A year ago.
"You can't be serious! Why do you think I work so hard to make this work?" Hidayah shouted at her brother in his face feeling all the anger she had withheld for the past week. She had never intended for Hidayat to work with their father and Anston. The kind of work they do is not evil like killing innocents or doing drugs, but it is still evil enough.
The danger it poses to those who have a hand of it makes people shudder. What more if the whole family is involved.
"Why are you so mad? What's so bad about this? If you and dad can do it, why can't I? You may be my twin, but you are not allowed to order me to do or not to do stuff! This is my life! My decision!" Hidayat walked away from the room and banged the door shut.
Feeling vexed with everything, Hidayah threw the bottle of gin on the counter against the wall. Tears spilt over the sides of her eyes as she fisted hands, banging the counter. She wanted to shout to release all the anger she's been feeling but it was of no use. Nothing she does would make her anger appeased. Especially with Hidayat's action, as if this is all but just a child's play!
**********
"Hidayah, are you with Hidayat? I can't get a hold of him… He is late for my wedding rehearsal!" Anston said quickly on the phone. Hidayah could hear him say between words as he tries to cool down.
"Sorry, Anston, he was with me earlier but he left about an hour ago… Was the rehearsal today?" Hidayah asked shyly. She had been preoccupied with the recent changes around her that she had forgotten about Anston's upcoming wedding the next weekend.
And since both Anston and Hidayah have to fly off to City K tomorrow, and will be there for at most a week, Anston held his wedding rehearsal at the church this week.
"What's wrong? Did the two of you fight?" Anston sounded her out.
"Yeah… Why did you not tell me about Hidayat's involvement with the weaponry's business? I thought I have told both you and dad I do not want Hidayat to be involved in the business?!" Hidayah retorted. She had half a mind to march into her father's room to sound him out too.
"Hey, he's a big man. He can handle it. Plus, with his involvement, you only need to focus on the corporation and pass the other side to us men to take care of."
"But he is my baby brother!"
"He's here…. We will continue the discussion later. Bye, love you!" With that, Anston hurriedly ended the call. Hidayah could only sigh. Should she act on walking into her father's study to talk to him about her thoughts again? No… His dad will just say 'every one has a path he has to take and if that is what Hidayat wants, then that is what he will do'
Hidayah walked towards her walk-in wardrobe and change her floral summer dress into her red swimwear, like those worn by Baywatch actress. She then put on her claret-red silk bathrobe and walk towards her balcony.
One thing she loves about the mansion is that the main sleeping area on each level has a balcony that overlooks the swimming pool. Four years back, the twins had the staff rebuilt the fences on their balconies to add in a diving board so that they can jump into the swimming pool directly from their room.
The pool, having the length as wide as the mansion's width and as deep as 4 meters, made it easier and possible for them to jump from the 5th and 6th level of the mansion. They have also installed a single-phase gearless MRL villa elevator to accommodate ease of access from the pool to their own living area.
That afternoon, she intends to spend her time swimming in the pool to vacates her mind from all the pressure from her workload at the corporation and family.