n

n

nThe next day, at exactly eight o'clock in the evening, Lisa and Andien arrived at the Sky Lounge. It'd been eight months since Lisa became pregnant and abandoned alcohol for the baby, and now she's back at her favorite hangout place. Lisa couldn't wait to meet Dimas!

nThe Sky Lounge that night was busy as usual. The place was still packed with European males and wealthy single women. Lisa and Andien were immediately greeted by the sound of electronic music that broke the silence of the capital's night sky.

nThe light from the rows of colored spotlights hit their faces as they approached the bar's table. There, they sat down and glanced at a scrawny bartender with a friendly smile.

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"Oi Dim!

" shouted Andien from the table. The woman waved her hand. Lisa sat next to her, raising her hand and nodded as well.

nThe bartender then walked over to the two women, holding a bottle of whiskey.

n

"Ooooh, here comes the favorite customers at Sky lounge! How are you, Lis? Did you give birth safely?

" asked the bartender with a longing face.

n

"Shush! Dim! Don't ask Lisa about it!

" Andien replied immediately.

n

"Oh sorry, I saw that her stomach was already flat. Besides, if Lisa was still pregnant, she wouldn't have come here. Where is your husband?

"

nHearing Dimas' naive question made Lisa think of the bitter nodus that had recently happened to her. But Lisa wanted to drink and forget her sadness tonight.

n

"Dim, I have to tell you something,

" Lisa suddenly said.

nThe bartender strained his ears. His relaxed face turned serious, and his brows knitted together.

"Tell me, I'm ready to listen.

"

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"I'm divorced Dim. Everything is over!

"

nDimas squinted. For a moment, he couldn't believe what Lisa just said. He then began to understand what she meant a few moments.

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"Oh My God, Lisa! I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have asked you about it earlier. I don't mean to hurt you. I just, it's been a long time since we met so I missed chatting with you, I'm worried about your condition, Lis.

"

nLisa just smiled.

"Just relax, Dim, I'm not offended by what you say at all. Besides, I haven't contacted you for a long time, so of course you don't know anything about me. Isn't that it?

"

n

"Wow, that's really crazy, Lis!

" Dimas said while mixing drinks.

"Hey, I have a special drink for those of you who just broke up!

"

n

"Dim, you know my heartbreak drink, right?

"

n

"Huh, don't tell me you want to order like that time?

"

n

"Two bottles of Soju for me and my best friend Andien! Don't make me wait too long, alright?

" Lisa pointed at Dimas cheerfully while hugging Andien who was sitting next to her.

n

"Oh My God, okay, I'll take it.

"

nAfter Dimas left their table, Andien asked her friend a question.

"So, what are you going to do after this?

"

n

"Get drunk, of course! You don't seem to know about me, Ndien,

" Lisa replied briefly.

n

"It's not what I mean! What are you going to do with your future after the divorce?

"

n

"Oh,

" Lisa looked away and stared at the stack of alcoholic drink bottles neatly arranged on the shelf in front of her.

"I want to take a weekly break as soon as possible, while I'm applying for a new job. My mother and sister still need me. It's impossible for me to go back to work at your office, Ndien.

"

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"You dumbhead my office is also your office,

" Andien teased, patting Lisa's shoulder jokingly.

n

"The money left by my ex-husband is definitely not enough to cover my mother and sister in the long run. So yes, I'm hoping for that job application I applied for before I got divorced. At least there's still a vacant position.

"

nDimas arrived with two bottles of cold Soju and handed them to Lisa and Andien.

"Here you go ladies. Lisa Soewandi's special heartbreak drink!

"

nLisa nodded thankfully, followed by Andien.

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"I just thought, I have to move out with my mother and sister, but where to?

" Lisa asked spontaneously as she opened the cold Soju's cap with enthusiasm.

n

"Why are you moving out?

"

n

"You know the apartment we currently live in is a gift from my ex-husband, Ndien. I can't afford to pay the maintenance fee!

"

n

"That's true,

" said Andien while placing her thumb and index finger on her chin.

n

"Do you have acquaintances who know about cheap places to rent? Or boarding houses? And, can I pay half a year in installments?

"

nHearing Lisa's question, Andien fell silent. She then thought for a moment. The apartment she lived in was not too cheap with a fairly narrow size. It was impossible for Lisa's mother and sister to live together in a 3 x 3 apartment.

n

"I swear I don't know. I don't have any acquaintances who know housing information like that. I just found my apartment on the internet and I was really lucky that I bought it at a discount!

"

n

"I'm dead Ndien,

" Lisa said while patting her forehead.

n

"Why don't you just ask Dimas?

"

n

"Great idea!

" Lisa waved her hand while shouting the name of the bartender who was also her close friend.

nThe bartender walked up to her again, this time carrying a rag with an empty beer glass.

"Yes, Miss Lisa?

"

n

"Hey, you don't need to talk formally, Dim. I want to ask about a few things. Are you busy?

"

n

"Not really, what do you want to ask?

"

nLisa folded her arms while leaning towards Dimas. The bartender also leaned over to her.

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"Do you know any cheap apartments for rent or boarding houses?

" asked Lisa in a rising voice. The roar of the electronic music beat her volume.

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"What? Do you want to move out?

" asked Dimas with the same rising voice.

n

"I have to think about my mother and sister, Dim! The apartment they live in now is the legacy of my ex-husband, it's expensive to pay for the maintenance!

"

n

"I have some recommendations, Lis.

" The bartender took out a piece of paper from the bag and handed it to Lisa.

"There are two, this one's for rent in the South. This one is a boarding house in the East. If you are asked about where you found this information just say it's from me!

"

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"Thanks a lot Dim!

" Lisa accepted the paper and put it in her tote bag.

nThe Sky Lounge was getting busier as the time went by. The booming of electronic music grew louder until it was deafening.

nAt this time, Lisa started downing the second Soju bottle. Andien still hadn't finished her first bottle while enjoying the refreshing view on the dance floor.

nShe noticed the European men dancing on the floor. Andien looked at their tall bodies with sparkling eyes. She wished she could mingle and flirt with one of them.

nHowever, when Andien was staring at them, she suddenly found an unpleasant sight.

nThe woman then woke up from her reverie after she caught a man's figure with clear eyes and sharp nose accompanied by a tall and slender model-like woman .

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"Damn it's Oscar and Clara!

" Andien said.

nLisa heard her when she was drinking the second bottle of Soju and immediately turned her head towards the two lovebirds Andien mentioned.

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"Damn it! He said he was just using Clara. But now they walk here together!

" shouted a half drunk Lisa. The woman almost got up from her seat and walked over to Oscar and the demonic woman beside him.

nAndien rushed to stop Lisa before she did anything rash that could cause a scene.

nLisa saw Oscar kissing the demonic woman affectionately from her seat. One of his hands stroked Clara's leg up to her thigh.

nThe sight made Lisa's eyes very hot. She wanted to throw an empty Soju bottle at the two of them so badly.

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"Leave it. Don't waste your energy, they don't deserve it. You are perfectly happy with me and these Soju, okay? I don't know how many bottles you've emptied,

" said Andien while holding back her friend from being careless.

nLisa sighed and calmed down.

"You're right, they are not worth it.

"

nThe woman turned around and turned her back to the unpleasant sight. Her second bottle of Soju was gone. It looked like Lisa would add the third one.

n

"Dimas! Bring me Soju again please!

"

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