She was never a woman who loved jewelry; she didn't even wear a watch. Not being able to read an analog clock always provided a logical enough excuse to keep the object off her wrist. However, the diamond ring wrapped possessively around her ring finger, and the white-gold necklace hidden beneath her scarf, were the exceptions. It wasn't that Risa had suddenly developed a taste for jewelry, but because ini was from Kala—given exactly the way she loved. Primrose and Dublin now held a world of meaning for them both.
“Two months is going to feel like a very long time, Liefje,” Kala remarked as Risa admired the shimmering petals of the primrose on her ring by the airplane window. “If I had only given you a ring, I don’t think you’d be this happy.”
Risa turned to her right, still smiling. “I didn’t expect you to remember. That the primrose is my favorite flower.”
He simply shrugged, as if it were nothing. “We’re almost there; DUB to AMS is just a blink of an eye. Let’s prepare our ears and our sanity for Dea—she’s probably going to scream the moment she sees that ring.”
They shared a quiet laugh, ignoring the passenger beside them who had been asleep since takeoff. The KLM flight became a quiet witness to the fact that they were now officially engaged, and that nothing could separate them but distance and time. It was February 14th, but it was purely a coincidence that it was Valentine’s Day. What did Risa care for such things? Perhaps he had intentionally proposed yesterday just so they could fly home on this date with a smile.
Leaning her head against Kala’s shoulder, the sparkle of the primrose on her hand continued to captivate her. There were countless flowers in the world, each carrying its own meaning in literature. In England or Ireland, the primrose is usually the first sign of spring—a symbol of winter’s end. Kala surely chose the primrose for more than just decoration; there was an unspoken hope woven into it.
Kala touched the ring on her finger. “I asked for the primrose to be made in white. My mother handled the rest.”
“How did you know my ring size?” she asked curiously.
“My sister has plenty of jewelry. You happened to try on one of her rings while you were hanging out in her room a year ago, back when you visited Amsterdam. After you returned to Indonesia, she told me your ring size wasn't much different from hers.”
Risa immediately replayed the memory, a smile spreading as the moment came back to her in a blur. Kala’s sister and mother had conspired to help a man who likely would have looked incredibly awkward stepping into a jewelry store or trying to sneakily measure her finger. Now, it wasn't the marriage itself that made her happy, but the fact that this man chose her for exactly who she was—that was the truest proof of love.
Kala let out an amused snort. “That’s why she’s insisting on an iPhone. She feels like she deserves a massive commission. She actually said, ‘Mas, I want an iPhone for my birthday! If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have found her ring size that easily!’ while holding back tears by my bedroom door. She’s something else, really—a total drama queen.”
Risa laughed softly, squeezing Kala’s arm. “That service fee is quite steep, isn't it? It’s like shopping with outrageous shipping costs. Typical Aradea Issabelle Dirk... she’s one of a kind.” Suddenly, Risa frowned as a thought struck her. “Wait, will my name become Arisa Kirani Dirk? That sounds terrible, Mas! But... I kind of like it, too.”
“Yes, after a few years and officially becoming a local, all your important documents will have 'Dirk' on them.” Kala stroked her hair, then kissed her forehead. “The Netherlands is quite strict for newcomers wanting to change their citizenship. Don’t worry, Liefje, you’ll remain Arisa Kirani for at least five years.”
“Okay,” Risa replied, beginning to close her eyes.
***
They arrived at AMS at 09:40 CET, where the air wasn't quite as biting as in Dublin. Dea came jogging toward them the moment she spotted Kala and Risa from a distance. Dea’s hug was so tight it left Risa coughing for air. The girl shrieked the second she saw the ring on Risa's left hand. Afterward, Kala drove them home while Dea sat in the back with Risa.
The enthusiasm at the house was just as high; Tante Amy and Om Anthony took turns embracing Risa. They offered their congratulations and teased Kala, who looked uncharacteristically bashful. Both Kala and Risa were equally exhausted, even though the flight from Dublin was barely two hours. Later, they would have dinner at a restaurant Tante Amy had specially booked to celebrate the official engagement.
[ Liefje, we’re heading to CGK tomorrow, but unfortunately, I won't be sitting next to you! ]
Risa grinned widely as she read his playful text. She pulled the blanket higher, feeling the onset of sleep and the need for a nap. “Aye, aye, Captain.”
She typed back and searched for a Spongebob GIF to send to Kala. To be honest, Risa rarely saw Kala in his uniform; she usually went out of her way to avoid booking a KLM flight he was operating. But this time, she would be flying back to Indonesia with Kala Dirk piloting her flight. Not as First Officer Dirk, but as Captain Dirk—the man who had proposed to her just yesterday at Phoenix Park. A surge of pride and emotion washed over her, seeing him finally achieve his dream.
[ I can't hear you! Kids! ]
Kala’s reply popped up seconds later, making Risa burst into laughter in the guest room. He didn't stop there; he sent a barrage of voice notes of himself singing the Spongebob Squarepants theme song. Risa nearly dropped her phone on her face hearing Kala’s baritone—the voice that usually sounded so authoritative over the aircraft intercom. This Dutchman made absolutely no sense! The sleepiness that had been settling in vanished, leaving her eyes wide and bright.
That evening, the Dirk family headed to the restaurant first, while Kala and Risa followed in the other car. Luckily, Risa had intentionally packed one semi-formal dress, just in case Kala had planned a more serious proposal. She certainly hadn't expected it to happen by a beech tree in Phoenix Park. Since everything had been so sudden, she didn't overthink it.
“I hope my mother doesn't go overboard and start cooking rendang or crab from dawn just to welcome you, Mas. And Levin and Papa? Good grief, it wouldn't be funny if my dad suddenly put up fairy lights and Levin was busy grilling sate in front of the house just to show off to the neighbors,” Risa said, breaking the silence in the car.
Kala chuckled softly, glancing briefly at Risa. “It’s nice to be welcomed so warmly. As I recall, your neighborhood isn't that ridiculous, Liefje. It’s quite like my home—peaceful and rather quiet.”
Risa scrunched her nose while watching him drive. “Even if the reaction isn't that comedic, it still feels like that, Mas. I mean, it’s a bit much knowing you’re a Captain now.”
Kala cleared his throat a few times, then smiled broadly. “Uhm, Liefje, actually... I already told them when I stayed at your house last December. I asked your parents for permission to take you to Dublin to propose. I told them I’d passed my Captain's promotion and was ready to get married next year.”
The answer was so unexpected it left Risa stunned. “What?! So, I’m the only one who’s been looking like a fool for the past month?” Risa immediately gave Kala’s arm a playful swat. “Oh! So they’ve known since October too?!”
Kala shook his head. “No. That remained a Dirk family secret. My struggle was my own business; not everyone needed to know the weight of that three-month promotion process. I only told them once I was in Jakarta.”