LOVE Plus Minus

The Road Dwellers

"Adrrgh... Cintya, don't throw it in vain. You hit him again." ringis Dave touched something between his legs.

I chose to cover my face in shame.

"Oh my God, how is this?" My screams in my heart.

"I'm going to sue you for harassment." ringis Dave, I know he's enduring the pain right now.

"Walking, I'm hungry" I replied trying to shift things.

Without much ado Dave now drove the car out of the campus area.

 

\*

 

Dave's busyness with research gives me a breath of fresh air in my life. Because that man's busyness means my freedom. Just like today, since the campus is on holiday and Dave is in the hospital, then I decided to return to doing work-seeking activities that had been delayed since I was married by force.

A makeshift formal shirt, and black cloth pants are now wrapping around my body. I'm sure, when I get out of this big house the person who sees me will guess my status as a worker, not a young lady. Aye right? haven't I been a young lady since I married Dave? I smiled looking at the limitless card dave gave me a few days after the wedding.

"Stop asking for money from mom, hold this card for your needs" Dave said, handing me a card.

"Thank you Dave, there's finally some point in getting married to you" I deliberately wanted to upset her.

"You'll be sorry if the nominal that runs out every month is below my standards." the man threatened me.

"Look down Dave, I can bankrupt you as soon as possible. And I'm gonna do it. Hahaha.." I laughed at Dave's sad and frustrated face if he went broke later.

"I challenge you." Dave replied not to lose.

My smile was so sweet considering the incident.

"Why do you use Dave's money for? Later I thought, mending now I walk and spread job applications as much as possible. Can work part time during the weekend at least is good, right?" I immediately came out of the gate of the luxurious house owned by the Noni family and waited for an online motorcycle taxi to pick you up.

 

\*

 

After dropping applications in various places, I went back down the sidewalk of Jakarta. Not much different from some time ago when I went through this place, there are still many small children who peddle their wares at the crossroads of red lights. There's still a little kid driving around. And there were still some elderly people sitting around waiting for mercy.

"Wouldn't the poor and abandoned children be kept by the state" I said as I watched some children scavenging for trash on one corner of the street.

Unknowingly, I was standing near that new-smelling trash can. Watching three skinny boys scavenging boxes filled with leftovers.

"Sir.." I greeted them.

....

The boys ignored me, the three remained engrossed in their busy lives.

"That's mine...!!" one of the boys forcibly pulled the food box that had just been lifted by a pair of tiny hands from the dirty place.

“Not this is mine." the girl who found the box fought back trying to defend hers.

"You're thieves. Don't steal anyone's property." The boy who pulled the box and pushed the little girl down. While the other boy acted as if he did not see all of those events.

"It hurts..shhh." the girl grimaced softly.

"Without pushing so hard, he too will fall. Already his body is smaller, even pushed so fast, fortunately not falling into the streets. Could suddenly be hit by a passing vehicle right?" I grumbled in my heart while approaching the girl.

"Geek, are you okay?" I squatted down beside him trying to check his condition.

"Don't interfere" replied the girl, although her face showed dislike but it was clear how much she was enduring the pain.

"Have you eaten? Want this?" I asked while offering the bread I had bought to her.

I looked at the girl's face. His eyes now sparkled looking at both of my hands that were grasping plastic filled with bread.

"Can brother?" He asked as if he could not believe what had just happened.

"May I ask for everything, brother?" the girl asked hesitantly.

I thought for a moment, there are two packets of bread complete with jam in my hand. The plan was I wanted to give one pack to them and the other I brought home. But hearing this girl ask for everything made me a little doubtful. Not because it was stingy, but I was confused as to how he would spend it all before these breads expired.

"Sister.I want to share it with that brother and that brother. We also have some other friends who have not eaten. They will be very happy." said the girl while looking at me expectantly.

"So good of you, he even hurt you and stole your food, but you still want to share it with him" I said softly remembering the incident a few minutes ago.

"Can. But brother's coming, see your friends?"

"Aren't you sure?" he looked at me seriously.

"Yes." Yeah."

The girl seemed to weigh for a moment, the look on her face now turned agitated.

"Sister, brother please wait here. I'll bring them here." replied the girl later.

I nodded quickly, as soon as my nod passed the little girl went to call her friend.

For no more than five minutes, the little girl returned with five other children. There were three girls, so four plus her, and a guy. The boy who was fighting over food with her.

"Abang, here to eat" call the girl to the child who is still scraping through the trash.

"You wash your hands first." I said, handing over a bottle of mineral water.

After making sure everyone was washing their hands, I finally handed them the bread.

"Is it not better to eat at your place?" manya curious.

"Don't, brother, there's the chairman." One of the boys answered my question.

"Why is there him?" manya curious.

"He's the head thug who often lags the kids here sister." whispered one of the kids carefully.

I'm the bearded one making a gesture of understanding. My heart aches at the thought of how these children go about their days. They enjoyed the sandwich I gave them while joking and smiling at each other. For them happy is when the stomach is no longer rumbling because of hunger. I was moved to look at their smiles until a voice resuscitated me.

"Oh, so this is your busy life?" asked the voice of the woman who suddenly grabbed my attention.

I raised my head trying to find the source of the sound.

"Oh, George's mom?" I murmured in my heart when I realized a car stopped near me and the children. The woman didn't come down, she just looked at me from inside her car.

"Eh, Cindy... You don't think you're good enough to be married to Dave. Your place is indeed here, so it's raspy. Fortunately, you did not forget yourself. Haha... Come on, sir, this place smells bad. " The woman ordered her driver after spraying me with harsh words.

"Who is this sister?" ask one of the children sitting next to me.

"He's the wrong guy. Don't think about it."

But my mind drifted far away, trying to find answers about the attitude of the George family all along.

"What's my fault? Why does George's family hate me so much? Don't I have nothing to do with George? What's the reason his mother always hurt me?" I wondered in my heart.

"Sister. brother. Sorry, brother." The little boy who was with me was now rowdy and running in an uncertain direction, as if they were frightened by seeing a ghost.

I could only stand and stare at their departure without even a word.

"Beautiful, are you lost?" asked a man who suddenly approached me.

I shuddered in horror, looking at the appearance of the foreign man.

**pollovo anauthor POV

what do you think the story is? Please give criticism and advice.

I also want to invite readers here to join the group chat, there will be a gift box sharing every day.

Thanks for reading

-best**