A Night Without Stars
Prologue and episode 1

For the brightest Star in the deep night sky will be dark.

***

Prologues

I don't know why I don't like the color of twilight, the color of orange dusk sky to mere open my eyes, like covered in blood. But dusk is a bridge to the night where I can see my favorite starry sky.

Episode 1's

"No, I prefer to go alone" I said, holding my smartphone in my ear. Aruna was my friend from college, always picking at me. He worried me more than my parents, he always wanted to take me every time I had an event. He also often invites me a way out, well sort of updated. And I also often refused his invitation, because somehow I felt uncomfortable with him. Though he was not ugly, he was also not tacky even he was good, or maybe because it was too good. Her face was nice to see, her skin was quite bright almost the same as mine, her straight hair was cut short neatly. From his appearance there is nothing I do not like, but somehow I have not been able to return his feelings to me. Not only Aruna, I'm the kind of woman who doesn't fall in love easily, especially with a man I just met, like a month ago when a friend of my friend at work had a crush on me and shot, I refused, because I felt absolutely no love for him.

"But Nanta, who are you going with? Your parents are not home" Aruna assured me.

"I told you, I can go alone. I don't want to take people out" I said, then I ended the call from Aruna.

I didn't expect this much of my luggage, and I began to regret having turned down Aruna's offer. It's how else I'd be proud to ask for it now. I also started calling the taxi phone number one by one some taxis were full until the fifth taxi I called was empty. On Saturday I have to go to Jakarta. I live in Bandung, and work in one of the famous fashion companies, I was placed in the design division, consisting of three product designers namely Laras, Rani, Reza and I as photo editors, layouters and photographers. Indeed, my job desk looks more but actually the same, because the media promotion does not every day issue new designs, while product design is always in pursuit of deadlines because it must often issue clothing models, and the media does not always issue new designs, and the process is quite long. But sometimes if I'm being chased by a deadline I am also helped to playout by one of the product designers.

Today there will be a fashion show in Jakarta me and the team from where I work, PT Kreasi Sejahtera must leave at half six in the morning to prepare for the event which will start at seven in the evening. I was in charge of documenting during the event.

I also dragged a suitcase with my right hand, and my left hand tote a medium-sized bag that contained my wallet, smartphone, and makeup tools. Because it will stay two days one night then my luggage is a bit much. Taxi was ready I immediately went to the office where I worked because there we gathered. While sitting in a taxi I tidied my straight hair that was only 3 cm below the shoulder, not with a comb but with the hands. For me tidying hair with hands is neat enough because my hair is easily arranged, do not forget to trim my tonic as well.

When I arrived at the office, I could see four people who would also go with me, namely Rani designer, Rere make up artist, Pak Rizki brand manager, and Pak Ari one of marketing. They all look semi-formal, Rani wearing jeans with a trendy pink blouse, Rere wearing a plain light blue knee-length dress, with a layer in front of her and bell-shaped arms. While Mr. Rizki and Mr. Ari use a suit, but his blazer is hanging in a car. While I myself dress quite cute, only using blue jeans combined with a long flannel shirt to the thigh with a blue red plaid motif.

After we were all ready we finally left at five o'clock forty-five minutes, using an office-owned car that is a travelo minibus, driven by Pak Tono, the driver of PT Kreasi Sejahtera.

After we went through the trip for more than four hours we finally reached the location of the event. We all prepare for our work. I prepared the camera to be used. I also talked to a model who would display our product clothes. We already know each other because Nindy is indeed one of the subscription models of PT Kreasi Sejahtera. Nindy and I talked while walking around the fashion show. Our conversation was stopped when we saw a woman and a man who looked serious talking.

"Karina!" nindy's greeting to the woman. The woman immediately ended her conversation with the man in front of her.

Uh, Nindy, reply Karina.

"You still relaxed? Not prepared?" ask Nindy.

"I need to first with EO (event organizer). You know this guy from EO!"

"Antares, call Ares," said the man next to Karina, developing a smile as he thrust his hand at me and Nindy.

Nindy and I mentioned each other's names. After our brief encounter, Nindy and I split up Nindy went to the dressing room for outfitting because after this there would be a clean gladi, while I tried to take pictures in several corners of the stage to test whether the settings on the camera were good enough for this room. When I was cool to see my shots on camera, I bowed my face to the camera while walking towards the seat, and the brak...!!! Whops! I was shocked to death for hitting someone.

"Sori, are you okay?" ask the guy I hit.

I saw a familiar face, I thought I'd seen it. Someone with a height of about 177 cm, using black jeans with a black and white box shirt whose arms are folded up to the elbow. For a moment I remembered that man, ah yes the man who was with Karina. "Ah, it's okay. I should be the one apologizing, I just didn't see the front," I said with a slightly reddened face in embarrassment.

"Its okay. You're photographers?" ask Ares.

"Yep, from PT Kreasi Sejahreta," I replied.

"Can you see your shots?"

"Sure, please," I said as I thrust out my D-SLR camera. "But the results are not good, because the place is dark and should not wear a blitz, especially later the object runs, it will be difficult to get good results."

"Yes, right. Try using auto mode. If you do not set the ISO again, because the shutter speed must be fast for the object that runs and also so as not to shake."

"Yes, it looks like I have to reset the ISO, and the diaphragm can still be lowered. Do you also like motto? Looks like you know a lot about photography techniques."

“Just know a little bit.”

We also talked while joking. As long as before the show started, Ares kept me company, we were hunting photos together, eating together and even laughing together. Wait!!! I'm familiar with a guy I just met?! Rasana is impossible, but this is happening. Rarely can I get along with a man I just met. Yeah, I know I'm pretty familiar with Reza and some of my other boys, but I've known them for a long time.

Finally the event began, Ares went to take care of his work, I began to seriously photograph the models who walked on the catwalk, as well as other photographers were very serious. I feel a little less inclined to look at professional photographers. As for me, even though the photographer is my profession since a year and a half ago, but I still feel amateur. No!!! I have to get rid of my pessimism, I can definitely get a good photo.

Finally the show finished at ten in the evening. It feels so tired.

"Nanta," call someone when I get out of the toilet.

I turned my head to see who was calling me. Ares?!

"What other events are you having?" ask Ares.

"No one, I want to go back to this abis hotel" I said.

"Aren't you hungry? I eat yuk!" bring Ares.

"Em, no," I replied along with a rumble from my stomach.

"Hahaha..," Ares laughed at me. "No synchronous answer to the sound of his stomach."

I smiled shyly, my face flushed like a boiled crab. I was really upset with my stomach that I couldn't cooperate with, and had embarrassed me to death.

She had her arm around my shoulder. "Nanta, where are you going to eat?" Ares asked.

"It's up to you" I replied.

"There is no place you want to go, which restaurant or cafe?" Ares convinced.

"There's a place I want to go. I want to go to Monas."

"Hahahaa...., to Monas?!  You're like a little kid."

While putting on a sullen face I said, "Yes it's not necessary."

"Don't sulk that way, I want to go there too" Ares said with a chuckle.

"Sniffled?! Although I often go to Jakarta I have never been to Monas."

"You've never been to Monas?" ares asked in surprise, opening the door of his sedan car and letting me in.

I sat in the front seat of the sedan, and when we were both in the car, I answered Ares' question, "Yes, through the door anyway often."

Ares rewinds his car to get out of the parking lot, then drives out of the basement of the parking lot.

"Ah yes I have to call Rani, to let them know first to the hotel." Although the hotel is next to the event venue, I have to give news so that they do not worry. I called Rani to tell her. Rani was a little worried about me not coming home this late, but I assured her that I was okay. During our joking trip, Ares was a fun guy, he was so cute and humorous, he deserved to make me comfortable. Inadvertently I look at the mirror in the middle of the car, visible reflection Ares eyes are seriously looking at the road while driving a car. As soon as I felt Ares was so cool, I began to observe his deep eyes, his very masculine face, his straight hair-brown complexion but not one hundred percent straight there was a slight wave and a little messy. And suddenly began to appear what was this feeling?!

Nanta, it's okay, Ares said as he opened the car door, then he got out of the car, so did I, I got out of the car by opening the car door myself, and I got out of the car, Ares circled the car looking to open the door for me but it was too late to get out of the car. I prefer to serve myself, I feel surprised by the women who are often opened the car door by the man, even though it is an easy job, I can do it myself.

Ares came up to me and took my hand. Oh no, suddenly my heart is beating fast. I guess we're just regular friends?! "Nanta you don't stay away from me it's been too late, afraid there's a bad guy."

"What the hell is Ares, I'm not a kid."

"Yes I know, but still, the danger to a woman these nights."

Sure enough I saw the clock on my wrist, it turns out it's almost eleven o'clock in the evening. But I don't care, obviously my heart now feels very happy. Is it because I can finally see Monas up close?! Or is it because of the star-studded sky tonight? Because I really like the starry night sky. I don't know, I can't be sure what my feelings are because of what.

We immediately went to one of the food merchant tents that were still selling. While we were eating tektek noodles voraciously, a small busker came by singing an obscure song. "Sir, hungry?" my many. The boy nodded. Then I ordered a plate of fried rice and I offered it to the boy. The boy ate with it.

"What is Res?" I whispered to Ares.

"No problem" Ares replied with a sweet smile.

After finishing eating the child says 'thank you.' I replied, "Sama-sama, be careful at night."

"Yes Big Brother is beautiful," he replied by developing an innocent smile. I laughed hearing that too.

After Ares paid, we walked closer to Monas, the night was already very quiet visitors. "Today I know a nice girl like Nanta."

"Well what the hell Res, finally also pay even Ares," said I.

"No problem, everywhere you guys pay."

"But Nanta has good intentions like that. Women today rarely care about people around. Most of it is just matre. "

"It's not all like that. Ares photo dong!" I asked Ares while I offered my smartphone. Ares accepted, and I started posing in front of the monas. "Take the photo a little far away, let the monas look!" I asked a little while shouting because of our distance.

Ares took a picture of me a few times. "The results are bad Ta," said Ares while showing the results of his shots.

"Yes, the result is dark my face is not bright. My camera's HP is ugly."

"I took another photo, use my HP, the camera is better," said Ares.

"Okay, my HP is old-fashioned, hahahaa..," I said with a laugh.

After Ares took a picture of me with his phone, he walked over to me, showed me his pictures, and sent me a picture of me using bluetooth.

I looked down at the screen of my phone while receiving the photo that went into my phone.

"Nanta," call Ares who is in front of me.

"Yes" I answered and looked up to see Ares' face higher than mine.

"Are you happy tonight?" ask Ares.

"Yes, I'm very happy" I replied.

"What's because I can see Monas this close?" ask Ares again.

I was wondering if I would be happy to come to Monas. No!!! but because of the one with me, I feel happy because of Ares. While I was silent to think, I was struck by what Ares did to me, my heart was beating fast like it was about to jump out of my chest, my palms were sweating coldly, my knees were limp, my face was warming up, my face was warming, it was like there was electricity flowing all over my body. My brain and body are not synchronous, when my brain says stay away from Ares but my body is only silent when Ares kisses my lips gently, his left hand holds my cheek gently.

Under the starry sky Ares snatched my first kiss.

Please click reader like. Thanks 😊