Chapter 3 PART 3. HESITATE

It's been a week since Aisa tirelessly searched for a job. She sent numerous job applications to various companies and stores, but none were willing to hire her due to her educational background and lack of work experience.

Aisa felt desperate; she could only afford to eat once a day to save money. Living in the city was not as easy as she had imagined. Everything was expensive, and even a simple meal with vegetables and tempeh cost fifteen thousand rupiahs, not to mention the cost of buying drinking water.

Her rented room was just a small single-room with a floor mattress, and she had to pay five hundred thousand rupiahs per month for it.

Exhausted, Aisa rested her body on a garden chair. Her feet were sore from walking all day, going from one company to another, from one store to another.

Unbeknownst to her, a man had been following her since morning. He was, of course, the spy sent by the wealthy lady, Merlin.

"This girl is relentless, she still sticks to her principles. How long do I have to keep following her?" the man complained.

The man, dressed in black, wearing a hat and sunglasses, disguised himself as a detective. He felt tired and bored of following Aisa for a whole week. However, he couldn't refuse the wealthy lady's orders, which paid him far more than his previous job as a security guard at a small company.

As the day grew late, Aisa returned to her rented room without any job prospects after a whole day of searching. With a hungry stomach, she walked slowly.

"I won't give up, there's always tomorrow. For my family's sake, I will keep trying until I find a job," she thought to herself.

Aisa entered her rented room, where there was only a thin mattress and a large bag containing her clothes from her hometown. She felt life was unfair to her.

Is a high school education really that undesirable, to the point that no company would hire her?

She noticed a brown envelope lying on her bed.

"What's this..."

Aisa opened the envelope and carefully read the points listed in the document.

Marriage Agreement.

Point One: The involved party must comply with all given commands and is not allowed to refuse.

Point Two: The involved party is not allowed to escape before the agreement ends. A penalty of two hundred and fifty million rupiahs will be imposed if violated.

Aisa only read the two crucial points listed above.

She shook her head as she read each point. She then read the benefits she would receive if she accepted the agreement.

Point One: All living expenses for the involved party's family will be guaranteed.

Point Two: The involved party is free to enjoy the facilities in the large house.

Point Three: The involved party can make one request if the mission is successful.

Aisa was tempted after reading the benefits she would receive if she accepted the offer. But she still stuck to her principles, she didn't want to sell her dignity for money.

Aisa put the document back into the brown envelope. She felt very tired. Aisa walked towards the bathroom located at the back of her room. After taking a shower and getting dressed, Aisa lay down on her thin mattress. Her body was only covered with a thin cloth she brought from her hometown.

The next day.

Aisa was awakened by the ringing of her phone, which had been ringing for a while. She slowly opened her eyes, took her phone, and checked who was calling her at this early hour.

After seeing the caller's identity, Aisa answered the call. It was her mother from her hometown.

"Hello, Mom?" Aisa greeted as the call connected.

"Dear," her mother called.

"What's wrong, Mom? Is everything alright?" Aisa felt anxious, afraid that something had happened to her family in the village.

"Aisa, how are you? Is everything okay?"

Aisa paused for a moment; she didn't know what to answer. If she could be honest, she would say that she was not doing okay. But she didn't want to make her family worry.

"Aisa is okay, Mom." That was the answer that came out of Aisa's sweet mouth.

"Have you found a job?"

"Um ... well, Aisa...."

"Forgive Mom, Sa. But I have to tell you this." Aisa's mother paused for a moment.

Aisa knew that this was probably bad news. But what was it?

"Your father, Sa. Your father had an accident. He needs surgery immediately, but you know, your father and I don't have any more money. Everything we had, we gave to you for your journey and to support your sibling's education."

Aisa could hear her mother crying on the other end. She knew her mother was crying. Her mother's tears felt like a heavy weight on her chest. Her parents were already suffering, and now, trials kept coming to her family.

"Sa, are you still listening to me?" her mother's voice came through amidst the sobbing.

"How much, Mom? How much is the cost of Dad's surgery?" Aisa tried to remain calm; she tried her best not to cry.

"Fifty million, Sa. I don't know where to find that much money. You're our only hope. Have you found a job?"

Aisa was confused; she didn't know how to respond. How could she get such a large amount of money? She hadn't even found a job yet.

"Aisa, I'm sorry if I've burdened you."

"Why are you talking like that, Mom? It's my duty to help Dad and Mom. When will Dad have the surgery?"

"Within three days from now, we need to pay the full amount for the hospital expenses before your father can undergo the surgery."

Aisa could still hear her mother sobbing.

"Mom, just relax. Aisa will do her best. You just wait for Dad. Let me think of a way to get the money and pay for the hospital expenses so Dad can have the surgery."

After comforting her mother, Aisa ended the call. She then grabbed her hair roughly. Her frustration was evident, and she felt like breaking down. Aisa looked at the brown envelope beside her.

"Should I accept that lady's offer?"

Aisa was torn between maintaining her dignity and having her father's life hanging in the balance. Or should she accept the offer for the sake of her father's recovery, even if it meant selling her dignity.