7. Grand Opening

When get home, mother is usually still at the store, but today she went home before Elyn got home. Even the housework that was neglected because Elyn was always procrastinating, her mother had already done it, making Elyn feel guilty.

“You've come home? How's school?” mother welcomed the arrival of her daughter with a warm smile.

“Good. Everything's fine...”

"But," mother approached, wanting to observe Elyn's face more clearly. “You look very tired, dear..." Worried mom.

Elyn never told mother that to reach school she had to walk and the same way back home, from school to highway before taking public transportation. 

“It's Okay Mom, really! I've only been exercising a little lately to get fit.”

“Then you must feel hungry, we eat together... Mom bought some of your favorite foods.” 

On the table there is already a package of food that mom left to warm for Elyn.

“Mom is the best!” Elyn's spirit immediately filled up hearing her favorite food.

Mother gently stroked Elyn's hair, paying attention to every detail of Elyn's face.

“Let's change clothes first, then we'll eat together. I can't wait to hear your story at school today.”

Elyn swallowed, forcing a smile. She must be good at polishing her daily stories at school so that the mother does not feel anxious. In the room when changing clothes she thought hard to find good things about her school, or events that can be shared with mom and make mother happy when heard it. Mothers do have rules or habits to always maintain communication in the family, especially after they only live two of them.

”Mom, I’m done " Called Elyn.

“Oh El, wait. Mom is warming up your food quickly.”

While she stands next to mom. Looking at mom's back, Elyn remembered the past days. Memories where every day they go through is always cheerful and shines with the father figure. She misses those days very much.

Mom and Elyn have always been together and just the two of them since father fell ill and died two years ago. Father's business fell, they had to leave the old house and close several businesses. Mother has to sell assets left by father so as she could start a new business. In other words, Elyn's family went bankrupt or fell into poverty even though she did not become a bum. 

Thankfully, the company's debt can be completed and mother gets the help of an old acquaintance so they can start a new life in this place. That's all Elyn knows. Why she was able to get into the elite  school aka SOPA, mother never told clearly. How and with what way. Being able to stay in school, she should be grateful, there is no place and time to complain.

“Here it is...” Warm meals began to fill the dining table. Mom joined Elyn at the dinner table after all the food was ready.

"Mom...” For some reason Elyn suddenly felt emotional, wanted to cry. But she could never cry honestly in front of mom, she didn't want mom to be sad and make mom's heart break. Father's passed away, it's not just her who feels lost. Mother must have been through a lot harder than Elyn.

Mother holds Elyn's hand. “El, what is it? Why did you just call but didn't finish?”

Since Elyn didn't know for sure what she wanted to say, she just felt like calling. “I just wanted to call you and make sure you weren't exhausted from work.”

“Mom is fine, honey... The store opening plan went smoothly and on schedule. This Weekend we can start the grand opening.”

"Weekend?” If the opening is on the weekend, Elyn does not have to skip school.

“Yes, you can come. Bring your friends too.” Mom said enthusiastically that she wanted to meet Elyn's new school friend.

“Friends?" she thought. Until now, there was no one she could call a friend at school. Elyn could only put on a fake smile at mom's request.

“Then, how is school? Is there anything exciting?” The question started a quality time session for mothers and daughter.

“Hm, Mommy knows that my new school has a super luxurious school cafeteria and the food is delicious like a buffet at a star hotel..." 

And so Elyn started telling interesting things that she met at school about the facilities, the buildings but not the people she met there.

***

At the Grand Opening store, mother was busy welcoming the invited guests as well as their new prospective customers. But specifically that day she was waiting for an invited guest whose arrival she was most looking forward to. Yes, the guest is special because it can be said that thanks to the help of that person she and Elyn can start a new life in this city and can open their business without any problems.

And at that moment, a luxury car rolled smoothly then stopped right in front of the store. Both sides of the passenger car door open, down from there a woman with a special elegant dress designed by a famous designer looks elegant when walking. From the other side a handsome young man with a basic white shirt with pink stripes gives the impression of neat and elegant, walking in the footsteps of the woman who came down with him. Not left out also flowers in his hands.

“Jeann! You've finally arrived...” Welcome mother full of enthusiasm and radiant face.

The woman who was called by her real name Jeanne received a warm welcome and reciprocated with a kiss on the cheek. “Sorry, Belinda, I'm a little late...”

“It's okay, the most important thing is that we meet now." Elyn's mother, whose real name is Belinda, was delighted to hear her name being called after so long.

“Oh yeah! This is Anthony, my son..."Jean proudly and lovingly introduced the handsome young man who had been with her since got out of the car.

Belinda's voice was enthusiastic again. “Wow, you have grown up this big already...”

“Good afternoon, Aunty... Congratulations on opening the shop.” Anth handed over the flower arrangement he prepared as a gift.

“Thank you... it’s beautiful flowers!" 

Belinda's delight increased to happiness after receiving a flower arrangement that she had not imagined before. Since flowers have become a rare item, it has been a long time since Elyn's father passed away and she didn't receive such a wonderful gift. 

“Oh, come in! We talk inside that more comfortably, come on...”

“Oh sure. But Belinda, where is your daughter? I want to meet her!"Jean asked impatiently.

“She's not here yet, maybe on her way now.” 

If Elyn had come on time and been in the store today, Belinda's day would have been perfect.

“Oohh, I heard she went to school in SOPA right? There is also the same school as Anth going there.” Even for Jeanne, SOPA getting a transfer student is an interesting thing because it rarely happens.

“Yes, the final decision is indeed they should be at one-school and I just follow. "Belinda said that she basically did not take issue with Elyn's school transfer problem.

Before finding the intended comfortable place in the store, the two mothers had begun to exchange exciting news. Meanwhile Anthony's role is just to be the second listener of a woman who looks as familiar as an old friend. And he really is not paying attention or curious about the contents of the conversation. 

Anthony's parents ' relations and acquaintance as a big businessman background has made him not interested anymore or too tired to memorize people one by one. Suave Attitude, giving the impression of familiarity such as bringing flower arrangements for example, is a family upbringing instilled since he was in kindergarten. Coming to the Grand Opening event is also due to Mama's invitation that Papa could not come to accompany then replaced the existence of Anthony. The puppet's as only child did not ask many questions, only obeyed and remained silent, thinking this was just one of his parents ' agendas of expanding their business relationship.