Swipe You, Swipe Me
The Emperor in Reverse

The man entered a special room in his house. The room was built on the basement floor with special access. Only his men could enter through another door on the outside of the house. As his feet stomped on the basement room, a terrifying aura enveloped the entire part of the place. What else after the command given failed.

The man walked straight past someone who was already waiting. Some others lined up neatly under the dark shadow of the room. He stopped behind a leather chair at the marble table in the room. There the katana collection is stored neatly in a glass cabinet with a dim bluish white glow. He looked at the closet while holding it. "He escaped?"

"Yes, sir," replied the man who was sculpting in the middle of the room firmly. His guts are gone.

"Eight people versus one person, but failed," he often said. "How long have you been working with me?"

"Seven years, sir," he answered.

In fact it was not only seven years Rico worked with the Dirga family. Throughout his life, Rico's father had served as the 'protector' of the Dirga Family. When his father is killed on a mission, Rico takes his father's place. Then, the last seven years he officially received orders from Dave after Great Lord Dirga was no longer productive at work.

"You never disappoint, Rico. But why is it so easy that you failed?" the man turned around. He challenged with a lazy look towards Rico who was much different age.

"I'm sorry, we lost track," Rico bowed shyly.

"Aren't I supposed to step in by myself?" he turned his stool and sat down.

"Father does not have to dirty your hands" Rico said.

"good. But I'm still disappointed, Rico," he refuted his head with a hand and pinched his forehead.

"I'm sorry," Rico lowered his head.

The man sitting in the chair opened the drawer with his fingerprint password and pulled out an automatic firearm. He aimed his shot at the dark part of the room. With no gunshots, one of them fell. Slowly, blood seeped from the bottom of the body. No one in the room was surprised.

"That's just an example. You must be smarter at doing it than I am." he said lazily.

Rico went deeper.

"Do the right thing or you'll retire early, Rico, "The guy keeps the gun back and locks it in his fingerprints.

"Good!" rico was trembling a little.

The man got up and approached Rico. Put his hand on Rico's shoulder and he whispered, "what do you promise?"

"Father doesn't have to dirty your hands," hissed Rico.

"Good," again patted Rico's shoulder which made the man shudder.

He stepped towards the door. While passing a human carcass at the end of his shoe, he just hissed, "clean."

***

Genta has contacted his house because last night he came with Wiliam and stayed overnight. He even left his car still in the same place, a small Chinese village. William had heard his story last night and suggested that he not go home first. Usually, such people would continue to aim until they were done.

'With this last song, the cave first yaa Youth listener. See you tomorrow at morning coffee with me William. I'm signing off!'

A song from the intercom came along as William ended his broadcast that morning. He hung up his headphones, walked out of a small glass room, chatted briefly with the broadcast producer and went out to Genta. The man sat next to her and stretched out his legs.

"Huh, done!" abugn. Patted on his best friend's knee, "Lo don't want to report to the police?"

"The more complicated the business must be. Where the cave has no evidence. Minimum license plate of his car, no," Genta leaned over and rubbed his face.

"Lo sure you're not in debt?"

The one asked just shook his head and muttered, "it looks like the loan sharks are not necessarily if you also collect."

"Well, have you ever been?" ask William while removing the phone checking the notification.

"Yes, not really. But the feeling of the cave, these people are not related to debt, loan sharks, that kind of thing," response Genta exhaled.

"The house guy's safe, right? They must have been looking for information about Lo, Gen," William turned his body to Genta.

"So I've called nyokap all ngabarin cave nginep at Lo's place last night. He's fine, hopefully."

"But it's not possible for no reason that someone is chasing you. If pursued by a beautiful girl is no problem, Bro," he said.

***

Vanka hugged Tara tightly when she saw her appearing at the entrance of their room. Unheard of everyone's gaze. He just missed Tara.

"Ih, you've been out for a long time" Vanka let go of his embrace.

"Kan Temen cave already anther cave leave letter, Ka," Tara cengengesan. It was unexpected that he would be greeted like this by his office mates.

"Yes, but you ain't been saying anything from before the new year. Suddenly he didn't come in, he couldn't be reached, I was worried about you," Vanka said in earnest.

"Yes, yeah. The cave has entered, now the cave can not go to the cave table or what? Later Miss Salma nagged, you know," Tara calmed Vanka.

"Tara," said someone behind them, Miss Salma. Long live her.

"Good morning, ma'am," said the two automatically.

"Morning," he replied straightforwardly. "You've come in? I think it's still Monday next week you're in."

"No ma'am, my feelings are better today" Tara replied honestly.

"Okay, okay. Go back to your respective desks," said Ms. Salma as she passed them into her own room.

"Well, he didn't say a word" whispered Vanka as Ms. Salma entered the room.

"Well, good," said Tara as she walked to her desk.

He did not know what Kiara said when she met Miss Salma. He just asked his best friend to tell him he was taking a leave of absence.

"By the way, happy new year, yes," Vanka said with a sigh before returning to his own desk.

"Happy new year too, my dear," replied Tara as she put down her bag.

Tara had thought he might be difficult to rise from the treatment he received before the new year yesterday. Remembering that alone made him shudder in horror. But he was grateful that there was a Genta. Her mood rose dramatically after returning home from the amusement park last night until she finally decided to enter the office this morning.

***

"Later the ticket will be sent via email yes," said Benu while typing something on his computer. Then turn to Rendi, "lo sure to Manado himself again?"

Long Rendi was silent He played his seat right-left and then looked at Benu, "sure."

"You're having a problem, aren't you?" Benu leaned his body towards Rendi. "The problem is, he came and said that if you submit a letter of resignation, I must refuse. And sure enough you could file that."

He nodded his head without responding.

"Women are so, understand it," kekeh Benu. "So often ask to be understood. But once we ask them to understand us, they can only be angry."

"You confided?" Rendi laughs.

"Well, there must still be a part issued to be sane," Benu joked. "Until now I still don't understand how my wife thinks."

Rendi was silent again but there was no sign he would move from Benu's room. Benu knew, there was something Rendi wanted to say. But rather than force him to speak he chose to wait.

"When your wife told you she was pregnant with Azka, what was your reaction?" tanya Rendi then busy playing Benu nameplate.

Benu muttered, leaning his back and gazing into the distance. Trying to remember when his wife said that. "I'm surprised. Then think about whether I'm ready to be Azka's father. But my wife assured me that the presence of our son was also a means by which we learned to be human. Then, I thought for nine months I should 'fast' hugging Diana."

"Stupid," Rendi laughed at Benu's last sentence.

"I'm proud, I have a descendant. Yes, we do not live forever but our children will still creep on the earth after we are gone. It will keep repeating," he said. "Indeed why? You have plans to marry Sofia?"

Rendi threw a sharp look in disbelief at Benu's statement. Benu just chuckled. "He's my co-worker. It's impossible."

"Diana was my best friend when I was Junior and I married her."

"No. I don't know, I don't know" He took a deep breath and got out of his chair. Then walked back and forth in front of Benu.

"My advice is, you solve your heart problems, make your decisions and start a new life. Otherwise everyone will be confused by your attitude" Benu said. "I don't know what happened between the two of you, what matters is that your performance at work is not declining."

Rendi stopped and looked at Benu in disbelief," indeed your mind had never changed."

***

Dave smiles at his phone when Tara turns down the phone again. He understood, if the woman kept her distance and feared him for what had been done. Dave admitted himself guilty. He is dominated by mood and lust.

But it's not Dave if he doesn't get his goal. He left his car on the shoulder of the road and went straight into the Mitra Group Indo building. As he enters, the security department asks if he has made an appointment and leads Dave to the reception desk.

Once Dave was at the reception desk, a woman who had a sweet smile greeted him. On the chest of the woman's uniform was a small nametag inscribed with Lydia.

"Good day, I'm Lydia. With whose father, sorry" he said kindly.

"Dave" he answered briefly.

"Can I help you, Mr Dave?" ask Lydia kindly.

"Please contact Miss Tara from Mitra Group Indo, tell her I want to see her," Dave said a little reigning.

"good. Please fill out this guest book, "Lidia handed me a book and a pen. Then he started to get busy with his phone. "Wait a minute, Mr. Dave."

Dave notices Lydia calling Tara. Sometimes Lidia glanced at Dave. The longer the phone call, the woman's face turned sour. Dave, who didn't want to look so attentive, began filling the guest book with his original identity.

"Ah, so?" Tara even refused again through the receptionist. But Dave hasn't given up. He has to meet Tara and no one can stop him. It spins the brain. "Then, please connect to.., jeez, what's his name. Uh, Medio.., ah! Roland from Medio, can you call him Lydia? Tell me, Dave from Sentosa Inc. wants to meet."

"Oh, well," Lidia smiled and came back busy with the phone at the table. After the woman spoke, she took a guest card at her drawer.

"Medio's office is on the first floor," Lidia handed the card to Dave. "Do you want to be among the security sections?"

"No," Dave replied subtly as he received the card. "I'll go alone. Thank you, Lydia."

Dave stepped through the entrance gate to one of the elevators. He went inside and pressed the number eight on his panel. Yes, meeting Roland from Medio was only one of the reasons made, for him to gain access to Tara's office.

Ding!

Before long the door opened and he reached the intended floor. A security guard came back to him.

"Good day, who do you want to meet?" he asked a middle-aged man named Sapto from his identification.

"Tara" he answered directly. He is lazy because the security of this office is very long-winded. Indeed, if making an appointment first would be smoother for him. But contacting Tara alone has been rejected many times, how about making an appointment?

"May I see the guest card, sir?" ask Mr. Sapto back. Dave gave impatiently that little card.

After checking the card, Sapto stared at Dave sourly. The card provides information that the man in front of him is a guest from Medio's office on the first floor. Why did this man even reach the eighth floor? With a smooth movement, Sapto presses a special security button that is directly connected to another security handie.

"Sorry sir, this card is intended for Medio office guests on the first floor. Did you press the elevator button wrong? Let me take you in" said Mr. Sapto, returning the guest card.

"No, I really want to see Tara," he pulled the card in the hand of Mr. Sapto who returned the card to fall. He stepped.

"Sir, sir, sir, I'm sorry but you're not allowed in" Mr. Sapto said, holding Dave's body clearly stronger than his.

"God, fuck!" Dave pushed Mr. Sapto hard until he fell.

He left Mr. Sapto who kept shouting at him not to enter. Dave doesn't care.

"RICE! TARA! I KNOW YOU'RE INSIDE. OUT YOU!"

Dave's loud voice clearly attracted the attention of the entire crowd on the eighth floor of the eastern wing. All gawked from the top of each cubicle towards the glass door. Indeed, the one who shouted had not shown his battle, but his voice had already boomed.

Tara, who had just walked out of Ms. Salma's room, was astonished, seeing all her office colleagues half-standing looking at the door. But now they all saw Tara. What was?

From a distance, the voice of someone calling out to him sounded again. Tara's heart was beating, she knew whose voice it was. Vanka ran over to Tara who was still staring at the door of Miss Salma.

"Tar, who's the one who's got Lo's name?" ask Vanka when he gets next to Tara. He felt his friend's body tremble violently, terrified.

Finally, the eighth-floor rower appeared in front of the glass office door. Dave looked at Tara standing around. He grins. That's the girl he wants to meet.

Tara held Vanka's hand tightly. She's afraid. The shadow of what happened last week flashed through his mind.

"Tara, hurry out," Dave's voice emphasis has changed while remaining out loud. Tara just shook her head.

Everyone felt the anxiety that Tara felt. Ms. Salma who looked at the view of her office employees became strange through the glass in her room. He came out to make sure. His gaze circulated throughout the room which turned into a mannequin. They're not playing mannequin challenge, are they?

"From you, Tara. Don't bother everyone here. The sooner you get here, people won't be bothered" he said. Tara felt a threat in her voice.

Ms. Salma turned to the direction the voice came from and found a dapper-looking man. Scramble their waists and grin at them.

"You know him, Tara?" ask Miss Salma.

"S, s, sa, i..," Tara even had a hard time saying. Tara's perspective on Dave has changed. All he saw in Dave was a threat.

Seeing Tara's frightened look, Salma immediately understood. This is the reason that Tara's friend brought her when she faced her last week. The man was definitely not the one Tara wanted to see anytime soon.

"Come on, Tara, come on over here quickly" he called again.

Tara remained silent. It was as if his feet had been stuck with nails in the room.

Ms. Salma sighed. With steady steps he walked out of the glass door to meet Dave. His chin was raised and there was no smile carved on his face. If it was Salma's subordinate, the sight he cast would have already made a guts squeak. He looked at Dave as if the man was just a tramp.

"Good day" she said coldly.

"I'm not dealing with you" he said indifferently. Even Dave did not look at her.

"Have an appointment?" ask again.

Dave turned to Salma lazily, "I don't have to make promises."

Salma ignored Dave's reasoning, "you better get out." Salma's hand was raised towards the exit.

"You have no right to expel me" he sighed sharply.

"Oh, I have the authority of course. I'm an officer here and you're just a guest." Salma presses the guest's word to wake Dave up. "And homeowners have the right to evict and not even accept their guests. Moreover, you only make an unclear commotion at work hours like this. I was really distracted because my employee performance was hampered."

"Then what do you want? Powerful woman. I'm Dave Mahar Dirga from Sentosa & co.," generally without fear.

Everyone in the room began to whisper at Dave's confession. Whispers and typing sounds that make pollution throughout the room, start to concern Tara with their own assumptions. It does not take one day, the fifteenth floor Mitra Group Indo will make it the hottest news headline.

"I don't care about young people. All I know is that you drop your image with this kind of unlearned behavior" Salma said.

Dave's jaw tightened with anger. After all, he was only a thirty-three-year-old man who still had a hard time controlling his emotions. With the sentence that Salma just said, really nudge his ego.

Dave who had just looked at Salma from one eye, now turned his body to face the interlocutor. He also raised his chin high with an intimidating expectation of Salma.

Seeing what Dave was doing, Salma just snorted mockingly at him. He didn't get hit with a bluff from a boy like that. He even felt he had spent his time free.

"Me and my employee, Tara, don't have time to serve people like you. If you think your company is important, you shouldn't be here" Salma said.

"You know what you're about my company!" Dave pushed Salma down. Salma's head hit a large pot that was next to the security table. Blood started to come out of his torn head.

Dave went inside regardless of the security department trying to contain him. With his legs up, it didn't take long until he arrived in front of the girl. He pulled Tara's hand until all the documents in her hand fell off.

Tara pias's face. His speaking ability also seemed to stop somewhere. His breathing began to choke due to the overwhelming fear he felt.

"Follow me!" Dave's orders.

Tara's still holding her place. Dave roughly pulled her. Vanka tries to hold Tara, who gets a boost. Dave pulled it back. Tara shuffled after the man's forced pull.

The security officers called by Mr. Sapto with a special button finally arrived. The four of them instantly snatched up Dave who was hard to handle. While still pulling Tara he tried to get out of the crowd of security officers.

Tara finally squealed because Dave was too tightly clasping her wrists. Dave looked towards Tara and relaxed his grasp. At that time Dave weakened who finally managed to be separated with Tara. The girl was holding her real printed hand tightly to Dave's handle.

Both of Dave's eyes widened to see the grimacing Tara. In his eyes, Tara who was in pain actually stimulated something from within him. The desire to hurt Tara made him happy.

He came back to Tara. But Dave was restrained with the officers who unleashed their full strength. All Dave knows is that he was disrespectfully pulled from Tara's office. He tried to escape but failed.

"Well Tara, this is your choice. Let's see what happens to that guy!" screams echoed along the hallway.

Tara's body sagged to the floor. He was weak and afraid. Mr. Sapto is helping Ms. Salma stand up. Some of her co-workers covered Ms. Salma's head and kept bleeding and others called ambulances. Tara looked at the chaos wrought by herself in silence.

***

After being dragged by the four officers, two beside him flank and held Dave's hand. The other two stood guard in front of the three of them. Dave was feeling uncomfortable.

"Depart," Dave snapped.

None of the officers heard his orders. Maybe he was a big man in his company, but in this place he was just a guest.

When he got out of the elevator, he jerked his arm so that the hands of the two officers were off his body. People who happen to be there steal curious glances. Never once has Mitra Group Indo treated its guests like this.

"I know where the way out is!" said riled. On the shoulder of the sleeves as if the officer who was holding it had put dust on his clothes. After passing through the entrance gate he just threw a small card guest identification.

Dave walked out and pulled out his phone.

"Bring him in and let me finish it" he said briefly to someone across the phone.

***

Sofia stopped filling out her guestbook because of the awkwardness that was happening in this big office. He noticed the cross-leggedness of a well-built man who stepped wide. The man looked familiar in his eyes. He threw a guest card after passing the entrance gate.

While continuing to look at the man out of the automatic glass door, Sofia tried to remember him. Oh, my God, that's Dave, college-level brother. What the hell is he doing here? And why was he kicked by this office security officer?

Looking for the number on his phone immediately, he hopes he still keeps the man's number. After he found it, a short message was sent to the man's message window.

Dave, remember me? I was a junior in college, Sofia. What are you doing in MGI?

I hope that number is still active. Stared at the screen of his phone until the message notification turns blue.

***

Genta looked at his phone screen and saw an unknown number on the incoming call waiting to be answered. Usually, Genta thoughtlessly picked up the phone like this. Often the artist who was about to exhibit contacted him to ask about one-two things. But after yesterday's incident, picking up the phone from the unknown dampened his intention to answer.

"Yes, hello?"

🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

Awaiting likes, comments, criticisms and suggestions dear readers 🥰