The Black Valley Becomes the Empress

The Part 21

I am back to my activities. Sharing sweat with people I just met to increase the number of digits in my account. I work tirelessly. All I had to prepare early on for the cost to my two sisters. My promise to the father that would make Silvana a doctor drove me crazy to work. No matter which guest comes day or night, all I serve as well as possible. I try to spoil the guests who come. With one purpose. Expect some tip money that can make my account even fatter.

Everything seemed smooth at first, until one day a knock on the door surprised me. The man standing in the doorway is the same man who used to come here without touching me. It's not wrong that he's Oom robi. I smiled to greet him. He returned my smile.

"How are you doing Oom?" ask me after he sits on the couch.

"I'm good. How's your novel? Where have you been?" the question from Oom Robi surprised me.

"Not anywhere yet, Oom" I replied.

"You mean?" ask Oom robi again.

"It hasn't started yet" I replied.

"Lho why?" Oom robi seemed to be disappointed by the sentence I said just now.

"I feel like I can't do anything Oom. Especially making a novel" I said.

"Don't be that pessimistic. Has not been tried. A time of retreat before fighting?" ask Oom robi again. Oom Robi looked serious with his words.

"Hehe didn't ahh Oom didn't dare" I replied.

"Lho koq don't dare? Why?"

"Fear of failing Oom. My time will be in vain later. I have a big responsibility Oom. Not just on myself. But to my two brothers. I don't want to destroy their ideals just because of my selfishness" I told Oom robi. I see Oom robi breathing a long sigh. Thinking for a moment. Then ask me.

"Are you comfortable living here?" tanyakanya. "I mean Oom, are you happy to work like this?" he's cropping up his words.

"Blessed and disappointed we created Oom. Everyone has a choice for his life, and I've chosen this as my way of life"

"Then what if I fail?"

"try again. Hard work will never betray results" said Oom Robi. I went back to silence. There is nothing wrong with Oom Robi. But I'm worried if I give up this job, where else would I be looking for money for my sister's second school fees.

"But I still need money from here. Only 5 months away from the new school year, I need more money for my youngest sister's High School entrance fee. Next year my second sister graduated high school, and I promised to enroll her in medical school" I was downcast. Silent for a moment. Then continue with my words. "The path Oom offered was sweet and tempting, but I wasn't ready to go" The deeper I bowed my head.

"Try first. Don't give up before you fight. Time for a break from work here?" ask as if he would give me a solution.

"I work from 7 o'clock until 4 am, unless there are guests who ask outside that hour" I replied.

"In between your time, try to start writing. God willing, God will ease all the way. If you want to try. There are many success stories from a writer. Who knows you might be one of them" oom robi said.

"Oom but I don't know anything" I said. To be honest, I still have doubts.

"Important is intention, effort and belief. If you don't mind Oom can help you. Yes to just sharing maybe" he said again. "It doesn't hurt to try, does it? Oom sure you can" I nodded even though I was still hesitant. But Oom robi is right, I have to give it a try. My age will increase, new seeds will be more and more. Then what should I do later? When my body starts to not glimps anymore? When I start not pulling anymore? When will I start not "practicing" again? There is no guarantee of employment here. No severance for old days.

Today Oom Robi gave me a package. The new laptop with a little note "Have a good fight" I did not expect if Oom robi was really serious with his words. I hope there is 1 chance for me.

Since then, my work has begun to grow. No longer only serve the guests who stopped by my room, but also in between my spare time I took the time to write. The thing that I think is pretty easy is to tell my own life story. I started my novel from the moment Fadly came into this world.

Oom Robi no longer visit me, but we often exchange emails to just share about the writing I make. I learned a lot from Oom Robi. About how I write, about the plot of my novel. About the use of punctuation. At first I didn't understand why Oom Robi insisted on me making a novel. But today I know the reason. From the email he sent me this morning.

"Queenza, your story is good. There are still many typos, and wrong use of punctuation. There are some parts you need to correct again. According to Oom it is not fitting. Try to reread Chapter 3 many mistakes there. Settle up sooner, Oom will introduce you to the editor so that your work can be published.

Maybe you're wondering why Oom did this to you. Honestly, since the first time Oom saw you, Oom felt that there was something interesting about you. You are a great woman, smart, even your language is also good. Especially when Oom heard the story about your life story. Oom salute you, delivery when you tell a story is also good. What is wrong with being a writer. You have talent. But you're not aware of it. Keep fighting, Oom will always support you"

No one can replace my father in my heart. But the presence of Oom robi is able to make the sense of loss of the father figure becomes filled again. The care and affection he showed me made me feel like I still had a father. God is being kind to me. He presented Oom robi as a substitute for father. Even if only I thought of it that way. I don't know about Oom robi. I don't know for sure. All I know is that oom robi always helps me sincerely. Without expecting anything from me.