Mother to My Children
Chapter 18 (Coming at the right time)

A few days later...

Syafira seemed to be breaking into all the savings he had. Yes, today is the day he promised to pay off his debt to Mr. Aji. More precisely two weeks after the incident of Mr. Aji's men rummaging through Syafira's shop.

After calculating all the amount of money he had, Syafira let out a disappointed and desperate sigh. The amount is not much if the appeal of his father's debt. His hard work has been unable to pay his father's debt. He picked up his bag and motorcycle key, then left for the store.

With a lazy step, Syafira entered her cake shop. Now the choice is only two, give up her house and cake shop or become the wife of four lord Aji.

Syafira circled her gaze around the corner of her shop, still quiet because the shop was not open yet. Will he give up the shop that his father built with great difficulty.

"Fira's sister from earlier?" ask Rani who just came while putting her bag.

"Just Ran, just now" replied Syafira.

"Heyooo!" shinta's voice sounded shrill from outside the shop.

Syafira and Rani come out, and they see Mia and Shinta smiling at them.

"You're here early in the morning. No free breakfast today. I'm lazy to cook" Syafira said.

"Relax Fir, instead we come here to bring you breakfast," said Mia while showing a paper bag containing the food she brought.

Mia and Shinta know that today Syafira has to face lord Aji and they want to support their friend.

The three of them ended up having breakfast together at Syafira's shop. Rani who had breakfast from home did not come to eat, she was busy getting ready to open the store. Mia and Shinta take out an envelope containing money from their respective bags and thrust it into Syafira.

"I can only help Fir this way, all my savings have been drained but still only this way," said Mia.

"Yes Fir, I have also reduced the allowance of snacks lately, but the same can not be collected much," continued Shinta.

"Eh what the hell is this?" ask Syafira confused.

"We know you are collecting money to pay off the debt to Mr. Aji Fir, and today is the final limit to pay it off" said Shinta. Although he and Mia knew, the money from them was nothing compared to the amount of debt. However, at least that is the form of their care for Syafira, their dear friend.

"This is not true Mi, Shint. Take this back," Syafira thrusts the envelope back to Mia and Shinta.

"We are sincere Fir, well even though this is not much help" said Mia.

"Yes Fir," Shinta said.

"I know you're sincerely willing to help me, but this still won't work. The money raised is not enough to pay it off. So, you guys take the money back. Whatever my decision will be, I just need your support. That alone has helped me a lot," said Syafira, he did not want to trouble his friends.

After a long debate between Syafira and her two best friends, Mia and Shinta finally relented. Indeed, the nature of Syafira who always does not want to trouble others cannot be challenged.

Mia and Shinta finally say goodbye to Syafira because they had a lecture this morning. Syafira helps Rani clean up the shop.

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Several hours passed, when Syafira finished serving the buyers, Mr. Aji and his men came to the Syafira shop.

Syafira felt uneasy being summoned like that by master Aji. He was silent not responding to Mr. Aji's words. He was busy arranging the cake in the storefront.

"Hows it? Do you have the money to pay off your father's debt? Are you ready to be my wife?" ask mister Aji.

Syafira immediately stopped her activity of arranging the cake.He sighed for a while. Syafira knew, a time like this would definitely come as hard as he avoided, he had to face it too.

Syafira took off the apron she was wearing and put it down.

"We talk outside, sir," asked Syafira because the atmosphere of the store was quiet, and Rani was delivering an order to one of the customers.

Arriving at the store terrace, Syafira invited Mr. Aji to sit down. He wants to try to negotiate with Mr. Aji.

"Say, whichever you choose, pay off the debt or be my wife. I no longer have time to play around sweet girl," said Mr. Aji full of pressure.

"Sir, please give me some more time. My father owed me so much, I couldn't possibly raise that much money in a short time" Syafira said. He wishes there was a little kindness from Mr. Aji.

"Hahaha could not afford to pay but dared to owe. That's a risk, dear Fira. Your father has agreed and signed the terms I gave him when he came to me to borrow money. Never mind, just choose, want to give up the shop and the house, and I'll destroy this shop or be my wife and this store will still be yours, lest I commit Fira violence," kelakar mr. Aji. Mr. Aji's men who stood behind Mr. aji had been preparing to destroy the shop.

Syafira remained silent. It was a very difficult choice for him, though, to fight also still he was wrong because his father was wrong because he had borrowed money from loan sharks signed a deal that had been made by Mr. Aji, who was wrong, although in reality the agreement is burdensome on the part of Syafira's father.

"Quick select! Don't test my patience! Lose everything or marry me!" snapped at Mr. Aji who was starting to lose his temper.

"I count to three, tell me which one you'll choose" he continued.

Syafira sighed softly, she closed her eyes and wished for a miracle to come to her.

"One...!" mr. aji started counting.

"Dad, what should Fira do? Whether Fira is indeed destined to be the wife of Lord Aji, or Fira has to give up the shop. Which is more daddy ridhoi? Losing the shop or seeing Fira become his fourth wife," inner Syafira.

If he gave up the shop and the house, then how his life was going forward, whereas he still had to think about his sister's hospital expenses as well.

"Two.." said Mr. Aji.

Syafira again sighed heavily.

"Quick say! or they'll destroy this little shop!" mr. Aji's men are already getting ready to destroy the store.

"Ti..."

"I want to be.." exclaimed Syafira before mister aji finished speaking. Although he was heavy heartedly saying it.

"I'll pay off all the debt!" The sound of baritone attacking men cut off Syafira's speech.

Somehow Syafira just heard his voice was like getting an oasis in the desert, maybe this is the help given by God at the right time. Although he still did not realize whose voice it was.

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