Super Army King
BARBECUE ON THE ROOF
Andry's face was red from the blow. She almost cried, “Dad, why did Dad hit me?”
“Daddy regrets letting your mother give birth to you! You wild animal! Melati is no longer your sister-in-law, but why are you still bullying her?” said the middle-aged man in a high tone. He hit Andry in the face again, “Go you! Go that far! Don't go back home! You also can't bother your sister-in-law anymore!”
Andry's stunned. But because the father had kicked him out, he ran away.
Seeing this incident, the neighbors could only shake their heads. One by one they return to their respective activities. Ryan could see many people sympathizing with Melati.
Andry's father turned and said to Melati, “Melati, you also don't stay here anymore, yes.“
Jasmine stunned. Not long after, his eyes reddened, “Dad..”.
“I'm not your father!” the man's voice sounded hoarse, “I don't deserve to be your in-law. Somehow we can get a good daughter-in-law like you. We are not worthy... We have hurt you so much.”
The wife who had not spoken earlier finally opened her voice, “Melati, I saw the young man was quite also. You just follow him. Don't mind us anymore. We're really bad, we owe you a lot. Somehow we can pay for it.”
“Dad! Mama! What do you mean?” Jasmine emotions until her face reddened more, “You deliberately make me sad with your words for me to leave here? Now we can have some quiet and peaceful days, but you guys are driving me away!”
Ryan's confused. He couldn't guess what was really going on. All he could do was embrace Melati's shoulder, whispering, “Don't be too emotional! We're talking inside the house. Om, Auntie, can I come in for a quick visit?”
The middle-aged man looked at Ryan with rejection. But after thinking for a while, he finally nodded, “Come in!”
……
Once inside, Ryan's first impression is that the house is not big, but clean and tidy. On the wall of the couple's house hung a family photo consisting of 5 people, in-laws Melati, Melati, Andry, and a man who seemed to be the same age as Melati. Ryan thought that this photo should have been taken about 3-4 years ago, because Andry in the photo looks only 13-14 years old.
When he saw Ryan looking at the photo, Melati's father-in-law laughed, “This man who is older than Andry is named Charlie Effendi. He's a college friend of Melati's. Three years ago after they took care of the marriage certificate, without having time to hold a reception, her husband even committed suicide.”
“Dad, don't tell the story.” said Melati while shaking her head sadly.
“Melati, you don't need to cover up her mistake!” said Andry's father, then turned to Ryan “What's your name, Young Man?”
“Good day, Uncle. My name is Ryan Tanama. I'm a good friend of Kak Melati.” Ryan said. “What really happened to your family?”
“Ryan, you do not have to ask.. Uhhh...” Not finished Melati continued her sentence, her mouth closed by her mother-in-law.
Andry's mother said, “Charlie, our son had a high dream when he was in college. He wants to achieve something, wants to be a great person in the future. Therefore after graduating from college, Charlie borrowed 2 billion dollars on us and Melati to open a business. At first his efforts went smoothly, but in the end, the effort did not produce results. The debt is getting bigger. For the sake of paying the debt, the foolish boy owed here and there. Eventually, the debt builds up. Having been unable to pay, he took 200 sleeping pills as a suicide attempt.”
Andry's mother's tears trickled down when she told him about Charlie.
The father's eyes also turned red. Sad, he said, “For these few years, if not for Melati, we would have been killed by the debt collectors. It is very difficult for Melati to pay off these debts. While Andry, the selfless child begins to bully Melati. If there is no work, he always asks his brother-in-law for money. If Melati did not grant her request, then she would seize it by force. Like criminals, right?”
“Dad, stop. I'm fine.” said Melati broke away from her mother Andry's hands. He started sobbing.
Ryan's heart was sad. Although Melati was legally married to Charlie, but because Charlie could not pay the debt and eventually committed suicide, their marriage relationship was basically over. While there is no obligation to pay off Charlie's debts. But Melati did it instead. It took years for the debt to be paid off.
Maybe also because Melati is too good, so her in-laws really like her. But on the other hand, they also feel guilty.
Ryan turned to look at Melati. His heart sympathized with the woman. He sighed, then asked, “What's your plan? Stay here?”
Jasmine shook her head, “Because today you have seen everything, you even know the details of my family matter, then I will tell you my plans. I'll work my best to make a lot of money so I can get my mom and dad out of here as soon as possible. Regarding Andry.. I don't know what to do with the boy.”
“You don't have to think about that brat! Child does not know that it is not my son!” andry's father said while hitting the table.
“Lati, don't mind us anymore. We stick to our stance, which is that you go with Ryan and let us both enjoy our old days. Ryan, you don't hate jasmine, yeah. Actually he...”
“Mother!” jasmine's face flushed. She immediately shut her mother-in-law's mouth, “Already. Ryan and I are just friends. She's not my girlfriend!”
“Oh yes? But we think Ryan's a good boy. Worth it for you.”
Ryan smiled, not knowing what to say.
After drinking a cup of tea, in-laws Melati “exorcise” Ryan and Melati. Ryan could see that these two old men did not want to burden Melati anymore. Therefore, Ryan did not tell them where Melati would go next, Angelina's house.
……
The car left the housing complex. Jasmine sat weakly in the seat next to the driver. Not long after, Ryan stopped the car on the side of the road, put a seatbelt on Melati, then returned to running the car.
“Kak Melati, you..” Ryan wants to say something, but he feels this question to be asked may be a bit impolite.
“It's ridiculous, isn't it? Holding a wedding reception just yet, but Charlie has already left me,” Melati said with a wry smile, “She left three years ago, I have also been working to repay his debts for three years. I wonder why I should do it myself. Maybe it's because I felt Charlie was too good to me when he was alive. You know, when I heard the news of his death, I also just found out that he has a debt that has been stacked. My in-laws didn't blame me, but I knew Charlie was in debt here and there, it was because of me. He wants us to live a decent life, so he works hard. But the result, even like this.”
“How much is the total debt?” ask Ryan.
“While you did not answer, I can roughly guess. Based on your commission over the past few years, it must have owed him above 40 billion.”
“Do you think I'm stupid for working so hard to pay Charlie's debts?”
“Already, we don't need to discuss anymore. I think, right what your in-laws said earlier, it's time you moved somewhere else. But this is just advice. Sister Melati, you don't have to stay with your two in-laws anymore. You'll only hurt them if you're stubborn about this. Do you understand what I want to say?”
“I understand.” Melati. “Three years have passed, it's time for me to start a new life, right ‘kan?”
“True. It is time to move on and start a new life. You can't stay in the past forever.”
When saying the last sentence, Ryan's heart smiled: Hehe, can I also advise people not to live in the past, while I'm alone? Am I practicing it? It's been 12 years, but I'm still back…
“Thank you for helping me today, Ryan,” Melati said sincerely while patting Ryan on the shoulder.
“Alright, since you have already thanked me, do not refuse my help! Sister Melati, now I will lend you 10 billion dollars. But there is something you have to do, which is you buy two houses. One for yourself, one for both of your in-laws. Regarding Andry, you don't have to think about it. Let me take care of the kid.”
“Ryan, I can't take your money. Me...”
“You will of course have to return it, but not in the near future. 10 billion without interest. Whenever you have money, you can give it back. But Sister Melati, you have to promise me one thing.”
Hearing this, Melati felt a little relieved. “What is it? Say it! As long as I can handle it, I will be able to.”
“Kak Melati, you have to say goodbye to a life like this. You should not live in the past. It shouldn't be your life just to work and work.”
“A... I.. Ti.. Not really.”.
“There's no point in you lying to yourself. What do you think my job is as deputy director? From the beginning, I always looked after my men. Someone told me, that even when eating alone, you talk about work problems.”
“A... i...” Melati do not know what to say.
“Alright, I assume you will accept my terms. Let's freeze together! That time something bothers us, so..”.
……
Ryan drives to the office first to pick up Angelina and Riani who are interns at the company. After that, they went back to Angelina's house. Although it is past mealtime, but there is always time for barbecue. Ryan had only been staying at Angelina's house for a few days, but all the household appliances had been provided, including grilling equipment.
Under the moonlight, three beautiful girls and Ryan were sitting drinking and chatting on the roof of the house. At that time, Melati told Angelina about the problem she had been facing for several years. Angelina was also nagging. After that long scolding, Angelina poured three beers, then pinched Melati's face and said, “I'm your law. You should spend three glasses of this beer!”
Jasmine laughs. The tense atmosphere melted. He grabbed one glass at a time and finished it.
Angelina poured three more beers. Ryan was immediately alarmed: Well, I feel a bad feeling.
“Hahaha, this is a punishment for myself for not paying attention to my work partner.” Angelina said as she grabbed a glass of beer.
“Angelina, you have misunderstood. In addition, you ‘kan can not drink a lot of beer. You will do crazy things while drunk, and if that happens, the unluckiest person is me.”
Angelina spouts the beer she drinks onto the ground, then glares at Ryan, “Basic brash! Don't run! I'll kick your ass!”
Riani laughed, “Kak Ryan, you were also “mati” in this way. The time you don't remember?”
……
Half drunk, Angelina's feeling happy and enthusiastic. He hugged Melati and said, “All my fault. If it wasn't for me betting with dad, you wouldn't have worked this hard. I've been so cruel to you for a few years.”
Hearing this, Riani naturally did not side with the father. He grabbed hp wanted to call his father. But Ryan held Riani's hand, “Riani, don't be like that. If you call your father, it will only aggravate Angelina's current condition.”
Riani looked at Angelina with a sad heart. Her eyes started to glaze over, “Sister Ryan, I also have a heart. Sister Angelina is not my biological sister, but over the past few years, she has sacrificed as much for me as her own sister. If there wasn't him, Dad's company couldn't be this advanced. I don't understand, why do you always make it difficult for brother!”
“Riani, there are some answers that if delivered will only hurt the heart, so do not think too far yes. It's an adult problem, you shouldn't think. Now you focus on your school. Oh yes, tomorrow you have started school, ‘kan?” Ryan shifted the topic.
“Iya tomorrow is school. Anu... Brother Ryan, can you take me to school tomorrow?”
“No problem, but now you don't drink beer anymore, yeah. Tomorrow ‘kan already school.” Ryan said as he snatched a beer bottle from Riani's hand.
……
It's midnight. The fire in the barbecue grilling machine had also been extinguished. Angelina's had a lot of beer tonight. He was carried by Riani to the room.
While the problem Ryan had to deal with now was, Melati who couldn't drink beer, but had been drinking too much as well tonight. And now, that woman is heavily drunk…
