Chapter 5 Seeing Things

Uti found three snack packs hidden under the table. Uti hurriedly picked up the plastic waste, scooping it up in astonishment. The girl then crumpled it up in exasperation. Next, Uti ran straight out of the shop.

Her brother was still walking, not too far away, so Uti immediately spewed her anger. "Omar! You lied to me!" Uti shouted loudly.

Omar, who was walking, suddenly stopped his steps, the boy then turned around. From a considerable distance, Omar could still see that his sister was pointing and lifting several plastic snacks that he had previously devoured.

Surprised, Omar could only open his mouth. The boy was gaping, not expecting his brother to find them, even though Omar had hidden them under the table. His intention was to throw it away later, when Uti wasn't around, of course. But now, it was too late, his sister had seen the package. Omar swallowed harshly. He had been found out-a very unlucky and annoying fate indeed.

"Omar, come here! What the hell is this? You said you only ate one, and here's the proof: three packs of snacks. Don't run away, come here quickly!"

It was a very precarious situation. Uti was furious and was seen stomping after Omar. The boy gulped his saliva violently. Not wanting to get a scolding or even a tantrum from his sister, Omar hurriedly prepared to run. Omar ran very fast, away from Uti.

Realizing that his brother was running away, Uti closed her eyes tightly and stopped walking. It was useless, she couldn't catch Omar, and even if she could, Uti was pessimistic that she could catch her brother, who was very good at running away like this. Not to mention that Omar was running so strong and fast. Besides, Uti also had to look after the stall or grocery store to take care of the customers.

Uti looked at Omar as he ran away from her, then shook her head in resignation. Later, the boy would come back, and that's when Uti would execute the boy, we'll see!

"Mom!" shouted Uti as she walked towards her house, she was about to complain about Omar's astonishing behavior. Her steps were fast. "You have to know what Omar did, you'll lose business if something like this happens often. That boy should be taught a lesson once in a while, so that he will know how to feel and not do whatever he wants." Uti continued to grumble.

"Uti, where are you going? I want to buy something."

The voice of a woman from behind her made Uti immediately turn around, the girl then faced someone she knew.

She smiled politely as she lowered her body slightly. "Uh, there's Mrs. Romlah. What's wrong, ma'am?"

Mrs. Romlah smiled slightly. "Yes, Uti, it's me. Let's go to the stall now, I have something to buy."

Uti nodded enthusiastically. "Yes ma'am, let's go to the stall."

Mrs. Romlah stepped out first, while Uti stayed where she was, staring at the door. It looked like she would have to postpone meeting mom in the kitchen to discuss Omar's problem because Uti had to serve the customers first. That was more important now.

"Uti, why are you silent? Come and serve me." Mrs. Romlah waved her hand. Telling Uti to come closer.

Uti nodded her head before entering the stall through the back door. Mrs. Romlah mentioned her order as soon as she saw Uti.

"I want to buy cooking oil and eggs."

"How many kilos of eggs have you got, Mrs. Romlah? How many liters of cooking oil do you want?"

"The eggs are half a kilo, I'll take one liter of cooking oil."

"Don't you take two liters of cooking oil, Mrs. Romlah?" asked Uti with a faint smile, and at the same time her hand began to pick up some eggs to put on the scale.

"Ah, you know, I don't have much money. Unless I can borrow first, I'll take two liters. Then a kilogram of eggs, is that okay?"

"Is this for real, ma'am?"

"It depends on you first, Uti, if I can pay at the beginning of the month, when my husband gets paid, then I'll take this much."

Uti thought for a moment, trying to take in the words of the woman in front of her. Mrs. Romlah often shopped at her mother's shop, and her house was not far away. And the middle-aged woman who owed this debt was rare. However, Uti did not know which decision she should make.

"Uti, why are you silent?"

"Eh-" Uti's eyes blinked, snapping out of her reverie.

"How about it? Is it okay? I've never made a cashew loh Ti at your mom's grocery store." Mrs. Romlah continued, "It's okay once in a while, isn't it? Your mom will definitely let you. Seriously, I've never been in debt here, if you don't believe me, just ask your mother. Where is your mother, Ti?"

Uti knew that Mrs. Romlah rarely owed money here, Uti often served her neighbor, and unlike other mothers who often owed money, Mrs. Romlah was not the same, this woman was different. That's because Mrs. Romlah had good finances, she was a wife with one child, with a husband who worked as a college lecturer. From the looks of her house, it's easy to guess that she has a well-off family.

"Mom is in the kitchen, cooking now."

"Oh, cooking."

"Yes, Mrs. Romlah, and about the question earlier, let i ask me first, okay? I doesn't want to make decisions on her own, this is mom's grocery store, i just helps out here, so all decisions are in mom's hands."

Uti could see that Mrs. Romlah was nodding her head. "Yes, I understand."

"Then you go inside first, Mrs. Romlah? I'll ask mom first."

"Yes, I'll wait here."

"Okay, I'll go inside first, okay?"

"But don't take too long, I also want to cook. It's already late afternoon."

"Ready." Uti then rushed out of the shop, walking at a fast pace. After arriving in the kitchen, Susan was seen arranging the food on the table, Uti approached her mother.

Uti's presence was easily noticed by Susan. The woman smiled brightly, "what a coincidence that you came, i has finished cooking, just make the chili sauce actually, do you want to eat now?"

Uti quickly shook her head. "Ah, not yet mom, i will eat later tonight, I'm not hungry yet."

"I see, it's up to you. But you have to eat later, i has cooked a lot. I'll waste it if I don't finish it."

"Take it easy mom, Uti will definitely eat later. Oh yeah, there's something I want to ask you."

"What do you want to ask?"

"I'm in front of Mrs. Romlah to buy something."

"So, why don't you serve her? How come you're here to see me?"

"That's exactly it mom, i needs mom."

"You don't know the price of the goods? What item did Mrs. Romlah order to win?"

Uti shook her head again. "That's not what you mean mom, you already know the prices of all the goods in the front shop."

Sitting on a chair, Susan replied to her daughter's words. "Well then, what do you want to ask me?"

"Mrs. Romlah wants to go into debt, ma'am."

"Debt?" Shock immediately colored Susan's face, the woman wrinkled her forehead, looking at Uti even more intently. "Is it really you?"

"You my mother, is it true that i lied? It's true. Why did i go to the kitchen to see you again?"

"Mrs. Romlah rarely goes into debt, it's really strange."

"Her husband hasn't been paid yet, mom, maybe they're running low on money."

"Maybe, it's an old date."

"Well that's right, so how is it, mom? Mrs. Romlah, can I borrow money? This is my decision, that's why i didn't immediately agree earlier. I need to confirm with my mom first." Uti again explained as thoroughly and clearly as possible. "And she said to pay when her husband gets his paycheck, mom. That means maybe early next month. What do you think?"

"What did Mrs. Romlah buy?"

Uti then mentioned Mrs. Romlah's order. She, of course, remembered it very clearly.

"Well, I'll take care of it."

"Did you go to the store?"

"Yes."

"Then do you want to give Mrs. Romlah the opportunity to get into debt? Or do you want to refuse?"

"Let me talk to Mrs. Romlah at the shop later."

"Okay mom." Uti complied, and the girl did not argue at all. Susan immediately got up from her seat. She quickly walked out of the kitchen area.

"Mom!" Uti remembered something, she called out to her mother quickly as the woman disappeared from her sight.

"Why again, Ti? Did you miss something?"

"It's Mom," Uti thought for a moment, while Susan waited with narrowed eyes. Uti was trying to find the right words, she was crafting them in her head. She looked at Susan's face again, before Uti finally shook her head. "Later mom, I'll serve Mrs. Romlah first."

Mrs. Romlah should not wait too long. Uti actually wanted to discuss the issue of Omar shoplifting snacks. But it's best to postpone that discussion for later. There was something more important at the moment.

Uti left the house and sat on the front porch, enjoying the afternoon breeze on her face. Mom had already gone to the grocery store. Uti had a little time to rest. As she gazed pensively at her surroundings, Uti suddenly stood up quickly, followed by her eyes bulging wide.

And Uti's heart immediately started beating fast. Her eyes saw something that made her breath stop in her throat, and her body suddenly tensed up. The sight Uti saw really made her chest churn.

A split second later, Uti was running fast. Her legs sped up, pushing through the cold air that slapped the surface of her face.