Qeiza still couldn’t free her waist from Chin Hwa’s arm wrap. Their eyes glued each other. It caused her feel uneasier. The rhythm of her heartbeats was now like the beat of Tamatam. It was a kind of a Dol hitting techniques—a traditional musical instrument from Bengkulu. The tempo was fast and constant. It’s just that speed was not born from a cheerful mood, but rather anxious. Someone knocked the door loud enough. Qeiza was grateful. The sound of the knocks made Chin Hwa pulled free his hand. Qeiza quickly stepped backwards then intended to go out of her boss’ room. “Good morning, Miss Kim!” Freud greeted Qeiza. He didn’t expect that she was with the boss. Qeiza just smiled slightly and nodded. She was standing on the left side of Chin Hwa’s desk. “You got it?” asked Chin Hwa. He turned away his gaze from the computer screen to Freud’s face. How smart he pretended. “Here you are!” Freud gave him a flashdisk. “Did you watch it?” “Yeah.” “Then, you know what you have to do ne
Friends will not protect you forever. Once in a while, they are the ones who stab you from behind. *** Qeiza was cleansing her face from her make-up. Her cell phone had been ringing. She ignored it. She was lazy to move from the mirror just to get back there again. “Who’s that?” Qeiza grumbled. Her device was continuously singing. It forced her to get up. Qeiza glanced at the wall clock. It was almost midnight. Her memory immediately drifted to Abbas. 'Wanna borrow some money again?' Qeiza thought. She reached her phone reluctantly. Her forehead furrowed. It’s not Abbas’ name that popped up on the screen. Qeiza lowered her hands. Her bones felt like being powerless instantly. “What else now?” Qeiza was really frustrated facing Ansel’s attitudes. He never had the term of give up in his life. Being annoyed because her female routine was disrupted, Qeiza threw her phone onto the bed. She certainly had muted the ringtone. Just let Ansel call her as he pleased. Later, he would get b
A man and a woman can never be close friends until adulthood. If they can be, maybe it’s only one in a thousand. *** Qeiza was awake. She opened her eyes, but could see nothing. She found out that she was in a dark room. She was lying on the floor with hands and feet tied. Qeiza tried to sit up. Her head felt dizzy. She shook her head, trying to shake off the remnants of the drug that was still affecting her brain. 'Where is this?' Qeiza thought. She stood on her kneels. The room felt stuffy and dump. It was like it hadn’t been used for a long time. 'Is this an old warehouse?' Qeiza sharpened her sight. She hoped she could recognize the things available in that room. She was lucky for finding that the moonlight seeped in from the upper part of the wall on her right side. She rushed looking around before the moonlight hid back behind the cloud. Qeiza was aware that right now she was in a basement. No wonder the temperature was very different from the normal room. Her eyes rolle
It was almost eleven at night. Chin Hwa had just arrived home. He turned his head to the left and to the right, stretching his stiff neck muscles. He slammed himself onto the matrass. He spread his hands like a flying bird. He let his feet dangle on the edge of the bed. “Anin!” His memory about Qeiza made him sit up back. He took his cell phone out of the pocket. With his wide smile, he called her number. The call wasn’t connecting. Every time he redialled, he could only hear the operator’s voice. It’s not usual for Qeiza to ignore his call. All of sudden Chin Hwa felt restless. He took off his sweaty clothes and changed them. Because the weather was getting colder, he wore a thicker jacket. Meanwhile, in the basement, Qeiza was still struggling to untie the rope on her hands. Her eyes occasionally watched two of Aleta’s men. They were getting closer. “Step away!” The round-faced man chased away Adnan who was standing there, putting up his body to protect Qeiza. Instead of obeyi
The roar of the ambulance siren broke the quietness of the night. The ambulance ran in high speed. It raced with the time to save Chin Hwa’s life. Qeiza didn’t let go of Chin Hwa’s hand for a second. He was still unconscious. In silence, Qeiza kept praying, hoping her fiancé would be alright. No matter if their wedding had to be postponed. The most important thing was that Chin Hwa was safe. Ansel arrived at the spot when all the tense had ended. Just some policemen were still there, putting up the police line. “Shit! I’m always late.” Ansel hit the empty space. He had warned his ex-wife about the danger that harmed her life. Nevertheless, Qeiza seemed not to take it seriously. He also had sent someone to watch her. Unluckily, he still lost fast. Ansel went back to his car. “Follow the ambulance!” He ordered the taxi driver he rented. The taxi went away. “Faster!” Ansel was impatient. He was really worried about Qeiza. Ansel reached into his pocket. He pulled his phone out of th
“Oppa ….” Qeiza whispered while opening her eyes. She was upset when she could not find Dae Hyun by her side. “You’re awake, dear,” said Alina. “Thank goodness!” “Aunty, why are you here?” As long as she remembered, before she lost her consciousness, she was with Dae Hyun. “It’s not the point, dear,” said Alina. “How are you feeling?” Qeiza felt all over her body sore. Her bones were like crushed, hard to move. “Thank goodness you’re awake, Qei,” said Ansel. He had just come into the room. Qeiza was getting surprised. Why her ex-husband and ex-mother-in-law accompanied her. Where was Dae Hyun? Ansel moved aside when the doctor and nurse wanted to check Qeiza. He gave them the space to do their jobs. “You just need to take a rest, Miss,” said the doctor. “Within two days, you may go home.” “But, Doc—” “It’s for your sake, Qei,” interrupted Ansel. “Don’t argue!” The doctor and the nurse left the room after writing a prescription for Qeiza. Qeiza tried to sit up. She didn’t wa
If life gives you a misery, it will also prepare a pleasant surprise for you. Just keep patient till the time comes. *** “Can’t you drive faster?” Ansel mumbled on the back seat. Xander glanced at Ansel’s ugly face through the rear-view mirror. “This is a maximum speed that government recommends.” Ansel grumbled unclearly. It made Xander show his mocking smile while averting the focus of his attention back to the street. “Do you know where Chin Hwa’s uncle’s house?” asked Xander. “It’s too late to find it out now,” said Ansel. “Just go straight to the moslem cemetery. I’m sure he’s going to be buried there.” Xander drove his car to the nearest moslem cemetery from the business center district. When they arrived there, most of the mourners had left. Ansel strode entering the cemetery. His eyes moved wildly to find Qeiza among the crowds of the people who were leaving that place. He was not aware that Qeiza was walking out of the right side of the cemetery gate. They crossed pat
People will forget a thousand of your kindness just because of one mistake you do. Thus, keep doing good. *** Dae Hyun stood up on the top of the stairs, looking downstairs. He was keeping his eyes on Qeiza and the spouse talking in the living room. He wanted to listen to their conversation, but he was too far away. He just could guess from the facial expressions of those two guests. They looked disappointed. After they went away, Dae Hyun came closer to Qeiza. “So, you refused their request?” asked Dae Hyun. He sat on the opposite of Qeiza. Qeiza nodded. “But, I’ll escort them to the airport,” she said. “You don’t mind, do you?” “When’s?” “Tonight.” “Then, I’ll go with you.” “No need, Oppa,” said Qeiza. “I’ll be alright.” “This is Paris, Ae, It’s not too safe for women.” Dae Hyun stood up. “If you don’t allow me to go with you, it’ll be better for you to cancel your intention.” Dae Hyun stared seriously at Qeiza. He was really not willing to let her go to the airport with n