Hate you? Nah

1

Dariah POV

Ya Allah.

The smell.

Not bad smell until pengsan... but that very strong outside-soccer-field, lelaki-lepas-bersukan smell. Mixed with deodorant trying its best to survive.

I clutched my laptop bag tighter against my chest while staring at the lift.

Four tall men. All sweaty. All broad shoulders. Sports attire. Loud voices.

One of them was my upstairs neighbour, Rusli. A firefighter.

The others?

Probably his firefighter gang too.

The lift dinged open.

They all stepped inside casually, still talking and laughing. One of them wiped his neck with his shirt and—

Nope.

Absolutely not.

I stayed outside.

"Eh... Dariah tak masuk?" Rusli asked while holding the lift button.

I gave the most polite fake smile I could manage.

"Hmm tak pe la. Kirim salam je la."

The men inside immediately laughed softly.

One of them coughed, trying not to laugh too obvious.

Rusli shook his head. "Suka hati you la... bye..."

The lift doors closed.

And finally—

Peace.

I exhaled dramatically.

"Thank God."

I pressed the button again and leaned against the wall tiredly. My feet were killing me after sitting in front of three monitors the whole day editing ad campaigns for some demanding client who changed colours every ten minutes.

"Can you make it more luxurious?"
"Can you make it pop?"
"Can you make it softer but louder?"

What does that even mean???

I rubbed my forehead.

Then suddenly—

TING.

The lift opened again.

My eyes widened.

The same four men were standing there.

INCLUDING Rusli.

I blinked.

"...Why are you all here again?"

Rusli looked innocent. Too innocent.

"Lift penuh tadi. Somebody tekan wrong floor."

Behind him, one of his friends was already grinning.

Another one looked away pretending not involved.

Then I noticed him.

The tall one standing at the back.

Tan skin. Wet hair from sweat. Black shirt clinging slightly to his shoulders. Quiet compared to the others.

His eyes landed on me for one second too long before he looked away.

Rusli smirked suddenly.

"Hakim."

The quiet guy looked at him lazily. "Apa?"

"Kau nak naik lift ni ke tak?"

Hakim's eyes shifted toward me again.

Then he suddenly stepped out of the lift.

The other guys immediately burst out laughing.

"WEHHHHHH!"

"Bodoh ah kau."

"Smooth gila."

Hakim ignored them completely.

He leaned against the wall beside me while the other three were still cackling inside the lift.

Rusli looked between us suspiciously.

"OHHHHH."

"Diamlah," Hakim muttered.

The lift doors started closing again.

Before it shut completely, Rusli pointed dramatically at Hakim.

"Selamat berjaya."

The doors closed.

Leaving me alone.

With the sweaty firefighter.

I stared at him.

He stared ahead calmly.

"...You missed your lift."

"Takpe."

"...Why?"

He finally looked down at me slightly.

Then smiled.

"Takut you kena kidnap dengan lelaki sweaty lain."

I choked.

"Excuse me?!"

He laughed quietly for the first time.

And unfortunately for me—

His smile was dangerously handsome.