In the apartment room, Ethan lay on the bed, staring blankly at his phone screen. Gabriel had dropped him off half an hour ago. He immediately took a warm shower and changed into more comfortable loungewear. Whenever Ethan wasn’t busy with work, his overthinking tendencies would take over. When someone is dealing with a heavy situation or complex thoughts, the brain automatically looks for an escape route.
“Why hasn’t she contacted me again?” Ethan muttered to himself.
His fingers tapped on Inka’s WhatsApp profile, enlarging the picture to get a closer look. Her profile photo was of a tiny cactus in a terrarium. Ethan wondered—did she like plants? Why wouldn’t Inka use a photo of her own face? Most 24-year-old women still enjoyed showing off and seeking validation, didn’t they? The last time Inka had sent him a text was to invite him to dinner, and that felt like ages ago.
“Maybe she’s busy. But come on, I’m the CEO of Fast Cargo. I should be busier than her. How busy could she possibly be that she can’t send me a message?”
Ethan’s ego was bruised, feeling as though Inka had abandoned him. Amidst all the chaos of running a company, he still managed to find time to date Rica and play billiards with his friends. So, the “busy” excuse didn’t sit well with Ethan. Time management was something he excelled at, after all.
The apartment’s doorbell rang, but Ethan didn’t immediately get up from the bed. He feared it might be Bella. For a while, he stayed in place, reluctant to open the door. When the bell stopped ringing, Ethan finally decided to check who might be at his door.
He left his room and glanced at the intercom. His eyes widened in surprise—it was Inka, standing at his door. Without hesitation, Ethan opened it, a broad smile spreading across his face as their eyes met.
“What’s up, Ka?”
“I came to return this. Your watch was left at my place. I didn’t realize it before because it was hidden behind a flower cup set.” Inka held up a small paper bag.
It must have been left behind when Ethan was washing dishes. He remembered taking it off and placing it away to avoid splashes from the sink. Suddenly, he regretted forgetting about it. If only he’d remembered earlier, he would’ve had a reason to visit Inka’s apartment again.
Ethan accepted the watch with a nod. “Thanks. You didn’t have to go out of your way to bring it here. You could’ve just told me, and I would’ve picked it up myself.”
Inka shook her head lightly. “I only noticed it earlier. I was going to text you, but I had guests at my place. He is a bit sensitive around others, so I thought it’d be easier if I came here.”
“Who?” Ethan didn’t hold back, curious to know who could be visiting Inka at this hour.
“Family,” Inka replied calmly. “Good night. I’ll head back now.” She turned to leave.
If it had been Rica, Ethan wouldn’t have hesitated to chase after her. But Inka was different, and he struggled to understand her. Ethan knew that being too forward would make Inka uncomfortable. Their relationship could become strained, forcing him to start over again.
“Ka!” he called out.
She hadn’t walked far. Inka turned slowly, and Ethan approached her. Whether it was Rica or Inka, he didn’t want to lose either of them. Both were equally important to him. Inka stopped and looked at Ethan as he now stood in front of her.
“Can’t we be more than this? You said you weren’t dating anyone. So what do I have to do for you to stop being so cold toward me? I thought we were close,” Ethan said, gripping Inka’s shoulders, pouring out his feelings.
Inka blinked for a moment, observing the frustration etched on Ethan’s face. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I just can’t.” Inka gently pushed his hands away from her shoulders.
***
After the rejection, Ethan buried himself in work. Occasionally, he still met Rica, but otherwise, he spent most of his time alone. Not much had changed in his life—he was still Ethan Allan Saputra, the professional, hard-working, and reliable CEO of Fast Cargo.
Time flew when he focused on work, and soon, the company’s anniversary celebration arrived. The hotel ballroom was bustling with guests, most of whom were company executives, with a few well-known celebrities from the capital city.
“Sir, it’s time to cut the tumpeng,” Gabriel said.
Ethan handed the drink he’d been holding to his secretary. He rose from his seat, adjusted his blazer, and walked to the stage, trying to stay composed despite his inner turmoil. Rejected! How could someone as accomplished as him be outright rejected like that? The memory of Inka’s rejection still stung every time it resurfaced in his mind.
The sound of applause accompanied Ethan’s steps toward the stage. He smiled warmly at all the guests. Speaking confidently to a large audience was second nature to him, and tonight, he was in control. The room fell silent as Ethan stood at the podium.
“Before I start my speech, I’d like to apologize for my appearance tonight. Forgive me if I look sleepy—it’s because I have naturally droopy eyes. Yes, I’m Chinese.”
Ethan began with a lighthearted joke. Laughter erupted at his final remark. He deliberately wanted to make the event less formal. Tonight, he stood on this grand stage, with thousands of eyes on him, as the host of the evening. It was his duty to entertain the guests.
“Chinese from my mom’s side, but I don’t speak Mandarin because I spent a long time in the U.S. But what’s more important? My face or my speech? Of course, it’s the speech.” Ethan smiled again.
“You’re handsome, though!” a woman’s voice called out from the crowd.
“Handsome!”
“Thank you.” Ethan nodded once in acknowledgment. “Have you ever imagined what this company would be like without all of you? Without the creative designers, the brilliant programmers, the skilled marketers, and the ever-reliable staff? The answer is simple—Fast Cargo would be nothing. So let’s give a big round of applause for ourselves.”
Ethan joined the applause, celebrating the anniversary of Fast Cargo, a company he had led for less than two years. With his brilliant mind, he had implemented numerous innovations. No one dared to underestimate his young age anymore.
“As Albert Einstein once said, ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge.’ Tonight, I invite you all to use your imagination to envision a bright future for our company—a future where we achieve greater milestones, win prestigious awards, and contribute even more to society. As the CEO of Fast Cargo, I extend my deepest gratitude for our strong teamwork. May our company continue to thrive. Happy anniversary, Fast Cargo, and congratulations to us all.”
The applause grew even louder, with some guests giving a standing ovation. The ceremonial tumpeng was brought forward, and Ethan was handed a plastic knife for the first slice.
Amid the evening’s euphoria, his gaze fell on a table occupied by Fast Cargo’s top executives. Unintentionally, he spotted something he had never imagined before. It was beyond comprehension. His smile slowly turned stiff. At that moment, Ethan understood why he had been feeling uneasy and restless for days. The answer was waiting for him, and he’d ask about it as soon as he stepped off the stage.