Chapter 1

“Hello! I’m home!” a girl exclaimed as she stepped into her house.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Why the long face?” asked a middle-aged woman as she walked over to her daughter.

Hainun had already thrown herself onto the living room sofa. She stretched her legs out in front of her and leaned back wearily. Her face looked utterly exhausted. Her arms hung limply at her sides, one hand still clutching a brown envelope.

Her mother sat beside her and gently stroked her hair.

“You didn’t get a job, did you?” she asked after noticing that Hainun was not as cheerful as usual.

That morning, before leaving to look for work, Hainun had been full of enthusiasm. She had even left the house before seven o’clock, carrying several job application documents.

Hainun had graduated from college a year earlier with cum laude honors. She had once believed that her excellent grades and degree would attract the attention of major companies.

However, reality had turned out to be far more difficult than she had imagined.

For months, she had been searching for a job, sending applications to various companies and even traveling around the city to submit her documents in person. Unfortunately, not a single company had given her a real opportunity.

Forget getting hired. She could barely even get an invitation for an interview.

Hainun was beginning to feel like giving up. But every time she looked at her parents, the thought of surrendering faded away.

They had worked hard for years to pay for her education. By now, her father and mother should have been able to rest and enjoy their old age. Instead, they still had to work just to make ends meet.

And Hainun felt as though she had become an additional burden.

“I’m sorry...” Hainun whispered.

Her head lowered as tears began to roll down her cheeks.

“Why are you crying, sweetheart? Don’t cry!” her mother exclaimed in a panic.

The woman immediately wrapped her arms around her daughter and gently rubbed her back.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to make you and Dad happy, Mom. I’m sorry that all I’ve done is cause you trouble,” Hainun said between sobs.

Her mother tightened her embrace.

“You haven’t done anything wrong, sweetheart. So why should you apologize?” she said gently. “Everyone has their own timeline. Maybe this just isn’t the right time for you to get the job you want. What matters is that you’ve tried your best. You’re not a burden to us at all. As long as you’re not married, you’re still our responsibility.”

“Whoa! Whoa! What’s wrong with my little girl? Why is she crying?”

A middle-aged man’s voice came from the doorway.

Hainun immediately lifted her head.

Her father had just arrived home, and he looked confused to see his daughter crying in his wife’s arms.

“Dad!” Hainun called out.

She quickly pulled away from her mother and threw her arms around her father, who was now standing in front of her.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” her father asked, glancing at his wife for an explanation.

“I don’t know. I’m just as confused as you are. She suddenly got all emotional,” his wife replied.

Hainun’s father gently stroked her head.

“Why are you crying? Did someone bother you?”

Hainun shook her head slowly.

“Then what is it?”

“I still haven’t found a job, Dad,” Hainun squeaked, hiding her face against her father’s chest.

She was embarrassed. Once again, for what felt like the hundredth time, she had failed to find a job.

“Oh... is that all?” Her father smiled faintly. “Why be sad about that? There’s always tomorrow. Just because things didn’t work out today doesn’t mean they’ll go wrong tomorrow, too.”

He then cupped his daughter’s cheeks and wiped away the remaining tears on her face.

“You have to keep your spirits up. Your mother and I will always support you and pray for the best for you. So, no more crying, okay?”

Hainun looked at her father.

“Come on, give me a smile!”

Hainun finally smiled.

She hugged her father again, then reached for her mother’s hand and pulled her into the embrace.

Their family was simple. They did not have much money, but the love in their home had always been more than enough. They respected one another, supported one another, and always tried to find happiness in the little things.

“Have you had dinner yet, sweetheart?” her father asked after finally releasing the embrace.

Hainun shook her head.

“Not yet.”

The moment she said that, her stomach suddenly growled rather loudly.

Hainun immediately grimaced in embarrassment.

Her parents chuckled.

“Then let’s have dinner first. I’ve already cooked,” her mother said.

Father and daughter nodded in unison before following the woman they loved into the dining room.

---

“Dad! Mom! I’m going to my room first, okay?” Hainun announced after finishing dinner.

“Okay. Don’t forget to freshen up before bed,” her mother reminded her.

Hainun often forgot to take care of herself when she was exhausted. After spending the entire day outside, she sometimes collapsed onto her bed without changing her clothes or washing up.

As a result, she would often wake up the next morning with red rashes all over her body from heat rash.

“Okay!” Hainun replied, giving her mother a thumbs-up.

Once she reached her room, Hainun headed straight for the bathroom.

Her entire body felt sticky after spending the day outside. She had traveled around the city through clouds of dust and vehicle exhaust, going from one company to another just to hand in her job applications.

She felt as though she had absolutely no energy left.

After finishing her shower, Hainun stood in front of the mirror and stared at her reflection.

If no one called her tomorrow and not a single company was willing to hire her, she would take any job she could find.

It did not matter if the work had nothing to do with her degree. What mattered was earning an income.

Let people laugh at her or talk behind her back. As long as she could help support her family financially, she would no longer have to sit at home doing nothing.

Besides, her father was getting older.

Lately, his legs seemed to be growing weaker, making it difficult for him to walk long distances. The cart he used to sell cilok—Indonesian tapioca balls served on skewers—was also old and barely fit for use.

But what else could he do?

That cart was the only means he had to earn a living.

“Stay strong, Hainun. For Dad and Mom!” she declared, flashing a wide smile at her reflection.

Knock! Knock!

“Sweetheart?” her mother called from behind the bedroom door.

Hainun immediately turned around.

“Yes, Mom? What is it?”

“I thought you were already asleep. I brought you some milk.”

Click!

The bedroom door opened.

Hainun saw her mother standing there with a glass of warm milk in her hand.

“Mom, why did you make it yourself? I could’ve made it,” she said.

“I know you’re tired. That’s why I made it for you. Here, take it.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“You’re welcome.”

Her mother handed the glass to her daughter.

“I’m going back to my room now. Drink your milk and go straight to sleep, okay? Don’t stay up late again. And don’t push yourself too hard.”

Hainun simply nodded.

“I know you’ve been working hard all this time. But don’t sacrifice your health in the process. Your father and I aren’t demanding that you find a job right away, either. As long as we can still provide you with food and a place to live, you don’t need to feel guilty.”

Hainun smiled faintly.

“You should get some rest, too, Mom.”

“I will. Good night, sweetheart.”

“Good night, Mom.”

After watching her mother return to her room, Hainun closed the door.

She carried the glass of milk to the edge of her bed and sat down, sipping it slowly until it was empty.

After placing the glass on the bedside table, she immediately lay down.

Her eyes felt heavy.

Just before falling asleep, she whispered softly to herself.

“I hope tomorrow will be much better than today. I hope I can find a job tomorrow. Anything at all... as long as I can work.”

Not long afterward, Hainun drifted off to sleep.

---

The next morning, Hainun resumed the same routine.

Early in the morning, she was already getting ready to look for work, riding her father’s old automatic scooter.

Armed with several sheets of job application documents tucked inside a folder, Hainun once again traveled around the city.

But as noon approached, the results remained the same.

Nothing.

“Sigh!”

Hainun let out a long breath.

She pulled over to the side of the road, feeling exhausted.

“I’m so tired... I’ve been going around all morning, but I still haven’t found a single company with job openings. I’ve also been applying online for two weeks, but I haven’t received a single call. Where else am I supposed to go?”

With her body beginning to give out, Hainun finally sat down on the covered walkway in front of a shop to rest.

She had barely been sitting for a few minutes when a security guard standing at the shop entrance approached her.

“Miss, what are you doing sitting there? That place is dirty.”

“It’s okay, sir,” Hainun replied with a faint smile.

The security guard studied her face for a moment.

“Are you having some problems, miss?”

Hainun fell silent.

She then forced another smile, although her exhaustion was evident.

“I’m looking for a job, sir. But I’ve been going around all morning and haven’t found anything.”

Hainun let out a frustrated sigh.

“By the way, can you ride a motorcycle?”

Hainun immediately nodded.

“Yes, sir. I can.”

She pointed toward the old motorcycle parked not far from where she was sitting.

“That’s mine.”

“Well, as a matter of fact, the restaurant across the street is looking for a delivery courier. Why don’t you give it a try? You might get hired.”

The security guard pointed toward a restaurant directly across the road.

Hainun immediately followed the direction of his finger.

The restaurant looked incredibly busy. Several people were even waiting in line outside because the dining area was already full.

Its glass walls were transparent, allowing Hainun to see the bustling activity inside.

“Thank you, sir. I’ll give it a try.”

“You’re welcome, miss. Good luck!”

“I hope so.”

Hainun quickly stood up and walked toward her motorcycle.

She started the engine and rode toward the restaurant the guard had mentioned.

Upon arriving, Hainun immediately parked her motorcycle.

She had to squeeze her old scooter into a space between a row of luxury cars filling the restaurant’s parking lot.

It was no surprise that the restaurant was surrounded by expensive vehicles. It was located in the city center, close to several major companies. Most of its customers were probably office workers stopping by for lunch.

After turning off the engine, Hainun remained seated on her motorcycle for a few moments.

Her fingers nervously clutched the hem of her shirt.

For some reason, she suddenly felt incredibly nervous.

Her heart was beating faster than usual.

“Hainun, calm down. This is your chance to get a job,” she muttered to herself.

She took a deep breath.

Once she felt a little calmer, Hainun finally got off her motorcycle.

Before going inside, she straightened her appearance. Her white blouse and black skirt were already slightly wrinkled after traveling around the city since morning.

Hainun tidied her hair, adjusted her collar, and made sure the folder containing her application documents was still in her hand.

“I hope things work out this time.”

With determined steps, she entered the restaurant.

However, after taking only a few steps—

Thud!

She accidentally collided with someone.

The glass in the man’s hand slipped from his grasp. His drink spilled across the floor, and some of it even splashed onto his suit.

“Do you even have eyes? Watch where you’re going!” the man snapped angrily.