Harapanku

"Let go of me, please!"

Despite her dizziness and weakness, Arwena fought hard against the man who was dragging her out of the bar.

She kicked and pushed him desperately, hoping to break free. But no matter how hard she tried, he refused to let go. His grip on her waist tightened, and he was practically carrying her.

"Stop fighting if you don't want to get hurt," he said, his voice sharp and commanding. He grabbed her face roughly, forcing her to meet his cold, menacing gaze.

Arwena's cries faltered for a moment, her chest heaving with fear. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her heart pounded so hard that she couldn’t hear anything else.

Without warning, he grabbed her neck and slammed her onto the hood of a car. Her scream was cut short when the cold metal pressed against her back, leaving her breathless and stunned.

"Please, let me go. I don't want this," she begged, her voice trembling with desperation. Her hands pushed at him weakly, shaking as she turned her gaze away from his looming presence.

"Stop acting like you're some innocent virgin," he sneered, his voice full of malice. "On the dance floor, you looked like you were inviting every guy to come and fvck you."

Arwena's stomach churned at his words, and her disgust deepened as he pressed his body against hers.

"Let me go! I don't want this!" she yelled, her voice breaking with fear. She continued to struggle, but her strength was fading fast.

"You don't want this?" he mocked, his tone dripping with cruel amusement. "Then maybe you shouldn't have danced like you did." He leaned closer, brushing his nose against her neck and cheek. The way he sniffed her made her skin crawl.

"Please, no! I'm begging you. Stop this!" Arwena cried, her voice cracking as she slapped him with everything she had left. But the slap barely affected him. It only seemed to aggravate him.

"Stop fighting," he growled, fumbling with his belt. "This won't take long, and I'll make sure we both enjoy it."

He kissed her roughly, his lips smothering her sobs. Arwena's strength finally gave out. Her body trembled as despair and hopelessness settled deep inside her. Her sobs softened into weak whimpers.

As the man pressed against her, her thoughts drifted away from the agony she had been trying to escape. She had come to the bar hoping to forget. Hoping to drown her sorrows in alcohol.

Her ex-boyfriend’s cruel words echoed in her head. “It’s your fault I cheated, Arwena. You pushed me to find someone else. I’m a man; I have needs, needs you refused to give.”

She couldn’t stop the questions crashing into her. Was it really her fault? Did she push him away? Would he have stayed faithful if she had given him what he wanted?

***

Flashback

"Why her, Jake?" Arwena asked, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Farah, why? You were my best friend, like a sister. How could you do this to me?"

Farah’s cold response cut through her. "Don’t blame me, Arwena. If you had been a better girlfriend, Jake wouldn’t have come to me."

"Jake, I thought you loved me," Arwena whispered, her voice trembling.

"I did," Jake replied coldly. "But loving you became boring. You’re suffocating. Why should I wait when someone else is ready to give me everything?"

End of Flashback

***

Her heart burned with rage at Jake, at Farah, and at herself.

"Let go of me!" she screamed again, pushing against the man groping her with the last of her strength.

"Shut up!" he snapped, raising his hand as if to strike her.

Before he could do anything, he let out a sharp cry of pain.

Arwena opened her eyes, dazed and disoriented. Her attacker was no longer holding her. He lay sprawled on the ground in front of the car, groaning.

A man stood over him, fists clenched. In the glare of the headlights, Arwena saw him deliver blow after blow to her attacker.

"Don't move if you want to live," the man said, his voice cold and commanding.

Arwena’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground. Her trembling hands covered her ears as she tried not to hear the sounds of the fight. Her body shook uncontrollably as tears streamed down her face.

"Mr. Tandre, what’s going on?" a voice asked.

"Where the hell were you?" the man demanded angrily.

"Sorry, Mr. Tandre... nature called," the other man said, his gaze shifting from Arwena back to the attacker.

"Take that bastard to the police station," Tandre ordered, his tone sharp and final.

Arwena could hear everything, but she was too weak to speak. She sat there, staring blankly at the man who had saved her.

"Miss, it’s fine now. You’re safe," Tandre said gently as he knelt beside her. His voice was steady but full of concern.

He placed a light hand on her shoulder. "It’s alright. It’s over," he said quietly.

She looked at his hand, then slowly lifted her head. When their eyes met, it felt as if the weight of her fear and pain began to fade, little by little.

"Come with me," he said softly. "I’ll take you far away from here. You don’t have to stay in this place anymore."