Chapter 100: The Grandmother’s Decree

The next day, a sudden invitation arrived from Kevan’s residence at the grandmother’s command. I was asked to go there immediately after school.

As soon as I stepped into Kevan’s house, I found the grandmother, Mr. Aditya, and Mrs. Viona already dressed neatly and fashionably.

The first person to welcome my arrival enthusiastically was, of course, Mr. Aditya. He immediately stood up, and his smile widened when he saw me come in with Kevan.

“Frel, you’re here,” he exclaimed.

“Hello, Mr. Aditya.” I returned it with a wide smile as I stepped closer. “Hello, Grandma, Mrs. Viona,” I said, not forgetting to greet both of them.

Grandma just gave a faint smile behind her flat expression.

“Where are you going?” I asked after taking a seat beside Kevan.

“We’re going to the shopping center, Frel. You have to come along. We’ll go together,” Mr. Aditya answered enthusiastically.

“But I didn’t bring any change of clothes,” I said in a confused tone.

“Don’t worry, Frel. On Mother’s orders, I’ve prepared clothes for you,” Mrs. Viona replied. She then quickly corrected herself, “I mean, not Mother’s orders, but my own wish.”

Mrs. Viona held back a smile as she received a sharp look from Grandma.

We all tried to suppress our laughter. Apparently, Grandma was still too proud to admit her concern.

After Kevan and I were given time to get ready, we set off for a shopping center known for its row of high-end boutiques.

Upon arriving there, we headed to a boutique that was a regular choice for their family. The prices of the clothes in this place were truly fantastic, but they were comparable to the quality of the materials and the exclusivity of the designs.

While Mr. Aditya, Mrs. Viona, and Grandma were busy choosing clothes, I invited Kevan to walk around to look at the collections on the other side of the room.

My eyes were drawn to a row of mannequins displaying various outfits. In an instant, an idea crossed my mind to create a work of art.

With quick movements, I selected three clothing designs that I thought would look very harmonious when combined. I then asked for help from the staff there to dress the mannequins in those clothes.

“What are you doing?” Kevan asked as he came closer with a curious expression.

I glanced sideways for a moment, then went back to focusing on arranging the clothes. “Creating a piece for Grandma, your father, and your mother.”

“Can you really do that?”

“Of course I can,” I said firmly. “Don’t laugh,” I warned when I saw Kevan starting to grin in amusement.

“All right, I’ll stay quiet and watch.”

After I finished arranging the last mannequin, I stepped back to observe the result of my work.

Not long after, Mr. Aditya, Mrs. Viona, and Grandma approached us. Their steps stopped instantly. Their eyes were fixed on the row of mannequins, which now looked different, dressed in the outfits I had chosen.

“Extraordinary,” Mr. Aditya murmured, breaking the silence. “Frel, did you put all of this together? It looks very classy.”

Mrs. Viona nodded in agreement, her hand gently touching the fabric of one of the dresses I had chosen. “The color choices are very clever. I never even thought of pairing this top with that bottom, but the result looks very luxurious.” She then turned toward me with sparkling, admiring eyes. “You have a natural talent for aesthetics, Frel.”

“Thank you.” I smiled sincerely in response to her praise. “I made it specifically for the three of you.”

“Really?” Viona looked very happy, her face showing a sincere gleam of appreciation.

I nodded with a sense of relief. At the very least, even if it was not in the form of wealth, there was something valuable that I could give to all of them.

Beside me, Kevan said nothing, but I felt a hand wrap around my waist possessively. He pulled me a little closer, then whispered right beside my ear.

“You’re always full of surprises,” he murmured. His voice was low and warm, making my face suddenly feel hot. “I’m very proud of you.”

It wasn’t only Kevan’s family who were captivated. Several adult female visitors passing in front of the boutique also stopped for a moment. They whispered in admiration while pointing toward the mannequins I had just finished.

Grandma, who had been observing from a distance all this time, finally stepped closer. She stared intently at my work, examining every detail carefully.

Without saying much, Grandma summoned the boutique manager with an elegant hand gesture.

“I’ll take the three outfits on those mannequins,” Grandma commanded briefly but firmly.

She then turned to look at me. The lines on her face, usually stiff, now seemed to soften slightly.

“Take any designs you like as a reward for what you did today,” Grandma said. She paused for a moment, then added in her characteristic sharp tone, “I know you wouldn’t be able to afford clothes this expensive with your limited pocket money.”

Even though her words sounded harsh, I caught a faint smile tucked at the corner of her lips after she said it. It was the most honest hidden compliment I had ever received from her.

“Thank you, Grandma,” I replied sincerely without feeling offended.

“Listen to Grandma, Frel,” Kevan said reassuringly. “Choose whatever you want. You deserve it.”

After everything at the boutique was settled, we continued our activities by walking along the corridors of the shopping center. The atmosphere felt much lighter than usual. We stopped by several places before finally deciding to have dinner together.

We stopped at a classic-style restaurant at the corner of the mall. The atmosphere at the dining table felt very warm and familiar, far from the stiffness that usually enveloped our gatherings.

“So, since when did you learn to put together outfits worthy of a high-end boutique, Frel?” Mr. Aditya asked in the middle of his dinner.

“I often help out at my best friend’s mother’s boutique, Mr. Aditya. From there I learned that luxury doesn’t always have to be flashy,” I replied politely.

Grandma, who usually only listened with a sharp expression, suddenly cut in. “At least you have a good eye for quality. That’s better than simply following unclear trends.”

Kevan chuckled softly at his grandmother’s comment. Under the table, he reached for my hand and held it tightly, giving me strength that made me feel truly accepted.

“Grandma is starting to like you,” Kevan whispered so softly that only I could hear it.

“Really?” I whispered back doubtfully.

Kevan didn’t answer with words. Instead, he lifted my hand and gently kissed the back of it, not caring that his father, mother, and grandmother were there.

“Of course. Who could resist your charm?”

I quickly pulled my hand back in embarrassment, but my heart fluttered intensely. Throughout dinner, Grandma no longer looked at me with disdain. She even smiled several times when I shared a little about my activities at school.

The wall of ice that had long separated us because of differences in social status seemed to begin melting, replaced by a warmth I had never imagined before.

......................................