Chapter 1

"I have a choisen for you, Ai. Stay by my side or find your happiness with others?" 

Questions that so difficult to answer. In the past, I didn't have an answer for that. But now it looks like I'm starting to have it. The hard answer to my man question.

 _ 

Davin Adiputra. A handsome man with a cute black figure and dimples perched on his both cheeks, besides the glasses decorated with black eyess that making a sweet impression to him. The casual jeans with the expensive gray coat worn by olives are quite to dazzling everyone who have to see. His position as Managing Director in this company made him highly respected by everyone. 

This man through right beside me without turning his head as I was busy tapping the files into the head office. It should be, being aware of caste is important. 

He is rich, obviously i'm not. 

I'm singing to myself.

Different castes are a true barrier in a relationship. Only some couples are able to deny fate and choose to live together with many differences. That only applies to a couples who are obviously ready to transcend the nature of love. 

Tch!

I stomped my rough feet onto the elevator floor. Annoyed to being ignored. Looks like the level of my sensitivity is getting higher nowadays. With pursed lips. The elevator doors opened.

When I looked up, I found the cold gaze piercing in my chest. Indeed, he doesn't look me directly. But it's just  feels like that cold gaze is indeed to me. It hurts, but doesn't bleed. 

The young CEO was standing at a distance next to me. his eyes is busy to staring at the screen of his phone. My presence is not considered. I focused my gaze ahead. Ready to leave if the elevator doors suddenly open. In a lift with that CEO made my low blood pressure go up.  

Yes! 

The elevator doors opened. I hurriedly set foot no matter what.

I'm sick of it. Five centimeter hels feels heavy and tall. It made me lean to the side. Not have much time to scream, the sheets of paper fell on the floor. 

Sick. One word that I can say even though it slowly. There are no romantic scenes like those in movies. When a woman is about to fall, a man's burly hand reaches for her. My dream is too far away.

I turned back my head. Sure enough this man is doesn't care. Even his hand covering his mouth holding back to laugh. Shit, he's pissing me off even more! 

"You---"

"Nothing." 

I’m trying to be calm as possible for interrupted to his question. So that he didn't ask anything, end up to making me pissed a lot anymore and then want to stuff his mouth with socks that I haven't washed in a week. 

I stroked my chest. My gaze turned to the paper, poor. If only Mr. Amri saw this, he would definitely hit my head and didn't forget to advice me 

Even though I often treated like I'm a boy. Mr. Amri is a good parent. I thought.

"Don’t work carelessly. get money its not that easier. Think!" 

My hands move to the sheets of paper, poor. Don’t care about the man laughter that remains stifled. Not even seen, I'm sure his cheeks must being red cause he satisfied laughing to me.

My heart feeling so damn heat. If he wasn't CEO in this company, I would hit his head. It's just a wish that hasn't come true yet.

"So, next time walking with your eyes." He said curtly. His gone as if I'm okay. The shadow of his back disappeared when he turned left. 

Piss of! Piss of! Piss of!  

Walking with my eyes he said. Looks like he more stupid than elementary school kids. He thinks how strong my eyes can walk on the floor. 

I complained. Patting the back my trousers. 

All sheets have been assembled moreover. I looking  the elevator if there was still anything left. Looks like it's gone. Get ready to be scolded. The hour hand points to 9:25 a.m., that means I expect 25 minutes to deliver files. 

I looking at Mr. Amri's office door with feel of worrying hope. 

Just wanted to knock on the door. A head suddenly appeared before me. I almost scream but held back and I almost hit the head.

"Such I guess. Late again and again. A habit indeed. As the saying goes. Unwill to fired, work caressly!" His baritone voice ride two octaves. He splashed. annoyed it seems. 

I narrowed. 

Strecth a lot of paper to him.

"Here, Sir, the file was stuck in the elevator." I laugh awkward.

"How can traffic jam in the elevator, you kidding me, huh!" The sheet of paper was forcibly pull from my hand. He looking at the paper one more time and then looked at my face, which was sweating almost entirely from fatigue.

"Done, go back to your room again. I'm bored seeing your same face!" He snapped. 

The door closed hard. The voice almost tore off an ear.

He was careless when he spoken. Where there is a face can change. I pursed my lips. Gontai walked away from there. 

Return to the elevator doors to descend downstairs. That's where my room works as a permanent employee of the company. His fairly large salary made me not immediately let go of this job even though sometimes I felt badly treated by other seniors. 

A year ago, I force my mind to work hard since my father died. Become the backbone in my family. Now, all the burdens are on my shoulders as the first daughter. Loss a job is not a good thing, although sometimes I don't want to work at this company for many reasons. But I always block that intention.

This semester Alif - my younger brother-must pay dues of all kinds. Alif had told me, and said he didn't bothering Mother, he want to work. Because the mother is getting sick and it’s impossible for us as her child to continue to burden her with many kinds of things. It touched me. A child as young as him is already thinking about what adults think. I refused his words, there is no job for a child as small as him. I promised him to help pay for his school fees. Alif is happy then hugs me. 

"Thank you, Sister. Later, when I’m old enough, promised that I’ll definitely help you." He chuckled in my arms. A report stopped in his head, followed by a grimace. Soon he  laugh then he tightened a hug to me.

"Yes, when you grew up." 

"Nada Naflah." That shout interrupt my daydreams. Beside, the man with slanted eyes smile to me. Daniel's his name, he was Indonesian-Thailand descent. Friendly colleague. His friendly attitude made him known in the office as Aashman which means the shining sun. Yes, it fits perfectly with his personality who likes to smile on everyone. 

"Want to lunch together?" He ask when we get out of the elevator. He lined up steps so he not left behind.

"Yes," I replied casually without turning my head. 

"Okay, wait me, then invite Arumi too!" Daniel made circles with his fingers. Huh! he's just bothering me. Why don’t telling the person directly. 

Everytime when I tell to Arumi about her relationship with Daniel the answer is always same. Just ordinary friend. To me, Arumi is very insensitive to one's feelings. Even if it had a problem with animals she would have been very sensitive. 

I felt their relationship was very complicated. 

Why I think that?

Daniel is one of my co-workers with whom I often interact. Grateful that theres still people who want to be friends with me. If  there’s not them, it is certain that from a long time ago, with truly mature intentions, I would have chosen to leave for uncomfortable reasons. 

***

I just finished tidying up the work table. Another half hour points at 6 pm. A tiring day with a pile of files waiting to be prepared tomorrow. 

I sighed. 

I rushed out of the room. Around my eyes out while jogging. There was nothing people passing by. Understandably because it was already quite a while to come home from work. 

Tch.

The cold and annoying face again. I turned to the right, looked outside. Not far from where I stand, the bus  stop seen at deserted place. I can see drizzle soaks the earth from inside, even though it's just the spots.

I hurriedly accelerated steps to avoid his gaze. Hopefully he won't. 

One … two … three 

I sped up my steps towards the bus stop through the pouring rain. Back there, chilling sounds can be heard even though the sense of hearing is filled with the sound of rain. I don't bother. 

I'm sure it must be him. 

Run with strong might. Finally I arrived at the bus stop. I held the wall of the bus stop so that I didn't fall because of wobbling. Landing my ass on the bench with a worried expression on face. 

Almost dusk. However, the bus never showed up. I was getting worried because it was getting dark. 

Looking up my head. The raindrops are getting heavier. I complained that the bus never arrived.

No one vehicle passed. Really make me emotional. The chill come in my body, tighten the jacket I was wearing. 

I bowed, momentarily surrender because there weren’t vehicles passing by. However, the sound of the horn being pressed repeatedly bothers me. 

I lifted my head. See who is in that glossy black sedan. He parked the car right by the side of the bus stop. The cold face seemed to be teasing me. Supporting the chin while staring coldly. 

I shrugged. Ask what the means. My position still didn't move, sat on my knees and stared at him.

"Want a ride, Miss?" The weirdness sounds annoying. His laughter revealed his neat white teeth.

Something's flare up in here. As I remember, in the office he never looked very happy. In fact, other office workers think that the man almost never smiles. Then why is his laughter like this in front of me. Is it because I deserve to be laughed at him? 

I stomped my feet on the floor. He laughed even stronger, the car driver was confused. 

See. 

"Sir, you haven't laughed this much for a long time. Could it be--" 

"Sir, walk," He interrupted in a curt voice. But I'm sure from behind that curt baritone voice he still wants to laugh but is restrained. 

The driver nodded in response to his orders. Before long the car was moving back forward at a slow speed. I saw the man sticking his phone to his ear occasionally staring at me. 

Huh, why am I thinking too much about it? 

It's annoying, inhuman anymore. No  woman wants him. 

I complained. 

Keep sitting while waiting for the vehicle to pass, occasionally rubbing the back of my hands. 

"Miss! Come on in. I'll ride you to your home, it's late tonight. Come on in quickly!" A man in a taxi stopped at the side of the road. He got out of the car with umbrella in his right hand. 

"Come on up, Miss. It's almost night, girls are not good at night alone on the road. Don't think about the cost, someone has already paid." The driver convinced me to get into the taxi. 

I knit my brows. Staring at the driver in confusion. 

"What? Who pays, Sir?"

"Think it as a good person, Miss. Come on, I ride to your home,” He said again. His umbrella protected me from the rain. 

As far as I remember, no vehicle passed other than that annoying CEO. How could it be. 

Him or someone else, him or someone else.

Ah, damn it. The important thing whoever its I’ll be very grateful for being kind enough to help me.