Chapter 1 - 01. Giving Surprise

Jakarta, December 23, 2019

It looks like it's raining harder tonight than usual. The clock shows 23.00 o'clock, a girl still looks busy with a mop in her hand, cleaning the floor in a very hasty while occasionally glancing at the clock that is attached to the wall of the cafe where she works, finished mopping the floor she turned to clean the glass windows and doors, there was an inscription 'Close' which was also hanging there.

"Anna," a voice managed to make her activities stop. Turning to look for the source of the voice, a middle-aged man walked up to her.

As if she knew the man's habit when he came, she immediately reached into her trouser pocket and took out some red bills and gave them to the man.

"Just this? I know you're getting paid today. If this continues, you can't even pay off the interest from your parent's debt," said the man with one hand on his waist as if he didn't accept it.

"I'm still working, next time I'll pay you more," she said again and then resumed her activities.

For what reason, late at night, she was visited by that damn loan shark. So far she has always worked hard to survive, working day and night without stopping, all because of the debt left by her parents. Anna Alia Azzura, that's her full name, and last month she just turned 20 years old.

Anna is an orphan, her mother died of cancer a few years ago, while her father doesn't know where that bastard is, after selling the house that was the only thing left by her mother, taking on a lot of debts to moneylenders and leaving with other women, leaving her alone, as if Anna was not his biological child. Now, She had no one, no relatives she knew.

And to survive and make ends meet, Anna has had several different part-time jobs.

It was already 23:30, she had to hurry up. Otherwise, she will be too late. The rain started to subside, leaving only tiny droplets of water scattered in the air. Anna walked briskly across the sidewalk, clutching a red box with a white ribbon on the top, and across the street, several cake shops were still open. Anna quickened her pace, crossed the street, and entered one of the shops there.

A few minutes passed, Anna came out with a new box in her hand, it looked like she had just ordered a cake. One of her hands held the taxi that happened to be passing by, put the boxes in the passenger seat then she followed inside and gave a piece of paper containing the address she was going to.

"Hurry up, sir," she said then leaned back in the chair, rolled down the car window. The very cold night air rushed in, blowing her long hair, letting the wind gently caress her face, enjoying the night breeze for a moment which somehow relaxed her a little.

"It's arrived, Miss" the driver's voice made her eyes open immediately, it seems that she fell asleep during the trip earlier.

"Thank you, sir," she said, handing her the money to pay for the taxi.

"Oh yeah, may I know what time it is?" she added before stepping her feet out of the taxi.

"It's 23:50, Miss."

Hearing the driver's answer, Anna breathed a sigh of relief, there were still ten minutes. Immediately she took the boxes she had brought earlier and walked into the apartment.

A smile plastered on her lips, imagining all the beautiful things that might happen tonight, tonight is her boyfriend's birthday night, Brian. And the boxes in her hands are gifts and a birthday cake that she will give as a surprise. Brian is the one and only man in her life. Will she congratulate him while giving him a warm hug? Or give her the first kiss? ah, whatever it is, she will be very happy.

As long as Brian is happy, she will do anything, although her relationship with Brian has been very long, Anna always refuses if the man will kiss her, and apparently, it doesn't bother Brian, and tonight she has decided to give him whatever he asked for, whatever. After all, Brian had promised to marry her if he had a permanent job and she believed it because she believes that Brian couldn't betray her. After all, so far Anna was the only person who helped Brian's tuition fees and it was a matter of pride for her.

Anna accelerated her pace, her cheeks were flushed red, her heart was beating wildly along with the pace of her feet. Coming out of the elevator which was on the fifth floor, her steps began to slow down, tidying herself up a bit which was a bit messy from working all day.

"Hmm," her hand moved quickly to take a tissue in her bag and then wiped the stains on her sneakers. It seemed that on the way to the cake shop she had unknowingly stepped on a puddle.

Repeatedly a sigh to make herself more relaxed, Anna continued her steps with all the beautiful images imprinted on her mind.

Stops in front of the door which is where Brian lives. Seeing the door that wasn't completely closed made her brows furrow faintly. It was unusual for Brian to leave his apartment door open.

"Ah maybe because he is tired," she said then grabbed the doorknob and opened it slowly.

But what awaited her were two pairs of shoes, a pair of high heels that seemed to belong to a woman while the other was Brian's shoes, and that again made negative thoughts run through her head.

Walked slowly into the living room, a few pieces of men's and women's clothes lay on the floor and sofa. Her steps began to falter, her breath began to rush, her blood rippled, her heart raced very fast, dismissing all the negative things that managed to creep in her mind, she approached the room she knew was Brian's room.

The sound of sighs coming from a man and a woman managed to sound from the gap in the open door, tears were already running down Anna's cheeks, trying to pinch herself to make sure that tonight was just a dream but sadly it wasn't a dream.

Anna then ventured to open the door a little wider to confirm everything, even though she already knew what kind of sight awaited her.

Brian made out with another woman. The occasional sigh and groaning sound passionately emanated from the two of them as if slicing and ripping her heart apart.

For a moment Anna could not move, frozen like a fool, and watched her boyfriend make sex with another woman.

This time, Anna was completely crushed. All of her hopes about Brian suddenly collapsed, the person she had considered the savior and encouragement of her life now changed and hurt her more than anything, more than anyone. The feeling was so painful that she thought of ending her life right then and there.

Giving someone anything and doing everything without caring about herself is a big mistake.

With unsteady steps and clear granules that continued to flow without her noticing, she left the apartment.. Carrying gifts and cakes that she had prepared, walking aimlessly with a blank stare.