The Emperor's Heart Port

Episode 3 Hard Slap

Inside a simple room with white wall paint.

Plaque!! A hard slap landed right on the right cheek.

"Are you crazy? Since when did you become a careless child?"

The 24-year-old man did not answer his father. Choosing silence while lowering his face, enduring the pain felt on his right cheek former slap the father earlier.

"Didn't you think before you did it? How is our family doing now? How's your mother doing."

"I'm sorry Joseph, Dad. Joseph was very sorry." Said the man whose real name was Yusuf Ramadhan Putra.

"What did you say? Regretted?" Joseph's father stepped closer to his son, standing right in front of his son's face with a piercing gaze "Why is it now?! Why not before you do it for the first time. Are you deliberately trying to make our poor family even more destitute!"

"Enough Dad. Don't keep screaming like this. What if our neighbor hears it." Said a girl who suddenly went into a room whose door was not fully closed. He was listening to the conversation while crying behind the outer room wall.

"Leave it. Just let them all know and talk about how broken our family is!" Said the Father still with a passionate tone.

"Dad.. Xaxa beg Dad. Calm yourself Dad. We talk about everything calmly. Yusuf also regretted it. So Xaxa begs me to forgive Brother Joseph, and we find a way out of it together." The girl's full name is Xavera Adelina Princess.

"15 million."

Deg, man,

Father approached Xaxa, looking at his second daughter with tears beginning to fall.

"Do you think that much money is not a serious issue? Do I have to patiently hear it while our treasure is up for your mother's treatment." With teary eyes Dad spoke without turning his eyes away from Xaxa. Joseph was crying behind his father's back.

"We've even been waiting two months to pay the rent for this house. Dad's salary is only enough for our daily needs, we must use it for Mother's treatment. And now, your brother is acting. Do you still have to be patient? How can we get that kind of money in such a short time in the midst of our family circumstances that need a lot of money for the treatment of Mother, son."

Dad hugged Xaxa with his cry, "Dad should how, son? Dad is old. Dad's retirement money while working as a factory worker has been used up for your mother's treatment. Now Dad's job is not fixed. I sell around with uncertain results. We're now starting to rely on your brother. But... But he's.." As I sobbed, I could not continue his words.

"I'm sorry Dad couldn't give you a decent life. I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

"Dad.." Xaxa who had also cried sobbing tried to calm his father. Slowly rubbing the Father's shoulders. "Xaxa also apologized for not being able to help ease the burden on Father and Brother."

"But now Xaxa will try to find a job."

"What do you mean, son?" Said Dad unraveling his embrace with a surprised look.

Yusuf who was crying also began to wipe his tears and focus on looking at his sister.

"Xaxa will quit school and look-out"

"No, Xa. Dad doesn't agree. You have to stay in school and continue until graduation." Sela I don't accept her daughter's decision.

"But Dad-"

"Sister also disagrees with your decision. You have to stay in school."

"Then what about my brother's debt? Mother's Medicine? Rent a house and also for our daily needs such as eating and others. Xaxa also needs money to pay monthly SPP money, buy books and for other activities. Xaxa may be able to bear not to buy snacks at school, but for the cost earlier what can be withheld as well? Xaxa does not want to add to the burden of your mind. Let Xaxa also work to help our family's finances."

"You're underage. It's not time to work yet, no one will accept you, baby." I try to give understanding. He did not want Xaxa to drop out of school. His heart would feel pain and guilt if it happened.

"Xa.."

"Yes how's Dad? You don't agree with Xaxa's idea?" Xaxa smiled happily only to reassure his father if he was okay.

"Dad will try to find a way out. You have to stay in school."

"But Dad-"

"Xa.." This time Joseph spoke.

"Sister.. I agree not with Xaxa's idea. Xaxa doesn't matter if you have to quit school." He said while looking at the brother.

"Sister disagrees. I will never agree. You have to stay in school, continue until graduation."

"But Brother.."

"You and Dad don't have to worry. Debt problem let Brother solve it."

"What does Brother mean? How'd you pay off her?" Ask Xaxa.

"Don't tell me you're gonna quit your job and take your labor money." Saying Father.

"That's right Dad. I'm gonna do it. I'm sorry for disappointing you."

"But after her where will you work? It's not easy finding a job in our neighborhood."

"I'm going out of town. Trying to find a job there. I also have a friend who has lived there for a long time. He said he'd help me if I got there."

"Who is your friend? Harris?" Guess Dad remembered his son's closest friend when he was in High School.

"Not Dad. He works in X. Not in the city that Joseph would live in. He's called Fahmi."

"Mahimi?" Said Dad because he had just heard the name mentioned by his son.

"He's my friend too. When I was in school, I was not close to him. Only after working in the same place do we start to get along. He had long since moved outside that city with his Big Brother as well."

"Then what about your college?"

"In a situation like this I can't think about that. I will solve my problems until everything is completely finished. Although in the end I had to quit college and not continue."

"Joseph.."

"Once again forgive Joseph, Father."

"Money 15 million for what? Why did you dare to borrow from a loan shark?"

"From the moment you first scolded me, I waited for you to ask." Yusuf looked sorrowfully at his father. While his father who had just realized something was back in tears and immediately hugged his son tightly.

"I'm sorry, Son. Forgive me, Father." The two of them were crying each other, expressing all the turbulent feelings in each other's hearts by hugging each other. While Xaxa stared questioningly about what happened to make his brother fall into a circle of debt with a loan shark.