Vanilla and Cedarwood

West Continent, Fog City, 2019

One year has passed, and the holiday has started. Liffi doesn't return to the South. She doesn't have money to buy an airplane ticket. So she spends her vacation time working as an intern at a construction company.

"So, your name is Liffiana Dewi?" A woman with thick glasses closes the cv that Liffi gave to her.

"Yes." Liffi nods.

"You are a foreign student, have studied here for one year?"

"That's right, Madam," Liffi answers.

The woman examines Liffi's score, she has perfect scores on almost all tests.

"Are you going to do an internship in your holiday? So you don't back to your home for gathering with your parents?" the woman looks surprised. International students always take the opportunity to return to their hometowns when long holidays start.

"I don't have parents," Liffi looks down, embarrassed. "I'm an orphan."

"Ops ... sorry, Dear."

"It's okay, Madam."

"Okay, dear. You can do an internship in this company. But for your intake, your co-worker will not care about your background. You have to work hard here," She says before moving away from her sitting place.

"Thank you, I'll definitely work hard." Liffi is very happy. Finally, she can work in a construction company like her dream. The first step to reaching her dream.

"You're welcome. Come back here at 9 am tomorrow to start working."

"Yes, Ma'am." Liffi leaves the building cheerfully.

•

•

•

The Next day, at 9 am.

Liffi is ready to work, today is her first day. Liffi looks beautiful in a white shirt and dark blue skirt. She grabs the black sling bag which is slightly cracked on the surface and the zipper is broken. Liffi does not replace it, she has to save a lot on her living expenses during college. The scholarship money is only enough to pay for tuition and flat rent. Liffi has to pay for food and living expenses by herself.

"Good morning." Liffi greets her senior workers at the office.

....

Silence, no answer, all busy with their work. There is no time for formality, because they are being chased by the deadline for today's presentation.

"Hey, Newbie. Don't just stand there, come over here!" calls a senior drafter.

"Yes, Miss. How can I help you?" Liffi comes closer and puts her bag on the table.

"Can you draw building layouts, huh?"

"Yes, Miss."

"Using drawing applications and ACAD?"

"Yup."

"Good! Help me, you draw this owner sketch in exact scale!" The woman gives Liffi a piece of paper with pencil sketches on it.

"Yes, Miss."

Liffi looks at the hand-drawn sketches of the layout for a mall and hotel building. Belonging to WIN.Co, Liffi thinks she had read that name before, but somewhere, she doesn't remember. Liffi ignores the owner's name and hurries to get to work. This is the first time an intern has been asked to take part in a big project. It looks like they are really being chased by time.

***** THE TWIN'S PET *****

•

•

•

After four hours of work, at 13.00 pm.

"Ah, so tired." Liffi sighs. It turns out that being an intern at a big company is more tiring than being a waitress at a fast food restaurant or a mini market cashier.

Liffi has tried all kinds of part-time jobs, from cashier to food delivery. Liffi likes to work, she can forget her homesickness about her family at the orphanage and her curiosity about Ace.

It had been a year since Liffi lived in this country, but she had never heard the news or even known where Ace was. Maybe he is in different cities, maybe he does not study here anymore, or even returned to the South. Liffi has no idea, her mind is stuck. How can she think about Ace, just thinking about her life makes her get a headache?

"Hey, Intern!"

"Yes, Miss, can I help you?" Liffi asks politely. Almost all of the drafters in this company consisted of young people. The most senior one is only Mr. Ken, but he always visits the project site. He is never in the office.

"The A2 printer is broken, can you print this file on digital printing near here?"

"Of course, Miss."

"Here's the flash disk, don't lose it. I haven't copied it yet."

"Yeah."

"Thanks."

Liffi walks sluggishly towards digital printing at the next red light crossroad. Only about two blocks from Liffi's office. The hot sun of this afternoon makes Liffi sluggish because she hasn't eaten yet. She should be waiting for lunchtime, but the senior told her to go out to print the drawings.

"Here you go, Miss."

"The flash disk?"

"I put it together with the picture roll."

"Thank you so much." Liffi smiles and paid for the printing service. Thirty-five bucks for twenty drawing sheets. Cheap enough for the company but expensive for Liffi.

Liffi carries many rolls of paper in her hands. She walks carefully so that the rolls do not fall or get dirty. If that happened, Liffi might get scolded by her coworker.

[Ugh... So stupid. Why didn't I bring a picture tube case?!] Liffi blames herself for her carelessness.

BUMP!!!!

Suddenly, Liffi bounces when a man bumps into her. He uses a little strength but Liffi looks like have been hit by a big dog.

"It hurts," moans Liffi. Her legs went limp in shock. The papers fly above her head.

"My drawings??!!" Liffi shrieks trying with all her strength to get up. The papers are scattered, dirty, and have footmarks on them.

The wind blows past her sense of smell. Liffi is stunned when she smells sweet vanilla and masculine cedarwood scents. Liffi lifts her head to look at the man. A tall and handsome young man is standing in front of her. His hair is red as an autumn maple leave and became even redder when the sunlight reflects on it.

The man is silent for a moment, then helps Liffi clean up the scattered paper.

Why did he stop and back??

Why did he stop in his tracks just for a girl he doesn't even know before??

***** THE TWIN'S PET *****