Home For My Soul

8|Give a Lesson

The two people who came with him grabbed my bag, then took out the contents. They would find nothing but books and writing equipment. But I also could not tell them in a half-dead state, unable to breathe.

“Nothing but his school equipment, Boss,” reports his men.

“You.” He tightened his hand. “Where's the money you got tonight? Quick, say! Or you'll die this second too.”

Oh, dearGod. I will finally meet my end as well. Seventeen to eighteen years, and I who should have drowned in Lake Toba only lived for a while. Not in my own body, but the body of the girl who had known me had suffered.

I don't want to die as this stupid, useless woman. I wish I could have died of a better status, under a more noble circumstances. I want people to cry over my departure because I died honorably, not dead silly like this.

The man screamed in pain and the grip on my neck suddenly loosened. I was unprepared with it sliding freely onto the concrete brick. Relieved to finally be able to breathe again, I inhaled the air greedily until I coughed. I don't care as long as my lungs are filled with oxygen.

Their attention was distracted, I hurried to tidy up all my books and writing equipment. There's still one more weapon, so I helped knock them out. The left hand held the pepper spray and the right hand of the electrically-charged electrocutioner, I used to hurt them. I am a woman and they must come to the six to face me. Maddened.

They could not run, only groaning in pain slumped on the concrete brick. I hope they come back and don't bother me. I looked towards the person who had helped. The man smiled showing off his teeth.

“I can't be quiet anymore. You are a girl. They've gone too far to come in groups just to fight you a,” said the kindly restaurant chef.

“Thank you very much, Sir.” I was moved to hear the sincerity in his voice.

“Come, I accompany it to a crowded place.” He threw away the wooden stick he was using to beat up all the criminals, then approached his motorcycle.

We walked to the main road, then separated. I can't bear to ride on his old bike with a body this big. I arrived home late from midnight. I think I'm just gonna die. I only had an hour before Amarylis' mother woke me up to help her.

Had I not been this tired, I could have handled the man alone. I let my guard down, because the sense of accomplishment lowered my concentration. I can't go anywhere else. That restaurant was my best place to busk and earn decent money.

“What happened to this face of yours!?” the woman's scream woke me up in the room. “Do you fight with people out there? Is that how you waste your time?”

“I work, Ma,” I replied in a hoarse voice, repeating the same sentence that I have repeatedly said.

“Then why is your face and neck getting worse like this?” the question is to scold me, not to worry about seeing my situation. Why is it so different?

“I was stalked by thugs so they could take my salary,” I replied honestly. My voice still sounds hoarse. This must be the result of the evil man's strangulation.

“Ya, already. Comeon, wakeup! Help me make a cake!” he shouted while walking towards the door.

He still scolded me for hours making all that food. Not at all concerned with my battered condition. I restrained myself and carried out all his commands, and silently listened to his scolding.

Before going to the restaurant, I stopped by the house to hand over the money from the shopkeeper who paid for the sale the day before. But the woman was holding my shirt, forbidding me from going to work.

“Can't, Ma. I got a lot of money from this place. If I stop now, then my efforts to get here will be in vain.” I looked at him with my eyes clear.

“If you need money, I will give it every month,” he said, bargaining.

“Begin only. I worked, then shared the money with Mama, but I didn't get up early to help. You can use that money to hire people. I know Mama's short on income, so she can't afford to pay workers anymore. How?” my many.

He seems to be thinking seriously. “OK. If you give me two hundred thousand tonight, you won't have to help me tomorrow. Likewise on any other day as long as you can give me that much money.” I agreed.

The money he asked for was a lot, more than half of what I earned every day. But it's better than me not sleeping at all. I can find extra money in other ways. I also do not need to stay up late anymore, because I can study at my break at the restaurant.

“Pak, thank you for your help last night.” I put a box of cookies on the table next to my savior chef.

“Waduh, you don't have to bother like this, son,” he said reluctantly.

Satisfied with receiving the money she asked for the night, the woman did not wake me up the next day to make a cake. He even kindly did not ask me to drop off, but it was Amarilis' lazy sister who did it. Money is the best way out.

Because of my free time in the morning, I went back to busking near the lontong seller's mother. He smiled happily to welcome me. We hadn't seen each other in a long time, so I comforted him with two of his favorite songs.

“Lo? Where are you going?” ask when I pack my things. “You haven't eaten.”

“Oh, no need, Ma'am,” reject me subtly seeing him prepare a clean plate for me. “I will continue my work elsewhere. Eat there later. Mom will be home soon, too, so just relax.”

“Are you coming again tomorrow?” tanyanya expectantly. I nodded quickly. I smiled as he expanded his lips.

The thugs did not come again, but I did not lessen my cautious attitude. They could still be hurt and intend to repay my actions and the kind chef. The money I got from the restaurant owner is still stable. In order to keep many guests coming, I chose a varied song so that they do not get bored.

Two months of raising money, I bought a cell phone for Amarilis' mother. If he sells in a traditional way will not be able to make his business grow. I taught him how to use it, and then created accounts on three popular social media sites.

“Wah! In this case, there will be many people who want to order my cake!” cheers happy. He stared at the screen of his phone with sparkling eyes.

“True, Ma. If anyone makes a comment, you should check in the notification section here. If there is a red mark here, then Mama just touch it to see the incoming message. I see Mama's worker is young, she must know how to use this phone.”

His eyes water as he looks at me, but he says nothing. I told him everything, so I went into the room to rest. I had a long day before I could achieve everything I had aspired to.

“Hey, hey. Don't busk here. Go!” remove the security when I just put the cardboard on the asphalt in front of the mall. The nearest shopping mall from the restaurant I work at.

“I'm not busking inside the courtyard or the mall building, sir. Why can't it?” my many.

“Because you ruined the view. Go, go! Can't busking here!” He pushed my body a little. “Like no other place. If people see you fat and ugly are here, they can escape.”

“Eh, Sir! Talk is first thought! It's good to insult people. What kind of father is it? Have you ever glazed?” reply fierce.

“Amarily?” scold someone from my right. We turned our heads and there were two women who looked at me and the security guard in turn. “What are you doing here? Because of razzia of ugly and fat people?” They both laughed mockingly.

“Excuse only, Sir. Disturbing the scenery,” said the other girl. I don't know them. If they know Amaryllis then most likely they are students of our High School.

Looking from the clothes and the way they dress up, they must be students. Jealousy infiltrated my chest. I should also be busy studying at my target campus, and already with my two brothers there. But with this body and without money, I can't do that.

No. gabe. I can't think about that anymore. I'm not going back to my old life, so I have to look ahead and forget everything that's behind me. First, I have to face these two arrogant girls.

“What is my relationship here with you guys?” my challenge. “You want me to make your skinny body flat? Here, forward!” They took a step back.

“Come, let's just go. Let the security take care of him,” said the first girl.

They left with scared faces, no longer daring to look at me. Goody. Just because Amarylis was stupid and slow, they dared to interfere. I snapped a little, it turned out that they could also feel trepidation towards him.

Couldn't scavenge money in front of the mall, so I picked the nearest park. It became my activity for several months of raising money. Busking near the mother lontong seller, restaurant, also park only on weekends.

I have enough money to enter the selection. So I signed up and tried my best during the indoor exam with the other participants. I found many difficult questions, which I could not answer with certainty. If only I had more money for tutoring.

Therefore, while buying a newspaper to find out my graduation, my heart pounded loudly. It took me a long time to see if my name and exam number were on that long list.

“Nak, what are you waiting for?” said the mother of the lontong seller who also looks curious. He looked at the newspaper impatiently. “Come, quickly find your name. Pass or not?”