This Must be A Nightmare

William had been smiling at the memory of his girlfriend, Selena. He couldn't wait to see her once he finished work. For two weeks, Selena had been vacationing on a tropical island abroad with her friends. Today was the day of her return. Too bad William couldn't pick her up at the airport because he had to work.

Tonight would be a historic night for Willian and Selena. William picked up the blue velvet box that was in his apron pocket. When the box was opened it revealed a ring with a sparkling gem. It wasn't a diamond ring, but William was sure Selena would love it because it wasn't just a gift, it was a binding when he proposed to her.

According to William, it was time for him and Selena to commit and get married. They had been dating for a year and living together in his apartment for six months. Maybe for some people, one year is very short. However, William feels that he and Selena already love each other very much. So, why would they delay a good thing like marriage.

Besides working as a shopkeeper at an electronics store during the day, William was also a waiter at a fancy restaurant at night. He did all that to meet the needs of Selena who loved to vacation and shopping.

"What are you doing there? Instead of working, you're daydreaming like a fool," scolded Andre, one of the waiters at the restaurant.

Steve, who was mopping the floor, gave William a hateful look. "When the restaurant manager is around, he works fast. When the manager isn't around, he slacks off like that. What a hypocrite!"

William quickly put his ring box in his pocket. He looked down in shame at being caught daydreaming by his coworkers. He had been a model employee this month, but instead of doing his job, he had been daydreaming.

Steve whispered to Andre, "Why don't we trip his legs, and let William fall."

Andre nodded in agreement. "Good idea. I've had enough of his annoying face."

William, who didn't know he was going to be pranked by Steve and Andre, was still busy stuffing dry trash in the plastic. Every time he pressed the trash, his biceps muscles were clearly imprinted. He was a handsome, muscular man with deep blue eyes like the ocean. His firm jawline and slightly split chin gave him a masculine feel. His brown hair was a little messy after a long night's work but it didn't detract from his good looks.

Steve leaned the mop against the wall. He glanced at William who was still busy organizing the trash. "Why did you take so long to clean up the trash? Is it because you're trash too, so you feel comfortable lingering with your friend."

Andre who heard Steve's words immediately laughed. "Never mind, just let him be. He must be very happy because he can play with trash," he said. "I heard he's going to propose to his girlfriend. I wonder what kind of woman would want to be the wife of a trashy man like him."

William decided to ignore the insults from the two men and continued his work. Ever since he started working there, the two men had often provoked him. However, William still needed a job so he chose to endure. Even though it happened every night because like this time, the three of them always got the part to clean the dine-in restaurant during closing.

After finishing organizing all the trash, William lifted the black plastic trash to take it to the dumpster at the back of the restaurant. Andre raised one of his eyebrows to Steve as a sign for Steve to carry out their plan. As William walked between Steve and Andre, Steve immediately pushed his back, while Andre tackled his legs until he fell.

The garbage William was lifting fell first, so he fell right on top of the garbage which immediately scattered again. He was sure Steve and Andre had deliberately made him fall, but he couldn't fight the two men. Not because he would lose, but he relented because he didn't want to have problems in his work environment with anyone.

"What's going on?" Ronald, the restaurant manager came over after hearing the sound of William falling down.

"I was mopping, Sir. And William was walking on the slippery floor until he fell down with the trash." Steve explained.

"I had already mopped it up, Sir. He shouldn't have walked on the clean floor. Not only would the floor get dirty again, but he would also fall. And sure enough, he fell." Andre made up a story to put William on the spot.

"No, sir, they are ....."

William didn't have time to finish his sentence because Ronald immediately said, "William, take care of the trash and clean the dine-in room again. Steve and Andre have worked hard to clean up this room, but you're dirtying it up again. Don't leave until everything is clean, do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir." William was not given a chance to explain, so he had no choice but to obey his superiors.

Steve and Andre laughed at William as soon as Ronald walked into his room. They were very satisfied to see William being scolded by Ronald.

"That's what happens when you want to always look good in front of Mr. Ronald." Andre hit William on the head as he was putting the scattered garbage back into the plastic.

William clutched the trash in his hand tightly as he couldn't accept Andre and Steve's treatment. However, he immediately took a deep breath and exhaled slowly from his mouth to calm himself down. It's okay. Clearing the trash and cleaning the dine-in room wasn't that difficult.

After his work was done, William could finally go home. His clothes were wet with sweat, but he didn't want to waste any more time changing. He had missed Selena terribly and wanted to hug his girlfriend. He would kneel in front of Selena and ask her to be his wife.

William's smile continued to widen as he climbed the stairs to the third floor where his apartment was located. Clutching his ring box, he opened the apartment door. His forehead immediately frowned when he saw clothes scattered on the floor and sofa. There were bras and panties that belonged to Selena; also shirts and jeans that belonged to men that did not belong to William.

"Ohh, Babe!"

The sighing sound came from the direction of the room occupied by William and Selena. And William knew that the voice belonged to Selena.

William's heart skipped a beat as he stepped towards the room whose door was open. Getting closer, he could hear that Selena was not alone in the room. There was a man accompanying her. William's logic had already compiled the possible things Selena and the man might be doing in the room, but William's feelings still continued to deny it. His great love for the woman made him convince himself that Selena could not possibly betray him.

William's feelings are instantly shattered when he sees Selena naked on their bed with a blonde man. The ring box in William's hand immediately fell seeing Selena who cheated on him.

Selena, who realized William's arrival, immediately pushed the man beside her. The woman pulled the blanket to cover her body and the body of her cheating man.

"William? Since when have you been there?" asked Selena, seemingly not feeling guilty even though she had been caught cheating on William.

William didn't answer. His brain was still trying to digest what had happened because there was a part of him that didn't want to believe what he had witnessed.

"It can't be. This must be a nightmare," William said to himself.