THE CEO'S SWEETHEART

In a luxurious residential complex at Kemang Residence, a young man named Farez Keil was seen standing in front of a large mirror in his private bedroom. Wearing a dark blue shirt paired with formal black trousers, he looked neat and ready to attend his high school reunion from SMA Cipta Nusantara. His handsome face, adorned with a faint smile, showed a rare sense of enthusiasm.

After making sure his hair was neatly styled, Farez grabbed his car keys and wristwatch from the table. His steps were firm as he walked toward the door. He passed through the spacious and elegant living room, furnished with a soft cream colored sofa and an expensive Persian carpet. However, his steps halted when he heard his father’s voice, Mr. Deron.

“Farez, sit down for a moment. There’s something your mother and I want to talk about,” said Mr. Deron in a serious tone.

Farez let out a soft sigh, clearly unwilling to get into a long conversation right now.

“Dad, I’m in a hurry. If it’s important, can we talk about it later?”

Mrs. Ester, who was sitting beside her husband, interrupted,

“No, Farez. This is very important. Sit down for a moment.”

Reluctantly, Farez glanced at his wristwatch before finally complying. He dropped himself onto the soft sofa in front of his parents, wearing an unwilling expression.

“What is it, Dad, Mom? I have a reunion to attend, and I don’t have much time. I definitely don’t want to be late,” said Farez, crossing his arms over his chest.

Mr. Deron took a deep breath, clearly trying to choose his words carefully.

“This Saturday, clear your schedule. I want to introduce you to a girl.”

Farez immediately frowned.

“What do you mean? Which girl?”

Mrs. Ester added,

“She’s the daughter of your father’s close friend. She’s a good, intelligent girl and suitable for you. We want you to meet her.”

Farez narrowed his eyes, a sign that he was starting to lose his patience.

“Mom, Dad, are you serious? I’ve already said I don’t want an arranged marriage! I can find my own future wife.”

“You always say that, but what’s the result?” Mr. Deron replied firmly.

“How many times have you promised to take marriage seriously, but I’ve never seen any proof? This Saturday, you must be at home!”

“Dad, this is my life! I decide who will be my wife!” Farez snapped, raising his voice.

Mrs. Ester tried to calm the situation.

“Farez, listen first. We only want what’s best for you. We’ve known this girl for a long time. She will guide you to a better path.”

“But I don’t need your choice, Mom, Dad! This is my life, not yours!” Farez stood up, his gaze sharp toward his father.

However, Mr. Deron did not back down.

“I don’t care. This Saturday, you must be at home. Don’t embarrass us!”

Farez clenched his fists, holding back his anger. Without saying anything else, he walked quickly out of the living room, leaving his parents who could only look at each other.

Once he reached the garage, he got into his black sports car, started the engine roughly, and sped off. On his way to the reunion venue, his mind was filled with anger.

“Why can’t they ever trust me?” Farez muttered, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

On the other hand, his desire to attend the reunion with his high school friends remained, although his excitement had faded. For him, this reunion was a chance to reminisce about his school days filled with memories.

Farez continued driving his black sports car through the streets of Jakarta at a fairly high speed. The morning air still felt fresh, and although he was slightly upset after the heated conversation with his parents, he tried to shift his focus to the reunion.

“It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen them,” he muttered while glancing at the rearview mirror.

He hoped the reunion would be a joyful moment where he could reminisce about his high school days with his old friends. There was also a bit of curiosity, had everyone changed, or were they still the same as before?

However, his hope of arriving early began to fade when he saw a line of vehicles stuck on the toll road. Jakarta that morning was not kind.

“Ugh, traffic again,” Farez complained, tapping the steering wheel in frustration.

He then opened the navigation app on his car screen, searching for an alternative route. But as usual, Jakarta’s traffic offered little choice. Farez could only sigh deeply while playing music in the car.

After nearly thirty minutes stuck in traffic, the vehicles ahead began to move slowly. But a new problem arose. Suddenly, his car felt tilted to one side.

“What now?” Farez pulled over to the shoulder of the road and got out to check. He saw that the front right tire was flat.

“Great. Today is really not my day,” he grumbled, running his hand through his hair.

Fortunately, Farez noticed a small workshop not far from where he had stopped. Carefully, he drove his car to the workshop. Once he arrived, a middle aged man in a mechanic’s uniform approached him.

“Good morning, Sir. How can I help you?” the mechanic asked kindly.

“My front right tire is flat. Can you replace it?” Farez said, trying to keep his tone calm despite his irritation.

“Of course, Sir. Please park over there,” the mechanic said, pointing to a designated area.

Farez nodded and drove his car to the indicated spot. He got out and stood beside his car, watching the mechanic begin his work.

“How long will it take?” Farez asked, hoping for a quick process.

“If it’s just replacing the tire, about twenty minutes, sir. But this tire needs to be replaced with a new one, and we have to install it properly, so it might take around thirty to forty minutes,” the mechanic explained.

Farez let out a long sigh.

“Alright, please be quick. I have an important event.”

The mechanic nodded and got to work immediately. Farez walked to the simple waiting area and sat on one of the plastic chairs. He glanced at his watch, hoping time would pass faster.

While waiting, Farez opened his phone and checked the reunion group chat. The group was filled with enthusiastic messages from friends who had already arrived.

Joseph :“Bro, I’m already here. The place is awesome!”

Arnold :“Come on, Farez! We’re all waiting for you.”

Farez :“My tire went flat. I’m at a workshop right now. I’ll be late, but I’ll definitely come.”

His message immediately received several replies.

Arnold :“Ha-ha-ha, classic Farez! There’s always some drama with you.”

Joseph :“Take it easy, Farez. What matters is that you show up.”

Farez smiled faintly, slightly amused by his friends’ jokes. But deep down, he was still annoyed about being late to an event he had been looking forward to.

After nearly forty minutes, the mechanic approached him.

“Sir, your tire has been replaced. Please check it,” the mechanic said politely.

Farez stood up and walked to his car. The new tire was installed neatly.

“Thank you. How much is it?”

The mechanic mentioned the amount, and Farez paid using his debit card. After that, he got back into his car and continued his journey to the reunion.

Although the road was smoother now, Farez knew he would arrive later than planned.

“Well, I hope they haven’t started yet,” he murmured while increasing his speed.

Along the way, his mind drifted back to his high school days. He remembered joking around with Joseph in class, or how Arnold was always the center of attention at school events. He also recalled the beautiful moments he had shared with his friends, making those days so meaningful.

However, there was one girl whose name still lingered in his heart. Farez hoped he would meet the woman of his dreams at the reunion.

After nearly an hour’s drive from the workshop, Farez finally arrived at the reunion venue. The elegant rooftop restaurant with a stunning view of Jakarta looked beautiful from a distance. He parked his car, adjusted his shirt, and walked in with slight nervousness.

As he entered, laughter and lively chatter greeted him. Farez saw many familiar faces he once knew. Some of his friends immediately waved at him.

“Farez! You finally made it!” Joseph exclaimed as he approached him.

“Sorry I’m late. My tire went flat earlier,” Farez replied, shaking his hand.

“Ah, no problem. What matters is you’re here,” Joseph said, patting his shoulder.

“Is everyone already here?” Farez asked, glancing around.

“Most of them are. Come on, I’ll reintroduce you to some people you might not have seen in a long time,” Arnold said, pulling Farez into the crowd.

Despite all the obstacles that morning, Farez was finally able to enjoy the reunion with his friends. Deep inside, he was grateful to still have the chance to meet them and relive the beautiful memories of his high school days at SMA Cipta Nusantara. Farez was determined to forget all the frustration he had felt earlier and fully enjoy the day.