Marriage Proposal: Ben & Bima
1 - Rare Opportunity (Prologist)

(Five)

Today is Friday’at. The weather outside is too hot and sunny. I typed the word “Tamat” on my laptop screen quickly. Then I leaned my body against the half-padded chair and raised both my hands while pulling my stiff fingers from typing for hours.

“AAAAAAHHH.” shouted.

“Completed?” asked Riko opened the thick scarf that covered her face. He was sleeping with a sleeping bag camping under my feet.

“Yaaa.. done.” my word. “Gue send to e-mail directly yes.” I was busy opening the email and sending the file to Riko.

Riko is seen waking up and sitting down while opening her sleeping bag. People in the office started coming. The sight of Riko sleeping on the floor, or whoever it was was was no stranger to this office. I'm a novelist, so it's only natural that I sometimes finalize my last chapter in the office with my editor and my best friend.

I am not a famous novel writer. Let's say I'm a helper writer, a behind-the-scenes writer, whose name is not listed in the author of the novel I typed myself, because I'm a ghost writer. There was a lead author directing the stories to me and I developed it myself with my imagination and reference. So, if this novel explodes in the market it's not me who's famous but the lead author. I've been in this field since I was in college. Riko.

She told me to be a ghost writer at first. I wrote biographies of some famous people and lastly I wrote novels specializing in fiction romance. If anyone asks, have I ever published my own novel? There aren't. I don't know the direction of writing my novel, do I have to be romantic? The mysteries? The sci-Fi? So, until now I have been working this job behind the scenes. While I wrote my own novel online under a pseudonym of course, C.B. Lalie Tha's. I used that name because of my long name Chandani Bimala Lalitha.

I quickly tidied up my things on the desk, closed the laptop, and checked the MRT schedule this morning to get back to the contract.

“Elo do not want to go home with my car?” tawar Riko's.

“Elo think I'm sane driving in jammed hours like this? While I haven't slept in two nights?” I glared at Riko who was busy folding her sleeping bag.

Riko just nodded.

Riko and I lived together in Jakarta. Contracting a house. Because the rented house will be sold by the owner, Riko and I finally rented their own rent. I kept contracting a house with a few rooms in it. Where the person who contracted in it always alternated. I'm the only one who's survived these two years. Meanwhile, Riko rented an apartment that was actually not far from my contract.

Riko's salary is bigger than mine. He's a senior novel editor. He can quickly read the storylines of novels and sum up how many words have typos. I'd rather stay home. It has a workspace, a room that always brings out ideas, a TV room, and its own kitchen. Unfortunately, my salary is not enough to buy a house in Jakarta.

I left Riko who had disappeared into his room and started to check on the novel I finished earlier. Now I've been sitting in a long iron chair waiting for my destination MRT to pass. Sighs. My life is really heavy. Like there is no hope. Although I can sleep after that for the next few days while waiting for Riko to report the novel I made and make revisions.

“You know a soul mate huh?” ask a father who has a moustache and a bushy brew. There was a show at the MRT station. Some people crowded around curious about the attractions that will be given. The father predicted the three people in front of him by talking about the appearance of their soul mate in the future. I was a bit skeptical seeing the silliness that was happening in front of me. I can't believe the prophecy even the prophecy about a soul mate?? What a crazy thing.

The MRT is coming. Some people immediately prepared to line up on the right side waiting for people from inside the MRT to come out, then the one on the right lane entered. Maybe because the direction of the MRT is the direction where it leads to areas that are not business areas so many seats are empty. The man was sitting right next to me.

I leaned back and looked at the person in front of me with a not so serious look.

“You don't believe it?” ask the father suddenly.

I turned to him, ascertaining whether he was talking to me or not. It turns out he looked me in the eye.

“Sorry, Sir?”

“You don't believe ya the same I said earlier?”

“Not Sir, just a little..” I'm not feeling well. How did he know I didn't believe his words? Does my face show that? It doesn't seem like it.

“Kony?” he added. He cut my words.

“Eh, not Sir. I don't really believe in prophecy.” I explained it politely.

The father stared with a smile. He looked at me for a long time. I was misbehaving and turned my eyes the other way.

“Later you will meet your soul mate. It's easy. You will be matched later.”

I looked towards him. What is this bullshit?

“I will be betrothed? This person who is betrothed to me is my soul mate? So?”

The father nodded happily, as I responded to his words.

I laughed bitterly.

“Pak, I never even dated. My parents are also not the typical ones who are so stout.”

So, the point is I still don't believe it.

A female voice echoing throughout the MRT appeared. Signing a stop at the next station. The fortune teller disappeared without saying goodbye to me. It's not clear. I shook my own head. I leaned my body again. Okay, my soul mate is someone who's been betrothed to me. Amusingly.

(Ben)

I don't usually get jet lag during my two-hour trip from Bangkok to Jakarta. Plus this morning the atmosphere in the MRT is very crowded. I think I'm on the wrong track too. So, I'm a little late to my destination. I bought a glass of Americano on the street and downed it in a matter of minutes. Maybe my face is so fucked right now. Finally I stood waiting for the next MRT on the opposite line, because I had missed two stations. It seems like the Americano I drank had no impact on my body and head. I was still dizzy and a little sleepy. I walked about three meters from where I was waiting and headed for the crowd to keep me awake.

I stopped at a crowd that was quite crowded because of the astrologer attraction in the middle. I had time to steal the hear to fulfill my curious desires. But my gaze was on a woman who had originally looked through the crowd and stole a listen. After hearing the topic of the fortune teller, the woman immediately showed a dislike face and somewhat went away. He and I are getting ready to stand in line on the right track, because the next MRT is coming. The woman went in first and managed to get a seat in the MRT which was rather quiet with the fortune-teller.

I'm standing still. Maintaining sanity. Listen to this woman's skeptical view of her soul mate. After that, I looked at him as he closed his eyes. It then opens when the female voice inside the MRT speaker notifies the next stop. At that moment, his phone rang. He lifted her up lazily.

“Why?” His voice sounded weak. “Hah? All been read? Hundreds of pages???” He suddenly lifted his body. “Trus elo send me to the office again now?” The woman looked at the clock looped around her left wrist. Turns out he was going home. The direction of his office was the opposite.

“Okay, I went back to the office. Is there any good news?” He stopped talking. “Wah, seriously?? Directly printed???” The woman's face changed. I don't know why I like his spirit. No complaints at all.

The MRT slowly stopped. He's getting ready for the exit while the door is open. As for me, it seems that it should indeed get off at this station.

“Iya, I puter directions now yes.” he said excitedly.

(Five)

I sat in a small meeting room. Riko was in front of me facing the lead author of the novel I just finished a few hours ago. Usually things like this, I decided to wear earphones to listen to songs. I don't like disappointing decisions.

Riko and the lead author who was a middle-aged woman looked at me. Pleased. Oh good sign means. I took off my earphones.

“Good news?” ask them both.

“Iya dong.” replied Riko accompanied by a nod of the main author.

My face is bright.

“In addition to the novel without a long editing process, I want to nawarin a good position for you.”

I looked towards Riko.

“What is it, Ma'am?” I'm curious.

“I and Riko agreed to promote your name, Bim as the author of the novel.” The lead author named Maria looks very happy.

“Means?” I still don't understand.

“You can publish your own book.” Riko explained.

I'm standing. Be gleeful.

“This is serious???” My tears are almost out. My eyes glazed. All those years that I became a ghost writer I was finally offered to be a novel writer myself.

“There is a tap...” Sister Maria destroyed my pleasure. “You should write a romantic novel.”

“Haaaa???” I'm gaping.

“She is actually a specialty of fantasy stories.” capped Riko on Ma'am Maria.

“But the fantasy story is not sold in the market Indonesia.” Maria's mother breathed.

“Udah so, since the same Mbak right Bima is very difficult to understand the plot of romantic stories in the novel Mbak.”

“Well yes, than we check every manuscript that comes in why do not we ask the author to remain in this company to write?”

It was seen that Maria and Riko were arguing.

“Where?” ask Maria to me.

I'm a little heavy. I don't understand love. Even I don't really like watching romantic movies, besides my life is bland there is no meaningful romance in my twenty-six years.

“These five have never been in love, Ma'am.” chirped Riko.

“I know.” Sister Maria menggelos. “Means I challenged him to a romantic novel. Our company again needs a lot of romantic novels.” Maria's mother saw me who was quiet. “What if three months?”

“Concept?” many finally.

“Free. It looks like I want your finished chapter-by-chapter story to be published online in an online novel app and that's where we'll see if you're successful or not. If you are successful, we publish.” directly

Thank goodness I didn't write this novel.

“OK. I can like.”

“Deal yes!” Maria stretched out her hand to me. I shake it limp.

“Means I'll rarely see you in the office. Elo is now the lead author. Hmm...the time you need is three months huh?”

“Until the end?”

Maria and Riko nodded.

After that, I went back home. Riding the MRT which is getting quiet even though it is a little afternoon. I got off at my station. Then I got off and took a bus to a campus in Depok. I suddenly realized why I had to take a bus to Tasya campus? Actually, my college is too. I'm just a graduate of Communication Science, while Tasya took another post-graduate degree in Communication Science and now it's second semester.

Tasya is my best friend from Junior High and with Riko they are dating. I who is none other than and is not is always a mosquito among them.

“Tas, where?” I called Tasya.

“Hmmm, in the green aisle. Want to walk through the middle park.”

“Oudah I to the park. Meet you there.”

I hung up the phone and walked quickly to a park not far away. I looked for an empty seat and waited for Tasya there.

“BIMA!!!” shouts Tasya from behind. His face was very happy. I'm sure Riko must have told her about what I ended up being the lead author of. “BIMA!! Congratulations to you!!! Elo is finally the lead author!!!” irascible. Tasya pulled my hands together until I stood up and followed Tasya's rhythm of excitement.

“ULTLY!!!” We cuddled. Is that as happy as I am? “But... novel what try?”

“Eh don't know.” Tasya stopped jumping. “Novel fantasy right?”

“Open! Romantic!”

“Haaaaaaa???” Tasya. He knows my capacity is very minimal experience of love.

Not far from Bima and Tasya shouted in excitement and stood in the middle of the garden, a man noticed them. Focus on Bima. The woman he met at the MRT. This man was stunned for a while and then walked.

***