Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Decision

The next day on campus, Kalea came to Zeline’s desk to protest because the information she was told was not detailed. She of course, felt cheated because it turned out that she too had to satisfy the desires of the man she was with. Even though Arthur was handsome and full of wealth, Kalea still hesitated and didn’t want to. It’s like selling herself and being exchanged for money.

“Zeline ...” Kalea called, her face looking disappointed because she remembered that Zeline offered her a dirty job.

The beautiful girl with blonde hair looked up at Kalea. She raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Kalea finally tells Arthur about everything that happened after Zeline left them.Instead of feeling guilty, Zeline actually laughed aloud, until the corners of her eyes watered. The girl slowly stopped laughing because her stomach became a little sore. She looked at Kalea lightly while Kalea scowled in annoyance. She didn’t understand what Zeline was laughing at, even though she was very disadvantaged here. Moreover, the task that she had done was entirely alone.

“Kalea, Kalea, you’re really innocent, huh,” Zeline sneered, with a crooked smile plastered on that charming face.

“What do you mean?” Kalea was offended.

“Either innocent or stupid. It turns out you’re only good at academics.” Zeline leaned forward. “You think there’s such an easy job in this world?” Zeline asked, making Kalea’s emotions boil.

.....

“You tricked me,” said Kalea. Unknowingly, her hands were clenched into fists. She felt cheated when she was really looking for a job.

“I’m not completely deceived. After all, Arthur took you straight to the room, huh? Ah, but it seems like he is,” said Zeline, squinting. She recalled Arthur’s behavior, which was very fond of women and thought women were more beautiful than anything else. Any woman would immediately fall into his trap, and surrender her body to him. Zeline is not a hypocrite either, she is often fascinated by the man.

“Not at all,” Kalea replied.

Zeline’s eyebrows rose, she was a little surprised. “You haven’t been touched by him?” Zeline whispered.

Kalea looked at Zeline a little strangely. How could she ever say something indecent like that. She shook her head. “I haven’t agreed to the contract.”

“Stupid! You should just accept it!” Zeline said, annoyed. “Arthur is very attractive, royal, and anyone will fall in love with him. I’m sure you will be satisfied with him. Both your financial and your body will be satisfied by him,” added Zeline with a mischievous smile. Kalea just shuddered to see it, Zeline turned out to be exactly what the rumors said. This beautiful girl often plays with men who are much older than her.

“Sigh, It’s up to you, but I’m sure if you take it off, you will be very sorry,” said Zeline as she got up from her seat. “Bye, I’m going to the toilet.”

Kalea looked at Zeline, who walked out of the classroom. She breathed heavily. “Wouldn’t I be the one regretting giving up my body to a man without marriage ties?” Kalea muttered very quietly.

She feels sugar dating is not right. It is impossible for her to give up her honor for the sake of money alone. This is the same as what her mother said the other day who told her to sell her body to someone else. However, when she saw Arthur, the offer, and the freedom she would get on the contract paper made her a little interested.

Kalea shook off all the thoughts that were making her dizzy, there were still two days to decide whether to agree to Arthur’s contract and start a lucrative relationship with the man.

***

It had been two days since her meeting with Arthur. Kalea couldn’t decide for sure. She is too tired from her work and duties. At ten o’clock in the evening, Kalea had just finished work at the family restaurant. Before boarding the bus, she stopped at the mini market to buy alcohol for her mother. She stood right in the row of alcohol, undecided on how many bottles to buy for Freya. Kalea reached into her purse and looked at the remaining money she kept in it.

“Just for one bottle,” Kalea muttered quietly. She sighed and took a bottle of alcohol to pay at the cashier. The girl must prepare herself because, after this it is certain that her mother will torture her again.

“Just one more bottle? You really are deaf, aren’t you?! I told you I couldn’t have one!” Freya snapped and threw the used bottle to Kalea’s side. The girl’s body trembled as if it had almost hit her body.

“S-sorry, Mom ... I don’t have enough money in my wallet, tomorrow I’ll buy it again, okay ...” Kalea pleaded while holding her mother’s leg. However, Freya kicked her to get Kalea to let go of her leg. Causing the girl to fall backwards.

“Don’t touch me with that filthy body of yours! You think I’ll melt with your begging attitude? Now you buy it again!” said the mother as she grabbed her daughter’s straight black hair, which was in a ponytail. Kalea winced in pain, and kept begging to be released, but Freya grabbed hold of her and dragged her out of the house. “Go away!”

“W-wait, Mom, let me get some money in the room first,” Kalea asked as she put her hands together and kept on pleading. Her gaze was so pitiful.

Freya sighed in exasperation, continuing to push Kalea with her feet. “Then hurry up!”

Kalea immediately ran up the stairs to her room. Her expression suddenly changed, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing now. The room, which was always neatly arranged, is now a mess. She was very sure that she always left the room that became a shelter neatly. Did her mother enter her private realm? This had never happened in her life. Since childhood, when Freya was still a loving mother, she never entered her room.

Kalea walked unsteadily to the cupboard where she kept her money.

There is no. The money isn’t there.

The girl panicked even more, she went back to checking all the parts there looking for the money. However, nothing. Still nothing. Kalea held her forehead, remembering where she had kept the money, but she was so sure it was there and she almost never forgot something very important. Kalea went back to looking for her elsewhere. Study table, bed, everything in her room. Her eyes began to heat up, wanting to cry. She had to find the money. She is very sure that she still has savings to use when there is an emergency.

“Hey, asshole! You took so long to take money!” shouted Freya from downstairs.

“W-wait a moment, Mother!” Kalea said in a trembling voice. Back to looking in her room that was so messy.

Twenty minutes had passed, and Kalea couldn’t find the money at all. Her body was already weak from despair. She had to ask her mother for the money. The girl left the room empty handed, she stepped slowly down the stairs. Freya was waiting down there. The woman jerked her daughter’s arm when Kalea reached the downstairs. “What took you so long?!”

“M-mom... why is my room a mess?” Kalea asked, her eyes looking dazed.

“How would I know! You think I walked into your room, huh?!” snapped Freya. She never once had a soft tone for her only child.

Kalea looked down deeply, she didn’t want to accuse her mother, but who else of them entered her room? They were the only people in the house. The girl ventured to ask, “M-mom, did you take my money?”

Freya’s face became even more sinister than before. Her eyes bulged, the veins on her face became more visible. She slapped Kalea angrily. However, Kalea remained silent and accepted the slap. “Now you accuse me of taking your money?!” Freya’s rebuke was deafening.

Kalea bit her lower lip, holding back the pain and disappointment she felt. Her cheeks hurt so much from her mother’s slap. “Just tell me mom, I’m okay if you really take the money ...” Kalea whispered, still looking down, holding back her tears that could come out at any time.

Freya grabbed Kalea’s chin roughly, so the girl looked up at her. Freya smiled disdainfully. “Yes, I took it. I need alcohol!”

“I-I always buy you alcohol, Mom ... but it’s money for our daily needs,” Kalea replied looking at her mother so pitifully.

“Don’t worry, I’m gambling. If I win, I’ll return your money,” said Freya as she released her grip on Kalea’s chin.

Kalea’s eyes rounded perfectly, and she gaped. “M-mom, you playing gambling?” The tears she had been holding back had now burst. The girl was crying profusely, not expecting that Freya had actually stolen the only fund they had. She didn’t even know what she would eat tomorrow like this. Even Freya added to her suffering by playing gambling, which certainly resulted in more losses than gains.

“Why are you crying?! Do you think I’m going to lose? You don’t like giving me money, huh?!” Freya snapped as she grabbed Kalea again and pushed her to the ground. The girl was still crying, her heart hurt more than the torture her mother gave her. Freya continued to torture her. Slapping, kicking, and stepping on it. To what extent, Freya was tired and satisfied. The woman’s breath hitched, and she smiled mockingly. “I don’t wanna know, you are looking for more money for my life,” she stated sternly and only thinking of herself.

After that, Freya left Kalea alone in a pathetic condition. Her hair that was always in a ponytail, was now a mess, and her face and body were covered in bruises. The girl’s tears had dried up, her gaze was so empty. Slowly, she tried to get up intending to return to the room. With stumbling steps while holding back the pain that was all over her body, she climbed the stairs to the room.

In the room, Kalea looked for a piece of paper that she kept in a safe place. The girl looked at the paper containing her contract agreement with the attractive 32-year-old man who else but Arthur Jefferson. Kalea sighed, she had no other way to earn money in such a short time.

Arthur is the only way.

Kalea grabbed her phone and typed Arthur’s number into it to call the man. She would agree to her contract with Arthur.