This morning, the sun was shining bright. Strangely enough, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change. The air itself carried a weight—like it was whispering of things I wasn't ready to face.
When I arrived at the office, instead of heading straight to my desk, I detoured to the pantry. Odd. I wasn't even sleep-deprived last night, yet here I was making coffee. Just as I was about to pour hot water, Yudha burst in, panting.
"Ca, hurry to the meeting room. Mr. Saka's already there."
I nearly dropped my spoon. "What? I thought today was only with Mr. Gilang. Isn't Mr. Saka still busy handling… his situation?"
"No idea. He just appeared in the meeting room out of nowhere. Tasha told me to drag you there because you know how much Mr. Saka hates latecomers."
I groaned, putting the cup and instant coffee back in place. "Fine, let's go."
When we arrived, Tasha, Saka, and Gilang were already seated neatly. Tasha gave me a look, so I sat down—right across from Saka.
Perfect. Just perfect. The first thing that happened? Our eyes locked. And then… he smiled. Not his usual cold, CEO-smirk. No. This one was different. Warm. Soft. The kind that shoved my heartbeat straight up my throat.
What was that look? And why did it feel… different?
The meeting started. We discussed the plan of positioning Saka himself as the influencer for Manterra. He didn't object—in fact, he calmly admitted his family was working to restore their reputation. Tasha pointed out it was the perfect moment, since Saka was already a hot topic in the media.
I raised the idea of a biographical video about his journey building Manterra. Everyone agreed. Then Yudha added a concept of daily-life influencer content—filming at Saka's house.
I turned to him. "Would you be okay with that, Mr. Saka?"
He stared at me for a moment, then gave a faint smile. "Of course. Why would I have a reason to refuse?"
"…Then which house should we use? Your parents' place, or your own?"
He leaned back, tone casual yet piercing. "If possible, let's use our house. But since that doesn't exist yet… I guess we'll settle for mine. The one near yours."
I nearly choked on thin air. Yudha, Tasha, and Gilang all wore the same mischievous grin.
Seriously, who possessed Saka Ardhananta today?
Tasha sighed dramatically. "So we're doing a location check right after this?"
"Unfortunately, I can't join," Tasha said quickly. "Mbak Rania gave me another assignment."
"Same here," Yudha added awkwardly, sneaking a glance at Tasha. Oh great. They were plotting something.
I exhaled. "Maybe Mr. Gilang can join—"
Before Gilang could respond, Saka cut in smoothly. "No. Gilang has company matters. So it's just the two of us."
I stared at Gilang, who looked even more shocked than I was. What the hell? Was this all a setup to throw me alone with him?
Saka stood, straightening his suit jacket with that elegant calm that was far too composed for someone who had just dropped a bomb in the room. "Shall we go, then?"
"So soon, Mr. Saka? Don't we have other matters to discuss?" I asked, uncertain.
"Oh, we do," he replied lightly, his eyes locking with mine. "But those are matters about us. They don't need to interfere."
"What does that even mean? Sounds serious," Tasha teased, smirking. "Could it be… Mr. Saka is way too eager to go out alone with Caca?"
"Of course," he answered without hesitation. "Who wouldn't be excited to go with their future wife?"
"WHAT?!" The three of us nearly leapt out of our chairs.
I heard Yudha choke on his breath. Tasha nearly burst out laughing. And me? My whole face was on fire, as if a spotlight was shining directly on me.
I froze. Dear God. Was this Saka Ardhananta, cold CEO of Manterra—or a runaway stand-up comedian?
One thing was clear: instead of feeling turned off, my heart was an absolute mess.
~~~
The ride from Nebula Creatives to Saka's house felt unusually long. Normally, it was just a regular route. But with Saka sitting in the seat beside me, time slowed into agonizing slow motion.
My hands gripped the hem of my blazer, desperately trying to muffle the thundering heartbeat that somehow sounded louder than the car engine.
It was as if God pressed the pause button just to maximize my awkwardness.
"Ayu…" Saka's voice broke the silence, low but clear.
I snapped my head toward him. "What?"
"Why are you avoiding me?"
What? Avoiding him? Since when did I do something that dramatic? If I were truly avoiding him, I would've booked an online motorbike and vanished—not sat here pretending to be calm.
"I'm not avoiding you. I'm perfectly fine."
He kept his gaze fixed on the road, voice calm yet cutting. "No. You've been quiet the whole time. You're uncomfortable, aren't you? Or… is it intentional?"
Intentional? What did he expect me to do—break into a dangdut dance in the passenger seat to prove otherwise? He was the one staying silent too!
Silence stretched again. Then, suddenly, he spoke.
"You… were you upset because I called you my future wife earlier?"
Crash. My heart plummeted twenty floors without a safety net.
"No. Who said I was upset?" My mouth moved faster than my brain.
Saka countered instantly, smooth yet sharp. "If you weren't upset… does that mean you're okay with being my future wife?"
I gawked. What kind of question was that? Out of all the things I expected to hear from Saka Ardhananta—cold CEO, my intimidating client, the nerd from high school—this one wasn't even on the list.
"What do you mean? Are you… trying to flirt?" I asked, half in disbelief.
Saka stiffened, eyes darting back to the road. "Who's flirting?" His voice faltered, betraying him.
"If it's not flirting, then why say that?" I pressed.
"I was just… joking," he muttered, still stumbling over his words.
I went silent.
Not because I was embarrassed. But because my chest felt too tight to hold in the ache.
I hated it. The fact that I believed every word for a split second.
The worst part wasn't his teasing—it was how my heart had already leapt into his arms, only for him to call it a joke.
It felt like being called on stage, only to realize the spotlight was for someone else.
And the most frustrating thing? The sting wasn't from embarrassment. It was from disappointment.
Since when did Saka Ardhananta's words hold so much power over me?
And since when… did I willingly give him that power?
~~~
The car finally rolled to a stop in front of Saka's house. I stepped out first, my gaze landing on the building—simple, yet undeniably elegant. There was a calm aura clinging to it, but also a strangeness that made my chest feel tight. Strange, considering I saw this house every single day—Saka's place was right across from mine.
Saka walked beside me, unlocking the door with his usual composure.
The moment we stepped inside, his voice cut through the silence.
"You're the first woman to ever enter my house," he murmured, almost as if it was a confession he had never dared to share with anyone else.
I froze, whipping my head toward him. His tone carried a sincerity too raw to be a joke, yet too tender to be called a flirt. My tongue felt heavy, useless. I chose silence—afraid that if I replied, he would brush it off as nothing more than a tease.
Saka let out a quiet sigh. For the briefest second, disappointment flickered in his eyes before he buried it deep again.
"Come on," he said at last, forcing a shift in the atmosphere. "Let's see which rooms would work best for the shoot."
I followed as he led me through the house—the living room, the lounge, his study, the bedroom, the kitchen, the backyard, even the balcony. He described each space in detail, pointing things out with the calm thoroughness of a realtor showing a property.
Honestly, I almost burst out laughing. If it weren't for the suffocating awkwardness, I would have said, "So, is this your house, or the IKEA catalog?"
"Sorry if it feels empty. I haven't had time to buy much furniture yet," he said earnestly as we stood in the lounge.
I just nodded. Why was he apologizing? Furnished or not, this was still his home. It wasn't mine to judge.
That was when I realized something—I hadn't taken a single note. The whole point of this visit was location scouting, yet my notebook remained untouched. I quickly dug it out of my bag, only to freeze again. My pen… I had left it in the meeting room earlier.
"Mr. Saka, do you have a pen?" I asked.
Before he could answer, another sound interrupted.
Meow. Meow.
A gray cat appeared, curling up obediently by his feet.
"Kiko, you're awake?" Saka crouched down, lifting the cat with a gentleness that made my heart stumble in my chest. A rare smile tugged at his lips—the kind of smile I had never seen on him before. "This is Kiko. He was sleeping in his cage under the stairs earlier."
I glanced toward where he pointed, spotting the small cage tucked in the shadows beneath the staircase.
Kiko meowed again, stretching lazily in Saka's arms. "Hungry? All right, let's get you some food," he said softly, then turned to me. "Oh—the pen's in my study drawer. You know where it is, right? Just go ahead and take it."
I hesitated. Why did he trust me that easily? Letting me step into his private workspace without a moment's doubt?
Shaking off the thought, I made my way to the study.
The moment I pushed the door open, the air was filled with the faint scent of paper and wood. The room was simple—just a desk, a chair, and piles of documents. Bare.
I pulled the drawer open and found the pen. But then my gaze snagged on something beside it—a small box. A jewelry box.
Curiosity overcame me. My hand trembled as I reached for it, lifting the lid with care.
Inside lay a silver bracelet. Not just any bracelet—its inner band bore an engraving.
Ayu.
My breath faltered. My mind swirled with questions. Why would Saka keep a bracelet with my name on it? Did he buy it for me? Or… had he been keeping it all this time?
Before I could process it, my eyes caught something else at the bottom of the drawer—a photograph. Carefully, I pulled it out.
The photo showed two teenagers in high school uniforms, grinning by the edge of a lake. The girl—me. The boy in glasses standing beside me—Saka Ardhananta.
The air punched out of my lungs. The jewelry box shook in my right hand, the photograph quivered in my left. The world seemed to stop spinning. Memories I thought had long since scattered came flooding back all at once.
"Ayu…"
The sound of my name shattered the silence.
I whipped around.
Saka stood in the doorway, his gaze locked on the bracelet and photo I was holding. The tension in the room thickened, heavy and inescapable.
I couldn't move. He didn't either—just watched me, as if waiting for me to speak… or for his own courage to break free.
And in that moment, I realized one thing with chilling clarity—there was no longer anywhere left to run.
~~~
The afternoon breeze swept across the backyard, cool and gentle. Yet inside my chest, the heat remained—my heartbeat pounding, restless, demanding to be heard.
For several minutes, we sat on the wooden chairs, drowning in silence. It wasn't an ordinary silence—it was the heavy kind, woven with unspoken words, old wounds, and the fear of what might shatter if we dared to speak.
I inhaled deeply, determined to break it. If I didn't, nothing would ever change.
"There's something I need to say," I spoke—at the exact same time as Saka.
We both froze, then let out a nervous laugh.
"You first," I urged, forcing a smile.
"No, you first. Ladies should go before gentlemen," he replied lightly, though his tone carried a hope that betrayed his calm.
I steadied myself. This needed to be clear. Today.
"Why do you have a bracelet with my name engraved on it?"
His breath caught. For a moment, he looked away before meeting my eyes again.
"I bought that bracelet years ago. I wanted to give it to you back then… but I never got the chance."
My chest tightened. "Why didn't you?"
"At graduation… I waited for you at the lake. You never came. So I took it home."
The words pierced me, tearing open memories I had buried too deep. That day… he had waited. And I had broken that promise.
I lowered my gaze. "I'm sorry… It was my fault."
Suddenly, his hand reached for mine, firm and warm. "Ayu, don't blame yourself anymore," he said softly.
"What happened back then might've been fate. But if fate tore us apart once… this time, I won't let it happen again."
His words left me trembling. I pulled my hand back, trying to anchor myself. "Saka… maybe it's impossible. We're too different—our families, our status… everything."
He stared at me as if he couldn't understand how differences could ever be chains. "Why would that matter? I don't care about wealth, or status, or names. I only care about you."
The words sank deep, but fear clawed harder. The memory of his father's disapproval, the forced separation—it was still fresh.
"Even if you think that way… what about your family? Would they accept us?" My voice wavered.
He exhaled sharply. "Your father once told me to stay away from you. What if he does it again? You've grown successful now—maybe he thinks you deserve someone… better."
My eyes stung. I hadn't even realized I was crying until tears slipped past my lashes.
Without hesitation, Saka pulled me into his arms. His embrace was tight, protective. His fingers brushed gently through my hair.
"Ayu… if I could choose my family, I'd choose to be born ordinary," he whispered.
"We don't get to choose family. But we do get to choose who we love. And I choose you—above everything else."
The dam inside me cracked. My sobs eased into shaky breaths. "Arda… I don't feel worthy. All my life I've been hurt, made to feel small."
"Don't think that way," he said firmly, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes. "You are worthy. Always. Maybe the people before weren't meant for you. But the one who is—will always find their way back, no matter how far they've gone."
His words unlocked something in me. A room I had long kept sealed creaked open, letting light spill through.
"I… I don't know how to respond," I whispered. "But thank you. For understanding me."
He grew serious then. "Ayu, I already know why you first came close to me—about that album. Zira told me everything. She's a good friend. She wanted me to know how you truly felt."
My eyes widened. "You knew?"
"Yes. And I was never angry. Because I believe you did like me. That so-called dare was just a shield, wasn't it? To hide what you really felt."
I looked down, embarrassed, only to feel his fingers lift my chin gently, forcing my gaze back to his.
"If I was passive then, let me be the one to chase you now," he said with a quiet intensity. "I won't wait on the sidelines anymore. I want to prove to you that I'm worthy."
I hesitated, logic whispering like a stubborn ghost. "What if your family rejects me? Cuts you off?"
He chuckled softly. "Then I'll build a new family—with you. And with our children someday."
I couldn't help the laugh that escaped. "You're ridiculous. Where did you learn to say things like that?"
"Honestly? The internet. It said girls like cheesy lines."
I rolled my eyes. "Well, I don't."
"Then what do you want from me?" he asked, genuinely curious.
I smiled faintly. "I want you. Just as you are. If you love me, then don't change—just be you."
Relief washed over his face. "Thank you, Ayu. For accepting me as I am."
"And thank you," I whispered back, "for making me feel… enough."
He straightened, determination burning in his gaze. "Starting tomorrow, I'll chase you. And this time, I won't let go."
I gasped when he suddenly lunged toward me as if to hug me again. Reflexively, I bolted from my chair.
"Catch me if you can!" I shouted over my shoulder.
He laughed, chasing after me. Our footsteps echoed across the yard, mixing with the rustling wind.
And in that moment—amidst our laughter, amidst the warmth—I felt it. The closing of one chapter, and the opening of another. Brighter. Braver. For the first time… love felt like a choice, not just destiny.
~~~
EPILOGUE ✨
Every child longs for recognition from their parents. I was no different.
Before the promotion exams in my second year of high school, I made a pact with my father: if I succeeded in entering the top science class, he would reward me with a gift of my choosing.
I had already decided. EXO's debut album—the ultimate treasure at the time. That promise became my fuel, my relentless reason to study until exhaustion. I wanted proof that effort, when poured with sincerity, would never betray its result.
The first day of the new semester finally came. My heart thundered as I walked toward the bulletin board, where Zira and Vey were already waiting. I pushed my way through the crowd, eyes racing for my name.
And then—I saw it. IPA 1.
I couldn't hold back the shout. "I got into Science 1!"
"No way, seriously?" Vey cheered, while Zira muttered something about also getting into the same class. The three of us ended up teasing, laughing, then hugging as though nothing else mattered.
But when I turned around, time froze.
My eyes met his.
Saka.
The quiet nerd who had, without permission, stolen my heart back in our first year.
We stared at each other in silence, as though the world had slipped into slow motion. My pulse raced uncontrollably. I offered the tiniest smile before fleeing with Zira and Vey, pretending nothing had happened.
Inside the classroom, Zira leaned close and whispered, "Ca, you like that bookworm, don't you?"
My chest jolted. Words failed me.
Her grin widened as she whispered again, this time with a mischievous challenge.
"I'll make you a deal. If you can get close to him for three months, I'll give you EXO's debut album. Isn't that the one you've been dying to own?"
I should have told her I no longer needed it—that Papa had already promised it as my prize. But instead, I nodded. I accepted the ridiculous bet without hesitation.
Maybe this was fate's way of giving me a chance.
Maybe this was how the universe intended for me to reach him.
That very day, I ended up sitting beside Saka. Our connection unfolded naturally—through nerdy stickers, small talk, and laughter that felt like it could last forever. Three months passed in a blur, and I stayed by his side. Even into senior year, even when we were placed in different classes.
The album eventually landed in my hands, but Zira never mentioned the bet again. It was as if she had sealed it away on purpose.
Years later, I finally learned the truth.
Zira had told Saka about the bet from the very beginning.
No wonder he had never asked.
He already knew. He had known everything, and still—he stayed.
At first, anger burned in me. I felt betrayed. But today, when I finally gathered the courage to ask her about it through a message, her reply was only one sentence:
"Too late, yet just in time."
The words struck me like a hidden code. I didn't fully understand then, but the more I thought about it, the clearer it became. Zira had always been the best kind of friend—the kind who never needed to say everything out loud. Quietly, secretly, she had been the matchmaker of my entire story.
Perhaps she knew far more about me and Saka than I ever did.
And perhaps… from the very beginning, this first love of mine was always meant to find its way back.