Chapter 15: A Warm Home
1718 Words
The drive from South Jakarta to Depok felt like crossing into a different dimension.
The imposing skyscrapers slowly gave way to rows of shophouses, lush towering trees, and narrower streets that felt strangely alive.
Saskia drove calmly beside me, letting the radio play soft pop songs to fill the silence. I leaned my head against the window, the evening sky bled into shades of crimson and orange.
"We’re almost there," Saskia said softly.
The car turned into an old, serene housing complex. There were no towering fences here, no heavily guarded security posts like the ones in Brawijaya. Here, the gates were only waist-high, and potted plants lined every yard in neat rows.
Saskia slowed down and pulled up in front of a minimalist white house with a front yard full of Monstera and Aglaonema plants.
Aluna’s house.
The place my mother had strictly forbidden me from visiting for years.
I stepped out of the car. The scent of damp earth from the evening watering and the aroma of a neighbor's cooking immediately hit me. It was peaceful. It felt as if my lungs could finally breathe properly here.
The front door swung open before I even had the chance to knock.
A woman stood there, her hair tied in a messy bun, wearing a simple batik house dress. She looked just like me, but her features were sharper, and her eyes radiated a calmness I had long craved.
"Elara?"
Her voice trembled.
My defenses crumbled instantly. My briefcase slipped from my hand, hitting the porch floor.
"Aluna..."
I ran into her arms. Aluna caught me firmly, pulling me into a tight embrace. The scent of baby soap and traditional herbal oil—the unmistakable scent of a mother—wafted from her.
"I’m so tired..." I sobbed against her shoulder.
"I’m just so tired."
"Shh... I know. Just cry. Let it all out," Aluna whispered, stroking my back just as she used to when I was in elementary school, crying after being scolded by Mother for a bad math grade.
Saskia stood behind us, a faint smile on her face as she picked up my discarded bag.
• • •
Fifteen minutes later.
I sat on the plush sofa in the living room. My eyes were still slightly puffy, but the crying had stopped.
The house wasn't large, but every corner felt lived-in. Children's toys were scattered across the rug, frameless family vacation photos were taped to the walls, and the gentle scent of aromatherapy candles filled the air.
"Drink your tea, Elara. Saskia, please, have some fried bananas. They’re fresh out of the pan."
A man in glasses wearing a casual t-shirt emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray. Nathan, Aluna’s husband.
He carefully placed a warm cup of tea in front of me, then sat on the rug near Aluna’s feet. Without being asked, he began to gently massage his wife’s legs—she was currently in the early stages of her second pregnancy.
The sight felt like a blow to my chest.
Back in Brawijaya, Father never even poured his own water, let alone served Mother. Father was a king to be waited on, and Mother was a queen busy micromanaging everything to look perfect in the eyes of others.
But here... Nathan, an IT manager at a multinational firm, felt no shame in serving tea to his distressed sister-in-law.
"Thanks, Nathan," I murmured.
"Don't mention it, Elara. This is your home too," he replied sincerely with a smile.
I took a deep breath, clutching the warm cup for comfort. Aluna looked at me intently, demanding an explanation without saying a word.
Slowly, I began to tell them everything.
About Rei showing up at the school. About the threat of Dwijaya Trading’s bankruptcy. About Mother’s ultimatum and Father’s resignation to using me as collateral for their debts.
Aluna’s soft expression gradually hardened. Her jaw tightened.
"Insane..." she hissed under her breath.
"They’ve truly lost their minds."
"They said Father had a minor heart attack last week, Aluna. But they kept it a secret. Rei was the one who told me," I added.
"That’s manipulation, Elara!" Aluna interrupted sharply, her voice rising.
"That’s Mother’s classic tactic. Making you feel guilty so you’ll obey. She did the exact same thing to me when I wanted to marry Nathan!"
Nathan gently patted his wife’s knee to calm her.
"Easy, honey. Remember the baby."
Aluna closed her eyes, steadying her breath.
"I’m sorry. I just... I can’t wrap my head around it. That company is Father’s ambition, that lifestyle is Mother’s ambition. Why should your future be the price for it?"
The atmosphere in the room turned heavy. A suffocating silence enveloped the four of us. Despair began to creep back into my heart.
"I don't know what to do. If I refuse, I’m scared something will happen to Father. But if I accept... I’ll die a slow death."
Suddenly, the sound of clapping broke the silence.
Saskia clapped her hands, breaking the silence.
Saskia, who had been quietly munching on fried bananas, sat up straight with sparkling eyes.
"Okay, cut! Enough with the gloom!" Saskia exclaimed energetically.
"We need a plot twist before this place starts feeling like a funeral home."
I turned to her, confused.
"What do you mean?"
Saskia looked at Aluna and Nathan alternately with an exaggeratedly serious expression.
"Aluna, Nathan... did you know? In the middle of this storm, your dear little sister actually has... a protector."
I frowned.
"Saskia, don't start."
"Hush!" Saskia silenced me with a finger.
"So, here’s the deal. Elara is getting close to a widower. Handsome, polite, owns a cafe in Senopati, has the cutest kid, and..."
Saskia paused for dramatic effect.
"...he is not just anyone."
Nathan, who was sipping his coffee, raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? An F&B entrepreneur?"
"More than that!" Saskia leaned in, whispering conspiratorially.
"This afternoon, we went into his private room. And do you know what I saw on his bedside table?"
I rubbed my temples.
"Good grief, Saskia. That’s inappropriate."
"What was it?" Nathan asked, his curiosity piqued.
"A Patek Philippe Nautilus. The one with the blue dial."
Nathan choked on his coffee, coughing violently.
Nathan choked on his coffee. He coughed violently until his face turned red. Aluna hurried to pat her husband's back.
"A Nautilus?!" Nathan exclaimed, his eyes wide once he caught his breath.
"Are you serious, Saskia? That watch costs enough to buy two houses in this complex, in cash!"
Aluna gaped.
"What? It’s that expensive?"
"It’s a 'Grail' watch, honey! If he has that and just leaves it lying on a nightstand... he’s not just 'new money.' That’s old money or top-tier CEO level!" Nathan looked at me in awe.
"Elara, where did you meet this guy?!"
My face flushed hot. Why were we talking about Dio now?
"He’s... he’s a parent at my school, Nathan. And it might not even be real, right?" I deflected weakly.
"It’s real, Elara!" Saskia cut in confidently.
"Solid wood box, crystal clear glass, insane finishing. My detective eyes don't lie!"
Saskia turned back to Aluna.
"That’s why I suspect Mr. Dio is actually a prince disguised as a commoner. And most importantly... he’s incredibly protective of Elara."
Aluna studied me closely. An amused smile slowly replaced her earlier anger.
"Well, well... my little sister is all grown up."
"Aluna! It’s not like that!" I buried my face in a sofa cushion.
"We’re just friends. He’s nice because I’m his daughter’s teacher."
"Friends don't usually turn this red," Nathan teased with a chuckle.
"But it’s good, Elara. At least there’s another option besides that arrogant Rei guy."
Aluna pulled the cushion away from my face and gripped my hands tightly. Her gaze turned serious again, but this time it was full of warmth.
"Listen, Elara. Regarding this guy, I’ll support you if he’s a good man. But regarding our parents..."
Aluna squeezed my fingers, grounding me.
"Being a dutiful daughter is an obligation. But obeying their mistakes when they try to sell their own child for the sake of prestige... that isn't duty. That’s suicide."
My eyes welled up again.
"You have the right to be selfish for the sake of your own sanity. You have the right to be happy. Don't let them take that right away from you again. It was enough that I had to run away back then. You have to be stronger."
Those words sank into my heart, forming a solid new foundation. I wasn't a disobedient child. I was just a human being who wanted to live.
"Thank you, Aluna..."
Nathan cleared his throat.
"So, what about the logistics? Do you want to stay here? The guest room is empty."
I shook my head slowly.
"It’s too far from the school, Nathan. Commuting between Depok and South Jakarta every day would be too much."
"She’s staying at my place for now," Saskia chimed in quickly.
"It’s closer, and I guarantee her safety. Rei doesn't know my address."
Aluna nodded in agreement.
"Good idea. But what about your things, Elara? You only have your briefcase."
I fell silent. My mind drifted to the wardrobe in my room. My diploma, certificates, clothes, savings, and several personal items I couldn't leave behind. If I was going to leave, I had to do it properly.
"I have to go back," I said quietly but firmly.
Saskia’s eyes bugged out.
"What? You’re going back into the lion's den?"
"Just for a moment. Tonight. I need to get my important documents and clothes. I don't want to run away empty-handed and end up destitute."
"It’s dangerous, Elara," Aluna warned anxiously.
"It’ll be fine. Father has a gala dinner tonight; Mother will definitely go with him. The house will be empty, save for the maids. That’s my chance."
I looked at Saskia.
"Saskia, can you help me?"
Saskia grinned widely, her sense of adventure ignited.
"A midnight stealth mission? Count me in! I’ll pick you up at two in the morning. Have your suitcase ready—don't get caught."
I nodded. My heart hammered against my ribs at the thought of this reckless plan. But there was no other way.
Tonight would be the last night I slept in that house in Brawijaya. And tomorrow, my life would truly belong to me.
- Writer
