The piercing mountain chill was still clinging to the edges of the room that morning as Barra closed his phone and set it on the small wooden bedside table. He pressed his eyes shut for a moment, taking a long, steadying breath. His conversation with Mom had only tangled the knots in his mind further. When he finally opened his eyes, his gaze fell on Alma. She was busy in the corner of the room, huddled over a small electric stove they had bought from the market.
Barra offered a thin, tired smile. Alma looked like a child playing house, radiating a pure, simple excitement-even though she was only making instant noodles.
"Breakfast is served!" Alma chirped, placing two steaming bowls of noodles in front of him.
Barra kept his eyes on her. The deep sorrow from last night seemed to have retreated, replaced by a fragile cheerfulness. She had intentionally left her phone off, terrified that her father might reach through the screen again. Barra felt a flicker of relief, though a cold, sharp vigilance remained lodged in his chest.
"I bet you've never cooked instant noodles in your life, have you?" Barra asked with a grin, watching her beam at her culinary creation.
Alma looked down, a soft blush creeping onto her cheeks. "Mama never let me eat them. But... I used to secretly ask the housekeepers to make them for me when she wasn't looking."
Barra chuckled. "That explains why you bought enough to feed an army yesterday."
"And you?" Alma countered, her eyes playful. "Do you actually know your way around a kitchen?"
"All the time," Barra said proudly. "I can even make fried rice. If Mom was too busy with work, I'd take over."
"Really?" Alma arched an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
Barra nodded firmly, stirring his noodles with mock seriousness. Alma fell silent for a heartbeat, then said softly, "When we get married... I want to learn how to really cook for you."
The words caught in Barra's throat. Alma's gaze was steady, filled with an unshakeable conviction. He realized then that beneath her sheltered exterior, she was far more stubborn-and braver-than he had credited her for. Barra suddenly felt small. Mom was right; Alma was the courageous one. All his life, he had never truly fought for anything because Mom had always been his shield.
"Why the long face?" Alma asked, noticing his distant stare.
"You're just... beautiful," Barra blurted out, causing Alma to immediately pout.
"Ugh, one bowl of noodles and you're already using cheesy pick-up lines? After this, we're going out!"
Barra laughed. "Actually, I was thinking the same thing. Let's rent some bikes and ride around. We need to clear our heads while we wait for news from Dom."
***
The premonition turned into reality sooner than expected. They had spent the last hour pedaling along the rugged, volcanic paths to clear their minds. Bromo was breathtaking in the morning light; the vast Sea of Sand stretched out like a grey, moon-like desert below them, while the cool wind whipped against their faces, carrying the scent of pine and distant sulfur. For a moment, as they cycled past the ancient, jagged ridges, Barra felt a sense of peace. He watched Alma's hair flutter in the wind, her laughter echoing through the thin mountain air. He wanted to freeze this moment-to stay in this majestic wilderness forever, where the General's shadow couldn't reach them.
But the silence was shattered when Barra's phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled over near a viewpoint overlooking the caldera and answered immediately.
"Dom? What's going on?" His voice was instantly sharp with panic.
Alma stopped her bike beside him, her face mirroring his anxiety. Barra listened for a long time, his jaw tightening. When he finally hung up, he turned to Alma, his expression grim.
"Bar..." Alma's voice trembled. "What is it?"
"Your father's men... they just paid Dom a visit. They're asking questions."
"What?!" Alma gasped, her grip tightening on the handlebars. "Why him?"
"Dom said they were 'polite' enough. He stuck to the plan-told them he just dropped us off at the bus station for Bali. But they're not stupid, Al. They're checking everyone."
"Let's head back," Barra said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Just a few minutes into their ride back to the cottage, the phone rang again. This time, it was Mom. With a pounding heart, he pressed the phone to his ear.
"I'm okay, Bar," Mom's voice was steady, but he could hear the underlying tension.
"Did they come to you, Mom?" Barra asked quickly, his voice barely a whisper.
"Yes. Two men. They were polite, but they asked a lot of questions about where you might have gone. I gave them the story you told me-that you were heading to Malang, then catching a bus to Bali. They didn't stay long, but they were thorough."
Barra's heart sank. It was exactly what happened to Dominik. He managed a small smile for Alma's sake, but his gut told him the truth: the walls were closing in. "You're a good actress, Mom..." he tried to joke, though his voice cracked.
"Just be careful, Bar," Mom added. "They aren't just looking; they're hunting."
***
That night, Barra sat brooding on the edge of his bed. A small notebook lay open in his lap. He began to map out the possibilities. The General's scouts were already sweeping. Terminals, stations, perhaps even the airports. Every exit from the province was likely being watched.
Barra tapped his pen against the page. He knew they couldn't stay in the sanctuary of Bromo much longer. But where was left to go?
He wrote one sentence in large, bold letters on a blank page: "NEED HELP FROM DOM. NOW."
His fingers flew over the keypad, dialing his best friend's number. That night, Barra finally made a choice: it was time for a new plan. One that didn't involve running blindly into the night.
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...
