Marriage Proposal: Ben & Bima
16 - Ensuring Feelings

(Five)

Today my steps are gone. I bought coffee in the mini market. This is not sure how much candy I ate. Last night I was told to get up early and leave around 7am. I also did not have time to prepare breakfast. So we only drank orange juice that stayed half in the refrigerator. I saw Prof Ben talking about what I really understood and guessed a lot. About the new company and TV station according to the concept. Myjob? Just sitting, paying attention, and being forced to remember everything. Forced me to record some important – points that I think are important - in my little book.

I wasn't focused this morning. Besides I was still sleepy and I wasn't so focused on digesting their conversation. Plus, Prof Ben glanced at me many times. I don't know what the glare means. Watching me for work or something else. Apparently, my delusion had to be completely dismissed. There's no way Prof Ben likes me that fast.

“How do you think?” prof Ben asked suddenly when we had parted with some of the people he met. He turned his head towards me briefly and his gaze was straight forward again. I equalized my steps with her. At first I was wearing a rather sporty shoe, but he told me to replace it with heels. Fortunately I have some heels whose rights are not too high.

“I even want to ask back, does Prof seriously want to make a TV station that contains soap operas and movies?”

“I'm serious. No TV stations showing quality Indonesian films.”

Right too. I am one of those people who rarely watch local TV. I have a TV in my room, but I turn it on most of the time when I'm low and watching Korean movies or Mandarin movies. Never visit a local TV even follow one of its shows or programs. If you want to follow the news, maybe I can monitor it on my own phone.

“I don't think there's a problem, Prof. But Prof has to recruit a lot of quality screenwriters so that the story raised in soap opera or film can be favored.”

“Not wrong I brought you.”

Prof Ben reached into his pocket and unlocked the car and got into his car. I don't understand the meaning of his statement.

“Prof want lunch?” my many.

“I have business to do until afternoon.”

I took a deep breath.

“But you go home. Do I want to take you to your office?”

My job as a personal assistant is done. Maybe I can just go home.

“I'll just go home.”

“Then I drop it off at the MRT stop?” bargained for.

Alright.

“Nothing.”

On the way to the designated MRT stop,

“What Prof will go home for dinner?”

I asked because of the initiative.

“Bby.”

I showed her my smile. What should I cook for tonight, huh? I thought about this until I sat on the MRT until Riko called me with great enthusiasm.

“Ke office now.” order.

“What's the problem?”

“Big problem.” answer.

I stood up suddenly. A few passengers who were in a carriage with me looked at me. Cold sweat started to appear on my palms. What's up, huh? Is there a problem? Does this relate to the storyline of my published debut novel? Are there any other stories that are similar to mine? I kept thinking about this and subconsciously my dinner menu with Prof Ben was completely forgotten.

I got to my office building. Small 4-story building. I couldn't wait for the elevator to come. I opened the emergency exit and climbed the stairs up to the third floor. This company has actually had a lot of employee reductions. Only a few people, ghostwriters, permanent writers who do not burden the company and certainly help the main author. I also heard rumors that this company has several times that someone wants to take over. But Mr. Andri does not give the company he started from scratch just handed to irresponsible people. Because Mr.Andri seems to want to maintain his company's field.

I opened the meeting room, because I saw Riko and the other friends were in a glass room and staring into her LED TV. I knocked on his glass door. The people who were in the room saw the strangeness in my makeup that looked feminine.

“Today elo again sane huh?” chirps Head of Marketing. He pointed towards my heels. I sat down in an empty chair and dropped my body.

“It looks like the man has changed our author is in love?” said Karen. A woman with hair. He's a digital team and analyst at the company.

“Oh so the story is true?” ask Imah.

“It looks like that. But a lot of fiction, right, Bim?” Karen looked at me. Waiting for my answer.

“Many are fictitious. Part of falling in love. Maybe you can confirm to Bima.” Riko answered Karen. Because I can't answer the barrage of gossipy questions. I just smile with my chin up.

“Udah answered the same Riko yes friends.” said.

Imah and Karen seem to be dissatisfied with my answer and are still curious.

“So what's up?” My curious turn.

I stared at the laptop and connected the laptop screen to the projector in front of me. An online website featuring many comics and novels. Everyone in the room including me stopped at one of the titles. A title that is no stranger to me. First Love's. The front cover of the novel is a woman, with long hair, similar to me. He looked at a man from a distance.

“Elo do not check in the application?” ask Riko later.

I'm shaking.

“I guess I haven't downloaded yet.”

I took my phone from my bag and opened an app and downloaded it. But I ignored my phone later.

“Elo don't see how many views?” Then I asked. Enthusiastic.

I squinted my eyes. My eyes are a bit sore from using contact lenses.

“A hundred thousand?” I'm rattled. Making sure my eyes are on Imah, Riko, and Karen. The three of them nodded.

“In the night, Bim!!!”

“Gue just posted this at half-time three in the morning when finished his cover. Even I use a rough cover.”

“What is good?” ask again.

A round of applause from Mr. Andry. He smiled at me and hit me hard on the shoulder.

“Our first author made his debut in the online novel app.” he said. Smile wide. Looks proud of me. His face was the friendliest face I've ever met. In every meeting, he never gets angry or even cuts off the conversation of others. Hence, the employees here were all old employees. Until in time this company will be taken over because many employees are reduced.

“Mister, how do we get Bima to treat us?” said Karen.

“Well, Bima have no time? Kan he should have to continue the next chapter.” Mr. Andri looked at me. I had to smile at him.

“Gue treat coffee across?” haggard me to all the people in the room.

Karen and I complained.

A few hours later, though,

I just remember, I stopped typing at 11pm and the building guards told me that a man was picking me up. Prof Ben's. This is the second time I've made a mistake. I woke up and looked around. I was in my room. I seemed to be walking alone until I was unconscious. When I put my foot on the floor, I saw Chloe sleeping coiled underneath. Instantly I remembered my promise to Prof Ben to have dinner together. I immediately darted out of the room and stopped in the middle room.

Prof Ben sat on the couch. He opened the glass door to the backyard. He was speaking English very quickly and rather decisively. Prof Ben saw me coming running around in a hurry. He flipped through some sheets of paper and held onto his laptop quickly, then finished his conversation. I was still standing in the middle and watching him until I was shocked when he stopped calling and slammed his phone into the sofa. Then she did her own massage between her nose and temples. Take off his glasses.

Cool.

“Ngg... Prof.. sorry, have we had dinner?” many doubt. Because my brain can't work how it should. Prof Ben leaned his body against the sofa and sighed deeply.

He looked at me sharply. My chest suddenly ached probably because of his gaze.

“You don't remember what happened?” He tilted his head.

Eh? What was? What the hell am I doing?

I frowned.

“Why Prof? I don't remember anything.”

“You have a short memory loss disease huh?” insinuations.

I'm speechless. The insinuation makes me feel bad. Finally I walked into the kitchen, picked up a glass, and poured some water. Finished sipping all the water in the glass, my path was blocked by Prof Ben. I could not feel his presence behind me.

“You seriously like me?” tanyakanya. His face is very close to me. He took the glass I was holding and put it on the table.

“I? I may not like the same Prof, but the same love Prof.” I replied plainly. My face's warming. I could feel Prof Ben's breath hunting down my face.

“You should pay more attention to me.”

I frowned. I'm paying attention to him.

“If you are already in the office you always never pick up my phone. Never called me. You forgot your promise.”

UHHH! Aye! When I'm working, it seems to be very focused. That's why my friends are just Riko and Tasya. There are also some people in my neighborhood. I can't get along and have ongoing relationships with people. My life is full of imagination too. That's why I can feel like I am in love.

“I'm sorry, Prof.” I'm down. Suddenly I started to remember. When I finished typing my work, a security guard told me that someone had picked me up. I plan to stay in the office to continue the rest of the chapter. When I approached him, it was Prof Ben. His face looked very flat and took me home. On the road he spoke a thousand languages, and I slept.

“Yes, Prof! I forgot!” I screamed in front of his face.

Prof Ben took a step back.

“We haven't had dinner yet and I promise to cook at home.” Then my voice shrank a bit. Guilt covers me. I'm so stupid.

“Your memory is back?” tanyanya.

I'm nodding. I dodged Prof Ben and walked into the fridge. Viewing food stock. I was planning to go shopping this afternoon because I knew there was no food in the fridge.

“What do you want to cook at two in the morning like this?”

I was staring at the rather empty refrigerator, even orange juice had disappeared from the refrigerator, we spent this morning.

“Jam two? Now at two?”

“You've been asleep for a few hours, I haven't slept. I'm transporting you from the car to your room.”

I'm not comfortable being in this kind of situation, my guilt.

“Do not make your feelings and thoughts sway because of me. So if you're not serious, just ignore me.”. As if I knew my heart.

“Not Prof. I'm serious.” I said mantab.

Prof Ben closed the refrigerator door, cornered me to the point of leaning back in the fridge. Then he pressed my body and grabbed my lips. Smile slowly. I heard him mutter for a while because I didn't open my lips at all. I was too shocked and then I pushed Prof Ben.

“Wait.” I pushed. He's stopped. Stared at.

“You said, you love me?”

“This is not the point! I love Prof Ben not because I want to kiss you or do lustful things.”

“Oh so?”

He just smiled a little. Then walk back to the middle room. As if nothing happened. I stood still in the kitchen and ended up doing cooking. I opened the top kitchen cabinet and there was a lot of fried noodle stock there. Instant food I never touched.

***