WOMEN IN GROUP SHORT STORY

1. Silent Stars

#BS

I'm Rika, 22 years old. Simple girl, factory day laborers in one area.

I walked cheerfully to the company office. It's a little late to come there, because my job wasn't done.

The clock on the phone already shows the number 20:35. Accelerate steps. The administration office will close at nine p.m.

After a knock on the door got an answer, I went in. Seeing Mr. Sumanto still sitting at his desk staring at the computer screen, my heart felt relieved. The middle-aged man raised his head to see me enter.

"What's wrong?" ask her with a slightly wrinkled forehead.

"Sorry, Sir. I haven't taken my wages this week" I said politely.

I wish I could get that money tonight, so that my sister Satria can pay for the school trip dues. Tomorrow is the last day of the sixth installment. Satria is eager to go with her schoolmates at the end of their High School. They will be going to Bali at the end of the month.

The man looked at me for a moment, before returning to his computer.

"Oh, Mrs Surti has been home since late afternoon" he said.

I was standing there confused. Isn't the finance department at the factory Mr Sumanto?

"Isn't it usually the Father who pays the factory workers?" many wonder.

"Yes, usually so. But I gave it to Bu Surti to take care of it. I still have a lot of work" the man said again, pointing to his computer.

This time he looked at me deeply, making me feel uneasy and like I was being stripped naked by his shameless eyes.

"But I need that kind of money" I muttered almost inaudibly.

It was impossible to see Satria's disappointed face. Then an idea came into my head.

"Can you lend me 500 grand? I need that now. Tomorrow when I receive the wages from Bu Surti, I pay immediately."

I pleaded with doubt. Who wants to guarantee money today? Everyone prefers to take care of themselves and not care about their surroundings.

The man smiled. I don't know why I don't like that smile. My instincts are circulating danger alarms. I told him to come home at that moment. But I have to bring that amount of money, so that Satria can pay off the installment to school tomorrow. So I stayed there.

"How much earlier? 500 grand huh? Sit down, let me check how much you're paying this week" he said. Still with a smile that makes my nape goosebumps.

"Yes, sir, 500 grand."

Although his expression made me a little nervous and uncomfortable, but I don't think Mr. Sumanto was as bad as I thought. In fact, the man immediately responded by checking the computer in front of him. So I sat waiting patiently.

"Oh, yeah. This week your income is up to a million. Diligent too, yeah."

The man was a beard. I feel relieved. The income will still be left after being used to pay debts to Mr. Sumanto tomorrow. I looked at him expectantly.

"Unfortunately my money is in my wallet. If you really need it, come with me to the atm at the end of the road, how?" tanyakanya.

Doubt has. I know atm at that intersection isn't that far. But the direction is opposite to the way home. And there's not a lot of angkots from there heading to my house at this hour. If it goes during the day, no problem. But it's getting late.

"If you don't want to, yes. I just want to help."

I'm still shrouded in worry. Between following, or seeing my sister disappointed.

Seeing that I was silent, the man tidied up the table, turned off the computer and took his car keys near the pencil box that contained the old pen and marker.

I panicked to see him standing up. "Boyou want to go home?" my many.

"Yes. It's almost nine o'clock. Because of you, I canceled overtime tonight." The man put on a bent face and walked to the door.

I could only be glued to the spot, watching him leave. "How is this?" I thought while biting my lips.

"Hey! Do you want to go home or sleep there?" the man was impatient. He was ready to lock the door.

Even though my legs were lax, I forced them to follow him out of the room as well. I stared at the tall and cold factory fence listlessly. Little people like me often don't have much of a choice.

I regretted the stupidity this afternoon. Supposedly when I was told that the wage was liquid, I went straight to the office and took it. But work was on, so I postponed it until it was all over.

"Here, go home! Take the pay tomorrow morning to Bu Surti!" said Mr. Sumanto. The man walked to the parking lot.

"Wait, Sir. Let me take it to the atm. I need that money, tonight," I said, looking down, hoping he wouldn't cancel his offer.

"Yes, come in. It's been a really big night!" sergeant Pak Sumanto while unlocking the car with the remote he held.

The car was out of the factory. Turned in the opposite direction to my house. I was hoping to worry. Somehow my body felt cold, while my heart was beating with a strong bang. I was uncomfortable and a little scared with that guy in the car.

The distance of the factory with the intersection was about one kilometer. There are lots of trees around the factory. The place was very quiet at night. Except in such a factory it makes no difference day to night. The machines keep turning 24 hours.

"Because it's late, try to call your girlfriend to pick her up" suggested Mr. Sumanto.

I'm down. My boyfriend is there, but he works in another city. There's no way to ask him to come here. "Nothing. I can go home by myself" I said boldly.

"Oh." That's all the man said.

In anxiety, I felt that the intersection was getting further away. And time moves very slowly, like being trapped in a time machine.

Finally the building was also visible. A sense of relief runs through my heart again.

"Just wait here. I look over there. Danger you night-night stands outside the car!" he said after parking the car.

I nodded obediently. Then think of how to go home later. From the window, I saw no angkot passing that night. Looks like I'll have to walk to get the angkot from the other intersection at the end of the factory wall.

Before long the man entered again with a frown. "His ATM is under repair!" said. His eyes looked at the street, trying to think.

I haven't had time to process that info because I really hope the money is there.

"Ah, there's the same atm near the square!" sisi fast. His face looks bright. Then look at me who is still silent and thinking.

"Hows it? If you want to take it, let's go there now. If you don't want to, you can come down here and go home! I'm fucking sleepy!" said annoyed.

Ah, never mind ... It is also a long way from the factory. Maybe if from the crowded square, can still be found angkot to go home. That's what I thought when I nodded my head at him.

"What does your nod mean? Come with me, or come down?" tanyanya.

"Follow to the atm, sir," I replied quickly.

"Yes already!" The sound of Mr. Sumanto rang out.

The car went back. After passing through a long row of houses, we passed through a fork in the road. There was no sign of the car turning there.

"Why not turn there, sir? Isn't it closer through there?" I said remind.

"Didn't you see any sign of road repair there!"

I automatically looked back. But that intersection is far away. I can't see anything anymore.

"Why? You don't trust me?" ask her in a harsh tone.

I heard that sniffle again. It doesn't feel good to have troubled him these nights. So I just kept quiet and hoped the car would turn at the next intersection.

We went back through the crossroads, but the car was still going. I became dumbfounded. All I know is that the town square is on the right.

"Sir, we should turn there, not--"

"You're such a fuss. Or put it this way, you're the one driving so fast!" rough snaps.

The loud noise made me shrink in the car seat. The car is moving a little faster than before. My anxiety appeared again. I took a vibrating cell phone. I got a message from my sister. Satria asked why I hadn't come home.

But Mr. Sumanto grabbed the phone before I could type a message and throw it back.

I heard a simultaneous click on all the doors of the car. I realized something. The door was locked and the car was actually speeding towards the deserted outer streets of the city. The danger alarm that I just thought was true.

"I don't borrow money, sir. I'll just get down here" I said in a panic.

I tried to move to the back of the car to retrieve the phone he had thrown. I need to get away from her.

"Sit down really! Do you want us to crash!" The clash was accompanied by a movement of his hand which pulled my hand hard. I fell again in the front seat. My head hit hard on the dashboard and the window glass and made me dizzy.

~Connected