"You're crazy, Al. That girl is not a watch. If you are satisfied with it, you just throw it away." Embun hit Alaska, her best friend at work. It was the umpteenth time. She had to hear the story of Al's on and off with the girls.
"Geez, I'm not just glaring. It's an enormous loss." Al smiled mischievously.
"You pervert, perverted crocodile." Dew laughed out loud, seeing the behavior of a handsome boy who was only one year older than her.
"It's a loss if my stomach is boxy, six-pack, if it's still a toy with soap," he replied, rubbing his stomach.
This man is handsome. Solid athletic body, although not too stocky. They have been friends for almost two years since Embun started working at this hotel. Embun is probably the only woman at his workplace who has never been his girlfriend. Others have had their turn, even if it was only for a few days or weeks.
"Are you a lesbian, Mbun?" Al asked while putting on a serious expression.
"Haha, you're crazy. Why are you asking that, anyway?" The girl was used to Al's mouth that likes to schmooze.
"After all, you're the only one who doesn't vibrate with me." Al brought his face closer. His nose was almost touching the top of Embun's nose. The girl stared at him blankly, and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"You are not sexy enough for me." Her forefinger pushed Alaska's forehead back.
"I don't need a man yet, let alone just to play around. You know that my life has been difficult, so I don't want to add to the problem," she continued.
"What do you mean, I'm such a problem for you?" The man frowned.
"No. You are not a problem, but the source of all problems. Hahaha…" Embun laughed.
"Even if all the men in this world are gone and only you are left, I still don't want to, Al," the girl continued.
"That's all for me, Mbun. Really nasty. Luckily, you're my friend. Try it if you don't." Alaska looked exasperated.
"So what if I'm not your friend?" The girl put her hands on her hips and lifted her chin.
"If it's not my friend, then I don't know about you and your name. Hahaha…" Alaska laughed.
He looked at the girl closely. In his heart, he really admired. Not only a beautiful face but also Embun's persistence and spirit in living life. That deserves a thumbs up.
Embun's mother died when she was a toddler. She lives with a father who likes to gamble and get drunk. Certainly not a simple thing. All the housework has automatically been done by her since she was a child.
Life is very simple and sober, making the girl never think grandiose. Can eat, can go to school, she is very grateful. Her father spent more money at the gambling table than for household needs.
Embun's dream to go to high school and be successful in her career never withers. She wants to have a decent life like everyone else around her. Not wanting to be rich or abundant in wealth, but at least being able to eat, snack, and travel freely.
After graduating from high school, Embun worked at the Crown Hotel in order to save money and pay for college on her own. She put off going to college for a year, focused on saving.
All plans went smoothly. She entered college in her second year of work and chose a hospitality major, according to the job she is currently working on. In the second semester of college, her father was involved in financial problems because of his gambling hobby.
The house had to be sold, and they rented a tenement in the suburbs. All of Embun's savings were also drained to cover his father's debt. Shortly after their move, the father fell into a deep depression and was hospitalized for several weeks. This added to the weight of the girl's burden. She was forced to borrow money from friends, even to work.
Unfortunately, after several weeks of painstaking and costly treatment, her father was found to have committed suicide in his room by severing his wrist. It seemed the man had lost his will to live again after losing his home and there was nothing left but debts that were still piling up.
There was a feeling of sadness that had landed on Embun. After all, the man was the only remaining member of the family. But she was relieved because she would no longer be bothered by so many problems.
For years, she had lived a hard life because of that man's behavior. Almost every day there are people who come to the house to collect debts. Not only that. There were also those who came to ask for compensation for being beaten by their father while drunk. There are many more people who come one after another in various cases.
She had very often received harsh treatment and hurtful sentences from her father. Slaps, kicks, punches, insults, and curses are normal for the girl. Not to mention the items that were destroyed from being slammed and thrown were already countless.
The asshole that she desperately had to call dad. A cowardly man who prefers to go his own way, leaving a pile of problems for his young girl.
"Whenever you need help, you can lean on me." Alaska spoke, this time sounding quite sincere.
"So, what's the reward?" tease Embun.
"Shake it a little." The man furrowed his brows.
"Going to odong-odong (toy car), huh? Shake it ...."
They laugh. The two of them were used to joking, even with jokes of eighteen and over. Always compact.
Many people think they are FWB, Friends With Benefit. But for Embun, Alaska is just a good friend. Indeed, this man was naughty and flirtatious. Often, she is used as an excuse to break up with women.
"This is Embun, my new girl."
The drama repeats itself frequently. After the sentence is said, usually the girl will cry and then leave. Some have to curse first full of emotion before leaving the two of them. Because of jealousy, not a few girls also berate and insult Embun at that moment. She must have been silent while hiding a smile. No need to reply, either. After all, this is just a charade. After that, Al will definitely invite Embun to eat as an apology and a thank you. The layoff rituals they have been going through for the past two years.
"Tonight, Claudia's layoffs. I'll pick you up at six, okay?" Al blinked his right eye.
"Shit! It's only been two days, Al." Embun was surprised. Her best friend wanted to let go of the girl he'd only been dating for two days. "Why is she? How come you broke up so soon?"
"The clamp is lacking. Very loose, man. Pooh!" Al replied casually.
"Destroyed.... Yours is too small. Just as big as a matchstick, it's just stupid." Embun really can not understand the behavior of this man.
"It's fine with a matchstick. Do you want to know? Just tell me if you want to try it," Al teased.
"Oh, shit! No way! Yours is like stale cassava tape, mostly dyed carelessly. I don't want to get sick." Embun sneered.
"Damn you. Haven't tried it, it's insulting. Once you try it, you will definitely be addicted. New, you know how it feels. I'll pick you up at six, okay?" asked Alaska again, to be sure.
"Okay then. After that we eat kwe-tiaw at Gatot Subroto street. Okay?" Embun gives the code by sticking the index finger and thumb to form a heart.
"Okay, my baby." Alaska replied with the same code.
"My Baby, is it baby powder?"
Their break is over. They both need to get back to work soon. Three months left for the final semester exams at the Embun campus. It's not about the final exam that makes Embun feel heavy, but paying the tuition fees for the third semester later. Savings have run out, not even enough to pay off her father's debts. Then how can she pay the tuition?
There was no way she could bear to borrow money from Alaska. The man had just bought a motorbike, which was quite expensive for an ordinary employee, in order to attract women. Loans at the office have also not been fully paid off.
Hopefully, there is a way out. If not, I have to stop studying first, Embun complained in her heart.