Chapter 1

• "Being a bachelor is like this, going wherever you like, no one to stop you. Happy even without money," a hoarse voice accompanied by guitar strumming broke the silence at post 2 of Mount Merbabu via Selo tonight.
• "Your singing is so loud, Ri," Juna said while enjoying his black coffee.
• "Yeah, that's how it is, Mas. Unemployed fate has a lot of events, like a lawyer rich like me. It's been almost two years since I graduated, but still can't find a job."
• “Why don't you try opening a mountain equipment rental. Your collection is quite good if commercialized.”
• Rio sighed and looked at Juna lazily.
• "Even without you saying, I've been running it since my college days. How else could I meet my daily needs."
• Now Juna placed his stainless steel coffee cup on the ground and looked at Rio analytically. Riosandi Gumilang, a man Juna had known since his third semester in college and now he had completed his master's degree in arts. Although not a cum laude graduate, Rio was quite smart. Unfortunately, the major Rio took was not needed in Juna's company, so Juna couldn't invite Rio to join him. Moreover, Rio still had a task to complete his business administration studies as his parents wished. Juna was quite impressed to see Rio relaxed without any stress about graduation requirements in his parents' chosen business administration major. Because studying in a major that is not in line with one's heart's desire is certainly difficult.
• "As long as the wedding and prewedding jobs go smoothly, Bro. Remember, work doesn't have to be in an office and tie, as long as your wallet never runs dry," Prima said to Rio.
• "It's okay if it runs dry as long as the ATM balance doesn't shine like Mr. Juna's," Manda said, making Juna smile and his hiking friends laugh.
• "Yeah, if your money runs dry like mine, how could you follow Ms. Nada and her gang's lifestyle? Just imagine, the bag carried by Mr. Juna's wife alone could buy a house of type 36 and still have a car," Rio said amidst his laughter.
• "I pray your wife becomes rich tomorrow, so you can just relax at home."
• "Amen," Rio said, wiping his face with both hands.
• ***
• Although he had climbed up and down mountains countless times since junior high school, Rio's body still felt sore and his legs were stiff after the climb. If someone says climbing doesn't make you tired and keeps you strong, please check it out, maybe what he climbed was a twin mountain hanging perfectly and beautifully on a woman's body, not a real mountain.
• This afternoon, Rio got off Juna's Jeep Gladiator Rubicon with a weary face, and all he wanted to do was sleep. Now the money in his wallet only had a picture of Kapitan Pattimura. Of course, that wouldn't be enough to buy a packet of angkringan rice.
• "Thanks, Mas, for dropping me off at my boarding house. Not stopping by first, Mas?"
• "You're welcome. No need, my wife is out with my mom. My dad is alone taking care of the twins. I'll go first, okay? Bye."
• "Bye, Mas."
• Now Rio walked towards his boarding room at the back of this two-story boarding house. When he arrived in front of his room, he saw Mika, his classmate in the business administration department.
• "Mas Rio," Mika greeted warmly.
• Rio just smiled. Yes, Mika was the campus crush because of her beauty, sexiness, and of course, coming from an affluent society. Unlike himself, who came from a middle-class background.
• "How come you're in my boarding house in the middle of the day?" Rio asked Mika without beating around the bush.
• "Yes, Mas. Actually, I wanted to invite you to watch a movie, Mas Rio, are you interested?"
• Rio just smiled faintly, not to mention going to the movies, he only had a thousand rupiahs left in his wallet. Maybe he would have to slaughter his piggy bank to have something to eat later.
• "Sorry, Mik, it's not that I don't want to, but I'm tired. Besides, unemployed people like me have to be selective about spending money."
• "You haven't graduated yet, so it's understandable that you haven't found a job."
• Rio was too lazy to explain to others that he had actually graduated, even twice, unfortunately not in business administration. He preferred to be called a perpetual student because he had taken two semesters off to complete his thesis.
• "Why don't you help me find a job instead? When I get my first paycheck, I'll treat you to a movie."
• Mika, who had a crush on Rio since they first met, of course smiled happily hearing Rio's words.
• "Really, Mas?"
• "Yes."
• "What kind of job is Mas Rio looking for? Can you tell me?"
• The question seemed funny to Rio, making him smile as he looked at Mika. Mika, being looked at by Rio like that, felt a mix of emotions. Riosandi Gumilang gazed at her with his gentle smile, hmm, Mika was getting more flustered.
• "I don't have specific criteria. As long as the job is halal, legal, and the salary is enough to pay for rent and daily meals, that's enough for me. I don't need an office job, let alone be picky about it."
• "So the salary doesn't matter, even if it's just minimum wage?"
• "It's not a problem. For me, the important thing is to have an income."
• "Okay. I'll help you find a job."
• Rio just nodded in agreement.
• "In that case, you can go home now, right? I want to rest after climbing Mount Merbabu."
• "Okay, Mas," Mika replied shortly, but the smile didn't leave her face. In order to become Rio's girlfriend, she was willing to set aside her ego. Besides, Rio was a mountaineer, so a spoiled girl like her might not catch his eye.
• After that, Mika immediately drove her white Honda HRV to one of the malls in Jogja. As usual, she would hang out with her friends. After Mika left, Rio entered his room and placed his 80-liter hiking backpack in the corner of the wall. He lay down on the bed and fell asleep. For him, climbing was a way to get rid of insomnia, wandering thoughts, and even forget his problems with his parents. Now Rio had to think, whether he was willing to drop out of the business administration program at his parents' chosen university or stick to his principles and dreams of becoming a photographer and working for fashion magazines one day. Unfortunately, Rio's eyes were having a hard time closing this time, especially when he thought about his dwindling money for his living expenses and the fact that he had to pay his rent in a week. He couldn't possibly ask his parents for help, especially since they were still supporting his younger sibling's medical education. Of course, the cost of his sibling's education was quite high, and Rio didn't want to burden his parents.
• At the same time and in a different place, a beautiful woman with a slim body was staring at the view of her batik boutique. She was Tri Retno Wahani, a 39-year-old woman who still looked beautiful with a 38B bust. She was commonly called Retno. Despite being a widow, Retno was a woman who still had an active sex drive. She continued to have sexual relationships, even if she had to pay for her partners. For her, no one could match the prowess of Ervin Aditya, a former gigolo she had hired and even become a regular customer. Unfortunately, she could no longer use Ervin's services as he chose to leave his dark profession after marrying Kaluna Maharani Atmaji Putri. The woman Ervin married was the former fiancée of Handi, who happened to be Retno's ex-husband. Retno married Handi because she loved him at first, but their busy schedules in their respective businesses made them have no time for each other. This led them to seek satisfaction outside of their marriage. Without any disputes, they both agreed to divorce after almost 6 years of marriage without children. Yes, how could Retno get pregnant if Handi didn't even touch or caress her once a week.
• Now, Retno's gaze was focused on two women who were not strangers to her. They were the wife of Wisnuaji Widiatmaja and their daughter-in-law, Nada. They were at Retno's boutique because it was one of the best boutiques that offered a complete collection of batik motifs from all over the archipelago. As a good owner, Retno approached Nada and Samira.
• "Good afternoon, can I help you?" Retno asked politely.
• Although Nada didn't like Retno because she had tried to ruin her cousin's marriage and even flirted with her father-in-law when she was still a widow, Nada still tried to be friendly in front of Retno. Especially with her mother-in-law present. She didn't want to tarnish the Widiatmaja family's reputation.
• "Good afternoon, Mbak Retno, my mom and I are looking for a set of batik for the family. We need 5 pieces for adults. For my mom, dad, grandparents, me, and my husband."
• "Okay, let my employees assist you with that?"
• Nada and Samira just nodded. Retno called her employees to help Nada and Samira. Retno then excused herself to go to her office. There, she immediately checked the designs that would be chosen as samples for the buyers from Japan. She selected which samples to bring. If she could complain, she felt tired after her driver resigned three months ago due to being diagnosed with coronary heart disease. He even had two stents in his body. Since her driver's health deteriorated and he resigned, Retno had been driving herself everywhere without anyone's help.
• "Such is my fate, what am I chasing after? For whom am I working so hard until this point?" Retno thought to herself as she looked at various batik fabrics on her desk.
• Nearly an hour passed, and Retno finally left her office. As she walked out, she still caught sight of the two beautiful women, Samira and Nada, who were busy shopping for batik. Retno chose to walk to the side yard of the boutique and sat there alone. After a while of sitting there, she heard a woman talking on the phone near the bathroom, and she could still hear their conversation.
• "Why are you suddenly remembering me? Have you returned from Merbabu with my husband?"
• "..."
• "Are you looking for a job?"
• "..."
• "You have a bachelor's degree in arts. How come you're still not a business administration graduate? Just become a model, you're quite handsome with some foreign blood like my husband."
• "..."
• Retno just smiled as she listened to Nada's phone conversation. Perhaps she was not as lucky as most women out there who had faithful husbands willing to accompany them in all situations. Feeling that she had had enough of being in the boutique for today, she chose to stand up and immediately head to the front yard where her car was parked.
• On the way back home, her niece named Mika called her and asked her to come to her parents' house.
• "What's up, Mika, why did you call Auntie?"
• "Grandma asked me to come over to the house."
• Retno just sighed and looked lazily at the congested road ahead of her.
• "Why are you looking for Auntie all of a sudden, what's going on at home?"
• "I don't know, Aunt. I'm on my way to Grandma's house too."
• "Where are you coming from?"
• "I was at my crush's dorm, then got politely kicked out, so I ended up at the mall with the kids but unfortunately I was just chatting when Kanjeng Eyang called. Yes, I revoked it, rather than being crossed off the list of heirs," said Mika, which made Retno laugh. Indeed, their family came from an affluent society.
• Retno knew enough about the social life of her niece. She was not blind and knew well that her niece had a rather free social life. Almost every weekend, she spent her time going in and out of nightclubs. Not to mention her hobby of shopping and spending money recklessly. Perhaps it was because she felt lonely at home, her parents were quite busy with their work. Especially since her niece was born and finished high school in a metropolitan city.
• "Mik," called Retno.
• "Yes, Aunt?"
• "Don't force anything too much. If he can't make time for you, it means you're not special to him."
• "Oh, Aunt Retno, we're just in the same boat with different statuses on our IDs. Both of us are hoping to get married soon. Okay, Aunt, the light is green now. I'll hang up. Bye."
• "Bye."
• After hanging up the phone, Retno refocused on her driving and headed towards Condong Catur where her niece's parents' house was located. When she arrived there, she saw Mika's white HR-V in the yard. She quickly got out of the car and entered the house. Retno entered her parents' house where she had been since birth. Now she had to hold back her laughter as she heard her parents advising their granddaughter, which for Mika was more like a scolding.
• "Mikhaila Ameera Violeta, how many times have we told you, you need to graduate soon so you can help your father and mother in the company?"
• "I'll just help Aunt Retno. It's more enjoyable in the boutique than in the office."
• "What are you studying? Why do you want to help Aunt Retno?"
• Retno saw Mika sigh and seemed to be losing patience.
• "Today, you don't have to work according to your major, Grandma."
• Both of Mika's grandparents, seeing their daughter coming, immediately stood up and left Mika to welcome their daughter. Their daughter who had been happily single for several years. Although they often heard rumors about Retno's behavior outside the house, such as dating gigolos, they chose to ignore it. They didn't want to believe it until they saw it with their own eyes.