Early that morning, Bara and Alma checked out without having breakfast. Alma walked beside Bara, carrying her bag and backpack. "I thought we were going to drop off the Jeep first?"
Bara shook his head quickly. "I left the keys with the receptionist for Sigit. We can't stay any longer, my friend is on his way to pick us up."
Alma frowned in confusion. "Why?"
"We're officially on the Wanted List, Al," Bara's voice was suddenly tense.
Alma froze. Before she could ask more, a rough engine roar broke the hotel lobby's silence. A vehicle in an eye-searing neon green appeared, coming to a dramatic, screeching halt.
Alma stared at the car. It was low-slung, with a pointed nose modified to look like a supercar. Upon closer inspection, however, the original lines of an old 90s sedan were still visible under the body kits. A thick black stripe ran across the hood, and a black license plate was uniquely placed on top of the hood instead of the bumper.
From the cramped cabin emerged a large, bald man wearing a tight black t shirt and jeans.
"My brooo!" he shouted, giving Bara a crushing hug. "You finally made it!"
Bara laughed, circling the car and touching the fiberglass body, which felt rough in some spots. He knew this was his friend's eternal project; building a dream from the wreckage of an old sedan.
"Crazy, Dom. You actually finished your 'Lambo-fake'?" Bara patted the hood admiringly, knowing the struggle behind it.
Dom smirked proudly, his style clearly imitating Dominic Toretto. "What do you think? Looks like the real deal, right? I built the front body myself, hunting for parts all the way to the scrap dealers."
"Looks about right from a distance," Bara joked. They both burst into laughter.
Bara introduced Alma. "Al, this is Dom."
Dom extended a large hand. "Ooh, so this is Alma? Nice to meet you."
Alma shook his hand, her eyebrows furrowed. She scanned Dom from head to toe, then glanced at the eccentric green car. A sense of familiarity hit her.
"Damn, you actually scored a General's daughter," Dom whispered to Bara with a giggle, earning a firm slap on the shoulder from Bara.
Alma climbed into the back seat, which felt extremely cramped due to the forced body modifications. Bara sat in the front, staring at a dashboard filled with extra gauges.
"Did you prepare a place for us?" Bara asked as the car darted nimbly through the streets of Semarang.
Dom shook his head. "This was so sudden, Bro. For now, you can use the pavilion at my house."
Bara looked at him hesitantly. "There's only one bedroom, isn't there?"
Dom tapped his forehead. "Oh, right. I don't want to be inconvenienced if... things happen."
"Cut it out!" Bara laughed. Alma, in the back, could only look down, blushing.
"Relax. You'll be in my room, and I can monitor your 'Wanted' status at the same time. Safe." Dom accelerated.
Bara looked at his friend seriously. "Am I really a fugitive?"
Dom nodded firmly. "I checked through a friend whose brother is a cop."
Bara was startled. "What did you tell him?"
"Easy! It's safe. Just said I knew you back in high school. That's it."
Bara took a long breath, then turned to Alma. "Any news from your Mom?"
Alma shook her head dejectedly. Bara let out a heavy sigh.
"Don't worry, my brooo. Dom 'The Fast and Furious' is here!" Dom shouted, driving faster.
Alma suddenly burst into laughter. She finally realized why this bald man felt so familiar. "Dom... Dominic Toretto?" she blurted out, giggling.
"Aha! See? Your choice was smart, Bar. Alma immediately recognizes quality," Dom said proudly.
"His real name is Dony Sudomo, Al!" Bara chimed in, followed by their collective laughter inside the car.
"Before we go to the hideout, you guys need to taste the soul of this city," Dom said, steering the neon green car toward the heart of Semarang.
They drove into Kota Lama (The Old Town). The atmosphere shifted instantly. The modern city noise faded, replaced by the sight of grand European-style buildings with massive pillars and weathered walls. The morning sun hit the red bricks of Spiegel and the iconic dome of Gereja Blenduk, creating deep, long shadows on the cobblestone streets. It was beautiful, yet felt hauntingly still-perfectly matching the "Cinematic Moody" vibe they were living in.
"We're eating here?" Alma asked, mesmerized by the vintage architecture.
"Best soto in town, tucked away right behind these old ruins," Dom answered, parking his flashy car under a giant banyan tree, trying to cover it with branches.
They sat at a small, unassuming stall in the back corner. Bara kept his hoodie up and sat facing the street, his eyes nervously scanning every passerby, while Alma kept her head down. The contrast was stark: high-stakes fugitives eating hot Soto Semarang in clear glass bowls, surrounded by the crumbling majesty of a colonial past. The savory, clear broth felt like a brief moment of peace, constantly interrupted by Bara's tense glances.
"Look at those buildings, Bar," Alma whispered, her voice shaky.
"It's the best place to disappear," Dom chimed in, his own eyes now scanning the street with a bit more seriousness. "But we can't linger. The flashing car is not a good idea for too long."
As they finished their meal, they hurried back to the car. The neon green Lambo-fake sped away, leaving the historic beauty of Kota Lama behind as they headed toward the narrow alleys on the outskirts of the city.
They stopped in the yard of a large, slightly weathered Colonial-style house. Beside the main house was a small cream-colored pavilion with an old teak door.
"Welcome to my kingdom," Dom announced, lowering his sunglasses. He got out first, opened the trunk, and carried Alma's bag himself.
Bara got out, scanning the surroundings cautiously. "Dom, is it safe here?" he whispered.
Dom turned, his face serious for a moment. "Relax. This house is like a fortress. It's just me, one helper, and my younger brother who's rarely home."
Alma stepped slowly toward the pavilion. Up close, the building looked simple-a single floor with one bedroom. She rubbed her arms, feeling the cold creeping up from the old floor tiles.
"You stay here for now, Al." Bara opened the pavilion door. The scent of old wood wafted out. There was a single iron bed in the center, a large teak wardrobe, and a small window with faded curtains.
"Not bad, right? At least there's a soft mattress," Dom said, placing Alma's bag in the corner.
Alma nodded, her eyes wandering hesitantly. "It's like a house from an old movie."
Bara dropped his backpack and took a deep breath. "Dom, I need to make sure no outsiders know I'm here."
Dom gave a thumbs-up. "I've already cleared the front CCTV history. Chill out, Bro."
A moment of silence followed. Only the creak of an old ceiling fan could be heard. Bara glanced at Alma sitting on the edge of the bed, looking exhausted but trying to manage a thin smile.
"Get some rest, Al. Dom and I are going to talk outside for a bit," Bara said gently, patting her shoulder.
YOU ARE READING
Kidnapping the General's Daughter
Romance"He thought he was rescuing their love. He didn't know he was just driving her escape." Barra is a brilliant law student, a high-achiever who built his future on a prestigious scholarship. He plays by the rules and carries the weight of his mother's...
