Chapter 67: Chapter 67

My eyes flickered. White light gleamed and dimmed on my visions. Someone's voice reverberated in my half-consciousness state. It got louder and louder over time. When I had my eyes fully wide open, the strangers, a creased-faces middle-aged woman was the first one I beheld. That woman smiled at me, making her wrinkles deeper.

"Who are you?" I was startled and lifted my back from the bed where my body was lying. "Where am I?" I scanned around to acquire a hint of where it was.

"My name is Euis. But, people in this neighborhood call me Mrs. Ujang because my husband's name is Ujang. You are at the Ciara village, around three hours from Bandung right now." Her statement bumped me.

"Bandung? Are you sure?" She nodded. I examined the room once again. The situation was much different. This place was not big but comfortable. The wall was made of bamboo and the cement floor was so clean. One brown wooden cupboard with a mirror coated some parts of the wall. The bed itself was just a thin mattress covered by a green sheet.

"My husband located you at the edge of the road last night. May I know what your name is?" I hesitated to say my name. However, through her appearance and hospitality, there was no doubt that she was a good person. There was no way she had bad intentions for me.

"I am Ilana." I mouthed my name.

"What a beautiful name," she complimented. "It seems you don't live around here. Where do you live? What happened to you last night that you passed out?"

"I...I was kidnapped by some stranger men." My lips trembled. I did not tell her the truth that my father had sold me to those men he owed. This woman, no matter how kind she was, was also a stranger to me. "I managed to run away from them," I admitted.

"That's too bad." She rubbed the tears rolling down my cheek. "Don't worry. You are safe here. Once you have recovered from your trauma, I will send you back to your family. Where are they, your parents?"

"They live in Jakarta."

"Jakarta? I've never been there before. But, I have a relative there. We will surely take you...."

"I don't want to." I cut her off. She looked surprised. "Can I live here with you? I'll do anything you ask me to," I pleaded.

"Sure, you can live here. Don't you think that you have to let your parents know where you are?" I wanted my mother to know that I was fine. Yet, if my father found out that I escaped from those people, he would get me back in any way. They would be more cautious guarding me, or even they could rapidly send me abroad to be a prostitute.

"No, I can't remember my parents' address." That was not a lie as I could not explain how to get to my house.

"That's alright. You can live here as long as you want. Just make yourself at home. Just let me know if you need anything. This is your room. My room is the opposite of your room. You can take a rest." She had disappeared shortly. I directly picked my bag hanging on the wall. All the contents including the pendant were still there.

This family treated me very nicely. They taught me many things. Mrs. Ujang even trained me to sew. I was glad that for the first time in my life I could live in a family with those who loved me sincerely. My biological mother loved me so much for sure, but my father did not, never, probably.

A year flew too fast for me. I was yearning for my mother a lot. I was wondering how she was. Was she healthy? Did she eat enough food? And one thing still bothered me. I had a willingness inside me that I could go to university. My dreams still lingered in my mind and heart.

"Ilana...have you prayed?"

"I have," I answered in a low tone. I was like her own daughter that she educated me on how to behave. She was also the one who introduced me to religious teaching such as how to pray. I never prayed in my whole life before I met her. She was even shocked that I did not know how to do the religious practice. I was grateful, God led me to this kind-hearted woman and her husband.

"I apologize that I read your diary without your consent," she confessed. It alarmed me. "I'm sorry we can't afford you to study at University."

"No. It's ok. That's just my old diary."

"But, I have talked to my sister who lives in Bandung. She offers a part-time job as a waitress in her friend's Sundanese restaurant. If you agree, you can work there to earn money for your study. How is that?" I excitedly hugged her and nodded many times showing that I agreed. She hugged me back tightly. I was quite happy and relieved that I always took my documents like birth certificate, diploma certificate, and transcript with me. My life was so messy. That was why I always kept anything I considered crucial in my bag.

The following morning, Mrs.Ujang accompanied me to the bus station. Getting on the bus, I waved my hands to Mrs.Ujang who stayed standing where she was while looking at me who peeped her through the bus window. The bus carried me to Bandung. I was curious about how my life would be. At least, God opened one door for me to my dreams.

After arriving, Mrs. Ujang's sister welcomed me enthusiastically. She had a warm personality. I was accepted to work in the restaurant as a waitress. I worked while studying for the university's entrance test at night.

Today was the announcement of the test. I was a bit nervous. I could not express how ecstatic I was to see my name among those admitted to Padjajaran University for Indonesia Language and Literature major.

My handphone buzzed. It was Mrs. Ujang calling. Before I picked the headphone, my hand touched the pendant. "How is he now?" Reno's nerdy face flashed in my head.