Payday

Eric and Raymond were in the BP room at the moment. They were given a sentence of writing a 'letter of apology' as many as 200 sheets.

All this time, Eric was silent. In fact, his tears repeatedly escaped and fell onto the paper in front of him. He is not afraid even if he has to be hostile to the whole school, which he is afraid only if his father is really called to school.

What would he say about the current slander? What if after that his father hated him even more? What if his father got sick from thinking about this matter?

Just imagining it made Eric's heart constrict.

"Erik?" call Raymond.

"Yes?"

"Now what are you trying to plan, huh?"

Eric frowned. He didn't understand what his friend was talking about at all.

"It means?"

"Is stealing now your favorite hobby, um?" said Raymond, continuing to write down his sentence.

Eric fell silent. His anger flared. Eric could accept that it was someone else's accusation, but if it was his own best friend, it really hurt. Eric took several deep breaths to control his emotions.

"Is stealing my twin sister's heart not enough for you?"

"Heehhh?" Eric was furious. He threw his pen and it landed on Raymond's forehead.

"Not funny, Sis!"

"Aakh!! How cruel you are to your brother-in-law, eo?" said Raymond. Raymond has a sister. They are twins. However, they are in different classes. Rosa is in the same class as Eric, while Raymond is in a different class.

Rosa openly shows her admiration for her twin sister's best friend. Even though Eric was a year younger than Raymond and Rosa, they were of the same class.

Eric pursed his lips, ignoring Raymond's complaints and ramblings.

"Ahahaha ... smile, Eric! There are still many who will believe in you, for example, Rosa and I will certainly trust you more, my best friend," said Raymond. He patted Eric on the head repeatedly, like a brother comforting a sad brother.

Eric pulled the corners of his lips together, forming a smile.

"Ah, I see! The Eric I know won't be long in sorrow. So smile now, pal!" Raymond muttered.

Eric pulled back the corners of his lips. At least there was still Raymond, who would always believe in him, so Eric felt a little at ease.

"Believe me! Justice will surely win," said Raymond, patting Eric on the shoulder.

"Thank you, Sis Ray," said Eric.

***

This afternoon, as usual, Eric was a waiter in a restaurant. Taking orders, delivering food to customers and washing dishes is his job every afternoon until late at night.

Eric did without complaining. Ever since his dad complained about spending on their needs, Eric is now working even harder to help his dad.

However, when Eric had intended to do so, his father changed instead. His father had been drinking a lot in the last few months. In fact, never before.

Eric even felt that it wasn't his dad who was being ridiculous anymore. Eric did not know what caused his father's change in attitude. Something must have happened, Eric thought.

The clock shows 8 o'clock at night, it's time for him to go home. Previously, Eric had cleaned the entire restaurant.

There was a faint smile on Eric's lips remembering today was the end of the month. It's time to get paid.

Eric knocked on his boss's door. He has managed for whatever money he spent. In addition to buying daily necessities, he also set aside to pay for school fees. He was only given a monthly fee waiver, other expenses still had to be paid.

"Come in!" A deep voice from inside the room.

Eric slowly walked in and bowed.

"I've cleaned up all the places, and I'm leaving to go home, Boss."

The man in front of Eric nodded. He took the brown envelope that he had prepared on the table.

"This is your salary for this month, brother. I have deducted it to compensate for the things you broke."

Eric received it, he checked the value of the money he just received. Only a few bills of fifty thousand rupiah. Eric was surprised, this nominal did not match his hard work so far.

"Sorry, Mr. Boss. Wasn't our agreement first, you paid me 5000 rupiah per hour. That means, as long as I work 4 hours per day it becomes 20,000 rupiah. I work this month for 26 days. My salary should be 520,000 rupiah, right, Mr. Boss ?Why did you only give me 300,000 rupiah, Mr. Boss?" Eric protested.

"If you don't accept it, you can get out of here, Derek! After all, it's fortunate that I employ students like you! I don't need child labor!" The man said coldly.

"Sorry, you can't do this to me, Boss! I can sue you if you continue like this!" threatened Eric.

"Sue if you dare! But, just so you know, it's your father who I'm going to sue for making a fuss at this restaurant last week!" The man replied.

Eric froze. He could no longer argue. He couldn't bear to see his father imprisoned.

Last week ...

Prak!!

Pyar!!

There was a commotion at Sago's Restaurant. A man in his 40s had a tantrum. The man destroyed some of the furniture in the restaurant.

Eric and several other servants came out of the kitchen to see the commotion. How surprised Eric was when he found out that the troublemaker was his own father, Mr. Reno Yudhistira.

 To be continued....