My Client Need a Philosophy

Should I ask you all... What time did I sleep last night? Or... maybe I should change the question. Did you think I sleep last night? The answer is..., of course not! I had to spend all night studying all the documents that Steven gave me. And this morning I have a new dilemma pop into my head. What should I do? If I have to meet a client, however, I'm so afraid to take a shower, I don't want to catch a cold. But trust me, I smell really bad... So... What do you think? Please... can anybody give me some advice?

Ok... ok... please calm down, Sandra's mind... please calm! You need to think, not panic! Ok, So... my brain starts to give me two options to do. First, wash my face, put a heavy makeup, and spray perfume as much as possible. Second, call the office, tell them, that I can not go to work today, pretend to be sick. So sick, very sick that I can't even lift a finger. But... it feels terrible, right? Damn, my parents teach me really well. They were the best ethics educators, so, I can't lie easily. I was afraid of getting the karma and getting really sick because of that lie. And like it or not, I had to choose the first option. Wash my face, put on a lot of makeup to cover this miserable face, spray perfume all over my body, and immediately go to the office.

"Hi! Morning Hermione!" called my senior, Nia who accidentally passed me in the office lobby.

"Morning..." I greeted her with a flat voice, plus an expressionless face like a corpse that had just risen from the grave.

"Oh my gosh, it's only been a day since you've worked with Steven, your face is already looking... so sad?"

I took a deep breath. That's right, I've only been working with Steven for a day and I'm looking miserable. "Well, I don't know what to do?" I answered as I surrender to my fate.

"So where did you go yesterday? You didn't come to the office and Angga said you were kidnapped by Steven all day?"

"That's true... I being kidnaped by him all day."

"What happened?

It's a long and complicated story... I guarantee you don't wanna hear it." I hope Nia understands what I meant. It's a long story, so if I were to tell the full story, I think we'll end up chatting in the canteen without remembering the working hours. And I don't wanna waste my time or hers.

"Ok," Nia agree and walk with me together but, just several steps my feet were trembling and I fall to the floor.

"Oh My God, Hermione... Are you ok?"

"I'm ok! Not hurt, just... embarrassing"

"You're really tired, aren't you? Then let's have some coffee," said Nia, who was starting to worry about my condition. Maybe she was afraid I was sick or suddenly fainted. And before that bad thing happened, Nia intended to inject a lot of sugar to make my mood better.

"It's fun. But sorry, I can't. I still have to study some documents for the client meeting this afternoon. And if I can't answer their question, no doubt that Steven will fire me right away."

"I know you're a diligent person, Hermione. But believe me, a little sip of caffeine never ruins your career, So, Come on!" said Nia pulling me towards the canteen.

"Sit there, and I bring the coffee for you!" says Nia.

I nodded, and do what she said. I sit in one corner of the cafeteria, and from another side, Sri suddenly came, pulled a chair, and sat at our table.

"Morning," she greeted, placing a plate of fried rice on the table.

"Morning, Sist."

"Can I join you? I haven't had breakfast yet, and it's a shame to eat alone in the morning."

"Of course, no problem," I said.

"Have you eaten yet?" she asked.

I shook my head, letting Sri know that my rumbling stomach, not be filled with anything after staying up all night.

"Oh, Come on! Architects don't go on a diet. You'll get sick later! You need to order some food. But, Sorry, the fastest menu to serve in the morning is just fried rice, they have nothing else. So enjoy..." She scooped out the fried rice and chewed her breakfast voraciously. OMG... it looks so.. yummy... God... why Is it look so tempting... when I see her eating, suddenly my appetite return.

"Hi! What are you doing, Sri!" said Nia who came with two cups of coffee in her hand. " By the way, do you want coffee too?" asked Nia.

"Nah, I can get stomach ulcers if I drink coffee before breakfast. You, Hermione, hurry up and order some food, aren't you hungry?".

"Nia, do want some breakfast? I can order it for you too," I asked.

"No, thanks. I've had breakfast at home lately. You just need to order for yourself."

"Ok then." I immediately go to the cashier and ordered fried rice. The same exactly fried rice that Sri ordered before, after paying, I returned to their table.

"So? How was yesterday?" asked Sis Nia.

"Steven called me in the morning. He insisted that I come to the construction site of the apartment, then he instigated the thugs. The thugs got angry and almost got me beaten, then..."

"Wow, that looks fun!" said Sri.

Well, I don't blame Sri for her sarcastic comment. A few sentences about my story yesterday sounded more exciting and fun than a boring office routine. But, to be honest, it's only been a day since I've worked with Steven, and I already miss the peace, the zen feeling while working with all my seniors.

"Is that true?" asked Nia curiously.

"Yeah, it is," I answered resignedly.

"You don't have to be worried. Steven is a good fighter, so you must be ok," said the voice of someone who suddenly came, dragged a chair, and immediately sat next to Sri.

"Miss Chien, you're here too?" asked Nia.

"Of course, need to buy hot tea, some bread, and snacks. So... Did steven help you yesterday? FYI, He's good at martial arts, black belt karate."

"Yes. Lately, I knew he's good at kicking and punching. Also, I knew that the thugs were blackmailing the apartment construction project, and Steven made me as an excuse to beat them up."

"Huh? How-?" asked Sri and Nia at the same time.

"He can't beat up random people, right? He will end up in court if he did that. So he made a situation for the angry thugs to attack me and then he beat them up. Using me as an excuse so he doesn't appear to be the one who started the fight."

"Ow..." answered Nia and Sri with a nod, but not to Miss Chien, she doesn't seem surprised.

"But, are you okay?" asked Miss Chien to confirm my condition.

I nod my head, signaling that nothing bad happened yesterday and I'm okay.

"Then why are you looking like a zombie this morning?" asked Nia.

"Because Steven ask me to study all of these documents for a client meeting this afternoon," I pointed out the pile of documents I was carrying in a large bag.

"Wow, looks like he really tries to fire you as soon as possible," said Sri.

"Let me see!" said Miss Chien.

I took out several documents and gave them to her.

"Ah, the design for Mr. X's house. Wait, I know this project," she said, looking at the picture I gave her. "The client is a bit..., you know, eccentric. He's an artist who is just as unique as our Boss. I don't know why Steven gave you this project. It's not for.. you know... newbie," said Miss Chien.

Suddenly, Miss Chien's words made Nia and Sri curious. Their eyes immediately run and peek at the document right away.

"Oh My God, this is so cool!" says Nia.

"Wow, Is this Steven's design?" says Sri with a tone of admiration.

"Yes, the design is cool, but, I don't know what will be discussed in the meeting room later on. Steven doesn't give any clue about today's meeting."

"Oh, that's easy," Miss Chien cut in. "Listen, Sandra! Clients won't think as complicated as us. The first thing you have to learn isn't the design, but who is the client."

"Oh," I said. "Do you mean, Mr. X?"

"Yes, the sculpture artist who is often called Mr. X. Have you been browsing about who he is?"

I shook my head.

"If you talk about browsing, I can help you," said Nia, opening her cellphone and ready to ask the only person, who almost had all the answers to all the questions in the world, named Mr. Google.

"Alright, Mr. X An eccentric sculpture artist born in Bandung, Graduated from ITB, his work is....ugh, Sandra, he has exhibited his work in Milan, America, Japan."

What?? Now I'm literally dead! Hearing the bio of Mr. X that Nia said just now, I think I'm finished.

"See, Sandra, easy right?" said Miss Chien sipping her hot tea.

Easy? What's easy? People who do arts are not like other people. Their mind is gone too wild and free, and sometimes their life is filled without rules. What if he asks why we put the window there? I can't explain to him for technical reasons like high sun intensity? And they can't be swayed by more belief-driven reasons like feng shui.

"Sandra?" asked Miss Chien who was looking at me for a long time.

"Y... yes?" I answered.

"Did Steven provide a document containing the concept design of the building? The concept of why he designed the house that way?" she asked.

"Concept? Design concept?" I answered. "No, I didn't see it."

"Then that's your job today. Make the best design concept that a quirky famous artist can accept. Anything else, you don't have to think about it."

O, God, Steven, you're so... damn..., I hate it..., the time I stayed up late yesterday was wasted. I didn't sleep, learning all the problems of this project, the drawings, the plan, the shape, the space, the details, the structure, the utilities. And this morning it felt like it was all for nothing. My client will never talk about technical problems, he will talk about the building philosophy.

"So what is your plan?" asked Sri.

I smile. Not because I gave up, but because I knew what I had to do.

"Try my best," I replied with a smile.

"Wow, for a person with the title of a newbie, you are quite confident, aren't you?" says Nia.

"Of course," I smiled because my breakfast had just arrived on the table and I eat all of it.

And... I admit I made a mistake this morning. I ate so much fried rice that make my stomach hurt. but I can't blame my mouth that can't stop chewing the fried rice, after a lack of sleeping, my mouth has asked for something to fill my pitiful stomach. Moreover, accompanied by my kindful heart seniors from team B, my morning breakfast was very enjoyable. Spirit lifting, gathering enthusiasm to face the next challenge.

What I don't like, is that when I arrive at my new room. Team A's room. The atmosphere here is more like a zombie apocalypse, spreading fear and creepy thought. I'm afraid that the zombie sitting next to me will bite and make me a zombie-like him.

"Hello Hermione," called Mas Angga. The only member of Team A who gets along the most with other teammates.

"Hello, Angga."

"Mr. Steven said, you will be presenting today, so, are you ready?"

"A little bit more." I can't answer if I'm ready, or not. I already knew what I had to say, and now it was time for me to start composing and designing the words.

"Want me to help?" asked Angga cheerfully.

"Of course." I can't possibly waste Angga's kindness, after all, I need a lot of help. Anyone willing to help me today, I will accept. I even thought to speak and announce to all employees. "Attention, attention, to all employees at Ruana, Sandra needs help. Once again, to all of Ruanna's employees, Sandra, the newbie needs help. Haha, Sorry, my bad, my sarcasm.

"So, if I may, what do you know about our client today?" I ask Angga for more information.

"Ng...Mr. X? Of course, that's a well-known name, not a real name. Ng... he's kind, eccentric to be precise, and very imaginative. Have you ever read a description in the art gallery? The notes which explain the meaning of the painting, or any art product?"

"I, I think so...," I answered doubtfully. Of course, I've been to an art exhibition before. Sculpture, painting, pottery, from various genres, abstract, realist, surrealist. And as far as I remember, I'm not a lazy visitor to read the description of the work, it's just that... sometimes my mediocre brain has difficulty understanding the meaning behind the work. Don't blame me, I've seen the work from various perspectives. From far, near, until I tilt my head, I read again, until I decide, yup, sorry, I appreciate art, but I just don't have the brains to understand the meaning of that imaginative project.

"Good, then, try to practice that kind of language. Yes, put in some very poetic syllables, to explain something to him."

"Okay. Um, if I may ask, where did Team A get the idea to design a shape like this?" I asked looking for a little information.

"Oh, that wasn't our idea, it was Steven's idea. He did it all from scratch."

I was quite astonished by the little devil's work. He can be a pain in the ass, He can make my days like a minute in the hell, but to be honest, his designs are gorgeous. Not my favorite type of design, it's more of Anna Gunadi's favorite design, post-modern, but I still like it."

Alright, now is the time to learn from marketing people. Learn to speak to win the hearts of customers. Learn to win clients' hearts with philosophical words full of beautiful meanings that make the earth cry, nature vibrates to split the sky into the cries of the gods. Ops, from the words I arrange earlier, it seems I'm quite talented at this.