Golden Cage

Part 1 : Love at First Sight

Back to Market

Lolita was twenty-two when she found herself in a state of turmoil. And who could blame her? After five years of dating Andika, their relationship had hit a dead end. The reason was simple: two years of long-distance had created not just a physical gap but also led to many changes in Andika that Lolita couldn't ignore. New habits had appeared, ones that never existed before—alcohol, parties, and the occasional bar and karaoke, even if he claimed it was just to accompany clients.

Lolita trusted that Andika remained loyal and never crossed the line with anyone else, not even for a one-night stand. But she was still uncomfortable with Andika's lifestyle, which had shifted to match his job's demands, often involving entertaining clients late into the night.

Maybe they were too young to start a relationship back then. Puppy love, as people would call it. But Lolita couldn't deny how captivated she was by Andika, with his gentle words and genuine attention. He was also kind to Lolita's family, even though, to be honest, her family's economic situation was far below Andika's. But Andika was never arrogant or flaunted his family's status. He treated her so well.

Now, Lolita was on her own. Alone. Again. But of course, a beautiful and attractive flower is always surrounded by all kinds of bees, each trying their hardest to make that flower theirs.

"Guys, Lolita just broke up with her boyfriend! She's back on the market!"

"Wow, awesome! They finally broke up! That took forever. Share her contact, will you?"

"Hey, please step aside if you already have a monkey, no going back to being single!"

Suddenly, there was a commotion among her admirers, who were all fired up by the fresh news and eager to step on the gas to meet Lolita—at the very least, for a coffee date. Lolita, too, sent signals that she didn't want to stay single for long. She was used to having someone who always cared for her, and she had never once celebrated a birthday alone since she was fifteen.

But not a single admirer managed to win over Lolita, who was quite picky and very selective when it came to choosing a boyfriend. Especially now, it wasn't just about finding a casual boyfriend anymore; it was about looking for a potential life partner. Her dream of getting married by twenty-five was still very much alive. ---

Blind Date

"Ta, come with me on a blind date, will you?" Miranda suddenly said during lunch.

"Huh, Mir, why would you bring me to a blind date? What if your date ends up liking me instead... hahaha," Lolita joked.

"It's fine; we're both on the market anyway," Miranda laughed. "Michael said he's bringing a friend too because he feels awkward going alone."

"Where did you meet Michael, Mir?"

"He's the son of one of my mom's friends. Hahaha... So, the story goes that my mom's friend is looking for a potential daughter-in-law, but apparently, her son isn't great at chatting when he first meets someone. But if he talks to you often, he's actually funny. So, my mom suggested he meet me because I'm not funny, but I am chatty and lovable, so I can keep the conversation going."

"Have you met Michael yet?"

"Not yet, I've only seen his photo. He doesn't even have social media. Kinda weird, right? I have no idea what he's like."

"Alright then, let's do a group hangout. If it's just the two of us, he might feel intimidated, especially with our fierce faces. Hahaha..."

"You're serious, right?! Don't you dare back out on me when the time comes! Michael has already suggested some dates. Let me check... he said either September 12th or September 17th. The place is at a café..." said Miranda, "Benito in Senopati. Ooh, that's the fancy café, right? We definitely need to dress up—lots of gorgeous, sexy girls go there. Eat a little, take lots of photos."