Glancing at the old ceiling with a lizard waiting patiently to get near the butterfly. I saw myself as a butterfly when the lizard bite it. Flopping its wings, struggling to escape. But no matter what the butterfly does she ends up in the mouth of a lizard. Just like me, no matter what I do, I can't escape from the nightmare siding in my fate. A billion debt not because I stole or rob someone, my parent's debt, and the responsibility will be mine, only mine. They died in a car accident.
When I'm young, I'm wondering where the money came from. they used to buy a lot when coming. But instead to invest land or build a business, my parents drowned in casinos until they muster the strength to ask the mafia for billion. Yeah, they put bricks on their face to borrow money. But after that night the two died in an accident leaving me in my grandma's hands.
8 years, my parents died when I'm just 8 years old. But now, I'm laying on my bed, watching how the lizard ends the butterfly. Yesterday, I'm just turning 18 years old. Instead happy gift I receive it's a nightmare. A letter that made my head spin due to the bunch of zeros.
Grandma handed this to me when I'm sitting on the old chair, celebrating my birthday just me and Grandma. The letter she kept and always said when I'm at the right time of my age, I can read it but that day is yesterday.
"Son, asking for forgiveness will not change the wickedness we do, we didn't neglect your will but also sold you. Your father is desperate to borrow money to pay the tremendous debt we had, but all I can see in his eyes, eyes wants to leave. I'm sorry, but we decide, you can't choose your life but serve the death."
The letter says, once I turn 18, I will work under the mafia's hands. My life was not enough to pay the debt, in this world, life is nothing but nothingness. If I knew my fate will become like this, I should do everything while I'm free. But all of that will be just a dream. Shooking my head and pinch my cheeks. Worrying about this will never change the fact. I let the drowsiness overtake my body and fall asleep.
"Lere!" I woke up my senses when Grandma knock on the old wall.
"Good morning, Lere. Sorry to disturb you but you have a guest."
It's time. As sitting on the bed waking myself, I take a last glimpse into my room. Ten years living here is more fulfilling than in my parents' house.
"Lere!" Grandma's old tone, call me again and I quickly got up.
I thought the mafia is scary, but these two beautiful women wearing black suits are not scary at all. They just stare into my eyes and left. I knew to myself, I need to say goodbye to this home. Before I enter into the world of terror, a tight embrace grandma does to me.
"I'll wait for your arrival, Lere."
"Grandma, I'll be back."
Grandma left me with a smile and hope she can see me again. Outside the home, the two beautiful ladies hop in, in a black car, they open the window and ask me to enter at the same time left. No words, it is quiet inside. After of hours quietness, we reach the giant black gate.
"Let me in." The lady sitting in front of me make a call, and the gate opens. The car quickly left and soon, I saw the mansion in the middle of the forest, making me nervous.
"Leave!"
"T-Thank you very much."
When I'm outside there's an old woman approaching at me. "Lere Milye?"
"Y-Yes."
"Then, come with me." Her smile pushed my nervousness. I thought once I arrive in this place, the pain I will receive but it's not. The old woman treats me as her guest. After minutes of walking, we reach behind the mansion, there's a small house, separate from the main house.
"Mr. Lere, I want to give you some advice but I might lose my job. Just be careful and good luck." The old woman leads me into the house opening the door for me. Inside was nothing but just a small table and chair, the wall are pure glass. Inside you can see what's in the surroundings but once I'm outside I can't see anything but a blur.
"Lere! Don't let wait our boss."
"Thank you very much, Grandma."
I remove my old flip-flops at the same time enter. There's a man on a chair, glaring at the glass.
"They are good parents just they drowned in the power of money, Lere." A good-looking man turns at me as he sits. His eyes, tell me how scary he is but the care and kindness can be felt in his voice.
"I'm sorry, I'm late, sir."
"Enough! I'm not that kind of person. It's my fault why they grow up like that. Lere, I will let you choose, work under this mansion or come with me outside of this place."
This man is really kind, letting me who has a debt to him choose what I want.
"I'm sorry, sir but I don't understand."
"I can't blame you. In other words, working under this house will make your debt paid in just a year, but if you choose to follow me as my dog outside. Hm... even if you become an old man you can't pay your debt."
In the normal way, I should answer quickly. But working under this house in just one year I have a billion, but that amount is absurd.
"Sir, is working here harder than outside?"
"No! Not at all. Outside, you will be armed while negotiating but if failed there's possible a shootout will occur. Or you will hide bodies, torture someone until they spit the truth.... Is that too much for you? Ahahaha, well basically outside your hands will be stained of blood, and here just odd jobs."
"Odd jobs?"
"Yeah, clean my home, water the garden, clean my daughter's room, and serve my daughters. But I don't want another victim to die. A piece of warning, working here is like working outside, no! Working here is like working in the middle of a desert."
After hearing his explanation, deep inside me, I want to work outside. However, in just one year everything will be fine. Just I don't understand what lies every day once I began working here.
"Lere! A piece of advice, don't work here."
Where I could find dangerous yet down to earth the kindness or because I'm a guy who lose parents at a young age. He might already know how to live without parents, and if he cares about my life why not face my sin?
"Thank you very much, sir. I thought once I reach this place pain I will receive but it was not, it was heart. Thank you for all of your warning but I will work under your home."
When he saw my eyes couldn't turn back my words, he just stood and began walking into the entrance.
"I will prepare a tomb tomorrow. Airi, show him our place."
"Hai! Mr. Lere here"
The old woman stays outside until my conversation the man ends. She brought me into another house where all the workers stayed. As I walked, my eyes kept scanning this place. It's already minutes since I walk but all I can see is a woman, there's no man working in this place.
"Mr. Lere! I'm respecting your decision but I won't forget you. There's no need to show you everything, just change your clothes and start cleaning.