Your lips weaken me!

Studio Six was rarely used as a workspace. The scent of iron seemed to cling to every corner of the room. The AC was noisy and barely cold. Some claimed to have seen the apparition of a ghost in the corner. But Amir didn't care. His only alternative was listening to Steve's endless boasting about securing approval from the head office to buy the neighboring shophouse for expanding the office. Even if it meant sitting cross-legged on the floor, working from a folding table with a low-quality IT laptop—nothing compared to the powerful PC he'd custom-built for running heavy programs—Amir was fine. Fortunately, today's tasks were light, just monitoring. So the laptop sufficed. But less than an hour into his peace, the black door with a narrow vertical window creaked open. An oval face appeared, forehead shiny with oil under the light. Steve pushed the door open with effort, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed and a smug grin that always made Amir want to throw his mouse at him. Amir lowered the volume of Dewa 19's Separuh Nafas, playing on his Bluetooth speaker. "You've been here for a while, bro. Not scared of getting possessed?" Steve asked with a smirk. Amir waved playfully at the empty corner of the room. "Nah, me and the ghost lady are besties by now." "Yeah, you two seem like a match," Steve quipped, waving in the same direction. "Anyway, I'm off to meet with an app vendor. Leaving the office in your care. We've got three studios shooting and two running webinars. Everything's smooth for now, so just keep an eye on things." "Seriously, bro? Meeting with another vendor? Weren't the ones I suggested yesterday all rejected?" Amir rarely questioned Steve's decisions, but he hadn't forgotten being dragged into a meeting with Mrs. Berta, where his vendor choices were criticized. "The ABC Corner. After giving it some thought, I picked them. We've got a family gathering coming up, and I don't want any unfinished work hanging over us. If it drags on, I'll be the one taking the hit." There it was. Typical Steve. Amir grabbed his mouse pad and squeezed it to calm his irritation. "Let me get this straight. You chose ABC Corner, after telling Mrs. Berta that none of my options were good?" "Come on, man, she doesn't care about the details. What matters is we found the right one." "Are you going to correct your report to her?" "Correct what?" Steve asked, as if the question were absurd. Amir bit the inside of his cheek to keep his cool. "You know, the part where you tell her you ended up choosing one of the vendors I proposed." "Why bother?" Steve waved him off. "It's not a big deal." "Right... so she thinks I failed, huh?" "Dude, what's the point of that? I'm the one holding your KPI, and I'm the one evaluating your work. You don't need to impress Mrs. Berta." In Amir's mind, he was lunging at Steve, scratching that smug grin off his face. "It's not about impressing anyone," Amir said patiently, "it's about making sure my work is recognized." "She knows you're the hardest worker here. You're the backbone of this place, man. Relax!" Steve said casually. "Anyway, I'm too tired to argue. I need to save my voice for this afternoon's vendor meeting." Amir had worked with Steve for five years. He knew his manager's style by now—always easygoing, taking credit without a second thought. But small failures like this always mattered to Mrs. Berta. Maybe that's why Amir had remained stuck as one of Steve's staff, never promoted. In the end, what could he do? Amir dropped the now crumpled, sweat-soaked mouse pad onto the floor. "Whatever you say, bro." All he wanted was for Steve to disappear—far away, and if possible, never come back. But Steve didn't leave. He lingered by the door, clearly debating whether to say something else. "What now?" Amir asked, his patience wearing thin. "I don't want to seem like I care or anything," Steve began, leaning in slightly, "but I heard something interesting from the guys." Here we go. Anything Steve thought was "interesting" was probably a rumor. And rumors inevitably involved Erin. Amir scratched his head, feigning disinterest. "Yeah? What is it?" "Someone noticed Erin's Instagram story from Monday night, when she was at the Japanese restaurant. For a split second, she accidentally showed those old, beat-up blue shoes we all know too well." Ah, that night. Erin had wanted to post an Instagram story, and Amir, refusing to be on camera, had told her to just film the food instead. But of course, a bunch of nosy guys had zoomed in on every little detail, including her shoes. "So?" Amir challenged, not willing to play along with Steve's gossip. When it came to this, Amir felt no obligation to respect Steve. "Wow, feeling pretty confident, huh?" Steve sneered, his laugh mocking and unapologetic. "You think that girl wants to ride in your old car? Don't you get hot in that thing?" Amir remained calm. "My car runs just fine. No need to worry about it." "Oh yeah?" Steve's laughter lingered, then he glanced around, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "So... what's it like?" Amir narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?" "You know, a girl like her... she seems high-maintenance. How does it feel?" Don't you dare. Amir knew exactly where this was going. The question felt like the perfect excuse to land a punch, but he controlled his breath, pushing down the heat rising in his chest. "What exactly do you mean, Steve?" Amir's voice remained even, but the edge to it was unmistakable. Even Steve noticed. "Come on, man! I'm just asking—don't tell me you've been close to her all this time and haven't... succeeded?" Steve's smirk was infuriating, pushing past any semblance of decency. A part of Steve couldn't stand the idea of someone like Amir catching Erin's attention before he could. Amir clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. If he let it go on, he could seriously lunge at Steve and wipe that grin off his face. Instead, he rubbed the bridge of his nose, a futile attempt to keep his temper in check. "Steve, we've known each other too long for you to be talking this kind of trash." "Oh, don't be a hypocrite! We're in the same office, man. A little spoiler—maybe I'll get a chance to try her out too, huh?" Steve winked, his audacity pushing Amir to the limit. "Good luck with that," Amir said coldly. "I won't say a word." Steve's eyes narrowed. "You're full of it, Amir. Hypocrite!" Amir didn't even blink. "And you're trash. Absolute garbage." Steve shook his head, finally storming out, leaving the door wide open. Another small but aggravating detail on top of everything else. The air in the office felt tense today. Mrs. Berta's arrival always had that effect, making everyone nervous. But when she entered Erin's office, the rest of the team sighed in collective relief. Erin, however, wasn't as lucky. She stood stiffly beside her desk, while her aunt sat uncomfortably in Erin's chair, glancing disapprovingly at the pink pencil case on the desk, the motivational stickers on the monitor—one of which cheekily read 'FU Boss!" Erin had slapped it on as a joke, meaning it as a double entendre: either "Follow Up" or the more rebellious "F*** You." She was prepared with excuses if needed, but it seemed her aunt didn't even notice. "If it weren't for being forced, I wouldn't have come back to this office," Mrs. Berta muttered under her breath, her voice sharp. Erin tried to lighten the mood. "What's wrong, Auntie? Does it remind you of the dark days when you still worked in here?" But her aunt wasn't amused. The glare she shot Erin quickly shut her up. Mrs. Berta's signature thick eyeliner made her small eyes appear large and intense behind her expensive square-framed glasses. In moments like these, Erin saw a lot of her father, Papa Rudolf, in her aunt. Both were sharp, alert, and successful, though they shared that hunched posture from too many hours in front of a screen. Erin often marveled at how both siblings had made such remarkable careers for themselves. It reminded her of her own family's good fortune, particularly her mother, Mama Christy, who had been embraced by her father's family despite a difficult past. At this thought, Erin smiled inwardly, feeling lucky. Her parents' story wasn't too different from her own with Amir. After so many missteps with the wrong men, she'd finally found someone who felt right. The thought of losing Amir—if she hadn't taken that job, or if she hadn't crossed paths with him—felt unthinkable now. Erin snapped back to reality when her aunt startled her. "Erin, pay attention!" Mrs. Berta's voice was sharp, jolting Erin out of her daydream. "Sorry, Auntie. Any feedback?" Erin asked, glancing at the presentation slides on the screen. The ten-page proposal outlined a roadshow aimed at partnering with schools to introduce extracurricular programs and workshops for student development. Erin had prepared it with confidence, though her hands trembled slightly as her aunt reviewed it. This was her first big pitch, after all. After graduating from college, Erin once again proposed a serious project idea. Mrs. Berta flipped through the slides, seemingly deep in thought. Erin finally let out a small sigh of relief when she saw her aunt nod. 'Fix this presentation. Get someone creative to redesign it, then send it to the GM via email. After it's approved, send it back to me. I'll assign you to the business development team at headquarters." Waaaah! This was the moment Erin had been waiting for! A wide smile spread across her face as she processed her aunt's words. But the excitement quickly faded as she recalled the last part of what was said. 'Wait, Auntie... does that mean I won't be a secretary anymore?" 'Secretary? That was just a front. You've outgrown this place. It's time to step up and start working in your new department." Wait… does this mean she won't be working in this office anymore? Which means... she won't get to see Amir every day? Erin's legs suddenly felt weak. She leaned against the wall, 'Auntie..." 'What is it? You don't like it? Don't tell me you're enjoying your time here?" 'That's not it, Auntie… does that mean Erin's office will be moved?" 'Yes. Didn't I just explain that?" 'I heard you… but that means I won't be working here anymore?" 'Why are you asking the same question over and over? Yes, Riin, your office will move." 'Auntie…" 'Is this about Amir?" Darn it, she knows! Erin remained silent, but her aunt's sharp gaze didn't let up, clearly waiting for an answer. 'Umm, yes, Auntie…" 'Good grief!" Mrs. Berta slammed her hand on the table. 'Do you know how hard I've been trying not to tell your father about this?" 'But, if my work is good, it shouldn't be a problem if I date Amir, right?" 'You're going out with Amir?" Her aunt's voice shot up an octave. 'Not yet, but…" 'Not yet? Since when is dating something you can plan like that?" 'Auntie! You don't get it! What I mean is, please don't tell Dad. I'm doing good at work, right?" 'What good work? This is just a proposal! No revisions, no approvals—it's still a long way from being finished. Focus on getting it right before you start dating anyone!" Erin slumped into the chair in front of her aunt's desk, defeated. She had already imagined introducing Amir to her father, Papa Rudolf. It didn't matter if they weren't dating officially yet; she just wanted to show Amir that she was serious about him. But if things kept going like this, she'd be stuck playing cat and mouse with her dad until the project was complete! Even after her aunt had left the room, Erin remained seated, staring blankly at the table. She leaned forward, resting her head on her arms as she tapped the green heels she wore against the floor. The thought of moving to a new office, one that was likely far more formal than this one, filled her with dread. It was bound to be more boring! Or… maybe this was part of her father's plan. Maybe Papa Rudolf wanted her to give up and come help manage the factory instead. Ugh, that would be cheating! Erin didn't want to lose. She wanted to stay in a regular office job. Sure, the head office might be more polished, more comfortable, but it was far from the relaxed atmosphere she was used to. And worse, she'd be shouldering more responsibility. The mere thought made her skin crawl. Her brooding was interrupted by the soft ping of her phone's notification. She lazily sat up and checked her phone, although she still slouched in the chair, her back resting against the hard frame. 'A Google calendar notification? Do I have an event today?" Erin muttered to herself as she opened the app. Her tired eyes widened when she saw what the notification was about. 7 PM – Date invitation to the Old Town, from Amir. Wow! Erin's mouth fell open in surprise. Without thinking, she clicked ‘Attend.' Not long after, a WhatsApp message popped up on her screen. Dear Miss Erin, Thank you for confirming your attendance. I would like to reiterate that we will depart at 7 PM via online taxi, followed by a trip on Transjakarta. The journey is designed to make the date more memorable and give us more time together. Are you willing? Amir is such a dork! Why is he using such formal language? But Erin understood the gist of it. Amir just wanted to spend time with her. Suddenly, she felt like she had just sipped a refreshing mint drink. Her stomach fluttered, and her mood instantly lifted, as if the frustration from earlier had never existed. Normally, Erin didn't enjoy crowded, open places. They made her feel uneasy for some reason. But the thought of spending that time with Amir made it all seem bearable. She quickly typed a response. Dear Mr. Amir, whom I adore from head to toe, I am more than willing. I'll await your follow-up later this afternoon. Another message came shortly after. Okay, Miss. Thank you for your confirmation. Erin didn't hesitate to reply. With pleasure, dear. Erin had grown accustomed to Amir's spontaneous invitations for impromptu dates. Today, she was lucky—she'd chosen one of her best outfits: a red blouse with lace-trimmed buttons and a sleek, knee-length black pencil skirt that fit her perfectly. Her look was neat and polished, yet still flattering, accentuating the curves she was proud of. Her long hair was braided into a fishtail, a style she had taken extra care with that morning to avoid looking unkempt in front of her aunt. Her smile widened when she stepped out of her room and noticed Amir standing there, also wearing a red shirt, completely unplanned. Surely, this was a sign—they were meant to be together! But the romantic date she had envisioned, one filled with long, scenic journeys, didn't quite live up to her expectations. A few minutes later, Erin found herself standing at the Transjakarta bus stop. Of course, she wasn't alone with Amir—there were dozens of other people crowded around them. No space, no personal distance. A mix of perfumes swirled in the air, invading her senses. Even catching a whiff of the stale Jakarta night air proved difficult. She rubbed her nose occasionally, careful not to make it obvious, fearing she might offend someone. "Be patient, the bus will be here soon," Amir whispered. Erin shot him a look. Amir seemed perfectly fine with just his wallet tucked into his shirt pocket, while she had to cling to a large handbag, hugging it tightly. Sure, she could've left the bag at home, but without her power bank, hand sanitizer, and other essentials to soothe her anxious heart, she wouldn't be at peace. From a distance, Erin spotted the bus headlights approaching. Instantly, the crowd began shifting, pushing her forward. She had never taken this type of public transport before, and the thought of being packed so tightly inside made her nervous. How was she going to handle it? Before she could reel in her thoughts, someone grabbed her right hand. Everything happened so fast. The bus stopped. The doors opened. Her hand was yanked with force. Her body was thrown forward into someone, and suddenly, she found herself sitting in a seat beside a plump woman with a bun, dressed in a black kebaya. The woman glanced at her indifferently for a second before turning away. Erin watched as people continued to struggle, trying to pack into the bus. Amir stood beside her, holding onto the hand strap, unmoved. "Oh, there's an empty seat!" Erin pointed to the corner. But a woman in a gray jacket who had just boarded darted over and claimed it. "Yeah..." she muttered, deflated. "It's okay. I'll stand," Amir reassured her. "Won't you get tired?" "I'll be fine, Erin." Amir gave her a small smile, rubbing her head before gripping the back of her seat with one hand. What could Erin do at this point? She sighed, taking in her surroundings. The bus was full—every seat taken—but there were plenty of hand straps still dangling, waiting for more passengers. To her surprise, the ride was comfortable. The air conditioning was cold, and a fresh scent managed to mask the mix of perfumes and sweat. The bus, though crowded, moved smoothly, and its dedicated lane meant it avoided much of the usual traffic. If she had known it would be like this, she might've accepted Nathan's challenge to take public transportation after their workout at GBK. But honestly, Erin wasn't sure she could have braved this experience without Amir by her side. She looked up to see Amir's face, towering above her. Never in a million years did she think she'd find herself admiring a man who was hanging from the hand straps on public transportation. It wasn't arrogance—her whole life, she had lived comfortably, with high standards. There were three cars in her family's garage, not to mention her car in Australia and the official vehicles at the factory. Erin had always assumed that people who relied on public transport were unfortunate. Yet here was Amir—someone who owned a car, but rarely drove it. He preferred the company of strangers on a bus over sitting alone in traffic. Not to mention, the fare was much cheaper. Erin couldn't even imagine calculating the cost of her trips, since her rides always included the driver's salary and fuel. It would stress her out. But if it were with Amir, Erin didn't mind riding the bus for hours. She glanced up again, observing Amir's strong hands gripping the strap and the back of her seat. His hands were firm, accustomed to wall climbing. No wonder he held on so effortlessly, unaffected by the bus's movement. His eyes gleamed in the dim light, distant and unfocused. What was he thinking? Did he enjoy spending time with her? Was he okay with standing while she sat? This was supposed to be a romantic date, but now one of them was seated while the other was standing. Erin's gaze dropped to Amir's shirt, perfectly pressed and neat. She wondered who helped him get ready. How old was the maid? Could she be young and beautiful? Erin's mind raced, feeling a tinge of jealousy. She glanced absentmindedly at Amir's pants. She wasn't being inappropriate—Amir was standing right next to her, after all. But one thing caught her attention: Amir wasn't wearing a belt today, which was unusual for someone as neat as him. Why was that? Feeling playful, Erin slipped her finger through one of the empty belt loops. Amir flinched, almost pushing her away in surprise, but he just shook his head, watching as she held onto his belt strap. "Can't you stay still for an hour?" he whispered, trying to suppress a smile. "Hehe..." Erin didn't release her grip, her grin widening mischievously. "What's going on? You've got a suspicious look on your face," Amir raised an eyebrow. "Nooo," Erin answered coyly, obviously wanting him to keep asking. "What? Are you going to tell me?" "Do you want me to?" she teased. "Yes, spill it." Erin glanced over at the woman sitting next to her, engrossed in an e-book with earphones in. Confident that they wouldn't be overheard, she turned back to Amir, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're really hot from down here." Damn, Erin! Amir cursed in his mind. This situation had already been making him feel awkward, but now... her teasing words, her round eyes staring up at him innocently while still clutching his pants—how was he supposed to stay calm? And somehow, from this angle, Erin looked even more beautiful. Her bright skin had a faint blush on her cheeks. Was it makeup? Or was she blushing? Either way, she didn't seem embarrassed; she just smiled, her enthusiasm lighting up her face. Amir swallowed hard. He bet any guy on this bus would give anything to trade places with him right now. With this beautiful girl staring at him like that, he tried to steady his thoughts, but his focus kept drifting to the warmth of her gaze. Without thinking, Amir's hand moved from the back of her seat and cupped Erin's cheek. Her skin was soft, smooth, and a bit cool. Erin's eyes followed the movement of his fingers as they gently traced her jawline. His thumb brushed her chin, then grazed her lips, which were slightly parted, revealing a subtle shine. Her breath warmed his thumb, and for a moment, everything else faded away. Nothing in the world seemed as captivating as Erin's lips. Amir swallowed again, his thoughts spinning. How had this girl become so irresistibly beautiful and sexy? Suddenly, the loud sound of someone coughing jolted him back to reality, like an earthquake shaking him from a dream. Both Erin and Amir turned to see the woman next to them glancing sharply in their direction. Flustered, Amir rubbed his face, which felt hot. He stepped forward as a few passengers disembarked at the next stop, mentally berating himself for what had just happened. If anyone could hear Erin's thoughts, they'd hear her screaming inside for the rest of the bus ride. What was that? What had Amir just done to her? What was going through his mind?! HUAAAAAA! Erin felt like she needed to dissect Amir's brain to figure it out. Or maybe she should consult a tarot card reader? The thought crossed her mind before the bus came to a halt at their destination. The night in Jakarta was unusually chilly, with strong winds sweeping through the streets. As they entered the old town area, many street vendors had already packed up, probably because of the earlier rain. And Amir, well, he had suddenly gone cold too—matching the weather perfectly. But Erin wasn't going to let that slide. This was supposed to be their date. How could they just stay silent all night? Without asking for permission, Erin hooked her arm through Amir's. He didn't respond but didn't pull away either. They walked slowly through the dimly lit area, the atmosphere quiet and heavy. What was wrong with Amir? Was he embarrassed by what happened earlier? Erin studied his face from the side. His expression was stiff, almost like she wasn't even there. Well, Erin wasn't about to let things stay like this. She stopped walking and tugged at Amir's hand, forcing him to stop too. A few people passed by, but there weren't many around, and the silence between them felt intimate enough for her to speak softly. "I liked seeing you earlier." Amir didn't say anything, but Erin could see his eyes processing her words. When he lowered his head slightly, she knew he understood her meaning. "I like how protective you were. I know you stood beside me on purpose, making sure I didn't get too close to the guys behind us. I liked the way you looked at me, too. That intensity in your eyes... everything you did made me feel really happy, like I matter to you," she confessed, her voice sincere, laying all her thoughts bare. Amir stepped back, turning to face her fully. His eyes slowly lifted to meet hers. "I'm sorry..." he whispered, his voice low, filled with something unspoken. Erin fought the urge to smack her forehead, noticing the dull guilt in Amir's eyes—guilt she had tried so hard to downplay. "No need for that. You don't have to feel guilty. You're not the first person to be mesmerized by my beauty, after all." Amir's face tensed up, and he cursed under his breath. "Damn it." "JOKING! I'm kidding, honey!" Erin grinned. "Honestly, I don't mind what you did. I swear. If you want me to kiss you, just say the word. But maybe not on a bus, okay?" "That's why I apologized, Rin," Amir muttered, his voice soft but earnest. Erin hugged his arm again, this time holding on tighter. "Yes, yes, I forgive you," she teased. "Now, where's that smile?" The noise of the busy street surrounded them—cars roaring, motorbikes speeding by, horns blaring, and footsteps hurrying past. But in Amir's eyes, there was only Erin. Only her bright, teasing smile. Once again, in such a short time, Erin had managed to create a world where it felt like just the two of them existed. Where else could he find a girl like this? A unique woman who held onto his arm so tightly it felt like she was ready to crush his bones, yet with a sweetness that made him melt. Erin wasn't about to wait long either—her fingers gently tugged at the corners of Amir's lips, urging them into a smile. "There we go! My handsome guy is back!" she declared with satisfaction. "Now, let's go for a walk!" Amir just nodded, surrendering to her energy as Erin happily pulled him toward the busier part of the old town. ***