Moe Moe (Inya) - The Lost Path

I have decided that I will not be angry with Ko Ko for that day, no matter what happens. I am trying very hard to make my decision come true. If I were to act like usual, I would not only be angry, but also not speak for two days.

I was so nervous that I wanted to tear my hair out of my head. But I couldn't undo the braid I had tied at the beauty salon after waiting for over an hour. And I wasn't in the middle of a crowd. My face, which had been so hard to apply makeup, was covered in sweat and greasy. I looked at my sister-in-law, Ko Ko, and saw her sitting at a table with a small face. My friends were waiting patiently. They must be hungry. In fact, our plan was to start at five in the evening. It was already past six. There was no sign of Ko Ko Ko.

My friends are comforting me without showing any concern.

“I think the car broke down.”

Ko Kyi Win repeated the same words for the sixth time. At about four o’clock, Ko Ko himself came to pick me and a group of my friends up from the dormitory and took them to the place. The tables and chairs were ready for our reception on the lawn of the Hlaing Ju Hotel. | Ko Ko said, “I’ll be back in a moment,” and left with his two friends. I thought they were going to pick up one friend at a time . Gradually, more and more people arrived. We hadn’t invited many people. There were only about forty of Ko Ko’s closest friends and mine. No adults. We planned it so that only the young people could enjoy themselves. As it is, it’s too bad that adults don’t come. Especially my mother and Daw Gyi, I thought. My mother and Daw Gyi only accompanied me and Ko Ko to the courthouse in the morning and took the afternoon train back to Bago.

Ko Ko's parents had breakfast. The party was just for us. I was angry with Ko Ko for making it so inconvenient and so short-sighted. However, I had decided in advance that I would not be angry with Ko Ko that day, so I had to be patient.

"Tell Ko Kyi Win Hlaing where he went. He looks at Ko Kyi Win differently. You know where he went, right? He left on some business, right? Tell me."

Ko Kyi Win seemed to be thinking about whether or not to say something to me earlier. He knew it wasn't because the car broke down, as he said. He scratched his head in confusion.

"If this guy does it, it'll be the same."

He spoke again, sounding like a complainer. I couldn't stand it anymore. I even wanted to yell at my friend.

“What is Ko Kyi Win doing? What is he doing?” Ko Kyi Win looked at me uncomfortably, “He’s going to find money.” I wanted to die. I had to find money by four thirty for the wedding that was supposed to start at five. My heart was pounding. If I didn’t get the money, it would be a disaster. If I were to be embarrassed in front of my friends, I would rather die. The thought of not getting the money now was more painful than worrying about him not coming back earlier. He told me that he had borrowed money from a friend last week and that it would be fine. I didn’t ask any more questions. I trusted him to make it as convenient as possible. Now it was getting hard.

I don't dare to look at my friends anymore.

"I'm hungry"

A friend of mine shouted in distress, so I pretended to be victorious and smiled.

"Please be patient, my friends, I'm going to meet an important friend."

“How should we do it, Ko Kyi Win, please come up with something.”

I turned to Ko Kyi Win and whispered to him again.

"Let's pour the lemonade first."

We had to ask the waiters who were waiting to pour us some orange juice, looking at the expression on our faces.

The plan was flawed from the start. After the food was served, the lemonade was served on the side.

The menu is Chinese style, so one dish will be served one after another and one dish will be taken away one after another. | How can we start our party without a groom?

"Hey, it's coming"

I can't express my feelings. I suddenly want to run to Ko Ko and cry. If necessary, I will pretend to be a girl who sheds tears easily, blinking my eyes, and I will greet Ko Ko. My hands that reach out and hold Ko Ko will be cold.

“I apologize to everyone, it took me a while because my car broke down on the way.”

Ko Ko sat down in his place, apologizing without losing his composure , and I sat down as well. But my heart was still not at peace.

“Are you okay, Ko Ko?” I whispered. “Don’t lose your temper, Hlaing, I’m okay.”

Ko Ko's words were not very impressive, but he remained calm. I couldn't stop eating the dishes that were brought to me. I even drank a little alcohol that one of Ko Ko's friends had jokingly put in my orange juice. Then Ko Ko looked at me with a sad face and laughed.

"Stay happy, Hlaingya, come and say goodbye to your friends."

Ko Ko was happy, perhaps because of the power of the alcohol that his friends had poured into him. He held my hand and greeted his friends cheerfully.

“We’ll be back after watching the movie.”

My friends were holding me back. We were just a group of friends living in a hostel. They teased me and dragged me away when I was going to leave them and go with Ko Ko that night. Ko Ko couldn't help but laugh.

"Okay, okay, let's go to the movies after we eat."

"Then I'll ask you to buy tickets for the 9:30 p.m. game, in the Presidential Theater, there are twelve in total."

They really told me how they would look, and I was shocked. How do you plan for Ko?

Ko Ko dragged me out onto the grass and went to fetch his friend Ko Sein Win, who was drunk and vomiting.

“Hlaing is also very indecisive. Hey Sein Win | Women want to watch movies, how can I do that?”

“Let me see.” “So you tell me, how much money do you have left?”

Do whatever you want, I have a spare tire, I'll leave it at the hotel, and I have a watch here, don't worry.

"Try whispering, Ko Sein Win."

I have to apologize to Ko Sein Win, who is drunk and shouting.

When Ko Ko and I went back inside, some of my friends were already getting ready to leave.

"Just kidding, Mi Hlaing Yar. We're not watching the movie. Just send us back to the dorm."

"If you want to see, you can, because the driver is drunk, but there's another car."

"Oh, good-bye, my dear groom. Now , take us back in a clean car."

We sent our friends back in two groups. Our friends from the city also left one by one. Finally, only Ko Ko and a group of friends were left. I felt a little cold and light inside.

“Now let’s go back, Hlaing.” “Where should we go back, Ko Ko?”

I said in a weak and disappointed tone. In fact, there is no private place for our wedding night. We have been looking for a house for the two of us for about six months now. We could not find a suitable house. The house we finally liked was only available at the end of the month, so we had to wait. We wanted to get married after we got a house, but we had to choose an auspicious day according to the horoscope, so we are currently facing housing difficulties . Ko Ko's house is a small apartment in the city center, and there are many people in the house. I was holding my breath thinking about living in that small room. If possible, I would like to go to Bago to live with my mother. Ko Ko's job is in Yangon, so I can't go there. And we don't have enough money to go on a honeymoon. I am an unemployed graduate. I got married with Ko Ko's salary of over three hundred. I don't know what difficulties will arise in the future.