1: Her Problems

“LIRAH YOU’RE GOING to marry me,” Tasyo said firmly after holding her hand tightly and wants to drag her. 

“S-sir, what are you talking about?” She was so confused when she quickly pulled her hands and took a step back with a disturbance in her mind. She also caressed the hand that was hurt by the old man. “That will never happen! I don’t even know you that well. Aside from the fact that you’re the—”

“Your parents said yes!”

“M-my parents said y-yes?” Lirah stuttered because she couldn’t believe it. “N-no! They won’t do this to me…”

She’s denying it. She’s hoping that she heard him wrong. Her parents won’t do this to her even if she knows to herself that it’s possible—that they really could sell her without even blinking their eyes which even more felt a heartache to her. 

They are going to abandon me. They don’t care what will happen to me. They don’t love me…

Her heart seems to break into a thousand pieces by just imagining the scenario when she’s going home. They will say that she’s a disgrace to their family. That she’s never done any good help to them even if the truth is she saw herself as a servant under their roof. 

She doesn’t have any good education growing up. 

She envied the kids who know how to read, go to school, and have parents that they rely on. Because of this, she doesn’t even have any friends in their hometown. They don’t want their kids to play with her since she smells like a pig even when the day starts. She can’t even take a bath immediately after doing her chores because she still needs to serve her parents.

Before her whole day was over, she was already tired, so enjoying her remaining time for a while wasn't her top priority. She will choose sleep over leisure activities. She needs to have energy for another day.

Lirah did all of this because she didn’t want to hurt them, feel tired, and above all, think that she's useless. Just by thinking of all her sacrifices, this is what she earned?

“You don't have a choice,” he said again like she only had one option but said yes to him.

“You’re crazy!” she snapped. “You’re too old for me—”

“Age is just a number—”

“No! You’re too old and just enough to be my dad and grandpa,” Lirah couldn’t believe that it was really happening and this man was saying gibberish words. 

Her parents decided something big without even consulting her. Who are they to decide for her own life? Because she’s saying yes all the time, they think that it’s okay again?

He's too old! She was sure that this man in front of her was in his early fifties. So, out of the many women in their barrio, why did he choose her? What’s special to her to be this unlucky? Did he choose her because her parents were an easy target to be blinded by money?

They are not the ones who will suffer! How could they decide without me knowing? Just by thinking, she’s in a rage! Her parents betrayed her in an instant!

“Are they really going to do this to me?” she asked herself with worry.

“I can give you everything,” he tried to come closer to her direction which made her heart beat fast because of fear. “You can even make your parents pay for betraying you—”

“Don’t try to do anything funny!” she warns him after picking up the broken branch where she’s standing right now. “I will not think twice! I will hurt you—”

“You can do that?” there’s a glimpse of amusement on his face that is replaced by a laugh later on. “I didn’t really make a mistake choosing you. I like an aggressive girl with an angelic face who doesn’t need to be a damsel and distress.”

“I told you, don’t come near me!” She holds the tree branch tightly. Lirah told herself that she would not think twice if this old bastard did something inappropriately to her.

Digesting and accepting inside her mind what she learned from her parents, her tears suddenly fell to her cheek in a second. 

She’s still denying that they really could do this to her. She gives them the benefit of the doubt and trusts that they will not choose this path to her no matter how hard life is but look at where she is right now—here. Crying while having a fear for her life…

She loves her parents and treats them like she really came from them. She knows that they don’t share the same blood and bond but this scenario never crosses her mind. 

Lirah fears what will happen to her future now.

If she knew that this day would come, she would be brave enough and choose to live on her own without expecting anything from them, including their love. That way, she has control over her life. No one will dictate to her what to do. She doesn’t watch her back all the time whenever her parents do something foolish for their gain.

“I can give you everything,” he tried to come closer but Lirah didn’t let her guard down. 

“I don’t want anything from you!”

“Do you want to have an easy life? I can give it to you. Do you want to have a new set of clothes everyday, and to provide all the things that you want in your life? Live like a queen in your own castle—”

“I told you, I don’t want anything from you!” she yelled which caused the birds resting in the deep of the forest to fly away. “Just leave me alone!”

That’s what you can do for me… 

That time she is praying that someone would hear her plea and take her away from this man. Please… leave me alone! I’m scared…

“Sweetie, I can’t do that. I already paid a big price just to have you. They are even happy about the money that I gave them without asking what is going to happen to you.”

“W-what?” She felt that her hands were shaking while holding the tree branch tightly and pointing to her enemy. “H-how can you do that? How could they do that? All of you treat me like just a thing which can be given away when you desire!” Lirah's tears were unstoppable. Nothing is heartbreaking more than knowing the fact that her parents sold her already.

“So, you are mine now—”

“No!” she interrupted him. “No one owns me!”

“Come here, you forsaken bitch!” when just one snapped, this old man changed instantly. The look on his face transforms into this beastly animal that is ready to devour at any moment.

Without thinking twice, Lirah ran away for her life. She will not allow herself to be with this sadistic animal. The moment that they catch her, she knows that it will be the end of her life and she will not allow this to happen even if this is her last breath.

She’s running as fast as she can when she finds out that Tasyo is not the only one inside the forest. There are also his people who are just hiding in the dark and will only come out if she doesn't agree to his proposal.

She ignores the wounds that she gets while running away. She will endure the pain that she gets here compared to the torture that she will feel the moment that they catch her.

But fate was not in her favor. Her scream got louder when someone pulled her hair so hard as if her scalp would be removed instantly! Without too much effort, one of Tasyo’s men dragged her toward the direction of the richest landlord in her hometown.

“See? Running away from me is pointless!” he annoyingly pointed out to her. “Just say yes so you don't get hurt anymore. I can find you no matter how hard you try to hide—”

“I’m not that idiot!” Lira shouted angrily at him. “Do you think I don’t know that you have so many women and whenever you are sick of them, you will dispose of them like they are not a human but a garbage!”

He guffawed loudly while his hands were on his waist. “You should have told me! If you want me only by yourself, I can do that. I don’t know that you are selfish—”

Lirah slapped him so hard while looking at Tasyo so deadly that even his people were surprised by what she had done. 

“No one owns me!” Lirah said firmly. “From now on, I will not let anyone treat me like a thing—”

Lirah couldn’t continue what she was going to say when Tasyo punched her in the stomach!

A surge of searing pain flowed through her entire abdomen that could suffice to make her want to get down on her knees but she couldn't! Tasyo’s men are holding her left and right arms tightly. A wave of nausea was just enough for her to feel that she would vomit if the pain continued. 

Lirah knows that she will collapse anytime but she must fight… her life will end like this if they let them drag her.

She shouldn’t allow anyone to take over her and control her like a puppet, but running away is so impossible. She can’t do it… she doesn’t have enough strength to do so. She’s asking herself what she’s going to do. She couldn’t think straight. Fear took over her system.

She will lose her consciousness no matter how much she fights not to.

“Where are you?” she asks with a lower voice. “I need you…”

She knows that he couldn’t hear her but she’s hoping anyway. She’s running out of options. Her lover is her only hope right now. She didn’t see him for a month but she still has faith in him.

You’re coming. I hope you’re coming… you will not allow this to happen to me…

“Take her!” Tasyo commanded loudly while holding her cheek tightly using his one hand before he slapped her, “You’re mine now!” and laughed like there was no tomorrow.

Before Lirah passes out, she hears a loud howl coming deep inside the forest. 

“Let’s go!” seems in a panic, one of Tasyo’s men drags her without thinking that she can be hurt by the sharp branches around the area.

Lirah couldn’t complain when it scratched her with one of the pointed rocks that made her leg bleed so much after dragging her.

Before they could step on their feet again after her loud plea, Lirah was shocked when one of Tasyo's men was knocked down in the blink of an eye!

A big black wolf jumped at them and made them feel the fear that they deserved!

She hears them screaming. Begging for forgiveness and promising that they will let her go. After that, she was not aware anymore. She doesn't know what happens next after her body has completely given up…