CHAPTER 4
Ever since that accidental text message, I had one new rule in life.
Never send a message in a hurry.
Especially when the recipient is Arka Mahendra.
I even checked the recipient's name three times every time I was about to send a message.
Sometimes four times.
Maya laughed at me for it.
"You're seriously traumatized."
I stared at my phone screen.
"This isn't trauma. It's a learning experience."
"A learning experience?"
"Yeah."
I nodded seriously.
"That's what you get from experience."
Maya laughed.
"It's not like Mr. Arka got mad."
"That's what's even scarier."
Maya furrowed her brow.
"Why?"
"If he got mad, I'd know he was mad. But when he goes quiet like that..."
I shuddered dramatically.
"...I have no idea what's going through his head."
Maya laughed even harder.
I went back to work.
I'd been working at Mahendra Group for almost a week.
Strangely enough, I was starting to get used to the office rhythm.
I was also starting to get used to Arka.
Or at least, I wanted to think I was.
Until that morning.
"Mr. Arka wants you to come to his office."
I immediately turned to Maya.
"Why?"
Maya shrugged.
"No idea."
I looked at the stack of documents on my desk.
I didn't think I'd done anything wrong.
At least...
as far as I could remember.
I stood and smoothed my hair.
"If I don't come back..."
Maya immediately burst out laughing.
"So dramatic."
I walked toward Arka's office.
I knocked on the door.
"Come in."
I opened the door.
Arka was standing by the window, reading several sheets of paper.
"Yes, Mr. Arka?"
"Come here."
I walked closer.
Arka handed me a folder.
"Check this."
I opened it.
"Project documents?"
"Yes."
I nodded.
"Okay, Mr."
I was about to return to my desk when Arka said,
"Nara."
I stopped.
"Yes?"
"You're still calling me 'Mr.'?"
I furrowed my brow.
"What's wrong with that?"
Arka set down the documents in his hand.
"How many times have I told you?"
I thought about it.
Then I remembered what had happened a few days ago.
Don't call me boss anymore.
I smiled faintly.
"Oh..."
I nodded.
"Sorry, Boss."
Arka immediately looked at me.
I froze.
Wrong.
Very wrong.
I'd just done it again.
"Sorry."
I covered my mouth.
Arka let out a quiet sigh.
"Nara."
"Yes?"
"Don't call me boss anymore."
I nodded quickly.
"Okay, Mr."
Arka closed his eyes for a moment.
I almost laughed.
Apparently, I really was a slow learner.
"I'm serious."
His tone sounded different this time.
Not angry.
Just firm.
I looked at him.
"Then what am I supposed to call you?"
Arka was silent for a few seconds.
Then he answered,
"Arka."
I blinked.
"Arka?"
"Yes."
It felt strange saying his name.
Until now, everyone had called him Mr. Arka.
It had never occurred to me to call him simply Arka.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want you to look like you're talking to a stranger every time you talk to me."
I fell silent.
It was a simple sentence.
But for some reason, it made my chest feel a little strange.
I lowered my head.
"Okay..."
I took a breath.
"Arka."
The man in front of me didn't answer.
I raised my head.
He was looking at me.
And for some reason, his gaze seemed gentler than usual.
"What?" I asked.
"It's nothing."
He took his documents back.
I frowned.
"So can I go?"
"Yes."
I turned around.
But before I left, I turned back again.
"Arka."
He looked up.
I smiled faintly.
"Have a good day at work."
Then I left.
As soon as the door closed, I pressed a hand to my chest.
My heart was beating faster.
I shook my head.
"Weird."
I had just called my boss by his first name.
Why did it feel like I'd done something completely forbidden?
I returned to my desk.
Maya immediately looked at me.
"What?"
I sat down.
"Mr. Arka..."
Maya cut me off immediately.
"Mr. Arka?"
I shook my head.
"Arka."
Maya fell silent.
Her eyes widened.
"You called him Arka?"
I nodded.
"He told me to."
Maya immediately flashed a wide grin.
"Well, well."
"Well, what?"
"Nothing."
I eyed her suspiciously.
"Don't get any ideas."
Maya laughed.
I went back to opening the documents.
But only a few minutes into working, I heard Arka's voice behind me.
"Nara."
I turned around.
He was standing there with several files in his hands.
"Yes?"
"Come to my office when you're done here."
I nodded.
"Okay."
Arka walked away.
Maya looked at me.
I looked back at her.
"What now?"
Maya smiled.
"He's started calling your name a lot."
I shrugged.
"Because I'm his secretary."
"You sure?"
"I'm sure."
Maya didn't answer.
She just smiled like someone who knew something I didn't.
That afternoon, I finished my work early.
I tidied my desk and shut down my computer.
When I stood up, Arka came out of his office.
"Going home?"
"Yeah."
Arka nodded.
Then his eyes shifted toward my desk.
"Have you eaten?"
I fell silent.
His question reminded me of what he'd said a few days ago.
Don't forget to eat breakfast.
Now he was asking about dinner.
"Not yet."
"Why not?"
"I'm not hungry yet."
Arka sighed.
"Are you always like this?"
I shrugged.
"Maybe."
He picked up his jacket.
"Eat first."
I looked at him.
"Where?"
"Downstairs."
I pointed at myself.
"Me?"
"Yes."
I furrowed my brow.
"You're going to eat with me?"
Arka looked at me.
"If I don't come with you, are you going to eat?"
I opened my mouth.
I had no answer.
Arka sighed.
"Come on. Let's go."
I followed him.
But all the way to the elevator, one question kept spinning through my head.
Why was this man becoming more caring with each passing day?
And why was I starting to feel happy every time he called my name?
I didn't know the answer yet.
What I did know was that from that day on, I stopped calling him Boss.
I started calling him...
Arka.
And without realizing it, that one simple word became the beginning of the growing closeness between us.
To be continued...