Ding-dong...
The bell hanging over the entrance chimed, and a twenty-five-year-old woman emerged from the room.
Naya. Yes, that was her.
“Hi, Ms., here’s your free drink...” offered an employee working at the drink shop Naya usually visited.
“Wow... what’s the occasion?” Naya asked as she took the cup of Americano the employee offered her.
As the employee handed Naya a straw, they said, “Nothing special, Ms. One of our regular customers ordered coffee and matcha to hand out. They said it was their devotional sacrifice for someone whose birthday is today.” Naya simply nodded and thanked the employee.
*That person is so lucky,* Naya thought. She returned her focus to preparing the documents she needed for today’s meeting.
Two hours passed, and her meeting and other work were finished. It was time to meet the friends who had been waiting for her.
“Heyyy, girlss... Sorry I took so long. That meeting just wouldn’t end.” —Naya
“One busy Ms. right here,” May teased as she fed her child.
Amanda pulled Naya’s attention toward her and said, “Nay, happy birthday... Wish you all the best. I hope all the noise in your head settles down soon. I hope all the effort you’ve put in starts paying off soon. I hope you’re always happy, always healthy, always provided for, and always protected from anything bad. Amen...”
Everyone at the table said amen to Amanda’s words, taking turns offering their heartfelt prayers for Naya, whose birthday it was today.
Putri looked sadly at Naya. “Nay, are you seriously going to accept that arranged match?” Naya lifted both shoulders, showing that she was confused too.
“Honestly, I’m still not sure either, but what else can I do? This is my twenty-fifth birthday, and there are only three months left until the deadline.”
“Look, Nay, there are still three months left. In my opinion, it wouldn’t hurt for you to get to know him first. Who knows, maybe you’ll turn out to be a good match—or at least you’ll know the guy beforehand, so it won’t be a total disaster later,” Putri suggested.
“Exactly, I agree,” Alina added, having been busy holding her stomach because she was four months pregnant.
“Come on, mama-to-be. Just focus on the baby in your belly,” Naya said as she stroked Alina’s stomach. “And you guys don’t need to worry too much about this, okay? We should be focusing on the things that can improve our lives, okay?!” Naya continued.
Meanwhile, somewhere else, a woman sat on a park bench, holding a piece of paper with a sketch of two high school students.
*Hey, how did it go? Were the drinks handed out?* *Fine. Thank you.*
After ending the call, the woman stared at the paper in her hand again and thought, *Happy birthday, Nay. You’re twenty-five now. You’re all grown up. I’m sure you’ve gotten even more beautiful. Too bad I have no idea where you are now. Are you being celebrated today, Nay? Or are you off by yourself like you used to be? But I’m here now, Nay, at the place where you used to be alone, and I don’t see you here.*
Before she realized it, tears began to fall from her eyes. Her chest felt full and tight from holding in the longing she had kept buried for years. *I miss you so much, Nay.*
Half an hour later, the woman hurried home.
Naya headed toward the park bench she often visited and happened to see someone familiar. *Lana...*
Naya jogged a little to make sure it was the same person, but she was too late—the woman had already ridden away on her motorcycle.
Naya wiped both eyes, which had begun to tear up. She missed Lana so much that she had mistaken the woman for her. *Maybe she just looked like Lana, but why is my heart so sure that was Lana?!* she murmured.