Lintang hurried downstairs to the family room. Dinner hadn't been prepared because of her father's sudden summons, which forced Lintang to go to the room where her parents were waiting.
Lintang only glanced briefly at her mother before sitting down on the sofa directly across from them. For some reason, an oppressive atmosphere hung over the room even though the conversation hadn't begun.
“How's work at the office? Everything okay?”
Indra Laksono's deep voice served as the opening to a conversation Lintang guessed would become more serious from here on out.
“Everything's fine, Dad. Nara is always there to help me.” Lintang answered without a smile as she looked at the dignified-looking man in a koko shirt and prayer cap.
Yet deep in her heart, Lintang hadn't sensed even the slightest sincerity in her father's expression ever since she had begun getting to know the man who had replaced her biological father.
For some reason, Lintang couldn't stand seeing her mother married to a man who was trying to act as her stepfather.
“Thank God. If you've started feeling comfortable after almost three years, that means it's time to marry you off. What do you think, Mom?” Indra asked, shifting the subject to the woman sitting calmly beside him.
“Ah, yes, dear.”
Those were the only three words that left Nirmala's lips, along with a smile directed at Lintang, who was looking at her mother.
“Is that all you have to say? Wow, don't you agree with Lintang marrying the man I've chosen?” His gentle voice, directed at Nirmala, instantly made Lintang's mother look nervous and panicked.
Lintang silently watched her mother's entire demeanor change.
“Oh, come on, why would you say that? I never said I disagreed. In fact, I support Lintang finding a good, established man from a wealthy family, too. Whatever decision you make, I always agree for the good of the late Ray's daughter—uh, I mean, my daughter,” Nirmala replied, looking nervous as she almost mentioned Lintang's biological father's name.
Lintang immediately lifted her head and looked back at her mother, who sat uneasily after answering her father's question.
Why did Mom suddenly blurt out Dad's name? Is she hiding something from me? Lintang couldn't make sense of it. This was the first time she'd ever heard her mother bring up her late father.
“Hahaha... So your mother is trying to remind Lintang that she's Raymond's biological daughter. It's okay, Mom. I don't mind if you bring up Lintang's biological father. The truth is, she's not my daughter, right? She's Raymond Tanuwirya's daughter. Isn't that right, Lintang?”
Faced with the unexpected question about her late father, Lintang had no choice but to glare at Indra Laksono, who was staring at her and waiting for her answer.
“Yes, Mom is right. Lintang is Dad Raymond Tanuwirya's daughter. That can't be denied, even though Lintang now has to accept the fact that she's going to marry the man Dad Indra Laksono chose. You understand that too, don't you?” Lintang shot back pointedly.
That only made Indra Laksono's sharp gaze lock more intensely onto Lintang, who wasn't about to back down from making the truth about her biological father clear.
“Ahem... enough. If we keep bringing this up, it'll never end. The important thing is, Lintang's marriage to my friend's son will still take place next month. That's why I want to let Lintang know that tomorrow afternoon, you'll meet your future husband. He'll pick you up at the office and take you out to lunch. This is an order. I've already given Argan Lintang's phone number.”
Silence fell at once.
Neither Lintang nor Nirmala responded to what their father had just announced. Even Indra Laksono, who had been waiting for a response from Lintang or his wife, was left staring blankly when neither of them reacted at all.
“Hellooo, Lintang? Mom? Did you hear what I just said?”
Her father finally spoke again, asking what the two women thought.
Lintang, who had answered his first question so firmly, finally let out a slow breath before replying.
“Whatever you say, Dad. Refusing would be pointless anyway, even though I want to. Well, I'm going to my room now.” Lintang quickly stood up and started walking away.
But then she heard her father speak again.
“But, Lin... never mind. You can go.”
Lintang had been about to leave, but stopped when her father tried to hold her back. Since he was now letting her go, she abandoned the motion and continued on her way.
Not wanting to make the atmosphere even worse, Lintang continued without a word, ignoring Mbok Darmi as she appeared with a tray of drinks.
“Oh, Miss Lintang, where are you going? Here's your drink...”
“Mbok, just bring the drinks here so Lintang can go to her room,” Nirmala called to Mbok Darmi.
“Yes, ma'am.”
Mbok Darmi went back to what she was doing, watching Lintang leave as she climbed the stairs toward the second floor.
“Mom, it looks like Dad won't be having dinner at home. He made plans earlier with a business associate to eat together at a restaurant while discussing the work they didn't finish this afternoon.”
Indra Laksono's voice made Nirmala look at her husband in confusion.
“Wait, wasn't dinner already prepared, dear?”
“You and Lintang can eat with Mbok Darmi. I can't cancel because this is important. All right, then, Mom. I'm going to change clothes.”
Without waiting for his wife's answer, Indra hurried off to their bedroom, leaving Nirmala to let out a resigned sigh.
“Mbok, take the drinks back to the kitchen. Later, you can eat with me in the kitchen,” Nirmala ordered.
“Yes, ma'am.”
No more dialogue followed. Nirmala hurried after her husband to their bedroom while Mbok Darmi carried out her employer's order.
Ten minutes passed before the luxury car finally left the Indra Laksono residence, leaving his wife behind to see him off with a troubled heart.