What I think about life.

Coffee and Rendang

Holly go to the office extra early that morning. It's Holly first day at work since her Europe adventure. She drove her old school Jeep to the Starbucks near her office. She wants to get herself a nice hot cup of coffee. It was a nice drive from home this morning; the sun was rising beautifully in the morning mist. She took her time driving and enjoying the morning. Her Europe trip was a beautiful adventure but it taught Holly to appreciate her home country a lot more.

Since it is still really early in the morning, there are only a few cars on the parking lot from the nearby offices. She can't see any cars from her office yet except for hers and one other car. She ask the company's security guard to help her with her things because she might need more than one trip if she is going to carry it alone.

At the office, she sits on her chair and drink her coffee. Oddly, she miss this office. She check on her boss's office from her desk and contemplate whether to put the coffee in her office now or later. A colleague suddenly interrupted her thought when he walks in the office; it is the owner of the other car. She greet him and give him one of the smaller trinkets from her European adventure. They talk for awhile and Holly excitedly share some stories from her trip before a rush of people come in for work.

***

She never heard anyone say her name Laila beautiful before. She usually received a node or a smile. She never really fond of her real name Laila before because she always thought her name is a little outdated and old. That is why she prefer it if people called her Cat. Ever since Azhar's mother compliment her name, she realizes how beautiful and meaningful the name her mother gave her.

Laila just settled in her office when Holly come in bearing gifts. It must be from her holiday. She tells Holly to sit on the navy blue velvet sofa that takes almost half of the entire room. She needs to update Holly on their work anyway. Holly hand her a warm cup of coffee from Starbucks and souvenirs from her adventure; a cute-cat-at-the-Eiffel-Tower keychain, a beautiful mug with a drawing of a flag of France and a nice book from a French author. She has become quiet close to her young assistant.

They talk a little bit about Holly's adventure and then proceed on talking about work.

***

Laila finally introduced Azhar to her parents. She was a nervous wreck prior to this day just like when she met with his parents. This time the responsibility is even greater because she is the hostess. She discussed menu idea with equally nervous wreck mother. They settled for a traditional meal consist of Beef Rendang, Chicken Curry, Sayur Lodeh, Rice, Kelupis(sticky rice) and Satay(beef/chicken skewers) with peanut gravy. Laila and her mother cooked up a storm that day. They spent their whole entire day perfecting the food.

They make enough food for an army.