Lost in Kuala Lumpur

“Indah… don’t cry anymore.” Her dad’s voice echoed in her mind, though he had long gone.

That morning, Indah’s world turned dark. The family home she had always known was gone. Her parents had passed, leaving her completely alone.

She hugged an old batik cloth her mother had left behind. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

“God… I must be strong. I promise I won’t give up,” she whispered.

The little room was still the same—wooden shelves, faded curtains her mother had sewn, the scent of old wood. Full of memories, yet empty without them.

“Indah, pack your things. Come with me to Kuala Lumpur,” Mak Long’s voice interrupted with a sharp knock on the door.

Indah’s eyes widened, still red from crying. “Mak Long… the house? Can I not stay here—”

“It’s sold. Stop dreaming. Kuala Lumpur has work. You follow my instructions,” she snapped, leaving no room for argument.

Indah lowered her head. Her heart ached, but what choice did she have? She was an orphan, alone in the world.

“Dad… if only you were here, things wouldn’t be like this,” she murmured.

With a small bag in hand, Indah stepped out of her village. The red clay road led her to the bus station, every step heavy with sorrow.

Kuala Lumpur was overwhelming—honking cars, towering buildings, and endless crowds. Indah hugged her bag tightly, feeling small and lost.

At the terminal, she sat on a metal bench, staring at her nearly-crumpled ticket. Her breath felt heavy. “Can I really live here?” she wondered aloud.

Suddenly, a tall man in a black shirt passed by. His steps were confident, his face serious, and an aura of cold surrounded him. Indah froze.

Their eyes met for a brief moment, her heart racing uncontrollably. Then he walked past without looking back. Indah closed her eyes, trying to calm herself.

“Why do I feel like I’ve seen him before?”

Little did she know, that brief encounter would change her life forever…