-chapter seven-
-present day-
Adya arrives earlier that morning, she has an early meeting, to her surprise, she finds Ajeng, her office friend, is already in her cubicle.
“Whoa Ya, isn’t it too early for you to get in?”
“Shut up, I have a meeting in half an hour, never mind me, why are you here this early.”
“It’s the Emmys,” she says with a grin, “red carpet’s on.”
Adya freezes and looks at the TV. Ryan Seacrest is on the screen and he is interviewing one of the casts of Second Language Phillip Connor. She feels a lump on her throat.
“Emma Watson looked pretty this year. Can’t believe how long ago she was Hermione?”
“Yeah,” Adya answers her absentmindedly.
“How was it Ya?”
“What?”
“The red carpet.”
“It’s red and crowded.”
“Ow no shit.”
Adya chuckles.
“No, I mean do all of them looked that perfect?”
Adya stops and stares at the TV for a while, which is featuring one of the Kardashians. She turns at Ajeng, “You have to,” she smiles, “all eyes are on you.”
-some nine months ago-
“Watcha doin’?” Adya caught Darren was behind his computer. She passed him by as she grabbed her orange juice and kissed his cheek. She was having a great day, her dissertation was progressing smoothly everything should go according to plan.
“Looking at dresses,” he said flatly, “would you wear this one?”
Adya stopped, “Is it work related or a phase?”
He chuckled, “No silly, award season’s coming up.”
“You’re going as a drag?” she still did not get it.
He looked at her in disbelief, “Are you majoring in naïve or you’re just doing this to annoy me? The Golden Globe is coming up, naturally, you’re my plus one.”
She froze, “Say what?”
“I want you to go with me.”
She stammered, “I…I don’t have anything to wear.”
He chuckled, amused, “Hence the search, and Alex said he’ll set up appointment with a designer if you have one in mind.”
“There’ll be people there.”
“No shit.”
“And reporters,” she said as she sat down the couch.
“Yes! If we’re lucky, we might even catch glimpse of those rare creature,” he started being sarcastic.
She became quiet.
“We’ll be fine Addy.”
“We’re going public?”
“Yes, and I’ve been thinking about it for a while anyway.”
She didn’t reply.
“It’ll be okay Addy.”
“It’ll be broadcasted all over the world right?”
“Yeah so?”
She paused, and looked at him. She didn’t know how to say this to him. She didn’t mean this relationship to be where it was. When she was in San Francisco, his parents and family had accepted her. But little did he know, she hadn’t told her family about him just yet.
“What is it Addy?”
“I haven’t told my parents about you,” she confessed quietly.
He was taken aback, “Say what?”
“I mean, I told my sister about you, and of course my cousin Tanya, but I haven’t told my parents.”
“Uh huh,” he said, and from his tone Adya knew he was upset. “Were you hiding me? Are you betrothed or something?”
Adya had to laugh at the question, “Dude if I was betrothed, I would be married when I was 22 and probably have 5 kids right now.”
“It’s not funny you know,” he said to her with serious tone. “You haven’t told your parents about me?”
She shook his head.
“Why? Were you embarrassed by me? Am I not fitting for your parents?”
“No, and yes,” she answered as a matter-of-factly.
“What?”
She sighed, “You have to understand, my parents are traditional Indonesians. First and foremost, they don’t allow their daughter bunking with a guy who’s not her husband. And they expect me to find someone who at least share the same faith with me.”
He looked at her but didn’t reply.
“Before you say anything, it’s something that is important to them. For me, I believe that all beliefs are good, but not them. It would be difficult to talk to them about you that’s all. It complicates things more.”
He still didn’t reply.
“Not to mention the waves of the Indonesian press when they found out. You don’t know how they are, I hate referring them as vultures, as I was a part of their community back in the days. But that’s how the entertainment journalists in Indonesia. I mean….”
“I get it,” he cut her, “it’s hard for you to be with me.”
“Hey I didn’t say….”
“If it’s that hard for you why don’t we just end this!”
She was stunned with the words he just said. “You don’t mean that,” she said quietly.
He looked at her with hatred and pain, “Just watch me.” He said and he walked out on her.
-present day-
Darren is fidgeting on his seat in the limo. Alex is chattering on the phone, making sure his entrance will be perfect. He smiles remembering the last couple awards he had attended, it was with her, and she insisted that they just come with regular cars, limos are too douchy, she said.
“You’re okay there D-man?” Alex asks him. He hates it when Alex calls him that name. Alex is in his early 40s but party like a frat boy. But he is the best in the business, he is professional, and his lifestyle doesn’t interfere with his work at all. That’s why he’s still keeping him as his agent.
He let out a small smile, “I’m good, I just haven’t had much sleep that’s all.”
“Don’t fall asleep now, it’s not cute if you’re dozing off when they called your name.”
He laughs, “No, I’ll make sure of that.”
“It’s not too late to come with Monica Sanders you know, she’s still on the way.”
“No Alex, thank you. It’s not a sin going stag to an award. Jake Gyllenhaal does it all the time,” he declines.
“He’s not recently dumped.”
He looks at Alex, “Butt out,” he says.
Alex knew that was the last straw, he withdrawn, “Suit yourself.”
-some nine months ago-
“Ugh, you don’t look so hot,” Alex said to him. They were having a meeting about the next project he was going to do. Today, they’re meeting with the producers. But he couldn’t sleep last night. It has been a week and no word from her. He was half hoping, every night, she would show up and try to make it work.
He grunted and gave Alex a look.
“Uh huh, what’s up D-man, you can tell Alex.”
“Alex, that sentence has two things I hate, the name and the third person.”
“What the hell’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.”
“So has Addy picked her designer yet?”
“It’s Adya for you, and no, I don’t’ think she’s going.”
“What? You need a date dude. For the sake of your image, I mean you’re like the main suspect for Janet’s divorce.” Janet Manning, his co-star who played Ms. Stark, was finalizing her divorce. He was rumored to be her lover, because no one in public knew about Adya.
“What image Alex?”
“Home wrecker. Do you want to be identified as such?”
“I’m not a home wrecker.”
“I know that, you know that, Addy knows that, but the people don’t know that.”
“Alex, stop calling her Addy.”
“You call her that.”
“Yes, I do,” he stressed out the ‘I’.
Alex made a face, “Geez Darren, possessive much?”
Darren scoffed.
“Listen, you need to show up with a girl, proofing you’re not dating Janet. I mean, it’s the way the business work. You know that right? How about I fix you up with someone. Just for the award D, you don’t have to fuck her.”
He looked at Alex disgusted, one of the things he didn’t like about Alex, was how womanizer he was. “Whatever.”
“Sweet,” he started dialing numbers.
They were wrapping up scene and Alex came over to him, “D, I got you a date tonight, with Samantha Golde. If all went well….”
“You what??”
“You said whatever, and I found you a date. Don’t tell me you’re going to stood Sam Golde?”
Darren scoffed, Alex can be too creative sometimes, and butting in on his personal life too. He rubbed his eyes, “Where are we supposed to meet?”
“She’s waiting for you next door, and I made reservations for you guys already.”
“You thought of everything have you?”
“Somebody gotta,” he said with a wink.
He went to pick up Sam, but he needed to grab something from his apartment, so they were going to make a quick stop there. As he was driving, he couldn’t believe he actually doing this. He glanced to the passenger seat, and a bit startled when he didn’t see Adya there. It was just wrong. But he didn’t really want to argue with Alex.
-present day-
“Hey check out Janet’s outfit. Kinda ‘look at me, I’m a hot mama’ kind of thing isn’t it?” Ajeng is still glued to the red carpet.
Adya has to chuckle to that. Janet wasn’t her cup of tea for friends, but she was okay. “She’s going through a phase,” Adya defends her.
“Of what?” Ajeng snaps, “Cougar humping young boys phase?”
“Hey careful now,” Adya playfully warns her.
“Ow, right, I’m so sorry,” Ajeng says with a laugh. “How come you’re not there? I mean, I thought you’re not coming back.”
Adya smiles, “Because I’m here.”
“Touché,” Ajeng says and went back watching the red carpet. “Hey, there’s Darren.”
Adya’s heart stops. They show a shot of him climbing off a limo. She waits, expecting the worst. Then Alex climbs off the limo, and they close the door. Adya suddenly back breathing. He’s going stag.
-some nine months ago-
She was in the center, playing with her coffee and absentmindedly looking at the computer. She was looking at the spring line up of a designer in their webpage. She didn’t know why she was doing this. Didn’t she told him she’s not going.
“Okay mija, spill,” Estelle caught her by surprise.
“”What? I have nothing to spill.”
“Uh huh, and I weigh 105.”
Adya scoffed.
“I’ve known you long enough to know when you’re thinking about something, what is it?”
Adya sighed and gave in. She told Estelle everything, about Darren asking her to the award, the situation with her parents, and what happened to them after.
“You dumb wench!” Estelle said after her long speech.
“Ow wow, thank you Estelle, now I feel better.”
“What the hell is wrong with you, girls would kill to have a man like that. And you, you drove him away. No, I’m not saying this because he’s Darren frickin’ Mitchell, I’m saying this because he’s truly a great man. He put up with your antics, and lemme tell you missy, your wall is so high, I can’t believe he hadn’t walked away sooner. He wanted to get to know you, genuinely, that’s why he hung around here at times. You think he really hang out here to see Mateo? And on top of those things, he introduced you to his parents! Adya ‘however you pronounced your last name’, you might have the higher degree, but at this moment, you’re dumb as shit.”
She looked at Estelle after her long speech. “It’s not that simple Estelle, my parents….”
“Will be happy for you if they know what’s best.”
Adya chuckled sarcastically, “You don’t know them. I’ve dated guys with different faith. I would be Mrs. Somebody if my parents approved. But here I am, dating someone’s five years younger than me, who is amazing in every way, except that.”
“Do you love that kid?”
She looked at Estelle, “I don’t know, I can’t give my heart when I know it’s a dead end.”
“Who said it’s a dead end?”
“It won’t be a fairy tale ending Estelle.”
“A fairy tale, is for both of you to live happily ever after. And if you love him, you have to take the leap of faith.”
She looked at Estelle.
“When I marry Carlos, my father is furious. He’s not exactly a catch like Darren frickin’ Mitchell there.”
“Shut up.”
“But I marry him anyway, because he made me the happiest woman, and I am a better person when I’m with him. So, take the leap Adya.”
Adya didn’t reply. She stared back at the coffee. She knew what she wanted. Her world was empty every time they’re apart. He made her better, she wanted to be his.
She went to his place, being in there, breathing his scent, was comforting. She convinced herself, she’s doing the right thing. She waited for him, she fidgeted in his living room. Suddenly she heard the lock turned. And she heard his voice.
“I’ll be right back, it’ll be just a…” he stopped when he saw her, “Addy.”
She smiled, “Hey.”
He stood there just looked at her. He seemed stunned, “I thought I loose you.”
She smiled, she was about to tell him how she felt, but suddenly a voice chimed in.
“Come on Darren, we’re going to miss the reserve…. Ow hi, I didn’t’ realize you have a guest.”
Adya eyes widened. She knew the person, well she knew of her. It was Samantha Golde. The it girl at the moment. “This is clearly a mistake.”
His facial expression read panic, “No, Addy, wait.”
“I,” she stumbled, “I gotta go.” She said and walked out of his place.
“Addy, come on,” he called out to her, but she ignored him. She walked so fast she didn’t stop. She didn’t hear him coming after her either. After all he had company, she didn’t think he’d be running after her this time. She found a cab and hauled it. She climbed in and started sobbing. It really felt like dejavu, only this time, she was sure she’s loosing him.
She curled up on her bed, she just realized, how much it meant for her, the relationship and everything. She didn’t want to see him with someone else. It crushed her. She, goodness, did she really fall in love with him. She can’t do this, she can’t fall in love, her graduation is around the corner, she had to leave soon. How will they survive that? They had differences as is, to add the distance in the midst of the problem was just a recipe for disaster.
But a little voice inside her told her they’d manage…they’d survive.
Yeah, like your past relationships? A more cynical voice entered her brain.
She didn’t know which one to listen to. Her head hurts. Faintly she heard the lock being turned.
“Addy!” it was him. She knew the footsteps, it came closer to the bedroom. “Addy!” the bedroom door swung open.
She sat up straight and saw him standing on the doorstep.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t have come and ruined….” She stopped as he kissed her. She felt relieved, she felt alive, she felt, right.
“The only thing that could shut you up,” he said and smiled. He leaned on her forehead, “It’s not what it seems, Alex set us up. He got this crazy idea that I have come with a date to the award. I can’t really walk out from it, so I agreed to it. But I can’t stop thinking about you. I just want you. And I realized, I’d rather go stag and being labeled ‘home wrecker’ than to go with someone else but you. So will you be my date Addy?”
She smiled, a part of her was relieved. But another part was dreading her.
“We gotta do something first though.”
“What is it?” he asked her.
She took him to the living room, and she set up the laptop, “I want you to meet my parents.”
They called her parents that night. He met them for the first time. She was a nervous wreck. As usual, being Indonesians, her parents were polite during the video call. At the end of the call, her mom asked her to call via phone. When she called, the thing she was dreading came true. Her mom started bombarding her with questions about Darren’s background, his faith, and what are their plans.
“You’re not a kid anymore Dya, you’re in your thirties,” her mother said on the other line.
Adya sighed, “I know that Mom.”
“Where would this go?”
“I don’t know, but it’s going great now. Why can’t you be happy for me Mommy?”
“I don’t want to see you get hurt again Dya.”
“I’m on the other side of the world Mom, you don’t have to,” she said.
Her Mom didn’t reply.
“I got to go Mom.”
“I want what’s best for you honey.”
“I know, that’s why I’m telling you this. We’re going public, and I thought you should know first.”
Her mother disconnected the phone. She put down the phone and looked at Darren.
“You’re okay?” he asked, concerned.
She gave him a small smile, “No, but you’ll be here right?”
He squeezed her hand and kissed her temple. “I love you.”
She smiled, “I love you too.”
He stopped and stunned.
“I just speak English, not Yiddish.”
He smiled, “You said it back,” he said and kissed her.
-present day-
Darren steps in the red carpet and up to Ryan Seacrest for an interview. He reminisces the last time he was here, she was with him, they worked the interviews. People said they were the coolest new couple.
“Hey man,” Ryan greets him.
“What’s up Ryan.”
“How is it going? Second Language is really picking up huh?”
“Yeah, yeah, we’re on our 2nd season, and it’s been wonderful. Ms. Stark is married with Mr. Tony now, it’s kinda interesting.”
“Speaking of marriage and love life, you’re going stag tonight?
“Yeah, I am,” he tries to sound cool.
“So the rumor is true then?” Ryan pries.
“What are you talking about Ryan?” he tries to keep it light.
“Little bird told me you’re back in the market now?”
He tries to laugh at it, “I don’t know what kind of bird you’re talking about Ryan.”
Ryan politely laughs at his response, “Well congrats on the show and the nomination, good luck.”
He says his thanks and goodbyes to Ryan, and walks through the red carpet, trying to avoid people. Which is really hard to do in the red carpet. He misses her, terribly.
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