Aldo casually munched on his fried snacks, then snapped a selfie with two movie tickets to tease his four other friends. There were still thirty minutes before the movie started, and Aldo was already bored waiting alone. He sent the flirty photo to their group chat and recorded a voice message while chuckling.
"Your favorite journalist has two movie tickets! Who wants to watch with me?" Aldo teased in his voice note.
Within seconds, Tomi replied, saying he had already seen the movie a few days ago with Ardo. Indra, on the other hand, only sent an angry emoji, still furious that Priska hadn't been caught yet. Indra had already ordered his men at the pubs and clubs he owned in the area to look for her.
"Ah, Indra gets angry too easily. No fun," Aldo muttered.
He couldn't help but laugh at how Priska’s escape had completely ruined Indra's mood. Just then, Rey called him.
"Yeah, Rey. Where are you?" Aldo asked, still grinning as he thought about Indra.
"Redz Plaza Mall. Looking for a birthday gift for my grandma, but nothing looks good. I might just buy something in Singapore later. I'm heading over now. I'm close. You’re wearing a plain black T-shirt, right?"
"How’d you know?" Aldo smirked.
He glanced around and, by chance, spotted Rey walking toward him. The man wore a white T-shirt layered with a brightly colored shirt and paired with shorts. The call ended. The flamboyant man sat down and immediately took a sip of Aldo’s drink.
He placed a paper bag on the table, catching Aldo’s attention. Curious, Aldo peeked inside. It contained a white shirt, a blazer, and culottes—the same outfit Aldo had bought for Priska earlier. A knowing smile spread across Aldo's face as he patted Rey’s shoulder, proud that their game had just gotten more interesting.
"It’s showtime, Do. Don’t tell Indra. He’s hilarious when he’s mad." Rey looked absolutely delighted at the thought of messing with Indra.
"I had a bad feeling when she asked to use the restroom, but honestly, I don’t really care if Priska’s gone. It’s just fun watching Indra lose it," Aldo admitted.
"True," Rey nodded in agreement.
"So, why didn’t she recognize you?" Aldo asked, resting his chin on his hand.
Rey seemed to think for a moment. Maybe Priska had been too overwhelmed and heartbroken from Aldo’s deception to notice or remember his face. After all, Rey hadn’t interacted with her as much as Indra or Aldo had.
"Probably because she was too focused on you, Do. Women are simple. They struggle to break free from the men who make them feel safe, even if it means foolishly giving away everything they have—including their purity—to Revaldo Aditya. The worst person in her journey of life. You’re an expert at making women fall for you, only to send them straight into despair," Rey said teasingly.
Aldo chuckled and waved the movie tickets in front of Rey’s face, taunting him. Rey snatched them to check what movie they were about to watch.
"Do you also know I slept with her last night?" Aldo asked.
"Just found out today, but I expected it from the start. You’re the one who brought her into our game," Rey replied nonchalantly.
Maybe it was because Rey had spent eight years in America studying and working as a chef that he didn’t dwell on things like this. Eastern values about waiting until marriage or not sleeping around didn’t apply to someone like Rey, who had adopted a Hollywood lifestyle.
"It was Indra’s order. It’s not like I volunteered. Sex with a virgin is only beautiful if it’s mutual love. Last night wasn’t love—it was just a one-night stand. She’ll probably be caught within the next two hours, right?"
Aldo was confident that Indra’s men wouldn’t take more than an hour or two to find Priska. But Rey shook his head as he set the tickets back on the table. He had his own thoughts on the matter, knowing he had given Priska enough disguise to escape.
"No, I’d say by dawn or morning at the earliest. It might even take a whole day. I left some cash in her cap—enough for a taxi, a cheap motel, or a hotel that doesn’t require an ID," Rey explained.
Aldo was stunned. Playing mind games with Rey was always entertaining. "Oh! I see… I see… Okay, wanna bet?" Aldo asked.
Rey smirked, sensing the bet would be ridiculous. He shook Aldo’s hand, amused. "What’s the wager? The loser has to do whatever the winner wants?" Rey proposed.
"Deal, Rey!" Aldo replied enthusiastically.
"Hmm, I think it’s too soon for her to be caught by dawn. She doesn’t have a phone," Rey murmured.
"Okay, let me adjust my guess then. I say she’ll be caught at sunrise, when the sun starts rising," Aldo said confidently, knowing Indra’s influence was strong.
Rey smirked at Aldo. The most reasonable probability was that Priska would be captured by the afternoon.
"Nope, I’m betting on the afternoon," Rey said, raising an eyebrow in confidence.
For twenty minutes before their movie started, they filled the time discussing their favorite movie series. When it came to taste, Aldo and Rey both preferred action and science fiction films.
***
Priska had successfully escaped Redz Plaza Mall, outwitting Indra’s men. She owed everything to the man who had given her these clothes. As she removed her cap to cool down, she accidentally discovered a wad of cash tucked inside.
"Oh my God," Priska murmured in astonishment.
She had expected to wander aimlessly for hours, only to eventually get dragged back to Indra. But now, she had a plan. Without hesitation, she hailed a passing taxi, climbed inside, and gave the driver an address.
With no phone and only a few hundred-thousand-rupiah bills, Priska’s mind raced with fear at what would happen if she got caught. She closed her eyes, exhausted beyond belief. She was physically and emotionally drained. Last night, Aldo had deprived her of rest, touching and kissing her relentlessly until morning arrived.
If Priska had been weaker, she might have already jumped from the fourth floor of Redz Plaza Mall, feeling disgusted with herself. She had become a woman with no dignity. She had spent twenty-one years in poverty, struggling, hoping to earn enough money to escape her painful past.
And yet, because of this nightmare, money had come to her in amounts she couldn’t even fathom. Aldo had promised her all the money once the game was over—but who knew if he was lying yet again? How foolish of her to still be weak against Aldo’s gentle gaze. She had thought he wanted to help her. But in the end, Priska was forced to wake up to the harsh reality of this cruel world.