One Day in California

The office is painted in light grey. On the white pearl desk colored sat a desktop computer, a notebook lying open, and a stack of papers sitting next to it. In a corner, the air conditioner is blasting at medium, and there is a swivel chair in the middle of the office. A few pens are lying on the papers, but some had fallen from the desk. People are busy, some are on the phone talking, some are busy typing.

And I, at this point of time has to take a long break this afternoon, I have some important appointments. I froze as I realize I'm a step before hitting the Manager's door, hoping I could peep through the blurry glass figuring out what is he doing inside his office. I knock his door hesitantly,

knock knock

Waiting for his answer to let me in.

"come in" the deep and crunching voice answered behind the door. I bet my manager Kenny is watching Korean Drama right now with his damn bag of chips. I push the door, holding a blue folder tightly with the other arm, quickly rush in before he changes his mind.

"Boss, I want to take a 3 hours break...." I smiled awkwardly like a kid caught stealing a candy, but I'm trying to remain calm. It's weird because I have never take a day break since day 1 working with him. I'm a responsible secretary. Sometimes I think I am too good to be here.

Crunch crunch

I feel annoyed by him still crunching his chips without staring at me. He puts his big hand inside the foil bag, pulling out the chips with 5 of his fingers and start munching it, in repeat. I was standing like a statue waiting for his reply.

bangbeob geos-ibnida

saranghae

(followed by dramatic Korean music)

I am his loyal secretary, I work here since I was 19, helping his ass out, signing his documents, replying his emails, going to the meeting, and others, while some of them were supposed to be his job. He has nothing to do except watching Korean drama inside his office, wasting his time and energy in front of the computer screen, munching chips and drinking coke as his company, and he ended up looking like a sick pig sitting on a tight office chair. I hate him, but he gives me the payment that none of this city company could pay me, even Kenny is actually kind, like treating me lunch or breakfast in sometimes.

"Boss?" I repeated, I'm on the edge of my patience.

He startled and finally stare at me. His right hand is still inside the foil bag.

"Ah Steffi !" chuckled but he gazes back to the screen. Fiery knot began to burn in my stomach.

"Boss, I was talking to you" I repeated, raising my voice a little bit.

"Yes?" he finally tapped his keyboard and the Korean drama paused at the moment, now he is looking at me, with sharp eyes and thick eyebrows , waiting for me to repeat while he didn't pay any attention.

"I want to take 3 hours break this afternoon, NOW" I repeated, hoping this is the last time.

He starts thinking, raising his right pointer into me. Something crossed onto his mind but he says nothing as he still have no clue what actually he is looking for, suddenly his eyes widened and clicked his fingers

"have you finish signing my documents..... PT.TJY...? right ?" his voice began unsure, but he finally remembered.

I swayed a pack of documents in my arms, showing him I have completed his tasks and I may go anytime. He pulled his palm towards me, asking me to hand over the documents. The documents laid on his table, he grabs his rounded glassed and hang it on his nose-bone, with the squinting looking on the scattered papers on his table. I'm standing right in front of his desk scratching my own nails, I have an appointment and have to be on time and I hope Kenny doesn't let me stay too long.

He suddenly raised his head looking at me, I was startled at first by his sudden move that budge the chair for few inches.

"you may go" he implied, I feel like screaming. I nod my head and permits, quit from his office quickly.

I walk through the hallway cheerfully, while the others were still gloomy, busy completing their tasks. I push my office door, just beside the kitchen as I can see some employees were taking a short break with their coffee and tea. I start tidying up my bags, shut down the computer on my desk and lock the drawer.

I lift my head up to see the time, when I see the hour hand almost pointed at the 12

"ah ! I have to be quick !"

The traffics in Medan, just bad or even worse during the noon, that's the reason I have to leave sooner before I met some crazy traffics that might slower my car. I rushed into the elevator and tap the panels, the number starts  counting on the screen

Cling

The elevator automatic door opens widely. I take 2 steps in and turn my body, pushing the button to get me to the parking lot. The elevator dropped me down to the Basement, when it sound Cling and I step forward arriving to the hot and dusty parking lot, barely see the sunlight cause there are only few tiny ventilations around the basement, a tall and buffed Security with tight and navy blue uniform greeted me friendly and I smile back at him.

I push the button on my car's handle to unlock it. I haven't took any breakfast in the morning. The acidic feeling in my stomach clawed its way towards my throat as I wrenched the car door open and throw myself inside. I pulled my waterbottle from my handbag, trying to hold my hunger before I passed out on my way, my other hand pulled my phone and unlock them with face –id. I tap my phone once to open text messages from Rony,

"Catch you up tomorrow noon at 12.45 ! see you soon babe"

I smile everytime I read his text message. My heart fluttered everytime I imagine him, his black tidy hair, squared cheek bones, a pointed nose, and a lovely sharp looking of his gazzling deep brown eyes. He is a typical hot office guy everyone can't resist to look.

Today is our 5th anniversary, we have been dating for 5 years, and today we're going to celebrate it just for two in a romantic afternoon lunch. Rony is always busy working, meeting and sometimes go abroad for weeks, our time is limited and I'm getting use to it. I have to understand his struggle and ambitions. I love him the way he is, so I never complained him even once, although sometimes I feel so lonely, he rarely texts me, he told me it is better to talk directly. He is an ambitious man, he promised to marry me while the time is right. I never forced him, since he loves me so much and so do I. People say we were match made in heaven.

I am only that regular type of woman, not so pretty, and also an introvert. I have no friends, no families.. Just all alone since graduated from High School. But I am a quick learner and an ambitious that leads me to my bright future. I learn a lot from this company, the shareholders and other bosses also tend to praise my performance, I do great every time and I am proud of myself, Rony too.

Rony is the only person that stay by my side no matter what happens.

Medan is a big and hectic city, the traffic jams are terrible. I was about to drive and notify Rony, but the parking lot catches no signal so I put my phone back in my handbag.

I stop my car in front of the restaurant with blinking led lights, a big colorful Times New Roman font "ROCKY RESTAURANT" were tidily arranged above the mahogany twin door. I start to pull and push the gear and my legs are stepping between the clutch, brake and accelerator. I parked my car tightly by the sidewalk, I am a good driver. I lifted my arm and check the time, I arrived 15 minutes earlier. As I turn my car off, I grab my handbag and run inside the restaurant.

The waiter started to greet and bring me to the front desk, asking for  my ID card or the reservations' name. I pulled my phone from my handbag, notifications are popping up because I just caught a stable connections right here, I tap on Rony's new text message saying

"Babe I'm here ! catch you soon ! see yah"

It was sent around 20 minutes ago.

"Stef !" I heard a deep familiar voice behind me, fingers tap on my shoulder and as I turn around, a tall man wrap his arms around me. He is Rony !

His hug is always strong, as if holding me wasn't quite enough for him. The feeling of so close to him, his breaths are spread around my hair. His heart beats fast, and I am always fluttered by it. He is the man that stay by my side for 5 years since high school.

The classic instrumental music flowing the hall. The room is empty, I bet Rony has booked the whole room for us to celebrate our anniversary. Rony stood up when I was about to chop the beef steak with my fork, then he steps closer to my ears, whispering

"Stef"

I lift my head looking at Rony's face, he was looking at me deeply in the eyes,

"Will you marry me ?" he pulls a box of ring and open it as I can see a small silver ring with a tiny diamond in the middle popped up from the box.

I smiles widely can't even hide one of my teeth, the instrumental music changes into "My Valentine" song. I almost cried, I wipe my tears with my thumb, answered him "I do" and jump into his shoulder, hold him as tight as I won't let him go.

Everything seems to be perfect from the beginning, until the day when we both meet his parents. Since we were both Indonesian born with Chinese blood-line and grow up with old Chinese Tradition. Rony's mom smiles widely as she is really happy to have me soon to be part of them.

When his mom knows Rony proposed me,

"We should see the monk before we prepare the marriage"

The thing that traumatized me since I was a kid, but I have to face it now for the sake of the wedding traditions. Rony's mom is an Old-school Chinese mom that believes in birthdates match lucks and else. I have no choice but I have to follow her rules.

My face turns pale, cold sweat running down my forehead, Rony held my hands tight as he is giving me a heart to heart speaking

"Everything will be okay"

We finally see the monk few days later.

But when the results aren't as I expected, I start feeling like myself is tearing itself apart, I barely breath properly. I wish I could just stop the time and runaway from this place alone without looking back. I feel like crying but the tears won't even burst down.

"The man hasn't met his destiny, the marriage won't bring lucks to the family. It doesn't mean this woman bring bad lucks, she just bring no good lucks to the family. "

Rony, his parents and his sister were listening. But those few words were just enough for me and I couldn't hear any far about it. It was just enough and I can't just hold myself right here. I just want to go home, I want to disappear.

At first Rony was okay with it, but his parents were giving him few advices that brought us apart regarding to his career.

"I'm sorry, Stef. Live on Steffi" Rony held my hands tightly, we are facing the lake where we first met, and it would become the place we last meet.

Rony's face creased and he held my hands tighter I can feel the sweat trapped inside them.

"I love you so much Stef" that's when I hear a sentence that almost stop my heart. I sobbed into my hands and the tears dripped between my fingers, Rony hold me with his arms tightly, patting my back softly. I squeezed his shirt, still crying like a baby losing her mom. The world is unfair to me.

I returned his ring, but he gave back the ring to me.

"This is for you to remember our hearts" he said

Below that orange glow sky, Rony left me and heads towards the parking lot, leaving me with his ring on my palm, I clenched my fist and hit it on the bench, sat down desperately covering my face. I feel the soothing breeze become absorbed by the music of the trees branches and pigeons flying in the sky.