"Bastian!?!!!"


    Lisa shrieked in shock when she saw the man who was none other than her office mate. Her head was shaking nervously, hoping that it was just an illusion from her mind. But that man with neatlybed back straight hair was really Bastian. Lisa still couldn''t believe the figure she was seeing right now.


    The man stirred his coffee cup while inhaling the fragrant aroma. He closed his eyes, enjoying the aroma of sugarless coffee. A sweet smile bloomed on his thin lips. No wonder this man didn''t drink sugar with coffee. Just look at his smile!


    "So, you turned out to be one of the many women that my mother introduced. I didn''t think that Sis Lisa was one of them!" Bastian chuckled then took a sip of his coffee. His face was grinning from behind the cup while his eyes stared at Lisa''s confused face with an amused look.


    "I know you are amused when you see my makeup, right? You don''t have toment too much. I was forced by my mother to meet the boy she told me this afternoon at the office. I''m reallyzy to date, but since my mother is threatening me, I decided to dress up this ugly so that the guy would hate me. That''s all," Lisa took a deep breath as she rolled her eyes.


    "Ugh, it turns out that the guy is you! I''m so dizzy right now I swear!" Lisa said, pping her own forehead.


    "I was confused by your makeup. Like, at first, I wonder if it''s really you? Then, after I approached you, it turned out to be true!" Bastian leaned forward while tilting his head slightly. His eyes fell on the striking neon pink wig. His hand grabbed a few strands of hair wig and then said, "As long as I know, your hair is long and ck, not this tacky pink!"


    Bastian chuckled, trying to hold back hisughter because he was amused by Lisa''s incredibly tacky appearance. He didn''t want to look rude to Lisa so he covered his mouth as a rush ofughter almost escaped his lips.


    Lisa looked at Bastian with a t face without expression. The woman only rested her chin while staring at Bastian''s face, which was clearly holding backughter.


    A few momentster, a waiter came strolling towards the table where Lisa and Bastian were sitting, bringing a matchatte and cheesecake for Lisa. She took the cake te and cut it with a fork. Lisa chewed her cheesecake slowly and felt a littlezy.


    "So, your mother wants you to find a mate too, eh?" Lisa asked spontaneously, her hands still busy cutting cheesecake and then waving it in front of her own face. The woman''s eyes did not meet Bastian''s face at all. ording to her, this matchmaking idea from her mother and Bastian''s mother was a joke. Lisa and Bastian were two adults who should have chosen their own way of life. It''s not like they were teenagers who still needed guidance to choose high school!


    Bastian adjusted his seat, he crossed his legs and then did nothing. His head tilted slightly, his dark eyes stared at the left side of the cafe ceiling, clearing his throat.


    "Yes, my mother told me to get married quickly after I graduated from college. She said she wanted grandchildren! The problem is that dozens of girls have been matched but no one is suitable. So she got me a new girl, apparently not far from the office. But here we are," Bastian answered while seducing Lisa, who looked awkward and ufortable in the clothes she was wearing.


    "Geez, have I told you before? I was originally reallyzy to get married. I prefer my career and I don''t want to have a husband and children yet. My mother and sister still need me. Without me, they wouldn''t be able to eat and sleep under a roof like now!" Lisa replied, sounding irritated.


    "Are you sure you don''t want to give me a chance? Who knows if we turn out to suit each other?" Bastian said with a sweet smile. The man rested his chin while smiling sweetly.


    ''Oh no, not that smile!''


    Bastian was not as handsome and steady as Rangga, but this man was charming and pleasing to the eye, or so Lisa thought. Moreover, with that sweet smile, any woman would easily fall in love with him! Especially when heughed or made a chuckle, his dimples immediately appeared on the surface of his cheek.


    "No, I don''t want to date you, let alone marry you. Besides, it''s really strange that I''m going out with my own coworker like you. Let''s just be friends like usual, there are many other girls who are much prettier and better than me," Lisa said bluntly. The woman took a quick sip of her matchatte as if she hadn''t been drinking for days.


    "But I have a car and a house in the South Jakarta area. In Kalibata! Yes, it''s not too big and luxurious, but it''s enough to live together. My sry is also enough to support us both," Bastian still insisted on convincing her that he wanted to be her lover. This man was known for his resilience, so even if there was the slightest chance, Bastian would do whatever it took to be able to get what he wanted.


    Lisa stopped cutting her cheesecake and stared at Bastian''s dark eyes with a cold stare like an assassin. "Bas, please. I''ve said it many times. No means no. I don''t want to go out with you, period."


    Hearing Lisa''s sharp and curt words made Bastian very embarrassed. The man turned his face towards the window while swallowing deep embarrassment after hearing Lisa''s refusal just now. His heart was racing a little, he was worried that Lisa would not ept his invitation.


    "Well, no problem. If you don''t want it now, it doesn''t mean you don''t want to be in the future. Who knows if you''ll ask me to get married next month? Nobody knows people''s hearts, right?" Bastian teased while taking out his signature stance— a deadly smile.


    ''Damn, you don''t have to smile like that, Bas!''


    "Ouch Bastian, I''ve promised myself not to date my own friends! We are just friends. Besides, it''s really weird for us office mates if we are going out together," Lisa said, insisting on convincing Bastian.


    "Oh, I know. This must be because of Brother Rangga, right?" Bastian asked casually as he narrowed his eyes and raised an eyebrow. His lips were still smiling sweetly.


    "Bass, me and Rangga are just friends. We are both childhood friends!" Lisa replied bluntly.


    "Good then, it means I have the opportunity to date Sis Lisa!" Bastian replied excitedly. He almost jumped from his seat.


    "Bass, don''t get me wrong. I''ve been divorced. I''m a young widow, you know!" Lisa bluntly eximed again. Now that she was getting annoyed, she would say anything to convince the man that she did not want to be his lover.


    "It''s not a problem for me, Sis!" The man replied briefly and steadily. "I don''t care about your past, which may not be fun, I only care about you now!"


    Hearing Bastian''s words which sounded excited and didn''t give up easily made Lisa''s heart even more anxious. She didn''t want to hurt Bastian''s feelings because they were still friends. But she also didn''t want to be Bastian''s lover.


    The atmosphere around them suddenly turned awkward as the two fell silent.