Live is not as sweet as sugar and not as bitter as coffee

"Yun, we've run out of rice at home. Don't forget to buy it when you come home," Mother shouted from the door of the house.

"Yes, Mom, Yuni will buy it later." I said while looking down.

I don't know what I should do to buy rice for my mother. Meanwhile, the money in hand was only ten thousand.

"Father, his chest is tight, Yun. Later, please buy medicine from the pharmacy." The father's order suddenly came out from the back door. He limped back towards his room.

I just nodded, but my mind was blank. For some reason, I carried all my parents' burdens while my two older brothers, Radit and Gino, just stood idly by.

I let out a rough breath, my job as a shop assistant was not enough to support my parents.

My name is Yuni Aria, I have just turned 18 years old. I was born to a husband and wife couple named Mr. Doni and Mrs. Nina. My father used to work as a worker in a factory, but due to a work accident he was laid off by his company and given severance pay, only able to last for 2 years. while my mother is just a housewife who only relies on her husband's salary. My two older brothers have graduated from university but they are lazy to work, because they are embarrassed. With a firm determination to help with my daily food needs, I finally took the initiative to drop out of second year high school to work as a waiter at a school supply store.

I've only been working as a shop assistant for a year, but I sometimes still owe my salary for daily food at a neighboring stall to cover the monthly shortfall.

I have a proportional body, clean white skin even without excessive makeup. and the men in the village sometimes approach me, but I never pay attention to them. The most important thing for me is how to get money for my parents' needs.

Sometimes when I come home from work, I have to leave the tempeh chips that I made at night. everything I do is to help my family, especially as my two older siblings often ask for money to buy cigarettes. I sometimes get angry at both of them and tell them to work, but my mother just scolds me. because I, as the only daughter, have to be at the forefront to provide for them. What a backwards statement, I am the one who should be their responsibility.

I stepped on my bicycle to the shop where I work, maybe I will borrow it again from Mrs. Tari, the boss who owns this shop.

Throughout the trip I felt useless, I should have been able to do more for my mother, especially for my father, who was suffering from pain due to an accident that happened to him two years ago but had not been treated seriously due to limited funds.

because maybe along the way I thought a lot, until without realizing it my bicycle had arrived at the shop where I work. I parked my bicycle in the area outside the shop.

"Hi Yun, your face looks like a tangled clothesline," quipped Erin, my co-worker who was walking towards me.

I just responded to Erin's words with a smile, it was no use telling her because it was enough for me to keep it to myself.

"Eh, why are you asking why you're silent." Erin chimed in while patting my shoulder.

"It's okay Rin, I just had a problem at homeOh yes, is Mrs. Tari here yet?" I said while asking back. I looked in all areas of the shop to look for Mrs. Tari's whereabouts.

"Maybe, in a moment, Yun. What do you need to look for Mrs. Tari? Do you want to borrow more money?" Erin guessed, but it turned out her guess was correct. I really need money to buy rice and medicine for my father.

"Yes Rin, I need things at home. I know my father is no longer working." I answered with a sad expression, I don't know when my life will end.

I felt like my chest was tight, I could only look at the worn shoes that I was wearing now and I needed to buy new ones. But I don't care, the most important thing is to bring money for Mother so she can cook food for the members at home. My breath often felt like it was being squeezed by a rock when I heard my mother screaming for me for this and that money. Until I don't care about my own appearance and needs.

Erin could only sigh and look at me with pity, this is what I hate when other people look at me with pity.

"Yun, why do you have to be responsible for everyone in the house? Haven't your two older siblings also graduated from college?" said Erin, looking closely at my eyes which probably looked sunken because I didn't get enough sleep every day to make chips which I left at the neighboring stalls.

"Rin, I don't understand myself. Why did my mother give me all this responsibility"Meanwhile, if this burden is shared between them, it won't be too heavy for me," said Yuni with teary eyes.

"Be patient, Yun. I'm sure you are strong enough to face all this. Oh yes, have you had breakfast yet?" Erin asked again because she saw my face looked pale.

"I haven't had breakfast yet. There were only enough side dishes for Father, Mother and my two older siblings. Mother said that if you want to eat, you have to buy rice first. Because coincidentally the rice at home ran out." I answered with an awkward smile, I'm actually embarrassed to say that but because I saw Erin carrying lots of packets of rice, I felt hungry.

"Well, I happened to bring a lot of food today. Let's just eat in the corner over there." Erin asked while holding my hand. I'm grateful to have a friend like Erin because sometimes she pays a lot of attention to me. Like now, he always brings extra breakfast because he often shares it for me.

The two packs of uduk rice brought by Erin were very appetizing, I immediately devoured the uduk rice without leaving anything left.

"Thank God, Rin, thank you. I'm full now. One day, if I'm successful, the first person after my family that I'll make happy is you." I said smiling broadly at Erin. I don't know what I should reply to my friend, he is so caring and always there when I am at a weak point.

"Amen. Never mind Yun, you are my family to me. So don't ever hesitate if you have any problems and tell me." said Erin as she took a sip of her drink then threw it in the trash.

"Yes Rin, let's get to work. Have you finished eating yet?" I asked while throwing away my food wrapper and Erin's food, but I saw that Erin still had quite a lot of food left.

"Enough Rin, I have a stomach ache so I don't have any appetite." Erin answered by holding her stomach.

"I'll apply wind oil, I'll bring it." Yuni said while taking out eucalyptus oil from her bag.

"No need Rin, I'm just having my period." said Erin, whispering shyly, afraid of being heard by other people.