Chapter 12 - Silk and Satin
1482 Words
The drive to the mall was smooth, despite the afternoon traffic. Mommy was behind the wheel while Mama sat beside her in the front passenger seat. At the back, Lya and Hanna chatted quietly as the city slowly passed them by.
Hanna had arrived earlier with her driver, but since everyone was heading to the same place, she decided to ride with them instead.
"So..." Hanna leaned slightly forward.
"Where exactly are we shopping today?"
Mommy smiled. "A newly launched boutique."
"Silk and Satin."
Mama nodded.
"It's owned by Auntie Amanda."
"Auntie Amanda has always loved fashion," Mommy continued. "Back in high school, while the rest of us dreamed about becoming doctors, lawyers or entrepreneurs, she kept talking about opening her own fashion house."
"And she actually did it," Mama added proudly.
Years later, that little dream had grown into one of the city's most recognisable luxury fashion brands.
Her daughter, Amelia, had recently joined the business, taking charge of the online boutique and digital marketing division.
Lya had known Amelia for years. Although they weren't particularly close, they met often during corporate dinners, family gatherings and Ardent Holdings' annual events. Amelia had always been easy-going. The kind of person who could make conversation with almost anyone.
"I hope they have satin pyjamas."
Lya rested her chin on the back of the front seat. "And matching bedding."
Everyone laughed.
"You and your satin obsession," Mommy teased.
"What?"
"It helps me sleep."
"So does closing your eyes," Hanna replied.
The car erupted with laughter. A few minutes later, Mommy pulled into the valet entrance.
The mall felt calm for a weekday afternoon.
The lunch crowd had long disappeared, leaving behind a relaxed atmosphere.
Mama naturally took the lead.
She had already visited the boutique several times during its grand opening. As they stepped into the elevator, Lya's phone vibrated.
She glanced at the screen. Then her eyes widened.
"What?"
Hanna immediately turned towards her. "What happened?" Without saying a word, Lya simply handed her the phone. A bank transfer notification filled the screen.
Enjoy your shopping.
Spoil yourself.
Iskandar.
Hanna looked up slowly.
"...Wow."
"That's actually romantic."
Lya immediately shook her head.
"It's Iskandar, Hanna."
"Iskandar Aarys."
"I know."
Hanna smiled to herself.
Exactly.
That's the problem.
"He really didn't have to."
Lya sighed as she quickly typed her reply.
This is too much, Is.
Hanna peeked at the amount once more before quietly shaking her head.
"Lya..."
"That isn't even enough to make a dent in his bank account."
Before Lya could answer, Mommy's voice echoed from outside the elevator.
"Girls!"
"We're this way."
They had unknowingly fallen behind while reading the message.
Mama stood near the entrance of the boutique, waving them over with a smile.
Above the glass doors, elegant gold lettering shimmered beneath the afternoon light.
Silk and Satin.
Lya smiled.
"I think I'm in trouble."
Hanna laughed.
"Oh..."
"You have absolutely no idea."
The boutique was exquisite, blending modern elegance with timeless luxury.
Floor-to-ceiling glass panels welcomed natural light into the spacious showroom, while soft instrumental music drifted gently through the air. Every display was thoughtfully arranged, showcasing silk dresses, satin sleepwear and delicate home collections.
Auntie Amanda was already waiting at the entrance.
"There you are!"
She greeted Mommy and Mama with warm hugs before turning to Lya and Hanna.
"You girls have grown up so much."
"We're just waiting for Amelia."
"She's on a call."
"Apparently it's important."
She smiled knowingly before gesturing towards the private lounge.
"Come on. Let's wait inside the VVIP lounge."
She led everyone through a pair of elegant wooden doors.
The lounge was spacious and tastefully decorated with cream sofas, marble coffee tables and fresh white orchids.
Amelia sat at the far end of the room, waving cheerfully at them.
She was still on a video call.
Her phone rested on the table with the loudspeaker on.
"...Yes, I've already sent someone."
"...No, don't worry."
"...I'll pick you up myself."
She laughed softly.
"I missed you too."
A male voice answered.
Lya paused.
She hadn't meant to eavesdrop.
But...
The voice sounded familiar.
Too familiar.
For the briefest moment, she thought it sounded like Irfan.
She quickly shook the thought away.
No.
Why would Irfan be on a video call with Amelia?
He was probably busy.
Or perhaps he simply didn't want to disturb her after she had told him about the family lunch.
Almost absent-mindedly, Lya unlocked her phone.
She opened their chat.
Her last message remained unread.
One grey tick.
She quietly locked the screen and slipped the phone back into her handbag.
Maybe...
He was just busy.
Meanwhile, the grown-ups were already chatting excitedly with Auntie Amanda about the boutique, the latest collections and the growing business.
"Come here."
Hanna suddenly wrapped an arm around Lya's shoulder.
"Let's take a selfie."
She immediately switched to the front camera.
Lya laughed.
"Cute."
"Tag me on Instagram."
A few minutes later, Amelia finally walked over.
"I'm so sorry, everyone."
"I have to leave."
"My boyfriend just landed."
"Surprise visit."
"I promised I'd pick him up from the airport."
"Aww, Amelia."
Auntie Amanda gave her daughter an amused look.
"We promised the girls a ladies' outing today."
Amelia made an apologetic face.
"I know..."
"I'm really sorry."
"It's okay," Mama smiled reassuringly.
"We'll plan another one."
"Exactly," Mommy agreed.
"Family comes first."
Relieved, Amelia hugged her mother.
"Thank you."
"I'll see everyone tonight."
"And bring him to the boutique," Auntie Amanda reminded.
"I want to meet him properly."
"I will."
With one final wave, Amelia grabbed her handbag and disappeared through the glass doors.
Auntie Amanda watched her leave before letting out a soft laugh.
"Kids these days."
Mommy smiled.
"So..."
"Who's the lucky man?"
"My daughter's coursemate," Auntie Amanda replied proudly.
"They've been together since university."
"He works in the southern city now."
"Sometimes he flies over just to surprise her."
"Aww..."
"That's romantic."
Mama smiled warmly.
Lya smiled too.
But for reasons she couldn't quite explain...
Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
The thought lingered.
Someone willing to fly across the country...
Just to spend a day together.
"Alright."
Auntie Amanda clapped her hands once.
"Enough chatting."
"Come."
"I'll show you our latest silk and satin collection."
Eventually, Lya forgot all about the worry that had been lingering in her mind.
She was completely immersed in her own little heaven of silk and satin.
While she carefully compared different shades of silk bedding, a salesperson followed closely behind, already carrying five sets of silk pyjamas draped neatly over her arms.
"You really do love silk, don't you?" Hanna laughed.
Unlike Lya, Hanna had never been particularly fond of silk or satin. She preferred the comfort of cotton and linen instead.
Even so, she managed to pick out a few elegant blouses, a silk scarf for her mother, and several twilly scarves to match her handbags.
Lya simply smiled.
"I sleep better in satin."
She gently ran her fingertips across the smooth fabric before adding another set of pillowcases to her growing collection.
"It feels... calming."
Hanna shook her head in amusement.
"I've never met anyone this obsessed with sleepwear."
"I'm not obsessed."
Lya glanced at the shopping basket beside her before grinning.
"I just have priorities."
Nearly two hours later, the shopping baskets had somehow turned into shopping trolleys.
Silk pyjamas.
Bedding.
Scarves.
Blouses.
Twilly scarves.
And somehow...
Three scented candles Lya swore she wasn't going to buy.
"That's everything?" Auntie Amanda asked with an amused smile.
"I think so." Lya nodded.
"Let's check out then."
The sales associate began scanning every item while another carefully packed them into elegant cream shopping bags.
Lya reached into her handbag for her card.
Before she could hand it over...
Auntie Amanda gently stopped her.
"No."
Lya blinked.
"Auntie..."
"Everything's on the house."
"What?"
"I can't—"
"You can."
Auntie Amanda smiled.
"Consider it my little gift."
"For going back to campus."
Lya immediately shook her head.
"That's too much."
"I'll pay."
"You'll hurt my feelings if you do."
Mommy laughed.
"I told you."
"Never argue with Amanda once she's made up her mind."
Mama nodded in agreement.
"Just say thank you."
Still looking unconvinced, Lya sighed softly.
"...Thank you, Auntie."
Auntie Amanda smiled warmly before reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind Lya's ear.
"Take good care of yourself."
"And come back whenever you need more satin."
Everyone laughed.
Lya looked at the growing pile of shopping bags beside her and let out a dramatic sigh.
"I came here for one pair of pyjamas."
Hanna folded her arms.
"And now?"
Lya glanced at the mountain of shopping bags.
"I honestly don't know what happened."
"That's what everyone says after shopping with Amanda."
The boutique filled with laughter once again.
Outside, the afternoon sun had begun to soften.
For a little while longer...
Life felt wonderfully ordinary.
- Writer
