19.1 Bandar Seri Begawan
Brunei International Airport
Nabila and Cindy stepped out of the arrival terminal, greeted by Brunei's warm air. At the exit, a representative of the royal family was already waiting for them with a friendly smile.
On the way to the palace, Nabila sat inside the car, gazing out the window. Occasionally, a smile appeared on her lips as she recalled her first arrival in Brunei. A sense of nostalgia washed over her, reminding her of the unforgettable experiences she had in this country.
Meanwhile, Cindy, who was sitting beside her, kept joking with the driver, making the atmosphere in the car feel light and cheerful.
Palace Gate
As they arrived at the palace, Nabila was once again left in awe. Even though this wasn't her first visit, the grandeur of the building still amazed her. The distinct Bruneian architecture, adorned with exquisite golden details, remained mesmerizing in her eyes.
At the main entrance, a graceful woman with a warm smile was waiting for them to step out of the car.
"Hello, assalamu'alaikum," she greeted softly.
The woman was Kak Mutia, a member of the royal family known for her humility and warmth.
"Waalaikumsalam," Nabila replied as she quickly approached and embraced Mutia tightly.
"You've grown even more beautiful, Nabila. It's been so long since you last came here," Mutia said kindly.
"Yes, Kak Mutia. It really has been a long time. And you're glowing even more," Nabila replied with a wide smile.
The Title "Kak Mutia"
Although Mutia was the same age as Nabila, she was still called Kak Mutia as a form of respect due to her status as a royal princess.
Mutia herself never insisted on being addressed that way, but everyone around her naturally gave her that honor.
"Ah, you're making me blush," Mutia said, slightly embarrassed.
"Come, let me take you to your room," she offered, wrapping an arm around Nabila as they walked into the palace.
As they strolled down the corridor, Nabila smiled, soaking in the warmth and majesty of the palace, which, despite its grandeur, still felt familiar and welcoming.
However, she didn't forget to tease Mutia.
"Eh, Kak Mutia, aren't you going to greet Cindy?" she asked, glancing at Cindy, who was walking behind them.
Mutia turned with a broad smile.
"Cindy? Baru jua dua hari ia meninggalkan sini, ani sudah balik lagi. Memang inda cukup kah aku menyapanya?" Mutia joked in Bruneian, making Cindy chuckle.
("Cindy? She only left two days ago, and now she's already back. Haven't I greeted her enough?" Mutia joked, making Cindy chuckle.)
"Kau inda payah sungkan, Nabila. Istana ani rumahku jua, kan?" Cindy responded casually, making Mutia laugh.
("You don't have to be shy, Nabila. This palace is my home too, right?" Cindy responded casually, making Mutia laugh.)
Palace Hallway
After a few steps, they arrived at the room where Nabila would be staying.
Mutia opened the door, revealing a luxurious yet cozy bedroom.
"This is your room. I hope it's comfortable," Mutia said with a smile.
However, before they could enter, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway.
A confident woman walked toward them, wearing an elegant Bruneian gown. From a distance, she observed who was with Mutia and Cindy.
As she got a clearer look, her eyes lit up.
"Ei, Cindy!" she called out in her distinct Malay accent.
Cindy instantly recognized the voice.
"Ei, Liza! Kelantan ke ni?" Cindy teased, adding a bit of humor.
"Iya lah, nih Liza Kelate. Lucu sangat mu ni, Cindy, bawok-bawok Kelate," Liza replied with a laugh before they hugged tightly.
("Yes, this is Liza from Kelantan. You're so funny, Cindy, bringing out the Kelantan dialect," Liza replied with a laugh before they hugged tightly.)
Meeting Liza
"I've missed you so much. Cindy, without you, this palace felt so empty," Liza said in a playful tone.
"Ah, don't flatter me like that," Cindy responded with a laugh.
On the other hand, Nabila only offered a small smile.
She didn't know Liza very well, and her heart felt a little uneasy, remembering what Cindy had said in the car earlier.
A slight worry began to creep into her heart, though she tried to push it aside.
Noticing the situation, Cindy quickly realized she hadn't introduced Nabila yet.
"Aw, aw! I almost forgot. Liza, meet my friend, Nabila," she said enthusiastically.
Liza extended her hand with a bright smile.
"Hi, I'm Liza. Nice to meet you, Nabila."
Nabila shook her hand. "Hi, I'm Nabila. Nice to meet you too."
"Well, now you two know each other, right?" Cindy said with a small laugh.
End of the Encounter
Mutia watched them with a gentle smile.
"Alright, you should rest in your room. The long journey must have made you tired," she suggested kindly.
"That's true. We'll leave you to rest," Liza added, waving before walking away.
Nabila and Cindy entered the room, while outside, the palace returned to its usual calm atmosphere.
However, inside Nabila's heart, there was something she still couldn't quite understand.
19.2 The Emerging Prejudice
Palace Hallway
Liza walked slowly beside Kak Mutia, her face looking confused and uneasy.
"Kak Mutia, what's up with Nabila? It feels like she's acting a bit differently toward me."
Mutia glanced at her briefly. "Why? I don't feel anything strange."
Liza sighed and said curiously, "Well, maybe not with you, but with me, it seems like she doesn't like me. And we just met."
Mutia gave a small smile. "Ah, maybe it's just your feeling. You've only just met her, don't be too quick to judge. Maybe it's just a misunderstanding."
Liza frowned, still doubtful. "You think so? Well, maybe you're right," she said, though her uncertainty wasn't completely gone.
Inside Nabila's Room
Inside the room, Nabila sat on the edge of her bed, deep in thought.
"Eh, Cindy, is that Liza the one you mentioned in the car earlier? That Liza?" she asked curiously.
Cindy was caught off guard, not expecting Nabila to ask so quickly. She began to panic internally, trying to keep Nabila from getting suspicious.
"Eh, you just got in the room, the door's not even fully closed yet, and you're already asking questions," Cindy tried to evade.
But Nabila wasn't letting it go. She stared at Cindy intently, her eyes full of curiosity.
"I'm serious, Cin," she insisted.
Cindy exhaled before nodding. "Yes, that's her," she answered, her voice slightly nervous.
However, in her mind, Cindy quickly thought, I need to see Liza soon to plan our next move.
To avoid further conversation, Cindy got up from the bed. "Alright, enough of that. You rest first. I'm going out for a bit."
"Where are you going, Cin?" Nabila asked, frowning.
"Just making my presence known. What would people say if I arrived and no one knew?" Cindy said casually with a small smile.
Nabila nodded slowly. "Okay, but don't be long, alright?"
"I won't," Cindy replied as she opened the door and stepped out.
As Cindy left, Nabila sat in silence for a moment. But her thoughts weren't on Cindy. They were on Liza.
Why did Cindy seem to avoid the topic?
What would happen if Liza met Rizky?
As she pondered, she suddenly realized the door was still open.
"Eh, Cindy always does this—leaving without closing the door," she muttered, walking over to shut it.
Liza's Palace Room
Knock, knock, knock!
"Liza, I'm coming in," Cindy called out while pushing the door open.
She stepped inside, heading straight to the door of Liza's private room within the suite.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Liza?" Cindy called again.
"Yeah, just come in, the door's not locked," Liza replied from inside.
Inside Liza's Room
Cindy entered and immediately sat on Liza's bed, her face filled with excitement as if she had something important to say.
"Liza, listen to this," Cindy said eagerly.
Liza glanced at Cindy with a small smile. "What's up? You look really excited."
"Of course I am. I have an interesting story for you," Cindy said, her face glowing with enthusiasm.
Liza chuckled. "Alright, what's the story? I'm listening."
Cindy took a quick breath before starting. "You know my friend, Nabila?"
"Yeah, I know her," Liza replied, nodding slightly.
"She's actually dealing with a problem right now."
Liza was taken aback. "Oh, no wonder. I've been feeling that something was off."
"I even tried asking Kak Mutia, but she said there was nothing wrong. But I'm sure there's something, because Nabila seems like she doesn't like me."
Liza furrowed her brows, feeling like her suspicions were starting to be confirmed.
"See? I was right, wasn't I? I'm never wrong when it comes to sensing people's feelings!" she said confidently.
Cindy, who had initially wanted to explain things straight away, could only stay silent, waiting for Liza to finish talking.
However, deep inside, Cindy felt a little annoyed by Liza's interruptions.
I haven't even started telling the story, and she's already jumping to conclusions, Cindy thought to herself.
Even so, she held back, letting Liza talk first before she revealed what was really going on.