LOGINThat morning, the sun began to spread its warm light across the campus grounds. The fresh air still carried the scent of damp grass as Aurelia walked in with steady steps. In her hands, she held a thick folder containing a proposal for a social event for the elderly, gripping it tightly as if it were the source of her motivation that day. Her hair was neatly tied back, and her face looked fresh even though she had only gone to bed after midnight the night before while finishing revisions to the proposal.The faculty corridor was still fairly quiet. A few students passed by while chatting softly, while others were absorbed in their phone screens. Aurelia stopped in front of the committee team's workspace and gently pushed the door open. Inside, only Doni was there, sitting hunched over in front of his laptop, his eyes fixed on the screen with a slight frown."Morning, Don," Aurelia greeted as she placed the folder on the table."Morning, Lia. You're alone? Wulan didn't come with you?"
"Gladly."Gian curved his lips into a meaningful smile, as if those two words alone could calm all of Kirana's worries. His gaze was sharp, yet there was a strange calmness in it.Kirana, who had initially felt relieved and even satisfied with Gian's response, suddenly felt a chill creep down her spine when the man's next move was nothing like what she had expected."Gi... Gian??" Panic slipped from her lips as Gian suddenly grabbed her arm. Instead of pulling her toward the bed as she had imagined, he dragged her toward the bathroom.The pull was swift, firm, and impossible to resist. In an instant, Kirana lost her balance. Her body crashed onto the wet floor, directly beneath the freezing stream of the shower.Water poured down heavily, soaking Kirana's hair and clothes within seconds. She shivered violently. Every movement felt heavy, her body stiff from the cold. She tried to push herself up, pressing her palms against the icy tiles, but the strength she had left was too little to
Gian closed the door to his room slowly, set his suitcase in the corner, and turned on the light. The room felt warm and quiet. The only sounds were the soft hum of the air conditioner and his footsteps against the thick carpet. He picked up his phone and immediately dialed Aurelia."Sweetheart... you've moved to another hotel again?" Aurelia's gentle voice came through the phone, instantly easing the tightness in Gian's chest."Yeah, sweetheart. This is the last one. It's close to the airport anyway. And I've already checked in and gotten to my room. Everything went smoothly," Gian said with a smile. He sat on the edge of the bed, slipped off his shoes, and glanced out the window at the Makassar night skyline. "The meeting ran long, but everything went according to plan until tonight. I'm relieved... and of course I miss you even more."Aurelia smiled on the other end of the call. "I miss you too, Gian. I hope your trip finishes quickly."Gian lowered his head and looked at his phone
“Hot…” Kirana whispered, almost too softly to hear, as she gripped the glass of juice in her hand.The cold drink should have felt refreshing, yet now it tasted strangely dull on her tongue. Her hand trembled slightly, but she quickly raised the glass higher, pretending she was simply finishing the rest of her juice. In truth, she was trying to hide the condition that was starting to slip beyond her control.From the next table, one of Gian’s colleagues glanced over.“Are you sure you’re okay? Your face is really red,” he said, concern clear in his voice.Kirana gave a faint smile, though it looked forced. Tiny beads of cold sweat had already formed along her temples.“Yes… I’m fine,” she replied quickly, trying to sound casual. “Maybe the air in here is a little stuffy. I’ll just step to the restroom for a moment.”“Do you want me to ask one of the h
“Mr. Gian, the dinner with the clients at Hotel Nusantara is all set. Would you like to go straight there, or stop by your room first?”Kirana’s voice sounded soft and professional, though a faint smile lingered at the corner of her lips. Gian did not notice it. He was too busy adjusting his suit jacket.He had just stepped out of a long meeting after a series of exhausting discussions. Glancing at his watch, he let out a slow breath.“Let’s go straight there. If I stop by my room first, I’ll end up being late,” he said shortly.“Of course,” Kirana replied, picking up the folder containing the documents for tonight’s discussion. Her fingers moved calmly, but in her mind the plan she had carefully prepared continued to spin.The ballroom of Hotel Nusantara glowed with warm light from a large crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Round tables were arranged neatly across the room, each covered with smooth white tablecloths. Plates and glasses sparkled under the lights. The rich ar
Makassar greeted Gian with sharp, sweltering heat mixed with the salty scent of the sea drifting through the air. From the window of the rental car, he watched rows of coconut trees lining the roadside, their leaves swaying lazily in the breeze. The sky stretched out in a pale blue, broken only by thin patches of drifting clouds.In the seat beside him, Kirana looked completely absorbed in her work. Her fingers moved swiftly across the tablet screen, marking the schedule and slipping small notes into several items on the agenda.“At two this afternoon we need to head to the project site. The presentation for the board has been moved up,” she said briskly. Her voice was calm and professional, and she did not even glance up.Gian cast her a brief look before nodding. “Make sure all the data is ready.”Kirana offered a small smile, one that appeared only for a moment. “It already is, sir. I even added some backup analysis so you won’t have trouble answering any unexpected questions.”Sin







