffany chairs, eight single VIP sofas, and two misty fans…” His fingers moved quickly over the calculator. “The total comes to twenty-eight million rupiah, Mbak.”

Danar immediately raised an eyebrow. “Hold on, Mas.”

Bayu stopped.

“We’re renting two tent areas, a combination of Roder and transparent tents, chairs, sofas, and even the fans from you. Why has the price only come down a little from your initial estimate?”

Bayu chuckled.

“Well, Mas Danar, you’re a better negotiator than I expected.”

“I’m not negotiating. I’m doing the math.”

Aruna glanced at her fiancé. “And I thought you were just providing moral support.”

“This is financial support.”

Bayu looked at his calculator again.

“Here’s the thing, Mas. Transparent tent roofing costs more to maintain. The fabric has to be kept clean, and the installation requires extra care. The rental price for the single VIP sofas is also higher than for the Tiffany chairs.”

Aruna folded her arms and thought for a moment.

“Let’s do this, Mas Bayu.”

Bayu waited.

“We’ll accept the twenty-eight million.”

Danar turned to Aruna.

“But?”

Aruna smiled.

“Throw in the fairy lights and two misty fans as complimentary extras.”

Bayu fell silent.

He looked at his calculator.

Then at Aruna.

Then at Danar.

Then back at his calculator.

“Oh, come on, Mbak…”

“It still works for you, doesn’t it?”

Bayu recalculated for a few seconds.

Finally, he let out a sigh.

“Fine. We’ll settle at twenty-eight million. I’ll include the fairy lights and two misty fans at no extra charge.”

“Deal.”

Aruna held out her hand.

Bayu shook it.

“But the down payment is fifty percent, okay, Mbak?”

“Sure.”

Danar nodded.

“Deal.”

On the porch, Rianti watched the two of them while sipping the iced tea her mother had just brought out.

She swiped across her tablet one more time.

All the figures had been entered.

All the measurements had been recorded.

And for the first time that afternoon, Rianti closed her tablet with a satisfied expression.

“Done.”

She took another sip of her iced tea.

“Now we just need to figure out how to stop Dad from fighting with Pak Guntur.”