6. ANYA'S SECRET

Anya hoped that what happened to her last night was just a dream, but she realized that everything was real, as evidenced by the incoming message from Mr. Dimas.

[Hi Anya, don't forget you owe me an answer, remember tomorrow is the last day.]

It was still early in the morning, Anya's mood had been ruined by reading a message from Dimas, her lecturer seemed to urge Anya to immediately give an answer to his offer yesterday, even though there was still one more day, namely tomorrow.

Without replying to the message from the lecturer, Anya immediately closed the application with the white phone icon on her cellphone, she better take care of something else than that unimportant message.

"Morning, Mom!"

"Morning dear, how come you're not ready for class?" asked Mrs. Ani. 

"Anya doesn't have class today, Mom."

"Why, An? Aren't you usually like this, girl?"

"Anya, she's not feeling well, Mom, so today she's excused from class, Mom."

Mrs. Ani, who was making the batter for the caramel sponge, immediately washed her hands and touched Anya's forehead.

"It's not hot or warm, An! What's wrong with you?"

"Anya's body is aching all over, Mom, it's okay if Anya takes a day off once in a while, Mom." Anya said like that, actually it was all a lie, today she didn't want to go to campus, because she was lazy to meet Mr. Dimas, let alone Angel who had deceived her.

"Well, whatever you want, An, I can't stop you. It's just my advice, if you're not really sick, have an important need, a disaster or something very urgent, don't skip class, dear. It's not mom and dad who pay for your tuition, but don't get used to that bad habit, kiddo, it will be your own loss."

"Yes mom, Anya knows that what mom said is true, but Anya really feels sore and tired mom, maybe because she came home late last night." Anya could not possibly be telling the truth that she was fine, but her soul and mind were not in good condition, since since last night, Anya kept thinking about Mr. Dimas' offers and threats.

"That's why don't come home at night, Nak, besides being dangerous, it also makes you tired."

"Yes ma'am, next time Anya won't come home late at night again, just last night."

"That's good then, here's your cellphone."

"What for mom?" asked Anya pretending to forget her mother's request last night. 

"Mom wants to call Anita, you don't have to forget the promise last night."

"Oohh, Anya almost forgot Mom, so here's the cellphone."

"You just wait here, let me talk to Anita alone," Mrs. Ani ordered, forbidding Anya to follow her.

"Yes Mom," Anya said obediently.

Mrs. Ani took Anya's cell phone to the living room which was not far from the kitchen, as their house was not big, so Anya could hear bits and pieces of the conversation between her mother and Anita.

"Oh, I see Anita, that's it then, I'm sorry for disturbing your time," said Mrs. Ani who was heard by Anya.

"How, Mom?" asked Anya as if she didn't know what her mother and Anita were talking about.

"Yes, Anita said that the dress you wore last night belongs to a friend of yours, he is very rich and kind."

"Well, what Anya said, Mom, I don't believe Anya."

"Hehe, sorry honey, I just need to make sure before accepting something."

"No problem, Mom."

~~~

No problem can be solved by choosing to hide, but must be faced.

After yesterday Anya chose to ask for permission to take a day off due to illness, fortunately the lecturer was kind, not killer like Dimas. Today, Anya went back to class, not only because it was the last day Dimas gave her to give an answer to the man's offer, but Anya also didn't want to miss today's course material.

When the course Anya was studying today was over, she and Anita intended to go to the cafeteria. As usual, the two friends walked while talking.

"Try to explain to me, An, what is the reason why you told me to lie to Lo's mother," said Anita, she needed an explanation from Anya.

"I had something to do, Nit, so I came home late at night, and it turned out that mom wasn't asleep yet."

"So, what's the connection with the expensive dress you said?"

"For some reason, the dress I was wearing ripped, Nit, luckily a kind person bought me the dress, even though it was expensive."

"Why did it rip, An? You're okay, right? Does this have anything to do with the job offer from Angel yesterday?" asked Anita, who had been suspicious of Angel since yesterday.

Anya who heard Anita mention Angel's name, made Anya immediately look around them, she was afraid that if there was Angel, that woman was very cunning, she might reveal everything to Anita.

"No, Nit. So, last night after taking care of something, while on the road I fell off the motorcycle because I avoided a cat that suddenly passed by, finally my skirt was torn and the shirt on my elbow was also torn."

"So?"

"As I said earlier, a kind person helped me and bought me that expensive dress."

"How expensive was it, An? How come your mom doesn't believe me?"

"It's really expensive, Nit, it's a dress from A&A boutique."

"What, that's a boutique that actresses go to, An, you're really lucky to meet that person," Anita said.

What luck, Nit, I'm suffocating from hearing his crazy threats and offers. Anya could only say it to herself, for now, she wasn't ready to tell Anita or her parents the truth. Although Anya was annoyed by Dimas' threats to take advantage of her misfortune, she honestly felt lucky that night that Dimas helped her, otherwise she might have lost her chastity and fallen victim to being raped by three men.

"That's it, Nit."

"You haven't told me what job Angel gave you yesterday, An?"

"Heemm⸺"

"Anya!!!" someone called out to Anya.

*****