Chapter 5

I took a taxi to the mall, and while in the taxi I wiped my face. When I arrived, I went inside and looked for a coffee shop. I didn't have a hard time finding it, I ordered immediately and called my friend.

"Amirah ..." I called her name in a cracked voice. My eyes are starting to water again.

[B! Hey... Are you crying? Where are you? Are you okay? Please tell me where are you, I'm coming.]

I smiled at this series of questions to me. I'm just saying her name, she's anxious.

"A-Are you free today?" I asked while holding back my breath because my order of coffee and bread had already been dropped.

[I'm always free for you B, you know that...]

Yes, she never rejected me. We're best friends since we were ten years old. They had just moved to our subdivision then because our parents were friends.

"Can you pick me up?"

[Of course! Where?] It's a quick answer.

"Mall, I'll text you where exactly I am."

[Okay... I'm on my way, wait for me...]

After the call, I just gasped. I'm so thankful to have Amirah, she is always one call away. Likewise, I immediately texted where I was, so she wouldn't get tired of finding me there. Not only that, but I didn't wait long, Amirah hurried into the coffee shop.

"B! Gosh! Your eyes are swollen again! What happened? " She hissed.

"A..." When I called his name, my lips trembled. I couldn't stop sobbing, I was unable to stop the tears from welling up in my eyes. Amirah bit her lip so hard as she could see I was hurting. Even though she cried because of that, she hugged me very tightly. I feel like I've found an ally and can be blamed for making me cry even more.

"Shhh... I'm always here, B... You can tell me everything, you can cry anytime. I won't mind," She said while stroking my back.

"I'm tired... I'm in p-pain..." I said hiccups to my friend while crying too much. "I hurt t-them... I ruined them—"

"It's not your fault, B, it's your parents. You can't hurt them, you can't. Don't blame yourself, okay? " She turned to me and touched both my cheeks.

"A... I can see... I can feel the pain that my parents did to them... And the pain! I felt guilty," My tears kept dripping and Amirah wiped them away.

"B..."

"I want to rest for a while, away from all of them... Away from my painful reality of life... H-Help me... Please ..."

"You don't need to say please, I'll help you ... We will run away from them, who put you in pain... I promise!" Amirah smiled at me, so I smiled too before I hugged her.

"Thank you!"

We only spent a few minutes in the coffee shop before leaving. Fortunately, she had a car with me. I was just looking out the window while Amirah was driving.

"Are you okay? Do you want to eat? " She suddenly asked me, I looked at her behavior and smiled,

"No... Thank you."

"Sleep first, we are still a bit far. Take a rest, I know you are tired. "

"Is it okay that we don't talk?" I asked, it's embarrassing to sleep while she's driving.

"Of course, I'll just turn on the playlist. You need a break, girl," she said, glancing at me.

So, that's what I did, I closed my eyes until my drowsiness ate me. I feel so tired, I feel like I'm drained. I'm emotionally and mentally tired...

I don't know how long I slept. But when I opened my eyes, I had no one in the car. The window in front of me was already open, so I could feel the strong wind. The orange sky kissing the sea opened up to me. It's so beautiful... The sea is calm, and no one is where I am, so I can see this beautiful scenery freely. I just smiled because of the feeling it caused.

"You're awake!" Amirah said cheerfully, walking towards my habit.

"Where have you been?" I asked and got out of the car.

"In the rest house,"

"R-Rest house? Who? " I looked at its source and saw a two-story house.

"My rest house!" My eyebrows met what she said. She never once mentioned it.

"Do you have a resort ?!" My eyes widened, and she laughed as she nodded.

"Mommy doesn't know, so zip your mouth!" It's a threat to me.

"Of course!" And we walked towards the house that was he's rest house.

"I already have clothes here, so I didn't bother to take them home. We are the same size, so use it as well. Don't worry, it's all new! "

"I have no complaints!"

"I'm ready!" It even bothered me.

Upon entering, I was even amazed by its beauty and cleanliness. Also, fully equipped, with a sofa set and large flat-screen TV. There is a kitchen that is also complete, with a stove, with a refrigerator that is also full of meat.

"Are you here often?" I asked my friend as we walked up to the second floor of the house.

"Quite ..."

"You clean the whole house ?!"

"Yeah, why?"

"Nothing, I thought you had a helper here or a caretaker."

"I don't need that, I can do it."

"Then why did you buy this?" We stopped after our slow climb up the stairs.

"Just in case... You know business world girl, look at you. I know, one day my parents will arrange for me to some strangers. It's good to be ready when that time came that I'm gonna be a runaway bride! "

"Wow! I didn't think of that! Tss! I hope you gave me tips so that I am also a runaway bride, right? "

"You didn't ask! Besides, hello? That's Steve, your world! Remember? " I was stunned by what she said, then I just stared at her in the distance. Now, he doesn't crush me back anymore, yet, he still hates me so much. I'm just exhausted thinking about it.

"Come on! We are here to relax, let go of the problem first. " I nodded and followed her.

There is a large veranda on the second floor, there is also a mini living room and two bedrooms that are just opposite. After we changed clothes, we went down again.

"It's almost night, let's have a drink at the beach! You like?" Question it.

"Sure!"

She went to the kitchen, and when she came back, she was carrying a small cooler and big chips. We went to the beach together to start drinking. The cooler is filled with beer cans with ice cubes inside. We just sat on the sand and opened our drinks.

"What kind of resort is this?" I asked suddenly.

"Haven Island,"

"Nice! It's better not to be crowded now? "

"Yeah. So, can I find out what happened earlier? " She asked, so I told her everything.

"Why is that A? Why is the business world like that? They are just selling things when their children marry strangers. Is it just money now? "

"Only money is significant to them, and the company. They don't care if someone is hurt or if someone is trampled on. But, I pity Nicole, she doesn't deserve this. I mean, I'm not blaming you, I just hate your parents for doing this shit. " She said seriously while drinking her beer.

"I feel you, I started to hate them for hurting innocent people. For the money, they will do anything. "

"That's how the business world is, we are just unlucky because we are one of the products of parents in the business world. That anytime they can sell. Tss. " said Amirah.

She's right, we're the product of our parents that anytime will sell to someone rich.

"Unfortunately, we are only children. We all share what they want us to do. " I said again.

"Yeah, but, if that arranged marriage ever happens to me? They can't see me! Will you continue that marriage?" I thought about what she said, is it right for me to just go with my best friend?

"Will you help me just in case?" I asked.

"As always! You can't go home from now on if you like! Don't wait for the wedding,"

"Are you sure it's safe here?" I looked around. There are rest houses next door here not far away, but there are no people.

"Of course! Besides, we can go abroad if you don't want here. "

"Oh no! I'm sure they're going to freeze our cards right away. Didn't you think of that? " I asked because I'm sure they'll do that right away.

"Of course, I thought of that too, so every day I take the contents of my card and hide it here. It's like I have cash even though they already have the card! " When she said that, I was impressed by what she was doing.

"Oh my God, A! You're outstanding! You have to think in advance! "

"Of course! So, what? Game? Run away, heiress! "

There's nothing wrong with choosing to be happy with my own decision, is there? I just want to feel who I am, the freedom. I don't have to pretend to be someone else just to be liked. Likewise, I need time for myself ... Not only that, but I badly require peace of mind ...