Dollar Girl

Chapter 4 The revealed Truth

The fried rice became the dinner of Ratna and her father that day, no one spoke. The two were busy with spoons each not even glancing at each other.

" Ratna.... what.... Your Junior High uniform still exists? " ask his father breaking the silence.

" why? "

" I think you should continue your school, you can make new friends here. But. if you still want to be at home it doesn't matter "said his father hesitated.

" I'll go "he replied quickly.

" I want to continue my school even to graduate High School, I promise to help my father in finding money for my tuition. I won't trouble you, but let me go to school ".

There was a frown on his father's forehead when he heard that remark, even Ratna's scornful tone made him wonder why he was as if pleading with his own father.

" Ratna... Have you been living well with your mother? " ask his father suddenly.

With great difficulty Ratna swallowed the food in her mouth round and round, her heart trembled at the question. It was as if he was forced to remember the bleak times that had happened to him.

" Don't cover anything from dad, you're dad's daughter. Tell me, have you been living happily all this time? " repeated again.

Ratna's body began to act strangely, clearly she was uncomfortable with the question. Even his hands trembled so that he could not scoop food properly.

" Ratna.. Did anyone hurt you? " ask his father quietly while holding his trembling hand.

Suddenly the question made Ratna shocked to look at her father without blinking.

" Sari.

" Who is he? " ask his estranged father.

" My step-sister... ".

This time it was his father's turn to be shocked, so long left he only knew if his wife's father married again even now he only knew his beloved daughter was suffering in a foreign family.

" Sari. He would also be angry if I refused his orders, he would complain to his father that I should be punished and not fed all day. He also.... "

Gep

Hixes

" I'm sorry father.it's all the father's fault." said his father who was no longer able to hear the various kinds of suffering his daughter experienced.

The tears of regret are meaningless, because everything has already happened. Still, he apologized in his arms.

" If you were rich dad that day your mom wouldn't have left dad, she wouldn't have taken me along and you wouldn't have experienced all this suffering. Forgive me, if you were rich dad you would be happy "he said again still with tears.

Surprisingly, even a single drop of Ratna did not shed tears. He stroked his father's back and smiled as he said.

" Father is wrong, mother who regrets for leaving father. In his last breath he asked me to go back to my father and live with him, because only with my father can I be happy despite living a simple life ".

Indeed, that is the reality that happened, as time went on when he separated from his father and began to live life only with his mother, the environment has made him mature faster.

He understands his parents divorced because his father was unable to provide for his family, his mother who chose divorce hoped that by marrying a widower with a rich one child, Ratna's life would be guaranteed.

But the truth is no, Ratna does go to school and all her needs are met but she is unhappy. Several times he saw the wounds on Ratna's body and Ratna always said he fell, until one day he found Sari beating him.

A mother's anger finally makes Sari cry but her new husband blames Ratna who first did wrong, some years the late mother turned a blind eye for the survival of Ratna good.

But what do new books mean, new bags, good food if the daughter is tormented inwardly. It slowly becomes a disease that takes away her mother's health, until one day in her last breath she realizes Ratna's biological father is better than anyone.

Because even though Ratna cannot eat well she still grows into a healthy and strong child, even though her school bag has been hollowed out but she still leaves school cheerfully.

It was in his last breath that regret that came too late to give Ratna the last piece of advice to change her submissive nature, he was proud to have a kind daughter but what good would it do if that kindness made him suffer.

" Ah..just stare at the stars "Ratna replied softly.

" There's not a single star in the sky, you're delirious huh! " amus said looking at the dark sky.

" What do you care? where are you from these nights yourself? "

" O grandma told me to buy a new lamp "

" Are you also buying snacks? " ask Ratna enthusiastically.

" Just chips, you want? "

" Mau." cried Ratna approaching.

" I only bought one, we ate both at my house while listening to the radio "

" well! I'll bring it " Ratna said while taking the plastic bag Amus was carrying.

As soon as he arrived at Amus' house without hesitation Ratna went into Amus' room and turned on the radio, the place had not changed much since he was a child. In the past he and others often spent time playing in Amus' room, which more often play is Ratna because he wants to read a picture book that Amus has.

In their neighborhood only Amuslah who has a lot of toys and books, of course as neighbors and close friends Ratna most often play there.

" Amus, you went to school in Seventh Junior High right? " asked Ratna as Amus returned after replacing the lights that were off.

" Yes, why? "

" I'm going to your school tomorrow "

" really? you moved to my school? "

" Hmm, I told you "

" Is so.. "

" This way, I will have new friends" said Ratna while imagining her old friends.

He was not so familiar with his classmates in the past because Sari did not let him have friends, at school was due to Sari's incitement there were many children who did not like him.

If he thought again how mentally tough he faced bully every day, although sometimes he always cried silently but in front of his mother he tried to smile cheerfully.

For he knew that his mother was willing to leave her father for his sake, because all she needed to do was obey everyone's orders.

Now, after all the shackles had slipped from his body he had nothing to fear anymore. He did not need to perform anymore and according to his mother's orders before dying, he had to dare to say no, raise his head and loudly say his wishes.

Woe.....

Ah. hhhhhhhh.

Buccancy

" What are you doing? you almost made me die of a heart attack! " cried Ratna hitting Amus' shoulder.

" Lagian daydreams "reply Amus.

" You did ask to be beaten up" Ratna said with vengeful eyes.

" Please, I'm not afraid of "muck Amus.

" Amuussa........... ".