I never understood why, once your career is going really well, the question people ask about your life is why you still don't have a boyfriend.
As if not having a partner means you're completely undesirable.
Every day at my office, everyone shows off their partners, and it really gets on my nerves.
“Hey, look at me! I met my dating-app boyfriend yesterday. When are you getting one, Sal?”
Riko was one of the marketing staff, and he was constantly switching boyfriends—well, girlfriends, technically. He wasn't especially handsome, but his confidence was through the roof. I honestly wondered what kind of love spell those women had fallen under to get involved with such a questionable guy.
I just rubbed my temples, pretending I was busy working on all the deadlines from my beloved boss.
I deliberately tossed a proposal at him, making the man groan in pain.
“You should work on this first. A boyfriend isn't going to make you rich,” I said, rolling my eyes lazily.
“You hear that, Rik? Mrs. Salma has spoken,” Friska chimed in, deliberately mocking him.
Friska was the same. She had a boyfriend too. I was the only one here who didn't have a boyfriend, so basically, my life was so pathetic.
The three of us were Jaya Perkasa Group's marketing trio.
And I was the only one permanently single, which meant I got teased by both of them every day.
“Sal, you know the new sales hire? You could totally make him your crush. I heard he's single, just like you.”
Huh? Did I hear that right? The new guy who was as cold as the North Pole?
I slowly shook my head and focused on the laptop in front of me.
“No thanks. Like you guys know, my type is someone kind, friendly, and confident. I mean, he looks handsome, but he's so quiet. He's basically a robot. Anyway, he's totally not my type!”
I immediately listed every quality I wanted, hoping they'd all understand that I wanted exactly what I'd described. I didn't care. Period!
“Careful, Sal. You might have to eat your words. If you don't want him, give him to me. I'm perfectly happy to have two boyfriends!” Friska exclaimed.
Friska's words made me feel like I needed to say a whole lot of prayers, because her behavior was just like Riko's. They were both kind of crazy sometimes.
My office door suddenly opened. I glanced over and saw Mr. Bayu, who looked like he was about to surprise the marketing team.
“Is Salma Atmaja here?” Mr. Bayu asked.
I immediately raised my hand. “Present. What is it, sir?” I asked Mr. Bayu.
Mr. Bayu handed me a report. “Please record all the products being returned by sales. Then go straight to Adrian, okay?”
I furrowed my brow. Adrian? Who was Adrian? I'd never heard that name before. I'd worked for Jaya Perkasa Group for four years, and I had never heard of anyone named Adrian.
“He's one of the new sales staff. Just look for him in the warehouse. Don't ask so many questions. Get it done.”
And look at that—the two people at different desks seemed to be having a great time talking about me, judging by the way they kept glancing at each other.
I entered Jaya Perkasa Group's warehouse and was immediately greeted by the distinctive smell of sweaty young men. I knew several people there.
“Do you guys know which one Adrian is?” I asked Angga, one of the Jaya Perkasa employees who'd started working at the same time as me. We'd both been there for four years.
“Oh, Adrian? The new guy, Sal. He's over by the Motorcycle Tire Rack. Just look for him there.”
I nodded slowly. As I made my way through the warehouse, I had to keep asking where Adrian was.
Adrian, oh Adrian, where could you be?
A tall man then approached me. I stared at him in confusion. Who was this guy?
“You're Salma, right?” he asked.
I nodded, but it was weird that he knew my name. How did he know me? We weren't exactly close.
“I'm Adrian. I just got a WhatsApp from Mr. Bayu saying someone from marketing was looking for me. Is there something I can help with?” he said, so politely and courteously.
Unlike me, who was occasionally half an anomaly.
Well, since Adrian looked so serious, I tried to be serious too. We were both doing our best.
“So, I have a list of products that need to be returned. Can you help me with it?” I asked Adrian, immediately showing him the list.
Adrian nodded and took the list from my hand.
“So there are five items?” Adrian asked.
I nodded. “That's right. They're at Merekah One, Toko Dua Lingga, Toko Bagi Berkah, Toko Banyak Guna, and Toko Ada Aja,” I said.
“You're bringing the products too, right?” I asked Adrian.
“Oh? I have to bring the products, Sal?”
For heaven's sake, where did this office get its employees? I thought sales staff were supposed to know their job description and how they were supposed to work.
“I'm kidding, Salma. All right, I'll just check the inventory first, then. After that, I'll go straight to the stores.”
Adrian then walked away from me, carrying the sheet he'd gotten from me.
Since my work was done, I left the warehouse and returned to my beloved marketing office.
As soon as I stepped inside, I knew it. From their respective desks, they were already looking at me with mischievous expressions.
“Ooh, did you just meet your crush, Sal?”
What crush? He did make me angry, though. Adrian would make a perfect enemy, not a crush. No way!
“What are you talking about? Go deal with your own work. Your deadlines are at four this afternoon, so stop talking about unimportant stuff!”
I immediately deflected their teasing.
“I have to admit, Adrian's pretty handsome, Sal,” Friska said.
Here we go. Here we go. I knew exactly where this was headed. Since I couldn't care less, I pretended to be busy with my laptop.
“Date him, Sal! I'm one hundred percent behind you and Adrian. You'd be perfect together, right, Fris? One's quiet as a rock, and the other's always raging like the sun shining over the earth.”
I let out a harsh sigh. I'd been putting up with these two annoying people for four years, but this time I had to stand my ground. Otherwise, they'd keep teasing me until we went home.
“Quiet, you two. By Wednesday, I'll already have a boyfriend. So don't try to set me up with that half-rock of a human being!”
Riko and Friska immediately answered in perfect unison. “Okay, deal. We'll be waiting!”
I immediately clapped a hand over my mouth. I was screwed. Seriously, Salma—couldn't you put the brakes on your mouth before you spoke?
Today was Monday, tomorrow was Tuesday, and the day after that was Wednesday. And I had no idea where I was supposed to find a boyfriend. If I couldn't get one, I'd have to put up with their teasing every day.
Your dignity, Sal. Your dignity.