02 | Veterans (Part 1)
Three years ago
"Wait, what exactly are you saying?" Petra asked, her voice thick with confusion as she tightly hugged her grumpy wolf stuffed toy, dressed in a military uniform.
On the other end of the phone, Nifa let out a chuckle. "Pack your stuff tonight, because we're heading to the capital tomorrow! We got hired!"
"Are you serious?!" Petra gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief. She jumped off her bed, tossing the stuffed toy aside in excitement.
"Yes! I'm serious! They already sent the email—haven't you read it yet? I saw your name on the list." Nifa replied, her voice bubbling with excitement. The next thing they both did was scream in pure joy.
Outside Petra's room, her father was listening to the noise as he passed. His daughter must not have realized how loud she sounded.
Suddenly, she remembered. The email. She quickly grabbed her laptop and checked her inbox. Sure enough, there it was. They were asked to report on the first Monday of the month. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Nifa, I'm going to tell my father. Good night!" she said quickly, still grinning, and hung up the phone.
She rushed to the door, yanked it open, and found her father standing there, looking at her with a concerned expression.
"What's going on? Why are you screaming?" he asked, his brow furrowed with worry.
Without thinking, she threw her arms around him in a tight hug. "I got hired!" she said, her voice filled with excitement.
Her father blinked, still confused. "Hired? To where?" he asked, his eyebrows twitching in curiosity.
Petra pulled back and smiled, still trying to catch her breath. "Remember that institution Nifa and I applied to last month? They want us to report next week. I got hired as a physician!"
Her father's face lit up with pride. "We should celebrate tonight, then." He grinned and grabbed the car keys from the table.
It was dinner time, so instead of cooking at home, they ate a nice dinner in a classy restaurant in town. They lived on the capital's outskirts, in the rural area, and the nearest town was several kilometers away.
Petra was grateful for these little moments, knowing she would soon be living in the capital, starting her new job, and leaving her father behind. It would be hard, but it was part of pursuing her dream.
The night went by quickly, and Petra was excited and anxious as Nifa went ahead of her in the capital to arrange personal matters. This was her first time leaving her father, but she knew it was the right step toward her career. He had always supported her dreams, and she was determined to make him proud. Working in the rural health unit was challenging as medical supplies and equipment were lacking. Sometimes, she would receive a live baby goat or chicken, a harvest of vegetables, or two dozen eggs from her patient's family as payment for her medical service. Since she wanted to step up her career, she looked for opportunities in the capital and took Nifa with her, a mental health professional in their unit who had been her friend since high school.
The morning came when her father drove her to the capital. They parked in front of the building Nifa had mentioned—the meeting spot. Petra and her father almost had their usual small argument when he mentioned of marriage before she opened the passenger's door.
"Geez, I went here to work, not to find a husband."
He sighed. "Just don't forget to tell me if you want to settle down here so I can give my lectures to the guy before he takes you away from me."
She crossed her arms over her chest, quite annoyed, "There will be no marriage here, okay?" she retorted, but her voice softened when she noticed the wrinkles on her father's forehead, "Don't forget to take care of yourself. And take care of the goats and chickens as well."
Her father, an old-fashioned man who knew little about the internet, was getting on in years. Petra had promised to call him every weekend. She tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill, but before she could, she stepped out of the car and faced the towering buildings of the capital. She gave him one last, emotional hug before he drove off.
When her father was out of sight, Petra reached for her phone inside her handbag to call Nifa. But before she could dial, a familiar voice called out her name, and a few people passing by stopped to stare.
"Nifa!" Petra exclaimed, a huge smile spreading across her face as she saw her friend running toward her with open arms. The handbag hanging from Nifa's shoulder swung wildly as she moved.
Petra returned the hug warmly. "Let's go?" Nifa asked, her voice light and cheerful. She gestured over her shoulder toward a hotel. "We need to check in first."
After settling into their hotel room, they searched for an apartment near their workplace. They tried to ask the institution they'd be working at about the staff house provided, but it was already occupied due to political reasons. Hence, they ended up roaming around to look for a nearby apartment.
"Don't they have any cheap rentals around here?" Nifa muttered under her breath, clearly frustrated, as they walked down the street.
Unfortunately, their search for an affordable apartment was in vain. Every place near the university was either already taken or way out of their budget. Starting a new job was quite challenging for them, especially since they were used to living a simple, rural lifestyle.
"Where are we even going to live?" Nifa sighed, stopping in front of a convenience store near the hospital.
Petra shook her head in frustration, feeling helpless. "I don't know. We'll figure it out."
"You kids better back off before I break your ribs!"
An old woman faced off against three thug boys who seemed to think they could bully her.
"Shut up and give us your money!" one of the boys yelled, his tone dripping with arrogance. He grabbed the old woman's collar to intimidate her.
Petra felt a rush of anger flow through her as she crossed the street toward them, with Nifa close behind.
"Hey, you!" Petra shouted, pointing a finger at the boy who had yelled. "Have you no respect for your elders? Let go of her and apologize!"
The boys exchanged glances and burst out laughing. "What are you talking about, lady? We're not disrespecting her. We just want some cash. No one needs an apology!" the boy replied, grinning sarcastically and still not letting go of the old woman.
Petra clenched her fists, ready to say more, but the old woman spoke up first.
"If another fight breaks out in this generation, these kids won't be able to handle it," she said, grabbing the boy's shirt. "Next time, think twice about who you're asking for money." She threw him to the ground, revealing a surprising strength.
"You old ha—" the shortest among the boys started, but his words were cut short by a strong fist that caught the back of his shirt to stop him from getting close to the old woman. "Hey!"
A grumpy old man stood behind him, looking fierce. "I've always believed that discipline is the best way to teach these kids a lesson," he said, stepping forward to deal with the three boys himself.
Petra and Nifa stood frozen, shocked at what they were witnessing. Despite their age, the old couple seemed like experts in disciplining people. When the old man finished chasing the boys off and called the police, the old woman turned to Petra.
"Thank you for standing up for me," she said warmly.
"Oh, it was nothing," Petra replied, embarrassed as she glanced away. An awkward silence settled, and she noticed the old couple staring at her intently.
To break the tension, Nifa nudged Petra and said, "Um, I'm Nifa, and this is Petra. We're looking for a cheap apartment near the university."
The old couple exchanged meaningful glances.
"I think we can help you," the old woman said with a smile. "Right, Captain?"
The old man nodded, his gaze fixed on Petra.
"Shall we?" she suggested, leading them towards the hospital parking area nearby as they crossed the street.
Petra and Nifa gasped as they approached a luxurious dark green matte car. They exchanged glances, both stunned. As they drove, the old woman asked why they needed an apartment, and they shared their story about their jobs and how they had been going back and forth in the streets all morning just for naught. Soon, they arrived at their destination.
"Where are we?" Petra asked, puzzled.
The old man simply replied, "I thought you were looking for a cheap apartment?"
"This is an apartment?" Nifa exclaimed, her amusement evident.
To their left lay a maze-like garden filled with thorny roses, while on the right was a serene lake adorned with water lilies and a quaint gazebo. A grand staircase led up to a beautiful wooden double door. This was not an apartment; it was an old manor.
The old woman chuckled. "This is our home, but we're moving soon, probably by Friday. We're looking for someone to take over."
Petra and Nifa exchanged wide-eyed looks, unsure how to process this.
"Why don't you take a look inside?" the old man offered, already making his way up the grand staircase.
"Come on, ladies," the old woman said, gently pulling their arms as they followed her inside.
The lobby took their breath away. Huge paintings lined the walls, and expensive chandeliers hung from the beautifully designed ceilings. It felt like stepping back in time. But some of the paintings were eerie, filled with dark and bloody stories that made Petra shiver a little. The artwork was striking in its contrast of light and shadow.
At first, Nifa hesitated, unsure about accepting this unusual offer, but Petra—seeing no alternatives and not wanting to dismiss the old couple's kindness—agreed. They learned they would only have to pay for utilities.
"You sure about this?" Nifa asked, glancing nervously at the old couple.
"We don't want to sell this house. It holds too many memories, and we certainly don't want any ghosts hanging around," the old woman replied with a twinkle in her eye.
"Just make sure every corner of the house stays clean, got it?" the grumpy old man said sternly.
"Yes, sir! We will," Petra promised, feeling a surge of determination.
The couple exchanged intrigued glances as if something about Petra had captured their attention. That day, they moved in and shared a warm dinner with the old couple. As they enjoyed the meal, Nifa asked about their past professions. They learned that the couple were both veterans.
Petra was fascinated. "So you were the Captain?" she clarified with a smile.
The old woman gave her husband a knowing glance, and he responded with a subtle nod. Petra couldn't help but imagine herself in the old woman's place one day. She felt an inexplicable admiration for her and, though curious about their family, decided to hold back her questions.