The Accidental Prime Minister

Roy K wasn't extraordinary in any way. He wasn't particularly smart, athletic, or charismatic. He wasn't even good at his office job, where his primary achievement was avoiding his boss, Pak Samad, by hiding in the pantry during work hours. Life was simple and uneventful for Roy just how he liked it.

But one random Tuesday afternoon, Roy's life took a bizarre turn.

Roy was sitting in his favorite mamak stall, Kedai Kopi Cahaya Maklong, sipping on his usual Milo ais. His friend, Jamal, sat across from him, scrolling through his phone.

"Eh, Roy," Jamal said, eyes glued to the screen. "Have you seen this viral thing? Some random guy is running for Prime Minister. Look at his face blur like sotong!"

Roy squinted at Jamal's phone and nearly spit out his Milo. The photo on the screen was… his own face.

"Eh, Jamal, that's me lah!" Roy said, snatching the phone.

"Woi, you're right! How did your face get here? Did you join some political campaign without telling me?" Jamal teased, laughing.

Roy frowned. "Of course not! Why would I want to be Prime Minister? I don't even know how to calculate my own taxes!"

But there it was: a campaign poster featuring Roy's photo, along with the slogan: "Roy K: A Leader for the People."

Roy stared at the screen, confused. He wasn't a leader for anyone. In fact, just last week, he got lost in a supermarket and had to call Jamal to find him near the cereal aisle.

"Maybe it's a prank," Roy muttered, brushing it off.

Jamal grinned. "Or maybe it's fate. You, my friend, are destined for greatness!"

Roy rolled his eyes. "Destined to finish my Milo ais, maybe."

By the end of the week, Roy had forgotten about the mysterious campaign poster. But the internet had not.

Unbeknownst to him, the photo had sparked a movement. People loved Roy's ordinary, clueless expression. In a world of polished politicians, Roy's face stood out as refreshingly genuine. Memes began circulating, with captions like:

• "When you don't know the answer but still raise your hand."

• "Roy K: He doesn't know what's going on, but he's trying his best."

• "Vote for Roy! At least he's honest about being clueless."

The momentum grew. Without lifting a finger, Roy K became a symbol of hope or at least, a symbol of comedic relief.

On election night, Roy was lounging on his sofa, watching a cooking show, when Jamal barged into his apartment, panting and holding his phone.

"ROY! You did it!" Jamal shouted.

"Did what? Burn my toast?" Roy asked, glancing at the toaster.

"No, you won!" Jamal shoved his phone into Roy's face.

The headline read: "Roy K Becomes the New Prime Minister of Cahaya in Shocking Election Upset."

Roy blinked. "Huh?"

"It's real, bro! You're the Prime Minister now!" Jamal said, laughing hysterically.

Roy stared at the screen, trying to process what he just read. "How… how did this happen?"

"Apparently, people actually voted for you. They said you're the 'change' the country needs!" Jamal explained.

"Change? I can't even change a lightbulb without electrocuting myself!" Roy shouted.

But it was true. Somehow, Roy K, an unremarkable office worker with no political experience, had been elected as the leader of an entire nation.

The next morning, a black limousine pulled up in front of Roy's rundown apartment.

A stern-looking man in a crisp suit stepped out and knocked on Roy's door. "Mr. Roy K?"

Roy peeked out, still in his pajamas. "Uh… yeah?"

"I'm Aziz, your chief of staff. Congratulations on your victory. The inauguration ceremony is in two hours. Please get ready."

"Inauguration? Chief of staff? What are you talking about?" Roy asked, his voice cracking.

Aziz sighed. "Sir, you're the Prime Minister now. You need to address the nation."

Roy looked at Jamal, who was eating his cereal at the kitchen table. "Is this a prank?"

Jamal grinned. "Nope. You're officially in charge, bro. Don't mess it up!"

Two hours later, Roy found himself standing on a grand stage in front of a massive crowd. Cameras flashed, and people cheered. Roy's heart raced as he clutched a piece of paper with a hastily written speech.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice trembling. "Uh… thank you for… uh… voting for me."

The crowd erupted into applause.

Roy squinted at the paper, trying to read his next line. "I promise to… um… do my best. I might not know much about politics, but I know how to… uh… listen."

Another round of thunderous applause.

Roy blinked, surprised. They're buying this? he thought.

"Together, we can… uh… make Cahaya… brighter?" Roy said, cringing at his own words.

The crowd went wild, chanting, "ROY! ROY! ROY!"

Roy stepped back, sweating profusely. Aziz leaned in and whispered, "Good job, sir. The people love you."

Roy gulped. "They do? But… why?"

Aziz smiled. "Because you're authentic. Now let's get you back to the office. There's a stack of paperwork waiting for you."

"Paperwork?" Roy groaned. "I didn't sign up for this!"

Aziz gave him a knowing look. "Actually, you kind of did."

And so, Roy K's journey as the accidental Prime Minister began. With no idea what he was doing, Roy had to bluff his way through meetings, speeches, and decisions—all while trying not to let anyone realize he was completely clueless.

Little did he know, his greatest asset wasn't his intelligence or experience—it was his ability to make people believe he had both.

End of Chapter 1