Chapter 4.1: Erika

After school, I vented out my frustration at Uncle Sugeng’s internet cafe.

Wait, don’t get prejudiced first. I didn’t extort Uncle Sugeng or play without paying, let alone throwing the computer there. I am not a recidivist. I didn’t even play Point Blank like my other  three friends who were online game maniacs. But I have to admit, my presence at Uncle Sugeng’s internet cafe was not for a good cause. I used the public computers to make illegal transactions. Don’t worry, I’m not a drug dealer or anything. Although I was like this, I was still sane enough not to touch those brain-destroying drugs. I’d rather use my brain to crack programs that like to charge a fortune for their full versions, then sell them for cheaper price compared to the price those money extorters charged.

Not that it was my illegal transaction either. Am I that stupid, telling people about my illegal work?

What was less fun was the appearance of the thug kids from other schools who didn’t know that we often hang out there. As for the thugs at our school, they already know about our habits, so that is why it is rare for anyone to have contempt of death and show up here. But many thug kids from other schools got lost here, then appeared trying to look grim and ugly face with the intention to play for free. Most of them, with their dishonorable intentions,  dashed when Daniel, Welly, and Amir confronted them at the internet cafe door. But if someone was still desperate, we took them to the parking lot to take care of this problem (yeah, are we that crazy, wanting to fight between those super sensitive computers?).

And it is not that I am being Ostentatious, but we always won — and Uncle Sugeng always got the money. Meanwhile, we received an incentive in the form of a free internet cafe.

We just left the cafe after our stomachs demanded to be filled. As usual, we ate at Uncle Mamat’s instant noodle stall, not far from Uncle Sugeng’s internet cafe. While enjoying slurping my instant noodles, Amir nudged me so hard that I almost choked. That damn guy doesn’t realize how strong he is.

“Hey, your bodyguard has appeared.” I craned my neck and saw a familiar dark black helmet. Yep, there was no mistaking it, it was the Ojek-driver. “He’s so loyal, he picks you up every day,” said Daniel, grinning. “If I don’t know your taste, I would have thought you were playing with him.”

“Eh, shut your trap,” I scolded. “Seriously. I’m still an innocent teenager. He is …, uncle who is really senile. ” “Where’s his senile anyway, Ka?” asked Welly in surprise. “At most, he is two or three years of age above us. In fact, he’s actually handsome, a bit too good for you. “

Shit.

“If you want, I’ll give him to you,” I said.

“Dont” said Daniel before Welly could criticize me. “Poor Amir, there will be no more coupling.”

“You both are really asking to die,” grumbled Welly while Daniel and I high-fived each other.

“Alright, this model kid went home first. Kids who need a guide, don’t come home late at night, OK! ”

As soon as I left the noodle stall, I was greeted with a sour remark that was not at all friendly, “if there is no money, you can’t ask for a ride!”

I glared at the damn Ojek-driver. “Since when did you become a gold-digger, Jek?”

“It’s not a matter of gold-digging,” he replied, “but a problem of work. If you don’t pay, I might stop giving you rides from tomorrow. “

“Gosh, just because of that, you went cranky.”

“It is not because of being cranky,” said Ojek looking depressed — as I said, many people almost killed themselves just because they talked to me— “but because I don’t have money to buy gas!”

“If you don’t have money to buy gas, okay, just use a bicycle. I don’t really mind. “

“I mind it!” said Ojek in a loud voice.

Hmm, so preserved just because of ten thousand rupiahs. Maybe he was really freaking broke. Well, as a person of the same fate, I should have been more understanding.

“Alright. Niel, ceban, come here!”

“Hey, how come I’m again the one that you are taking?” Daniel protested from behind the stall window. “It should be Welly’s turn now!”

A thin and pale hand stretched out of the window, handing out a ten thousand rupiah. “If you return it next week, it’s twelve thousand, okay!”

What a scrawny boy. No wonder he immediately stuck out his hand like that. “Hey, leech, how can the interest be twenty percent a week?”

“Well, if it’s not like that, you won’t be returning it on time. Don’t I know your nature? ”

It made sense, even though my position has changed from being the extortioner to the one that was being extorted. “Okay, okay. Tomorrow, alright, if I remember. “

Without waiting for an answer from Welly, I sat behind the Ojek. “Let’s go, Jek. Now you’ve got me caught with loan sharks, hurry return the favor by getting me out of here! “

“Yes, Big Miss.”

Tch, as soon as I gave the money, I immediately became Big Miss. This world truly had become crazy.

Our motorbikes roared loudly past the awkwardly lined up cars. I was engrossed in speeding, when suddenly I felt a vibration from inside my bag. I fumbled into my bag and found my cell phone that was blinking cheerfully. My breath stopped while reading the words on the screen.

Ferly

Erika, can we meet right now? Please. It’s important. I’ll wait in the bus stop in front of the mall alright. Do not not come. And also don’t tell anyone.

There were several points in the message that recently have surprised me, but right now all that came to my mind was: Ferly needs me. Without thinking anymore, I poked Ojek’s shoulder. “Jek, Jek, change the direction. Let’s just go to the mall! “

“What are you doing at the mall? You just paid for a ride on ojek with borrowed money. “

“Ah, don’t make a fuss. Just take me there!”

Even without looking at his face, I already knew that this ojek driver must have been in a bad mood. Well, even without me ordering him around his face already looked sour, let alone me snapping like this at him. But I didn’t care about it at all. What was more important for me right now was to meet with Ferly as soon as possible and ask him what important business made him want to see me now.

I hoped he was okay.