Love Business

The morning is just like usual; early wake up after a long Sunday at the office, body aching, blurry eyes, hair flings like a duck's tail and a deep sigh from that lips.

How I wish I could skip today! He murmurs by himself.

Zee slowly gliding from the big bed, dragging his lazy legs towards the bathroom after grabbing a towel from the rack. He stares at his reflection in the mirror.

"Is that a grey hair?" Zee leans closer to the mirror, swiping his long hair to check. Then, he sighs again, smacking his sunken cheek to wake him up.

"Ah... I'm getting old..." Zee whines bitterly. He's not whining about his aching body, physically he just feel tired. The main concern for him right now is his heart. He feels empty, as if a hollow build up inside his heart. Sometimes, he wonders, how he mamaged to survive this world with that.

Leaving the thoughts behind, knowing it won't beneficial for him, he enters the shower and continues with his morning routine as usual.

***

"Cè Yim, good morning..." Zee casually greets the house maid while checking his bag, ready to leave the house.

"Morning, nong... Breakfast is ready!" the kind lady flashes her smile.

"Is Ylang wake up already?" Zee asks.

"Nong Ylang just left to the campus..." Yim replies. "But your father is having a breakfast downstairs, if you mind joining him..."

Zee gives Yim a bitter smile. She knew the relationship between them is like walking on the eggshells. They never meet eyes in anything, even after they manage a business together. Things are always clashing between them.

"Fine. I still have some time before college," Zee replies, finally submit to the fate. Nothing is harmful if he allows a room for his father to bond, anyway.

Whilst hearing that,Yim nods, dismisses herself quickly so she can prepare a room for one more person at the dining table. It's a rare case for Zee to join the family especially during meal time. She better hurry up, who knows maybe that young man might change his mind later.

As Zee hops down, his heart churns. A sight at the dining table isn't sometimes that he expected to see at this early hour. A girl straddle on the top of Zee's father, shamelessly making out with him. Annoying giggles could be heard from Zee's spot, making him losing appetite immediately.

"Oh, Zee... Leaving to college?" Nan subtly pushes the girl away from him and stretches his neck, looking at Zee with no remorse or shameful with his indecent act.

Instead of replying to him, Zee just gives a brief nod, leaving in hurry towards his car. As soon as he enters the car, he lets a huge sigh of frustration escapes from his lips. His forehead entwines, a frustrated feeling that he can't hide.

That girl, Zee never sees her before. Maybe someone new. It's a normal thing for Nan to switch partners; every months. Just like how he changes his golf club, that's how he changed women. This happened a long time ago, even before Zee's mother got sick.

Thought he will changed, but looks like he won't... Zee murmurs alone. He starts the engine as he never wishes to stay any longer at the house.

***

"I'm gonna be late but not too late, so start everything without me," says Zee.

"Fine. We'll start first. Go and finish your business," Ta replies calmly at the other side of the call. After the call ends, Zee quickly makes another phone call. Only by one ring, the other person picks up.

"Sorry hia.. I should told you before I left the house but you sleep like a log, so I won't dare knocking your door," Ylang apologetic voice fills the entire spot in the car as Zee calmly steering the wheel.

"Text me next time. My eyes almost got blind..." Zee replies as he listens to Ylang laughing at him.

"Is she half naked or–"

"Don't care if she is shamelessly naked or what! Her act was enough to tell everyone what kind of girl she is," Zee being straightforward is so him. Ylang did expected her brother will pointing out that.

"Ah... You sound quite mad, hia..."

"More like shameful with Pa. How could he do that to himself anyway?" Zee slams his head a bit against the fabric of his car seat.

"Well, we don't know what's in his mind, hia. Maybe he feels lonely. This is his coping mechanism," says Ylang.

"Coping mechanism... Hah... He even acts like this before Ma got sick. How dare he said that he is lonely!" the voice is getting harsher and angrier. Ylang sighs as she knew her brother is right. But, there's nothing they can do as he is an adult with sane mind.

"I'll talk to him when I have a chance. Now, tell me... Did you found the shop yet?" Ylang's inquiry makes Zee focus back to the road. He was driving in an unfamiliar street, looking for a flower shop that Ylang mentioned before.

"Yes. According to Maps, the shop will be at the left, after this building–"

Zee slammed his foot on a brake pedal when a boy, about five years old suddenly falls in front of the building that he passed by. He is this close to hit the boy. From inside the car, he can see him crying, and a girl about the same age rushing out to help him.

"Hia? What's going on?"

"Ylang, talk to you later!" Zee cuts the call and dashing out of the car, running towards those two little children.

"Are you okay? Why are you playing at the road? It's dangerous!" Zee almost scold the boy big time, but looking at his pity eyes, he calm himself down.

"I just arrive at the kindergarten... I'm late today because my mom got ill and dad needs to send her to the hospital. He asked my uncle to drop me here..." the boy explained in a weak voice.

Zee feels sorry for the boy. He looks at the girl who accompany him. The girl checks on the boy as if she's really worry about him.

"Are you his friend?" asks Zee. The chubby cheek girl nods.

"No! Actually.. she is my girlfriend..."

"Since when I became you girlfriend, huh?" the girl smacks the boy's shoulder, making him whine in pain.

"You know I like you! Why don't you just accept it?" the boy pouts. Zee slowly feels amused by the childish drama.

"You're not my type!"

"I can be your type anytime!"

Those words make Zee feels like being hit by dejavu. Upon hearing those bickering, his memory reminds him of someone that he longed now. Watching these kids bickering reminds him on how he first hit on her.

He couldn't help but wonder how life is going on for the person.

A bell sound suddenly blasts, making Zee back to his feet.

"Let's get up fast. The school is about to start," says Zee. The girl helps the boy standing on his feet, brushing away dirts from his clothes.

"Thank you, uncle..." They both bow down as Zee shakes his head and smile.

"It's fine. Now, go!" Zee releases them inside, waiting until those children disappear from his sight before running back to his car.

***

As soon as the car pass by, Shu turns her head to watch it for the last time. A smile form on her face as she remembers the kindness gesture from him just now.

"That uncle... He looks like a good person..." Shu says to her friend. The boy glares at her, pouting his lips a bit.

"You just know him five minutes ago and you already praises him?" the boy voices out his disappointment. Shu glares at him, letting the boy stands back to his feet.

"I just pointing out his kindness, that's all!"

"Don't praise him! I'm jealous!"

"Don't be silly! You're not my boyfriend!"

"I want to be your boyfriend!"

"Ma said no boyfriend until I'm forty!"

"I can wait! Even for hundred years!"

Shu shakes her head in disbelief. She leaves the boy alone in front of the entrance as she casually enters her class.

"Shu!!" The boy chases her from behind.

***

Zee climbs the stairs quickly, he can even hear his short breath pumping out of his lungs. He was ten minutes late than the schedule. That's why, he speed up towards the BBA students council's mobile room.

"Why are you guys still in here?" Upon seeing the medic team, Zee asks them with a stern voice.

"We are suppose to be there at nine, Senior..."

"Did you read the new tentative? We post it yesterday! You guys should be there at eight a.m sharp!" Zee crosses his hand and giving the medic team a horrid stare.

The medic team quickly checks the schedule and once they realize the mistake, they quickly prepare for the orientation day.

"I can't believe neither one of you alert with the update! You should be more responsible!" Zee scolds them in fury.

"We're sorry, Senior Zee..."

"Enough of that. Let's go now! We're fifteen minutes late!" Zee quickly opens the door, ushers them to the Auditorium 3. He opens the door hastily and without a second thought, he screams for his arrival.

"Here I am!"

The sight in front of him... It is something unexpected. His mind stuck as he was recall how he misses the person so much just now.

And here she is, standing in front of him.