"I..." Aylin lowered her head to hide the tears welling up in her eyes. And the woman seemed to be able to see the hidden sadness.
"It's okay, Aylin. If you don't mind, I have a vacant rental property. You can stay there if you want."
"But how much is the rent, Ma'am?"
"Don't worry about the rent. As it happens, the house has been empty for several months because the previous tenant went back to their hometown. It's better for you to stay there than for it to be empty and full of dust."
"Thank you, Ma'am. I'm sorry to trouble you."
"It's alright. Come on, follow me."
Aylin's heart was filled with gratitude to have met a kind woman who was willing to give her shelter. Mrs Rani's house was not far from the mosque; they arrived after a short walk. The rented house was quite small, located right next to Mrs Rani's residence.
"The house is a bit dusty because it's been empty for a long time. You can clean it. The water and electricity are working, though."
"Okay, ma'am. Thank you again."
Aylin looked at the house. For her, this place was good enough. After Mrs Rani left, she started cleaning up the dust and rubbish that was scattered around. Before she knew it, evening had turned into night.
Aylin collapsed onto the foam mattress. Cleaning the small, run-down house was quite exhausting for a heavily pregnant woman like her.
Aylin paused for a moment, gazing at the house. It was indeed sad. She lived in poverty, while the father of the child she was carrying had unimaginable wealth.
***
A few days later...
The day of Alvian and Riana's engagement finally arrived. The hotel where the event was held was already bustling with guests.
Alvian was in the middle of the room chatting with some friends. Meanwhile, Mama Veny and Oma were welcoming relatives who had arrived.
On the other side was Riana, who looked absolutely stunning tonight in her beautiful gown. She was sitting with her mother, who was said to have just arrived from abroad. Yes, the fake mother she had hired also looked very classy tonight. Riana had dressed her in expensive designer clothes and accessories that were synonymous with upper-class career women.
"Remember, be careful what you say, don't embarrass me," Riana whispered to the woman. She had emphasised the same sentence repeatedly.
"Just relax, Riana. I know what to do."
"I just want to remind you, Auntie. Don't ruin my engagement day."
"Yes, yes. Just relax, why are you so nervous?"
Riana glanced at Mama Veny and Alvian, trying to calm her nerves. Soon, they would enter the main event: the exchange of rings, which would mark the official engagement between Riana and Alvian.
"Riana, you're here." Mama Veny and Oma Titin approached Riana and her mother.
"Yes, Mum. Sorry I'm late. I was taking a long time getting ready at the salon."
"It's okay. The event is just about to start anyway."
"Oh yes, Mum, Grandma, meet my mum. She just arrived yesterday from abroad."
Mama Veny and Grandma glanced at the woman beside Riana. They greeted each other with a hug.
"I'm so glad Trisha could come to tonight's event. I thought she wouldn't be able to make it," said Mama Veny. She looked very happy to meet her future daughter-in-law.
"Yes, Veny. I was very busy because a foreign company wanted to collaborate with our company. But Riana kept contacting me. So I made time to come."
All is well! For the first meeting, everything was safe and under control. Mami Trisha played her role very well without arousing anyone's suspicion.
However, of course, even if you cover up a corpse as tightly as possible, the smell will still be noticeable. Mami Trisha, who actually came from a lower class background, was certainly amazed by the upper class's lively and glamorous party.
After the introduction, Mami Trisha was now admiring some of the celebrity guests who had arrived. She secretly asked to take photos with several celebrities. After that, she focused on the various dishes available. She had even tasted several appetising dishes.
And this did not escape the attention of Oma Titin, who was highly observant.
"Don't you find Riana's mother strange?" whispered Oma Titin.
"How is she strange, Ma'am?"
"Look over there." Oma pointed at the woman. "Her clothes are classy, but her attitude is inappropriate."
Mama Veny glanced at her future daughter-in-law. She fell silent for a moment, thinking.
"It is a bit strange, Ma'am. But never mind. Maybe it's because she's been abroad for so long that she rarely eats Indonesian food."
"That could be."
Mama Veny smiled. Although questions began to arise in her mind as she observed the strangeness of her future daughter-in-law.
***
While Riana looked very happy, Alvian had been looking gloomy since earlier. There was no trace of happiness on his face. Everything felt bland. His gaze was empty, his mind wandering. He didn't even look at Riana, who was sitting next to him.
Until finally, something managed to catch Alvian's attention. He was fixated on a figure who had been arranging things at the centre table for several minutes.
How could he not? The woman among the hundreds of guests was Aylin. Alvian stared at Aylin, who looked naturally beautiful that night. Her belly was getting bigger.
For the umpteenth time, Alvian felt something strange in his heart. Seeing Aylin struggling with her growing belly, it must be very difficult for her to do all that work.
And it wasn't just Alvian who was surprised to see Aylin. Aylin was just as surprised when she turned her head and realised that the hosts of the event were Alvian and Riana.
"So the fiancés are Mr Alvian and Miss Riana?"
Suddenly, Aylin felt her chest tighten. The father of the child in her womb was now with another woman in a position that seemed quite intimate to Aylin. And, foolishly, the tears she had been trying to hold back began to fall. Aylin tried to hide them so that no one would see.
"I have to leave here quickly."
Meanwhile, Riana, who noticed Alvian was focused on something, followed his gaze to the same spot. Riana was shocked to find her step-sister there. No wonder Alvian had seemed to ignore her all this time.
"Damn it! So Aylin is one of the catering staff." Riana thought angrily. In that moment, various evil plans formed in her mind.
She wouldn't let Aylin ruin what she had fought so hard for.
"What's wrong with you, Al? I've noticed you've been quiet all this time," asked Riana, who was now clinging affectionately to the man's arm.
"Nothing's wrong. I've always been like this, haven't I?"
"I know, but today is our engagement day. At least smile, will you?" She meant to divert Alvian's attention from Aylin.
Alvian just sighed heavily. He removed Riana's arm from around his arm. Then he walked away without saying a word.
Riana, annoyed, could only stare at Alvian's back as he walked towards the front room. She then signalled to a hotel staff member.
"Sir, can you help me?" she said, reaching into her bag and pulling out a wad of cash. She then whispered something in the man's ear.
***
Aylin walked with a slight sense of urgency. She had to leave the hotel building before Alvian or Riana found her.
A slight question mark flashed through her mind: why, when she wanted to distance herself, did fate seem to bring her back together with Alvian—the man who had previously threatened to destroy her life.
As she was about to descend the stairs, Aylin suddenly felt a strong push on her back, causing her to lose her balance. She stumbled between the steps, then tumbled down and landed on her stomach first.
"Argh." Aylin groaned loudly as she felt the pain spreading through her stomach. It was an intense pain, far greater than the false contractions she usually experienced.
Aylin's screams filled the air. The pain centred in her stomach felt like it was getting worse.
And in a matter of seconds, the people around her had gathered. Panic dominated the atmosphere.
***
Alvian was calming himself down outside the room. His meeting with Aylin earlier had caused him to lose focus.
Especially when he came down from the stage, he could no longer find her among the guests. Where had Aylin gone?
Alvian shouldn't have cared about Aylin. It was up to her who she lived with and what she did for work. After all, it wasn't his business. But for some reason, Alvian always felt something strange whenever he looked at Aylin's stomach. And he felt pain when he saw Aylin still working with her growing belly.
Alvian's reverie was interrupted when he heard the sound of commotion coming from a crowd of people not far from where he was sitting. There was panic there.
"What's going on over there, sir?" Alvian asked a hotel employee who seemed to be in a hurry.
"A pregnant woman fell and is bleeding," the man replied.
Alvian's brow furrowed slightly. For some reason, his thoughts immediately turned to Aylin.
"Argh!" Aylin screamed as the pain in her stomach grew stronger. Her strength seemed to be draining from her body. Even moving was difficult.
Her eyelids closed and opened slowly. However, everything around her was blurry, and time seemed to move slowly. Her breathing was laboured.
In her remaining consciousness, Aylin could still hear the noise of the people around her. Before long, she felt her body being held tightly, she didn't know by whom. However, Aylin could still smell the perfume emanating from the body holding her.
"Wake up, Aylin!" She felt her cheek being tapped gently several times and heard a familiar voice shouting her name in panic. It was right next to her ear. "Hang on a little longer! I'll take you to the hospital!"
Aylin felt her body floating. Someone was running quickly, carrying her body away, she didn't know where.
Slowly, Aylin opened her eyes. But once again, everything was dark. All she could see were faint shadows. Her consciousness was fading.
***
Alvian paced anxiously in front of a glass-doored room. Aylin had been inside for half an hour, but no doctor had come out to tell him how she was doing.
Alvian slumped into a waiting chair. Frustrated, he ignored his phone, which had rung dozens of times. His entire mind was focused on Aylin and the baby in her womb.
"Excuse me, are you the patient's husband?" A female doctor suddenly appeared from behind the door.
Alvian stood frozen. He didn't know how to respond. Panic made it impossible for him to think clearly. His tongue felt stiff.
"Why, Doctor?"
"The patient is very weak and unconscious. She needs surgery immediately. Otherwise, it could endanger both the mother and the baby in her womb."
As if struck by lightning, Alvian suddenly felt his entire body tremble. His chest felt tight, as if the air in the room wasn't enough for him to breathe. This strange feeling was truly agonising, as if it were happening to his own wife and child.
"Just do your best, Doctor!"
"Alright, then please follow me inside!"
Without hesitation, Alvian followed the doctor's lead. Inside, one doctor was preparing medical equipment. Another was sorting through documents. Meanwhile, Aylin lay unconscious on the patient bed. Beside her, two nurses were struggling to remove her blood-stained clothing.
For some reason, Alvian immediately approached. He helped the two nurses remove all of Aylin's clothes, revealing her swollen stomach.
Alvian stared at the pale face of the woman.
He raised his hand to caress her stomach. As soon as his palm touched her stomach, he felt a strange sensation that was difficult to describe. Especially when he felt the baby move inside her, as if responding to Alvian's touch.
***
In the hotel building...
Riana looked distraught in the middle of the crowd. She had been looking for Alvian among the crowd of guests for 15 minutes. The main event, the engagement ceremony with the exchange of rings, was about to begin. However, her fiancé had not yet appeared. She had no idea where he had gone.
"Riana, I heard Alvian isn't here, right?" asked Mama Veny. The woman was just as panicked as Riana.
"Yes, Mum. I've looked everywhere, but Alvian is nowhere to be found." Riana slumped into a chair. Her eyes began to well up with tears.
"Didn't Alvian tell you where he was going?"
Riana only shook her head. The fake mother who had been by her side all along was trying to calm her down.
"Let's just wait. Maybe Alvian has something to do outside. He wouldn't leave his own engagement party. He'll definitely come back," Mama Veny persuaded, rubbing Riana's shoulder. "Have you tried calling him?"
"I have, Mum. But he didn't answer." Riana began to sob until the makeup on her face smudged.
Seeing this, Mama Veny was confused. Her son had suddenly disappeared at the height of the event. They would be embarrassed if Alvian didn't return.
At the door, Galih was seen walking towards them in a slight hurry.
"How is it?" asked Riana when she saw Galih approaching her.
"Nothing."
The information Galih conveyed made Riana immediately feel weak. Her mind wondered whether Alvian had deliberately left her at the peak of the event to embarrass her? How cruel.
"Are you sure you looked everywhere? In front, in the back garden, in the toilet?" Riana pressed, wanting to be sure.
"I looked everywhere, Riana. But Alvian is nowhere to be found! His car isn't in the car park either."
"Oh dear, then where is that boy?" Mama Veny sighed heavily. She didn't know what else to do. She was angry at her son and felt sorry for Riana, who was now sobbing.
"One of the security guards said that a catering employee fell down the stairs and was bleeding. Alvian took her to the hospital."
"Which hospital?"
"I don't know, Auntie. He said he carried the woman to his car and left immediately."
Riana gasped. Her hands clenched under the table. She suspected that the catering worker Galih was referring to was Aylin.
The weapon eating its master was perhaps the most appropriate metaphor for Riana. Every time she harmed Aylin, it always came back to attack her. Starting from the night she and her mother sold Aylin, and it turned out that the buyer was Alvian. And tonight, Riana paid someone to harm Aylin, but Alvian ended up helping her instead. Riana really wanted to rage and curse fate.
"So what now, Jeng? How could Alvian leave Riana just for a catering employee? Wasn't there anyone else who could help?" Mami Trisha spoke up in protest.
"I'm sorry, Miss Trisha. Maybe Alvian panicked and didn't know what to do." Mama Veny glanced at Galih. "Have you tried contacting Alvian?"
"I have, Auntie. But he didn't answer. The chat wasn't read either."
Mama Veny grew increasingly frustrated. She stroked Riana's head again. "Riana, dear, how about we wait for Alvian first? Maybe he's already on his way back here."
There was no response from Riana. Her mind was in turmoil and she was afraid. What if the child in Aylin's womb was really Alvian's? And what if Aylin told Alvian that it was Riana and her mother who had sold her that night?
If that happened, all of Riana's plans to get Alvian could fail completely.
***
The operation had been going on for almost two hours, but there were still no signs of it ending. Alvian chose to sit in a chair, leaning back. He stared at his shirt, which was covered in Aylin's bloodstains.
"Why am I so scared? Aren't Aylin and that child strangers to me?"
Alvian thought he should quickly contact Aylin's family, or at least the father of the child she was carrying. He couldn't possibly stay awake at the hospital while they had no connection whatsoever.
Alvian grabbed Aylin's small bag and opened it. He hoped to find her mobile phone so he could look up her family's contact number. However, there was no mobile phone in the bag at all. There was only a small wallet and a room key.
"Does she not have a mobile phone?"
Alvian's brow furrowed slightly. Slowly, he opened Aylin's purse. It was bold, but he had no other choice. Perhaps there was a phone number or something else inside that could serve as a clue. However, there were no clues whatsoever in the worn-out purse.
Alvian's heart ached again as if stabbed by a sharp dagger when he found two 10,000 rupiah notes and one 5,000 rupiah note.
"25,000? That's all the money she had?" Alvian muttered again. The amount of 25,000 was certainly pocket change for him. But not for Aylin. She probably used this money to fill her stomach.
But what could she eat with this amount? It wouldn't even be enough to buy a cup of coffee, which Alvian usually enjoyed at a café.
Alvian suppressed the strange feeling that seemed to force tears from his eyes. He was a grown man and it was unthinkable for him to shed tears.