Borrowed Love (English Version)

Chapter 2- No Choice

Yama

“Give me a year to show you my true intention. And if you still choose him within that year or after our contract ends, I will return you to him. Expect me not to bother you or charge him for what he owes me." Rox calmly promised Yama.

"I only ask for one thing. Can we pretend that we love each other in the entire of our contract? That, we will act as true lovers in front of everyone and to ourselves." Rox directly said to Yama, leaving her speechless. In Yama’s mind, it is not hard to do if it's not her dignity at stake. But she had a principle that she lived by. What is money for, if she loses herself in the end? If she can't value herself, who else will respect her? She has nothing to offer but her intact morality and dignity. At least she is proud of herself and if that one is gone, what else she has?”

What this man offers is a sin, a big mistake, and she is not willing to trade herself for money.

She looks at him straight with a pleading expression on her face. This time she is willing to lower herself.

"In what way can I repay you without involving myself with you? Me without committing a sin?" Yama tried to negotiate with Rox, maybe there was a way. Maybe he can understand her and would agree to her request.

"Nothing, that's all I ask from you. Nothing can change my mind.” Rox said without hesitation. He then looks at her deeply.” I can give you whatever you want, all you desire in life in ways you never imagined, in exchange of that one-year contract."

Yama saw how serious he was, there’s no hint of playing around. He is known for being ruthless in business.

“Why are you doing this? Why me? What can you gain out of this? I have nothing to offer, I'm just a simple woman, with no background, with average look, and no accomplishments. The kind of you deserves someone who can be your equal, someone who is rich, famous, and has capabilities. In short, someone you can be proud of.” Yama tried to persuade Rox to change his mind by pointing out the reality.

“I have my reasons why I choose you. I have my reasons why I'm offering this to you. You are right, I can get any woman in just a snap of my fingers. But it's you that I want at the moment. I have seen something in you that I haven’t seen in other women. Don’t ever downgrade yourself. Don't you know your value?”

Yama can’t help to laugh at Rox’s words at the same time feels irritated and insulted.

“How can I see it, when just by now I feel like trash, handed down to another man and sold by my own husband? How can I see it, if someone like you treated me like some item dispensable at their whims?” Yama utters those words full of disgust and hatred at the same time as hurt.

“How can this man not see her agony, her pain, and her struggle?” She feels like crying but holds herself.

“You will find my reasons soon, but my decision is final. All I can say is that you will never regret it if you voluntarily choose me and accept what I offer to you. Think it hard. It's either we will go easy or in hard way. Remember, I can make the impossible thing possible. And my words are a law in this place.” Yama wasn't surprised by what she heard from Rox. It’s already given with his status.

Rox walks back to his car in an arrogant manner like he owns the place. Never cared that everyone was looking at him, waiting for him to pay a glance. That’s his effect on everyone around him. But, she couldn’t even appreciate him. How can she when he is the reason why she is in misery? He never gave her a chance to choose.

Yama can't help but remember why she is in this situation now.

One morning, she just woke up receiving a letter from the court stating that Rox had filed a case of swindling and estafa. That’s the time Yama knew that John had gotten another amount from Rox, summing up to 50 thousand dollars. The supposed money for their start-up plan was gone like a dust.

The court urges them to counterpart the case. The question is where would they get money for lawyers' fees and even food they hardly afford? Where would they get money to pay for the debt if they were to pay for it? Her mind went upside down thinking about how to solve the problem.

John said the only way is to accept the offer from Rox coz they don’t have a choice anymore unless they want to be in prison.

Yama asks John where the money goes. John replied he lost it in the casino, thinking he could make the money doubled for him to pay Rox but he failed and lost everything. Upon hearing John’s response, Yama felt betrayed and defeated.

“John, haven’t you thought of me? Have you realized what would happen to me if Mr. Wilford gets me?” She said it in a crying voice. Tears are slowly falling from her beautiful face.

“You don’t even include me in your plans? Where am I in this equation? I am your wife. We vowed to be together in all our plans. You didn’t give me a chance to fight for myself.” Yama shouted and cried hard. She doesn’t care how she looks anymore, all she knows is that the man in front of her is not her husband, the one she has fallen in love with. Because the John she knows is sensible, who thinks ahead, and loves her deeply.

“Yama, I swear, it’s you that I'm thinking of why I wanted to win that time. I love you and can't bear losing you to another man, but things didn't go by my side. I am a failure and I fail you over and over again.” Says John while sobbing as well. They both cried at that moment.

Yama never felt like losing a battle in her entire life, even though she grew up in a hard way. She is always optimistic and bears a positive aura. But at this moment she felt her world collapse because she knew she was about to lose herself and would commit an immoral act.

If they can't pay or won’t agree to Rox’s terms, they will both end up in prison. She can't go to prison coz how can she fulfill what she promised to her family? She is their only hope. She has a younger sibling to support. If her name is tainted, how can she apply for work in the future?