"Ugh please help me, Ndien! I don't really know what to do in front of Oscar's grandmother,

" Lisa pleaded, clasping her hands together like the main character of a soap opera that was persecuted by her cruel mother-in-law.

"You've met Oscar's mother, haven't you? I mean, can you stand Oscar's mother who is exorbitant like typical stepmothers on telenovelas, whereas his grandmother would be the exact opposite?

" Andien replied, leaning her chin while looking at Lisa's worried face.

"It's not like that. I met Oscar's mother here. This is Oscar who wants to take me to his birthplace. To his country of origin! Away from here!

" Lisa raised her voice higher than usual. Without realizing it, the visitors sitting around her began to turn their gaze towards her.

"Psst Lis, don't speak too loud!

" Andien replied in a whisper.

"Ouch, what should I do, Ndien?

"

"Look, the most important thing is your appearance. Whether you meet Caucasians, Blacks or any others, the main thing is that you have to appear as attractive and polite as possible. First impressions are important!

" Andien said steadily and confidently.

"But I'm going to go abroad, Ndien. It's freaking Sweden! I don't know what it is like over there!

"

Andien clicked her tongue as she said,

"Oh no, you can definitely win his grandmother's heart. Besides, if Oscar dares to take you to his home country to meet his family, it means that he has an intention and is serious with you. Ah, I don't understand why you're so worried like this,

" Andien replied, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm just afraid that my image will be bad in Oscar's grandmother's eyes, because it is already ugly in his mother's eyes. I'm a bit traumatized, to be honest. What if it turns out that his grandmother doesn't like Indonesians like me? What if she looks down on me and I say something stupid in reply?! I swear I'm so dizzy!

"

Lisa put her head on the table while rubbing her head as if she had just come out of a thesis examination that exhausted her both physically and mentally. Oscar's sudden invitation made her mind cloudy.

Not having the heart to see her friend gloomy and bristling, Andien touched Lisa's palm and said,

"Hey, you don't have to worry. I'm sure you can win his grandmother's heart. I mean you are well-groomed and you are also authoritative. I don't know why but my hunch tells me that Oscar's grandmother will like you,

" Andien said, comforting her.

Hearing this supportive sentence from her friend made Lisa's mind clear again. Even though it wasn't completely clear, at least the mind that had been cloudy and foggy gradually cleared up. She lifted her head from the table and smiled.

"Okay, I'll try to do it. I can do it, I can't be afraid to meet Oscar's grandmother. I've met someone who is even more harsh,

" Lisa said, encouraging herself.

***

Time was running so fast that the day had changed to Thursday. Tomorrow, Lisa and Oscar would leave for Stockholm, the Swedish capital, to meet Oscar's grandmother there.

In all her life, Lisa had never been abroad. This was the first time she would set foot in a homeland that didn't belong to her. Feeling restless mixed with joy filled the recesses of her heart.

A week earlier, Oscar had prepared a passport and tickets for Lisa, so today she asked permission not to go to the office for a photoshoot at the immigration office. Tomorrow, the two of them only had to dash to the airport and then fly to Oscar's birth country.

Lisa was sitting dumbfounded on the living room sofa. She stared straight ahead blankly while dreaming. Without realizing it, her head tilted slightly to her right.

Oscar, who also happened to be working from home, looked at Lisa with a confused face. He had seen his future wife seem petrified. He put his laptop on the table and walked over to her.

His wide hands embraced Lisa, brought her closer to his body and then kissed her head.

"Lisa, don't worry. Everything will be fine. Grandma is a nice person. I'm sure she will like you,

" he said, trying to calm Lisa who looked restless.

Lisa laid down on the sofa and then looked at the ceiling of Oscar's residence with a grim face. The tall, slender man was still sitting beside her, stroking her hair.

"Oscar,

" Lisa said softly. She cast her grim and uneasy look at Oscar.

"I'm afraid, and I feel so scared. I don't want to make a bad first impression in your grandmother's eyes. Moreover, I have never left my birth country, so I am very anxious and upset,

"

Oscar hugged the woman's body tighter and said,

"Lisa, take it easy. Listen to me. Grandma is not like my mother, you have to trust me.

"

Lisa stared hard at Oscar's two eyes closely. Without realizing it, her eyes began to pool. Lisa couldn't help but feel sad when flashes from her past visited her mind. That memory, a bad memory when she first met Greta Petersson, Oscar's birth mother.

Oscar wiped the tears from the corner of Lisa's eyes then kissed her lips tenderly. The kiss lasted for a while then he pulled off saying,

"Don't cry, I know how hard it feels but believe me, everything will be fine.

"

"Can your grandmother speak Indonesian?

" This simple but important question suddenly came out of Lisa's lips when she realized that Oscar's grandmother had never lived in Indonesia. Her heart was pounding even more, she was afraid that the man's grandmother would not understand what she would say later.

"No, but Grandma can speak English. You can speak English, right?

" Oscar asked back.

Lisa's expression hesitated when the man asked the question just now. She frowned as she said,

"Yes I can but I'm not sure my English is good...

"

"Don't worry, I'll help you translate if you suddenly don't understand. The point is, you have to calm down and trust me,

" Oscar rubbed Lisa's cheek which was stained with tears. The man looked closely at her beautiful face and then kissed her lips a second time.

***

The next day, Oscar and Lisa immediately rushed to Cengkareng airport. They didn't want to miss their flight just because it's stuck in the middle of the road. Before they took off, Oscar helped Lisa remember what to bring to the airport other than a suitcase— passport and ticket.

"Are you ready to visit my hometown Lisa?

" Oscar asked, the corner of his lips lifted into a smile.

"Err.. I don't know, I feel… complicated, between nervous and happy,

" Lisa answered doubtfully.

Nearly an hour and half later, they finally arrived at the airport. Dani pulled the black Alphard off in front of the international departure's gate and helped the couple unload their suitcases and said goodbye.

"Oscar, I'm so nervous I swear,

" Lisa said, pulling her suitcase.

Oscar put his arm around Lisa's shoulder and brought her body closer to him.

"Everything is going to be okay.

"

That morning, Oscar wore a black T-shirt with gray jeans that looked relaxed. It was unusual for Lisa to see this man wearing casual clothes. His athletic body was also wrapped in the leather jacket he once wore when he visited Lisa's rickety boarding house.

"Oscar, are you sure you won't get cold dressing like that?

" Lisa asked a little doubtfully. She looked very different from Oscar that morning. Previously, Lisa had surfed on the internet and found out how the weather was in Sweden, so she left in full warm clothes to anticipate the cold air she had never felt before.

Hearing the question just now, Oscar snorted with amusement. He rubbed Lisa's head like a child and said,

"I'm a native, so definitely not cold!

"