Not An Ordinary Love Song

Page One : How it started

It felt like yesterday Ariana just landed in Kapuk and doing her job as an executive in V Fashion. A label created by Tina, a namely trendsetter in fashion industry. Time flies fast, five years ago Ariana was a country bump--came from Aro, who got lost in the city, struggle to get a job. She had passion in the fashion industry at the moment but didn't have what it takes to start one. She didn't graduate from fashion school so she doesn't have fashion degree, she didn't come from wealthy family to support her course, and also she didn't have the network to start with.

Tina started the business seven years ago but no one was strong enough to keep up with her pace. She is a well-known iron lady in fashion industry. She owns almost a dozen famous fashion label in different market and has unique style of leadership. Two years of man power crisis she finally found Ariana. At that time she could see the desperation for recognition in her eyes. And she doesn't regret it. With Ariana in her side, her business run very well in only five years.

Almost midnight. Ariana sat on her desk, she put final touch into her annual campaign proposal. The budgeting really drives her crazy. How can the budget input so unbalance with the output. She fixed it for three days after work hour and it needed to be done by this very midnight. Tina will have to review it in the morning so they can move forward with another scheduled task. She clicked submit. She glanced at the watch.

12.05 AM.

' Oh crap,' she sighed while throwing her stuff into backpack.

'Tina will forgive me,' she whispered and rushed to lift being the last one to come down from 21st floor.

The lobby is dimmed every midnight. However, the securities patrol around the building made her relieved, otherwise it would be very scary. Wait, being alone in the office and lift was also scary. How could I'm not afraid of it?

She walked in the sidewalk debating to herself should she be afraid or not? I did it many times though, nothing happened. No such thing as ghost, even though they're exist there would be no good for them to tease me. Wait, all this time I was with Tina and Leo. Of course, the ghost would be afraid of Tina. She is much scarier than them. Haha.

Ariana frowns, her eyes almost blinded with city lights. Then realise she haven't eat dinner. She turned left to smaller road. This road not as blinded and crowded--but there's still people walking. The faint laugh and chatting from street cafe heard from the road, accentuate a cozy and warm atmosphere to the air. None of the stall or cafe are match to her liking. She decides to come in to nearest convenience store and get some toast, bento, snacks and some drinks. She paid and sit on the bench at the park alone.

The dimmed lighting there comfort her eyes. She finally can enjoy seeing young skaters who play at the park--aren't their parents looking for them?-- inhale fresh air, and sometimes watching movie from outdoor theater. She can still take a look of it from afar. She glanced to her phone, her brother has sent tons of messages since afternoon but she hasn't read them. Her brother, Willy, is someone who would sent thousand messages all at once if Ariana doesn't reply.

Ok Wills. Relax. I am writing. Message sent.

She replied all the messages from Willy. Willy always worry if the call didn't connected, or the messaged haven't read, just like clingy boyfriend.

Once Ariana got annoyed when Willy suddenly appear in front of the building where she works, just because she didn't reply for three days. I broke my phone, Wills. I will buy one next week after payday. Wtf is wrong with you? It's not like I'm dead."

A notification suddenly appears. Ah, the calendar notification. She tries to concentrated for 30 seconds. She froze.

EXCLUSIVE ADS AND BRAND AMBASSADOR APPOINTMENT. HAVE YOU GOT THE TALENT? PROPOSALS?

She just finished the almost never ending saga with budgeting. Now she has to come up with proposals for her own campaign. OMG the time flies fast. Ariana pulled her hair, she forgot the proposal is due tomorrow.

Ok. Don't panic! When is the proposal due? Ariana opened her backpack. She took out tablet PC and opened her notes, she exhaled, relieved.

in the afternoon. Sure. I can finish the proposal in a blink of eyes.

She take a sips of her drink, then suddenly remembered. She pulled her hair :

After I finished the proposal, I'll have to get the model ready too! Who would take the deal if I give them short notice?

Now Ariana in the edge of crying. She never messed up her schedule before. But last year's campaign and this year's plan were overwhelming enough to make her burn out. She has very bad experience with mistake so she tends to develop perfectionist tendency. She can't talk to people if she made mistake. She kept the tension to herself. Her eyes stings, teary, not because frustration, but the contact lens.

Ariana took out her glasses, she's getting ready to remove the contact lenses and throw them away--because it's single use. She put her glasses on, then suddenly something hits the lenses. Everything happened so fast. She heard a c***k, she took off the glasses, the lenses scattered.

"What the hell was that?" She squeaked, her voice cracked.

She found blue stain on her clothes, wrist, glasses frame and some on her face--she look at her reflection on the phone. She took a look around when suddenly a man appears, holding a gun---for paintball. WTF he think he is holding a gun in public space. Yeah, even though it's a toy, it should be forbidden.

"Are you okay?" He runs to Ariana. "What's broken? Did we hit you?"

"That was dangerous, don't you think so?" Ariana inhale deeply. Suddenly she feels too exhausted to get angry. She glanced to her watch which is now covered by blue paint--02.45 AM. "Oh no," she whispered sadly. But that man was sharp enough to hear it.

"Oh no," He said while looking at Ariana, worried.

***

Aston and his friends Henry, Ali and Luca just finished their concert in Stadium. That was a big concert because it ends their tour in the country. They will kick started the World Tour soon. They went to the park with tins of beer on their hands.

At first, they were playing in the skater park, then sat on the bench. Henry was a little tipsy when he opened Aston's bag and took out a long-barelled gun--a toy gun used in theme park for paint ball survival game.

"Put it down, bro! Not funny!" Luca flustered, he snatched the gun from Henry. "You could hit someone with this."

"Why... are... you...carrying... this?" Henry giggled. "Hey Aston! Shoot me! Shoot me!" He opened his arm widely.

"No, silly. I bring them to play in the garage," Aston answered.

"Then you should unload the ball," Luca checked the barrel. "That way this crackhead won't shoot anybody-- No! Henry!" He dodged Henry who tried to snatched the gun.

"I did," Aston answered, he sips the water. Aston didn't drink alcohol after concert because he prefer to drive his own car. He would drive alone until dawn, filling his lung with fresh air before the hibernation mode on. His body always stiffened after concert.

"Shoot me! Shoot me!" Henry dances like a fool. His friend shook their head. What is he saying?

BANG!

A limp sound of a bang broke

"What the hell was that?" Suddenly they hear someone startled, with cracked voice--almost crying.

Aston, Luca, Henry and Ali look at each other, mortified. Luca's finger was at the trigger, he hasn't took them off.

"I didn't do it," Henry squeaked, startled.

"I thought you unloaded the balls?" Luca whispered to Aston, just like Henry, startled.

"Guys, I think you should go over there," Ali pointed to the bench, a girl was wiping her face, is she crying? "Better check on her."

"Go Luca! Repent your sin!" Henry pushed Luca but he won't budge. "Go!"

"But this is yours!" Luca put the gun on Aston's hand, he was too scare to check.

"Ok.Let's go!" Aston pushed Luca to the front and walk behind him, they pushed and pulled each other until they reach that girl.

"Are you okay?" Aston asked, half running to the girl. "What's broken? Did we hit you?"

The girl sighed in pain, "That was dangerous, don't you think so?"

Aston flustered, he checked the girl closely. He realise that they just shoot at the girl's glasses, now it's broken. OMG, is it from Brand D? It must be expensive. What else is broken?

Her clothes is ruined by blue paint, her face, a little bit of her hair--she needs to cut a little bit of her hair later. That's bad. Gosh...

The girl seems in rushed. She packed her things, "Oh no," she glanced at her wrist. Her watch--as well as her wrist are covered in blue paint.

"Oh no," Aston shrugged. "I think it would take time to recover your watch. The paint ball stain pretty hard to wipe, you know?" He said.

"You do know!" Ariana exhaled. "What's with the gun?"

"Well, we were--" Luca opened his mouth then stop talking, too confused.

"We're sorry," Aston said. "We'd like to give compensation for what we did. Your glasses, watch, clothes..."

Ariana glared at them. How can they said that! If they are sorry then they have to mean it.

"Forget it," Ariana put the bag in her shoulder, stands up, getting ready to leave. I have proposal to catch. I don't have time for this.

"Consider yourself lucky. I forgive you," she said. Oh wait, why is everything blur? Ariana frowned. Ah, she can't wear glasses. WTF~

"Anyway," Aston said, "At least let me help with your hair."

"Why my hair?" Ariana took out mirror from her bag and checked. Now the tears broke from her eyes. "You guys so mean. I have to cut this! How can you help?"

Aston and Luca froze. What they just did?

Aston took out wet wipes from his pocket and started to wipe her hair carefully. The paint won't come off. This is bad. He looked at Luca,bdumbfounded, not sure what he'd do. He handed water to Aston, as it will help to wash her hair.

"Forget it," Ariana brushed his hands. "I have to go."

"Where are you headed to? Let me drop you off," Aston offered, he really mean it.

"No," she answered. "Do you think I am a fool who will jump to somebody's ride?"

"How will you go home then? It's late," Luca finally come to his senses. "The first train and bus will running in two hours."

Aston hissed, he give him side eye.

"I'll take the taxi," she said, walked away.

"Listen, it's too dangerous," Aston chase her. "Look, we might not know you, or neither you know us. but we're not the bad guy like you think. Let us help you at least, we're so sorry."

"I'm too tired," Ariana said. "I can't scream even if I want--"

"then don't scream," said Luca care free, Aston kicked him.

"well, just let me go. I'll wait the taxi over there, don't follow me."

She's gone.

"well, we tried," said Luca.

"Listen, Luc," Aston said. "We called it a day. I will take my car, you, Ali and Henry can ride in anything else to anywhere. There's no way I let her go alone."

"What?" Luca surprised. "Don't tell me... "

He can't finished his words, Aston is running far.

"Oh, whatever, LET'S GO HOME GUYS!"

Luca running towards Ali and Henry.

****