In the morning, the TNI members held their usual roll call, joined by the volunteers as well. At this morning's roll call, Vito would tell them about what they had discussed the night before.
"All right, everyone. Last night, I contacted General Pradika to ask for advice about our current situation. He told me about a place that can be used as an isolation center for residents affected by the Ebola virus," Vito announced loudly and firmly.
"Where is it? Is it far from here?" Nindy asked.
"It's not far from here. It's an empty building that's being used as a warehouse. Last night, I ordered the members to clean the place. This morning, we can take the residents there right away," Vito replied.
They all nodded. After roll call, they immediately dispersed to their respective posts first. They clearly had to get all their belongings in order.
"Nin, I heard that place is near where those KKB people are," Vero said in the middle of her work.
"Who told you that?" Nindy replied.
"I overheard some of the TNI members here talking about it earlier," Vero said.
"Let's just pray those KKB people don't make it to our place," Nindy said. Vero's words had made her a little scared too.
"Yeah, amen. I'm seriously not ready if those people really come to our place," Vero replied, shuddering.
"Not ready for what? Where are you planning to go?" Nindy asked, confused.
Vero smacked her forehead. Ah! Why had her friend suddenly become so slow? Was it true that the downside of being beautiful was having a slow brain?
"I'm going to a wedding with them," Vero answered carelessly.
"Is there a wedding here? When did they invite you? Why wasn't I invited?" Nindy asked one question after another.
Vero's mouth fell open at Nindy's questions. Good grief! Why had Allah sent Vero a friend like Nindy, when Vero only had the patience of a tissue paper?
"Hurry up, Nin. They're waiting for us," Vero said, changing the subject.
It worked! After that, Nindy became busy with her tasks. Once she was finished, she and Vero immediately regrouped with their other friends. The TNI members carried their belongings.
Meanwhile, some of the others were waiting for another ride. Nindy led the children to wait near the post beside the road.
"Kak Nindy, do you have a husband?" asked a boy who looked about ten years old.
"I do. Why?" Nindy replied.
"Aw! I wanted to ask you out, Kak Nindy, like Dad and Mom," the boy said, making Nindy burst out laughing.
"Where's your husband from, Kak?" Dito asked.
"My husband is from another country," Nindy replied with a giggle.
"Why doesn't he live with you, Kak?" the boy asked again.
"Because he works there," Nindy answered.
"What does your husband do, Kak Nindy?" Dito asked.
"Actually, even if he didn't work, he still has money," Nindy replied.
"Is your husband handsome like me?" Dito asked confidently.
"Yes, my husband is very handsome. He has a sharp nose and a great body. Ah! I really want to hug him," Nindy said, smiling to herself.
"Ah! If only Taehyung really became my husband, I'd be the happiest woman in the world," Nindy said inwardly, giggling at her own thoughts.
Nindy didn't realize that Vito had overheard her conversation. For some reason, Vito felt uncomfortable when Nindy said she already had a husband.
"Good grief. I haven't even started fighting for her, and I've already lost. Nindy already has a husband," Vito thought.
After that brief conversation, Nindy and the others boarded the vehicle sent to pick them up. The trip from their current location to the new place took forty-five minutes.
When they arrived, Nindy looked around in every direction. From the outside, the building looked old. Four tall, massive trees stood around it.
Ah! Nindy imagined how terrifying those trees must look at night. The building was enormous—more than large enough to accommodate them all.
Nindy walked inside. Unlike the outside, which looked frightening, the inside of the building was very clean. It was painted white, though the paint had visibly faded. At the front stood a sofa that was still usable.
The interior was very spacious. There were only three rooms: two bedrooms and one bathroom. The room already had a large carpet spread across the floor. Partitions had also been put up to separate the women from the men.
The children's area was on the right, separated from the adults. Once they arrived, they immediately rested because they were still weak.
"Okay, so we're all going to stay here for a while. Please be patient and stay strong. The doctors and volunteers are working to find medicine to cure all of you of this Ebola virus," Vito announced loudly.
"Starting today, we'll provide you with healthy food and drinks. We'll also give you medicine to prevent the virus from spreading," Vito continued.
They all nodded helplessly. All they could do now was pray and stay strong as they faced everything. They would no longer argue with whatever the doctors instructed them to do.
"Doctor Rafael, when do you think the equipment and additional medical personnel will arrive?" Vito asked.
"God willing, tomorrow, Commander. I've contacted the hospital and asked them to prepare everything," Rafael replied.
"Thank God. Hopefully everything goes smoothly, Doc," Vito said.
"Amen," they all replied.
"Mom, can I invest part of my salary with my friend?" Heni asked.
"Invest? What for?" Diana asked.
"Oh, Mom, for my future! Listen, Mom, my friend invested with this friend of mine too, and thank God, now she can buy a luxurious house and even travel abroad," Heni explained.
"Are you sure? Is it safe? It's not a scam, right?" Diana asked to make sure.
"It's safe, Mom. This is real—no scam," Heni said with a smile.
"I want to invest some of our company funds too," Nugraha said, having appeared there at some point.
"Sure, Dad. I'll tell her. Wow, once the money comes through, we'll definitely be able to take a trip abroad," Heni said brightly.
"Of course. We can go sightseeing and call it quality time together," Nugraha said with a smile.
Diana simply smiled as she listened to her husband and daughter's conversation. Ah! It seemed like it had been a very long time since they'd spent quality time together. The last time had been when they celebrated Nindy's victory in an international mathematics Olympiad.
Ah! Diana suddenly thought of Nindy. What was her daughter doing? Was she eating and sleeping well?
"Mom, why are you spacing out? Don't tell me you're thinking about Nindy," Heni said, interrupting Diana's thoughts.
"Come on, Mom! Why are you still thinking about her? Listen, I heard from a model friend of mine in Paris that Nindy is currently living with some rich older man," Heni said, badmouthing Nindy.
Diana and Nugraha were naturally shocked by Heni's story. Hadn't Nindy said goodbye to them yesterday because she was going to Papua?
"Didn't Nindy say goodbye yesterday because she had an assignment in Papua?" Diana asked.
"Oh, Mom! She lied to you and Dad. Just think about it—how could she get there? And where would she stay? She even returned her ATM card to Dad," Heni said, continuing to stir up her parents' anger.
"She also told that older man that you and Dad had never supported her financially! She said you both made too many demands. She even said she regretted being born into a family like ours," Heni continued.
Diana's heart broke when she heard Heni's words. She never imagined that her little girl could say such things. All this time, she'd tried to be a good parent to her children. Any guilt that had once troubled Diana was gone.
"I never thought she could say something like that. Haven't we always treated her well?" Diana said flatly.
Like Diana, Nugraha had clenched his fists. He had worked hard all this time for his children. How could Nindy say that she regretted being born into this family?
"Good riddance if she left! I swear I'll never accept her back into this house! I won't consider her my daughter anymore," Nugraha said furiously.
Heni smiled happily when she heard her father's words. Ah! Her plan had worked. Influencing her parents had been easier than she'd expected.
"I won't consider her my daughter anymore either. Didn't she already cut ties with us? Fine, I'll grant her wish. Nindy Nugraha is not my daughter!" Diana said coldly.
Meanwhile, in Papua, Nindy suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest. She didn't know what had caused it. It hurt so badly that tears came to her eyes. All at once, her emotions became unsettled.
"Astaghfirullah, what's happening, dear Allah?" Nindy thought.