strangers.

Lying on the bed, sniffing her own hair scent, she goes through her black phone. Her eyes scanning every single message that were sent to her. It’s all from the service provider, trying to get into her pocket somehow, that’s what she thinks. No message from any friends, nothing. Did she have friends? How boring life is for Sarah, 23 years old lady which trying hard to support her own life. Her eyes keep blinking. “I want to sleep at midnight like other people did.” That’s what going on her mind right now. The insomnia will keep her up until four am, and she needs to wake up before 7 in the morning.  Her job won’t be waiting for her, few minutes late. She might get fired on the spot, another nightmare she do not want to add in her complicated life.

If counting sheep work out on her, she would not be taking the pills but sleeping pills are only for day off, when she can sleeps soundly without worrying about the world. The clock keeps tickling. 15 minutes pass and she get up from her bed and go to washroom. The mirror reflects her face. Her tiny face is smiling at the mirror. The dark circles which resulted from the sleepless nights showing too much. The water running down into the sinks become the music, and she starts to cut down her hair that has become too long for her. The silky black hair will reminds her of her bad old days. She wants to cut off the feelings and the connection to the old days. The tears come out along with the fallen hair. You are not the old Sarah anymore. You are the strong one right now, nobody can hurt you now.

Egg and cheese would be nice for breakfast. She goes through the freezer which is taller than her, trying to pick up some ice from the upper part of the freezer.

“Ice coffee for breakfast?” A girl named Rasha mutters in her morning face. No need to tell, she is sparkling beautiful with her blue eyes. I wonder if her parents got some Caucasian blood or you know there is something a disease called …….. And those babies got blue eyes too. But I will just put my judgment in my own drawer, no need to tell anybody. If you are thinking why I do not ask her myself more about here, I just do not want to. Do not want to attach to anyone, because I may hurt them and they might hurt me too. Less affection less hurts, that’s what my motto reads.

“Yeah. Just want to try something difference today,” for that sweet girl’s sake, I’m smiling which I did not do to anyone else.

“You know what, you just smile to me,” she claims happily. I head to the sink and put down my cup.

“Since I’m smiling, can you help me with the dishes? I’m running late for the work.” I grabbed my motorcycle key and put on my backpack.

“Have a good day Hani.”  Hani? That is my second name, sounds like honey right? No, I’m not you sweet cutie pie, you absolutely don’t want to deal with me except for my works.

“Hey bro.” Ash calling me from the reception desk, I look at him with a stern face.

“Morning dude.”  I am busy tying my sneakers when some girls bumping into me and not even saying sorry. Am I invincible or what? Keeping my track, I go the reception table and say hi to another receptionist called Maria.

“Mar, anything to do for now?” Maria smiles upon me and shakes her head and offering me to seat in the corner. You know what I do for living? Running errands for people in this office. To be exact, the fourth floor workers in this accounting department.  This is my tenth job since I left home. I did so many part times until Rasha got me this one, the longest one I can stay with for now. An office girl or people will always call me office boy instead because I’m not a lady type man are chasing for to be sure.

“Here your jobs come.” Coffee and breakfast errands again I guess? Yeah, a list of what type of coffee I should buy and some waffles. Oh so not countrified, so westernize this floor people.

“I will be back soon.” I rushed to downstairs using the staircase and bumping into someone again when I try to open the door at the first floor and the door kind of blows my head nicely. I fall on someone feet. What a bad day Sarah.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s okay.” I just head out without trying to figure out whose shoes I have smelled to in the past six seconds. I ran off to a coffee store nearby.

Handing the list that I brought to a boy at the counter I head to a chair to sit down while rubbing my head. A bad start of the day.

“Miss. Your order is done,” said a boy in blue shirt from the corner of the counter. I walk up to counter and trying to remember if I know that face. No match at all, I have been coming here for four months and I never seen him before. A part timer maybe, what I would care.

“Harris, let me,” the boy insisted to help me with my paying ritual. You can call something a ritual right; I did these six out of seven days in a week. It’s a ritual for me.

“You cut your hair.” What? Is he a stalker? Not a chance. This man standing in front of me has a pair of beautiful eyes which people can drown in them but I don’t.

Keeping my face like a cool man, I said. “Oh yes, I hope it didn’t bother anyone. Not like anyone cares.” Oh I sounds o pathetic there.

Mocha for a cute customer like you.” The boy smiles and handed me the remainders.

“Cute is a harsh word for me. But thanks for the coffee.” I headed out. Free drinks? I never get one before. Maybe because I keep coming every day, and they noticed me and want to give me some benefit from visiting their café. Oh people and their offers and complicated sometimes.

“Here we go.” I headed to the boss room, Mr. Andy, the fat old boss. In his late forty and he keeps busy ordering people around except me, because I know nothing to benefit him. I can only do simple errands like this.

“The tare for you. As always.” I put the hot cup on this table with some mackerel sandwich. His favorite breakfast.

“Green tea for Ana.” “Cappuccino for Alia.”  And the list goes one until the last person.

“I’m sorry that you guys always be the last one. My treat this time.” I’m handing two cups of iced tea for Maria and Ash.

“Thanks beauty,” Ash said. His smile never dies, I felt like he never have bad days in his life.

“By the way, you cut your hair.” Maria snatching the cap I have been wearing the entire morning run.

“Oh you noticed.”

“We.” Ash wants to put his remarks on this conversation too.

“Weird?” the reflection from my phone makes me looks like some troubled kid in the town. Oh I cut it wrongly; I supposed to cut it straight, but it become wrong. That’s why people don’t cut hair at early morning Sarah.

“No. I can say cute,” Ash comments strike again.

“If you want to flutter me, you failed boy.” I take some steps to bathroom, I need sometime alone. Those people that notice me, those people who do not. I would not classify them into classes, they are same. They are human being like me. They got their own judgment, I will live with mine.

Irham still watching the girl, the same girl he has been watching this morning. Looks like she got another errand to do, but this order is just for two. Her boyfriend? She knows that this girl have been coming to his café all this time, for time counted, bout three months and 20 days.  Alisa which the worker attended to her smile gracefully and talks to her. Friendly to her, but not to me. Maybe she just doesn’t like boys, but she smiled to Harris just now.

“Boss. Are you not going back? It’s already past six,” Harris said. He already changes into his informal clothes.

“Are you leaving? Let me sent you home.”  I offer since his home is just near to mine.

“I can just…”

“No argument. My car fits bunch of people.” I headed to the front door and say bye to Alisa. The girl in the plaid shirt is not giving any chance for me to see her face; she is just standing there watching Alisa doing her work. She is so engrossed in her phone, not trying to steal a look at me, at all cost.

“Am I not handsome?” Harris laughs at my sudden question. I opened the key to the door.

“You are. But why are you asking such a question boss?”  He keeps laughing while saying that, it hurts.

“You, stop laughing and get out of my car.” I push him out of my car and he say goodnight. How sweet is that? The back of a guy walking to his home made me stop from thinking what happened just now. Harris is such a good kid, trying all his mighty to be responsible for his family which I don’t have to do. I hit the accelerator as soon as his little sister opens the door for him. I need to get some rest today.