HASTA PLAIN

"Just take it, make your snack...don't show it to your mother." Rafka said as he took his bicycle.

Hanin stood with a complicated look, occasionally looking up at the sky which was already dark even though the rain had subsided.

"What are you daydreaming about? Let's go home." Rafka said on his bicycle.

"I'm going home alone Raf, it's close too." Hanin said afraid that her mother would be angry if she made friends with a male friend.

"Never mind, don't refuse anymore, later around the corner you can get off." said Rafka waiting on his bicycle.

With a sense of doubt Hanin climbed aboard Rafka's bicycle.

"I've taken Raf, walk quickly." Hanin said shyly.

"Okay, hold my waist Han... you know the road is muddy and there are lots of gravel," said Rafka with great attention.

Hanin slowly held Rafka's shirt so it wouldn't fall.

Accompanied by the night wind, Rafka pedaled his bicycle very slowly.

Not feeling the time so very fast, they both arrived at a bend in the road.

"Rafka stop, just drop me off here." Hanin said with a feeling of fear of what would happen later.

Moreover, Hanin did not find anyone selling Amelia's meatballs. Of course, Amelia will get angry later.

"Alright, be careful, Han." said Rafka after that leaving Hanin who was still standing in her place.

With a feeling of fear, Hanin walked into her yard. A feeling of trepidation had already enveloped her heart, when she entered the house.

"Where have you been Hanin?" asked Dina with a very scary look.

"From selling cakes, Mom, Mom said I have to sell out the cakes." Hanin answered with her head down.

"Selling cakes or going out at the guardhouse with Rafka?" Dina asked again with a voice full of pressure.

"It was raining hard, Mom, I took shelter there and there was Rafka." Hanin replied, forced to lie instead of getting more anger.

"PLAKKKK"

"You're good at lying huh! didn't you ride a bicycle with Rafka and take shelter at the guardhouse? remember Hanin you can't date anyone because I have set you up with Mr. Hasta and you will soon marry Mr. Hasta." said Dina with fiery eyes.

"What ma'am? no ma'am, I'm still small. I'm still in middle school how can I marry the old Mr. Hasta. I don't want Mom." Hanin said between her tears.

"I don't care if Mr. Hasta is old or not, the important thing is that you will soon marry Mr. Hasta. For when, it's all up to Mr. Hasta." Dina said in a flat voice and couldn't be bothered.

"I don't want Mom, I still want to go to school." Hanin said sobbing remembering Mr. Hasta was her father's friend who she considered her father.

"No need for school, here all the girls will also be in the kitchen," said Dina in a curt tone.

"Enough! don't cry anymore, usually just cry. Quickly wash the dirty dishes behind you, after that you can rest." Dina said again while counting the money from the sale.

With sobs Hanin walked to the back to wash the dirty dishes in the back.

After finishing her last task, Hanin went into her room lying down while staring at the ceiling of her room.

"Why is my life so pitiful, at the age of thirteen years old do I have to marry Mr. Hasta, the person I already consider my father? Even though I will soon graduate from middle school, I still want to continue my education in high school. I don't want to get married." Hanin said with a tear dripping from the corner of her eye.

Without feeling it with a sad and miserable heart, Hanin finally was able to sleep with a very tired body.

***

Sunday for Hanin is a day she wants to miss. Because on Sundays all Hanin's homework is done and it's endless.

"Hanin! Come here!" Dina called out loudly.

"Yes, ma'am." Hanin replied as she came in a hurry with clothes that were a little wet because she was washing clothes in the back.

"Quickly change your clothes, then follow me to the front. Mr. Hasta is waiting in front now." Dina said as she straightened her clothes.

Without daring to argue again, Hanin went into her room to change clothes to meet Mr. Hasta.

"Are you ready Han? remember don't show that sad face of yours! You have to smile and answer all of Mr. Hasta's questions later." Dina said with a sharp look.

"Don't you hear Hanin!" shouted Dina loudly because she saw Hanin was silent.

"I understand ma'am." Hanin said trying to keep her tears from breaking.

With a smile, Dina came out to meet Mr. Hasta by holding Hanin's arm.

"Say hello to Mr. Hasta Hanin." Dina said in a sweet tone after dealing with Hasta.

Hasta looked at Hanin's face and smiled kindly.

"Hanin, you're a big girl, aren't you?" Hasta said with a finished smile and shady eyes.

"Thank you sir." said Hanin with a downcast face.

"Hanin, you already want to graduate, it's only a matter of days, you should marry Mr. Hasta so that someone can take care of you. You know that I can't afford to pay for you, not to mention your two brothers." Dina said with teary eyes so Hasta felt sorry for her.

"Why don't you just marry Mr Hasta?" asked Hanin, daring to give her opinion.

Dina was silent with one hand tightly clenched.

With a smile, Dina looked straight into Hanin's eyes.

"What Mr. Hasta wants you dear, not me. Isn't that right Mr. Hasta?" asked Dina to Hasta who just smiled at Hanin's courage to speak.

"Mrs. Dina, can I take Hanin out for a bit? I want to talk to Hanin just the two of us?" Hasta said calmly.

Dina looked at Hasta with a heavy heart, because she would not know what the two of them would talk about later.

Dina was forced to grant Hasta's request.

"Alright Mr. Hasta, if possible, don't take too long, because Hanin still has schoolwork that Hanin hasn't finished doing." Dina said looking for an excuse so Hasta didn't take her too long.