Lost Job

"Dev!" Jess was shocked to find her son lying on the floor of her room. Jess quickly tidied up the bed, then put the tall young man down on the bed with great difficulty. The sensation that flows to the nerves causes a tiring convulsive effect. Dev raved with indeterminate eyeball movements. Several times he screamed and clutched his head. The young man rolled over, then crept over to the table and rummaged through everything. Annoyed, Jess rummaged through the medicine box until she finally found what she was looking for.

"Dev, stop it!" Dev turns his head without saying anything, just like a mute. Dev walked towards his mother like an undead, then put his arms around Jess' small shoulders until she staggered a little. Dev's lowered head was lifted immediately. Unexpectedly, a warm, foul-smelling liquid gushed from his mouth hitting Jess' entire face. Dev then collapses under the shade of his mother's annoyance.

"Look at your son, Nick! Very annoying!" Jess grumbled, she quickly cleaned her face and changed into her clothes.

After she finished, she immediately cleaned Dev's body with warm water. Jess was surprised to find a new cut in her son's leg. The wound was not there when she left the house. Jess fell silent after injecting Dev with sleeping pills. Question marks flashed through her mind. What really happened? Dev suddenly disappears, Elfara's cell phone is off, the attack on her, broken glass, Dev suddenly in her room, and the wound….

"Could it be that Dev is trying to harm his self again?" Jess mumbled, the scar on her forehead making her unable to digest everything. Jess felt very dizzy and decided to go to the living room to recover her strength.

At six in the morning, Elfara woke up early. The pain in the stomach beats the sleepiness that still struggles in the eyes. The slender hipped girl dragged her feet lazily towards the kitchen. She passed her mother who was asleep on the sofa without wearing a blanket. All cupboards did not escape the touch of her hand. Empty is a reality that squeezes her stomach even more. She walked over to the fridge. Her eyes lit up a little when she saw the 100 ml pack of UHT milk on the door shelf.

"Is this delicious?" There was a hint of doubt in the little girl's bead.

"Hmm, okay. It doesn't taste too bad, enough for a hunger delay." Elfara looked engrossed in tasting the grains that flowed down the white pipette hole. Until when she woke up, the milk was no longer in her hands. Elfara looked down in shock.

"I told you, milk drinks are not good for your health!"

"Then what should I fill my stomach with, Mom? I am very hungry!"

"Wait a moment, I will prepare it. You can drink some water first!" Elfara pouted, she decided to go to the bathroom and left immediately after eating her breakfast.

"Hey, Nina! Why is it still closed?" Elfara looked confused when she arrived at the shop. In fact, before she always got news about the shop.

"The shop will be closed for a week, and you can find another job from now on."

"What do you mean? What is going on?" Elfara increasingly did not understand the words of the woman who served as the manager.

"Our boss is in the hospital with a heart attack, and it's all your mother's doing, El!"

"What?"

"Why is that, what exactly did my mother do?"

"You just ask your mother. Sorry, I have to go. Excuse me!" Elfara looked annoyed at Nina's back which was starting to shrink.

Elfara left the two-story building with a raging feeling. Now what to do? Finding a job is not an easy thing for her. Struggle and patience are hard things that are always needed. Finding a place to vent anger is what she has to do right now. Elfara doesn't care even if it's a forbidden rule from her mother. Sometimes she wonders why her mother is so protective and makes such tough rules to follow. Her mother never knew what she felt. And the girl felt that her mother did not want to think about her feelings. Elfara does not accept that she really lost her job because of her mother.

Black clouds drifted over the blue sky, raindrops spilled over the city. Elfara was still lost in her feelings, letting her coat absorb the rain that fell on her body. Several vehicles passed through the puddles, Elfara's clothes became dirty because they were splashed. One of the motorcyclists intentionally dirty her face while shouting at her.

"Wow! You idiot, walking recklessly!" Elfara didn't flinch at the derision of the delinquent youth who mocked her. The girl bent down, picking up her cracked glasses. A smile widens at the wound perched on the palm of her hand. She just realized that she had just fallen. A few seconds ago, she hit a large motorbike that was speeding.

There's nothing wrong with the man swearing, because it was she who was wrong. Walk recklessly as the rude young man said. Too busy daydreaming, Elfara didn't notice a Rolls-Royce stopping beside her. A person in semi-formal dress is seen after lowering the car window.

"Hello, are you okay?" Elfara immediately turned her head, the rain blocking her already troubled vision.

"Geez! Are you Elfara?"

"You know me?"

"Of course I know you. Why are you standing in the rain? Wait! Are you hurt?" Elfara nodded.

"A little. It's okay." Elfara said. The foreign woman scanned her surroundings, causing Elfara to raise an eyebrow.

"Come with me!"

"But …."

"It's okay, I'm Jess and Nick's friend." Elfara's doubts finally vanished after hearing her parents' names. She followed the luxury car driver's invitation without suspecting anything.

"Introduce me, I'm Joana. You won't remember because you met me when I managed to get you out of Jess' stomach."

"So you're a doctor?"

"Yeah, something like that. So, what made you like this?"

"I just lost my job." The girl smiled lopsidedly.

"Why is that?" Joan slowed down her vehicle, slightly surprised by the confession of the girl sitting beside her. Elfara smiled awkwardly, either because she was reluctant to tell strangers or because of the cold that pierced her pores.

"Well if you don't want to tell me yet, I think you need to change your clothes. I happen to have a boutique around here. You can change your clothes there."

"But, Madam, I didn't bring any money! Let me change at home." Joana laughed out loud, revealing the rows of teeth hidden in her red lips. It turned out that the girl was very innocent. Far from what she had thought.

"You're so cute, right! Call me Mama! That sounds better, right? Look, you don't need to rush home. What will Jessy think next? You know, your mother is very fierce." For a moment, Elfara seemed to think, what Joana said was true. After all, she did need time to improve her mood.

"Okay!" After some time, the Rolls-Royce they were riding in had entered the courtyard of the all-glass building. Mannequin statues lined up neatly showing off branded clothes that spoil the eye. They were warmly welcomed by the staff. Joana took Elfara around the line of women's clothes.

"Elfara, choose the clothes you like!" Hearing an offer from Joana, Elfara's attention fell on a navy long t-shirt. Joana, knowing the direction of Elfara's eyes, immediately called the employee to give the shirt to Elfara.

"Isn't there an ordinary dress. This seems too good." The girl gave up after seeing the price tag. Two thousand dollars was a waste to her.

"Elfara, it turns out that you are not only adorable, but you are a very simple girl. Do you know? This is the cheapest dress in this boutique. I am proud of you. Nick and Jessy are the richest couple in town. They are so lucky to have such a humble daughter like you." Elfara looked down embarrassed to hear Joana's praise.

"I think you're exaggerating."

"Hey, I'm telling the truth. Okay, now you have to change your very wet clothes. Your face is very pale. I'm waiting for you there." Joana said as she pointed her index finger at the empty seat next to the cashier.

A few moments later, Elfara came out of the dressing room. The girl fits into any outfit, making Joana amazed. Her petite posture and slim waist as well as the slenderness in some important body parts make Elfara very beautiful even when she wears the cheapest clothes. What a perfect duplicate of Jessyca Amora.

Not wanting to linger, Joana took Elfara to a restaurant after finding the right glasses for her minus eye. Elfara gulped seeing the various menus served on their table. The seafood meal was truly eye-catching. She would not find such a menu on her mother's table. Elfara ate very voraciously, as if she hadn't eaten in days.

"You can try another menu if you want. I would be very happy."

"No need, I'm already very full. Thank you, you are very kind. Sorry if my way of eating is messy."

"Do not hesitate. I know that you are very hungry. By the way, how are your mom and dad?"

"My mother is fine while my father, you must have heard the news, right?"

"What news?" Joana raised an eyebrow, as if she didn't understand what Elfara meant.

"Don't you really know?"

"Maybe I'm the only one who never watches the news. I was too focused on my patients at the hospital. Do you know? This is the first time I'm taking my time off."

"Actually, what is your relationship with my parents?"

"The three of us have been friends since our teens. You can ask them that if you don't believe me. However, your mother's attitude has turned cold towards me since they got married. I don't know what I did wrong, I don't understand." Elfara was pensive. As it turned out, her mother was not only cold to her, but also did the same to other people.

"Why are you daydreaming?" Joana's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Ah, no!" Elfara smiled shyly.

"So, what about your father?"

"Actually my father—" Elfara's words stopped when suddenly Joana's cell phone rang. The woman who was estimated to be the same age as her mother rushed to pick her up. It seemed that there was something serious that made the woman have to stay away from Elfara.

"Elfara, looks like I can't keep you company any longer. I have business to attend to. I'll call my driver to take you home."

"That's not necessary, I don't want to go home yet. Thank you for your treat."

"Okay, here's my business card. You can call me later tonight. The story about your father isn't finished yet, is it?" Elfara nodded as she grabbed the business card from Joana's hand. She smiled and waved before Joana actually left. Elfara felt a little relieved after meeting Joana. The girl hoped that there would be another meeting for them.