PART 15 ~ A BOWL OF CHARRED PORRIDGE FOR BRAM

Arriving in the room, Clara put the porridge on the nightstand, checking Bram's condition, which was still not improving. Feeling Clara's touch, Bram woke up and saw Clara. He held his head, feeling a little dizzy.

"Are you okay? Do you want a drink?" Clara helped Bram up and sat back down on the back of the bed. Bram wasn't fully aware yet. He felt a strange smell in the room.

"I'm a little dizzy," said Bram.

"Yes, you have a fever. You should drink water first. After that, eat the porridge, I've made porridge for you," said Clara.

Bram obeyed Clara, he drank the water.

Clara sat beside Bram, took the small towel that was still on Bram's forehead, then helped feed Bram. She blew off the still hot porridge for a while and gave it to Bram.

Bram frowned while eating the porridge, the smell was very strange. Smells a burning smell.

"Is there anything strange about the taste?" asked Clara anxiously. She was worried that Bram would smell the burning smell in her porridge.

"No thanks for the porridge," said Bram with a small smile.

"Hm... You should take medicine after this, you still have a fever," said Clara.

"By the way, you don't need to go to the office today. You just rest. If you need anything, call me," Clara said.

"Did you go to the boutique?" asked Bram.

"No, I'm going to visit my mother, but after that, I'll be right back. I still have a lot of work to do, I need to finish it soon," Clara said.

"Hm... All right," said Bram.

Several mouthfuls of porridge had already entered Bram's mouth. Bram couldn't even eat it anymore because it wasn't fit to eat. However, Bram tried to appreciate Clara's efforts, who had been working hard to make porridge.

"Enough, I'm full!" said Bram.

Clara stopped feeding Bram and took fever medicine. Clara also helps Bram take medicine.

"It's over, get some rest!" Clara helped Bram lie down and covered Bram's body with a blanket "I'll get ready," Clara said and went to the closet. She's ready.

Bram was silent for a moment, he covered his face with his palm.

'Too bad, I even had a fever from last night's trouble,' thought Bram.

Talking about marriage, Bram even had a fever. Especially if he proposed to a woman, he might be dying, he thought.

Not long after Clara came out of the closet room, her appearance looked relaxed yet casual, with her hair in a messy bun that made Clara look cute.

Clara took her bag and said goodbye to Bram. However, before reaching the exit, Clara's steps stopped when Bram called out to her.

"What is wrong?" said Clara.

"Buy something for your Mama, I may not know her. But don't let you come empty-handed," said Bram.

"Are you trying to pay for my services, to make your porridge?" asked Clara jokingly.

"Hm... You're getting smarter, make a price that you think is worth paying for a bowl of porridge, and also your energy when making it," said Bram expressionlessly.

Clara took a deep breath. Bram was annoying.

"Okay, I'll make you regret letting me set the price myself," Clara said with a sarcastic smile and left the room.

'That sucks, does he think I'm his housemaid? So he wants to pay for the porridge, as well as my labor? I didn't even think that far, I did it out of pity to see he wasn't all right! ' said Clara, annoyed.

Clara left the apartment with several paper bags her assistant had brought with her.

In the bedroom, Bram was confused with Clara. Bram had good intentions, reminding Clara not to meet her mother empty-handed. Clara's question made him stupid. Bram didn't mean to talk like that, it was just that he was embarrassed to show his concern for Clara's parents.

After traveling for approximately 2 hours, Clara arrived at a minimalist two-story house in the Bandung area. The house is not too big, it just looks beautiful. The front yard looks full of plants kept in pots. The pots seemed lined up decorating the front yard of the house.

Clara saw a woman cutting dry leaves from a plant. She walked to her and hugged her from behind.

"Oh... Who's coming?" She asked.

"Your beautiful daughter," Clara said with a smile.

The woman is Clara's mother. She lives at home alone accompanied by a housemaid.

Clara called the housekeeper and asked her to bring the things that Clara had brought into the house. After that, Clara and her mother entered the house.

"You always bring a lot of gifts when you come home," said the mother.

"You have money? Don't be too extravagant, Clar. You must have a lot of expenses for your life in Jakarta," said Mama.

"It's okay, Mam. I rarely come home, it's not much," said Clara.

"How is your job? Is everything okay? Is your boss treating you well?" a series of questions were asked, making Clara chuckle amused to hear it.

"Everything is fine, I just got a bonus from my boss, so I can buy all this," Clara said, smiling.

"Are you happy, Clar?" mother asked.

"You mean Mam?" Clara looked confused by her mother's question.

"Slowly, your life is starting to improve. Even though it's not completely like it used to be, when there is papa, at least your finances are improving, Mama is very proud of you. Hard worker," Mama said smiling.

Clara smiled bitterly. If only her mother knew, what Clara currently has is mostly a gift from Bram because she is Bram's mistress.

In recent years, it can be said that Clara's life has been very unlucky.

From childhood to high school, Clara lived in luxury. Having complete parents, a successful family company. She can easily get what she wants.

Entering college, Clara's life is getting happier. How can? She is surrounded by people who love her. Had met her first lover, then ran aground. She could say love in adolescence at that time. Is she hurt? Of course. Despite her teenage love, she still uses the feelings of that time.

Until finally she met Reino, a man who was so persistent in approaching her. Clara who wasn't interested at first, then became interested because Reino gave her a lot of attention. In Clara's eyes, Reino is the healer of her wounds because of the love of her youth.

Clara trusted Reino completely, more than she trusted herself. Unfortunately, one day her life was ruined.

The person she loved left her. Her father left her even when Clara hadn't realized her dream. The father died of a heart attack after the unilateral termination of his company's partnership with another company. The company was destroyed in an instant. Clara and her family lost everything.

Had reported injustice, and had time to undergo the trial process in court, but what was obtained was only injustice. Because the court was not on her side. her opponent has everything and tries to use the power to win the case.

Although he was treated for several days in the hospital. But the life of the father could not be saved. Clara's hope is Reino, the man who captivated her heart with all his kindness at that time. Not wanting to ask Reino for help, Clara intends to tell a story to let go of all her sadness.

Unfortunately, as if falling, hit by a ladder, Clara had to be disappointed because Reino betrayed her. Such a deep disappointment, when she had given up everything for Reino, but Reino betrayed her instead. Clara even gave her virginity to Reino. But in, fact Clara is not the only woman who is the outlet for Reino's desires.

True saying. Don't judge someone just by their appearance.

But unfortunately, Reino's face looks good, making anyone who sees it will fall in love. Reino is a sex criminal who likes to sleep with multiple women.

Since then, Clara often visits nightclubs. Spending time there just to get rid of all the sadness. Although there wasn't any problem solved just by her getting drunk at the club. Maybe she could forget about her problems for a while, but after that, she came back to the fact that her life had been ruined.

When she has no income then she has to live, she is the only child who must be responsible for the only family she has, namely her mother. Clara didn't understand how to make money because there was nothing she could do at the time. Wanted to apply for a job, but nothing matched her skills. She has loved fashion for a long time. That's why she took fashion design school and dreamed of becoming a great designer who gave birth to beautiful dresses in the future.

Bram, when it was a savior for Clara. Bram is the only owner of Clara's company who tries to apply for a job there even though it doesn't match her skills. Instead of accepting Clara as an employee at Bram's company, Clara was asked to become Bram's mistress.

Although at first Clara seemed confused, and did not want to accept Bram's offer. However, Clara changes her mind when Bram offers so many luxurious amenities. Not only that, even Bram who bears the cost of Clara's fashion design school and fulfills Clara's dream of becoming a designer and owning her boutique. But until now, her mother only knew that Clara worked in a well-known boutique with a contract as a fashion designer in Jakarta.

"I'd do anything to make our lives the way they used to be," Clara said.

"However, stay within limits. Do not just for the sake of money, we are willing to lower our self-esteem. Even willing to sell our bodies. Women must be able to maintain their honor. Mama just reminded me of that," said the mother.

Clara's eyes reddened. She really couldn't bear to hear her mother's words.

"I'm going to the bathroom first," Clara said and rushed into the bathroom.

Clara was crying, she couldn't take it anymore. Her heart was broken because her mother was so proud of her ugliness that she had been hiding all this time. Especially when Clara heard her mother's words.

'Don't just for the sake of money, be willing to lower your self-esteem. even willing to sell our bodies. Women must guard their honor.'

Clara started to cry. She didn't care anymore and didn't try to hold back her sobs. Even when her phone rang, Clara only looked at it for a moment, then put it back in her bag. Unknowingly, the answer screen was touched by her finger, so the call was answered.