Alzena prepared to go to the bookstore. Upon arrival, she found Nina with a sour face.

"What's wrong, Nina?" Alzena asked.

"Nothing," she replied.

All day, no customers came. Alzena was exhausted from waiting; she glanced at the wall clock.

"Why aren't any customers coming today?" Alzena asked, sensing something unusual.

"Don't you know, Al?" Nina asked in return.

"What do you mean?"

"There's a bookstore across the street that's exactly like ours," Nina explained.

"So, our customers are trying that one out," Syila added.

"What do we do now?" Alzena asked her friends.

"Relax; it'll probably be busy again tomorrow," Syila said.

After much thought, Alzena had an idea; she whispered it to her two friends, who nodded.

"Okay, let's start now," Alzena said.

"Okay."

The three started looking for inspiration to decorate the shop; they put up decorations in every corner.

Safia, watching from the shop's CCTV, was amazed by what they were doing. Her eyes didn't blink; she squinted, trying to see clearly.

A decoration was ready; Alzena looked at it with a smile. It wasn't as good as she'd hoped, but at least she tried.

A five-year-old boy, noticing the unique decorations, urged his mother to stop.

"Mom, look! That decoration is cool," the boy said, pointing to a particularly eye-catching decoration.

The woman smiled. Nina approached, using Alzena's customer-attraction technique.

"Umm, do you have any recommended books for children?" the woman asked.

Nina quickly found suitable books, avoiding those with violent content.

"Here you go, Ma'am. That's 25,000 rupiah," Nina said, handing the woman the book.

"Ma'am, if you buy another children's book, it'll be 50,000 rupiah, a good deal, Ma'am," Nina said, promoting a discount.

The woman thought for a moment. "Okay," she said.

Nina found another children's book, and the woman left.

"You're good at promoting," Alzena complimented.

"Yes, we have to be good at promoting, especially with the first customer," Nina said.

They returned to work; Alzena and Syila learned how to promote from Nina.

"That's how you do it," Nina said.

"It's fun, though."

Suddenly, Alzena's stomach rumbled; she invited Nina and Syila to lunch. "But you're paying for yourselves this time," Alzena said.

"But Al—"

"What?! You're going to say you don't have your wallet again?!" Nina asked, already knowing her friend's habits.

"Hehehe."

At the Warteg, Alzena ordered fried rice with pecel lele (catfish) and extra chili sauce; it was delicious.

Alzena enjoyed her meal, as did Nina. Syila remained silent; she didn't buy anything.

Seeing this, Nina asked Jum to bring another order of fried rice with pecel lele. "Here, this is for you," Nina said; Syila accepted it with shining eyes and immediately ate it.

"Be careful; don't choke," Nina said.

Alzena shook her head; the two were busy chatting, so Alzena decided to return to the shop.

"Wait for me, Al!" Nina shouted, but Alzena, already far from the Warteg, didn't hear her.

"Darn it." Nina immediately ran after Alzena, leaving Syila happily enjoying her meal.

Syila was about to leave. "Hey, where are you going? Pay first," Jum said, seeing Syila leave.

"Didn't Nina already pay?" Syila asked.

"Oh, you! Nina only paid enough for her meal. Pay up quickly," Jum said, slightly annoyed.

Reluctantly, Syila gave Jum the money. "Here," she said, handing Jum the money.

"There you go. Don't pretend you don't have money," Jum said, walking away.

Syila was furious; she chose to return to the shop rather than stay there.

"Syila, you're back late. Did they make you wash dishes?" Nina teased.

"Darn it," Syila muttered, slightly angry at Nina, her mischievous friend.

"Don't bother me," Syila said, going to the back.

"What's wrong with her, Nina?" Alzena asked.

"I don't know. Probably because I didn't pay for her meal," Nina replied, then burst into laughter.

Alzena asked Nina to tell her about Syila; Alzena was surprised that Syila wasn't Nina's school friend; they met at the bookstore.

Alzena listened to Nina's story. "Good idea; it made her spend money," Alzena said.

"Yes, otherwise, she wouldn't spend any money," Nina added.

Someone approached; Alzena signaled Nina to be quiet.

"Nina, come with me for a minute," Syila said, pulling Nina's hand.

It turned out Syila took Nina to a fabric shop; she planned to buy some fabric for clothes.

Nina felt uneasy; she tried to calm herself.

"How much is this fabric per meter?" Syila asked, showing the fabric she wanted.

"95,000 rupiah, Ma'am. It's very soft; it suits you," the shop assistant said.

After choosing, she bought it. "Nina, hold this for a minute; I think I'm going to be sick," Syila said, handing the fabric to Nina and hurrying to the public restroom.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Nina said, watching Syila walk away.

After waiting for hours, Syila didn't return. A shop assistant approached Nina.

"Do you want it wrapped, Ma'am?" she asked.

"Yes," Nina said.

"That's 95,000 rupiah, Ma'am," the shop assistant said.

"Didn't I already pay?" Nina asked.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. You haven't paid for the fabric you're holding," the shop assistant replied.

Nina had to pay; she returned with a sour face.

"What's wrong, Nina?" Alzena asked.

"Where's Syila?" Nina asked instead of answering.

"Syila?! Wasn't she with you?!"

"Oh, so that's how it is," Nina said angrily, throwing the plastic bag containing the fabric.

Alzena tried to calm Nina. "What happened, Nin?" she asked.

Nina told Alzena; Syila had tricked her.

Syila laughed heartily at Nina's expression when she left the shop; she was even scolded by passersby.

"Are you crazy?" a woman asked, seeing Syila's strange behavior.

Syila glared at the woman; she didn't care what people said; she had gotten revenge on Nina.

After hours, Syila hadn't returned. Safia came down from her office, counting her employees.

"Where's Syila?" Safia asked, looking around.

"She said she was going to the public restroom, but I don't know where she is now," Nina replied.

"I see," Safia said, taking out her phone.

"Oh no, I'm doomed," Syila said, seeing several missed calls from Safia.

She hurried back to the shop and was punished. "Watch the shop until night," Safia said.

"What?!"

Nina chuckled; she and Alzena went home, leaving Syila to serve her punishment.

 

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