November Rain

Chapter 23: The Plus One

It's just another jaw-dropping night when I have to be innumerably enchanted by his charm. He is wearing a black tux with his hair parted, showing his forehead. His profoundly beautiful eyes glitter, making me beam with all the explosive happiness I have been hiding from myself.

Dapper.

Looks like I really have to eat him up after the party.

I'm wearing a short red dress, a not-quite-revealing one, with my hair untied because thanks to someone I couldn't really show my neck, even after a whole bottle of concealer.

"Fuck. Do we really have to go now?" he said, pulling my waist closer to him. His eyes sparkle in awe.

"Sorry, Sir. I have a wedding party to attend." I said, touching his nose. He smiles.

"Let's go before I ruin your lipstick, right here right now." he uttered another flirtatious line before leading me to his car, still holding my waist.

Perjalanan ke Kemang memakan waktu hampir 40 menit dengan lalu lintas yang cukup padat merayap. Selama di mobil kami hanya membicarakan hal-hal kecil sambil mendengarkan musik dari radio.

I haven't been this happy in a long time, even though I can't lie that I'm not thinking about the person who sent me message last night. Gue nggak tenang juga mikirin gimana nanti kalau ketemu, gimana gue, gimana Brian? Heck, I haven't even told him about this.

"Bri.." gue memanggil namanya pelan, sambil mengalihkan pandangan ke arah dashboard.

"Hm?" dia menjawab sambil masih fokus menyetir.

"Is this really okay?" semakin dekat kami dengan wedding venue, kekhawatiran gue bertambah.

"Apanya?" tanyanya balik. "Lu masih nggak siap ya, bawa gue ke depan inner circle lu?"

His words actually hurt me a little. Not in a way that he hurts me, but more like it hurts because I feel like I'm the one hurting him.

"No.. they're not really my inner circle though.. Only the bride is my friend."

"Then what's with the sudden okay-not-okay thing?" tanyanya lagi. Gue sekarang yang nggak tau harus bilang apa.

"Nevermind.. Sorry" gue berdalih.

"Is something bothering you? Should I just drop you off there?" suaranya terdengar khawatir.

"No, you should come. I'm fine, really. Heheh" gue berusaha tersenyum untuk mencairkan suasana.

This is gonna be the first time I bring another man to an event, where almost everybody that I know there would be my ex's friend. I knew them through him. And now I'm holding someone else before their eyes. I was just wondering what they would say about me. Not that I care, but..

"We're here." Brian membuyarkan lamunan gue saat mobil sudah terparkir di lokasi. "Are you sure about this?" dia menanyakan sekali lagi. So I convince him that my decision is final.

Cafe yang luas ini memiliki halaman belakang yang memang cocok disetting untuk garden party. Lampu-lampu menggantung dari satu pohon ke yang lain melintasi bagian tengah taman yang dipenuhi kursi-kursi yang disusun melingkari beberapa buah meja.

Pesta ini tidak dirayakan dengan besar-besaran, terlihat dari tamu undangan yang hanya berkisar 100-an orang. Dan meskipun gue dateng demi Desti, dari jauh gue melihat beberapa wajah yang sudah tentu nggak asing. Teman-teman Nick, yang juga teman-teman Desti.

Gue berusaha menghindari mereka dengan mengambil jalan memutar untuk menemui Desti yang sedang terlihat menghampiri tamu-tamu lain. Saking nervousnya, gue dan Brian hanya berjalan beriringan, tanpa kontak fisik. Gue melihat ke arahnya dan dia hanya membalas dengan senyuman, seolah mengerti bahwa gue nggak pengen menyita perhatian mereka.