Maya Adisti
Just Pura

I was sitting on the balcony of the hotel, I don't know how many cigarettes I've spent here. I've been in this room for half a day, it's been amazing. My mom went somewhere, she said she wanted to see her friend Mega.

I didn't think it turned out that they provided such a large room for me and my mother to stay over. Separate room with living room, spacious balcony and some snacks available on the table. But one thing caught my attention. White and blue lehenga wedding dress displayed on the model in the corner of the room.

Between the two dresses my attention was more focused on a set of blue lehenga with a very beautiful silver embroidery. There are two dupata, one for the head covering and the other one attached to the shoulder of the model.

Real pretty. More beautiful than I usually see in movies. Looks like this family is indeed of Indian or pakistani descent perhaps?

I took a sip back, exhaling the smoke aloft. My life is like a novel. Being a fake bride in a wealthy family of foreign descent. Sounds like crap. I was curious, how could you be friends with them ?.

I heard the door opened, I immediately turned off my cigarette and went into the room. My mother and a middle-aged woman with fashionable makeup walked up to me. I also regretted it.

"Oh, is this Maya? Pretty, but I don't like dancing, do I? what semester is the class?" said the woman.

I'm reflexive about my own looks, I'm just wearing jeans and a regular t-shirt. My hair is just ponytailed, I don't think I look ordinary. He could have commented on my appearance. Every day is like this. It has to be how?

"Aunty's final semester again thesis," I replied.

"Ooh, thank you for helping us" said the woman named Mega.

Suddenly the open door was knocked, two other women came with a bag big enough in his hand. Their makeup is quite fashionable with thin makeup underneath.

"Sir Maya, they are from the MUA team, you will be made over for the event tomorrow. Auntie hope you don't mind?" The woman smiled as she stroked my arm, whereas I could only smile stiffly.

The MUA team asked me to sit on the chair, I said. They opened my hair, my back hair was loose they started combing it.

"Hair is nice mba, thick and wavy. Just a little dry." Hearing that I just kept quiet.

"Just make the hair draped tomorrow, but still wear good accessories." After making sure all the preparations Aunt Mega also left us.

The next half day I spent sitting down letting the MUA team treat me as they pleased. It was not just the hair they were wearing. Their eyebrows and nails were also overhauled. They also asked me to wear scrubs to make my skin brighter and smoother. Very inconvenient.

The night began to fall, the MUA team was now wearing henna on my hands and feet. It made me difficult to move, especially my hair that now turned straight always blocked my view. Wanted me to tie it up but the MUA team forbade it.

"You're beautiful May" praised Mother. I looked at her, she looked at me with teary eyes. I took a long breath.

"Don't get emotional, ma'am. It's just pretend, "my protest.

"Mom should have seen you like this at your real wedding not like this, I'm sorry May." The woman kissed my head.

"Judah ma'am, don't think about it. Mother who told but mother who was melancholic."

"Yes, same old man" replied the mother. I chuckle at hearing it.

Just when hennaku was done a room service came to bring him dinner. The two MUA people were saying goodbye and reminding me not to move a lot because the henna in my hand was not dry, while the henna in my feet had dried up since then because they worked it first.

I pouted looking at the food that was sitting in the living room. In this wet henna condition I must have trouble eating.

"Let's feeder." Mom took the rice and meat soup and poured it on me with a spoon.

***

Early in the morning my mother woke me up, sleeping in a place that was softer than usual made me lazy to wake up. It felt like the pillow and bolster were hugging me tightly.

"May! Wake up! Shame on being seen!" exclaim mom slowly.

I opened my eyes, looking around at the memory of my memories gathered quickly. I hurried to get up, and then I sat down the first time I saw was two people yesterday, plus two more people so in total there are four people who today are ready to dress me up.

"Goddessa.." I'm re-energizing my body.

Seeing me fall back asleep, my mother and the women started to get busy. Some take a towel, find an underwear, open a makeup bag, line up accessories. My mother was the one who pulled me to the bathroom the most.

After taking a shower I fell silent in the mirror, I noticed that my skin was really brighter than before, either because my slightly changed haircut made me feel fresher or the scrub effect that I was wearing yesterday.

"May! Scribbles!" my mother from outside.

I went out and started fighting with the MUA.

***

During several times Aunt Mega went to my room to check all the preparations. Some people also came to pick up the blue lehenga they said they would move into the dressing room. Aunt Mega invited my mother to go for a selfie in another room.

Hours of sitting makes me really feel sore this just wearing make up and hair do. I pulled my bath tearing tighter and then walked into the living room to grab some food. There is rice, meat stews and some other side dishes.

"May I eat ?" I asked the four women who were gawking because I was getting up all of a sudden.

"Let me take a bribe, you stay there because your hair isn't finished yet." One of them approached me. I followed and returned to my original position.

Lastly, they took off the white wedding dress on display and asked me to wear it. The wedding dress had a wide skirt and a long tail. Although long-sleeved, but the material in the arms until the chest is very thin only covered by pearl sequins only. They also put on a thin scarf covering my dark hair.

Done it. I saw my reflection in the mirror and didn't recognize myself anymore. I walked here and there trying to fit in with the high heels they were preparing.  Suddenly the door of the room was knocked open and a middle-aged man in a black suit came up to me. There was a small flower in his pocket.

"I'm Dhika. Dhika Prawiranegara, Akash's uncle. I'll accompany you to the altar" said the man.

I was astonished when I heard the word altar, what could possibly mean by a guarantee?

"Come, it's time to greet the guests." We all came out of the room and walked down the hallway. Uncle Dhika positioned her right arm, gesturing for me to hold her.

"Where's mom?" my many.

"Don't worry, your mother's been waiting there."

Long enough we walked, we finally arrived in front of the hotel ballroom whose door was closed. Some men wore black shirts and earphones in their ears standing guard at the door. It seems like they are pantia because when I came the look on their faces suddenly turned more serious.

The two girls guarding the guest table stood up when they saw me coming. I smiled as much as I could. I saw the man wearing the earphones becoming hastily positioned themselves.

"Two minutes the door opens. Please prepare yourself" said one of them. I'm nodding. I see Uncle Dhika, it seems that he is more relaxed. I took a deep breath, neutralizing my feelings.

All right, let's just say it's a theatrical performance and my role as a bride. I positioned myself to be more firm and more graceful. I heard the aba-aba count and counted to the three doors of the ballroom open.

"Let's enjoying the show" I muttered in my heart.

***