Micka Aruni was an ambitious college student with big dreams. She yearned for fame and wealth, seeing them as her tickets out of the grinding poverty that had defined her life for so long. Her financial struggles had grown unbearable, with overdue rent and mounting credit card bills casting a shadow over her existence.
***
The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow across Micka's small, cluttered apartment. Her voice quivered with frustration as she spoke to her dear friend Andre, who had just listened to her lament about the ever-mounting financial crisis.
"Andre," Micka sighed, "I don't know what to do anymore. The rent is overdue, and these credit card bills... they just keep piling up."
Andre, ever the thoughtful and audacious friend, leaned forward in his chair, his eyes filled with concern. "Micka, I've been thinking. I've got an idea, but it's unconventional."
Micka raised an eyebrow, intrigued but also wary. "Unconventional? What do you mean?"
Andre took a moment to choose his words carefully. "Have you ever considered... well, let's just say, mingling with wealthy playboys or maybe even finding yourself a sugar daddy?"
Micka's eyes widened, and she sat up straight, her initial reaction a mixture of surprise and disbelief. "Andre, are you serious? I could never do something like that! It goes against everything I stand for."
Andre nodded understandingly. "I know, Micka. But desperate times call for desperate measures. You're a talented and driven person, and you deserve better than this financial struggle. I'm not saying it's the ideal solution, but it might be a way out of this mess."
Micka's mind whirled with conflicting emotions. She had always prided herself on her independence and self-respect, but the grim reality of her financial woes was inescapable. Her overdue rent notice was like a ticking time bomb, threatening to explode and leave her homeless. Her credit card bills were a relentless reminder of her predicament.
"But Andre," Micka began, her voice shaky, "I just can't imagine myself... being with someone like that, just for money."
Andre leaned forward, placing a reassuring hand on Micka's shoulder. "Micka, I understand. It's a tough decision to make, and I would never push you into something you're uncomfortable with. But consider this: sometimes, life forces us into corners we never imagined. You're not selling yourself, you're seeking an opportunity—a way to secure your future."
As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across Micka's apartment, she knew that she was at a crossroads. The weight of her financial burdens pressed down on her, and the path to relief was fraught with uncertainty. The idea that Andre had presented was unconventional, even morally challenging, but it was a lifeline—a desperate chance to break free from the relentless grip of poverty.
As the days passed and the weight of her financial troubles grew heavier, Micka found herself unable to escape the persistent nagging of overdue bills and the looming specter of eviction. The idea that Andre had presented, though unconventional and morally challenging, began to take root in her mind as a lifeline—a desperate chance to break free from the relentless grip of poverty.
One evening, with the weight of her financial worries bearing down on her, Micka finally broached the subject with Andre. She spoke hesitantly, her voice laced with uncertainty. "Andre, I've been thinking... maybe we should give your idea a try."
Andre's eyes widened with surprise, mixed with a hint of relief. He had seen his dear friend struggling for far too long and knew that this decision was not one made lightly. "Are you sure, Micka? It's a big step, and I want you to be certain."
Micka nodded, her resolve firming up. "I'm not entirely comfortable with it, but desperate times call for desperate measures, right? I can't keep drowning in debt and worrying about losing my home."
Andre smiled, touched by Micka's determination. "That's the spirit, Micka. We'll approach this with caution, and I'll be right by your side every step of the way. We'll find a way to navigate this tricky path together."
***
As Micka delved into this world, she found herself inching closer to one of the notorious playboys, hoping to secure a financial arrangement that could ease her burdens. Then, a surprising turn of events unfolded. She received an unexpected offer from one of these wealthy men to become one of his "artists." These male artists earned a minimum of Rp.1,000,000 a day! This offer immediately tempted Micka, and she found herself unable to resist.
Being a relatively unknown singer with an average voice, Micka couldn't easily achieve fame. However, with Andre's expert photo and video editing skills, he managed to craft visuals that occasionally landed Micka in newspapers or on television, always in close proximity to well-known men. Though the resulting news stories were often negative, sparking resentment from viewers, Micka's name gained notoriety, and she began receiving offers to appear as a guest star on a game show, even if it was just for one episode.
Their current target was Angkasa Amethyst, the eldest son of the Amethyst Family, renowned as one of the wealthiest families in the world. Micka had been relentless in her efforts to get closer to him, but Angkasa Amethyst appeared perpetually busy in Country C. Frustrated, Micka abandoned her pursuit of him in favor of seeking a wealthy businessman within her own homeland.
It wasn't long before Giovanni Arsalan, the scion of the Arsalan family, another of the world's wealthiest families, caught Micka's attention. Giovanni had long been known as a playboy, and despite initial reservations from Micka and Andre, his deep pockets and undeniable charm proved difficult to resist.
Upon hearing news that Giovanni was bringing his friends to a bar, Micka immediately reached out to the bar's owner, offering her services as an entertainer free of charge.
"Are you sure you want to perform for free?" the owner asked, eyeing Micka's provocative attire with widened eyes.
"Absolutely, I'm eager to entertain the patrons," Micka replied with a smile.
"Alright, be ready at 8 o'clock tonight."
"Understood."
Andre's role was to capture photos of their newfound camaraderie and sell them to journalists. Ideally, he had to secure snapshots and videos that would leave everyone intrigued.
Micka sang her songs, casting alluring glances at Giovanni, who stared back at her without blinking. After her performance, she gracefully descended from the stage and made her way to a discreet corner. Before long, a man approached her with a glass in hand. He handed it to Micka and instructed her to join Giovanni, his boss.
Micka, seizing the opportunity, walked toward Giovanni with a seductive smile. Andre had been poised and ready from the start, capturing numerous photos.
However, Micka had no inkling of the extent of Giovanni's debauchery. Giovanni not only exhibited a lack of decorum but also displayed a complete disregard for boundaries, behaving inappropriately toward Micka and even making unwelcome advances toward the two female bar employees. Oddly enough, Micka found herself not entirely repulsed; in fact, the situation seemed even more promising than she had hoped for.
Andre had signaled for Micka to leave, but Giovanni's grip was unrelenting. Micka couldn't escape his grasp, and so she could only secretly signal Andre to keep taking photos and videos, as she couldn't leave.
Soon, the piercing sirens of police cars and the abrupt cessation of music announced the arrival of law enforcement. Several journalists were on the scene, fervently snapping photos in their direction. Micka, completely unaware of the reporters' presence, could only bow her head in embarrassment, trying to conceal her face from Giovanni's advances.
Although it seemed impossible, given the chaotic scene, the police managed to apprehend Giovanni, Micka, the two female employees, and some of Giovanni's inebriated friends. Micka felt an overwhelming sense of regret for choosing Giovanni as her target. While she had desired scandal, she had not anticipated anything quite like this.
Of course, regret is only that, regret. She can't change the past.