The sun is starting to shine. There are still puddles of water on the pavement from the rain last night. Anna’s steps were so fast, several passing motorists occasionally glanced at her with inexplicable gazes.

Anna understood, with the clothes she was wearing now. Anyone would find it weird. An oversized white shirt with black pants that were a little past her knees also made it very clear that it wasn’t her size, coupled with the shoes she didn’t know where she got from in that house. The black plastic bag containing the food that she took from the man’s house managed to add a strange impression to her appearance.

But Anna didn’t care, because she thought, it was the man’s fault who threw away her clothes, right? So it was only natural that she would take some stuff as a substitute.

Arrived at a bus stop, fortunately, at that time, the bus bound for South Jakarta was stopped. Currently, Anna is in East Jakarta.

To be honest, this was the first time in two years that she had used the bus. During that time, she only walked or used public transportation to go to work.

Anna sat in the last seat, to be honest, although right now she seems to be very busy paying attention to the drivers outside, her mind is currently wandering far.

“Mrs, may I know what time it is?” she asked quietly to the middle-aged woman sitting beside her.

The woman opened her bag and looked like she was checking something.

“9:00, Miss,” the woman replied.

Like a bomb that went off in her head, Anna was an hour late. A sigh could be heard escaping from her tiny lips, her hands occasionally rubbed her face and managed to leave a slight red mark.

In her heart, she only hoped that all the bad things that were going on in her head would not happen.

.

.

.

A few minutes had passed, Anna got off the bus very hastily. Go to a mini market where she works part-time.

In her heart, she kept praying that nothing bad would happen in the future.

The food in the plastic bag she carried was cold.

When opening the door, employees who know her arrival look at her with different eyes, some who look at her with pity while others just stare at her and then continue their work as if they don’t care about her presence.

“Anna, where have you been?” A girl who was about the same age as her immediately walked over.

“Where is the Boss? Ah something bad happened to me, but it’s fine now,” replied Anna trying to smile as she walked to the locker where she kept her uniform.

“Hey, stop looking at me like that,” Anna said when she saw her coworker looking her up and down.

“I didn’t know that your fashion sense changed so quickly,” the girl replied, hugging Anna’s shoulder from the side, patting her lightly.

“Boss in his room, he’s been waiting for you. Ah yes, Mrs. Dila is also there, good luck,” said the girl and then left Anna, who had immediately frozen. Maybe because of Mrs. Dila’s presence?

Anna quickly changed into the uniform in her locker and then went to Mr. Bimo, the head of the mini-market where she worked.

The girl who had spoken to her just now was the only employee she was slightly familiar with. Being a permanent employee at the minimarket is different from her who is only a part-time worker.

Please note that minimarkets similar to the one she works for are scattered in several places in Jakarta. Meanwhile, Mrs. Dila is a special supervisor for the South Jakarta area.

Anna’s work schedule is only five hours, from 08.00 to 13.00 O’clock.

Although she is only a part-time worker, the rules at the minimarket are very strict. There is no difference between permanent and part-time employees. The only difference is the working hours.

With a slightly quicker pace, Anna ventured to her boss’s room. With feelings of hope and anxiety, she tried to get rid of all the negative thoughts that were eating away at her head.

Knock…knock…knock

“Come in,” came a voice from inside.

Anna opened the door slowly. Mrs. Dilla seemed to be busy with the handphone in her hand, while her boss who was in his 30s, was busy with some papers. It is a revised paper from Mrs. Dila.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, the woman’s attention was distracted.

“Hmm, aren’t you a part-time employee here?”

“Y-yes Mrs, sorry I’m late,” replied Anna slightly lowering her head.

“You know what time it is?”

“09:30 Mrs,” answered Anna guessing in a small voice but the two superiors could still hear it.

“You know the rules of the company, right?”

Almost all minimarkets in Jakarta are under the auspices of the D.A Group. Not only in Jakarta. But it has spread to almost all countries in Asia.

Anna didn’t answer and just kept her head down. Her eyes were already glassy.

Mrs. Dila seemed to notice Anna’s appearance which looked a little messy, the smell of alcohol could still faintly smell from the girl, making her more confident in her decision.

“You’re fired.”

Hearing those words, Anna looked up. the clear grains obediently formed creeks on her cheeks.

Mrs. Dila’s fingers moved to cover her nose, as did Pak Bimo.

Seeing the response of the two, Anna looked down again. She realized that the smell of alcohol from her mouth had not disappeared. To be honest, she was still feeling a little dizzy and very thirsty. The hunger she had been holding in for so long made her look a little pale.

“B-but Mrs, Sir. I am….”

“Of course you already know the reason and what is my attitude towards all employees, right? If I miss just one small mistake, then I don’t expect other mistakes to occur and affect my career and Mr. Bimo’s career, right? interrupted Mrs. Dila then turned her gaze to the man sitting not far from her.

Mr. Bimo is the head of the minimarket, his position is under one level from a supervisor.

He just looked at Anna with pity and agreed with Mrs. Dila’s words.

“There’s no reason for me to tolerate any wrongdoing. So don’t try to make excuses because it didn’t work. Do you understand? Now pack your things,” said Mrs. Dila at length and then turned back to staring at the handphone, which if you look at it from the side contains pictures of diagrams and tables.

Anna had been forced to accept the decision decisively.

All things of defense and thousands of words that were prepared in advance are now lost.

“O-okay Mrs, Sir. I will leave here soon. B-but what about my salary this month?” said Anna in a hoarse voice.

“Wait until the employee’s pay date as usual, later this month’s salary will be transferred,” now it was Mr. Bimo’s turn to speak. Employee salaries will be sent every 28th at the end of the month and on working days. If the 28th falls on a holiday, then the money will be transferred on the next working day.

“Well, sir, thank you for employing me in this place,” Anna spoke again, this time with her body slightly bowed as a final tribute to her superior, and Mr. Bimo nodded.

Anna walked unsteadily to her locker to change back into her clothes.. While the uniform during work, an employee will not be allowed to take it home when it stops working at that place.