I got a dinner invitation letter, and it’s very
unusual. I just walked from hospital and someone came to me. It was a while
before dawn and usually the path is empty at this time. But today is different.
“Lady Eive Chera, you are cordially invited to a
dinner party at Kalingga’s Mansion. Your arrival is highly appreciated” said a
man that looks like a butler. He looks so neat. He gave me an elegant
invitation envelope. Heh? Who am i?
I am wondering. How did he know my name? I’ve never
met him before, and also how did he know that I will go through this path? Is
he spy? Maybe yes, because going to hospital is one of my morning routine. But,
I don’t know, my feeling doesn’t have any suspicion.
“Sir, what is…?” I stop my word because I see I’m
talking to no one. That man has disappeared. I was meaning to ask the purpose
of this person inviting me; of course I need a legible reason. But instead,
this leads me to the idea of ghost inviting me for a sacrificial dinner ritual.
Weirdly, I still don’t have any suspicion.
I look at the envelope. It’s fancy and nice. The
letter said that I have been invited by Simon Kalingga and his family. He lives
in a mansion on the side of this town, there’s a picture of it. I think I’ve ever spotted a big building like
this. I just don’t know it’s called ‘mansion’.
On the top of all things, I accept the invitation.
One hour before that dinner and I’ve prepared
everything. This is a normal reaction of someone new in town for her first time
invited to a dinner, although I don’t feel so normal.
First I dressed like usual. I wear a scarf, a
medium-long dress, and a monocle. Hey, that’s really something that I wear
every day. I just want to be myself.
And second, also the last, mental condition. I think
I’m ready.
The mansion isn’t really far; I just walk there for 15
minutes. As soon as I arrived, I am welcomed by the butler that I met this
morning. Wooh, maybe I’m really an important person here.
“Welcome Lady Chera, we have looked forward yours to
come. Follow me”
I follow him slowly as he walk elegantly. I am well
amazed by the garden and its dim lighting that beautifies the night flowers and
sparkling small stream. Then I enter the mansion, welcomed by a large hall with
sculptures and carving over the wall. My head always look up.
“Good evening, Eive Chera, please take a seat” I heard
different voice. I lower my head and I’ve already arrived at the dining room. I
see three people, it seems like a parents and their son. And the father is the
one that spoke.
“Take a seat, please” said the father again. I snapped
out of my amazement and I sit down. I feel like they’re unhappy with my
presence here. I see the son is whispering something to his father, some kind
of thing that he doesn’t want.
“*clears throat* I’m sorry, maybe it feels strange if
someone you don’t know invite you to a dinner. We know that you just settled
here a few days ago, and then we heard that you saved Granny Selvi’s
grandchild, Shiela, from a robbery. What a heroic act you did. So we’re here to
welcome you and also to thank you for your heroism. What do you say?” spoke the
son.
Partly speechless, I say “…um, thank you very much”.
Uh, I’m so nervous, I’m afraid of doing things wrong.
“Dinner is ready” there is some servant serving some
dinner dishes, or a lot of them. I act like a hungry people should act, there’s
so many food that looks delicious. I almost snap one pile of chicken and
something make me stop. I see the father and the mother doesn’t look so happy
from their face, but not the son, he looks friendly. I slow down my moves.
“You may eat any food you want” said that son. Wait, I
have something.
“Before that, would you mind introducing yourself? You
have known my name, and now it’s your turn, I think it will be awkward if I
have a dinner with someone that I don’t know even the name” I asked. That
sprung out from my mind by itself.
“Oh, I’m sorry. My name is Simon Kalingga, and these
are my parent, Freud Kalingga and Jeanne Silua Kalingga, and then you can call
me Simon” said the son. Oh he’s the one who is Simon. I thought Simon was the
father.
Then I eat the food just like I usually do. But still
Simon’s parents look unhappy. Am I doing mistake?
“You’re a unique people; you must come from somewhere
far, if you mind to tell us, where did you live before?” ask Simon. You know,
this question is the question that I always avoid.
“Where did I live? Maybe not, that’s something that I
don’t want to talk about. It’s just so tragic.” That’s my answer.
“Oh, I apologize, I don’t know if it’s something
privacy” answer Simon.
“No problem, Mr. Simon” I said. Still, and still,
Simon’s parents look unhappy. And also I see Simon become slightly worried
about something. Did my feeling this morning lie to me?
I continue eating my food. I tried to repel every bad
thought that come. This is just my feeling. I think I’m acting as I should
behave, being myself, and it’s not a mistake. Everything will be just fine.
“My patience is
enough, Simon, what do you think you are doing?! Inviting someone as disgusting
as a piece of trash!” shout Simon’s father. Ugh, what?
“Dad, Keep your mouth! She’s our guest, show your
respect!” replied Simon.
“Just look at the way she behaves! She’s just low-class
citizen, I don’t want her to take any step again in this house forever!” added
Mr. Freud. I am now fully speechless. Am I troublemaker here?
“Lady, you must know what is happening now, now do
what you should do!” asked Mrs. Jeanne. I am frozen in confusion. Every question
asked in mind but no word I spit out.
“LADY, DID YOU HEAR ME!?” in a second Mrs. Jeanne
shouted at me with angry voice. What is the beverage for this dinner now? A cup
of fear.
I am scared, very scared. I don’t what I really fear
about. Just feel very scared. I run out from that dining room, towards the main
door, leaving that mansion.
“Lady, wait!” a voice stopped me in front of the gate.
Simon runs after me.
“Lady Chera, I really ask you for a big apology. I’m
very sorry. I don’t know your thing wouldn’t work fit with our way. My parents
are just being ethnocentric. Sorry, but this dinner is ended, you can go home
now” explained Simon. I calmed down, although I don’t really understand what he
said.
“I understand, but thanks for all, and nice to meet
you Mr. Simon” I said. Then I leave that place immediately.
That was an experience.
-0-
“Hey Chera! Why do you look so sad in this peaceful
night? Why do you even out here?”Said Diane sprung out from darkness. A moment
she woke me from a reverie. In way home,
my mind is full of that dinner thing. hey, I think my feeling this morning didn’t
really lie for bad.
“Diane, I think I learned something this evening”
“What is it, sunshine?”
“Sunsh….? Umm, I just learned that I need to adapt and
behave what people here behave. I just got some kind of culture shock”
“Well, you are facing the right person; shall we start
tomorrow, sunshine?”
Tonight there are some things that make me happy. First,
I learned about being myself and being the way people should. Second, I just
got a best friend.
