Chapter 7 — Everything Will be Fine

“My God, Angkasa! Bulan was a murderer back in high school. Why are you associating with someone like her?” Dara sobbed, followed by the sound of flipping papers drifting through Bulan’s earphone.

Bulan’s eyes reddened; her hands were covered in soap suds as she washed the buffet dishes.

“She’s an intern at my branch....” Angkasa’s deep voice resonated softly. “She... she is a good person. She was only protecting her mother. Her mother was being tortured by loan sharks and almost died back then.”

Bulan’s hands stopped scrubbing. Her bloodshot eyes blurred with tears. There was a long silence, filled only by Dara’s stifled sobs.

“Why did you look up her police records, Angkasa?”

Silence again, with only the faint sound of a television in the background.

“Someone tried to frame me with a gold bribe. Bulan took it and returned it the next day when the Area Team called me. She helped me....” Angkasa exhaled slowly. “I checked the pawn system; that gold was logistics from your branch, authorized by Bara.”

Dara remained silent, offering no answer.

“After that, Bayu hit me and said Bulan stole the gold to pay her debts but ran away when she was caught... I asked Komang, and it turns out Bulan has been tortured since she was a child because they couldn't pay their debts. That’s why I felt sorry for her and looked into her past,” Angkasa whispered.

Dara’s sobbing intensified.

“You should have stayed away from her after finding out her criminal record... you wouldn't have been beaten by loan sharks or be bruised this badly,” Dara said hoarsely, followed by the sound of a creaking chair.

Angkasa winced in pain. “It’s fine. I’m used to being hurt.”

Bulan placed the clean plates into a large crate and unplugged the rice cooker. She placed the cooker next to her mother, who sat sobbing on a thin mattress. Beside her were a crate of fish, a water bottle, and medicine. Bulan picked up a blue plastic bag.

‘Mom, I’m heading out for my internship,’ Bulan signaled slowly with her hands.

‘I feel so sorry seeing you hurt... are you okay, my child?’ her mother asked in sign language.

‘Don't worry, Mom.’

The sun crawled higher over the equator. Bulan rode her motorcycle slowly until she parked on the curb. She untied the ropes securing the crates, carried them into the catering kitchen, and returned the keys to the owner.

“You’re lucky you weren’t badly injured, dear... here is your pay. Thank you for helping me.” The catering owner handed her some money.

Bulan walked to the GOR terminal. She opened her mobile banking and paid off her debt to Bayu in full. She gripped the blue plastic bag tightly. She stood dazed, waiting for the Sarbagita bus amidst the hustle and bustle of the stop.

“She... is a good person,” Angkasa’s voice echoed in her head.

“Are you... alright?”

Bulan turned around. Angkasa was standing next to her, adjusting his bag strap. His lip was cut and his chin was bruised. Bulan held out the blue plastic bag to him.

“Mom’s BPJS (Insurance cards).”

Hesitantly, Angkasa took the bag. “How much... was your debt?”

“It’s paid in full.”

“Are you serious?”

“Ask Bayu.” Bulan stared at a wilted plant that refused to bloom.

Angkasa looked at Bulan’s bleeding hand. “If he hits you again, report it to the Regional Police. Look for Baskara; he’s a friend of mine.”

Bulan didn't answer.

Woosh! The bus arrived in front of them. One by one, passengers boarded. Angkasa stood next to Bulan, his hand gripping the bus handle tightly. They remained silent throughout the journey, getting off across from the BI building.

‘Igniting the light of hope for Indonesia’s golden generation.’ Bulan stared at a BRI billboard as she walked toward the pawnshop.

“Morning, Sir...,” Feri greeted them as Angkasa and Bulan entered the branch. “Goodness, Sir! Why are you all bruised up?”

“I just tripped and fell. I’m fine... HPS and HDE are the same as yesterday, Fer.”

“Understood, Sir... but I feel bad for you. I once tripped while looking at gold, but it turned out to be cow dung. Stepping on it is a good omen, Sir. The next day, I tripped and fell in love with a beautiful girl.”

Krik dar! Feri grinned like a horse, but Angkasa wasn't focused. His eyes were creased with exhaustion.

Angkasa and Bulan went into the locker hallway to put away their bags. Bulan headed to the service booth, while Angkasa opened the blue plastic bag containing the new shoes. He looked down at the worn-out shoes Dara had given him. The locker clicked shut.

“Why won't the EDC machine turn on?”

Bulan approached Feri and slammed the EDC machine hard against the table, making Feri flinch. The screen instantly flickered to life.

“Wait, how did it turn on?” Feri scratched the back of his neck, watching Bulan walk to the back.

Bulan pulled pawn slips numbered 3919, 1919, and 3939 from the cabinet. The tickets she had found in Bara’s car came out of her pocket. At the same time, Angkasa went to the booth to collect KPI files before heading into his office.

‘3919, 1919, 3939. September 3rd, September 1st, September 3rd.’ The dates on the tickets and the pawn slips were identical.

Angkasa sat dazed, looking at the pawn slips on his desk, alongside restaurant tickets and meal receipts under the names of Bara and Dara. He swallowed hard before answering his ringing phone.

“Yes, I’ll be there, Sir,” Angkasa said, then put his phone down to charge.

Bulan watched Angkasa leave the pawnshop. She quickly called Angkasa’s phone three times from her new device. She walked into Angkasa’s booth, unplugged the charger, and ran to catch up with him.

“Your phone.” Bulan handed it over.

Angkasa looked at his screen; there were three missed calls from an unknown number. He glanced at Bulan as she walked back into the branch, before he finally left for the Area Office.

☾ ☾ ☾

The sun beat down fiercely. Renon Square was packed due to a festival. While the other interns spread out to distribute flyers, Bulan had her earphones in. She placed flyers at each booth while eavesdropping.

“After checking the logistics, that gold bar was indeed ordered by Bara,” said Kendra, the second Business Deputy.

Bulan listened to the conversation between Angkasa and Kendra through the wiretap.

“Ha! After I fire Bara on the grounds of bribe politics, I can't wait to go to Hawaii. It’s been over a month since I’ve been there....” Kendra’s baritone echoed. “You have to become the Deputy to replace Bara.”

Bulan stopped writing for a moment, noticing her phone battery was at 5%. She connected her power bank in her pocket.

There was a long silence. “I’m content being a Branch Manager, Sir,” Angkasa said softly.

“Typical of you. If you want to get rid of the rats, you have to be at the top. If the head is straight, the tail will follow... I’m going to see the Regional Head now. Be careful, watch out for anyone following you,” Kendra stated firmly.

Angkasa only let out a quiet sigh.

Bulan quickly saved the recording, trimmed it, and sent it to Bara’s WhatsApp.

‘Ha! After I fire Bara on the grounds of bribe politics, I can't wait to go to Hawaii.’

‘I’ve done my job,’ Bulan typed curtly.

Bulan returned to the branch with the interns and the CRO team, entering the micro-team booth. She sent out WhatsApp messages regarding micro-pawn requirements. Her list of potential customers was full, gathered from the visitors at Renon Square.

Tuk... tuk. The sound of footsteps followed by a door creaking open.

“Mr. Angkasa, what brings you here... why are you at the Headquarters?” a female officer asked.

“I’d like to see the pawn records from the Kreneng Branch. Slip numbers 3919, 1919, and 3939.” Angkasa’s voice came through.

“One moment, Sir... I’ll find them for you.”

Back at the branch, Bulan walked to the rear cabinet and took photos of the pawn slips as requested by customers via message. She then went to the service booth to upload monitoring data while sorting the slips and logging the numbers in the ledger.

“Here are the pawn records, Sir.”

On the other end, the sound of plastic rustling on a desk was followed by a heavy exhale from Angkasa.

Tut... tut. The sound of a call connecting.

“Dara... where are your wedding ring, necklace, and earrings?”

It took a while for an answer. “I’m sorry, Angkasa... I pawned them through a friend because I needed the money.” Dara’s voice sounded as if she were holding back tears.

“I’ll redeem them for you, and I’ll transfer some money to your account as well... Dara, were you at a restaurant on September 1st?”

“Forgive me, Angkasa... I met Bara regarding work.”

“Take care of your health... don't overwork yourself, Dara.”

The call ended. The sound of slow footsteps accompanied a heavy, labored breath. “If only everything would be Fine.”

Bulan stood dazed at her desk. Her fingers hesitated, then she typed a message to Angkasa’s phone.

‘Everything will be Fine.’

A short ping came from Angkasa’s phone in the distance, followed by the sound of the screen swiping open. Silence followed.

“Thank you... Bulan.” Angkasa’s deep voice came through the wiretap, followed by the sound of his footsteps walking away.

Gradually, the sun sank in the west. Trauma from the past replayed in her mind, leaving Bulan in a cold sweat amidst the silence.

☾ ☾ ☾

The next season of this novel has been removed because it’s going to be published. Please look forward to the book! <3 Thank you so much for reading. I’d love to hear your thoughts and support in the comments, and feel free to share the link if you enjoyed it. Stay spirited, everyone! <3

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