Chapter 2. Introduction

Staring at my reflection in the mirror once more, and feeling that everything was perfect. I was wearing a pink sleeveless dress that was slightly puffy at the bottom, with prominent floral embellishments.

In dress, I don’t really like sexy clothes and too many open parts here and there. My mom smiled with a gleam on her face, I looked at her with my cheerful smile but actually I was having an extremely nervous bout.

“Mama can’t wait to see you get married, put on a wedding dress and be the prettiest,” she said, and the melancholy started to come out, I took a deep breath and rolled my eyes seeing her teary eyes. I got up from my seat, then turned around to face him, I hugged him affectionately.

“Mama will surely see that day and be happy too,” I comforted, but my heart suddenly became restless. Marriage is not on my list right now. Unraveling my embrace, then we both went to the living room.

“Sean, sorry for taking so long, take good care of my daughter huh?!” Mama ordered with a smile, Sean smiled reverently, I, who had been standing next to Mama, was stunned by the beautiful scenery that was presented at this time. Mama nudged me in awe, then nervously walked over to Sean, as we were about to pass through the door her hand touched my waist.

I felt like I was electrocuted by that touch, so we headed to his Mercedes Benz. As I sat in the car, I pressed my chest as if it was about to explode from my pounding heart, then Sean appeared and sat in the driver’s seat.

Silence fell over us, but I didn’t want to start a conversation either, because I didn’t know what to say in this situation.

“Sorry to surprise you with this engagement.” He opened the conversation between us by apologizing, I looked down at my fingers that I was slowly twisting.

“I-I don’t want to rush things,” I stammered nervously.

“Me too,” he said, the silence taking over us again, until we reached our destination. Instantly, I stiffened in my current seat, a large number of press crowding in front of the entrance. I don’t want to bring up news that shocks everyone, I’m not ready for this.

“W-whaat!? There’s no other entrance??” I asked nervously mixed with panic. Oh, my God! Please save me, I bit my inner lip from nervousness mixed with worry. If the media manages to see me with Sean, nothing will be able to save me from the news that will spread, and I don’t want that to happen.

“We’ll go through the side door of this building,” he answered then turned towards the side of the very grand building, there was an entrance where there were no crowds at all, only a security guard. Sean parked the car, then got down first and opened the door for me. My body seemed to lose energy, stretched out his hand to me, I looked at his hand doubtfully then looked up at him, he gestured for me to return the helping.

Nervously, I put one of my hands in his, then he grabbed it and I got out of the car. His grip was warm, then he pulled my waist close to his body and entered through the door that was guarded by security. The two men guarding the door bowed respectfully to us, I bowed as we entered the building. This ballroom is very spacious, and many people of course, This atmosphere is increasing my nervousness closer to the highest level.

“Sean! Come here!”

Someone called Sean, I lifted my face to look at the caller. A beautiful Middle Eastern Indian woman was smiling, we approached the woman. When we almost arrived in front of the woman, she seemed to cover her mouth with both hands, with a look as if she saw an amazing thing.

“Oh, Sean, you’re so lucky,” she said loudly, she came over and hugged me hard as if he wanted to squeeze my body, I gasped and confused with this woman’s treatment, when she opened her arms she kissed one of my cheeks.

“Mama is right and you are not wrong, you have to mingle and show off your affection, I want the world to know that this handsome but stupid Sean will marry a beautiful girl with a golden voice.”

I held back my laughter at this woman’s comment. How dare she say a Sean is a stupid man, she must be someone very close to Sean.

“Ranila! Come here!” someone called, and the woman in front of me turned around. I also got an explanation out of my curiosity. So this is Sean’s brother, I didn’t expect his reaction to me like this, I was nervous because I knew what Sean’s family was like, rich and classy, while I wasn’t included in that list. I am a singer, but my fame is not comparable to Sean and his family. The woman called Ranila said goodbye before leaving us to approach a handsome man, they kissed for a moment before embracing each other. I’m guessing it must be her husband.

“Would you like something to drink?” I turned to look at Sean, then nodded smiling, I’m very thirsty now, it’s the result of my excessive nervousness. My Inner Goddess fanned her face with her hands, her nails were red, several people in this room were staring at us and it made me nervous.

“Follow me,” he said combined with an order, he bent one of his elbows, I looked at him confused, he motioned for me to take him, hesitatingly and shyly I took his arm and walked to the dining table.

“What do you want to drink?” He asked again, I looked at the stemware which was filled with red and clear liquid, there was also a dark blue color. I know it’s wine, but I don’t drink alcohol.

“I don’t drink alcohol,” I refused, I formed my lips in a straight line, do I have to die of thirst during this party?? That’s ridiculous, I don’t want to be in the news with the embarrassing topic ‘Our newcomer singer Ariana Alexandra was found dead of thirst at a party’. My Inner Goddess put on a look of disgust at what I had just thought of, while my senses spat forcefully to the side as a sign of humiliation and repulsion. I saw Sean take a glass filled with orange liquid, I think it was orange juice. He also handed me the drink, I immediately breathed a sigh of relief when I smelled the citrus aroma from the drink, thanks God, I’m not dying of thirst here. When I drank my juice, I looked at Sean who was also looking at me with his eyes that managed to make my heart skip a beat. Can this man not look at me like that?? There were many things in this room that he could gaze at and they were more interesting.