Second Change
Chapter 12's

I was surprised to wake up from my sleep. On the porch of my house there seems to be a commotion. It was a storm out there, they were also banging on my door violently and impatiently. I got out of bed and opened the door.

A bunch of om-oms and aunts who were completely unfriendly glared at me. I was forcibly pulled by aunts into the streets. I kept asking what was going on but they kept on berating me woman*****, shameless, and other harsh words. I cried in fear until I arrived at the house of Mr. Lurah.

I was refused until I fell on the floor.

"Amelia, you come home every midnight. Last night you were at dawn among men. You've embarrassed our family. You also lived with men. It's not worth living here anymore."

"Look Sir. God's dad..."

The aunts pulled my collar and put on the red marks from the incident with Tony last night. I know I can't avoid it no matter how I explain it. All the slander scenarios are neatly arranged.

"We don't want to parade you. So move out of here immediately. If you're still here tomorrow, we'll parade you and humiliate you."

I just looked down and cried. Why is it like this? Do I not deserve to be happy? Not as they say. I am not a woman ******. I am not a shameless woman. I want to tear this sick heart out. No one here would listen to me. No one really asked what happened to me. What I've been doing all this time to survive. Now they dumped me. Tony dumped me, too. My mom and dad left me too.

I called Cindy. Half an hour later she came along with Jay's sister.

I'm putting together the clothes and stuff I need. My tears won't stop flowing just how I try to think positively. It was as if there was nothing positive I could think of. I was too broken to try.

Cindy hugged me and cried with me. Cindy asked who harassed me last night. I told him everything.

"Tony Kamandaka?" ask Jay suddenly.

"I never knew his last name. I guess that's just his name." sobbed.

"Have a photo?"

I showed a photo album on my phone to Jay's sister. Kak Jay's face stiffened, the look of his face could not be guessed.

"Unacquainted?" ask Cindy

"He's one of our bar owners" he said slowly "He and two other friends built this bar and some bars and lounges in some hotels as well."

My face suddenly cold. My brain feels empty followed by my stomach tightening. Tony is not a busker. I was tricked. Butwhy?

"Lia, don't think about it. Conscious Lia. Its alright. There's me and Jay's sister. We'll help you." Cindy panicked at the sudden change in my face.

Not that I don't want to move. But it can't. I can't stand it. I was flashbacking my first meeting with Tony, until we ended up living together, we were dating, together trying to pursue our dreams. How our daily life is harmonious, peaceful and sweet. Romantic Tony, considerate Tony, helpful Tony, Tony who is always there when I'm in trouble. But said Jay, Tony is the owner of a bar that is not just one. Tony is not a difficult man. Tony is a well-off guy, even rich. But what made him do all this for a year with me? Then it suddenly disappeared without any explanation. Why did he do something like that to me last night and then dump me?

There's one more.

The man who wanted to beat him up said that Tony would marry his younger sister.

Marrying...

This is one of my dreams.

Jay's sister asked Cindy to check my luggage. After making sure there was nothing else to take, Jay's sister carried me into her car. Cindy hugged me along the way.

"Lia, I'm sorry I couldn't take you to my house. I live with my parents, uncle and grandmother. I don't want you to be criticized by them. I'm sorry, Lia." explains Cindy who still hugs me.

"Where are we?" I was weak and my voice was hoarse.

"You stayed at Jay's sister's house for a while looking for a new place to live. But take it easy, brother Jay will temporarily stay at the bar."

"But I'm worried about Lia's condition. If you don't mind, I'll be at home accompanying Lia. Just to make sure Lia's okay."

"But brother..."

"It's okay Cin. I'm used to living with men. Until they say I'm a cheap, shameless, female ******. Jay's brother has been so kind to give me his place to live, there's no way I'll let Jay stay in a cramped bar room" I said coldly

"I'm not going to do anything." said Jay.

***

If you think I'm going to be depressed in my room, lamenting my poor fate, questioning a million questions to myself, you're wrong.

A situation like this I've experienced when I lost Papa and Mama. I have risen again, and now I will rise again. Cindy was surprised to see me on campus this morning. I'm not crying anymore today.

"I've got information about Tony from Jay's sister" I told Cindy during a class shift. "Today Tony's going to the bar again. I'll find him there."

"How is it? You don't work there anymore, do you?" ask Cindy who is horrified by my plan.

"My money is enough to buy a VVIP ticket" I said "Saldo in my account suddenly increased a lot. It must have been Tony who sent her out of guilt."

"Are you sure you're going there? What if he.. that...you again?" ask Cindy stammering

"I'm not scared, Cin. I want to ask him for an explanation. I wonder why he who already has everything still wants to play me? There's still a lot I don't understand."

"Btw, this bag is actually Hermes dong" he said

We both stopped for a moment while looking at it.

"Did I sell it to Grace? Didn't he say he wanted to?"

***

"I'm afraid Tony's going to look back on your appearance" he said timidly.

"I can protect myself. This time he won't be able to touch me again." I said.

We then stopped by the salon to get my hair straightened and styled. Then my face is also in makeup with very natural results. Now I deserve to be a VVIP visitor. Even those apprentices would definitely not be able to recognize me.

"You're so pretty, Lia. I think you have to dance often and like this. Very suitable." praise Cindy who darj earlier photographed me from various angles.

"I can't dance." I said awkwardly because Cindy kept pointing her camera at me.

"I'll go buy makeup and I'll teach you" Cindy said excitedly.

***

As planned, I was currently sitting at one of the tables in the Bar. I have a VVIP card which means I'm free on any floor tonight. After finishing two glasses of orange juice, finally the person I was waiting for came. I saw Tony and his two friends come in and head straight for the corridor. They must be going straight to the third floor. I got up and followed him. Passing through the crowds of visitors today. As I turned towards the corridor, someone pulled me up and pushed me against the wall.

"The cup is right you were the waiter yesterday. Why are you looking for Tony again? I warned you yesterday."

"I just wanted an explanation from Tony. Please let me see him. Just a moment." please.

He held both my hands against the wall.

"No. You stay here or go home."

"I don't want to." I said, "I have to see Tony."

"How is it? You think you can run away from me?" abugn.

His face approached me followed by his sharp gaze.

"alright. I'm h-home. Let go of me." I said resignedly.

But lies.

I escaped as fast as lightning in the corridor and pressed the elevator button. The receptionist sister saw me and prevented me from getting into the open elevator.

"I have this." I quickly showed you my VVIP card and quickly got into the elevator before the door closed.

A second after I entered, the man lunged into the elevator. He glared at me angry. Her angry face was terrible, but I was determined not to be afraid of her. I'm sure he won't hurt me.

"To get rid of you is actually very easy. Just put you in the car, raise you a ship and throw you in the middle of the ocean" he threatened

"You dare?" my challenge

"Don't make me a choice."

"You can kill me. But after I heard Tony's explanation." I replied

"You will die without receiving any explanation from him."

The elevator door opened but he stopped me. He grabbed me by his hand and pressed button one in the elevator. The elevator doors opened and went down.

"I'm serious." he said

"I'm serious too. I'll wait for him. I can't believe I can't see Tony today."

The elevator opened and I immediately sat on the sofa in front of the reception desk. I'll wait for Tony here. Even at any hour I will wait. That grumpy guy won't be able to say anything about me in a crowded place like this.

Now he is standing in front of me. I turned to look at him. I can be angry too. We glared at each other for a few minutes until his face turned red. His anger has reached the top.

He pulled my hand but I managed to pat. He tried again but I managed to dodge. Not getting there. Finally he took me. Like carrying a sack of rice raised on his shoulder. I shouted while thrashing but had no effect at all. Not even this many people there were any who were bullying even though I was screaming for help.

I was thrown in his car. I tried to escape while he was walking towards the steering door. But in vain, I did not manage to open it. Looks like he's got a lock button that can't be opened from the inside. He got in the car and held my shoulder. I'm speechless. My body trembles. My breaths wheezing.

He glared at me while pulling my seatbelt.

"Sit still or I beat you unconscious" he threatened as he pulled the seatbelt and started the engine.

"You want to throw me into the sea, how is it different from now that you beat me unconscious?" my daughter with a trembling voice.

My heart feels like it's coming out of my skin. Cold sweat is pouring out in the car which is getting cold because of the ac. His car was speeding on a not so crowded highway. I know this is a highway to another town. Could he really kill me? I took my phone out of my pocket and called the police.

I remember keeping the police station number, I pressed my phone screen with a trembling finger. But my phone was taken by him.

"Sit in silence" he said coldly.

He who turns cold is even more sinister than when angry.

I'm resigned.