TIME CHANGES EVERYTHING

8 years later…

Eight years passed quickly. Everything Cheery had left behind had changed. The buildings that used to exist are now being built taller. The bustle of the city is also getting denser, and the atmosphere is much different.

After she decided to separate from Vano and her life in her native place, Cheery returned to her hometown because she felt she needed more money to support her mother who was often sick, and also Keanu, her son, who had to go to school at the age of 7 years.

'I am home. After years of leaving it all behind, I'm back here again. Where all my happy and sad memories started first. And right now, I hope everything will be fine,'

'Apart from finding a decent job for Keanu and Mama, the thing I least want to face is him… Vano. I wasn't ready to see him again after all this time. As much as possible, I must avoid it so that my happy life is not disturbed,'

'But I haven't seen him in eight years. Is he okay? Is he more handsome or not? And… did he miss me all this time? Hmm, I don't know!'

Cheery's thoughts when she had just set foot again in her hometown were interrupted when a call from a boy behind her sounded.

"Mama!" called Keanu who approached with Mrs. Lisa behind Cheery.

"Mom, this place is so hot! It's not like where we were before!" Keanu complained to his mother because the weather in this city was hot and stifling.

"Hey, since when did my little whiz whine, huh? Aren't you a great kid, Keanu?" the mother teased her son.

Keanu looked thoughtful.

"Hmm, I don't know. I feel uncomfortable right now, Mam. I don't know why I don't feel like before," said Keanu a little glumly.

"Nothing will happen to us, honey! We will be fine in this town. I will send you to a good school and we will give your grandmother better health care than our village over there!" Cheery tried to explain, "You agree, honey?" she continued asking.

Keanu nodded, "Hmm, okay, Mama!" Keanu agreed.

"Come on, let's help Grandma walk!" invite Cheery to Keanu to help support Mrs. Lisa who looks weak. Cheery doesn't forget to take her cell phone to call someone.

"I've arrived here! Please pick me up!" Cheery said to someone.

***

Cheery along with her mother and Keanu arrived at a simple house that she bought with the help of her cousin, Sania.

Sania Bianca Dewari is Cheery's best friend as well as her cousin who is the daughter of her adoptive uncle. Sania is a beautiful and smart girl who loves Cheery.

However, apart from loving Cheery, she also had feelings of envy in her heart. Yes, because Sania likes the same man as Cheery, he's Vano.

Sania had bad intentions that managed to thwart Cheery's plan to give a special gift on the day Vano returned. But unfortunately, the little plan that worked ruined Cheery's life.

As time goes by and seeing how Cheery lives her life unhappily, Sania feels sorry and sad. Until she forgot the envy in her heart that turned into caring. And also because Cheery decided to leave Vano, Sania became sincere to help Cheery when she needed help.

Count it as Sania's way of repaying her small mistake that was fatal to Cheery's life. As of now, Sania is looking for a house for Cheery to live in with her mother and son.

"Was your life so hard there, Cheery? How can Auntie Lisa be so skinny now?" Sania asked who was concerned about her aunt's weak condition.

"My mom is just tired. She's not young anymore. You know how my mom raised me, right? And as long as I have Keanu, my mom takes care of him while I'm the backbone of our family there," Cheery replied with a sad smile. Just like her heart right now.

'Cherry, I'm sorry. Indirectly, I am the cause of suffering in your life,' Sania thought-feeling guilty.

"Then, what are you going to do here? Do you want to find a job like a plan you told me back then?" Sania asked when she remembered Cheery's words that she wanted to find a job with a higher salary to support her family.

"Yes, I will find a job. Whatever I will do. At least, the minimum wage in a city like this is much higher than when I worked in the village, even though my job was fairly well established there. But my wages are still low. Plus, Keanu needs to go to a better school!" Cheery explained.

"But, what about Vano? What if he finds you back here?" Sania tried to ask and explore Cherry's feelings about Vano.

"Won't. I won't show my face to him. He won't notice if I come back here. I already have Keanu and my life needs nothing more. I have buried good memories with him in the past," said Cheery in a weak tone.

"You still love Vano?" Sania asked again.

"Love?" Cheery asked back, "Do I deserve to love and be loved? Maybe I used to be so sad that I left him for my baby, but after seeing Keanu's face, I slowly let go of the pain of leaving him and turned into happiness with Keanu. I want nothing more than the happiness of my son, Sania," she continued.

"After all, Vano said that he hated me before he left that time. And I know myself enough to disappear and not show my face in front of him. So please help me, don't tell him I'm back here!" Cheery continued.

'You've suffered a lot, Cheery. I believe more and more if you don't expect Vano anymore at this time. Alright, I'll help you find a job as best I can!' Sania said firmly in her heart. After convincing herself that Cheery is not a threat to her to gets Vano's heart.

The two of them fell silent, and after that Sania spoke as an idea flashed through her mind.

"Cheery, I just remembered!" said Sania which slightly startled the daydreaming Cheery.

"What? The late grandpa's hidden treasure, huh?" Cheery asked curiously.

"What's on your mind right now only money? How could there be such a thing! Silly women!" Sania cursed at her cousin and best friend.

"Then what else should I think about besides money, huh? I need money right now, Sania! My savings are running low because I bought this house!" Cheery replied without acknowledging her need for money.

"Yes, Yes, Yes! Enough complaining! Now listen to me. Tomorrow gets ready to come to my office with your best appearance. I just remembered the position of secretary to the director has been vacant for the past two days. If you're lucky, I'll make sure your salary will be more than enough to support your daily life!" Sania said firmly while explaining to Cheery.

"Is that true? Aren't you lying to me?" asked Cheery surprised and immediately gave Sania a nod, "Wow! If so, how much salary will I get if I work at the company where you work later?" she continued asking.

"Thirty-five million in one month! Not counting if you can pass the training period for the first three months. Because our company's regulations are so strict, it's not uncommon for new workers to leave immediately!" Sania explained again.

"Thirty-five million?! That's crazy! How could a secretary's salary be that big, Sania? Don't you fool me!" cursed Cheery who felt strange with Sania's explanation.

"Up to you! I do not force. After all, such a large fee was reasonable for a company as big as Garendra Corporation. Don't you have a television, huh? Most of the capital's artists come from the company I work for, Cheery. And there are still many industrial sectors that they manage! So, it's only natural that secretaries who can be relied on by the director to help with that much work get high wages!" Sania explained in more detail.

Cheery was silent for a moment while pinching her chin as if she was thinking.

'Hmm, such a large wage is indeed reasonable for the class of Garendra Corporations. I also know and often hear the name of a giant company like Garendra Corps when I handled tenders at my previous company. Hmm, alright! Let's try. Nothing is free in this world, Cheery!' Cheery thought in the discussion.

"Okay, Sania. I'll try to accept your offer and try to apply for a job at Garendra Corporations. Give me the conditions!" Cheery said firmly.

"Okay. I'll send it to your email later!" Sania replied happily.

'Sorry, Cheery! At least this way, I can atone for what I did to you in the past. Cheer up, Cheery! I will support you!' Sania thought happily.

Meanwhile, at night at the Garendra Corporation office…

"Dear... Hurry up and finish your work. It's too late!" whined a sexy woman named Mona.

Mona Sanjaya, that's the full name of the beautiful woman in front of Troy who already looks bored waiting for her fiancé.

"Go home first. I didn't tell you to wait for me, right? Besides, hasn't your work here been done since this afternoon?" Troy said calmly and seemed to sound lazy.