CHAPTER 8 — A Space of Her Own
“Mother Marlena called Father this morning. She hopes you won’t simply consider your marriage over just like that.”
Nayara set her coffee cup on the dining table and looked at her father. His tone was calm, without any pressure.
“I already told you I wouldn’t force you to come home,” he continued. “But I need to know what you want to do after this.”
Nayara had been thinking about her answer since the first night she arrived at that house. She knew her father would let her stay for as long as necessary. But the house still belonged to him. As long as she had nowhere of her own, her leaving Arven could still easily be seen as a temporary decision.
“I’m still going to find a place of my own,” she said. “Not because you told me to leave. I’ve already made that decision.”
Her father nodded. He didn’t offer any lengthy advice, and Nayara actually felt relieved. She didn’t have to defend her decision. All she needed to do now was prove that the plan could be carried out without running out of money within a few weeks.
At ten, Nayara opened her laptop on the small table in her old room. She began calculating.
Her personal savings were enough to live simply for around two or three months if she didn’t have any new income. She entered the costs of rent, electricity, water, internet, food, transportation, and an emergency fund. After adjusting the maximum rent several times, she arrived at a figure she could still afford without using up all her savings at once.
Nayara briefly raised her rent limit because she wanted a slightly more comfortable space, then lowered it again after seeing how much money would remain for daily expenses. She only needed somewhere safe, decent, and affordable enough to give her time to return to work later.
Uncomfortable, but still reasonable.
She filtered through several options remotely. She immediately crossed out the units that were too expensive. The same went for those in locations where transportation costs would skyrocket. Of the remaining choices, one studio in Jakarta Selatan suited her best. It wasn’t large, but it was big enough for a bed and a work desk. The unit manager confirmed that it was vacant, that the basic costs matched the initial information, and that she could view it the following morning.
After that, Nayara called Arven.
“I’m arranging a rental place for myself,” she said once the call connected. “And from now on, don’t involve our parents in our affairs.”
Arven was silent for a few seconds. “As for your place to live, let me help. I can pay the deposit and the first month’s rent.”
The offer didn’t surprise Nayara. Arven was used to solving practical problems with money.
“No need. I have my own savings.”
“Nayara—”
“I’m not asking you to pay for me.” Nayara remained calm. “And don’t transfer anything to my account.”
She ended the call after making sure her meaning was clear. Nayara didn’t give him the unit’s address, the manager’s name, the payment account number, or any other information Arven could use to involve himself in the payment process. She would cover the cost of her new place herself.
The next morning, Nayara left Depok at nine twenty. The trip to Jakarta Selatan took around sixty-five minutes. At ten twenty-five, she arrived at the unit she had seen only in photos the day before.
The manager opened the door for her. The studio was around thirty square meters. The white paint on one side had already grown dull, the vinyl flooring no longer looked new, and the kitchen was small. Still, plenty of light came in. The ventilation was adequate. The bathroom worked normally. The main door had a double lock.
Nayara stood in the middle of the room and assessed what she truly needed. The bed could go on the right side. The work desk would fit close to the window. A small shelf could still be installed without making the space feel cramped. She tried walking from the door to the kitchen and bathroom areas, making sure the room would remain comfortable for daily use despite its limited size.
The unit was much simpler than Arven’s house, but it was still decent, and the cost was within the limit she had set.
After reviewing the rental terms again, Nayara decided to take it. The next steps were completed in the same place. She read the standard agreement, confirmed that the lease term and initial costs matched what had been explained earlier, and then signed the documents.
She paid the first month’s rent and one security deposit from her personal account.
Once the payment was complete, Nayara looked at the remaining balance on her phone screen. She still had enough money to live simply for a few weeks. She didn’t have to find an income that very day, but she didn’t have much time.
After the payment was confirmed, the manager handed her a set of keys and an access card.
Nayara looked at the empty space in front of her while holding both. Her belongings were still at her father’s house. She didn’t have a work desk yet. She hadn’t even moved a bed in. But the lease agreement was now valid, and her access as a tenant was active without giving Arven any access whatsoever.
Arven didn’t know her address. He had no key, access card, or payment channel he could use to interfere after she rejected his offer.
Nayara looked around the studio again. The space was small and her savings had dwindled, but now she had a place she had chosen and paid for herself. For the first time since leaving Arven’s house, the decision to leave no longer sounded like words alone. Now there was a real space that allowed her to stay gone.