21. Forget Something

"Why do I owe you?" asked Charlos.

"Just ask yourself," answered Rissa in a cold tone.

Charlos smirked. Rissa looked very elegant when she lifted her chin. The way she looked at Charlos instantly made Charlos awkward. She is a very fierce woman.

The elevator is still moving at the speed of a snail. Mr Agung's room is on the eighth floor. They were still on the seventh floor.

"Then, you agree to have dinner with me."

Rissa disagreed; she folded her arms across her chest.

"Calipso d'Café at seven pm," said Charlos.

A few seconds later, the elevator doors opened. Charlos came out first, leaving Rissa, whose mouth was open. She looked annoyed but said nothing.

The elevator next to it opened as well. The secretary came out of there after them. So, Rissa followed Charlos' steps, then escorted him to Mr Agung's room.

Charlos and Mr Agung continued the conversation. Rissa just sat quietly on the side and didn't talk. The lunch event took place without Rissa's presence. The woman insisted on not going to lunch because she still had a lot of work to do.

Then, they passed two rooms after Mr Agung's room. Someone set the lunch on the table. Charlos was a bit disappointed because he didn't want to have lunch with Mr Agung. His secretary had lunch in a separate room. That means he was alone with Mr Agung.

They sat in their respective places. They began their lunch pretty quietly. A few minutes later, Mr Agung started to speak.

"Charlos, are you married?"

Charlos, who was drinking, suddenly choked and coughed. "Sorry, Mr. Agung. I'm not married yet." Charlos wiped his lips with a handkerchief.

Mr Agung nodded in understanding.

"Charlos, I'm sorry," said Mr Agung.

Charlos looked at him in disbelief. "Why are you suddenly apologizing?"

"At that time, you were very close to my daughter, Esther. I forbade your relationship. I heard that you had ... hmmm ...."

"It's okay, Mr Agung. I'm just fine."

Mr Agung cleared his throat as he put his hand to his forehead. He sighed, "At that time, I didn't see you properly. All I saw was you are a poor child and have nothing. Please don't be offended," Mr Agung added. "A father only wants his daughter to have the best man in her life."

Charlos nodded. "Don't worry, Sir. I understand."

"But on second thought, I was wrong. Look at you now! You are successful and amazing." Mr Agung patted Charlos on the shoulder while laughing so loud.

Charlos laughed too. "In fact, I'm grateful that I discontinued my relationship with Esther. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have been as successful as I am now."

The smile disappeared from Mr Agung's face. "You're right."

The man seemed to regret something that he had worn out. Charlos didn't want to talk about his old story with Esther at all. Everything has passed.

"I'm sorry again, Charlos. I hope you don't take it to heart. Please, don't hold a grudge against Esther. You may have a grudge against me, but please, don't touch her."

"It doesn't matter, Mr Agung. I've never held a grudge against you or Esther. Absolutely not."

***

Rissa went down with the elevator to her room which was on the second floor. A pile of work was waiting for Rissa at her desk. She grabbed a few documents, stared at them for a moment as she flipped through a few pages. She has to enter the data again.

Rissa glanced at her watch. In a few minutes, it is time for lunch. She regretted not having lunch with Charlos. Now, she doesn't know what to have for lunch.

Finally, after eating the nasi Padang that she bought near the factory, Rissa returned to her desk. Little by little, she finished her work, although sometimes her mind still wandered, remembering when she was with Charlos in the elevator. Rissa smirked as she remembered Charlos forcing her to dinner in a threatening tone.

Calipso d'café is a famous luxury restaurant on Braga Street. Rissa shook her head. She didn't know what to wear.

Rissa does almost half of Esther's work. That day, she worked overtime. Rissa was still busy entering data, without realizing if the sun was starting to set. Rissa yawned wide as she pulled her hand up.

The clock on the wall showed a quarter past six. Rissa turned off the computer and put the files in the drawer.

Rissa opened her bag and took out a comb. Just as she was about to brush her hair, the office phone rang. It turned out that the security guard warned that her office would be locked soon. Rissa hastily packed up her bag, then down the stairs.

She walked along the sidewalk to the bus stop not too far from her office. The sky is cloudy, but it hasn't rained yet. When she arrived at the bus stop, she felt terrible. It looks like she forgot something. Rissa opened her bag, checked it. Cellphone, wallet, comb, hairband, and tissue; everything is complete.

Rissa zipped her bag and then looked at the road. Anyway, the bus hasn't arrived yet. Then she idly looked at James' watch that she was wearing because her watch died in the rain. It's ten to seven now.

Her stomach growled with hunger. She should be home by this time.

"Oh no!" shouted Rissa. "Calipso d'Cafe."

A grenade exploded inside her head that made her dizzy. Her body tensed for a moment. This was the most important thing she had to do tonight. She so quickly forgot her first dinner with the angel.

Rissa's heart was pounding, "Oh no! What should I do?" Rissa immediately stood up. That cafe was quite far from her office. So, she looked for a taxi because there were no buses that went directly to Braga Street.

She only had ten minutes. It seemed that she wouldn't arrive on time. Rissa waved at every passing taxi, but no one stopped. The street is a bit quiet. The sky was getting darker, and the street lights began to glow yellow.

Rissa felt despair. So, she looked at her watch again. She must be late.

The last bus arrived. So, she takes the bus. Forty minutes later, she arrived at Asia-Afrika Street.

Rissa hastily got off the bus. She walked down the street while running a little. Rissa regretted not wearing her trousers. The fitted skirt made her difficult to run. Only a few meters left, Rissa was out of breath. She looked at her watch; it was five minutes to eight. Rissa choked.

"Oh no! This is bad!"

Rissa continued to walk, passing a row of cafes that lined the road. She wasn't sure if Charlos was still waiting for her. Now, it started raining. It begins with slight rain, and then the rain becomes heavy.

Rissa ran. A car passed at high speed through puddles and then splashed and then hitting her face and body.

She screamed. Her face and body became wetter and dirtier, leaving traces of dirt and sand. Rissa spat. It didn't taste good. There's no time for cleaning anymore.