That night, Lena and Sebastian enjoyed their time together. After going around the city, they visited Lena's favorite place to eat, a small stall that sold traditional snacks. They sat at a table facing the park, talking about many things, from college to childhood memories.
"Sebastian, thank you for taking me out. It feels like going back to the past, when everything was simpler," Lena said with a smile.
Sebastian nodded. "I just want you to know that I'm always here for you, Lena. You've worked so hard. It's only natural that you need some time to relax once in a while."
The night grew later, but neither of them realized how time had passed. On the way home, Lena felt lighter.
"Sebastian, I'm really lucky to have a friend like you," she said sincerely.
When they arrived home, her mother was already waiting in the living room. "Lena, you came home quite late. But it's okay, I'm happy you could enjoy your time," she said with a gentle smile. Lena hugged her mother, feeling grateful for a family that always supported her.
The next morning, Lena woke up to the aroma of food from the kitchen. She found her mother cooking food orders. Her father had already gone to the rice field since dawn, as usual.
"Mom, let me help you cook," Lena said while tying her hair.
Her mother nodded with a smile. "Of course, dear. I'm happy you're here."
Lena helped prepare the ingredients. From cooking to packaging the food, she made sure everything was perfect. There were quite a lot of orders that day, showing that their business was becoming widely known. Lena was even surprised when she saw some names on the order list were her campus friends.
"Mom, it turns out my campus friends are also ordering our food," she said excitedly.
"Really? That's good news, dear. It means your business is becoming more well-known," her mother replied.
Lena's holiday days in the village felt very short. While at home, she helped her mother manage the increasing orders. To handle the growing demand, Lena decided to hire a neighbor who lived near her mother's house.
"Mom, what if we ask Mrs. Siti to help? She often says she wants extra work," Lena suggested.
Her mother agreed. With Mrs. Siti's help, their work became lighter. The completed orders were then delivered using a delivery service application. Fortunately, the distance between the village and the city was quite close, so the food could arrive quickly and remain fresh.
As the holiday was about to end, Lena received many messages from her campus friends. They asked Lena to sell food directly on campus.
"Lena, if you sell on campus, it will definitely sell well. Your food is really delicious," one of her friends wrote.
Lena felt happy hearing their enthusiasm, but she was also confused. With her very busy college schedule, she wasn't sure she could handle everything.
After the holiday ended, Lena returned to her campus routine. Her days were once again filled with lectures, practicums, and assignments. Even so, she continued running her business with the help of her mother and Mrs. Siti in the village.
Orders kept coming in, including from her campus friends. They were very enthusiastic about ordering food through Lena's social media. One interesting message came from Aldo.
Aldo, who was known for his cold and arrogant attitude, began hearing about Lena's food from his friends. At first, he didn't really care. But the more people talked about the food, the more curious he became.
"What's so special about this food that everyone is talking about it?" Aldo muttered to himself.
Finally, he decided to order one of the favorite menus recommended by many people. Through Lena's social media, he ordered the best-selling dish.
When the order arrived, Aldo was surprised to see the portion was quite large. He was even more surprised when he opened the package. The tempting aroma of the food immediately filled the room.
"Wow, it smells really good," Aldo said while swallowing his saliva.
Even though he had just eaten at the cafeteria, he felt hungry again. Without thinking twice, Aldo began to taste the food. In a short time, everything was finished.
"It tastes so good. No wonder everyone is talking about it," Aldo said while looking at the empty container in front of him.
Since then, Aldo became one of Lena's loyal customers. He even secretly recommended the food to his friends, although he still maintained his indifferent image in front of Lena.
Meanwhile, Lena continued to receive suggestions from her friends to start selling on campus. However, she was still hesitant. "If I sell on campus, I'll be extremely busy. Besides that, I'm not sure I can manage my time," she said to Lina and Ani.
"We can help, Lena," Lina said.
"Yes, we can arrange a schedule so you won't be overwhelmed," Ani added.
With encouragement from her friends, Lena began to consider the idea. She knew this was a big opportunity to grow her business, but she also had to be careful not to sacrifice her studies.
After thinking carefully, Lena decided to try selling on campus, but on a small scale. She asked her mother and Mrs. Siti to continue handling production in the village, while she only sold the ready-made food on campus.
The first day of selling on campus turned out to be a huge success. Many of Lena's friends immediately bought the food, and even some lecturers tried it.
Aldo, who always observed from a distance, felt impressed by Lena's hard work. Even though he never showed it directly, he slowly began to recognize Lena.
Lena's life continued to be filled with challenges and opportunities. She learned that with hard work, support from family, and the spirit to keep moving forward, she could face anything.
Lena knew that this journey was still long, but she was ready to face whatever came in the future, with a heart full of gratitude and strong determination.
One night, after finishing her piling assignments, Lena sat quietly in front of her laptop. Her food business was growing, and the results were enough to help her family's economy. However, something kept bothering her mind. She felt guilty for leaving her parents in the village while she enjoyed comfort in the city.
"I can live in the city, why can't they?" Lena murmured. She began to think about a plan to bring her parents to live with her in the city. For her, it was time for them to enjoy an easier life without having to work so hard.
That night, Lena called her mother. She conveyed her intention with enthusiasm.
"Mom, I have an idea. What if you and Dad move to the city? I've found a rented house quite close to my campus. With the income from our business, I'm sure we can live comfortably here," Lena said hopefully.
Her mother fell silent for a moment on the other end of the phone, as if considering Lena's words. "Lena, I know you want the best for us, but moving to the city? What about your father? The rice field has been part of his life since he was young," her mother replied hesitantly.
"Dad can retire, Mom. We already have income from this business. Besides, there are many other job opportunities here if Dad still wants to stay active," Lena tried to convince her.
However, her mother was still not fully convinced. "Lena, life in the city is not easy. We are already comfortable living here. The neighbors are kind, and I am used to this environment. Besides, the rice field is not just a job for your father, but also his pride."
Lena fell silent, feeling that her mother's argument made sense. But she did not give up. She tried to speak directly with her father.
The next day, Lena called again, and this time her father answered. "Dad, I want all of us to live in the city. Here, I can take care of you and Mom. We don't have to worry about the rice field or other hard work anymore," Lena said hopefully.
Her father sighed. "My child, I know you want us to live more comfortably. But you must understand, the rice field is part of my life. If I move to the city, will I be happy without doing what I love?"
Lena understood what her father said, but she still felt that living together in the city was the best decision. She tried to find a solution.
"What if we try it first, Dad? It doesn't have to be permanent. Maybe for a few months. If you and Mom don't feel comfortable, we can go back to the village," Lena suggested.
Her father was silent for a moment. "I will think about it, my child. But you have to know, this decision is not just about a place to live. It's about leaving the life we have lived for decades."
Lena understood that this decision was not easy for her parents. However, she remained determined to convince them, because for her, their happiness was the most important thing.
In the following nights, Lena kept thinking about the best way to convince her parents without making them feel forced. She knew that love and understanding were the keys to making them willing to try. Lena then began to plan how to show them the comfort of living in the city.
To be continued…