CHAPTER 2: THE DEBT

Amber was awakened by the noise coming downstairs. It sounded as if some people were fighting.

She immediately stood up and tied her hair up before going downstairs. The moment she heard Amelie's voice, she rushed until she finally reached the living room where Amelie was arguing with two men who looked like goons. One of them were holding Amelie's arm and Amelie was trying her best to get away from him. 

"Who are you?! What are you doing with my sister?!" she yelled as she tapped the hand of the man who was gripping tightly on Amelie's arm and pulled her to her side. 

"A-Amber, I-I'll fix this. D-Don't worry about this..." Amelie said to her with her eyes brimming with tears. 

"Huh? But these guys are hurting you. What is really happening here? And who are you?" she turned to the men again.

"Are you her sister?"

Amber nodded her head. "That's right. What do you want from us?"

"If you are her sister, then you probably know about her debt?"

"D-Debt? W-What debt are you talking about?" Amber shifted her gaze to Amelie. "Amelie, what is he talking about? What debt?"

"I-I'll deal with them, Amber. Just go back to your room, please..." Amelie pleaded.

"Your sister's boyfriend, Ryan, borrowed $500,000 from us."

"What?! Then why are you coming after my sister? Ryan already broke up with her!"

The man laughed sarcastically. "Ryan and her were the ones who borrowed the money from us. Now, that dickhead ran away."

"I-I'll pay you even if it takes ten years, okay? I just can't pay it all immediately. Please, leave now," Amelie pleaded.

"Are you insane?! We're not doing installments, you fool!" the man with red hair said as he pushed Amelie away.

Amber quickly ran towards Amelie and helped her stand up before facing the men. "Don't you dare hurt my sister!"

"We want you to give us $500,000. Fine, we'll give you a week."

"A week?! Where can we even get such huge amount of money?! We're not even rich!" Amber exclaimed.

"That is not our fucking problem anymore. If you can't pay us, then maybe we should just kill your little bratty sister."

"No! Don't hurt her!"

"Then pay us! You can never escape from us. Wherever you go, we would be able to locate you. If you try to escape, we really are going to kill the two of you."

"We'll pay you! No matter what it takes, we're going to pay you! Please, go now!" Amelie yelled.

"Just make sure you'll do it. If not, you know what's going to happen."

Amber held her sister tightly until the goons finally left.

"I'm sorry..." Amelie suddenly whispered with tears filling her eyes. "It's my fault... Ryan told me he badly needed the money, so I agreed on borrowing money from that gang with him. I never thought he would escape and make me pay for that instead. That damn bastard..."

"Ssshhh... Enough now... We're going to find a way to pay them..."

"How can we pay them? They have only given us a week to pay $500,000! They'll probably kill us, Amber!"

Amber shook her head. "No, they won't. I'll find a way. Maybe I can borrow some money to all of my friends. Also, I have saved some money."

"But would that be enough? Enough to pay $500,00?"

"I'll find a way, Amelie. Just don't worry about it. You know what? Why don't you just take a bath now? You still have to go to work, right?"

"But---

"Come on now, Amelie. Nothing's gonna happen if we stand here and do nothing. Just trust me, we'll get through this," said Amber as she wiped the tears from her sister's eyes. 

Amelie just nodded her head. "I'm sorry, Amber. I'm sorry for being so foolish and causing another problem to you..."

"Stop apologizing. We only have each other now, who else would help us? Prepare to go to work now because I also have to go to work. I'll try to borrow some money from my friends, too."

"Me too. I'll ask my friends if they can let me borrow some."

"Amelie."

"Huh?"

Amber hesitated at first. She took a deep breathe before speaking. "D-Do you think we should sell this house already?"

"What? No, Amber. We promised that we will never sell this house no matter what happens. This is the only thing that mom and dad left for us. I'd rather die than sell this house."

"You're right. We promised that."

The house they are living in is also the house their parents worked hard for. They promised they would never sell it even if they decide to have their own families. Amber cursed herself for thinking about it. Maybe she was just desperate to pay her sister's debt that's why that crossed her mind. 

"What?! Your sister owed someone $500,000?! Oh god, Amber! Even if we work so hard, it would take us at least fifteen years to earn that much! You know what? Why don't you just sell your sister since she's the one who caused you that problem?"

"Riley..."

"Just kidding. I'll try borrowing some money to my other friends, too. Not to discourage you, but I don't think we can make $500,000 in one week. Unless we sell our bodies to the devil."

Amber heaved a deep sigh. "That really sounds impossible, but I will do whatever it takes. If we can't pay them, they would kill me and Amelie."

"And now you need to set aside your dreams again for your little sister."

"It's alright. After all, my dream is to be with my sister and give her a good life."

That's the truth. Amber doesn't mind sacrificing everything for Amelie. She would do whatever it takes just to give her a good life. Because for her, Amelie is her life and her will to continue living. She would do everything for her, even if that would mean she would have to sacrifice everything in her.