Meet Me At Midnight's
The Exposure of Brian's Heart

Suddenly, Brian thought back to Gisel. The woman he had been looking for and his search had not yielded the slightest result. Brian asked in his heart. How is Gisel really doing? Was he there to keep all his promises?

Brian opened the pen box that Gisel gave him last time. There's no more stuff. But he only looked at the picture of the moon and the stars in the fountain pen.

He remembered the time when he always waited for Gisel in a minimarket first. Rain spots that wet their hands as well as warm gazes.

Gisel too. For some reason, today his passion for work is nonexistent. He drank a glass of beer and looked ahead. He thought that would he show himself to Brian?

But what, if Brian doesn't accept his current state of affairs? Gisel took his beer back. His heart was filled with longing for Brian. The man who had an appointment with her all this time.

Gisel realizes that he is not the old Gisel anymore. Gisel only has a fear that Gisel's current job makes Brian hate him and doesn't want to see him again.

*****

Brian passed by a group of employees waiting together for the elevator in the lobby. Again, they talked about his arrival to SevenSix.

"You came to SevenSix yesterday?" ask one of them.

"Yes. But we can't get in. The security there was tight so we could only argue and we ended up going home." java one of them.

"But suddenly there was a very beautiful woman. I think he works there. But it's really pretty in my opinion" said someone who sounded enthusiastic. Brian listened to what they were talking about.

"But free is beautiful if the job is so."

"He's a man, never know why he works like that. Don't judge me."

"Hey, but remember, her skin is pure white. I'm amazed that the women who work there like that. It's only natural that the member's price is up to millions."

The elevator door that Brian was about to take was already open. He did not listen to his employees' conversations further. And he didn't want to know what was in the club that night.

*****

Gisel got out of his bed, opened the door that had been rung by someone. He was most upset when his sleep was disturbed. He came home at four this morning and at nine in the morning there was no one who could not wait to open the door.

Gisel opens the door to his apartment and finds Farshall coming to his apartment.

"You? Know where my house is?" gisel asked in surprise.

"Sorry, Gisel." replied Farshall as he entered Gisel's house.

"Hey!" Gisel is further upset that this time Farshall enters Gisel's house without his permission.

"You can't just walk into my house!" Gisel.

Farshall turned his body and looked at Gisel sharply.

"I didn't know my closeness to you made me break up with my boyfriend. Now, all this time you've served me, isn't there the slightest bit of your love for me?" ask Farshall.

"Conscious." said Gisel smiling cynically.

"I serve you because I'm paid. Otherwise, why would I serve you?" gisel asked with a cynical smile.

"That night you served me... I was really made intoxicated by you. And you said you didn't like me one bit?" ask Farshall still can't believe it.

"You pay me Farshall! Fifteen million! How could I possibly provide the usual service at such a price? Does it make sense to you that I only serve you for five million?!" Gisel is upset that Farshall is still talking about his love for her.

"So, you did it all right because I paid you? Not because you're in love with me?" asked Farshall looking desperate. Gisel looked at Farshall with pity. The young man who thirsts for affection easily drops his heart on anyone who notices him.

"That's my job, Farshall. And I do that to all men. My service depends on the payment. So you understand why I really gave you a service?"

Farshall was silent, unable to answer anything. He was weak and helpless.

"I'm in love with you, Gisel" Farshall said blankly. Gisel sighed and crossed his chest. He moved his feet toward Farshall.

"Unfortunately I did it all without feeling, Farshall. I did it all for money."

Then Gisel headed to the kitchen and took a glass of water. He took a sip and glanced at Farshall who was silent rigidly in place.

"Go home and work properly, Farshall. Someday you will find your own lover" said Gisel. Farshall turned and approached Gisel. He hugged Gisel tightly.

"alright. I'll forget all this." said Farshall. Then Farshall took off his arms and kissed Gisel's lips. Gisel is shocked and releases Farshall. He slapped Farshall until Farshall was also shocked.

"Get out, Farshall" said Gisel, staring intently at Farshall. Farshall shut up and got out of Gisel's apartment.

After Farshall's departure, Gisel patted his forehead. And he went back to the room. He turned back and closed his eyes. What a shit morning for Gisel. I wish he had a job other than this. But her image as a paid woman could not just disappear. What's he supposed to do?

*****

Brian finished signing the document he had just read. Mr. Liam received the documents provided by Brian.

"Sir Liam." call Brian.

"Yes, sir."

"When will the detective come?"

"A little while, sir. I've called and I'll be there soon."

Brian nodded.

"As soon as the detective comes, leave us alone."

"Good, sir."

Every now and then Brian looked at the pen box that was inside his drawer. For years he had been searching for Gisel's whereabouts. There was a lot of money he had to spend to find Gisel. He hopes he will get something if he meets the detective.

Tok...

Brian's room was knocked and entered a detective who had been employed by Brian in silence. Brian stood up and welcomed the arrival of the detective.

"It's been a long time" said the detective. He looked at Brian's workspace in amazement.

"I really didn't think that you were the heir of the Salim Group. I thought you were just a young boy looking for his missing girlfriend." the detective joked and was welcomed by Brian.

"So how? Have you found the bright spot of Gisel's existence?" ask Brian. Yesterday the detective came home from Borneo. Brian financed all the detective's needs while in Kalimantan.

"I already know that Gisel's whereabouts are no longer in Kalimantan" the detective said.

"When I was in Kalimantan, I went to several factories as you ordered. Foam factory. About twelve or thirteen years ago, the factory warehouse caught fire and killed several workers. However, some relatives are still alive. I looked at the list and I found a family member named Gisel" the detective explained in detail.

"Gisel is a rare name, so there's only one Gisel in it. Gisel Zahran." continued the detective.

Brian did not believe what the detective said. He looked at the detective full of question marks. Her heart ached hearing what the detective had just said.

"So, did you find Gisel?" Brian's eyes are red. He tried to hold back his tears so as not to come out and fall on his cheek.

"After I went to his house, his house was empty. I asked the neighbors around there. That the owner of the house is dead, Gisel's grandmother. His son was also killed in a factory warehouse fire. And his son-in-law died of illness. And his son, Gisel, last went to Jakarta because he was living alone. One of the neighbors there, paid for the plane ticket and gave Gisel some pocket money."

Brian's esophagus was choked, his heart was tight. The tears he was holding, spilled already onto his cheeks. The detective understands that this is a difficult thing for Brian. But Brian has to be strong. Gisel must be alone in facing that difficulty. Gisel must have been more painful.

After wiping off his tears with a tissue, Brian saw the detective again who was waiting patiently for him.

"Please find out where Gisel is right now. If it's already in Jakarta, it should be found sooner" said Brian. The detective nodded in understanding. He left Brian's office.

After Brian stayed alone in the room, he called Mr. Liam over the phone parallel that two hours ahead, he did not want to be disturbed. Brian felt a little dizzy thinking about Gisel. His life was not as smooth as he had thought so far. He must have been having a lot of trouble.

Brian leaned his head against his chair. No matter how he cried holding back the pain. All this time he was wrong, not worrying about Gisel in the least. What does Gisel face and how does he live his life? Brian just thinks that Gisel has lived well with his family.

*****

Edith was waiting for Brian in front of the office with an ice latte. I don't know why almost every day Edith would rather wait for Brian to come home from work and have dinner together. Edith looked at Brian who had just walked out of his office building. Edith waved her hand with a bright smile.

From afar, Brian was already smiling with a bit of force, because his mood was not so good.

"You're finally out. It's an ice latte for you" Edith said with a big smile. Brian blankly looked at the ice latte in Edith's hand.

"Edith." said Brian softly. Edith looked at Brian in confusion.

"Tomorrow don't wait for me again like this" said Brian holding the hand of Edith who was also holding an ice latte. Edith who was confused by Brian's sudden attitude - arrived strangely like this, feeling her heart breaking.

"Brian, what's wrong? Is there a problem?" edith did not understand.

Brian nodded with a smile. He tried his best not to hurt Edith.

"I just want to focus more on my work" Brian replied. But Edith understood who Brian was. There was no way he would avoid Edith just because of her work. Brian took his hand from Edith's hand and left before Edith.

But, Edith could not accept Brian's attitude that changed drastically like this. Edith grabbed Brian's arm, asking for an explanation, what really happened.

"Explain what the hell is going on, Brian? Why are you acting like this? If you want to focus on your work, you can avoid me from last year, two years or three years ago! Why are you avoiding me now?" ask Edith as realistically as possible.

Edith did not let go of Brian's hand. He continued to hold and wait for an explanation from Brian.

"You're more prepared when you're the heir to the company, you've been busy ever since. But why are you asking me to avoid you today?"

Brian couldn't stand Edith's question. It's true, why is he behaving like this? At first he was happy because there were people who could understand him including sharing opinions like Edith.

Brian also tries to forget his memories of Gisel through Edith. But Brian realized, that it was just his selfishness all along. Supposedly, he never used Edith to forget Gisel.

"Edith.."

Edith looked at Brian deeply, hoping Brian could retract his words.

"You remember I told you about a girl when I was a teenager?" ask Brian.

"Why? Does it have anything to do with it?" Edith occasionally tidied her hair as the blowing wind covered her gaze at Brian.

"What if I say that I found him?" ask Brian.

"It's been a long time Brian. I'm not sure he really recognized you." replied Edith confidently.

"Even if he doesn't recognize me, I'll recognize him. Because I promise to find him when I grow up" Brian said.

Edith's heart was broken by Brian's reply.

"So have you found it?" ask Edith. He holds his heart back from yelling hysterically because Brian wants to stay away from him because of a woman from his past.

Brian nodded weakly.

"Yet. But I will definitely find it." Brian replied confidently.

But Edith's heart was not willing. All this time Edith just gave her heart to Brian, hoping one day Brian reciprocates his love, but reality speaks bitterly. Instead of Brian going back for his love, he says that he wants to find his old love to come back.

"Don't be like this, Brian" said Edith. Her tears could not stand it anymore.

"Edith.."

"I'm still waiting, Brian. Wait until you can open your heart to me" said Edith desperately.

"Don't be like this, Edith..."

"Brian, you don't know what a woman looks like when you find her later. Is he still the same person as you were in your teens you can't guarantee anything" Edith said.

"Sorry, Edith... But I was determined to find him. I promised I'd recognize him and..."

"That's just a promise of adolescence, Brian." Edith cut out Brian's unfinished speech.

"Edith.. You don't understand."

"Should you do this to me, Brian?" Edith is desperate to see Brian insist on finding his old love again.

"Yes, Edith. Because there's something you don't understand about him. I'm sorry, Edith. I have to go." Brian let go of Edith's hand slowly and left Edith crying herself. Edith wiped her tears calling out Brian's name. But Brian did not look.

To be honest, Brian didn't want to be like this. But he has to find Gisel. The frail woman who bore the burden of living alone, where was Gisel really?