Arman's restraint finally snaps. He grabs Yohannes by the collar and slams him against the wall, the thin plaster shaking under the impact.
"I trusted you," Arman snarls, his face inches away. "And you conspired with that bastard Sugiarto to cheat me?"
Yohannes' hands instinctively clutch Arman's wrists, not to fight back but to steady himself. "Listen to me, listen…" he stammers, fear creeping into his voice. "I didn't know about the three weeks. I swear I didn't. And I was forced to accept the deal. It wasn't my intention to scoundrel you."
"You took a thousand dollars," Arman shoots back. "And you call that being forced?"
"It's not that simple," Yohannes says, breath uneven. "This isn't just about money. I admit it, I'm not a saint. I've done dirty things with Sugiarto before. When you're already involved that deep, you don't just walk away. You don't get to suddenly grow a conscience. I'm trapped by my own past."
