CHAPTER 5: THE WEIGHT OF A FATHER’S WILL

My body froze as Dita stopped in front of a stunning building with glass doors. A small voice inside me whispered, 'A salon? In all my life, I’ve never set foot in a place like this.'

Dita kept beaming, peering inside before turning back to me. "Why are you just standing there like a statue? Get inside!"

She grabbed my hand again and pulled me through the glass doors. The scent of aromatherapy and fine feminine perfumes immediately ambushed my senses as we stepped in.

A therapist approached us. "Welcome... what treatment would you like today?"

Dita gave me a gentle shove. "Please, make her look breathtaking."

My body turned rigid, and I spun around instinctively. "Dita, what exactly are you planning to do to me?"

"I want to make you look like a different person today."

"For what purpose?"

"To captivate Mr. Jefri, obviously," she replied nonchalantly. She forced me around and pushed me toward the therapist as if surrendering me to her care.

But my body resisted. I turned back and scurried to Dita like a frightened child. "Have you lost your mind, Dita? Why on earth should I seduce Mr. Jefri? You know perfectly well how much I loathe him."

The women undergoing hair treatments glanced our way. Perhaps they felt a bit disturbed by the commotion we were causing.

Dita glanced back at them for a moment, then pulled me to a corner of the salon, away from the crowd. "You know Yolanda, don't you?"

I gave a brief nod, waiting for her explanation.

"You are far more brilliant than Yolanda. Yet, why did she manage to graduate so much faster than you?"

My brow furrowed as I tried to digest the question. "And why is that?"

Dita took a breath, looked away for a second, then met my eyes again. She held out her hands, speaking with heavy emphasis. "Because she has an attractive and daring appearance, that’s why."

I squinted, still not fully grasping her point. It seemed my brain was indeed sluggish when it came to such matters.

Dita let out a frustrated sigh. She closed the distance between us and whispered, "Erika... you know Mr. Jefri is still single, even though he’s well over thirty. He’s bound to be interested if a woman makes an effort to get close to him."

I massaged my temples, which were beginning to throb. To me, Dita’s idea was utterly absurd. "But do I really have to charm him, Dita?"

"Do you want to graduate or not?"

"Of course I want to graduate."

"Then follow my lead." She spun me around again and pushed me toward the therapist waiting at the reception desk. "Miss... please make her look beautiful," she requested with a sudden, polite charm. I wondered why she was always so sharp with me but so sweet to others.

"Certainly, Miss," the therapist replied with a radiant smile.

She led me to another room. Under Dita's orders, I was forced to sit before a massive mirror rimmed with bright, dazzling lights. I sank into the plush chair, resigned to whatever the therapist decided to do to my face. Before I knew it, an hour had slipped by, and I had drifted off to sleep.

"Miss... wake up. The treatment is finished."

The voice drifted faintly into my ears, accompanied by a light touch on my shoulder. I blinked a few times. As I slowly sat up, I was hit by a wave of pure shock.

I was mesmerized by my own reflection. In front of me, the mirror showed a face I hardly recognized.

"My goodness... I'm actually beautiful."

The therapist had applied a natural touch to my makeup. She let my long hair flow freely, adding soft waves to the ends.

"How is it, Miss? Do you like the results?" she asked politely.

I smiled and nodded quickly. "I love it. Thank you so much."

"I'm glad. Please proceed to the reception for payment."

I nodded and walked out to find Dita. My friend had been patiently waiting on the sofa, leafing through a magazine.

"Dita!" I called.

Dita looked up and stood abruptly, her face full of wonder. She rushed over, scrutinizing my face. "See? What did I tell you? You look absolutely radiant when you make an effort, Erika."

I smiled, feeling a sudden surge of confidence. I was quite satisfied with this look; I appeared fresher and more alive, unlike my usual dull self. Before this, I doubted even a mosquito would have bothered landing on me.

After paying, Dita and I left the salon. But as we headed toward the mall exit, my father and his colleagues suddenly appeared, walking from the opposite direction. I spun around instantly, praying he hadn't seen me.

"That's my father, Dita. I forgot he owns one of the restaurants in this mall."

My heart hammered against my ribs as I squeezed Dita’s hand. I was sweating and trembling. "If Papa finds out I’m at the mall, he’ll be furious."

"Alright, let's take another way," Dita said, quickly hooking her arm into mine.

But after only a few steps, Papa called my name. "Erika!"

I pretended not to hear and kept walking.

"Erika! Don't you dare pretend you don't hear me!" he shouted from a distance.

Both Dita and I froze. I slowly turned around, plastering on the sweetest face I could muster.

"Oh, Papa... what are you doing here?"

Mr. Darman approached me with his usual rigid expression. I knew another lecture was coming. "I should be the one asking you that. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be working on your thesis?"

I adjusted the bag strap slipping from my shoulder. One hand was still clutching Dita’s tightly. "I was just discussing things with Dita, Pa. She was helping me proofread my latest revisions."

I nudged Dita’s arm, hoping she would jump in to save me.

Dita nodded quickly, though it was clear she was nervous. "It's true, Uncle. Erika asked for my help to check her manuscript."

I saw the tension in Papa's face slowly soften. A small smile appeared; it seemed he believed her.

"Good. You really should follow Dita's example. Weren't you two in the same year? Yet, she graduated and had her commencement two years ago."

I remained silent, looking down. My fingers gripped the strap of my bag, and my feet shifted restlessly.

"I've given you a chance, Erika. You know why I place such high hopes on you."

I stole a glance at him. In the corners of his eyes, I saw a shimmer of moisture that seemed ready to spill over.

"If you can't prove yourself, then all my hard work will be for nothing. Your uncle will surely seize the company from me, my child..."