LOVE THE EXPATRIATE

4. First Date

These three days have been an exhausting day for Edward.

Two days ago he had checked the final report made by Mrs. Elena. Starting from marketing reports, logistics distribution reports, income reports and assets owned by the company, to checking contracts with several companies that are Zafora vendors.

Yesterday he had a meeting with all the branch managers.

And throughout the day, he held meetings with several advertisers and vendors, as well as two models who became brand ambassadors for Zafora Indonesia. But one of the models was absent so represented by his manager.

The man decided to change his marketing strategy and some contractual policies that were nearing expiration. But all that was not final until he first visited the branch outlets. And Bandung is the first city he will visit the day after tomorrow.

Edward exited the outlet when the watch in the man's hand showed at 17. 30 WIBS. The body he sipped on his left elbow, while his right hand tote the suitcase. He walked down the plaza to the elevator. Weekends like this plaza visitors are more crowded than ordinary days. Everyone wants to please themselves after a week of work.

So does the man, he wants to relax tonight. This afternoon Edward had made an appointment with Mikaila to meet. He will return to his apartment to clean up and change his clothes.

An hour later the man had walked out of his apartment getting ready to get off. He looks handsome by wearing a flannel shirt mixed with a brown jacket and denim pants. When the elevator got to the bottom, he headed straight to the basement, where his car was parked. Minutes later, the car exited the plaza complex and turned into Sudirman Street, joining thousands of other vehicles to drive to Mikaila's apartment.

Grand Kaharu Residence 14th Floor 254. At 07 PM.

Edward reopened the message the woman had sent this afternoon. With Google Maps guidance, he finally arrived at the courtyard of the 20-story building. The man had stood before the door numbered 254 and was steadily pressing down on the bell.

Edward's eyes sparkled as a smiling face flashed behind the door. The girl was very beautiful with lips that were given a sweep of salem color and her curly hair that was only a boat was left unraveled. Black mini dress that shows part of her thigh makes her look sexy.

“Goodnight, Mikaila.” said the man smiled.

“Night Ed. Comein. I am ready kok.” he said using informal language to be more familiar.

Mikaila widened the door again and made way for her male guests to enter.

Edward swept a glance across the spacious room. Too big for a single woman. The apartment was as big as his apartment. A bar table looks to separate the pantry area in the left corner with the main room. Next to the pantry is a dining table with four chairs. On the right wall are some reinances and an LED TV. While near the front wall, a set of sofas are displayed. The wall separates the main room from the balcony area. The entire wall is made of glass so as if the room and balcony are integrated with the view of the bay of Jakarta from a height of 70 meters.

The man imagined himself enjoying the atmosphere of Jakarta at night with Mikaila in the area accompanied by a bottle of champagne or tequila.

“Come Ed!” mikaila said to disperse Edward's daydream. The woman came out of the room while wearing cardigans to cover her upper body.

“Yes. We leave now.” said the man holding Mikaila's hand.

“You're on time, Ed. This city is so bad. You can spend hours just waiting for your car stuck in the middle of the road.”

“Let's just say I'm a lucky guy who avoided getting stuck and dating a pretty girl.” Edward opened the car door for Mikaila.

“Since when did an English man turn into a tombal, Mr Edward? You're like a cab driver in Paris, Ed.” replied the woman.

“Oh yes?” Edward just laughed as he took the car west of the city.

They finally arrived at Continental Club, one of the biggest clubs in Jakarta. Mikaila brought Edward in. The techno music that the dj concocted jolted greeted them. The visitors inside the bar were quite crowded. The man found almost all the visitors to the bar were foreigners like them.But there were also some who were locals. Maybe their friend or partner. Most of them like from Europe or America because of blonde hair. However, there were some visitors that Edward saw with Latin and nigger faces. And it looks like three narrow-eyed men just came too, like they are Japanese or Korean.

Mikaila said that most of the guests who came were members of this club, including herself. Edward saw the woman pull out the id card and was shown to the guard when he entered. This place is indeed a place for expatriates in Jakarta who want to form a community. The main requirement to become a member must be a foreign nationality. Even the bartenders and baristas who work here are also strangers.

Edward ordered vodka for both of them.

“Since I arrived in this city three years ago.”

Mikaila took a cigarette and followed her as well.

“It's nice to gather with people with various nations like this" he said exhaling cigarette smoke.

" Especially if you meet someone who is your country. It feels like finding a family in a place far from home.”

“You must miss Moscow, Mikaila.” said Edward turned to the woman beside him as he sipped a small drink.

Mikaila smiled wryly. He smoked his cigarette deeply and exhaled it into the air.

“Let's watch those two guys, Ed.” said the woman pointed behind Edward.

Edward looked back. Two men were sitting not far away. A blonde and a black-haired man.

“They must be from different countries and tell each other their hometowns. Everyone is proud of their identity. Think global, act local. They are all crossers of many countries but still do not forget their roots.”

Because Edward's response was flat, the woman pointed a circular bracelet in her left hand at the man.

“Try see this.”

“Only an ordinary bead. Not too special.” said the man.

“No ! This is something special. It is a Himalayan salt that has crystallized and is as hard as rock. Taken from a depth of tens of meters of the earth's stomach. This bracelet was given by Ojani, my friend from India. We met here two years ago.”

“Is he also someone special to you?’ ask Edward.

Mikaila laughed as she shook her head, then sucked back her cigarette.

“The man has now returned to his country. But we still send each other email.” he explained.

“Intinya, Ed,” the woman tasted her vodkana.

“People here are proud to give their identity to someone they just met. They usually exchange pins or small items typical of the country.”

“Then I will get something special from Russia.” The man beside her rolled his eyes.

“There's nothing special about me, Ed. I'm even confused by my own identity.” Mikaila sighed.

“Why?” Edward scrunched his forehead.

There was no response from the woman. Although faint, Edward saw there was a burden on Mikaila's face. The man did not want to ask further. It's rude to ask personal questions on a first date. He did not want to ruin this intimate moment.

Edward just wants to enjoy tonight and have fun with Mikaila. He ordered another drink for the two of them while his chin stomped gently to the rhythm of Shake It Off Taylor Switf which was imitated by the dj.