Chapter 02
She quickly recounted what had happened—how she ended up hiding in the restroom. Aldo had ordered her to write an article about a book event the staff attended the day before. The photographs were ready, and the other writers were tied up with their own assignments. As a junior still under Aldo’s supervision, the task fell squarely on her shoulders.
[ He ought to get into an accident on his way home! ]
That was Priska’s blunt, unfiltered text to Faby. No small talk, just the raw truth of how Aldo had once again reduced her to tears. Faby usually responded with curses and outrage, even though she had never met the man in person.
[ Careful, Pris. Love and hate are just a breath apart. I’ll reply later—the café’s packed right now. Rant as much as you want. I promise I’ll read everything. Hehehe… ]
Priska’s fingers flew across the keypad, her emotions spilling out with every word. She felt lighter after unloading everything on Faby. She finally stepped out of the stall, washed her hands at the sink, and patted on some powder to keep from looking pale. She hadn’t slept last night, her mind too restless, and now, after the day she’d had, her temper only worsened.
She practiced a smile in the mirror, preparing herself for questions she might have to face. But then—her heart jolted. In the glass, she thought she saw Aldo’s reflection. She rubbed her eyes, shook her head. A hallucination, surely—brought on by lack of sleep. What reason would Aldo have to enter the women’s restroom? Had he lost his mind?
But when she closed her eyes to steady herself, she heard the unmistakable sound of the restroom door locking. Her eyes flew open. Aldo was really there. Priska spun around, her smile trembling, fear rising like a tide.
“Sir, I think you’ve walked into the wrong restroom,” she stammered, wringing her hands.
He gave a dismissive snort, lifted a shoulder indifferently, and smirked. Something about his presence felt entirely wrong. Priska instinctively stepped back, inch by inch, but Aldo advanced with deliberate steps, closing the space between them until her back pressed against the wall.
Too close. She could smell his cologne, mingled with the faint trace of tobacco. He smoked, though she rarely caught him in the act.
“I didn’t walk into the wrong restroom,” Aldo said with unshakable confidence, his gaze locking onto hers.
The scent of his cologne was overwhelming now. His eyes gleamed behind his glasses, and his lips curved into the faintest smile. Breath caught in Priska’s throat. Up close, he was devastatingly handsome. She tried not to read into the look in his eyes, but her instincts whispered otherwise—Aldo looked as though he very much wanted to kiss her.
“S-Sir, what’s going on?” she asked foolishly, swallowing hard as her eyes flicked to his slightly parted lips.
“You really are oblivious, aren’t you?” he said, one eyebrow arching.
Her heart thudded wildly. Their bodies brushed—just enough to ignite something she couldn’t name. One wrong move, and she felt she might combust.
“I’ve liked you for months, Pris. Why else do you think I’ve wasted my time training a rookie? It’s a complete drain—unless it’s you,” Aldo snapped, his voice laced with frustration.
Priska’s mouth fell open, her eyes wide in shock. Her mind scrambled to make sense of it. Before she could gather her thoughts, Aldo stepped back, and she blinked at him in disbelief.
“I can’t stand seeing you close to Bisma. Be my girlfriend. You don’t have to answer now. Send me a message if you agree,” he said simply.
Then he turned and walked out, leaving Priska stunned in the silence of the restroom. She leaned her forehead against the wall and groaned. This couldn’t be real.
***
That evening at Faby’s café—a cozy hangout for teenagers—the lights had dimmed, the doors closed for half an hour. Upstairs, their small living quarters waited. Priska sat at the bar, eating fried rice Faby had prepared.
“Tell me everything,” Faby said at last, sliding into the seat beside her after tidying up.
“I got… confessed to,” Priska muttered, stirring the ice in her glass of tea.
Faby’s hand flew out, smacking her shoulder in excitement. But Priska’s frown deepened as she caught her friend’s eager smile. Faby’s joy wouldn’t last long.
“Bisma confessed? Oh, Pris, that’s wonderful! He’s such a good guy—I adore him for you. You’d be perfect together,” Faby squealed, clasping her hands.
Priska shook her head slowly, chewing her food in silence. Faby waited, curious, expectant.
“It was Aldo, Fab. Mr. Aldo asked me to be his girlfriend,” she said, her expression twisted with disgust.
Faby’s jaw dropped. Her hands flew to cover her mouth. She grabbed Priska’s glass, drained the tea in one gulp, and began fanning herself with whatever she could find. She looked like someone whose world had just been turned upside down.
“No way!” she shouted. “This is a curse, a disaster, the end of days!” she muttered dramatically, like a prophet receiving visions from the heavens.
Priska slumped over her plate of fried rice, though her appetite was gone. With a sigh, Faby whisked the plate away, tossing it into the bin.
“I’m serious, Fab. I was just as shocked. He said he’s liked me from the start—and that he’s jealous about Bisma,” Priska explained, yawning as she leaned against the counter.
Honestly, it made more sense for her head to fall off her shoulders and roll across the floor than for her to become Aldo’s girlfriend.
“So are you going to accept or not? He’s the devil at the office! Why would he suddenly say he likes you? Don’t answer him right away. Let him stew. Make him wait,” Faby advised.
“That actually makes sense,” Priska sighed.
The café’s bell chimed, signaling the door opening. Both women turned their heads. A man in sharp attire stepped inside. He was tall, refined, and carried an intoxicating fragrance. Faby froze, mesmerized, and the rag in her hand slipped soundlessly to the floor.
“I’m sorry, sir. We’re already closed,” Faby said, smiling despite herself.