PART 8 - GOT A NEW JOB

Since receiving a message from the cafe manager that Kalila has been accepted for working there, the smile on her face hasn't disappeared, showing how extremely happy she is. It's like the happiness she felt right now literally could be exceeding the happiness when she got an straight A in the final exam.

"What's the good news today, Kal? Your face looks pretty happy," Selvi says, and she's just finished ordering her meal, sitting down beside Kalila.

They don't buy food outside but in the campus canteen. Because one hour later, there's still another class. So, they don't have much time to buy food outside.

One of the menus that Selvi often orders in the campus canteen is mie ayam. She said that mie ayam in the campus canteen tastes the best, the portions are just right, and the prices are pretty affordable. But, she rarely buys mie ayam there, because the thing is she has to queue and is crammed with many other students.

Kalila herself prefers to order fried rice with an egg on top. Selvi often reprimands her to eat less eggs. Indeed, eggs contain many nutrients and are good for the body. But the problem is, she is allergic to eggs. After eating it, the skin on her body usually will turn red and feel super itchy.

"Let's share your egg," Selvi cuts the fried egg which is on Kalila's plate. Instead, she gives two spoons of her ayam rica-rica she ordered, especially from the mie ayam seller.

"I got a job at Lavéna Café, Sel," says Kalila. Shows the text on her phone to Selvi.

"Are you serious?! At that cafe we used to hang out alot at, Kal?" Selvi asks to make sure she hasn't heard any wrong information.

Kalia nods her head. "Yes, you're right, Sel! Next week I can start to work there."

"Wow! Congratulations, Babe! In the end, you finally could work there, like I know how you really wished to work at that cafe, Dear," Selvi hugs her from the side while congratulating that girl.

"You know, I've made a promise to myself, like I have to be able to feel working there before graduating from college," says Kalila, remembering the promise she made in her first year of college.

"Is it because of that mysterious letter? Speaking of which, isn't it the letter you got right after you're getting scolded by Galang, Is it?" Selvi guesses.

"Yes! You know, I'm still curious about the person who gave me that letter. Judging from his writing, I'm sure he's a stranger I've never met," Kalila still clearly remembers the contents of the mysterious letter she got. Like how it was written, and the smell of the paper used by the writer… Kalila still remembers everything, perfectly.

"You said it was a guy who wrote it, right? Is he handsome, Kal?" Selvi asks while her mouth's full of her food.

"I don't know. Well, I've actually never met him. It's just guessing, anyway," says Kalila.

"Why do you guess that it was a guy who did write it?"

"The writing. I think a writing like that's usually written by a male hand."

Actually, not just because of that reason. Kalila could feel from the style of the language used in the letter as if it was written by a guy for his girlfriend. Could it be a letter from her fan?

That must be impossible. She is not that popular to have a secret fan.

***

It's already been five times, Kalila has tried to contact her boyfriend, Galang. She also has actually sent several messages to him. She just wants to say that she was accepted for a job at Lavéna Café.

After telling his mother, Kalila also wants to tell Galang about that good news. You know, when she first had that desire to work there, he was one of the people she told about that apart from his mother and Selvi.

"It's nothing important. I shouldn't have told him about this," Kalila closes her phone and puts it in her bag.

"Okay, Kal. Stop being a spoiled girl. Stop behaving like a child. And learn to act more maturely. Okay?"

"You don't have to report everything to Galang. As long as it has nothing to do with him, it's better to just keep this happy moment to myself."

Yes, that seems like a better thing to do. Instead, when Kalila tried to share the story with Galang then got no response from him.

What does Kalila actually expect from Galang? Why does she persist when she is always hurt by his attitude? Come on Kalila, you don't have to love Galang this much!

"I guess, I have to learn to make friends with guys. So later, when the time comes that Galang and I are no longer together, it would be easier for me to open my heart to other guy."

Just imagining that one day he would be separated from Galang had made Kalila shudder. The thing is, her parents already know about their relationship. In her first year of being sophomore in college, her parents visited Jakarta, and that's the first time they met Galang.

At that time, Galang showed his friendly attitude in front of Kalila's parents. That's what makes her mom agree with their relationship. Even Kalila was asked to immediately marry him by her mom after that. But she could manage it because her dad was on her side.

"Tsk, thinking about him is frustratingly endless. I still wanna be by his side, but he doesn't. Such are the facts," Kalila says softly before she stands up from her seat.

After finishing her class today, Kalila and her friends go to the lecturer's room to discuss her group assignment with their lecturer. But because their lecturer isn't there, she and her friends have to postpone the discussion to another time.

When Kalila walks past the side of the field at her faculty, there is a thing that caught her attention. She sees some students are swarming something. But it's not like street food or drink sellers.

Out of curiosity Kalila walks over to the crowd. Arriving near the crowd earlier, Kalila sees a male figure which turned out to be the reason many female students gathered in that place.

"Mr. Veer?" says Kalila when the students have already left.

Veer looks rubbing his face roughly. From the expression on his face, Kalila could already guess if that guy is pretty tired.

"Are you teaching here too, Sir?" Kalila asks, even though her greeting hasn't received any reply yet.

"Yes. But not teaching statistics," says Veer. He looks at Kalila but not for long.

"Just finished your class? I thought Selvi's already at home about an hour ago."

"Oh, I just need to see my lecturer, Sir. So, I'm not going home with her," Kalila answers Veer's question politely.

"Then, excuse me first, Sir," says Kalila then she walks away from Veer.

"Kalila."

The call makes Kalila stop her footsteps. She looks back and sees Veer walking towards her.

"Yes, Sir?" Kalila asks, looking confused.

"Congratulations," Veer says with her eyes looking at Kalila. "You have successfully accepted the job at the place you dream of."

After congratulating her, Veer immediately leaves that girl. Veer shows his rare smile when he says that sentence to Kalila. Even though it's only like for a moment, his smile is clearly visible in Kalila's eyes.

"It turns out that Mr. Veer is quite a considerate person," Kalila laughs before she continues walking towards the parking lot.

***

01072022 (9.23 AM)