That afternoon at the office, Sarah was back to her routine after several days off work.
Mona patted Sarah's shoulder. Sarah was daydreaming at her desk. "Hey, Sarah! Why are you so lost in thought?"
Sarah flinched, startled by Mona's reprimand. Caressing her chest, she replied, "Oh, Mona, you just startled me. I wasn't daydreaming."
"Pretending, or trying to be a little liar, Sarah? You clearly jumped just now. If you don't mind me asking, what's on your mind? Your face looks so gloomy." Mona immediately sat next to Sarah.
"No, Mona. I'm fine, you're just too curious!" Sarah replied, turning her back to Mona.
"Come on, Sarah, share your story with me," Mona pleaded hopefully.
Then Sarah explained, "Honestly, Mona, there's nothing I need to tell you. You know yourself, if there's something, you're the first person I tell. I'm just still imagining the face of the young man who helped me the other day. The more I try to remember, the blurrier his face gets."
Mona chuckled at her friend's explanation. "So, you're still thinking about that young man, huh?"
Sarah couldn't help but be drawn in by Mona's question. "But, even though I can barely picture his face, I vividly remember the necklace with the light blue pendant. Its shape and design are very clear in my memory."
"You're really observant, Sarah, when it comes to noticing something special. I didn't even notice if the young man was wearing a necklace or not," Mona said.
Suddenly, a young man approached Sarah and Mona, who were engrossed in their conversation. He wanted to join their chat. "Wow! Your conversation sounds really fun. Can I sit down and join in?"
The young man asked about Sarah's condition, as she had just returned to work. "How are you, Sarah? Are you feeling better now?"
"I'm fine, sir. Thank you for asking about my condition."
"Ah, Sarah! What nonsense are you talking about? It's only right that I care about my subordinates' condition," replied Mr. Albert, who turned out to be Sarah and Mona's boss.
"Mr. Albert is so thoughtful," Mona teased, chuckling and glancing at Sarah.
Sarah lowered her head, then stuck out her tongue at Mona.
Mr. Albert asked, merely as a formality, "Oh, by the way, would you two like to have lunch with me? It's lunchtime, coincidentally. If you'd like, let's have lunch at the restaurant across from our office!"
"Sorry, Mr. Albert, I don't have an appetite for anything right now," Sarah replied, glancing at Mona who was still beside her. Then Sarah continued, "Perhaps Mona would like to accompany you for lunch, sir."
Mona, who was beside Sarah, immediately glared and curled the corner of her lips.
"Besides, I already ate the snack I brought from home," Sarah said, giving an excuse.
"Come on, Sarah, when else can we have lunch with our handsome and kind director?" Mona teased, starting to pull Sarah's arm.
However, Sarah seemed to stick to her guns. She wouldn't budge from her seat. "I'm sorry, Mr. Albert, maybe some other time we can have lunch," Sarah said, freeing Mona's grip on her arm.
"Okay! No problem, I can have lunch with the others. I'll leave now!" exclaimed Mr. Albert.
"Oh, Sarah, how could you refuse his offer? He's not only a young director, but also kind and handsome. If I were you, I wouldn't refuse," Mona grumbled.
"Sorry, Mona, but I don't feel anything for him. Besides, I haven't thought about things like dating or having a boyfriend. Oh, whatever, why do you keep pressing me? The important thing is, please help me find the identity of the young man who helped me," said Sarah, still thinking about her rescuer.
"Good heavens! So you're still thinking about that young man, huh?" Mona teased, chuckling.
"It's not like that, I haven't had a chance to thank him. Anyway, I still owe him my life. And besides, my parents also want to meet him," Sarah explained.
"Well, maybe that's a sign for you, Sarah!" Mona teased even more.
"Huff! What kind of sign do you mean, Mona?" Sarah asked curiously. "Oh, whatever, you're getting more and more ridiculous, Mona. The important thing for me right now is for you to help me find that young man's identity, period!" Sarah pleaded.
"Okay, roger that, princess!" Mona replied, with her palm tilted to her forehead in a salute.
They both laughed cheerfully, so much so that their colleagues around them turned to look at them.
Night was getting deeper. Samson was lying on his bed. Suddenly his phone rang; it was Zack calling. Samson clicked the answer button and greeted, "Hello, Zack, can I help you with something, calling me this late at night?"
"I'm sorry, Sam!" Zack replied. Then Zack continued, "I forgot to tell you, do you have a moment to come to my place tonight? All our colleagues have already come to my house; we're discussing a plan to collaborate on opening a pub."
"Oh really?" Samson exclaimed, getting up from his bed.
Then Zack explained, "That's right, Sam! I and the others have agreed on everything we've planned. We're just waiting for you to join us. Whether you agree or not is your decision later. We just hope you'll participate in this collaboration." Zack paused for a moment, then continued, "Instead of our money running out while we haven't found a permanent job, it's better if we make it shared capital, and we'll share the profits together. What do you think?"
Samson enthusiastically replied, "Wow, brilliant idea! I totally agree, Zack, I really agree with your collaboration plan. Okay! Wait for me, Zack, I'm coming to your place right now." Samson grabbed his leather jacket, then left his room.
As Samson passed through the living room, his father and mother were engrossed in watching television. Vivian was also beside her mother, tinkering with her phone.
Seeing Samson about to leave, his father asked, "Sam, where are you going this late at night?"
Samson replied, still walking, "I'll only be a moment, Dad. I'm going to Zack's house; we have something to discuss."
Mrs. Cindy, who was absorbed in watching television, interjected, "Can't it wait until tomorrow afternoon, Sam?"
Samson answered casually, "No, Mom. I have to go there tonight!" After saying that to his mother, Samson stepped out of the house.
"Just let him go, Dad, Mom! Samson isn't a child anymore, and besides, Samson is brave!" Vivian chimed in from beside her mother.
Samson just shrugged off his younger sister's remark.
"Alright, Sam. Be careful on your way, the weather isn't good right now!" His mother reminded him.
"Okay, Mom, Dad. Don't worry, I'll be careful on the way," Samson replied from the doorway.
"I'm not too worried about you, Sam! You're a hero, so what's there to worry about? Right?" Vivian's remark became even more cynical toward Samson.
But Samson had already walked far out of the house, so he only faintly heard his younger sister's remark.
"Shut your mouth, Vivian!" his father snapped. "What nonsense are you talking about? Why are you always so cynical towards your brother?"
"Just let it be!" Vivian replied, walking toward her room. Her father and mother just shook their heads.
Upon arriving at Zack's house, Samson immediately joined his colleagues. They shook hands.
Zack's wife also greeted Samson, "Hey, Sam! Did you just get here?"
"Yeah, Deby! I just heard from Zack," Samson replied, sitting among his colleagues.
"Oh, Zack! Why did you just tell Samson this late?" his wife asked.
Zack just grinned and replied, "I'm sorry, Sam! I messed up. I thought you wouldn't agree to our collaboration plan."
"No problem, Zack. Don't worry too much about trivial things," replied Samson, who was ready to listen to his colleagues' plans.
Then Zack explained the details of his plan to Samson.
After listening to all of Zack's detailed explanations, Samson nodded in agreement and said, "I totally agree, Zack. So, when are we going to start, Zack?"
"If there are no obstacles, we'll start next month," Zack replied. Zack paused for a moment, then continued, "Regarding the lack of capital, I'll ask my uncle for help; he'll definitely assist us."
All those present raised their thumbs, a sign that the discussion had concluded smoothly.
"Alright then, since it's getting late, we'll take our leave," Samson said.
Tom, Ferdy, and Hendri also bid farewell to Zack.
"Okay! When the time comes, I'll let all of you know," Zack said.
Ferdy, Hendri, and Tom went in the same direction on their way home, as their houses weren't too far apart. Samson, however, took his own direction, as his house was opposite the others. Still on his way home, Samson faintly heard someone screaming for help.