The Long Way to Be a CEO

Candour

"Weiss.. You're always on time." said one man from behind me.

"Yo stef, that is.. It's 2 cigarettes to wait for you" I said to stefan who was shifting the bench he was going to sit on.

I also told him about the meeting with Rania, about her life as well as the fateful story that befell her as long as we did not meet for many years since graduating from university.

"The 200 million you gave me, some of which I used to rent the office and cover Rania's debt, you don't mind?". I asked Stefan, he was about to order a drink for a moment silent to hear my words.

"Rania is in debt?, why did she never tell me.." she timid with a look of annoyance because Rania who had been her friend had never once asked for her help especially for financial problems.

"Why he's making things difficult for himself, I can help whatever money he needs sha.. You know, we've been friends for a long time. Is Rania still reluctant to just talk about her difficulties with me?" stefan's emotions overflowed instantly, annoyed by rania's behavior which turned out his life was not okay.

I slowly told him about his financial difficulties, about him being in debt for years. Stefan looked carefully at my stories and there was a sadness implied in both eyes.

"He just wants to look tough in front of you, because of the many difficulties in his life all his friends stay away, and he is afraid that if you and I also stay away because of his problems, please understand it stef" I assure him. Stefan just bowed indifferently if a cafe waiter approached the two of us to ask for an order.

"Sorry, what message?" said the maid who stood beside the table we occupied.

"Oh yeah sorry, I ordered orange juice and potato wedges, that's all"

"Okay, please wait, thank you" replied the waiter.

We were both silent for a long time, busy with our own thoughts. And stefan still can't accept all the facts that I've been explaining about Rania in her life all along. It was like cursing himself knowing it was all from me not from Rania, which made him so angry and upset.

From behind the glass walls of the room was seen a woman and a small child about to enter the cafe, her beautiful face grinned as she looked at us and waved her hand.

"Sorry we're late".

"Dear Dea, introduce this friend mama" he said with a sweet smile painted on his thin lips.

"Hallo Dea, my name is stefan, and this is sharon" stefan continued to introduce the two of us.

Relaxing in the afternoon was so memorable, I watched stefan who returned cheerful as usual and Rania remained the figure of the woman we knew with her sweet smile. Thank goodness I was able to meet and regroup with the two of them.

He was so funny and made us laugh a few times. Several times when eating spaghetti, his sauce successfully made his mouth straws covered in red sauce and left some stains on his clothes. Kids are adorable when they make mistakes, and older people need to be able to understand them.

"Ran, I want to say something to you" Stefan was seriously staring at Rania and then looking at me.

"You go to the other table, let me take care of the dea" I said chimed in on stefan's words.

The two of them moved into a room used to hold important meetings and the place was closed. I know what that means, because in the end they need to talk and be honest with each other. This long-standing friendship requires honesty and Stefan feels disappointed because Rania has never been honest to all the problems she has faced so far.

Maybe they are fighting now, as I remember when they often differ in their views and argue with each other about various things and eventually have to be divorced because of the cross-border conversation. It's only natural if different views, but I try to think positively, after all they have grown up and can better understand each other by putting aside their respective egos.

I moved to sit next to Dea, because from the moment her mother left this room, she looked agitated and just stirred up the spaghetti without eating it.

"Dea, why isn't the food spent.." I asked for pleasantries. To be honest, I had never faced a child before, hesitating a bit to choose a language that children could understand.

"Om, mama I went where the hell, old koq ya". Instead of answering my question, he asked about his mother.

"Mom again chat important with om stefan, soon also back" said I calm Dea who was getting bored.

Baffled. That's how I felt when I was with Dea son of Rania. I don't know what else to talk about with this little boy. His eyes were only fixed on the food that was being stirred erratically. It is also possible that he feels anxiety about his mother who has not returned, such as a strong inner bond that may be able to feel awkwardness towards something.

"You don't like the food, will Dea order some more?" I try to break the dream. But there was no meaningful answer, he just shook his head while continuing to bow.

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