Meet Me At Midnight's
The Meeting Planned

Edith goes to a roadside diner they used to go to during a time of frequent meetings before Brian asks Edith to avoid him.

Brian's face was not excited. Not like Brian he's seen all along. Edith took a chair and sat down at the table facing Brian.

"You've been waiting a long time?" ask Edith. Brian drank his sweet iced tea which he had ordered earlier.

"It's only been a minute" replied Brian.

"What's wrong? You don't look excited" said Edith and Brian.

"Yes. That's it." replied Brian short. Then Edith ordered one sweet iced tea just like Brian.

"Is your job hard?" Edith tried not to ask Brian personally. He wants Brian's privacy to stay awake. If Brian wanted to tell a story, Edith would have heard it.

"Yes. Every day meetings, meetings and meetings. Until - until I get bored." replied Brian accordingly.

"Thank God."

"I've met the woman I've been looking for all this time" Brian said, not wanting to talk too long. Edith felt a warm swish approaching her heart.

"really? Thank goodness you found it." Edith's sweet iced tea came and Edith immediately sipped her drink.

"But time is passing by. We never know what happens to someone in a year, two years, let alone fifteen years" Brian said, making Edith realize that the meeting was not going well.

"Is there something wrong with the meeting?" ask Edith with heart.

"I was feeling good at first. But something's wrong because the rigors of life make it work too hard."

"Goodoo. Life is heavy. That should be what all independent women would do." Edith tried to melt the atmosphere so that Brian was not too sad.

"If I had met him sooner, would he have had to work that hard?" ask Brian to himself.

Edith felt a different look in Brian's eyes. A look Edith had never seen before. The sadness that approached Brian, made Edith's heart also feel burdened. His heart could not see Brian's sorrow like this. But what can Edith do? Brian was very close to her. However, Edith could not reach Brian's heart.

"Give him time, Brian. You have only met after fifteen years. You must feel the awkwardness in each of you. As time passes, you will realize, the search that you have always been going on is really because you love each other or just each other's ambitions." Edith gave as wise a suggestion as possible so as not to hurt Brian who was hurt.

"Yes. Is correct. There's still awkwardness between us." Brian replied.

"really. Give your hearts time. Let time answer everything." said Edith with a smile even though she herself knew her heart hurt to say it all.

Brian tried to smile. Appreciate his best friend who tried hard to say it all for the sake of comforting himself. Sometimes, Brian always thought - if in his heart if indeed one day he could open his heart to Edith, he will accept that fate because he realizes Edith is trying her hardest to comfort Brian under any circumstances.

"I'm sorry I ignored your feelings too much. I'm comfortable being friends with you." said Brian, making Edith's heart cramped again.

"Not to think about. I'm just trying. But God determines where this heart goes."

Brian could only stare at Edith who was so fierce. He could not say much because he also felt guilty for Edith's feelings.

"Don't avoid me anymore, Brian. It's been eight years that we know each other, if we're friends, we can continue that friendship" Edith said. To be honest he felt uncomfortable when Brian tried to stay away from him. Brian nodded. He couldn't hurt Edith more.

"alright. I'll call you as usual."

Edith smiled. The burden was lifted slightly because Brian no longer tried to avoid him.

*****

Gisel sipped the fruit drink box slowly. View the city of Jakarta from behind a window. With her usual lingerie and long unraveling hair, she recalls her first encounter with Brian. Meetings in an ornamental garden with a beautiful light flick.

Gisel thinks at least he can keep a little secret from Brian that he works as a night woman. For some reason, only this time Gisel felt ashamed to meet him.

Last time, Gisel called Brian but there was no response. He tried to send her a message. At least, his face did not look embarrassed if - if Brian did not return the message.

Can we meet?

Gisel sent Brian a message. Hope to get a positive answer. Although not revealed directly, Gisel realized that Brian was actually surprised by what Gisel is currently living. Whatever it is, Brian can accept himself or not, he doesn't care. He just has to try how to win Brian's heart someday.

*****

Brian finished signing some documents, he closed his last document and asked for a short break. His head felt dizzy because his mind was not careless. Gisel's face had filled his mind and he could never stop thinking about Gisel.

Brian's phone rang. There's an incoming message. From Gisel. His heart felt uncomfortable. On the one hand, he searched for Gisel's figure with great difficulty all this time. On the other hand, she has not been able to accept fully if Gisel works as a night woman.

Brian answered briefly and did not expect much with the arrival of Gisel. He was just trying to give Gisel time to explain what needed to be explained. Brian doesn't want to look selfish with the job Gisel really can't accept.

*****

"Liana, please.. Help me. Just change my job once" Gisel said, pleading with Liana's boutique.

"No way, Gisel. I can't."

"I promise that if you're allowed, I'll accompany your client as well." Gisel was still trying hard to get Liana to help him.

"You know I'm overwhelmed if you don't get to work! Don't be like this, Gis! Yesterday you were granted permission, now you're allowed again?" Liana never stopped nagging Gisel. He really could not replace Gisel serving his clients.

"OKAY. This time I won't ask for free." said Gisel stopped begging Liana. Because it doesn't work.

"I will offer you an offer that will be valid once in my lifetime" Gisel said confidently.

"Whatis that? Whahuh? Whahuh? What are you paying me?" liana asked, sounding like she wanted to challenge Gisel's words.

"You please choose."

"How can I choose if it's bought with your money." Liana did not look at Gisel. He let out his acting that was nothing, seeing how serious Gisel was with words.

"Okay. Choose one. Chanel, Mango, Christian Dior, Zara, Bonia, Dolce & Gabbana....." Gisel mentions all the brand names that certainly make women thirsty for shopping.

"OK, okay, okay! You forced me yes. Chanel and Bonia." said Liana quickly.

"Can't! I said pick one." Gisel refuted what Liana had said.

"Lho, said I 'please choose'. If there's one I can choose." Liana still seems to want to argue with Gisel.

"Yes, one dong. I'll ask to be replaced last night." Gisel felt a little uneasy with Liana's words.

"Aw.. You want to deny it again. Yesterday's what you authorized, you didn't offer me anything." Liana brings it back when Gisel does not come in and asks for her to replace him.

"alright. Then I'll have Meidi replace me for permission today." Gisel turned his body and waved his right hand at Liana.

"alright. I choose one with what you buy later." said Liana holding Gisel's free arm.

Gisel smiled at Liana's expensive selling act like this. Liana frowned slightly as she could only get one of the brands from what Gisel mentioned earlier.

*****

Tonight, Gisel is ready to meet Brian. He's done his job tonight to be replaced by Liana. And she beautifies herself for tonight.

Although afraid that Brian would reject it, Gisel looks a little excited to choose a short floral dress at the end of the dress itself.

It was just past six in the afternoon. But why was his heart already pounding so hard.

With the wind slowly sweeping his hair, Gisel impatiently awaited his meeting with Brian. As much as possible Gisel wear a beautiful dress that is not too minimal so that Brian does not feel uncomfortable seeing his appearance.

Gisel deliberately came early so that Brian would not have to wait long. Minutes by minutes passed. It's been seven nights past fifteen minutes, but Brian hasn't come yet. Will he be late on the way? Gisel smiled, deciding to wait for Brian to come.

Sometimes, Gisel sat on the swing just to relieve the boredom of waiting for Brian not to come.

Meanwhile, Brian had just closed the last document he had to sign. Read it carefully until he finally saw the wall clock that had shown at eight o'clock in the night.

"Go home, sir." said Mr. Liam.

"Sir, take me first to the ornamental garden at that time. I have an urgent need right now" said Brian, who later realized he had an appointment to meet with Gisel tonight. He rushed over, afraid that Gisel would wait too long for him.

The weather's pretty cold. The wind that blows can make a person fall ill easily.

"Are you sure you're going to the park tonight, sir?" ask Mr. Liam who is worried.

"Yes, I'm actually a little late. What if Gisel can forgive me?" brian said more to himself. Mr. Liam drives the car as comfortable as possible so as not to get carried away with the anxiety of his employer.

To be honest, Mr. Liam was a little curious about Brian who arrived - suddenly feeling anxious or happy alone. Mr. Liam doesn't think this time Brian will do his job. What the hell is it?

Brian looked out the window. Hoping to keep the promise he made with Gisel.