Flavor Anomaly

14. meet Ben

Early in the morning Jeslin left. Even before Astrid got out of bed, and Daniel was still yawning in bed.

"I go first" cried Jeslin while wearing white Stiletto shoes.

"Loh, Brother? Very early?" daniel asked who had hurriedly appeared behind the door of the room. But Jeslin was lost behind the door and left his apartment.

Jeslin's move was deliberately accelerated. It was strange if Jeslin left so early as now. He certainly has a reason. Not because of the office job that required him to leave early, but Ben.

Well, guilt has been eating away at Jeslin's heart all night. Moreover, Astrid and Daniel are still often sneered because of his cold attitude to Ben. Though the character of Jeslin is like that, not because of deliberate.

He again stepped foot into the multi-storey building. This was the second time Jeslin had entered the place. He immediately went in and asked the receptionist yesterday whom he met when he wanted to meet Ben. Well, in coming to Ben's office.

"Sir Ben has arrived?" ask Jeslin.

"Pak Ben is not here yet, ma'am. It seems like today is not entering anymore, because yesterday also had permission not to enter the office. Whether there is a message, I will convey to his secretary," said the woman with short hair shoulder to shoulder with the name Lita.

"Eum, don't go. Yes, thank you," said Jeslin and left.

Siska just got out of the elevator, headed for Lita's desk because there were some messages to be delivered. But Jeslin was gone, even though he stopped in front of the lobby, because there was a message he had to reply to.

"Lit, there will be a bouquet of flowers coming, send direct delivery to the meeting room, yes."

"OKAY. Uh, someone's looking for Ben sir. Didn't Ben come in today?"

"Who?"

"That, that woman," pointed Lita at Jeslin who was receiving a phone call.

"Kok kayak has seen, yes," murmured Siska.

"Eh, that was the other day here too! Which fits out of the office, in the same gang Mr. Ben. Her boyfriend, yes, Sis?" ask Lita full of curiosity.

"It's not like it's. But I don't know. Mr. Ben didn't say anything, he could be his girlfriend, but strangely, his own girlfriend didn't know that Mr. Ben didn't go to the office."

"May fight be possible."

"It can be."

Jeslin returned to his parked car not too far from the lobby. Fortunately the parking lot was not too crowded, so he was free to put his car where he wanted.

"Yes, I'm on the road again" Jeslin said, then got into the car. He failed to meet Ben. He intends to immediately return to the office, because soon there will be a meeting for the continuation of the departure of the Jeslin team to Latvia.

_____

Ben is fresher. Panji, who was staying in his apartment, was still sleeping on the sofa. Ben only glanced at his best friend, who had been accompanying him for the past few days.

"Nji, I'm going to the office, yeah. If you want to eat, drink and make your own."

"Hm? Seriously, you're going to the office?" Panji turned out to be half conscious, and immediately realized when he heard that Ben was about to enter work today.

"Yes. But I told you to come into the office today, healthy is not healthy. There is an important meeting he said," said Ben, he took milk in the refrigerator as well as cereal with a yellow star shape. A bowl filled with cereal and milk.

"Lo's a real kid what a pick-up kid is, Ben?" ask Panji, but don't get a meaningful response from Ben. He just casually enjoyed a simple breakfast and immediately spent it quickly. Ben did not bother too much with the words Panji. After all, the character of his father is like that to everyone. Firm and hard. It was not without reason, it was all the result of his previous work as a military.

Well, Papa Ben's an ex-soldier. He retired early due to near death from volunteering in Afghanistan. That is why he forbids the child not to continue his ideals to become a soldier.

"Gue go first." Ben then grabbed the tailored jacket of ash that he put on the back of the sofa.

Ben likes tailored jacket more than tuxedo. For him tailored jacket is more fitting in his body. He also often ordered clothes for his office on the tailor family subscription.

"Be careful, Ben! Do not think Jeslin continues," said Panji and actually make Ben again remember the figure of the woman.

On the way, Ben still remembered Jeslin. How did the girl behave when she was met at her residence. Ben's heart hurts. Got a subtle rejection from Jeslin. He then recalled the memory he had gone through with Jeslin. From their first meeting, to all the memories they've ever carved together. Not engraved by the two of them, but Ben who measured it alone all this time. Ben only realized that Jeslin was not interested in him from the past until now.

Ben finally began to accept the reality. The harsh reality is that Jeslin is not interested in her. All this time only Ben who keeps trying to chase after Jeslin. Only Ben kept on approaching Jeslin, not the other way around. Even Jeslin continued to show dislike when he was near Ben all this time. Ben begins to bury his feelings for Jeslin.

Ben's car reached the office parking lot. Several other luxury vehicles are already parked in place. He indeed prefers the basement as a parking lot, because his car will not feel hot when he will ride it later in the day.

With a confident move, Ben walked into the lobby. He greeted some people at the place while showing a happy look.

"Morning, Sir."

"Morning, Lit."

"Eh, Sir! Sorry, there was a guest who was looking for the Father," explained Lita and made Ben stop.

"Who? My client?"

"Eum, it doesn't seem. Women."

"Women?" ask Ben again. Ben wondered who the man who came to the office this morning. Moreover, she is a woman. Several names popped into Ben's head about who the woman had been looking for. But he did not find a single reasonable name to appear in his present life.  Because all this time, especially since he worked at the company, never once did Ben meet his old friends again, let alone the female gender.

"Yes, Sir. He came in the morning. If I asked if there was a message or not, he said there was no message to go straight away. Oh yes, it seems Siska understands who it is, sir," explained Lita.

"OKAY. Thanks." Thanks."

Ben went straight into the elevator. He went upstairs, where the room was. Actually, he was not too dizzy with the female guest Lita talked about, because Ben felt that he was not waiting for someone or someone who wanted to see him.

"The? What is my schedule today?" asked Ben who immediately approached the table Siska in front of his room.

Siska who was dressing up was immediately shocked and excited. But luckily Ben didn't care much about it.

"Have you come in? I think it's still sick?" siska asked while reading her personal journal.

"Yes, it still hurts, but it has to be work. What will I eat then?" Ben's question sounded ridiculous because it was thrown from the mouth of the subsidiary owner of the company. For Siska, the property of the Gunawan family will not be eaten up by seven derivatives. This made Siska chuckle softly, while checking her journal.

"Oh today Mr. Ben only had a meeting with PT Karya Cipta regarding the purchase of land."

"That's all?"

"Yes, Sir. The others I've already canceled and pushed back next week."

"What time is the meeting?"

"Later in the afternoon, sir."

"Oh yes already. I go in first. You make me coffee, please" Ben asked Siska.

"Good, sir."

Ben immediately entered his room, and sat on the throne. The phone on his desk rings. Lazily he lifted the phone, and pressed one of the buttons. "Yes?"

"You're in today?"

"Look, Pa. If not, you can pick up your phone."

"Yes already. The real work. Don't be soft as a boy. The flu just doesn't go to work. It's work, Ben, not school!" omel the Papa.

Ben just stared breathlessly at the sky and tried to be polite to his superiors. Indeed Mr. Gunawan is Ben's real father, but in the office, he is still Ben's superior. The attitude of Mr. Gunawan was, like a superior to a subordinate. In Ben's office there's no power, if there's a father.

"Yes, Pa"

"Yes already. Continue your work." The phone ends unilaterally, and Ben's mood falls instantly. He started not intending to work today because of his Papa attitude. It's just, he can't run away like he did back at school.

The door of the room was knocked, Ben immediately told his guest to enter, because he knew that the one who came was Siska. Sure enough, the aroma of coffee immediately poured out in his room. Siska also approached Ben's desk to put down the coffee of his boss' order.

"Any more, sir?"

"No." Ben started checking out some of the maps on the table. He knew that Siska would put unfinished work on the table every morning.

"Oh yes, sir. There was a guest looking for the Father" said Siska who arrived to remember the incident this morning.

"That, Sir. Who was here yesterday."

"Which one?" asked Ben who arrived suddenly began to be interested in the chat. He felt he had never received a female guest as the two of his men mentioned.

"That was yesterday, sir. Eum, what's his name ... Jes ... Jeslin's? Oh yes, Jeslin, sir!" siska exclaimed that looked sparkling because she had remembered the name of her superior guest.

"What's? Which is really you!" Ben looked surprised to hear the name emerging from Siska's mouth.

"Yes, right. I'm convinced. That's Mba Jeslin, who came here the other day to see you!"

"Continue ... What did he say?" asked Ben enthusiastically.

"Say Lita ... No message what, sir."

"Oh, huh?"

"Yes, sir."

"Yes already. You go back to work."

Siska resigned and returned to work. Meanwhile, Ben returns to daydreaming after Siska leaves. Ben's confused. Believe it and not, when Jeslin came looking for him.

"Ngapain Jeslin's here, huh?" he nodded by asking himself that question.

"Ah, but not possible. He might turn 180 degrees in no time. Maybe we should talk about Daniel. That kid drank Panji last night in the apartment." Ben's analysis sounds reasonable. Because he did see a liquor bottle in his apartment, more precisely on his kitchen floor. Who else if not Panji and Daniel.

Ben soon dissolves back into work. He no longer wanted to think about Jeslin actually coming into his office. Ben just didn't want to get back sick, hoping for more on the girl.

______

"Jes, come with me?" asked Aqila who was carrying a bag to go home.

"No ah. I'm so tired of this. You guys, yeah," Jeslin said, rejecting his friend's invitation.

The three of them plan to try a cafe with a Japanese feel that is on the side of the road. Of course the price is not too expensive compared to in Japanese restaurants that they usually go to.

"Well, Jes ... Time won't come."

"Yes, I'm sorry, yeah. I am tired of it. Tomorrow, I have to get up early. Don't forget, we'll see you at the airport tomorrow."

"Yes, Jes. We must be on time. So don't you want to come?"

"Not yet. Next time."

"Yes already. First yes," said the three of them.

Jeslin simply waved his hands off the departure of his friend. Well, tomorrow they'll fly to Latvia. Not for a long time, but only for a few days. However, all production teams had to meet in person to discuss their plans for the film. Although the production process will not be done in the near future.

Jeslin has cleared his desk. Some important maps have been completed, and the rest he gave to Seina, to continue the work. Some of my friends started leaving the room. Jeslin started walking out to his car.

Once the engine is turned on. Jeslin suddenly recalled Ben, who he had not been able to meet this morning. He then runs the car to Ben's office, hoping the young man has not left his office. 

Within 20 minutes, Jeslin arrived. But he was a little disappointed that Ben left the office an hour ago. According to Lita, Ben came home quickly because he was not feeling well.

"A message, Mom? Tomorrow I'll tell Mr. Ben."

"No, thank you."

_______

This time Ben was really sick. His body was shivering but his body temperature was extremely hot. Ben's head feels dizzy. He even just fell asleep on the couch, watching tv. The reason is so that he can easily reach the kitchen to be able to change the water to compress his forehead later.

Ben was wearing a long-sleeved sweater. He also wears socks to warm his body. Now he continues to hide behind a thick blanket, with a small towel felt on his forehead.

The tv show ahead, just as a lullaby. Ben doesn't like solitude. But he was always alone. Until the doorbell rang. At first he let it happen, but over time it greatly disturbed his sleep.

Annoyed, Ben moves to open the door and is ready to nag the person behind the door.

"The goat banner! I like to enjoy my work! Smiling makes me feel. Don't know if I'm sick!" nagging Ben as long as he walks to the door.

Panji does often prank Ben by continuing to ring the bell. He deliberately upset Ben because of his actions.

Arriving at the door, Ben opens the door and is ready to nag again at Panji. "Lo knew I was sick, not bearing fruit ...." Ben's sentence stopped as soon as the one in front of him was not Panji, but Jeslin while carrying a fresh fruit parcel. "You?" ben asked as he looked at Jeslin in wonder.

"Yes. I've been to the office twice, but I didn't see you. So I asked your secretary, address here."

"Two times?"

"Yes. So this morning Siska said it was you really?"

"Hm, yeah, why?"

"Keep the second one?"

"New aja. Home work. But he said you're home."

Ben was silent for a moment. He was as if he were dreaming right now. Jeslin was really looking for him in the office, even until he came twice. The girl was already in front of her apartment. With a hand.

"Can I come in?"

"Eh, yes. Come in, Jes," take Ben and widen the door so that the girl can enter the residence.

Ben was misbehaved, only daring to walk behind Jeslin. While Jeslin actually looked relaxed to see the contents of Ben's luxurious apartment.

"Say you're sick?" jeslin asked and then put the fruit parcel on the table. "I brought you some fruit. Hope you like it."

"Like it. Like. Thank you, yes. Uh sit down, Jes. I made you a drink. What do you want to drink?" ask Ben nervously.

"Not bother. Aren't you sick anymore?" jeslin asked while paying attention to the sofa that already resembled a hospital room. It shows that Ben is not feeling well.

"Eum, yes. But that's okay." Ben insisted on making tea for Jeslin. Jeslin follows Ben into the kitchen and helps him.

"Udah, sana. You just sit down. I made it myself." Jeslin takes over the cup and continues Ben's work.

Ben finally gives up and lets Jeslin make tea for himself. But she stayed in the kitchen and kept staring at the girl.

"Why are you looking for me?" ben asked, who was curious about it. He was sure it was true that Jeslin did not like it, and suddenly Jeslin came to him several times. Of course it looks weird.

"I want to apologize" Jeslin said, turning to Ben.

"For what?" asked Ben in confusion.

"About yesterday. Maybe I'm outrageous. So I want to apologize to you. I ... Don't mean to act like that, just ...."

"Udah. It's nothing. I understand why you are, Jes. I-i understand. Yes, I should have known myself not to constantly approach you again. I promise to keep my distance from now on."

Jeslin was silent, he looked at Ben whose face was indeed pale. But still smiling when he said that.

"We can be friends, right?" ask Jeslin.

"Hm. Ja. Of course we're friends."

"Yes already. So you're sorry about me?"

"Jeez, Jes. I'm okay," Ben said, lying. He knew very well that he was not okay with Jeslin's rejection the other day.

"If so, we'll be friends from now on" Jeslin said as he thrust his pinky finger at Ben.

The young man chuckled at Jeslin's behavior, which reminded him of his childhood. Finally the little finger is both interlocked, and this is where it all began.