[5]

“Arini!”

The girl looked up. She was a bit surprised that she had walked too far to the edge. There was a very murky and black water channel there. If no one had called out to her earlier, Arini would have been wallowing in the drain water by now.

“Uh, Mrs. Mar.” Arini smiled awkwardly.

“Are you daydreaming? It's still morning, you know.”

The woman who was called Mrs. Mar by Arini only spluttered. Her eyes scanned Arini's appearance this morning. There was nothing strange, what was strange was Arini's shuffling walk. It was like she was carrying a heavy burden, even though if Ibu Mar thought about it, this Arini worked well.

How could she not have money in the middle of the month?

Throughout Arini's stay at Mrs. Sinta's kost, the girl was always cheerful. Greeting anyone she met along the neighborhood. Sometimes she would accompany them for a short talk before going to work, just to tell them how crowded Jakarta was. Or listening to the mothers' chatter about the rising prices of necessities.

Sometimes, Arini brings breakfast even though it contains pastries to the women who gather in the field. Most of them gather to feel the hot morning sun. Sunbathing is the term. All the while bringing babies and toddlers. In fact, because this activity is routinely carried out in the morning, there is a group of other mothers who use it for gymnastics together.

Useful, right? Instead of gossiping about each other, telling each other about their neighbors, envying each other because one neighbor can buy an LED TV while the other can only buy a used TV. Or buying the latest trendy motorcycle.

“Not daydreaming, really.” Arini grinned.

"I didn't see you sluggish before. Scolded by the boss?”

Arini didn't know what to say. Her boss was nice. But it seemed like a reasonable excuse for her current situation. “Yes.”

"But why are you wearing those dresses? Where did you come from? From a friend's house so early?”

Arini grimaced. Why the hell was Mrs. Mar so curious. Although they often talked and mostly wanted to know what Arini was doing, she realized that Mrs. Mar's question was also for her safety. If something bad happened to her, she could get help immediately. But sometimes those questions weren't more like excessive curiosity?

“Yes. I'm really tired. I'll go in first, Mrs. Mar. I want to rest.”

“Tired?” Mrs. Mar frowned. “What are you tired of? Is there such a thing as exercising in a dress?”

She let Arini continue walking towards her boarding house. Her name was Marsiah, known as Mrs. Mar. An old-timer in RW 2. Her house was next to Mr. RT Jamil. A trusted source of gossip throughout RW 2. Nothing came out of Mrs. Mar's mouth except facts.

That's why she was curious why Arini looked different from usual. “What's wrong with that child?”

“Eh Mrs. Mar. Where are you going?” greeted Mrs. Entin.

“Oh, I'm going to buy some spinach. I was saying hello to Arini. She seemed to be daydreaming. Poor child, if I hadn't reprimanded her earlier, she would have fallen into the gutter."

“Eh, Arini was like that. Usually that child is always cheerful.”

"My feeling was right. Arini must have a problem.”

Mrs. Entin laughed. “Yes, at least it's not far from her boyfriend. Who's that handsome one? The one who often comes to the boarding house to pick Arini up on a red motorcycle?”

“Reyhan.”

“That's it!”

Mrs. Mar nodded in agreement, although not one hundred percent. The problem was that Arini's face was a mixture of disappointment and sadness and something had happened. But what?

Back to Arini who continued to walk unsteadily. Wanting to force a smile, her lips looked very stiff. Ugh, talking about lips. She felt numbness on her lower lip. Did Richard suck on it too much?

Oh my god! Why do you think of the face of a man who is no longer young? Especially when he's on top of her. A combination of handsome but arousing, Arini could enjoy for a whole night. Not to mention his athletic body. Arini was even allowed to touch his boxy chest and stomach. Sometimes Richard could be heard holding back his amusement but didn't tell Arini to stop. It even seemed that Arini was free to do anything on her body.

Including when Richard directed himself down Arini's body. Because Arini happily opened her thighs wide.

According to Arini, Richard looks mature at the age of fifty. On his forty-ninth birthday, Arini came because Reyhan invited her.

As well as familiarizing herself with Richard, Reyhan said so. But the party turned out to be full of important people. They only met for a moment and wished her a happy birthday. That's it. That's all. The rest of the time they both sat at the table that was available.

It didn't matter, because according to Arini, it was Richard's party. He was the main star, and it was impossible to accompany him even though he came with Reyhan.

“Duh! Take Richard's image away from my mind!” Arini complained while waving her hands in the air. The three-story cream-painted house came into view. The number 54 was engraved large on the signpost as a marker so that no packages or deliveries would get lost. Kost number 54 owned by Mrs. Sinta was never empty of residents. Apart from being cheap, Mrs. Sinta is also known to be friendly and not too fussy with her residents.

Unless suddenly the tenant does something out of the ordinary.

Like this Arini who left at night, with permission to give Reyhan a birthday cake, and instead came home in the morning. Maybe Mrs. Sinta assumed that she spent the night with Reyhan. Even though Arini had deliberately ordered the cake specially. To make it look different from the usual cake.

Reyhan can be categorized as a young man with a lot of money. His job as a finance manager in a well-known leasing company in Jakarta put him in a well-established position. He was thirty years old. He has a bachelor's degree in economics in his last name. Maybe it was also because of the influence of Richard, who is said to be a famous property entrepreneur in Indonesia. Making Reyhan's career flawless.

Many said Arini was lucky to get Reyhan. How could a man with above-average looks fall in love with a simple girl like her. Many are also jealous of Arini but what can you say? Reyhan seems to really love Arini.

Sadly, Arini believed that Reyhan had such big feelings for her.

She didn't expect Reyhan to cheat on her. If she had an affair with a coworker in Reyhan's office, maybe Arini wouldn't be so hurt. It hurts but not to the extent of being disappointed like now.

Rieka is her best friend. The friend she often confided in when she was insecure about Reyhan. Arini is only the daughter of a farmer in Jogjakarta. Her mother is an ordinary food stall owner. There is nothing special about Arini in terms of family. That's why she often feels juxtaposed with Reyhan's appearance and background.

It was Rieka who advised her not to be insecure. Don't be ashamed because everyone has advantages. Three years Reyhan and Arini have been dating, three years Arini has always shared her love story with Rieka.

And now? Rieka is with Reyhan!

Is there anything crazier than this?

There is. There, the person was in front of the gate of Arini's kost. Sitting while smoking a cigarette with a face that was both grumpy and annoying. Like he was waiting for someone to come.

“Arini!”

Damn Arini's life right now. Why did Reyhan have to be there.