CARDIGAN

02 Ring

Engagement Ceremony

Elyna pressed on the Ground floor button to the event hall in her mansion. She sighed, not a single smile on her face. Mak Long who was fixing Elyna's dress pinched her cheek.

Mak Long: At least fake it, would you?

Elyna: What?

Mak Long: Fake a smile at least, malu dekat family Marwan dengan tetamu yang lain.

Elyna switched on her phone. She searched for Renjun NCT Dream smile. She watched the video of Renjun's smile and laughter for a minute. She automatically smiled from his cuteness. Elyna closed her phone and maintained the smile she had.

Elyna: Happy?

Mak Long shook her head in disbelief.

The lift door had long been open and Mak Long had made her way greeting the guest. Elyna, hiding herself but at the same time peeping on the crowd searching for Marwan.

Marwan: Cari I ke baby?

Elyna: Oh mak hang terkejut I.

Marwan laughed. She was surprised that Marwan suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Marwan: Mak I ada kat situ. Ni kenapa intai-intai ni?

Elyna: Takut la.. kenapa ramai sangat. Tunang je pun bukannya kahwin.

Marwan: No idea, daddy you yang jemput semua. Jom baby I teman.

Elyna: Stop calling me baby for awhile. I segan orang dengar. Anyway ok tak tudung I, make up semua?

Marwan: Mmm I rasa tudung you tu singkat sikit tak macam selalu you pakai.

Elyna: Eh? Mak Long yang pakaikan. Jap I betulkan. Pandang belakang.

Elyna fixed her tudung while facing the mirror. And Marwan turned his back on Elyna.

Elyna: Pakcik! Okay tak?

Marwan: Much better, lagi cantik. Jangan panggil pakcik please.

Elyna: Habistu nak panggil apa? Uncle, ahjussi, samcheon, ammi.. ha semua bahasa dah keluar.

Marwan: Sayang, panggil I sayang baby.

Elyna acted disgusted.

Elyna: Belum kahwin dah gedik. Takde I panggil you Wan je harini. Ingat panggil I Elyn je macam biasa.

Marwan: Yela..

Marwan's mum slide the ring on Elyna's finger. She kissed her hand and Mum kisssed her forehead.
Elyna looked at the ring, she was not satisfied.

Marwan sat next Elyna with a little gap between them for a photograph. Elyna faked a smile again although her heart is burning with disappointment.

Elyna whispered: You bagi cincin recycle eh.

Marwan looked confused.

Marwan: Tak faham.

Elyna: Ni kan cincin you bagi Kak Yasmin dulu. You bagi I cincin yang dia pulangkan ni?

Elyna side eyed him.

Marwan: Ye ke? Macam mana you tau.

Elyna: I yang teman you pergi beli dulu. Tak hilang ingatan lagi.

Marwan: Sorry, tak sempat.

Elyna snickered, she left him and head to the kitchen. She thanked the guest for coming beforehand. At the mansion corridor, she was stomping her feet out of anger. Daddy realised his daughter was sulky. He approached Marwan as he salam all the guest that was leaving after the meal.

Daddy: Kenapa dengan El tu? Merajuk sebab apa?

Marwan: Cincin..

Daddy: Kenapa dengan cincin? Tak muat?

Marwan: Bukan.. dia tak suka.

Marwan laid a painful smile.

Daddy: Lah memilih betul..

Marwan didn't dare to say that he was at fault for not being cautious enough.

****

Elyna opened the pot lid and scooped the kuzi lamb on her plate. She sat on the dining table, helping herself.

Elyna: Dahla kena paksa.. lepastu dapat cincin recycle pula tu.. tak suka tak payahla beria nak kawin. Ish!

Elyna took off the ring aggressively and placed it on the table while mumbling to herself.

Marwan entered the kitchen, he took a sit infront of Elyna. He watched her eating attentively. She was pouting and frowning. Marwan chuckled and his eyes could not stop staring at her.

Elyna: Apesal tengok orang macam tu? Cucuk kang!

Marwan: Nak tengok tunang sendiri pun tak boleh ke?

Elyna rolled her eyes. She turned her body and plate to the left, avoid facing Marwan.

Marwan: Baby, marah I lagi ke?

Elyna ignored him, she slurped on the ribena juice.

Marwan: Baby, sorry.. it's my fault. I should have been more careful. Nanti kita beli cincin baru ye?

Elyna: Tak nak! Membazir.. nanti nak beli cincin kawin lagi.

Marwan laughed.

Marwan: EEE! COMELNYA! Mujur tak halal lagi kalau tak I dah cubit-cubit pipi you.

Elyna chuckled.

Marwan: mai tangan kiri tu..

He took the getah tempe, fold it into half.

Marwan: Pakai ni.. handmade bukan recycle.

Elyna laughed. She took the rubber band and put it on her finger.

Elyna: Thank you, much better. Berapa ribu ni?

Marwan: Eh mahal.. I nak hati you. Hati you mahal kan.

Elyna blushed.

Elyna: Sejak bila pandai pickup line ni?

Marwan: Sejak tadi. Baby merajuk lagi ke?

Elyna: You rasa?

She raised her eyebrow and displayed a slight smile.

Marwan: Tak merajuk dah..

Elyna nod and stood up, she wash her hand and plate at the sink. She smelled  her hand.

Elyna: Bau kambing!

Marwan chuckled

Elyna: Banyak juga pinggan ni kesian Bibik nak basuh semua ni. Pakcik, tolong kutip pinggan cawan atas meja tu, I nak basuh.

Marwan followed her order. He stayed beside her watching her washing dishes.

Marwan: You basuh pinggan ke mandi ni? Basah habis baju dengan lantai.

Elyna: Basuh hati you..

Marwan: Astagfirullah betul la banyak dosa kita.

Elyna: Dosa you je banyak, dah tua. I muda lagi tak banyak sangat.

Marwan laughed again.

This what made Marwan comfortable with Elyna. She always made him laugh although her pain is much greater inside that had yet been healed. Today, he promised that he will never make her smile fade. He'll protect it at cost better than before.