2 - The Wife

“Oh God!”

I immediately got up from my bed, and wondered how did I get home here? I was with the man just last night. And now? Wait, what happened? I was just talking to him about the money and the last thing he said was. "Oh my gosh!"

"Janiyah, what happened?"

I turned to my mother in shock as she rushed into my room. Her face was worried, maybe because of my shout. What just really happened? Because of the last thing the man said I passed out and now, I don't know how I got home.

"Are you alright? Are you feeling well?” Mom asked.

Am I feeling fine? What does she mean? I looked at my mother in confusion because of what she asked. "The man brought you here last night, he said you passed out on the way and luckily you have your ID in your bag so they know where to take you," she said , it was a cue for her that I was wondering what was happening.

Who sent me? That man or his men? Do I still need to thank him for what he did or not? Well, maybe not because I don't want to see that man again. I still remember what he said to me last night, the last words he said.

"Hey, Janiyah. I've been talking to you for a while" I was brought back to reality when my mother called me. I looked around, my father was already here.

They both just looked at me, looking confused. "Ah, I'm sorry Mom, Dad. What is that again?” I'm embarrassed, they've been talking to me for a while now.

My mother took a deep breath and shook her head. "What is happening to you? Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, Mom. I'm sorry, I'm just thinking about something but it's just a small thing," I answered her.

"It's a small thing, but you were dumbfounded earlier, we were calling your name a lot of times," my father said. I looked away, did that man treat me so badly that even I can’t talk to my parents properly.

"I'm sorry, Mom, Dad."

"We were asking if you would join us later at the hospital, to visit your sister. Your cousin Jullie is already there and she’s waiting for us because she still has work." my mother said.

I got stuck in my head, today I'm also going to visit Lucy, my sister, but I don't know if the money is in my bank account. I took out my phone first to see if my Manager had sent the money. But nothing yet, the amount of my bank account is only a little money, it is not enough for my sister's medicine and for our foods. I know my parents is not getting enough money for this too because of their jobs.

"Do you want to come or not?" My father asked.

I was ashamed to go with my parents to the hospital because I didn't have anything to give but I also needed to see Lucy to see how she was doing.

"I want to come, Dad. I'll just get dressed, I'll follow you, I'll just buy something to take to the hospital." I replied with a smile.

My mother shook her head, "no need. Your Dad bought fruit this morning. We will wait for you, just hurry up."

I nodded and did as she said. I took a shower and then got dressed quickly. I don't want my parents to wait long for me because I know they also have jobs after we go to the hospital.

When I finished, we immediately got into the car. As soon as I saw our car, I felt sad. It was broken but my father still put up with it. I told him before that I would help fix the car but it didn't happen anymore because of what happened to Lucy.

"Are you going to ride, Janiyah or are you just going to look at the car?" I immediately turned to my father. Mom and Dad were already inside, I just stood outside and watched the car. I immediately got on board.

"We're going to fix the car, Dad." I remembered that I would get a lot from what was paid last night at the auction so maybe that would be enough to give Dad a car fix.

"No." Dad shook his head. "If you have money there and you're thinking of spending it on a car, just use it for your sister. She is more important than this and besides, the car is still good, we can still get to a distant place like New York,” he explained.

I know he's just saying that so I don't have to think, but I can't help but think about it because this car is also what my father uses for work. He is a taxi driver. And I know he barely got a customers because of this car, maybe they judged that the car will broke along the road if they ride. I can see it to my Dad's face sometimes if he's not getting a lot of money and I also heard that he talked to my mother that he needs to fix the car immediately but he can't afford.

We arrived at the hospital, and were about to enter Lucy's room when my phone rang. I thought it was the Manager calling so I told Mom and Dad to answer the call first.

"Hurry up, your sister might be awake." I nodded to what Mom said.

I looked at the screen, it wasn't the Manager's name, it was just a number, so I hesitated whether to answer. No one else will call me but my family, my other friends, and the Manager. I took a deep breath and answered.

"Hello, Janiyah speaking. Who's in the line?" I asked seriously on the other line.

"Janiyah Hardin, one of my men is going there to pick you up."

What? "Who is this? What are you talking about?”

"No more questions."

I was about to answer the man in the line when he hung up the call. What the hell? I remembered the man's voice until I thought of the man last night. "Damn it! How did he know my number?”

I immediately walked towards my sister's room. I was about to open the door when my mother got out. "Where have you been? There is a man looking for you inside," she said.

A man? And even entered my sister's room. They are insane!

I immediately entered my sister's room and saw the man my mother was referring to standing seriously on the side. I also looked at my father who was just looking at the man. It is being investigated.

"Who is this man? Your boyfriend?” I was surprised by my father's question. This guy who looks like a wood is my boyfriend, he didn’t move.

"No, Dad. He is not my boyfriend. Excuse me, we'll just talk." I was about to pull the man out of the room when my mother pulled me. With my father.

"Who is that guy? Seems dangerous? Are you sure you know that? Aren't you in arrears with that man?" my mother asked one after the other.

I can't blame them if that's what they're thinking because this is the first time someone we don't know is looking for me.

"Mom, Dad. Yes, I know him. He is one of my friends.” I still have a hard time saying the word friend because it's not true. I lied a lot to my family, and this thing added up.

"Where are you going? He said earlier that he was here to pick you up?" Dad asked. I want to scream because of the annoyance I feel right now. Why did this man say that?

"We're just going somewhere important, Dad. It's work because I'm asking him for help to find a job," I explained.

"How many jobs do you have to do in a day?" Dad asked.

"Until Lucy is treated, no matter how many jobs I do. Mom, Dad. We are leaving. I'll be right back after this, don't worry about me, I assure you that I'm safe," I promised.

I waited for my parents to agree, they were still talking, wondering if I would be allowed or not until my mother nodded. "Be careful." I nodded to what my mother said and said goodbye.

The man followed me. "What does your boss want and you really need to pick me up? And, how did you know I was in the hospital?" I asked the man.

"I followed you," he answered, colder than ice.

After we got to the car, I immediately asked. "What is the name of your boss and where are you taking me?"

"You have no right to ask his name, he himself will tell you who he is."

Grumpy this guy, is just like his boss. "Where are you taking me?" I asked again. He has not yet answered my question.

"To his house, he is waiting for you there," he said the last thing and started driving.

I wanted to ask and talk to him but he didn't want to talk until we got to the big house.

“Wow, this is his house? How rich is he?” I asked but the man didn't answer. He just got out of the car and opened it for me.

Someone came to me, two girls wearing maid clothes. I knew it! Maybe I'm really a maid here and he's just joking about me becoming his wife.

"Hi, are you my colleagues?" I happily asked the two women. They looked at each other, shaking their heads in confusion.

"Follow us, Miss. We will take you to where the Master is waiting," said a woman with short hair.

Did they really call him master? I just followed the two women, I was still amazed from outside the house to inside the house. He is as rich as I expected. Many men wearing black clothes and helpers standing.

“Everyone!”

I turned to someone who was shouting, I saw the man walking towards me. He was wearing a simple shirt and pants. He's rich, but can't he afford to buy an expensive tuxedo?

I noticed that everyone paid respect, I was even surprised by what they all did so I imitated them. I bowed to pay respect to the man.

"Hey, don't do that," he said and held me. I was surprised by what he did but I was even more surprised by what he said.

"From now on, my wife will live here."