Elegi Of Rose

A sudden series of angry outbursts erupted around the table. Ayu heard Ria gasp something like, "Outrageous!"; Risa uttered one like, "Insolent bitch," or it might have been something else because Ayu just couldn't imagine Risa saying the word bitch; Reinold Punda just said, "Oh Holy God..." and closed his eyes.

Ayu on the other hand couldn't really find the right words-after all, she didn't really know what was going on. Thank goodness though that Roy was still in his senses because he grabbed the red-haired girl's slender shoulders and pushed her away none too gently.

"What?" Yeyena asked in amusement, oblivious of the six pairs of eyes throwing daggers at her.

"What do you think are you doing, Yen?" Roy snapped and his eyes instinctively searched Ayu's startled ones and said, "I'm sorry about that, sweetheart," he frowned up at Yeyena and continued, "Yeyena here seems to have had too much to drink."

"I..." Ayu started but no idea how to continue.

Yeyena's pretty head quickly turned down towards Ayu with a grimace. "So," she staggered back on her heels in two tiny steps as she looked Ayu over. "This is your little secret Cantik?" she turned to look at Roy like he was crazy and added, "I thought she's like a goddess, not some..." she looked back at Ayu to emphasize her point, "witless-"

"That's enough, Yeyena," Rin interrupted, held her friend by the arms and turned towards the group around the table, "I'm sorry guys, I did not intend this to happen," she turned to Ayu and said, "I'd have loved to meet you in a much better way, but..." she trailed off.

"Oh, come on, Rin!" Yeyena cried out, chuckling at her friend. "You can't mean that!"

"Get her home," Reinold's authoritative voice spoke from the head of the table.

"I can't believe you brought her here in her condition, Rin," Ria said with disappointment.

"Mom, I'm sorry. She started drinking early. I didn't want her to come but she insisted, saying she'd make a scene if I don't let her," Rin apologized at the group, holding her friend tightly by the arms. "I'll go get her home now." "That's the best thing to do," Risa nodded, looking at Yeyena disapprovingly.

"No, I wanna have dinner with you guys-" Yeyena started.

"No, Yen, go home," Roy's cold voice stopped her and Ayu almost felt sorry for the poor lady.

"Let's go, Yen," Rin ushered her friend backward, embarrassed with the attention they drew from the other guests in the restaurant. "I'll make it up to you guys," she said as goodbye to the group before turning her friend around.

"There's still time to back out, Roy!" Yeyena shouted over her lungs just as Rin dragged her out of the room.

The table was silent for a very long time.

"I lost my appetite," Risa said, placing her napkin on the table.

Ria grabbed Ayu's hand across the table and squeezed it gently, "I'm sorry about that, dear. She's not usually like that."

"That's okay-"

"Of course it's not okay!" Risa fumed. "That girl needs some help."

"Couldn't agree more," Reinold shook his head slowly as he said that.

"Yeyena's having problems of her own," Ria disagreed. "She was once a sweet girl."

"I think Yu is in shock," Roy noticed, wiping his mouth with his napkin, "Maybe we should go home?"

"But the main course-"

"I don't think anyone can continue with this dinner in the same energy as we started," Roy interrupted his mother's protest.

"Yes, I agree," Reinold nodded. "We can always set another one."

"No," Roy said too quickly, "I mean we can always have a blast at the wedding party, right?"

"We'll reset a date tomorrow," Risa said to her grandson.

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"Tomorrow's the day before the wedding and we have so many things to patch up," he took Ayu's hand and smiled at his family, "I don't want Yu getting tired."

"Oh, yes, of course," Ria said in understanding, "Well then, see you at the wedding, my dear. And if you have any trouble tomorrow, don't hesitate to call, okay?" she smiled warmly at Ayu.

Ayu tried to smile back, but thankfully, the group understood that she was not up to it as she was five minutes ago-even though it was all just pretend. "Yes, okay, I'll remember that. Thank you and see you," was all she could muster before Roy guided her to stand up. She turned to Reinold and Risa and gave them a small smile. It was awkward. Should she kiss them or hug them? Okay, fine, a smile was the safest.

"See you at the wedding, guys," Roy said and they walked out of the restaurant hand in hand.

She snatched her hand back the moment she was sure they are out of sight and glared at her adorable, crazy future husband.

"What?" he asked with irritation and faced her, their faces just inches apart it almost threw her back when she felt that same current flow through her again.

"What's what?" Apparently, she was able to gather herself again despite everything that happened to her in one day.

"Is this about Yeyena?" he asked. "If you're worried or jealous-"

"Ha!" she huffed, cutting him off, "jealousy is the last thing you'll get from me, my dear."

"Then what's the problem?" his brows drew a straight line.

"I just want to make it clear to you that once we're married, I don't want to be humiliated like that again. I don't care what you do with that girl," she stopped to stress out her next statement, "just make sure to be discreet about it." He looked at her incredulously. "What made you think I'd do anything with her? She's just someone who-"

"Whatever. Just remember what I said," she started to walk out the restaurant.

"Wait," he grabbed her by the wrist and whirled her around to face him, "I don't really have something going on with Yeyena-"

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"You don't have to explain-"

"Stop interrupting me," he ordered rather harshly, "because I have news for you too."

She did not dare ask, so she kept silent.

"Once we're married, I don't want you to have any sexual encounters with anyone. Understand?"

She frowned, "Sexual encounters?"

"Lovers, boyfriends, whatever you call that," he explained.

"And you can?"

"Can what?"

"Can have lovers, girlfriends, whatever you call that," she repeated his words.

"Why would I need one when I can have you?" His frown slowly disappeared and he grinned down at her. His sudden change of mood unnerved her in a way she couldn't explain.

She gasped, "In your dreams, Mr. Punda," she grabbed back her hand and whirled around, "that's one of the last things you'll get out from this marriage."

She heard him chuckle in a low voice behind her which only infuriated her. She walked out of the doors and she tried to ignore him as much as she could as the valet maneuvered the car towards them. The moment it stopped in front of them, she walked to the back door, climbed inside and slammed it shut.

They drove in silence.

"You're perfume is too strong," he finally said as he stopped the car at red light.

"What?"

"Your perfume is too strong," he repeated, throwing her a glance over his shoulder.