I'm Not My Boss' Storage
The Story of Two Cities

SEVEN years later…

“Agni, breakfast is ready! Uak* deliberately fuck up so you're not late to eat.”

“Not the Uak Puput emang have to fuck in order to be able to cepet open stalls?” Agni, coming down from the second floor, grinned as the women lined up near the waist-rigged dining table heard her clumsiness. “Handering, ih. Uak can not cepet sensian.”

“Why, want to say often angry make old spit? Not bad, Agni! Uak diligently skinkeran also kayak you!” Uak Puput handed the plate to Agni, then spooned her favorite shrimp fried rice. “Rano pick you up today? What time?”

Agni looked up to look at the wall clock on the plate rack. “One more hour, but I think it's on the road.”

“Eat no alight if the clock is as early as he is on the road?”

Agni shakes. “She wants breakfast or doesn't keep her fast working.”

“Eh, can't be made up! After marriage, you must make Rano diligent breakfast. Let's be strong find the money.” Then, Uak Puput took out the lunch box from the closet. “Let's give him fried rice, yeah. Bribe to you if you need to let 'not pass the meeting.”

After breakfast, Agni rushed to take a bath and changed clothes. While tidying up her hair, Agni noticed that the length was about to touch her shoulders. The girl was pensive for a moment, when was the last time she let her hair extend past her chest? His memory began to crawl into the past, but stopped when his phone lit up.

I will be at your house again, the message read.

Agni's smile. After tidying up her clothes and makeup, Agni checked her work supplies in the bag and picked up her red pump shoes. This morning, he would accompany his superior to meet a client who was flying directly from Tokyo. Rano, the accountant who was also her boyfriend for two years, will help as an interpreter throughout the meeting.

That means Agni will see Rano speaking in Japanese. One attraction managed to get him to pay attention to the man at their first meeting.

*

“Kim Seon-ho who is it, anyway?”

At the last red light, Agni took the opportunity to take Rano for breakfast. As usual, his girlfriend skipped breakfast so as not to get stuck in traffic on some streets of Bandung. Although Rano rarely lost focus or fainted, it does not mean he does not need to eat to maintain his performance as an interpreter.

“Oh, it's his favorite drakor actor Uak Puput.” Agni feeds the fried rice on Rano. “Why? Uak must be a story about fanmeet in Jakarta, huh? From yesterday noisily asked me to join the ticket war, only I do not understand that.”

“He-eh, just waiting for you, he said I sent Kim Seon-ho,” said Rano who was greeted by laughter from Agni. “Try later I check, who knows my friend who works at the agency has a ticket ration.”

“Awas, ah, ntar Uak Puput asked for another.” Because of the fun of watching Korean dramas while waiting for food stalls, Uak Puput became addicted to often staying up late. However, Agni was amazed her money was still able to wake up before dawn to prepare food.

“Here was not the first fanmeet. Hence fetch dateng peng make the second.”

Rano opened the tumbler. “Turutin aja, itung-itung refreshing. You have no pity see Uak Puput still diligently snacking?”

The problem is, Uak Puput is the type of woman who likes to busy themselves. After her husband died, she used her savings and insurance money to build a food stall near the house. Sometimes Agni helps her take care of catering. Those activities also make Uak Puput rarely sick at the age of almost stepped on the head of six.

“It is precisely Uak Puput who asked me to stop working so that he could help take care of catering.” Agni closed the empty lunchbox, then put it in the bag. “Luckily good, anyway, but my position is really good in the office.”

“If you resign, continue to help Uak when we marry, how?”

The question was not answered because the traffic lights turned green. Married—that word used to be considered taboo by her. Never mind thinking of a serious commitment, falling in love just sounds impossible. However, Rano's presence manages to break down Agni's defenses; breaking the principles and doubts she held for years.

Only, there was one secret that Agni had not shared with Rano: she was no longer a virgin. When the man found out, would Agni be ready to accept his reaction?

**

Meanwhile in Frankfurt…

“Om Icaaa, wake up, dong! Breakfast, yuuuk, Mommy makes pancakes!”

That shrill voice instantly awakened Ishaan. When his eyes opened, he immediately saw the adorable boy who was pinching his cheeks. Haikal, the son of Tanisha and Dareen who soon turned four years old. To celebrate her son's birthday, Tanisha deliberately flew to Germany for the holidays, while visiting her sister who has not come home since working in Europe.

“Build also old virgin,” ledek Tanisha when Ishaan appeared in the kitchen while holding Haikal. “How to get a girl if this clock is still ngulet.”

“It's only nine in the morning, Ma'am. It's Saturday anyway, I don't work.” Slowly, Ishaan sat Haikal in a chair. “Dareen is coming here?”

Ishaan cuts pancakes for Haikal. “Dateng, really. Later in the afternoon directly to the apartment so landing.”

Haikal is present as a new member of the Marlon family when Tanisha is almost hopelessly childless. At first, Ishaan thought his brother was anxious because he could not provide a successor for the Marlon family. However, year after year, Ishaan realizes, Tanisha enjoys her role as a mother. Haikal also grew up to be a child who, not only funny, but able to be polite.

Thanks to Haikal, Tanisha and Evelyn's relationship improved. The mother was impressed by the parenting that Tanisha applied. According to Evelyn, Tanisha's status as a mother has made her more mature. While Tanisha is happy to finally be ‘one frequency’ with Evelyn, at least when discussing parenting tips and healthy food recipes for children.

Although the dynamics of his family have changed, Ishaan remains the same. Single busy developing business. After all, the environment in Germany is a stark contrast from Indonesia. There's no one who asks for personal things like,

“When to marry?” Ishaan took a deep breath as Tanisha asked the question. His ears got tired of hearing it. “Emang there is Haikal who became the successor of the Marlon family, but the time is all borne the same he.”

“That means that Haikal can't take responsibility for himself, will all be given to my son? Like Mbak who took responsibility to Dareen and me?” sulek Ishaan. “Mbak knows, right, I'm not interested in committing. Even if I retire later, I will hand over the company to a competent person.”

Tanisha's forehead frowned. “Although not from our family?”

“Enough, Ma'am. Why are we talking about this topic again?” Especially in front of Haikal. Although the boy did not understand their conversation, Ishaan did not want to set a bad example for him.

Then, she got up from the chair to whisper something to her brother. “Mbak still suspects Dareen of cheating and fears the disgrace is ruining the family?”

“Ishaan!” Tanisha smothered her mouth. “Do not discuss here!”

“My personal details continue to be discussed every year like a tax report. Turn of Mbak's unproven affair..” Ishaan shook his head, then approached Haikal and carried him. “Haikal eat with me in the room until Mbak enggak nyinyir again in front of us.”

*

Ishaan is confused as to whether he should be pity or upset in the face of Tanisha's attitude.

Tanisha's suspicion of Dareen's affair began when Haikal was born. When Haikal was five months old, Dareen opened a company engaged in interior design consulting in Bandung. Twice a week, Dareen served out of town. But over time, even Tanisha and Haikal who only met face to face with Dareen every Saturday and Sunday.

“The work in Jakarta remains safe, right?” Ishaan makes sure when Tanisha tells him the story. "You also regularly video call and send messages. Make me like—”

“That's in your eyes, Ishaan!” tukas Tanisha fast. “Dareen has good skills in time management. He can handle business in two cities. Maybe also he played behind me on the sidelines busyness.”

Unwilling to argue, Ishaan asks Tanisha to gather evidence first. Danger if the origin of the crash, his brother can be dragged to court. However, until this very moment, the evidence Ishaan had requested had not been gathered. He became increasingly convinced Tanisha was only overthinking or affected by the words of mothers whose mouths were hard to brake.

“If you want to consider me jealous or more, please, Ishaan,” Tanisha chirped after asking Bu Ajeng to bathe Haikal. “But, look at my dating history first. What do I suppose I ever dodged? No, right? This time my instincts are stronger. The evidence is not much, but I believe Dareen's work in Bandung is not just about the company. There must be another woman.”

Ishaan observes the street from the apartment window; thinking of the solution of a problem that for three years rolled like a snowball. “Mbak how do you want? What can I help you with from Germany? Need I have Micah do a Dareen stalking to Bandung?”

“Go back to Indonesia,” jawan Tanisha fast. “Rather than ask Micah who is stalking, mending him who changed you while here.”

“Mbak, even if I go home for a while, can't—”

“Three months,” Tanisha confirms. “Help me to collect evidence of Dareen's affair within three months.”

“If Dareen has not been proven to be cheating?”

“You can go back to Germany and I won't undermine you for a quick marriage.”

Ishaan's feelings are getting worse. “If proven Dareen cheating, Mbak want to hold me longer in Jakarta?”

“You remain I allow back to Germany.” Tanisha's gaze darkened. “Keep, I'll divorce Dareen and take over the company. Then, I'll show you that I can bear the responsibility of inheriting the Marlon.” family

That statement gave Ishaan a chill. Once again, Tanisha is proof that a fight can be the scariest creature. In order to preserve his sanity and Haikal's future, Ishaan agrees to return to Indonesia once Micah flies to Frankfurt to replace him.

Suddenly, Ishaan remembered something. Covenant. Three months. A piece from his past stuck out, but he quickly drowned before dragging it into the sea of memories.

***

*Uak is a greeting word for a paternal or maternal sister, often found in Sundanese conversation