The Arranged Married

Chapter 1

11.28 PM, at Martin Sun Apartment, Batam.

People should be asleep at this time. But not to Rose, as an online shop seller, she usually works overtime and prepares all customers' orders so that they are ready to be shipped on the next day. Right now, Rose is packing some woman clothes and accessories. Though she has been packing those items since this morning, but she probably can only finish doing it after midnight. She doesn't hire anyone to help her finish her work because she prefers to work alone and that's one of the reasons why she enjoys doing it while everybody's sleeping. She never complains or regrets for working long hour in this job. Again, she loves what she's been doing for these two years.

Ding Dong! Rose's apartment bell ringing.

"Open the door, Madam Rose!", Rose can hear the shrill voice from outside of her apartment door. She stands up and opens the locked door.

"Oh, no. Are you drunk again?", Rose startles to see her best friend, Vanessa. In front of Rose, she's wearing a short black dress with pink high heels and her blond hair is a bit messy, but she still looks as hot as one of Victoria's Secret Models.

"Maybe yes? Maybe no?", She takes off her pink high heels and walks into Rose's living room, then she throws her newest pink Gucci clutch to Rose's white leather sofa. "Don't worry, Madam. You know I'm the queen of drinking."

While Rose is locking the door, she follows Vanessa to her small kitchen. "Hey, can't you at least tell me what happened? I still have a mountain of stuffs that need to be packed."

Vanessa opens the refrigerator and takes out a bottle of wine that she bought last month.

"Be patient, Madam. Since when you become such an impatient person? I need to prepare some drink for us to celebrate this moment."

"What moment?"

Vanessa pours the wine to two glasses and gives to Rose. "Look at this.", she shows off a beautiful shiny thing on her left ringer.

"OMG, no way! You're getting married, Nessa!", Rose hugs Vanessa exhilaratingly right after she sees the diamond ring on Vanessa's finger. "I can't believe it! You are one of the luckiest women now! Tell me more about the proposal completely! I don't want to miss even a single part."

They decide to talk in the living room while they're enjoying the wine. Though there is really a bunch of clothes and accessories that still waiting to be packed, they just keep talking and don't bother to move away those things. The story begins with Dave, a businessman that Vanessa has known for about three months. He's not from this town, he came from Surabaya six months ago for business purposes. This man often comes to Spoon & Appetite, one of five stars famous restaurants in town where Vanessa works as a waitress. Of course, the relationship of them began in that restaurant. Then, they're into each other and now they're confident to go to the next step of their relationship, which is getting married.

"So, you are saying that you are going to Surabaya tomorrow evening?"

Vanessa nods her head as an answer. She pours the wine to her glass again before Rose grabs it from her.

"Stop drinking before you're really drunk, Queen. You still need to prepare your things for tomorrow.", Rose walks to kitchen while bringing the wine then she puts that bottle inside refrigerator. "I haven't even met Dave before."

"Yup."

"I'll send you to airport tomorrow, okay? At least i need to know the face of the guy who wins my best friend's heart."

"Sure."

"Have you ever met his family? I mean, maybe when his family came to Batam?"

"No."

"Oh, you must be nervous then. If I'm not wrong, his family are quite famous because of their businesses in logistic field, aren't they? But don't worry, you are a cheerful and nice woman, they will like you. Now, you better go to your room, take shower, and...", Rose stops talking when she walks out from kitchen and sees Vanessa has fell asleep on the sofa.

Rose goes to Vanessa's room which is only beside hers. She takes out a blanket and put on Vanessa. She looks at her sleeping best friend that has been her roommate since she moves to this apartment two years ago. Recently, Vanessa seldom comes back to sleep because she often stays at Dave's apartment. Soon this place is going to be quitter after Vanessa really moves out. However, she is happy for Vanessa who finally will be someone's wife.

Comparing Rose's and Vanessa's love story, Rose has been single for two years. She had relationships before with few guys who ended up leaving her. Mostly, the reason they left her was because she was too workaholic and couldn't spend enough time with them. Since that, she makes a commitment to herself that before she has enough of being a workaholic, she won't be in a relationship with anyone. Even though her family in Bandung keeps asking her about her future partner, she still chooses to be single and does what she loves for now.