TRAPPED IN THE LOVE OF A RUTHLESS MAFIA

"Riana!

Hurry up and wash the dishes," Mr Udin shouted, calling me from behind.

"Yes sir, I'll be done in a minute", I replied while arranging the dishes to take them to the cart in front of Mr Udin's stall.

Yes, because I work at Mr Udin's meatball stall.

My parents died a year ago in an accident while returning from the rice fields.

We live in a rural area where most of the people are farmers.

I have an older brother; Fajar is his name.

He works odd jobs but is often unemployed because it's hard to find work in the village.

"Riana, have you eaten yet?" Mr Udin asked me.

"No, sir," I replied, wiping the dishes I had been washing.

"Well, let's make some special meatballs for Riana," said Mr Udin, smiling at me.

"Thank you, sir, you know I'm hungry" I immediately ate the meatballs until they were finished.

Mr Udin's meatballs are famous for being delicious and cheap in my village, so his shop is always crowded and can employ me.

I worked at Mr Udin's stall from 15.00 until the meatballs ran out, usually at 20.00-21.00.

Not bad for 50,000.

"Riana, didn't you bring food? I'm hungry!" Fajar said while lying on the living room sofa when I arrived home.

"Yes, you cook what's in the kitchen; I'm tired of going to bed.

So, look for a job in the city, don't just rely on me," I said as I entered the house past Fajar without looking at him.

He looks annoyed at me without answering me.

I sometimes get annoyed with him; he seems flirtatious and strange.

Once, I was washing dishes in the kitchen, and he suddenly hugged me from behind.

Now I'm a bit scared of him.

I have to lock my bedroom door when I sleep.

I'm afraid he'll do something wrong because we're both adults. Yes, we're not biological siblings; I'm just a foster child raised by his mother.

My mother said my parents died in an accident, so my mother raised me because I had no siblings.

But I love my mother as much as the mother who gave birth to me.

Mother was a beautiful and kind woman; she was sheer patient with her children and did not differentiate between Fajar and me.

But unfortunately, she died when I was 20 years old. More precisely, three years ago, because now I am 23 years old.

As usual, I woke up at 04.00 and made breakfast.

I cooked vegetable soup, chilli paste and fried tempeh accompanied by a glass of warm tea this time.

I used to drink a lot of coffee in my mother's cup. I constantly spent, hehe...

But now I have stomach acid, so say no coffee!

After finishing washing clothes, cleaning up, showering, having breakfast and going to work.

But not at Mr Udin's shop.

Every morning I always go to offer laundry and ironing services.

So it's door to door because I don't wash every day, every other day.

This morning I got a job washing at Mrs Rina's house.

I'm the laziest to go to her house.

Because her son is very stubborn, which is annoying.

The child is still small, five years old; Farel is his name.

Mrs Rina is dizzy and overwhelmed with his care.

His hobby is fishing, fishing for fish in the pond.

Where fish are expensive again, there are only children.

"Mom, Farel wants to fish!" The child was already perched on the edge of the pond.

"No, son, that's an expensive fish!" Mrs Rina shouted as she ran to the pond beside where I usually hang the laundry.

I just smiled at them funny.

Mrs Rina ranted at length, but Farel was indifferent and continued fishing in the pond.

It looked like Mrs Rina was tired of nagging, so she gave up and let Farel do his thing.

Once a week ago, I was drying clothes.

Well, the boy was fishing while swinging his fishing rod. I was so excited that the hook got stuck in the waistband of my pants!

Gosh, Farel... what a mermaid I thought I was!

"Mom got a big fish!" He laughed happily as he pulled on the fishing rod.

"Farel will tear my pants!" I tried to remove the hook that was stuck in my pants.

"Farel, that's enough, Miss Riana!" Mrs Rina exclaims while holding back her laughter.

After removing the hook, I hurried in to avoid Farel's pranks.

After all my work was done, I quickly said goodbye.

Today I don't have any more washing jobs, usually from one house to the next.

Instead of being at home idle with nothing to do and lazy to meet Fajar, it's better to go to Mr Udin's house to help his wife make meatballs.

Thirty minutes later, I arrived at Mr Udin's meatball stall.

"How come you're here at this hour, Riana?" Mrs Lastri asked while looking at me, then glanced at the wall clock in her stall while peeling onions on the long chair in front of the stall.

"Yes, ma'am, I'm at home," I reach for the broom beside the stall and sweep the yard.

"By the way, Rin, what does Fajar do now?" Mrs Lastri asked, turning to me momentarily, "I see him hanging out at the coffee shop next door every day".

"Unemployed mom, I'm tired of advising him.

Besides, he's not a kid anymore who needs to be advised daily," I replied.

"Yes, Rin!

After sweeping, help mom make meatballs, Rin," said Mrs Lastri as she came in carrying a tray of peeled onions.

"Yes, ma'am, it'll be done in a minute" I quickly cleaned the mango leaves scattered in the yard.

The yard is not that big, so that it will take a while.

Not long after, the meatballs were ready to be sold.

I helped organise the merchandise and wipe the tables for customers who ate on the spot.

After I finished, I showered and sat out front while waiting for customers.

Today the customers were, as usual, always crowded, and I went home earlier than usual.

"Dawn's not home yet", I muttered.

Arriving home, the door was still locked tightly.

"Just go to the coffee shop next door," I told myself.

Dawn was like that, wandering around and not knowing the time.

After cleaning myself, I lay down on the bed.

Today was very tiring, and my eyes felt very sleepy.

"Riana!

Open the door!" I had just fallen asleep for a while when I heard someone shouting.

I hurriedly ran to the front door and opened it.

"Astaghfirullah!

What's wrong with you?"

I was shocked to see Dawn staggering.

I immediately picked her up and took her to her room.

"Must be drunk!" I thought as I left her room.

If there's a problem, Fajar must run to it, drunk!

I've memorised her bad habits.

The following day, Dawn was able to talk to me.

But from the look on his face, he still looked lethargic, like he was having a big problem.

Often daydreaming while occasionally smoking a cigarette.

After finishing cooking, I approached her at the dining table.

"What's wrong with you?" I watched her face closely.

"Debt", he replied briefly.

"Huh! Do you have debts? How much?" I scoffed.

Of course,e I was shocked to hear it; this was the first time she had a debt.

"10 million", he replied with a flat face.

"What!" Again and again, I was shocked.

I almost fainted; where did I get that much money?

"Why do you owe that much?" I asked.

As far as I remember, he never gave me any money.

"Gambling" was his answer; he thought finding that much money to return it was easy.

"Astaghfirullah... Then did you win?" I asked.

He couldn't answer, just shook his head.

That's too much, Dawn.

Today Fajar and I had a big fight.

I can't stand him anymore.

As usual, I went straight to work at Mr Udin's shop.

This time I wasn't as excited as usual.

All I could do was daydream and daydream.

I wondered how to pay Fajar's debt because there was no way he could pay it.

Where else would he get the money? He doesn't even work!

Borrowing from Mr Udin is also impossible; it's the same as digging a hole to cover a hole.

Finally, today's merchandise was gone, and it was time to go home.

I lazily walked down the lonely-looking street.

Suddenly a car stopped behind me.

Don't...

"Aaa... Help..."

Some men pulled my hand and put me into the car.

"Please... please...

Who are you? Why are you kidnapping me?" I screamed and struggled with all my might. One of them smothered me with a handkerchief, and suddenly the vision went dark...

What is this God?...