SAVE ME, MR. SCOTT

CHAPTER 2: BASEMENT

Two days have passed and now it's June 11, the day of our examination, but until now I'm still here in the basement, with limited food, often just bread brought by the guards from outside the basement. My stomach continues to ache, and my sleep is not restful. Every moment, I feel the longing for the old me — the times when I was full of vigor and strength.

Every hardship I experience feels like a deep pit that's hard to escape. The chance to eat nutritious food and have proper rest seems like a dream I can't reach. But despite all this, I continue to hope and believe that in every trial, there is a light that will shine at the end of the dark road. The old me, full of energy, the one who loved to eat especially carbonara, who felt beautiful and admired on campus, smiling while chatting with and being with mommy, and joking around with my friends, is not lost; it's just sleeping in my heart, waiting to wake up with every step of my recovery.

I miss mommy and my friends. I miss hearing Caely always say 'super nice', Casey with her changing moods, and Keziah always teasing us.

I wonder how they are doing? Do they miss me? I hope they're not mad because I suddenly left. I hope they won't leave me behind. Why did I just let what happened in the canteen earlier happen? Then maybe I wouldn't be here now.

Tears slowly fall from my eyes as memories of the last happy conversation with my friends return to my mind. Every word, laugh, and joke feels like a return that nothing can match.

Every time memories of the last happy conversation with my friends come back to me, I can't help but feel sadness engulfing my heart. Every word, laugh, and joke we shared seems to replay in my mind, reminding me that those moments won't happen again. It's sad to think that the joy and significance of those times can never be repeated. The conversations and laughter, the hearts and minds we shared, and the dreams and sorrows that made up our friendship seem to be left behind in the past.

Every tear that falls from my eyes feels like waves of crying expressing a heart suffering from the loss of those moments. But even in the midst of disappointment and sadness, I can't help but be thankful for the memories and laughter we shared. Despite the passage of time and changes in circumstances, the memories of my friends and those moments will remain with me. They will serve as a guide and strength for me in the trials and challenges that lie ahead. These are proof of the true value of friendship and love that knows no equal. Each memory and moment will testify that despite everything, friendship and love are eternal and never-ending.

I want to bring back every moment of joy and friendship I once felt. Our warm hugs and laughter were like music to my ears, bringing joy and comfort to my heart. But even as tears flow, I know that these memories give me strength and inspiration. I know that with every tear, there is hope for what I will face, and I hope to be together again, sharing joy and love with each other. It's just sad to think that at my young age, I already experienced such events. It's tough. It's tough when your own parents don't like you. You're doing everything, but for them, it's just more trouble.

Daddy treated me like this only because he considered me not his child, even though the opposite is true in reality. Mommy told me that daddy wasn't ready to have a child back then because he prioritized work, and he got even angrier at me because their child turned out to be a girl instead of a boy.

So, it's my fault that I was conceived because of that damn love?!

Mommy shouldn't have brought me into this world!

She should have just let me be aborted instead of bringing me to life because nothing would change. It's the same anyway, no matter what I do, it's always wrong in daddy's eyes.

Despite my desire to experience the life of other young people today, it feels like my feet are bound in our home. I can't go out and experience the freedom of youth. My dreams seem imprisoned by the walls of poverty and lack of freedom. Every day is a struggle, a test that needs to be faced. I just rely on mommy for money that I can use to meet my needs, so I can't leave this house. My hope of living freely and achieving my dreams depends on her support and love.

"Shh, shh." I was lost in thought when I suddenly heard that soft whisper.

I looked around to see if there were any animals with me now, but there were none. I slowly stood up and peeked through the small window shaped like a shoebox, and to my surprise, Zaldy's face greeted me there. I almost kissed him because his face was so close. Fortunately, that didn't happen because I quickly stepped back.

"Are you okay?" He whispered softly.

"What are you doing here?" I asked almost in a whisper too, not answering his question.

"I heard about what happened to you, so I was really worried, Jairah. I'm the reason why you're here. I want to apologize to you. I'm sorry Jairah. I'm really sorry," he said tearfully.

"Tsk, it's really your fault!" I blamed him, but deep down, I was glad to see him because I had someone to talk to here.

"I'm really sorry, Jairah. I didn't know you would experience this because of what I did to you. Please forgive me," he apologized again.

"I don't have time to forgive. I want someone I can lean on," I said, tears welling up, so I turned away from him.

"Don't worry, Jairah, I'm here to accompany you." I quickly faced him again because of what he said.

"W-what do you mean, Zaldy? Y-you're going to accompany me here inside?" I asked, confused.

"No, Jairah," he chuckled slightly and shook his head. "I would like to do that, but I can't because your father would be even more angry if he sees you with another guy... What I meant earlier is that I'll accompany you because I'm working on your land now. Just call me if you need help, and I'll come right away," he explained before smiling.

"You're working here? How did that happen?" I asked, puzzled.

In our land, we don't rush to accept new members. We value being careful and thorough in selecting our members. Each applicant undergoes rigorous examination and testing to ensure they are trustworthy and have the appropriate abilities for their roles. We don't rush to accept new members because our goal is to have loyal, trustworthy individuals capable of fulfilling their duties properly. Before accepting an applicant into our community, they undergo careful examination and testing. This is to ensure that they are adequately prepared and ready for their responsibilities. We don't just accept anyone into our community. We carefully study their skills and experiences to ensure they will be an asset and not a hindrance to our progress.

In today's time, there are many people willing to work for any company or organization even if they don't really know or can't do the tasks offered to them. But in our area, this is a big corruption. Because of this, it's important for us to have a process for accepting new members to ensure that they have sufficient skills and experience for the roles they are applying for. This is evidence that our land doesn't just accept anyone, but aims to have a stronger foundation for our future.

The process of accepting new members is a crucial part of our operations. It's not just a simple decision but a responsible step that needs to be taken to ensure the integrity and quality of our organization. At each step of our assessment, we look for qualities that prove each member is worthy of trust.

"A long explanation, Jairah, just call me when you need help, okay?" He said before handing me the small blue whistle.

"What do I do with this?" I looked closely at the whistle and shook it.

"Use it when you need food or if something bad happens to you. I'll come right away. Do you understand?" He asked seriously.

"Are you serious?" I asked, feeling a bit surprised by his actions.

"Of course! I'm here to make up for my mistakes to you." He said seriously.

I just nodded and put the whistle in my pocket.

"I also brought some grapes with me, I picked them from your farm earlier, hehe." He said shyly and handed me some pieces of grapes.

"Tss, you're already stealing and it's just a few. Bring more next time." I joked.

"Can I do that? I'll do it for you." He said before laughing.

I slowly looked into his eyes to see if he was really serious about what he said, and I could say that his help and making up for his mistakes come from the heart. In his eyes, I see sincerity and determination to change all his shortcomings towards me. In every move he makes, I feel his care and love that seems unchanging. I realized that he has the ability to change himself and correct his mistakes. In those moments, my heart opened to acceptance and forgiveness. It's not easy to regain trust after being hurt and abandoned. But despite everything, I felt ready to give him a chance.

Is this the beginning of our friendship or will it end here because at any moment, he might be caught by daddy helping me?

Is this the start of a new hope and friendship?

A chance to correct mistakes and bring happiness to each other?