Katrin could have flat-out refused Ira's request, but hearing the pleading tone in her voice made it impossible for her to say no. Ira really seemed to need her help.
“What could possibly be so important in Surabaya that it's a matter of life and death?” Katrin asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
“I'm getting proposed to, Rin!”
“What?!” Katrin exclaimed, startled.
“I'm serious, Rin! Mas Tejo—the guy I always tell you about—is going to propose to me. He told me he's coming to my house tomorrow to ask for my hand. That's why Papa and Mama want me to come home for a little while!”
“Why didn't you ever tell me before?” Katrin was happy for her friend too when she heard the news that Ira was about to get engaged.
“Sorry, Rin. Everything happened so suddenly! Anyway, Rin, I can't stay on the phone. I'm already about to leave!” Ira said, sounding rushed.
“Wait, where are you right now?”
“At the airport!”
“The airport…?!”
“Yeah! I left all the travel documents and itinerary with Wita. Okay, thanks, Rin! Byeee…!”
Click, click, click…
“Hello? Helloooo…?!”
Katrin let out a heavy sigh. Ira had dumped the assignment on her so casually. And then she had the nerve to hang up even though Katrin hadn't agreed to anything at all. Katrin was furious and deeply annoyed. Ira's promise to trade assignments with her if Katrin ever wanted to take time off wasn't very appealing, since Katrin had barely returned to her hometown in almost a year. She only went home for Eid or when there was something truly important to take care of. Still, Katrin tried to push her irritation aside. What was wrong with helping a friend? Especially when Ira was about to face the most historic day of her life—getting proposed to!
Who knew? Maybe helping someone who was about to find her soulmate would help Katrin find hers soon, too! Katrin smiled to herself. At least this cheered her up a little.
Katrin lay back down. But then she suddenly remembered Ira's message and immediately called Wita.
“Hello, Wita. Ira said she'd left the travel documents and itinerary for taking the tourists to Bandung with you?” Katrin asked bluntly.
“Yes, Rin! Ira told me to give them to you,” Wita replied.
“Where are the tourists from?”
“Italy.”
“How many are there?”
“Ten! Six men and four women!”
“When do they leave?”
“Tomorrow at five in the morning!”
“What? Five in the morning?!”
“Yes! They're taking the express train that leaves earlier!”
Katrin hung up. She let out another annoyed sigh. Ira, seriously! All she ever did was create more work! Ugh, so annoying! Katrin could only grumble to herself.
Katrin hurried along, lugging her bag toward the travel agency's car waiting at the entrance to her boarding house. She had woken up a little late. Since she was in such a rush, she hadn't had time to get dressed up. After showering, she had thrown on her work clothes—jeans and a shirt—put on just enough makeup, and rushed out of her boarding-house room. The blare of the horn kept calling for her. Katrin could only complain inwardly.
“What took you so long? We've been waiting!” grumbled Tono, the office driver who usually picked up and dropped off the tour guides. Katrin ignored Tono's complaints and quickly climbed into the car.
“The boss is going to be mad if he finds out his employee is like this!” Tono continued to nag.
“Enough! Drive!” Katrin snapped, a little irritated. In her head, she never stopped cursing Ira. That girl had completely wrecked her day!
The car soon sped through the still-dim early morning.
The ten tourists from Italy were already waiting outside the hotel where they were staying. They looked extremely angry, judging by their rumpled faces. As soon as the pickup car arrived, one of them unleashed a string of curses in Italian. Luckily, the tirade was aimed at Tono, the driver. The goofy-looking man merely grinned, making it obvious that he didn't understand Italian. Katrin, sitting in the corner, held back a smile. If translated, the man's words were more or less: “You idiot, you look like a monkey who hits on low-class women!”
Tono quickly lifted the suitcases and loaded them into the APV. When he was about to get behind the wheel, he leaned over and whispered to Katrin.
“Hey, Rin! Do you know what that Italian guy was saying?” he asked curiously.
“He said…” Katrin paused. She thought about it. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to tell him the truth. Tono might get offended, and then he'd sulk like crazy. Suddenly, Katrin smiled, having come up with a great idea.
“He said you're an amazing man who can handle any problem!”
“Really? He said that?”
“Yeah! He even said you look like Don Juan!”
“Who’s Don Juan?” Tono asked innocently.
“A famous Italian movie star from back in the day!” Katrin answered offhandedly.
Tono's nostrils flared with pride. Meanwhile, Katrin could no longer hold back her amused smile. She hurried into the car before Tono realized he'd been completely duped. But the man seemed quite satisfied with his own stupidity. And it gave him twice the motivation to work harder.