Briiiiiiiiiing! My alarm clock woke me up, which I hoped it didn’t.

After that confrontation with that man last night, I mean, earlier this morning, it caused me to have insufficient sleep. Well, I could say I’m used to having a lack of sleep, if not six hours maximum, due to the nature of my work, but the case earlier was different compared to my usual nights. If it wasn’t for the trouble that man recklessly created, I could’ve slept more peacefully.

“Or perhaps, I should’ve not argued with that man anymore,” I groaned. “I feel like I only wasted my time disputing with him.”

But then, if I didn’t dare to let him know what trouble he was causing that could affect his neighbours, he wouldn’t stop.

“Ah, that’s right. I’m his only neighbor,” I chuckled and stared at my ceiling for a few seconds.

Perhaps, I could just get something to eat when I arrive at my office. Although I’m craving Kayla’s walnut pie and iced americano in this instance, it could wait. Bargaining myself to not think of that matter, I forced myself to the kitchen and drank a glass of warm water to freshen my stomach.

“Giddy up, Misty. You’re going to have a long day at work today!” I told myself and immediately walked to my bathroom, the wooden floor freezing my naked feet. See? Last night, I didn’t even have the time to wear the good, comfy socks I randomly bought at the department store near the publishing house where I work.

After my warm but quick shower, I decided to get dressed in just a simple beige straight slack—a gift from Kayla—with a tucked-in black turtleneck long-sleeved shirt in it. It was getting colder and colder already due to the arrival of the winter season, so I put on only a simple makeup since I didn’t want to get my face dry. I don’t use makeup that much unless there’s a special occasion in the publishing house, so this look didn’t matter. Like, I was only going to work—my usual, daily life—so it wouldn’t matter. Even if the man from the next unit sees me with a rush-looking look, it still wouldn’t matter at all. Even if he’s handsome—

“What? Did I just think about him?” I scowled and made my hair into a lower ponytail.

Finally, I put on my beige cardigan that matches my beige slack pants to finish my look and wore my sling office bag containing my stuff, like my hygiene products, the book I am currently reading, and just other stuff. Well, just a sling bag, but a little bigger than the one I used yesterday, which still has crumpled unknown papers, papers of my doodles and random writing, or old receipts from take-outs—primarily those of cafes or restaurants.

“There you go! This would do. I think I look quite decent now,” I said with confidence while looking at myself in the mirror.

My phone started ringing as Ms. Rose’s name appeared on my phone’s screen.

“Hello? Ms. Rose?” I uttered, trying my best to be as cheerful as I could because being sloppy in the morning was the last thing you could be in front of Ms. Rose.

“Good morning, Ms. Brooke! I’m guessing you’re at your office now,” she said with a high-pitched tone of her voice. Confirmed. She had already arrived at her office.

Hearing how her voice sounded contained and evident, it was also apparent that she had already arrived at the publishing house. I think I will be late again.

But then, if I would explain what ruckus I had been earlier, she would understand.

“Ms. Rose, I was just about to leave my unit,” I softly let out a sigh and chuckled.

“Come quickly, Ms. Brooke.” I heard her sip something—her morning black tea, perhaps. “Ms. Towns would like to talk to you about her manuscript. She said she’ll arrive in 30 minutes, so around 8:45? You must arrive first before her. Understand, Ms. Brooked?” Ms. Rose ended the call, not even giving me time to explain or something.

“30 minutes? For real?” I hissed to myself. Ms. Rose knows I’m living reasonably close to the publishing house, so she expected I would make it in time for Ms. Becky’s sudden request for a meeting. Ms Becky is the writer of the manuscript I am currently reviewing and evaluating. In short, in the publishing industry, I’m coaching her in creating her book.

My travel time from my condominium unit to the publishing house will take about 20 minutes if there’s no traffic.

“I need to go now,” I whispered to myself and looked at my watch.

It was already five minutes past eight.

“My shoes!” I groaned when I realized I had started running barefoot. Road traffic was getting heavy in the early morning these past days, so I just took my white sneakers and carried them with the time ticking.

My hands were shaking as I was closing my heavy door. At the same time, the man from earlier was also leaving his unit. Just as I was closing my door, he appeared right in front of me? Really? Oh, how could fate be so mean to me?

“Huh!” I scoffed so loudly and looked at him for a few seconds with glaring eyes of mine, trying to imply to him—like some signal rays were coming from my eyes—how horrible was night was because of him. Not expecting anything, he returned the look and smirked at me, so I just started walking quickly to the elevator while trying to put on my sneakers, my back almost hurting.

It was kind of embarrassing, but I was in a hurry.

“Careful, Miss Forehead.” The man was already beside me, waiting for the elevator to come up as well. Neglecting his sudden appearance, I finished putting on my sneakers and dusted off my cardigan afterward.

“Could you stop calling me that? I was given a name right after I was born,” I spoofed, but he just looked at me for a good few seconds before letting out a burst of soft laughter.

“Alright,” he simply said.

That’s it? No side comment or question at all?

“Well, then, thanks,” I responded and avoided his look.

“Wait, were you expecting me to ask what your name is?”

“What? As if I’m going to tell you. Why bother asking it?

He put his hands inside his pocket and leaned on the metal wall of the elevator before looking at me from toe to head as if there was something wrong with the way I looked. “What’s the rush?” he asked.

“What do you mean what’s the rush? Isn’t it obvious? Work, of course!”

“Yeah, your crumpled pants agree,” he chuckled.

“Don’t look at me. I didn’t have enough time to iron it!”

“Whoops! Someone’s a little mad here.”

My eyebrows frowned, and I looked at him, making him quiet.

“I’m gonna be late, okay? My work called for a meeting which I didn’t really expect at all since we were supposed to have a meeting the day after tomorrow,” I explained to him.

“Uhm, okay?”

Why did I even explain to him? Not that he cares.

Ding! The elevator finally opened. We both quickly tried to get in, but we entered simultaneously, so we bumped into each other again.

“Sorry. You go ahead first.” The man gestured his arms towards the elevator.

“Thank you,” I said.

I was about to push the button for Parking 1, but we both didn’t realize that we were going to the same floor, so he accidentally slightly touched my index finger too, which he immediately removed, anyway.

“So you park on Parking 1 as well?” he asked awkwardly.

Uhm?

“Pretty obvious,” I answered him awkwardly too.

We were quiet for the next seconds until my phone started ringing again.

“Hello? Yes, Ms. Rose?” Not again, Ms. Rose.

“Ms. Broooooooke,” Ms. Rose answered with a singing tone of her which made me pull my phone away from my ear. I slightly saw the man laughing beside me. I’m pretty sure he heard Ms. Rose. When she stopped, I put my phone back on my ear.

“Ms. Rose, why did you call me again? I promise I’m on the way already.”

“Ms. Becky said she’s on the way now too and will be here in less than 20 minutes,” Ms. Rose informed me.

“What? I thought she’ll be there in 30 minutes?” I was panicking.

“Just be quick, Ms. Brooke. Traffic jams ahead.”

“Yes, Ms. Rose. I can see. I’m driving now.” I lied and ended the phone call.

The man beside me laughed. “Driving already? Woah, stop! The light’s on red.”

“Ha-ha, funny!” I faked a laughed and rolled my eyes at him. “If you weren’t singing so—” He was staring at me with a firm face, “—never mind.”

******