"Let's eat, Yu. The meal is ready," said Manolita. They started lunch together.
"It's a shame it's just the two of us. Marvin is still working at this hour. Marieta is coming home late this evening. I am often lonely now," said Manolita.
"I see. They have their own busy lives. But they still love you," said Yuana.
"You are right. I am grateful to have good children. This family is blessed with so many blessings." Manolita smiled.
The two of them ate lunch while continuing to talk. After that, Yuana said goodbye.
"Well, you leave, so I'm alone again." Manolita still wanted Yuana to stay longer. She knew Yuana wasn't really well yet.
"I'm better now, Mam. Thank you for always being kind to me and loving me." Yuana hugged Manolita.
"Never mind, honey ... I love you." Manolita hugged Yuana tightly.
Yuan moved forward. Manolita intended to take her to the front door.
"You don't need to be escorted. I am okay. I know, you still have work to do," said Yuana, quickly restraining Manolita from following her forward.
"Okay. You're fine, Yu. If there's anything, don't hesitate to come with Mother." Manolita ordered.
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you."
Yuana left the house. Carrying her suitcase and standing on the side of the road.
"Where am I going now?" Yuna was confused. The road in front was quite busy.
She remembered Bobby. But she couldn't possibly bother Bobby. Lisa is there, with Bobby. It is unfair if suddenly Yuana came to Bobby for help and bothered their happiness.
Yuana sighed, pulling it in deeply. Uneasy, restless, all raging in her chest.
"I'm going as far as I can go. I'm going to start a new life. Leave all this behind. Enough of all the pain I'm going through here. Enough of it all."
Yuana went to the bus station by taxi online. When she got there, she was confused about which bus to take? Where was she going to go?
"Do you need a ticket? Jakarta? Bandung?" A man asked her.
"Uh, Jakarta, sir." Yuana didn't know why she mention it. It just came out from her mouth.
"Please, Miss. This way." The man showed the ticket purchase counter. Yuana just came along. She bought a ticket to Jakarta.
After that she sat there waiting.
"Yuana, what is your life really for? Why were you born? You embrace more disappointments and wounds than happiness. Everything you went through was just for tears. Yuana, your life is enough. I will leave you behind. Stop all this. Yuana, rest …." whispered Yuana's heart.
Yuana lifted her suitcase and got into the bus. Yuana sat on the chair according to the number she ordered. On the bench a bit back, near the window. The bus was leaving the station.
Yuana leaned her head against the window pane. She watched the street. Houses, shops, replaced by rice fields, and so on.
"What will I do after this?" Yuana said. "Starting something new. Yes, starting with myself. For myself."
"Do you leave for Jakarta?" The woman next to Yuana greeted her.
Yuana turned around. "Yes, that's right."
The woman was young but was definitely above Yuana's age. Her smile was friendly.
"Do you work there? Or study?" she asked again.
"I want to work there," answered Yuana.
"I am working there too. I just came home, my mother died last week," she said.
"Oo ... my condolences for her," said Yuana. She noticed that there was indeed a sad streak on the woman's face in front of her.
"Yes, thank you." The woman smiled, thin, a little forced. "Your name ... sorry, I'll just call you by name, huh ... you look like you're still younger than me."
"I ...." Yuana was confused. She looked around. On the bench beside her was a bag hanging with the word flora on it. "Flora ..." she said.
"Flora? You have a nice name," the woman said. "I'm Tina."
Yuana smiled. Yes, Flora. It was a good name too. She would start a new life. Yuana was no longer there. Yuana was gone with all her wounds and pain. She had to be a new person. Yes, Flora ....
"Where do you work in Jakarta?" asked Tina again.
"Well, I don't know yet," answered Yuana.
"You don't know. I don't get it. Wait, you are going to Jakarta to look for a job?" Tina looked at Yuana to make sure that was what the beautiful girl in front of her meant.
"Yes. Some say it's easy to make money in Jakarta. So, I want to try my luck." Yuana smiled at the corners of her lips.
"Hmm ... What do you think you want to do? I mean, what kind of job you suppose you can do?" The woman became curious about Yuana.
"Anything. The important thing is I can get regular income," said Yuana.
"I've been working in Jakarta for two years. I'm a waitress at a mall. If you don't mind, I can try asking if there are vacancies there." Tina told Yuana.
"Do you really want to take me working there with you?" Yuana was surprised Tina offered it.
"Yes. But the salary is not too big. Life is mediocre. As long as we are not extravagant, we can still save a little," said Tina.
"It's okay," Yuana is excited. "Thank you very much. We just met but, you are so nice to me."
"Relax. We live to help each other." Tina smiled.
Yuana looked at Tina. Making sure Tina wasn't lying, she was sincere with her words.
"In Jakarta, I live in a boarding house not far from work. So, I can save on transportation costs. There I live with a friend, her name is Lestari. She is originally from Bandung. She is almost the same age as you," Tina continued.
"Seeing you earlier I remembered my younger sister. She is a little younger than you. She was a very difficult girl. She liked to wander, lived as she pleased. Eventually, she became pregnant out of wedlock. Out of shame she committed suicide. With this happening, Mother got sick and died because of stress thinking about her. That's why I want to help you, Flora." Tina looked at Yuana.
"It turns out that your life is also difficult," said Yuana.
"Well ... we never know what will happen, right? Just be patient." Tina's voice sounded sad.
"Yes, you are right." Yuana saw her life, it was the same. Wounded, disappointed, angry, filled the days she went through. She hoped that in the new place things would be different.
*****
Manfred got off the motorbike and approached Ira who was on the terrace of the big house.
"Good afternoon, Ira," she greeted, as usual.
Ira turned. "Manfred?" Ira looked at Manfred. She quickly approached the young man.
"What is it?" Manfred was surprised to see Ira's face looked uneasy.
"Don't come here," said Ira. Her eyes glanced into the house.
Manfred frowned, surprised. "Why? Is Yuana still angry with me?"
"No." Ira shook her head quickly.
"Then?" Manfred was even more confused.
"Eerrhh ... now the master lives here with his new wife," said Ira in a half-whisper, as if she was afraid of being caught telling a secret.
"Here?" Manfred's eyes widened, even more shocked at the news.
"Yes." Ira nodded. She also told that Yuana's parents divorced. Yuana's mother left the house. Only three days after Yuana's mother left the house, Yuana's father brought his young wife.
Ira was also surprised that everything went so fast. Within a few days the state of the house changed drastically.
Manfred was worried, Yuana must be very confused about this situation. And stupidly Manfred deliberately did not communicate with Yuana. Yuana's cell phone was never active. Manfred was a little annoyed but also restless, Yuana continued to be angry with him.
Because it came back from the tour, Manfred wanted to surprise her and get Yuana to talk seriously about their relationship, but what happened? It was beyond Manfred's expectations.
Manfred looked towards the house then turned to Ira. "How's Yuana?"
Ira immediately looked very sad.
"She left ... I thought she went to your place. That's why I was very surprised to see you here ...."
"Yuana left?? What do you mean??" Manfred was even more confused.
On the day of her parents' separation, Yuana suddenly did not appear at home. She apparently chose to leave the house. And sadly, at that time Ira was busy at the back side of the house, she didn't know when Yuana left. Yuana didn't even say goodbye to Ira.
Ira thought Yuana just wanted to calm herself down because she was shocked by the situation at home, to meet Manfred. Ira only realized that Yuana didn't want to live in the house again the next day when she realized that Yuana was not coming home. Especially when Ira was cleaning Yuana's room, Yuana's belongings were no longer in the room.
Yuana never stayed outside the house if it was not for school. She had a hard time sleeping if she wasn't in her own bed.
"Oh my God ..." Manfred felt weak.
"Didn't Miss Yuan call you?" Ira asked.
"No. Since the last time I was here she's been furious with me, and her cellphone isn't active. That's why I'm also confused."
"Miss Yuan left, without bringing her cellphone. It's in the room," said Ira.
"Ira, is there anyone in the house?" Manfred asked.
"The new madam. She is sleeping." Ira answered while looking into the house.
"Can I go into Yuan's room? I'm looking for something maybe a clue or something." Manfred's chest churned. His heart was really anxious and worried.
"Yes ... but be careful. The new madam is a curmudgeon, fierce. Come on …." Ira led Manfred in, slowly, to the top floor, to Yuana's room.
Manfred desperately hoped there was something that would help him figure out where Yuana was going.