Mag-log inIn the uncompromising tough game of life. Valerie's half-brother betrays her for a token. Desperate to save his own head, after signing a ridiculously dangerous and risky deal at the expense of the only family he has left, selling her into the hive of the merciless Mafia lord, El Macho. The same one every being feared. Her impurity is crushed and bruised and her existence crashing in Shackles with the twinkle of an eye condemning her to a life of unbearable torture and torment. Pinned down in a painful world, she endures the tortures of a cruel man. Valarie soon finds rest and warmth in the arms of Macho's only brother, Carlos but their forbidden affair and attraction sets ablaze a once blooming relationship between two brothers. Now, they are on the run, a plan must be made to escape wrath, war and death.
view more"Alya! Kamu ngepelnya gimana sih? Lantai masih licin gini, kalau orang jatuh siapa yang tanggung jawab?!”
Alya buru-buru meraih kain pel dan berjongkok. Tangannya bergerak cepat menyeka sudut lantai yang tadi mungkin terlewat. “Maaf, Ma. Tadi aku buru-buru berangkat kerja, jadi belum sempat pel ulang,” ucap Alya lirih. “Alasan terus! Kerja cuma jaga kasir aja kayaknya udah kayak gaji puluhan juta. Biarin kamu tinggal di sini aja, aku udah amal besar, tau nggak?!” Alya tak menjawab. Sejak kecil, ia terbiasa hidup seperti itu. Menjadi “anak angkat” Maya berarti tak boleh menuntut apa pun. Ia tahu statusnya. Ia hanya numpang hidup. Namanya Alya, dua puluh dua tahun. Sejak umur lima tahun, ia tinggal bersama Maya, perempuan yang mengaku kasihan melihatnya di panti asuhan. Tapi kenyataannya, hidup di panti dulu justru terasa lebih tenang daripada di rumah ini. Alya dituntut menjadi tulang punggung. Ia sekolah sampai SMA karena beasiswa. Selebihnya, ia bekerja sebagai kasir di minimarket dekat rumah, dan semua gajinya diserahkan ke Maya tanpa sisa sepeser pun. "Buat bayar listrik, air, makan. Kamu pikir tinggal di sini gratis?" begitu alasan Maya, tiap kali Alya memberanikan diri menyisihkan uang untuk beli sabun atau pembalut. Hari itu, Maya berdandan rapi. Lipstik merah menyala, baju baru yang belum pernah Alya lihat sebelumnya, dan parfum yang terlalu menyengat, ia melirik Alya yang tengah menyapu kamar. “Kamu jangan pulang malam-malam. Besok kita mulai pindahan.” Alya berhenti menyapu. “Pindahan ke mana, Ma?” “Ke rumah Pak Arman. Mulai minggu depan kita tinggal di sana.” Alya menoleh. Matanya membulat. “Pak Arman? Suaminya Tante Ratri?” Maya memutar bola matanya, lalu menyemprotkan parfum sekali lagi. “Dia duda sekarang, Ratri udah meninggal tiga bulan lalu. Kamu pikir dia mau terus hidup sendiri? Lagian, aku sahabatnya juga. Nggak salah dong kalau aku yang nemenin dia sekarang.” Alya menatap lantai. Kata-kata Maya terdengar dingin dan ringan, seolah kematian Ratri bukan apa-apa. “Ma, ini bukan soal siapa tinggal sama siapa, tapi Tante Ratri baru meninggal. Masa secepat itu?” Maya menoleh cepat. “Secepat apa itu urusan orang hidup, bukan yang udah mati.” Alya memberanikan diri bicara lebih jujur. “Aku cuma ngerasa nggak enak, Ma. Nggak baik manfaatin orang pas lagi berduka, apalagi itu suami sahabat Mama sendiri...” Suara Maya meninggi. “Kamu pikir kamu siapa, ngajarin aku hidup?” Alya terdiam. Suaranya sempat ingin keluar, tapi terjebak di tenggorokan. “Aku cuma mau hidup lebih enak. Aku capek hidup susah, capek ngurusin kamu juga. Kamu tuh udah gede. Udah waktunya tahu diri,” lanjut Maya, mengangkat alis. “Kita bakal hidup enak, ngerti nggak? Nggak usah naik motor tua lagi, nggak usah ngirit sabun. Kamu pikir aku nggak berhak bahagia juga?” Alya menunduk. “Tapi jangan pakai cara itu, Ma. Nggak pantas. Kalau Tante Ratri tahu...” “Udah cukup, Alya!” bentak Maya. “Jangan sok suci deh. Kamu itu anak kecil yang cuma bisa ngabisin duit. Lagian, kamu juga bakal ikut tinggal di rumah besar, tidur di kamar yang luas, kasur yang empuk, pakai AC, makan tiap hari tanpa mikirin bayar nasi. Kamu harusnya bersyukur!” Alya tetap diam. Di hatinya, ada rasa tidak enak. Bukan hanya karena Maya akan menikah dengan suami sahabatnya sendiri, tapi juga karena ia akan ikut tinggal di rumah itu. Rumah milik seseorang yang masih berduka, seseorang yang punya anak lelaki, bernama Revan. --- Tiga hari kemudian, mereka resmi pindah. Rumah itu jauh berbeda dari yang biasa Alya tinggali. Besar, sepi, rapi. Setiap langkah kaki terdengar memantul di dinding. Di depan pintu, Arman menyambut mereka dengan senyum. Tubuhnya lebih kurus dari terakhir Alya lihat. Wajahnya menyimpan gurat kehilangan yang belum sembuh. “Selamat datang, Maya. Alya juga,” ucap Arman pelan. Maya menggandeng lengan Arman, tertawa kecil. “Akhirnya ya rumah ini ada lagi yang ngurus.” Alya hanya tersenyum sopan. Dari lantai atas, suara langkah kaki terdengar. Seorang laki-laki turun perlahan. Tatapannya tajam dan dingin. Itulah Revan, anak tunggal Tante Ratri dan Pak Arman. Usianya dua puluh lima tahun. Alya mengenalnya hanya sebatas pernah bersalaman di acara arisan dulu. Kini, matanya menatap Maya tanpa senyum. Lalu pindah ke Alya. Tatapan itu tidak ramah. Arman berdeham. “Revan, ini Maya dan Alya. Mereka akan tinggal bersama kita mulai hari ini.” Revan berdiri di anak tangga terakhir, tidak menjawab. Wajahnya sulit dibaca. Maya maju setengah langkah, mencoba tersenyum meski gugup terlihat jelas di wajahnya. “Revan…Mulai sekarang Tante akan jadi mama kamu.” Revan mengernyit pelan, lalu tertawa kecil. "Apa kamu bilang? Mama?” Maya mengangguk pelan. “Iya. Mungkin butuh—” Revan mengangkat tangan, memotong kalimat itu. “Dengar. Nggak ada yang bisa gantiin posisi Mama di rumah ini. Jadi jangan harap aku bakal panggil kamu dengan sebutan Mama.” Maya terdiam. Senyumnya pudar, tapi ia tidak membalas. Alya memberanikan diri untuk bicara, meski suaranya pelan. “Hai, aku Alya…” Revan menoleh sekilas, ekspresinya tidak berubah. “Aku nggak peduli kamu siapa. Buat aku… kalian cuma orang asing yang tiba-tiba numpang tinggal.” Alya menarik napas, mencoba tetap tenang walau ucapannya jelas menusuk. Arman mendekat, suaranya kini lebih tegas. “Revan, cukup. Papa tahu ini berat, tapi kamu harus terima. Ini keputusan Papa.” Revan menatap ayahnya, tatapannya tajam. “Berat? Tiga bulan Mama pergi, dan Papa udah bawa perempuan lain ke rumah ini. Itu bukan berat, Pa. Itu kurang ajar.” Suasana langsung hening. Hanya suara detak jam dinding yang terdengar. Maya mencoba meredakan ketegangan. Suaranya pelan, hati-hati. “Revan, Tante ngerti ini nggak gampang buat kamu, tapi—” Revan langsung menyela, tanpa menatap Maya. “Udah. Aku nggak butuh penjelasan.” Arman menarik napas dalam. “Maafin Revan, ya... Dia sebenarnya anak yang baik. Cuma dia belum bisa nerima kepergian Mamanya.” Maya menoleh padanya. “Enggak apa-apa, Mas. Aku ngerti kok. Dia masih berduka, dan mungkin kedatangan aku dan Alya terlalu cepat buat dia.” Alya yang sedari tadi berdiri di sisi Maya ikut angkat bicara. Suaranya pelan, tapi cukup jelas untuk menunjukkan isi hatinya. “Kayaknya... dia juga enggak suka sama Alya, Om.” Arman menoleh pada gadis itu, lalu tersenyum sambil menggeleng. “Enggak, bukan gitu. Revan butuh waktu buat nerima semuanya. Termasuk kalian.” Alya mengangguk pelan. Meski tak banyak bicara, jelas raut wajahnya masih menyimpan ketegangan. “Yaudah, sekarang kalian istirahat dulu, ya.” Arman berdiri dan menunjuk arah lorong. “Alya, kamar kamu ada di sebelah kamar Revan. Di pojok, yang jendelanya menghadap taman kecil itu.” Alya mengangguk lagi, kali ini lebih ringan. “Terima kasih, Om.” Arman menoleh padanya dan tersenyum hangat. “Panggil Papa dong… sekarang kita kan sudah jadi keluarga.” Alya sempat terdiam, agak ragu. Matanya menatap Arman sekilas sebelum akhirnya tersenyum kecil. “Iya, Om… eh—iya, Pa,” ucapnya pelan, sedikit canggung. Arman mengangguk puas, menepuk pelan bahunya. “Gitu dong. Nggak usah sungkan, anggap rumah ini rumah sendiri, ya.” Alya hanya mengangguk lagi, tapi dalam hatinya, ia tahu semuanya tidak akan semudah itu.Valerie's POVThe monster finally unchained me after he was done. He kicked and pulled me on the ground like a criminal. I cried, face buried on my lap. I cursed him under my breath, I cursed my half-brother for putting me into this mess."Please let me go" I begged as I made to cover my bare body with my arms. He flashed a wicked sneer at me. A growl formed at the corner of his lip as though he was to consider my plea and soon he got up from his seat which stood behind the large table in the room. The hooting sound from his massive leather boots crushed against the marble tiles.I recoiled into my skin, folding my legs against each other as he approached me. I trembled with fear, a type that made my heart fall out."Not again" I prayed in my heart.He stopped a few inches away from my face and then he bent down to meet me."You are mine, I own you" he yelled angrily into my face and walked away.Streams of tears began to roll down my cheeks. My eyes were swollen due to long hours of
VALARIE'S POVI don't know how long I have slept but when I woke up I found myself in a dark room. Or may8i thought the room was dark because there was a dark cloth tied across my eyes. I could make out the silent noises from the other rooms in the building. They were faint but I could hear them.I didn't know which of my family enemies had me in captivity but I prayed it wasn't El Macho.I sat on the ground, my heart kicking loudly that I bet it could jump out any moment.Soon the blind fold was taken off. I saw the images burr and huge. All three of them. I recognized his hand, the same one who had trapped me in my apartment.He had to be the boss. "Such a sweet girl" he said as he moved his hand over my face and down to my neck. I bit his hand angrily."She's a fighter," he said in a deep croaky voice. The other two roared in laughter.They were huge men, with tattooed skin. The one who touched me has a monster tattoo up to his neck. A deep cut ran across his cheek and down his
Valarie's POV"You are late," Mr. Danzul said in a husky voice as I approached the dressing room."I'm sorry sir” I responded as I put out my hand to key the keys he stretched at me. The expression on his face wasn't good and I couldn't place if he was upset with me coming late or something else had hit him before my arrival."There are a ton of customers to be served and look at the time you resume" he said angrily. His tone had changed quickly."I'm —I'm sorry sir. I managed to say it again. My mind was still stuck in the message I had read at the boss stop.I launched my bag on the only desk and ruffled the keys. Then pushed it into the lock. It opened with ease. I took out my uniform and dressed quickly in it."This shouldn't be a bad day for me" I prayed silently with my eyes shot.I quickly picked up the phone and scrolled to the last message I received.My eyes landed on the heavy words in capital letters."YOU CAN'T HIDE"My heart suddenly began to race again. Hit hard on the
I still cannot believe that I relocated from my little town to a big city in less than 24hrs with absolutely nothing. My brother was just one weirdo who has soaked himself so much in gambling. He never cared about me especially after our parents died and the fact that he managed to protect me after selling me out to those monsters was something I could still not understand.Here I am facing my new life at 20.He never called to know how I am fairing here but that didn't bother me because I was used to it.The sun poured through my window. A fresh day has begun, carrying with it new hope, experiences, and lessons. The beam of the first light encapsulated the whole room. I rubbed my blurry eyes and strolled to the window. There was a little silvery sparkle overhead.The main rays of daylight brighten up the room in its tiny shackles. The morning tune of melodic birdsong flew in as the rising sun cast a yellow tint across the morning sky. Brilliant patches of daylight brightened the scen
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