Then, Alena tried to get up and lazily sat on the edge of her bed. A moment later, footsteps were heard approaching her room door, followed by a knock accompanied by a loud voice shouting, “Wake up, Alena! It’s already noon!!” The voice of a middle-aged woman echoed throughout the house.
- TERSADAR
The sun began to show its light, signaling that the day had started. Alena woke up from her sleep and yawned. Her body still felt sore from the volleyball match yesterday afternoon.
Then, Alena tried to get up and lazily sat on the edge of her bed. A moment later, footsteps were heard approaching her room door, followed by a knock accompanied by a loud voice shouting, “Wake up, Alena! It’s already noon!!” The voice of a middle-aged woman echoed throughout the house.
Alena remained lying in her bed, her pillow covering both ears, purposely hiding it to avoid the sounds that could make her wake up. Suddenly, the door to her room opened. The middle-aged woman stood firmly at the door, holding a “stick of affection” in her right hand. She then approached the bed and said, “A girl like you still isn’t awake at this hour? You’re so lazy.” At that moment, Alena hurriedly jumped up and ran to the bathroom, saying, “Sorry, mom, I’ll get up now.”
Alena rushed to shower and freshen up. After showering and changing into new clothes, she walked to the dining table, where someone was already waiting to scold her. “Enough, mom. I’m already awake…” Alena spoke before her mother could begin.
“You need to be diligent, my daughter! How are you going to find a partner if you keep living like this?!” the middle-aged woman said. Without paying attention to her mother’s words, Alena walked out, carrying her volleyball equipment. The middle-aged woman sighed deeply, watching her daughter go. Alena was the youngest child in the family, and she had always lived a spoiled and lazy life.
Alena spent her days as she pleased. One afternoon, after playing, she saw a young girl carrying a sack and picking up plastic cups to collect. Alena stopped and stared at the girl.
“Al?” the woman called, but Alena was still staring at the girl picking up trash.
“Alena? What’s wrong with you? Are you possessed?” her older sibling asked, waiting for an answer. Alena suddenly realized that her older sister had come to stand beside her.
“What’s wrong, Alena?” her sister asked.
“I’m fine, Kak,” Alena replied. Her older sister noticed that Alena was still staring at the girl who was collecting trash. Slowly, the sister began speaking gently, trying to open Alena’s eyes to her bad habits.
“Look at that girl… She has to rely on her own strength to survive. She lives in poverty, searching for food by collecting used items. Sometimes, she doesn’t even have enough to eat when it’s hard to find things. It’s so sad, right?!” her sister said.
Alena reflected on her own spoiled and lazy life. Her sister continued, “It’s different from us, Al… We live in comfort but we never express gratitude.”
Tears began to fall down Alena’s face. She hugged her older sister, letting out all the regret for her past bad habits. While crying, Alena walked home.
Once at home, Alena called out for her mother and immediately ran to her, hugging her and kissing her hands, apologizing.
“Mom… I’m sorry, I haven’t been grateful all this time. Please forgive me, Mom…” Alena said. Without asking any questions, her mother, who was being embraced by Alena, also shed tears and replied, “Yes, my dear, I forgive you. Alhamdulillah, I’m glad you realized it. I hope you grow to be a good, strong, diligent, and responsible woman. I forgive all your mistakes, my dear…”
And finally, Alena realized her mistakes and bad behaviors.
After that, Alena changed and became a better woman. Her mother, who had taken care of Alena since she was little, was proud of her.
THE END
