After returning from Sunbucks, Lisa immediately lay down on her tired body on top of her bed. She didn’t think about the tax fine anymore, but thoughts of Oscar and the incident this morning raced through her mind. Making her nervous and hard to close her eyes.

Passing her father this morning on the busway was the most painful experience after not meeting the bastard man who had the heart to leave his mother to marry a wealthy widow. Unfortunately again, her rival Karina, technically had been her half-sister ever since.

Lisa did not know where to start. She didn’t know if she should tell her mother about the things that had happened to her.

Just before Lisa closed her eyes again to try to sleep, a middle-aged woman knocked on her bedroom door gently. The voice from behind the door was very low and her tone was sad.

“Lisa, are you still awake, dear? Can I come in?” The voice from behind the door broke the silence. Her mother sounded so pained.

“Just come in, mom.”

The middle-aged woman turned the doorknob and stepped inside. She looked at Lisa who was lying on the bed still wearing her work clothes. Her daughter’s face looked paler than usual.

Kumala landed her hand on Lisa’s pale forehead. She felt Lisa’s temperature a little higher and said, “Are you sick, dear?”

Lisa just shook her head languidly. Yes, Lisa was not sick—she was pregnant. She had to hide the fact that she was pregnant from her mother. But physical changes certainly couldn’t be hidden. Her mother would gradually become suspicious.

“Let’s eat together, Lisa. Mom has made your favorite fried rice.”

Without thinking much, Lisa immediately got out of bed and darted into the dining room. She took a plate and a spoon, placed it on the dining table then poured water into a glass. She scooped up the fried rice in a hurry. Lisa scooped out the fried rice that was on the dining table and piled it into a mountain on her plate.

Kumala looked at her eldest daughter with a little surprise. Lisa didn’t usually spoon this much rice tonight. At most, only two spoons of rice. Her eldest daughter must have been so busy at the office that she didn’t have time to eat.

They both sit facing each other. Eating their dinner deliciously. Lisa greedily devoured the fried rice while scooping up as much pickles as possible. The middle-aged woman sitting opposite her looked at her in astonishment.

Kumala was a little worried about Lisa’s unusual way of eating, “Dear, do you like to eat a lot of pickles?” As far as she knew, Lisa didn’t really like pickles. She didn’t know what made her eldest daughter crave pickles today.

“I just want to eat it mom, my tongue is tasteless lately!” She said with her mouth half full.

“I hope you are not sick ..”

“Don’t worry, maybe I’m in PMS.”

“So Lisa, I actually wanted to remind you.”

“Remind what mom?”

“Don’t forget to pay tax penalties, the last day is tomorrow. If you don’t pay immediately, the fine will increase.”

Lisa nodded and kept her mouth so as not to get caught up in the money from Oscar. For a moment her thoughts were interrupted by the shadows of her father, whom she had met this morning on the busway.

“Mother, don’t worry, Lisa will get permission to go to the tax office tomorrow.”

“Well. Mother had thought about moving from this house. ”

Lisa stopped her spoon, placed it on her half-full plate.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m sorry, but, considering your monthly salary, you are not really able to support this family and all of its difficulties. I think after paying taxes it would be better if we think about selling this house and moving to a new, cheaper place. The tax increased each time, Lisa. I am worried we will not be able to make us survive in this house with our current circumstances.” Kumala put down her spoon, and suddenly tears flowed from her eyes, making her sobs.

Lisa stopped eating and hugged her mother who was crying. She stroked her mother’s back to make her a little calmer. Her mother’s gray and messy hair fell onto Lisa’s shoulders. That sad gaze was still plastered on Kumala’s face. Lisa was at a loss for words.

“Forgive me for being unable to work, my daughter. I wish your father were still with us. Then we won’t think about selling this house!”

Hearing that sentence, it was clear that Lisa’s father had met her on the busway this morning. The man was nothing more than a loser who loved to hurt her mother. For a moment, Lisa’s heart was turbulent, she really wanted to run into her father who left her mother and beat him.

“I’m so so stupid, Lisa! Mother should not have married your father before!” Kumala hit the dining table for the first time in Lisa’s lifetime. Her daughter was surprised to see her mother that angry. Never before had she seen her mother’s delicate figure explode.

“Mother, never mind, it’s not your fault that father is an irresponsible loser. Lisa will work even harder to support our family, okay!”

“No, Lisa, just be realistic. If in five years your salary is still what it is now, I don’t think we can afford this house’s tax. Mother has asked too much from you, Lisa. Think about where we should move. This house has become a disaster for our family…”

“Okay, mom, if that’s the case, Lisa will help you find affordable new housing. I will go to the tax office tomorrow to pay the fine and try to meet my friends to find a new place to live, alright?”

“Yes, dear, please, I really don’t know what to do other than selling this cursed house…” Kumala said softly, tears still welling up in her creased eyes.

“Mom should just sleep, it’s almost midnight.” Lisa then took her mother who was still sobbing to her bedroom, and turned off the light in the room.

Still unable to sleep, Lisa landed herself on the sofa in the living room, exhaling a deep breath. She really didn’t understand what was happening in her life lately.

Pregnant with her own boss’ child. Relegated due to coercion. Her father left her, her mother and sister. Their financial situation was getting more difficult. It felt like the woman wanted to climb the top floor of her office building and jump.

“I should have just left Petersson Communication at that time!” She muttered irritably, her right hand squeezed her forehead which started to feel dizzy.

The night was getting late and Lisa still couldn’t close her eyes. Her mind was completely chaotic. She must immediately pay the fine at the tax office the next day, and seek help from one of her colleagues or friends to find new affordable housing.

“If only life could be reseted like a computer!” She complained to herself.