"What? Is that true? Then how is this, Zara? Where should I go?" I said, panicking. My hands were shaking so hard the phone almost fell.
"For the time being, you'd better stay at my house first. It will be safer for you. And Bahadir can find a place to stay near my complex. So that we can be safe from them," replied Zara, her voice serious.
"But what about your parents, Zara?" I said. I was afraid to trouble her family.
"You don't worry, at my house there is only Auntie Asih. This morning my mother went to Grandma's house again. Maybe she will be home in a month or so. Meanwhile, my father is on duty outside the island now, in Kalimantan," Zara replied.
I told my lover that I was being sought by the police because I was considered a missing person. My photo was on national TV news. Because of that, we both agreed to move out of the hotel immediately. Because if we stayed there, sooner or later the police would track our whereabouts. And this was also dangerous for Bahadir. My lover could be accused of kidnapping me. He is a foreigner, a Turkish citizen. It would be a big problem if the police found a Turkish man with a missing Javanese village girl in a hotel.
Before the news spread more widely, we finally checked out of the hotel in a hurry. We didn't even pack properly. Zara told us to wait on the side road near the airport, as she would pick us up. After a few minutes, Zara's car arrived, a white Honda Brio. I and Bahadir quickly got into the car, putting our suitcases in the trunk.
On the way to Zara's house, Zara kept looking in the rearview mirror. Jakarta traffic was busy. Motorbikes everywhere. Every black car looked like the same car to us. We were paranoid.
"There seems to be a car behind us following us, Sri," Zara said, looking panicked in the rearview mirror. Her voice was trembling.
"Really, Zara? Could it be Anton's car? I seem to have seen that car, Zara," I said to Zara, turning my head back. My heart stopped.
"We have to be safe. Let's take a longer route, not direct to my house. Make sure no one follows," Bahadir said calmly, but his jaw was tight. He was protective.
Zara drove carefully, taking a longer route, turning into a small alley that only locals knew, then waiting behind a large delivery truck. The black car passed us, going straight. It turned out it was not Anton's car, just a similar black car. We were so paranoid because we were scared.
Then we turned back towards Zara's house in South Jakarta.
Suddenly Zara's phone rang loudly in the car. It turned out it was Anton who called Zara. The name "Anton - Playboy Kampus" appeared on the screen.
"Hello, Zara? I already know everything. It turns out you were the one who came up with this idea. I'll be sure to find you guys. You'll see. You can't hide Sri forever," said Anton threateningly, his voice loud enough that I could hear it from the back seat.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand what you mean, Ton," replied Zara, pretending not to understand, trying to sound innocent.
"Don't play dumb, Zara. You were the one who picked up Sri to run away from the proposal, right? You were the one who gave Sri all this idea. Admit it, Zara," Anton said with emotion and snapped at her.
"Okay. Alright! Yes, this is indeed our plan. I won't let you ruin my friend's future again. Do you think I don't know who you are, Ton? And remember, Ton, it's no longer a secret that you're not a good man. I know what you did to Lia. You ruined her future. Remember Lia, Ton? My best friend Lia? Think about it," Zara said, revealing the man's crimes, shouting with anger while driving.
"What? Are you kidding me? What evidence do you have? You don't have any, do you? Don't try to slander and threaten me, Zara. I'm not afraid in the slightest. My uncle is the village head. I can do anything," said Anton arrogantly.
"We'll see who will win? Remember, I also have proof of what you did. Try me," replied Zara firmly and full of emotion.
Then their conversation was cut off because Anton turned off his cell phone call angrily.
Arriving at Zara's house, a middle-aged woman appeared in front of the house, sweeping the yard. It was Auntie Asih, who was like a second mother to Zara, who had taken care of her since she was little. Zara's house was big and beautiful, with a high fence and a garden full of flowers, very different from my half-bamboo house.
We finally entered the house. The AC was cool.
"Sri and Bahadir, this is Auntie Asih. Auntie Asih is the one who has taken care of me since I was little. She is like my second mother," said Zara.
"Welcome, Miss Zara and Mr. Bahadir. Please, please come inside. Let me help carry your things, dear," said Auntie Asih with a soft Javanese accent, smiling warmly at us. In Javanese we call young girls 'Ndok' which means dear, like honey.
"Yes, thank you, Auntie Asih," I said politely, bowing my head.
"Not at all, dear. You are family here. Come, come, eat first. I made fried bananas, still hot," Auntie Asih replied.
In a different place, that morning my father Mr. Poniman was seen talking with my mother Mrs. Warsinah on the terrace of our small house. The morning was quiet after the chaos yesterday.
"Sir, shouldn't we just cancel Sri's match with Anton? Let Sri quickly return home and gather with us again, sir. I miss and worry about Sri, sir. You should be calm and put an end to everything. I'm tired, sir," Mrs. Warsinah said to her husband, her eyes swollen from crying all night.
"I can't, dear. Sri has tarnished the face of the village head and all our family and also the family of the village head. You are still defending that impudent child. Later when the money runs out she will also come home. Already calm down. Leave everything to Anton. Let him look for Sri," said Mr. Poniman, his face hard. He was still confused, still thinking debt would be solved by marriage.
Suddenly a man's voice came and called Mr. Poniman from the front gate. It was loud and arrogant. What turned out to be the village head, Anton's uncle, Mr. Suryo, coming with two big men.
"Good morning, sir, my purpose in coming here is to provide details of your debts to me. These are the details, please read it and sign it," the village head said, throwing a pile of papers onto the small wooden table on the terrace.
When he saw it, Mr. Poniman seemed surprised because the amount of the debt was very large.
"What is this, Mr. Suryo? 200 million rupiah? However, my debt is not that much, sir. It's too big. How can it be 200 million?" Mr. Poniman said, looking shocked, his hands shaking.
"Do you remember? Every time I gave money to pay for your children's school fees? And also to meet the needs of your family every month? For Endang's wedding, for Ningsih's baby, for your wife's medicine? It all counts, sir. Plus interest, sir. Today is the deadline, sir. And you have signed the agreement last year. If Mr. Poniman cannot pay off the debts, then this house and your land behind will be confiscated instead," said the village head proudly, smiling evilly.
"Please sir, give us time to pay off all our debts. I promise to pay it off. Please don't take our house, sir. Where will we live?" Mr. Poniman said pleadingly to Mr. Suryo, almost kneeling.
"Mr. Poniman can't possibly pay off those debts, the amount is too big for you. You are a poor farmer. If you want the debts to be paid off, the only way is to marry Sri to Anton as soon as possible. It is Anton who will pay off your debts to me. He has promised to pay all 200 million. Therefore, Sri must be found and married to Anton. If not, we will confiscate this house along with your land this week," said the village head giving a choice, a cruel choice.
"Sir, we are indeed a poor family. But we will not sacrifice our daughter as collateral. She is not a doll that can be used at will. She is not an animal to be sold. We would rather live on the streets than sell our daughter just because of my husband's debt. She is our blood. We really respect you. But what is your reply to us? Sir, it is better for you to leave now from our house," said Mrs. Warsinah to the village head, suddenly brave. She stood up, protecting her husband, even though her body was shaking. Mother's love made her brave.
"Remember, Mr. Poniman! Your debts must be paid off immediately. You have three days. Or I will bring the police," the village head said as he walked away leaving them, kicking the small flower pot in front of the house.
"You are very brave with our son Sri, what's wrong with Sri, sir? You are a bad father with your own biological child," Mrs. Warsinah said to her husband in tears after the village head left.
"Never mind, dear, don't talk too much, the most important thing is now we are looking for Sri. And immediately marry her to Anton. Then all our problems will be solved," said Mr. Poniman with an innocent face, still not understanding, still trapped in debt.
"I can't understand it, you have the heart, Father. You don't have a heart," Mrs. Warsinah said while stroking her chest, crying.
It turned out that all this time Mr. Poniman had owed that much to the village head. The money was for school fees, wedding, medicine, but also he liked to play cards behind the village hall. He lost every time. He borrowed more and more to cover his losses. A debt trap. He didn't mean to sell his daughter, but debt made him desperate and blind.
***
That afternoon, Zara and I were talking in the living room while watching television. Bahadir was in the other room praying. Auntie Asih made us hot tea and fried bananas.
"Dear, you look pale, dear. You haven't eaten since morning? Come, eat fried bananas, still hot. I made with love. In village we eat this when sad, to make heart warm again," Auntie Asih said, putting plate in front of me.
"Thank you, Auntie, you are so kind," I said, tears coming. Auntie Asih reminded me of my mother.
"Don't cry, dear. Everything will be okay. God will help," Auntie Asih said, stroking my hair like mother.
Suddenly I saw someone peeking out of the window from the garden. A shadow of a man. I saw his eyes looking inside.
However, after I ran to the window, no one was there. The garden was empty, only the mango tree swaying.
"Zara, I saw someone outside peeking through the glass window just now, but when I looked, there was no one at all. Could it be Anton, Zara?" I said to Zara, scared, holding Zara's arm tightly. My trauma was coming back.
"It can't be Anton, Sri. Anton doesn't know my current house. He only knows my old house in Bantul. So there's no way he's here to spy on us. My new house in Jakarta, Anton has never been here. Come on, Sri, don't worry! I'm with you. And Bahadir is here. Calm down! You are safe here," Zara said, reassuring me, hugging me. But I saw Zara also looked worried and walked to check the front gate, locking it twice, and asked the security of the complex to patrol more.
That night, I looked at diamond ring on finger. Heavy. Not because of carat, but because of problem.
Missing person on TV. Debt 200 million. House will be confiscated in 3 days. Father's heart. Anton threatening. Shadow in garden.
I was safe in Jakarta, but family in Bantul was not safe.