HATE Before LOVE
Yura and Mona.

Elif walked with slow steps out of the elevator, his head lowered, he no longer knew how he had to explain everything to Yura and Mona. His two best friends, especially Mona, are not easy people to just believe a story that will certainly sound silly to them. Of course, Elif had already thought of a story about how he and his boss fell in love, an essay that Mona would definitely reject.

Huuft, what should he do? While Ardan has warned no one can know this charade. Even if this play leaked, Ardan will immediately appoint Elif as the leak, because for Ardan, Teddy opens a creature that easily opens his mouth even at the gunpoint in front of his eel.

BUGS!

His body hit the body of a tall man, because of his slow steps since coming out of the elevator, he almost fell when his weak body hit the man's body.

"Elif, are you okay? Your face looks pale?" Gavin swiftly restrained Elif's shoulder. A scene that certainly invites a lot of attention. Judgmental gazes from the women there turned directly to Elif, thinking Elif was just a new kid who must have sold his body to their CEO because the news of their relationship was too sudden.

Sonya does not even know how to defend her protege anymore, plus Sonya's presence in the company just counts the days, he said, and after that Sonya had to leave Elif alone with the scandal news that made Elif will be very difficult later.

"Ah yes, I'm fine." replied Elif with a clamorous smile.

"Where are you going?"

"To the lobby, my friends are coming, um, we're going to lunch" he told a lie. Of course, the piece of bread he had just bought just now had not been touched at all, he lost his appetite. "I'm sorry, Brother, uh, sir."

"Elif," Gavin called him again.

"Yes?"

"I don't know if it's the right time, or if it's the right time to say it, because of course the news about you and Ardan has everyone shocked. But if that's true, I want to congratulate you" Gavin said.

Oh Tuhaaan, I want to just drown, drown now. Now Gavin really thinks I'm the bitch's future wife. Hicks!

"Thank you, Gav." It wasn't Elif who replied to Gavin, it was Ardan. He stepped in his elegant style without making up, and immediately embraced Elif as soon as he stood right beside him. "Pray us all well."

What is smooth?! Basic crazy! Omel Elif in his heart.

"Yes, I certainly wish my best to my best friend, and a good girl like Elif."

Elif smiled wryly.

"While there's still something that amazes me, I didn't know you were engaged, but did Elif know that she was your future wife?"

Instead of answering, Ardan chuckled. "You know, me and Elif are flexible,"

What did he say? Flexibly? Ughhhh!!

"We are both adults, open with our own feelings, I don't have to waste time like before. So I don't think there needs to be any engagement. Just wasting time."

"It may be possible for you to be like that, but considering that your mother is not such a simple person, I don't think it's possible that Aunt Hana didn't have an engagement party what else she really wanted you to get married."

"You just don't know the other side of Mama" Ardan said.

"Ehem," Elif cleared his throat. "Sorry everyone, if you don't mind me going to the lobby, my friends are waiting."

"Your friends, honey?"

I swear by anything, Elif was really amused at hearing Ardan calling him with what other affection in front of people. It was as if they were really a couple of lovers who were drunk with romance.

"Yes. I'll go to the lobby first."

"OK on I'm coming."

"Eh, what for?"

"Of course to get closer to your friends."

"Eh, but-"

"See you on meeting, Gav." said Ardan as he passed with Elif who did not struggle to refuse.

People saw how possessive Ardan was of embracing Elif with envious gazes but kept smiling and uttering 'Congratulations' to the two of them during the short trip to the lobby.

"Hey, stop putting on such a sour face" Ardan said in a very slow voice.

Hih, then I have to put on a face how?

"Show everyone your smile, you know, people here are watching you right now. And I'm sure my mom will also find out how we're doing at the company."

"It has to look like how? Do I have to swerve in your hands?" answer Elif also with a slow volume.

"Great idea!"

Elif immediately threw a knife-filled gaze at Ardan.

"Imagine, if you're always tangling with me, not just the jealous ones, but Marsha too. she's underestimating me, if she ever finds out I let a woman act on me, she's gonna"

"Yura! Mona!" Elif immediately broke away from Ardan and ran a small approach to his two friends who were waiting for him to realize.

***

......I need someone who can love me at my worst......

...Know I'm not perfect, but I hope you see my worth....

...Yeah, 'cause it's only you, nobody new,...

...I put you first, and for you, girl, I swear...

...I'd do the worst....

The song At My Worst fills all corners of a very fancy cafe. The incomparably quiet atmosphere in the cafe made Yura and Mona occasionally turn their faces away from the two people in front of her which made themselves feel so awkward. More precisely, just one person alone made the atmosphere at the table they were at felt awkward and a little uncomfortable for the three women. And the only man at the table looks comfortable, especially now one of his hands is playing Elif hair tendrils that are not tied to hair rubber.

"Why don't you eat the cake?" ask Ardan, look at Yura and Mona.

"Eh, yes, sir, uh," Mona scratches her nape, confused, unsure how she should call the big boss who turns out to be her best friend's new lover.

"Just relax, you can just call me 'Sister. To be more familiar" said Ardan very casually.

Elif felt very anxious to take away Yura and Mona from in front of Ardan. Elif knows, the reason why Ardan can come with him, must be because Ardan is afraid Elif can not keep their fake relationship secret in front of his two best friends. Therefore Ardan came along and decided to take control of the situation.

"You are calm, Ardan is not as scary as you think." said Elif to break the awkwardness of his two best friends.

"Oh yeah, that's right, I can be very friendly. So don't bother me." said Ardan by adding a smile to his handsome face.

Yura and Mona also chuckled. Yura nudged Mona to taste the cake that Ardan had ordered for them.

"I'm ordering you the best sellers here" said Ardan. His fingers still had not stopped from playing Elif's hair tendrils, and it really made Elif caught his guard off. What's more Mona and Yura also pay attention to how Ardan very naturally plays his role.

"Oh, uh, yes Brother thank you. The cake is delicious." said Yura after bribing a spoon.

"You must miss Elif very much, right? You guys must miss hanging out together."

"Yes, that's it, sister." replied Mona.

"I know, but what else, even if Elif is my future wife, but her status in the company is still a secretary of the CEO who has job responsibilities."

Elif forced himself to smile as naturally as possible.

"I can't reduce his responsibility because it will create a gap. And also Elif himself who keep asking to keep working as usual. Right, right, honey?"

True head!

"Yes." Yeah." Elif's smile expanded on his face.

"It's okay, sir, uh, brother. If Elif has a holiday, we can gather again." said Yura.

"Yes, of course." said Ardan. "Darling, you have very understanding friends, yes."

"Yes." Yeah."

"Perhaps if you have graduated later, you can apply to the company"

"Mona and Yura already have their own ideals." Cut the Elif immediately.

"really?" Ardan looked at Yura and Mona with a curious look.

"Yes, sister, the three of us actually have the ambition of being someone who works in the field of journalists like that" said Mona.

"really?" Now Ardan looked at Elif. "You want to be a journalist?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Why didn't you ever tell me? I can make you the journalist you want to be."

"No need, I choose to work as your secretary." replied Elif.

"Why is that?"

"Because that way I can always be close to you, and make sure your ex won't look at you again."

Ardan laughed crisply.

Huh, it's so nice of you to laugh! Oh, Mona, Yura, I'm sorry I had to lie to you. Ii'm sorry.

"Sorry, Brother Ardan, Elif, if you may know, how the hell is the story you can decide to be together?" ask Mona at last.