A Kaleidoscope in The Sky

mn

probably have been bald by then because I hadn't stopped pulling my hair out. Dammit! Finding the mistake in the sea of numbers was the one thing that always ru

out of there. Sc

dn't have office mates to talk to, no office environment to distract me, no gossip to fill my day, and every time a problem ensued, I had to solve it myself. Usuall

nside the apartment. I needed fresh air. And only one place could take my mind off my work. As much as I enjoyed working with numbers, I refused to let them rule my life. I worked alone and never wanted to wo

damn

en the perfect spot to watch the sun go down, but the stairs always made me curse even though I had lived there for two years. Sometimes I imagined this building having an elev

g narrow, it was a two-way street. You wouldn't have been able to move if a construction truck passed by. When I first moved there—even though it wasn't my first time in Bali—I

was more practical to shop online and read with my e-reader, nothing beat the atmosphere of being among physical books. It was just magical. I could spend hours in a bookstore without getting bored. Even though my plan was always to buy

though. So cringy! The bookstore wasn't as crowded as usual, so I could freely choose books before stopping by the restaurant across the street. It had become a habit whenever I went to this boo

n stumbled, and I almost fell if it hadn't been for the shelf in front of me to hold on to. Fortunately, no books fell in a messy heap that woul

nyone around," I apologized, a hint

reached out to shake my hand. I couldn't help but notice how his touch felt, soft

s I had been meaning to purchase. Quickly tearing my gaze away from the tempting pages, I refocused on

otice someone sneaking up on you. Which book were you looking for?

in his grasp and confidently replied, "Actually,

is

views a few days ago, an

hing," the guy replied, sh

t stop staring at h

about my quest for other books. "An

thusiasm. "Nah, not really. I had my eye on 'The Gift of Rain

ested, "Why don't you ask if

my head. "Nah, not that desp

the type of scenario I detested the most. Rather than prolong

guy nodded understandingly, I wasted no time in making my escape. However, before I cou

in' at home. I don't mind lending

ment. What the he

clined as polit

were close, he reached out his hand—and gave me t

left immediately and ignored this Zack guy who was trying to label me as someone without mann

quette. The skin of his palm was so soft that it immediat

s 'A Little Lif

tation. Something I had never done. Never in a million years! But having

ecause he knew the restaurant I mentioned was a