HATE Before LOVE
Gossiping in the bathroom.

Elif washed his face over the staff bathroom sink. He was really upset over what Ardan did to Gavin. What's more Gavin's not at all wrong. Just because the Elif could not resist the eyeballs from glancing, Ardan had to decide on a very unfair matter. But Elif has no regrets about his decision to resign. He just wanted all this charade to end before it drags on.

If Ardan alone does not care about how Elif will live, Elif also decided not to care about the media coverage that will write news about Ardan.

After washing his face, Elif went into the toilet room. Shortly afterwards, a few footsteps came in. The sound of three people laughing. Who else if not, Nanda, Ayu and Kinan.

"Have you heard what happened in the meeting room?" Ayu started their struggle.

"Yes, he said Mr. Ardan gave a warning like that, yes, to Mr. Gavin." Nanda answered.

"What a weird thing I think, aren't they friends? We've seen Mr. Gavin and Mr. Ardan all right, haven't we?" kinan.

"Oh, you don't be so innocent." Ayu chuckles. "Try you guys think the red thread makes them that way."

"What's that?" Nanda curious. And also Kinan.

"Of course it's jealousy."

"Jealous?" Kinan frowned.

"You remember, who recommended the secretary to Mr. Ardan? Mr. Gavin and our HRD. And we all know, Mr. Herdi was asked directly by Mr. Gavin to help him so that the Elif was given a chance."

"Wait, wait, what do you mean, Mr. Gavin and this Elif sort of have a relationship?" Kinan.

"Can be. But because Mr. Gavin already has a lover so well their relationship cannot continue, so the Elif teases Mr. Ardan and Mr. Ardan smitten."

"So, Mr Ardan knows so well about the relationship of Mr. Gavin and Elif, so it's like that to Mr. Gavin?"

"Yes, it must be."

"Crazy dad! Use what science is the secretary. Though it looks really village, very much the same Kak Marsha."

"Worse as well, it looks like a village to make two men like Mr. Ardan and Mr. Gavin so enemies that."

"When it looks plain, yes, it's like a holy one. You know that's bad."

"You also know that he also continues to work for Mr. Ardan outside office hours, listen, he always follows his car Mr. Ardan as well. You can think for yourself what happened."

They chuckled before finally coming out of there, leaving Elif in the toilet cubicle holding back her sobbing sound to avoid being heard by anyone even though the roar of tears had already flooded her face.

In the end, what you did made me a character who caused the damage to your friendship. In the end, it's me who's wrong in anyone's eyes. At the end of the day, I'm always the one who gets hurt for what I didn't do.

***

Elif went back to his desk. His face was lethargic and bent. Just counting the days Sonya was at the table with him. Sonya has even taken her personal belongings home. It would have been painful to imagine that Sonya was the only person in the building who always asked her without having to judge.

"Sister" said Elif.

"Yes, jeez! Why is your face so pale?" Sonya was shocked to see the face of Elif who was like helpless.

"Sister, if I resign, will it be difficult for Brother?"

"What's? You want to resign?" Sonya frowned.

Elif smiled wryly.

Elif was just smiling wryly.

"Don't provoke Elif!" Sonya looked at Elif very seriously. "Look, they don't know how depressed it is to be a secretary for Mr. Ardan, especially with the job desk you have, and we all know that Mr. Ardan is indeed a person who likes to make rules as good as he can. But whose hearts do you know, it's possible that your togetherness has made that cold heart melt."

Elif returned smiling in response to how sincerely Sonya supported him. Guilt immediately pierced Elif's heart until it felt so painful and painful. How many people have been good to him but even cheated him all out. Tears just fell on his cheeks.

"Sshhh, already, already, don't you listen to them. Just show them that what they're gossiping about isn't true. That's the best way to repay them." Sonya hugged Elif. "Why should you think about what they're talking about, you have Mr. Ardan next to you, just mention the names of the criminals, I'm sure the next second you won't see them in this building again."

If only, if it were like that. If I and Mr. Ardan really loved each other, of course I would raise my head in front of them. But, all this is just a charade, just nonsense that won't last long. And after all this is over, I don't know if I'm able to endure all the slander they threw at me. I don't think I'll be able to.

"Then if I keep resigning, will it be difficult for Sonya?"

"Yes, I'm sorry. I can no longer back up my time to get out of here. I'm sorry." Sonya was so sincerely sorry for not being able to help Elif.

"It's okay, brother, I get it."

"Remember, you have Mr. Ardan, no matter what happens you don't have to face everything alone."

From inside the study room in front of their desk, someone noticed what was happening on the desk through the window. His lips moved curling a smile.

Good job, Sonya.

***

A few minutes earlier.

"Call Sonya here." Ardan told Teddy after Elif was seen not returning to his desk after leaving Ardan's room.

Teddy nodded, then returned with Sonya.

"Can I help you, sir?" ask Sonya. A little confused what else Teddy there looked at him sharply as if Sonya was a very sinful defendant.

"Something happened in the meeting room between me and Gavin, maybe a little surprising."

"Yes sir, I've heard what happened." Sonya.

"Well, word of mouth spreads faster." Cetus Ardan. "Looking at how this thing spreads so quickly, I'm sure gossip will start to spread as well, and for sure Elif's name will become a mockery. Most likely Elif would not be able to accept it and might intend to resign." Ardan continued.

"I'm sure that too, sir." said Sonya, who was immediately stared at as sharp as a knife by Teddy, indicating it was not time Sonya gave an opinion.

"I gave you one last assignment before you actually got out."

"Well sir, is that your duty, sir?"

"You should calm Elif down as much as possible, and convince Elif not to resign. Because if the Elif stopped, it would just justify whatever gossip was spread."

Sonya nodded in understanding.

"You should be able to keep him afloat, and tell him that he has me, he doesn't have to

face all the rumors alone."

"Okay sir, I understand."