Who doesn't feel afraid to make a mistake?

as all of us want to live our lives without worrying about what will happen next.

that in every decision we make, we want to choose happiness over what will be the result at the end.

The joy of life was in the process.

And even if we make a mistake, yes, we are afraid, but we can still try again.


LAUREN POV


"Congratulations!!!" 

Everyone said as Riza and I cut the ribbon as we officially opened our shop today.

We invited our family, friends, and co-workers as we showed them all the menus and interiors of our coffee shop.

Kathrine and Camile stop for an hour, as they also have plans for today. It was Sunday, so most of them were free to visit our shop.

"Should I apply here?" Tristan said as he put the tray with some empty glass on the counter.

He has been here since opening, and it's already lunch break, but he keeps on helping us with everything around the shop.

"I have a lot of free time for you, Lauren," Tristan always says.

Riza was so amazed by how consistent he was in helping us. She also asked me if Tristan and I were already in the stage of getting to know each other, but I just laughed at her.

In fact, I already told Tristan before 'that I'm not ready to date someone now'.

But knowing Tristan's attitude, he still sticks to me. I sometimes felt uncomfortable with the way he treated me, like I was taking advantage of his feelings.

But remembering what he said makes me understand how he was trying to hold on to every feeling he has right now.

'I am not asking for you to accept my feelings right now, Lauren. I understand, jus—t don't tell me to stop. Just let me stay. I want to be someone who is always here for you.'

Tristan told me, like he was pleading to me that night.

'Did I look like him in the past? Did I also make all the effort just to make him stay? ' I always asked myself as I saw the old Lauren when Tristan looked at me that way in my eyes.

"Lauren, let's take a break," 

Riza called at me as I stood at the counter, snapping me out of what I was thinking.

We hire three employees for the shop, as Riza will be around here for a month until I finish my contract at work.

Jonathan will visit later, as he has something important to do today. Of course, it's all about his basketball games.

but not as a player, but instead as a coach and trainer. Jonathan really knows what he wants in life, he makes everything simple for him, which makes me jealous at times.

Riza is helping me here, but she also has her own clothing line that she started last year and is still going bigger now. as she soon plans to open a store for it.

were already getting what we wanted.

We are here, in our dreams.

and I just want to live life this way.



"cheerrs!"

Jonathan shouted as we raised our glass, celebrating the good start of our shop. Today was so busy that we closed the shop at almost 9:00 p.m. tonight.

"Woow, Lauren! I'm so proud of ourselves," Riza excitedly said as she hugged me.

"Me too, this is a good start, right?" I said, drinking the glass of wine in my hand.

Jonathan also cut a slice of cake and served it at our table.

"Should we wake him up?" Jonathan asked me as he pointed to Tristan, who was sleeping on the couch inside the office.

Tristan was so exhausted that we let him work in the shop today. I shake my head, telling him, 'Don't.

"Should we hire him? He attracted a lot of customers because of his looks," Riza said, looking at our office in the shop.

"I don't think we can afford his salary." I answer more like a joke as we enjoy our time tonight.

"You should stop working and focus on your shop right now," Tristan said as he poured a drink into his glass.

I forgot about work, I don't want to go to work after what happened. How can I make myself go to that place where I can see him.

'How can I go back to work now? '

I drink until the last drop of wine on my glass, as I want to try to stop myself from thinking about what happened between Matthew and me.



'Tiiing'

I see myself getting on the elevator as I go up to our office. I can feel my head hurt a bit, as we were so wasted last night.

I don't remember what time we finished drinking, but I remember Tristan being so surprised when he woke up to see the three of us were already drunk.

He drove Jonathan home, as Riza and I also live upstairs in our shop.

"You should rest today," Camille said to me as she put a coffee on my table when she entered the office.

I smiled at her and said, 'Thanks'

I still have a month and a half before my contract is finished, and I just want to do my job in peace during that time.

"Good morning!" Maddie greeted all of us as she walked into the office on her red heels, red blazer, and red lips, with a lot of bags on her hands.

"What? It's almost Christmas, right?" she said excitedly as she took some decorations for our office.

We smiled at her, wondering how she really was so excited about celebrating Christmas. 'Who didn't, right? '

Oh, I forgot, today was the first week of December. We only work for two weeks, during this month, the company provides paid leave during the remaining weeks, as they cherish the celebration with family.

We also have those parties, like others.

And what really makes it special are the bonuses, of course.

I smile at them as we put the decoration in our office, it looks like we were on our white Christmas because of those fake snowflakes hanging from the ceiling.

"By the way, Ms. Lina called earlier about the report last month, and Mr. Matthew also signed the check we need today," Maddie said to me.

I nodded at her, before I went to the 18th floor to get the documents we needed.

Lina greeted me when she saw me. as I looked at Matthew's office.

"Don't worry, Mr.Matthew was on a business trip for the week, he just left it before he took his flight early this morning," Lina explained when he gave me the documents.

I should feel relieved that I will think about how I will avoid him, but what he really said to me that day still echoes in my head.

'I miss you, Lauren'

Can I really avoid Matthew?

Can I really stop myself from getting back the old feelings that I want to escape through these years?

As my heart remembers how my love for him was still vivid, that makes me want to believe in him, once again.

"You look so gorgeous, Lauren!" Kathrine said as I walked myself through the crowd of people until I reached their table.

The company Christmas theme this year was glamorous. It was held in a private resort for 2 days, but I was so busy at the shop that I joined them on the last day of our party.

Riza let me borrow her dress for tonight, saying, 'You should dress up and make that asshole regret why he left you'.

It was a dark emerald green dress with a glittery and shiny appearance that went on one inch above my knees. It was a fitted dress that gave all the curves on my body, with one shoulder strap that gave more exposure to my shoulder and back.

It's been a while since I dressed like this.

"We should party tonight!!" Camille said as she stood on her seat and took Maddie to dance to the music with everyone on the floor.

It felt like we were in a club, with those changing colors of lights everywhere and with the loud music that didn't make you hear any voices.

"Lauren!!???" Tristan looks so surprised when he sees me.

Kathrine smiled when he greeted her and when she offered him a seat at our table.

"You look so good, as always!!" he said, shouting at me as I couldn't really hear what he was saying.

"You look so good, Lauren," he repeated when he leaned closer to me, whispering into my ears.

I just smiled and looked at how good he was in his dark-colored suit, with those unbutton upper parts of his shirt showing his broad chest a little bit.

"We should dance!!" Tristan shouted as he stood up. Kristine shook her head, as she wanted to enjoy the drink for a while.

"Let's go, Lauren!!!" I look at Kristine as Tristan holds my hands, walking me to the floor. teasing me as he dances to the beat of the loud music.

"I don't really dance," I said to him, but he just smiled and grabbed my hands as he tried to lead me to some dance steps that I really didn't know.

"Come'on, let's just have fun!!" Tristan looked at me with a smile as I saw myself following his step as I danced to the beat, laughing as I knew how bad I was at dancing.

"Lauren!!" Camille and Maddie walk closer to us with a drink in their hands, swaying her hips over me.

Everyone was enjoying this night, which was so lively.

I haven't had this kind of fun since then, so maybe I'll just enjoy myself tonight.

"Cheers!!" I said as we tossed our bottle of beer on our table.

"Tristan really enjoys the floor, huh?" Kathrine said as we looked at Tristan as some girls pulled him to the floor, dancing.

We just laugh and drink every cocktail they serve on our table. I could feel dizziness in my head when I put the glass of cocktail I drank. I could feel how hard that was in my throat, and I could feel how hot the place was for me as the time went by.

Maybe because of the crowd, I stood up, and I saw Maddie look at me with a worried look on her eyes.

"Are you okay? You drink a lot," Maddied said to my ears, but I held her shoulder, saying I was fine.

"I need some fresh air, I go out for a bit," I said to her, leaning closer so she could hear me.

She just nodded before I walked through the crowd of people, swaying and almost losing my balance as someone pushed me from behind.

"Are you okay?" 

Someone grabbed my arms when I almost fell down, helping me to stand on my feet.

"I'm okay, thank you," I said, continuing to walk out of the room, but he didn't let go of my hand.

"Wai—t, let's have a drink," he said, looking at me with a desire in his eyes.

I snap him out, taking back my hands from him. "I know some guys like you," I said to his face and smile.

I remember how Mr.Harold treated the female workers in our office.

"You should learn some lessons," I said to him, as I could feel my sight blurring and turning.

'I was drunk? '

"Come on, let's go to our table!!" he said, approaching me, when he grabbed my shoulder, tugging at my skin.

I was maybe out of myself when I grabbed someone's drink and spilled it on the man in front of me.

People just don't mind us because of the loud music and dancing lights that gave us a second of glimpse through the darkness of the room. He becomes so furious at me, as he looks so messed up with those wine all over his shirt, I can't help but smile.

"You deserved it," I said, still in a state of drunkenness.

"You bitch!" he said, talking back and about to slap me when someone grabbed his hands from behind.

He looks so mad, but his expression changes when he sees the man on his back.

"Oh, here he is!" I said, smiling at the man who showed up, stopping this asshole from hurting me.

He looks so hot, on those black suit. When he ran his finger through his messy and curly hair.

I could see how furious he was when he saw me.

I just smile at him.

'you really came back, right?'  I told myself, as I look the the man in front of me. 

"I miss you too, Matthew."

I said as I stepped closer to him, grabbing his collar as I reached his lips.

It felt like I was dreaming, as I could feel how tense he was when I kissed him. 

And I don't want to wake up anymore, when I felt he moves his lips into mine.

holding my waist as he kisses me back.