The Love of the Unknown Man

13. Not Dreams

“Edgar.”

Edgar felt his fingers tap gently on his cheeks. Slowly she opened her eyelids and looked at Lisa's face which was lashing out a smile.

“I must have died and met the angel of heaven,” muttered Edgar in a weak voice.

Lisa knitted her brows, not understanding what Edgar was saying, and then laughed. Again he patted Edgar on the cheek.

“Hai, awake! You are not dead.”

Both of Edgar's eyes were perfectly patterned, as soon as he tried to surround what turned out he was still not far from the park when he ate boiled sweet potatoes.

Edgar sat up, breathed a sigh of relief and stroked his chest.

“So I dreamt of getting hit by a gang of thugs,” Edgar told Lisa.

“You are not dreaming. Lookyyourface! Belur half so.”

Edgar's finger slowly touched the end of his lips that felt sore. It was true that he had been beaten up by the thugs and he had not found his backpack either

“So, not a dream. But why are you here?”

Edgar examines the clothes Lisa was wearing. The girl was wearing long pants, a jacket and also carrying a large backpack.

“Once you left home, I got job information from my college friend first, and I decided to wander in the city,”.

After Edgar left the village, Lisa established herself to put an end to her grief at the death of her father. Lisa wants to take back her life.

According to Lisa, there is no hope of living in a drought-stricken village. Even the land in his father's field is now hardened can not be planted.

At first, Lisa also did not expect to see Edgar again. Coincidentally he was on a bus and saw Edgar being beaten by a gang of thugs.

However, as soon as Lisa got off the bus, the thugs had left Edgar's body unconscious on the side of the road.

Now Lisa threw a glance at Edgar who was sitting pensively. He held out a bottle of mineral water that Edgar immediately gulped down.

“Why did you let yourself get beat up by thugs?”

“They took the money you gave,” said Edgar in an angry tone to think back to the money in the bag.

Lisa raises her eyebrows, “Then? Why don't you just let it go? Your life is more important than that money.”

“That money is a gift from you. I know you're having trouble getting money, too. Where might I just give up,” said Edgar fiery that made Lisa review smile without Edgar noticing.

Then Lisa looked around. The day was slowly getting dark, they had to find a place to stay at least to sleep tonight.

Fortunately, Lisa who had studied in the city had experience looking for a cheap rental place. He and Edgar boarded a bus to a shanty, densely populated suburb.

*

*

*

After a long negotiation, Lisa and Edgar find a narrow contract in an alley that only a motorcycle can pass.

Only that contract fits in the bag, plus it's night and their bodies are very tired.

Lisa opened the door, then gave a glance around the room.

The actual white floor looked gray as it was enveloped by thick dust and cobwebs that lay around every corner.

“At least, the bathroom is clean,” Lisa said after checking the bathroom section.

“Yes, but we have to clean up before going to bed,” added Edgar to poke dust attached to the wall.

“No problem. This contract is narrow, so it definitely does not take long.”

The animal also seems to be aware of Lisa's whereabouts, then moves closer. Then Lisa shouted loudly and reflexively hugged Edgar's body very tightly.

“What?” Edgar asked in astonishment.

“A-there t-mouse,” Lisa said stammering while pointing at the rodents not far from them.

Lisa's hands were tightly coiled around Edgar's waist and buried her face in the man's chest. Lisa doesn't realize that the person she's hugging is Edgar.

Edgar chuckles, “Facing the wolf you dare, the time is only a mouse you fear.”

Edgar stomped his feet to repel the rat, but what happened was that the rat was getting closer to the two of them and making Edgar yell.

*

*

*

In the morning greeting, all night Lisa can not sleep well because it is still haunted by the shadow of a rat curse. Today is her job interview day.

Lisa shut her mouth that wanted to yawn wide. In front of him Edgar stretched his body. He also could not sleep well but the difference was that last night he slept on a floor covered only with carpet.

“Edgar, how about you also join the job interview?”

“About them accepting me?” Edgar asked back. Considering he does not have a diploma let alone KTP.

“What's wrong if you try first, right?”

Edgar agreed. For a moment he looked at Lisa's face. Black circles were clearly visible on his white skin.

Lisa tied up her entire wave hair. She doesn't wear as much makeup as most women. However, to Edgar, Lisa always looks sweet.

Edgar followed Lisa's advice to try to apply to work at a hospital. Armed only with the ability to clean, he applied as cleaning service.

Now Lisa and Edgar are sitting next to each other facing a woman wearing thick glasses. Their hearts were pounding awaiting the decision of the woman.

Lisa has been declared to pass the interview, and from tomorrow she will be working as a receptionist. Edgar was still a consideration.

“Is there really no ID or other identifier? Then he can't work here.”

Edgar looked down, he knew for sure he would be rejected. However, Lisa insisted. He leaned over the body while linking both hands.

“Bu, I beg you. My brother has just been hit by a disaster.”

“What arrival?” the woman asked while fixing the degenerate glasses.

“Home she fires, Mom. So all personal data including ID burned out,” forced Lisa to lie so that Edgar was also accepted to work in the same place with him.

Edgar turned his head quickly at Lisa, furrowed his eyebrows and glanced at the woman who was now observing him.

“What is so right?”

Edgar nodded his head in response.

“So how, Mom? Edgar was accepted to work at this hospital, right?”

The woman let out a long sigh and glared at Lisa from behind her thick glasses.

“I feel sorry for him but rules are rules. Sorry, he can't work here.”

When he came out of the room, Edgar just lowered his head limply and he set foot along the corridor. Lisa was beside him.

“No problem. Surely out there there are still many jobs that need you.”

Edgar was silent. But both hands clenched firmly, because he was determined to find a job so as not to hitchhike on Lisa.