Twelve Years

Danar gazed at the two-story house from across the park. He had deliberately parked some distance away and spent nearly half an hour there before finally starting the engine. The car slowly approached the home of relatives he rarely visited.

Danar took a deep breath before getting out of the car. He opened the white gate and followed the stepping stones toward the low stairs leading up to the front porch.

He hadn’t even had a chance to ring the doorbell when the door suddenly swung open.

“Danar! So it really is you!”

The slender woman immediately pulled him into a warm embrace.

“I thought it was your uncle coming home. But how could he be back so soon? He said he was going golfing first.”

“Hello, Tante Laras. How have you been?”

“You naughty boy!” Laras released him and patted his shoulder. “Why haven’t you come to visit in so long? Come on, let’s talk in the backyard.”

“Marniii … make some iced tea, please. Mas Danar is here!”

Danar gave a faint smile. Tante Laras apparently didn’t need an answer from him.

She walked ahead, passing through the living room and family room before heading toward the backyard, occasionally calling out, “Lily … Lily!”

Danar followed her until Lily came into view, lounging on a sunbed beside the swimming pool. The fluffy white Persian cat stretched, slowly opened her blue eyes, and stared at Danar.

The moment she was fully awake, Lily jumped down and ran toward him.

Danar crouched and opened his arms.

“Meow .…”

Danar laughed as Lily nestled into his embrace, meowing incessantly and rubbing her head against his face.

“Look at that. Your fur baby missed you. The last time you came here was almost five months ago, wasn’t it? Poor Lily.”

“I’m sorry, Tante. I’ve been neglecting her,” Danar replied, continuing to stroke the cat’s soft fur.

“It’s all right. Biyan is actually happy to have Lily around. Every morning before leaving for college, he always plays with her first.”

A little while later, Danar moved toward a set of rattan sofas, still holding Lily in his arms.

Tante Laras sat down as well, watching Lily snuggle in Danar’s lap. Not long afterward, Mbak Marni appeared with a pitcher of sweet iced tea and two glasses.

“Lily’s already forgotten about Mami, hasn’t she? Usually, the moment she wakes up, she comes looking for Mami and asks for a snack,” Tante Laras said as she poured the tea into the glasses.

“Come on, have a drink. You must be thirsty after coming straight from the office, right?”

“I was actually checking on a project nearby, Tante. I’d already planned to stop by while I was in the area. There’s some important news I wanted to share,” Danar replied, still stroking Lily’s fur.

“Important news? Do we need to wait for Om Hendra to come home?”

“No need, Tante. You can tell Om and Biyan later.”

Danar paused briefly before continuing.

“Well, Tante, I wanted to let you know that I’m getting married in three months.”

“Married? To whom? Goodness, you’ve been away for so long, and now you suddenly show up with a surprise like this! Who’s the bride? Why didn’t you bring her along? Do I know her?”

Danar chuckled. He waited for the barrage of questions to end before explaining.

“Aruna is busy with work too, Tante. I haven’t had a chance to bring her here yet. Hopefully, we’ll find the time to meet. Maybe when I bring the invitation over.”

“Oh, her name is Aruna. Whose daughter is she? Someone you knew back in school, isn’t she?” Tante Laras asked curiously.

“No, Tante. I met her because my company once hired her design services. She runs an interior design business.”

Tante Laras nodded, then tempted Lily with a fish biscuit, which immediately sent the chubby cat leaping out of Danar’s lap.

Danar took the opportunity to reach for his glass of iced tea and drink a few sips before pulling several sheets of paper from his shirt pocket.

“Oh, right, Tante. These are from the boutique where I ordered the reception outfits.”

Danar unfolded the white papers bearing the boutique’s logo and placed them on the rattan table.

Tante Laras moved to sit beside him. Her eyes immediately lit up as she picked up the papers.

“Oh, the outfits! What traditional style are you going with, Nar? What colors?”

“We’re planning a modern minimalist concept, Tante. Sage green and champagne.” Danar smiled. “Those papers contain the measurement forms and instructions. The boutique needs the information soon so they can finish the tailoring in time. They’re for you, Om Hendra, and Biyan.”

Tante Laras studied the body diagram and the blank fields on the paper.

“Oh, bust measurement, waist measurement .…”

“Yes, Tante. Once you’ve filled everything in, just take a photo of the form and send it to me on WhatsApp. By the end of next week at the latest, okay? That way, they can start making the outfits right away.”

Tante Laras nodded and folded the papers again. Her smile gradually softened, turning into a look of deep emotion.

She reached out and clasped Danar’s fingers tightly.

“Twelve years, Nar … Tante knows it hasn’t been easy for you to get to where you are today.”

Danar fell silent.

He knew exactly where his aunt’s words were leading.

“Tante has always prayed that one day, you’d find happiness of your own.”

Her voice grew slightly hoarse as she held back the tears welling in her eyes.

“And when you said you were getting married just now … Tante felt such relief. Finally, someone will be there for you, Nar. All I want is for you to have a home to come back to.”

Danar took a long breath. The tightness that had briefly settled in his chest slowly eased.

He returned his aunt’s grip with a faint, sincere smile.

“Aruna is a good person, Tante. I’m sure you’ll like her.”

“I trust your choice.”

Tante Laras wiped the corner of her eye, then tried to bring back the cheerful mood.

“All right, I’ll keep these papers. Tonight, I’ll make Om and Biyan take their measurements. Everything has to be ready for your wedding!”

Danar breathed a sigh of relief. The burden on his shoulders gradually lifted as he took in his aunt’s warm welcome.

Meanwhile, beneath the table, Lily meowed affectionately again, as if she too were giving her blessing to her owner’s big day.