5. Trying To Keep Getting Closer

After spending several hours in the arcade area, Diandra’s stomach began to growl. She glanced at her wristwatch, then looked at Sebastian, who was busy carrying the large teddy bear he had won earlier.

“Bas, are you hungry?” Diandra asked while gently rubbing her stomach.

Sebastian chuckled softly.

“He-he-he. Finally you admit it. I’ve been waiting for you to say that.”

“So, are you hungry too?”

“Since we finished playing the zombie shooting game,” Sebastian replied with a light laugh.

“Let’s eat. But nothing too fancy, okay? I want something casual but delicious,” Diandra said.

“Relax. I know just the right place for us.”

Sebastian then led Diandra out of the shopping mall and toward the basement parking area. After getting into the car, they drove to a well known Japanese restaurant in the Blok M area, with a cozy atmosphere, wooden interior, and warm golden dim lighting.

As soon as they arrived and entered the restaurant, the waiter immediately recognized Sebastian.

“Good evening, Mr. Sebastian. Please, your usual table has been prepared.”

Diandra glanced at Sebastian suspiciously.

“You come here often, huh?”

“Yes. Usually when I’m stressed, I come here alone. It’s quiet, the food is good, and not many people recognize me.”

“Smart move, hiding from the outside world,” Diandra commented as she sat on the wooden chair with gray cushioning.

The menu arrived, and they ordered several dishes, salmon sashimi, chicken katsu, gyoza, and two bowls of warm ramen.

While waiting for their food, the atmosphere between them felt much more relaxed compared to earlier that morning. Diandra leaned back in her chair, then looked at Sebastian with a faint smile.

“Sebastian …”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for making today enjoyable.”

Sebastian paused for a moment, then smiled warmly.

“I should be the one thanking you for coming along. At first, I thought you’d run away from the arcade.”

“Well, at first I really didn’t feel like it, but it turned out to be fun. You’re not as annoying as I thought.”

“Can I know what you thought of me before?”

Diandra smiled playfully. “Stiff. Too serious. Too perfect and overly mature.”

“Wow, that’s quite a complete list of accusations,” Sebastian replied, pretending to be shocked.

“But it turns out, you can be silly and fun too,” Diandra said softly, almost like a whisper.

Sebastian looked at her and replied gently, “I’m just trying to be myself in front of you. Nothing is made up.”

The waiter arrived with their food. The aroma of the steaming ramen made Diandra immediately pick up her chopsticks.

“Wow, this looks really good.”

“Try it first, then judge,” Sebastian said as he sipped the broth.

They ate while laughing and chatting lightly. There was no heavy talk about family or the future that night. Just two people enjoying dinner after a long day.

After finishing their meal and leaving the restaurant, the Jakarta night air felt cool with a gentle breeze brushing their skin.

Inside the car, Diandra leaned back while hugging her teddy bear. The road was slightly congested, but it didn’t disturb the comfortable atmosphere between them.

“Are you tired?” Sebastian asked, breaking the silence.

“Not really. It just feels calm. Comfortable.”

Sebastian glanced at her briefly.

“If you feel comfortable, that means I succeeded in making you feel safe, right?”

“Maybe,” Diandra replied, holding back a smile.

After about thirty minutes of driving, they finally arrived at the Pratama family residence. The car stopped right in front of the large gate that slowly opened automatically.

“We’re here,” Sebastian said softly.

Diandra nodded but didn’t rush to get out. She stayed silent for a few seconds, as if reluctant to end the day.

“Do you want me to walk you to the terrace?” Sebastian asked.

“No need. Mom might think we’re already dating,” Diandra replied with a cool smile.

Sebastian smiled as well.

“If that were the case, I wouldn’t mind.”

Diandra fell silent for a moment. Then she turned and looked at Sebastian seriously.

“Sebastian, if it turns out we’re not compatible, will you still want to be friends with me?”

Sebastian was surprised by the question.

“Of course. But to be honest …” he looked into her eyes,

“I don’t want to be just your friend. I want to have you completely. Please don’t stop my good intention to get to know you better.”

Diandra’s face flushed. She quickly opened the car door, but before getting out, she turned back to Sebastian.

“Thank you for today. I’m really happy.

And …” she hesitated for a moment before continuing,

“I also don’t mind if eventually we …”

“We …?” Sebastian teased, raising his eyebrows.

“You know what I mean, ugh you’re annoying!” Diandra replied before quickly getting out of the car, leaving Sebastian laughing behind the wheel.

From behind the gate, Mom Sekar appeared, smiling as she saw her daughter come home carrying a big teddy bear.

“Where have you been, Di?”

“Playing, Mom,” Diandra answered shyly.

Mom Sekar held back a smile and gently stroked her daughter’s head.

“You look happy.”

“A little,” Diandra murmured before running into the house.

Meanwhile, inside the car, Sebastian sat for a moment before starting the engine. He looked toward Diandra’s house and smiled with satisfaction.

That day, Sebastian felt closer than ever to the girl. Even though there was still no definite answer about their future, Sebastian knew one thing he had taken a big step into Diandra’s heart.

And that night, for the first time since the family meeting about the arranged marriage, Diandra truly smiled sincerely after meeting Sebastian.

Sunday morning warmly greeted the Pratama family. Sunlight streamed through the dining room windows, illuminating the breakfast table that Mom Sekar had prepared herself that morning. The aroma of toast, scrambled eggs, and coffee filled the air.

Diandra came down the stairs looking fresh, her hair half tied, wearing a casual pastel green T-shirt. Mom Sekar immediately smiled upon seeing her daughter looking bright.

“Good morning, Dear. You seem unusually cheerful?” Mom Sekar greeted while pouring orange juice into a glass.

Dad Pratama looked up from his newspaper.

“Morning, Dear. How was yesterday? Where did Sebastian take you?”

Diandra paused for a moment, a bit shy. “We just went to an art exhibition, then played at the arcade, and had dinner.”

“Played at the arcade?” Dad asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

“Yes, Dad. It was really fun. I thought Sebastian was boring, but it turns out he’s really good at that basketball machine game. And he gave me that teddy bear.” Diandra pointed to the sofa, where the big teddy bear sat nicely.

Mom Sekar chuckled.

“He-he-he. That’s so cute. I’ve never seen you this eager to talk about a man. Usually you go straight to your room and lock the door.”

Diandra grimaced.

“Well … I don’t know why, but I feel comfortable with him. It’s not as scary as I imagined when I was being arranged.”

Dad Pratama put down his newspaper. He looked at his wife, then at his daughter.

“My Dear, if you’re starting to open your heart to Sebastian, your mother and I will be very happy.”

“I didn’t say I’m in love with him, okay, Dad. It’s just … I don’t mind getting to know him better.”

Mom Sekar held her daughter’s hand.

“That’s more than enough, Dear. We only want you to be happy. And seeing you come home yesterday with such a bright smile, I’m sure you’re on the right path.”

Meanwhile, at the Ganendra family residence, Sebastian had just returned from a light jog. He was still wearing a hoodie and training pants when he entered the living room.

Dad Ganendra was sitting on the sofa reading a financial report, while Mom Rasmi was watering indoor plants.

“Sebastian! Come here for a moment, Dear,” Mom Rasmi called.

“Yes, Mom?” Sebastian replied as he approached.

“How was yesterday with Diandra?” Daddy asked without looking away from the document.

Sebastian smiled. “Diandra started to smile at me, Dad. We spent the whole day together. And it seems like she’s starting to see me as a person, not just a future husband arranged for her.”

Mom Rasmi patted her son’s shoulder enthusiastically.

“I’m so happy to hear that. From the beginning, I believed you and Diandra were a perfect match.”

“I feel something different too, Mom. At first, I thought this would feel forced. But Diandra is unique. She’s stubborn, but honest. And she’s actually funny when she relaxes.”

Dad Ganendra finally closed his document and looked at Sebastian.

“If you’re starting to get along and feel comfortable with each other, I think there’s no need to delay. We can start discussing the next step.”

Sebastian was surprised. “You mean accelerating the wedding plan?”

“Why not? The sooner, the better. After all, the Pratama family has already agreed.”

Mom Rasmi added, “Besides, this isn’t a sudden marriage. You’ve known each other since you were young, and now feelings are starting to grow. Isn’t this the right time?”

Sebastian nodded slowly.

“I’ll talk to Diandra first. I want to make sure she’s truly ready.”

That same day, both families arranged a dinner together as a formal meeting to discuss the progress of their children’s relationship.

In the grand dining room of the Ganendra residence, the two families sat facing each other. Diandra sat beside Sebastian, looking slightly nervous but still smiling.

Dad Pratama opened the conversation.

“We’re very happy to see Diandra return from yesterday’s outing with such a bright face. It seems Sebastian has managed to break the ice between them.”

Dad Ganendra smiled with satisfaction.

“Sebastian said the same thing. We believe that when two hearts begin to open, there’s no reason to delay good intentions.”

“We think so too,” Mom Sekar continued.

“If you both feel comfortable, we would like to speed up the engagement process.”

Diandra was surprised and turned to Sebastian. The man looked at her gently and whispered softly,

“If you’re not ready, I can tell them. I’ll follow your lead.”

However, Diandra nodded slightly.

“I’m okay. As long as you’re patient and don’t rush things, I’ll try to go through with it.”

Dad Ganendra saw their expressions and nodded with satisfaction.

“Alright then. How about we hold the engagement next month? We can start preparing everything.”

Everyone at the dining table welcomed the idea warmly. Laughter and conversation filled the room as they discussed decorations, invitations, and even catering.

Meanwhile, Diandra and Sebastian exchanged glances from time to time, their eyes strengthening each other, conveying a silent understanding.

They did not begin with overwhelming love, but with good intentions and hearts that were slowly opening. And for both of them, that was a beautiful beginning.