The Unexpected Twist
Nora's Approach: Together with Step Sister Tiri

Nora woke up from her sleep feeling anxious. He saw the face of his mother who looked gloomy and tired, even though she was sleeping in a dream. Nora felt a tightness in her chest, as if her mother's suffering never stopped.

Carefully, he broke free from the arms of Rayna, his sleeping mother. He turned to the wall clock that rang on the dresser. He was surprised to see the clock that already showed the number six in the morning. He's getting up too late. He wanted to take a shower and get ready for school, but he couldn't bear to wake his mother who looked so peaceful.

Suddenly, he heard the knocking sound of their bedroom door. Who knocks on the door in the morning blind like this? Nora and her mother looked at each other in surprise. They know that their domestic assistant will never bother them without an important reason.

"Nora, Bun, please" said Nora as she got out of bed. He did not want his mother to bother to deal with anyone behind that door.

Nora walked towards the door with her hair and clothes tousled. He opened the door and was surprised to see Ervin, his half-brother, who smiled awkwardly at him. Nora felt her heart flutter, recalling what happened last night between them.

"Sister's mother is in the room? Om Satria asked the mother to come down for a while," Ervin said as he pointed downstairs. "Oh yes, breakfast is ready as well. Do you want to go to school today?"

Nora nodded with a faint smile. He patted Ervin on the shoulder and walked into the room again to tell his mother. Before he closed the door, he heard Ervin calling his name in a soft voice.

"Sir Nora, I'm sorry.. Later we talk again like normal, huh?" Ervin lowered his head with a guilty look. He felt guilty because his mother had caused great trouble for their family. He also lost his affection for his mother.

"of course. Later if there is free time we just have a casual conversation. Now I want to take a shower first, it stinks" Nora replied jokingly with a small laugh.

Nora tells her mother that they should go down and take a shower. After that, he walked with Ervin towards his room. In front of the door of his room, he asked Ervin to wait just downstairs.

While taking a bath, Nora hummed the sad song she often heard. The song had already become his loyal friend in such difficult times. However, he still tried to quickly finish, because the clock was almost showing at half-seven in the morning. He does not want to be late for school.

After taking a bath and wearing her school uniform, Nora came out of her room feeling refreshed. However, when he reached the lower floor, he heard a noise from the dining room. His face immediately turned to worry. He ran towards the dining room with a bad feeling.

In the dining room, he saw a terrifying sight. Ervin stood in front of his stepfather angrily, while his father, Satria, held out his hand to hit his mother again. Mother Nora looked pale and limp, with her reddened cheeks and bloody lips. Nora knew what was going on without needing to ask.

"Mr Satria, aren't you ashamed of committing domestic violence in front of children? Moreover, the reason you hit my mother is very unreasonable," Nora said boldly as she stood beside Ervin.

Satria paused for a moment, then laughed cynically. He feels unworthy of being called father by Nora, because he knows that Nora hates him. Nor does he care about Ervin, his young wife's son.

"My son, your mother has blocked all your credit cards! How could you live without that credit card? Especially what about your sisters?" satria shouted furiously as she pointed towards Ervin and his half-sisters who were still standing in the dining room.

"Only because of credit card or money problems? Shouldn't you be using your Master's degree to make more money? Don't spend your money on your own pleasure! Isn't it your duty as a husband to make a living for the family? Mother does not need to work hard to give you money, but instead, you have to do that," Nora replied cynically with a mocking smile. He would never let Satria and her stepmother, Gendis, touch her money even a little.

Nora looked coldly at Satria, her useless biological father. He did not care about the scolding and shouting of Satria who was angry because her credit card was blocked. He knew that Satria was only after his mother's money, who worked hard as a director of a famous architectural firm.

"Mother doesn't have to give you any more money. I will now manage the finances of this house. Anyone in this family is not entitled to money without my consent" Nora said unequivocally as she took bread and milk from the dinner table. He ate his food quickly, because he did not want to be late for school.

Only Rayna, Daisy, and Ervin are secretly supporting Nora. They are his mother and stepbrothers who are still in school. They knew that Nora was kind and cared about them, even though they were not her flesh and blood. They were also unwilling to trouble Nora by asking for more money.

However, Rama, Ervin's younger brother, cannot accept Nora's decision. He felt that Nora was arrogant and selfish. He wanted to live a luxurious and stylish life like the children of other rich people. He does not want to live as hard as he is now.

"But! This is not fair! How are we not given pocket money? What did Mama marry Satria for? Om Satria it's just unemployment that nyari money from mother Nora, doang!" rama protested loudly while staring cynically at Satria.

"Please, Ram. Later brother looking for a side job to add our pocket money. We don't have to ask Nora. He is also very kind to us" Ervin said patiently with a sweet smile. Ervin is Nora's half-sister who was closest to her during school. She also loves her other sisters.

"Removed too good! Brother should be angry with Nora! He has no heart!" rama grumbled as he left the dining room. Daisy and Ervin follow him to appease Rama.

Nora stopped eating and immediately went up to her room. He took his bag and car keys. He had to hurry out of the house before his three half-sisters left.

"Mother, Nora!" nora shouted while waving to her mother.

"Be careful on the road, son!" his mother waved her hand back.

"Hey, you three! Waita minute! I want to get out of the car first," exclaimed Nora while pointing at Ervin, Rama, and Daisy who were ready to go to school.

Rama grunted in annoyance. He did not want to ride in the car with Nora. He felt ashamed of his friends if they knew that he depended on his rich stepbrother.

But before he could protest, he was pulled by Ervin and Daisy towards Nora's red car. They see Nora coming out of the garage with her car and honking.

"Ervin, come with me to school! Your siblings can also come if they want. I'll take it between you guys," invited Nora kindly while opening the windshield.

Rama and Daisy instantly shone their eyes. They were happy to be able to ride in the car with Nora. They do not have to wait for a long, hot bus. They turned towards Ervin with hope.

"Nerepotin lo, brother? You see, their school is quite far from our school" asked Ervin hesitantly. He was afraid that Nora would be late for school because she had to take them.

"Nerepotin, really. As long as you tell me the name of the school, I will surely be able to nyampein you guys in less than 30 minutes. But you have to wear seat belts, yeah. I don't want the responsibility if you guys fly when I drive" Nora said with a smile from behind the rearview mirror.

During the trip, Nora drove fast and smart. It was like racing with another rider. He did not care about the horn and swearing directed at him. He just wants to get to school soon.

Ervin feels deg-degan seeing how to drive Nora. He was worried that they would be harmed or stopped by the police. He prayed in his heart that they would be safe until their destination.

When they arrive in front of the schools of Rama and Daisy, Nora is shocked. The school is the best public Junior High School in South Jakarta. He did not expect that his stepbrothers went to school there. He thought they were going to go to an expensive private school.

"Wow, is this your school? Very cool!" praise Nora with a smile.

"Yes, this is our school. We entered here because of the scholarship," said Rama proudly.

"Scholarship? Wow, great dong! You must be so smart!" nora said by trying to get familiar with the teenager. He never hated the girls because they were innocent.

"Yes, we're smart. But Rama likes to be naughty and wayward" Daisy said while mocking Rama.

"Hey, don't talk about it! I'm smart too! Only I like to play games," Rama denied with shame.

"What's playing girl?" tease Daisy while laughing.

"Have it done, don't make a fuss. You have to go to school now" Ervin said as he mediated his younger siblings.

"Oh yes, there is something I want to love" Nora said as she pulled her wallet out of her bag. Inside his wallet there were many blue and red banknotes.

"This I love each of you fifty thousand. Don't shop for unnecessary things, yeah. Shopping that makes the stomach full or if you need money for school purposes, tell me. I will keep giving you pocket money" Nora said, giving two blue notes to Rama and Daisy.

Nora withdraws the money she was about to give to Rama. He saw Rama looking at him with anger and impatience. He smiled cynically and said, "Lo really want to give or not, anyway?!"

"Lo want this money or something? If you want, you have to agree to my terms. You should be able to keep this a secret from my father and your mama. I don't want them begging for money from me. They are adults and need to be independent. You also have to be frugal and not wasteful. I will watch your spending. If you need extra money, you should tell me the obvious reason. How's it? Deal?" nora said with a grin.

Daisy is silent, she follows Rama and Ervin's point of view. He did not want to interfere in this money. He just wants to live a quiet and happy life with his brothers.

Finally, Rama nodded in agreement. He did not want to miss the opportunity to get an allowance from Nora. He thought that Nora must have a lot of money from the work of her mother.

"Then, you can get out of the car and get into the school" Nora said as she pointed at the school gate.

"Be careful, Sister Nora," said Daisy sweetly as she waved her hand.

Nora sees Ervin getting out of the car and walks with Rama and Daisy to say goodbye to him. He felt happy to be able to help his half-sister who was still innocent. He hopes they can succeed in school.