Beautiful Landlady

A loud noise came from a stilt house next to the Hartono family's home. It was the sound of two lovers spending time together, just like they always did. Yes, it was Roni and Ayu, savoring their final moments together in their hometown. Whenever they missed each other, Roni's late parents' house became their special place to share their time together.

"Darling, are you really going to leave me tomorrow?" Ayu asked, wanting to make sure Roni was truly leaving for the city to continue his studies.

"Yes, my love, I have to go. It was my late father's wish," Roni replied firmly. "Don't worry, once I achieve everything I set out to do, I'll come back and marry you. In the city, I can gain knowledge and opportunities for work. That will help me become a better man, someone your family will accept."

Ayu let out a soft sigh. "Alright, if that's your decision. I'll always wait for you. Please don't forget your promise. Tonight, I want to stay at your house. Let this be our temporary farewell," she said, her eyes brimming with tears. She couldn't hold back her sadness over Roni's impending departure to chase his dreams in the big city.

"I'm doing this for us too, Ayu," Roni said gently, holding her hand.

That night, they stayed together, lying on the bed that had witnessed many of their cherished memories. Ayu didn't care if her parents were waiting for her at home. All that mattered to her was being with Roni-the man she loved deeply, who would soon leave her behind.

The next morning, Roni, who had prepared everything, bid farewell to Ayu. In this village, he had no one left but her. His parents had passed away a few months ago, and now he was completely alone. Going to the city was a new chapter in his life, and he promised to return once he found success.

"My love, be careful, okay? Don't forget to write to me. Take care of your health there-because there won't be an Ayu to take care of you," Ayu said, tears slowly falling from her eyes. The passionate night they shared wasn't enough to erase the pain of their parting.

"I'll always remember your words. You take care of yourself too. I promise I'll come back. Wait for me," Roni said with determination before getting into the rickshaw that would take him to the train station.

As the rickshaw moved, Roni gazed at the vast rice fields of his village. He couldn't believe that this would be his last day in a place so full of memories. But he knew, as someone who was now alone, he didn't have many options. With no inheritance left behind by his parents, he had to go to the city to continue his studies and seek a better future.

After a long train ride, Roni finally arrived in the big city. Stepping off at the train station, he pulled out a piece of paper containing the address of the university where he planned to register.

"Turns out it's pretty far from here. I thought it was closer," he muttered to himself. With no other choice, he began searching for a taxi.

A taxi driver approached him. "Where are you heading, sir?" the driver asked politely.

Roni handed him the piece of paper. "I want to go to this address, sir. I don't really know the city. I'm from a village."

The driver read the address and smiled. "Oh, you're enrolling at this university? My son studies there too. But, do you have a place to stay yet? Any family here?"

"Unfortunately, no, sir. I came alone, and I plan to find a boarding house near the campus," Roni replied.

"I see. But the boarding houses around here are quite expensive, son," the driver warned him.

"I'll look for something cheaper, sir. I don't mind staying a bit far from the campus," Roni said confidently.

They chatted casually during the ride. Roni introduced himself, and the driver shared tips on staying safe in the big city. After a while, they arrived in front of the grand university building.

"Sir, I only have this much money. If it's not enough, I'll pay you later," Roni said as he handed over the money.

"This is enough, son. Take good care of yourself. The city is different from the village. Be careful," the driver advised before driving away.

Roni looked at the large campus in awe but decided to find a boarding house before registering. He spent hours searching, but every place he found had rent far beyond his budget.

"Geez, it's so expensive. If I stay here, I won't be able to afford food," he muttered in disappointment. He kept walking, hoping to find something more affordable.

In a narrow alley, he unexpectedly came across a group of street youths. As he turned to avoid them, they had already seen him.

"Hey, where are you going? Come hang out with us," one of them called out.

"I'm just passing through, sorry. I took the wrong turn," Roni replied politely, trying to walk away.

But they blocked his path. "Hold on. You're from the village, huh? There's a city entrance fee. Hand over some cash, and we'll let you go," one of them demanded.

"I'm sorry, I don't have much money. This is just enough for my rent and food," Roni tried to explain.

"Stop making excuses. Hand it over now," they insisted.

With no other option, Roni decided to run. "Stop him! Catch that guy!" one of them shouted.

Roni ran through narrow alleys, his breath growing heavier. Unfamiliar with the area, he ended up lost. He spotted a house and rushed in to hide.

"Damn, this city is scarier than I thought," he muttered, catching his breath.

Suddenly, a woman's voice startled him. "Hey! What are you doing here? Are you trying to steal something?"

Roni quickly explained. "No, miss. I was just trying to get away from some thugs chasing me. If you don't believe me, I'll leave right now."

The woman studied his frightened face and asked, "You're not from around here, are you? From a village, right?"

"Yes, I am. How did you know?" Roni asked.

"Just a guess," she said with a faint smile.

Roni introduced himself. "My name is Roni, miss. I'm looking for a boarding house, but I haven't found one yet. Everything is so expensive, and I don't have much money."

The woman listened carefully. "Oh, you're looking for a place to stay? Well, this is a boarding house, but it's currently full. There might be a vacancy next week."

"Oh, then I'll have to find another place. It's getting late," Roni said as he turned to leave.

"Wait," the woman said, stopping him. "If you'd like, you can stay in my house for now. There's a spare room you can use temporarily. This city isn't safe, especially for someone new like you."

"Really, miss? Are you sure it's okay?" Roni asked, uncertain.

"It's fine. Come with me," she offered.

Roni followed her inside. The woman introduced herself. "This is my private home. The boarding house is at the back. You can stay here for now. Just call me Mbak Maya."

"Thank you so much, Mbak Maya. But... won't your husband mind me staying here?" Roni asked.

Maya gave a faint smile. "I've been a widow for a long time, Roni. Don't worry-I live alone."

Roni nodded gratefully. "Alright, Mbak Maya. Thank you again."

"The bathroom is over there if you'd like to clean yourself up. It's alright, you can use it for now. That's my bathroom," Maya said, pointing toward the direction of the bathroom.

"Thank you so much, Mbak Maya. I really appreciate it. I must be troubling you," Roni replied politely.

"Oh, don't worry about it. Just make yourself at home. By the way, if you don't mind me asking-what brings you to the city?" Maya asked with genuine curiosity.

"I came here to continue my studies, Mbak. I received a scholarship to a big university in the city. Besides that, I'm also looking for a job," Roni explained with a smile that caught Maya's attention.

"Is that so? Be careful, okay? Jakarta can be harsh. There are a lot of things you probably don't know yet, especially without any connections," Maya advised with a concerned tone.

"Yes, Mbak. Luckily, I've met someone kind like you, so I feel a bit more at ease," Roni replied with another gentle smile.

Suddenly, a knock came from the front door. Tok! Tok! Tok!

"Mbak, should I hide? I'm afraid someone might get the wrong idea if they see me here," Roni asked a bit nervously.

"No need, just stay here. It might be one of the other tenants. I'll go check," Maya said, walking toward the door.

When she opened it, a young man was standing there. "Mbak, there's a problem in my room. The roof is leaking, rainwater's coming in," the man, whose name was Bayu, said.

"Oh, I see. Wait a moment, I'll ask Pak Hasim to fix it," Maya replied.

Roni overheard the conversation and stepped forward. "Excuse me, Mbak, I heard there's a leak. Would it be alright if I take a look?"

"You know how to fix a roof?" Maya asked, surprised.

"Well, back in my village, I often fixed the roof myself when it got damaged. I can handle it," Roni said confidently.

"But it's raining now. You might catch a cold. And besides, you just arrived in the city. You should rest instead. I can ask our gardener to fix it," Maya suggested.

"It's okay, Mbak. I can manage. Come on, Bayu, show me the spot," Roni said with enthusiasm.

Bayu took Roni to the leaking room. After grabbing a ladder, Roni climbed up and examined the damage. He found some broken tiles and replaced them. But while he was on the roof, he heard strange noises from the neighboring room.

"Wow... their voices are even louder than the rain," Roni muttered with a small shake of his head and a smile before climbing down.

"It's done. The roof won't leak anymore," Roni told Bayu.

"Thanks a lot, Bang. Oh, this is my first time seeing you. Are you new here?" Bayu asked, curious.

"Yes, I'm Roni. I'm from the countryside. I needed a place to stay in the city, but since there's no vacant room yet, Mbak Maya kindly let me stay temporarily," Roni explained.

"Oh, I see. I heard the person next to my room is planning to go back to their hometown. That's good. Honestly, I get disturbed every night by noises coming from that room," Bayu said.

Roni smiled, remembering the noises he'd heard while fixing the roof.

"Isn't there a rule here about bringing partners into the boarding house?" Roni asked, puzzled.

"Haha, here it's pretty relaxed. As long as there's no disturbance, no one really complains," Bayu said, chuckling.

"No wonder. Why don't you invite your girlfriend too, then? So you're not just listening to other people?" Roni teased.

"Haha, I'm a good boy, Bang. Haven't thought about dating yet," Bayu replied jokingly.

After a bit of small talk, Roni excused himself. "I'm going to take a shower now, Bayu. I'm soaked. Let's chat again tomorrow."

"Sure thing, Bang. Drop by again sometime," Bayu said cheerfully.

When Roni returned, Maya called out to him. "Roni, come eat with me. I've prepared some food."

"Oh my, I'm really troubling you, Mbak. You don't have to go through all that for me. I can just buy something outside," Roni replied awkwardly.

"Come on now. No more talking, just eat," Maya said with a warm smile.

As Roni glanced at the dining table, his eyes accidentally drifted toward Maya, who was wearing casual clothes. Her figure was hard to ignore, and he struggled to look away.

Noticing his gaze, Maya gave a faint smile and cleared her throat-Khem!-bringing Roni back to his senses.

After dinner, Maya asked for his help. "Can you bring the dishes to the kitchen? I'm going to wash them."

Roni obeyed. As he followed her into the kitchen, once again his gaze landed on her figure in the shorts she was wearing. Something stirred within him.

He stood still for a moment, caught in emotion and confusion, and without thinking, gently embraced Maya from behind.

Maya paused, stunned, but instead of pulling away, she smiled faintly. "Roni... what are you doing?" she whispered.

"I'm sorry, Mbak... I don't know what came over me," Roni murmured, clearly struggling with his emotions.

The moment turned quiet and heavy, filled with tension neither of them fully understood.

Maya gently stepped away and looked into his eyes. "You should rest. You've had a long day. Let's not let emotions mislead us."

Roni took a deep breath, his heartbeat slowly settling. "You're right, Mbak. I'm sorry," he said sincerely.

Maya offered a soft smile and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "No harm done. Just... take it easy. We're both human."

That night, as the rain outside grew heavier, Roni lay on his temporary bed, mind drifting between gratitude and guilt, desire and restraint. Meanwhile, Maya remained in the kitchen for a while, staring out the window, her heart quietly stirred in ways she hadn't felt for a long time.

After laying Maya gently on the bed, Roni took off his shirt, revealing his toned, muscular body and well-defined abs that left Maya stunned. She hadn't expected someone she just met to have such an impressive physique.

Roni leaned in and hovered above Maya, kissing her deeply with growing passion. Curious, Maya slowly moved her hand downward, reaching for what she assumed to be his. Gently, Roni guided her hand, making her gasp in surprise.

"Roni, why is it so... big?" Maya asked, unable to hide her astonishment.

"Are you scared?" Roni asked, his eyes filled with desire.

"I'm not scared, just... worried. I don't think it'll fit," Maya whispered, her cheeks flushing.

"Mbak, please... let me begin," Roni whispered with a trembling voice.

Maya nodded slightly, though a hint of nervousness filled her eyes. As Roni tried to proceed, Maya winced in discomfort. She admitted it hurt far more than the first time she'd been with someone.

"Mbak, didn't you say you've been married before? Why is it still... tight like this?" Roni asked, surprised that even after multiple attempts, he hadn't succeeded.

"It's you, Roni. You're just... larger. My ex-husband wasn't like this," Maya confessed, eyes closed as she endured the sensation.

After trying several more times, Roni finally succeeded. Beads of sweat rolled down Maya's forehead as she held her breath. Though it was painful at first, gradually, Maya began to feel a new kind of sensation. Her soft sighs grew louder, but fortunately, the heavy rain outside masked the sounds.

That night became a night of passion between them, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their story. When everything was over, they held each other, sharing the warmth until they drifted to sleep.

**The Next Morning**

Roni woke up and realized he was still in Maya's bed, but she was no longer beside him. On the sheet, he noticed a faint trace of blood. He shook his head, recalling the events from last night.

"She's not only beautiful, but her body is also amazing. Sorry, Mbak... if I got carried away," he muttered.

He got up and cleaned himself from the remnants of their night. After that, he prepared to leave for his new university-one he'd entered on a scholarship.

As he reached for a drink at the dining table, he found breakfast already prepared by Maya. Smiling, he silently thanked her for her kindness. He ate heartily before setting off.

**At the New Campus**

Meanwhile, Maya sat at her desk in the hospital, lost in thought, replaying the night before. A small smile formed on her lips. She couldn't believe she had shared such an intimate moment with a man she had just met.

"Why does it still feel sore..." she murmured, massaging her hip with a slight wince.

Back on campus, Roni arrived with energy and enthusiasm. Though his clothes were simple and a bit worn, his handsome face made up for his modest appearance.

"Excuse me, bro. May I ask where the registration office is?" Roni politely asked another student.

After being given directions, he quickly went to submit his forms and was officially enrolled. He took time to walk around and explore the campus.

His friendly demeanor caught people's attention. Some female students whispered to each other, watching him from afar.

"Who's that guy? Looks like a new student. But what's with those clothes?" one of them murmured.

Still, Roni kept smiling, unfazed by their comments. As he was walking near a staircase, he accidentally bumped into a beautiful girl carrying books.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to," Roni quickly apologized and helped her pick up the books.

The girl was silent, her gaze fixed on Roni in awe. She didn't seem to notice his clothes-she was captivated by his warm smile.

"Wait..." she said softly, but Roni had already walked away, not hearing her.

**At the Campus Field**

Roni spotted a group of students playing soccer. He approached them kindly.

"Hey, can I join?" he asked politely.

They hesitated, but one of the tired players allowed him to step in.

"Alright, take my spot," said a young man named Ben.

Once on the field, Roni showed remarkable skill. His dribbles and agility amazed everyone watching.

"He's incredible! Who is this guy? Look at that footwork!" some students exclaimed.

But not everyone was impressed. Jack, one of the opposing players, didn't look pleased.

"Jack, he's better than you," teased Ari with a grin.

"Shut up!" Jack snapped, glaring at Roni.

That marked the beginning of Roni's life on campus. He started gaining attention-both from potential friends and rivals-but he continued with his usual cheerful and humble attitude.

After walking around enough, Roni took a break to cool off from the soccer match. He resumed his campus exploration with renewed energy.

As students began heading home, Roni decided to leave too. Just as he reached the main gate, a car stopped beside him. A young man inside called out.

"Hey, buddy. Want a ride?" It was Bobi, Roni's teammate from the match earlier.

Roni politely declined, "No thanks. I'll walk. It's close by."

But Bobi insisted with a smile, "Come on, consider this a welcome gesture. We're not heading straight home anyway-just going around a bit. Come with us."

Finally, Roni agreed. He awkwardly tried to open the back door, clearly unfamiliar with it. A girl inside helped open it for him.

"Thanks, sis," Roni said with a grin. He looked at the girl-it was Miya, Bobi's younger sister and the same girl he had bumped into earlier.

"This is Seli, my girlfriend, and this is Miya, my sister," Bobi introduced.

"Hi, Miya. Hi, Seli. I'm Roni, the new guy," he said warmly. Miya smiled shyly, feeling awkward sitting so close to him.

During the drive, Bobi and Roni chatted with ease, while Miya mostly stayed quiet, occasionally offering a smile. Seli remained an observant listener.

"By the way, Roni, we're going camping at the beach tomorrow. Wanna come? We'll stay for a couple of nights," Bobi invited.

"Sure, as long as I won't be a bother. I'm not really used to stuff like that," Roni answered sincerely.

"Don't worry about it. I've got everything covered. Consider it a bonding trip. From now on, you're my friend. If anyone messes with you, let me know," Bobi said firmly.

Roni felt a bit overwhelmed. He never expected someone like Bobi-rich and kind-to treat him this warmly.

"Where do you live, Ron?" Bobi asked.

"I rent a room nearby," Roni replied.

"Why not live with me? I have a spare room at my place," Bobi offered.

Roni quickly declined, "No need, Bob. Just being your friend is more than enough. I'd feel too awkward staying with you."

Bobi smiled. "Alright, but if anything comes up, don't hesitate to tell me."

Their conversation flowed easily. Roni glanced at Miya and asked, "Miya, you've been so quiet. Everything okay?"

"Miya's just shy, Ron. But once she opens up, she's totally different," Bobi said, grinning.

"Hehe, don't be shy, Miya. I should be the one feeling awkward," Roni joked. Miya gave a small smile and lowered her gaze.

Bobi really took the time to show Roni around town, even sacrificing his date time with Seli. They visited several places before stopping at a restaurant. Roni looked visibly out of place-unsure of what to order or how to sit properly. His simple and rural demeanor drew some attention. A few people even whispered snide remarks, but Bobi stood up for him.

"He's my friend. Anyone who insults him insults me," Bobi said, silencing the room.

Bobi truly respected Roni, having done some background research. He knew Roni wasn't just any guy-he was smart and talented, having earned a scholarship to one of the top universities.

During dinner, Bobi turned to Miya, "Miya, you should hang out with Roni more often. He'll look out for you. I don't like you spending time with guys like Jack."

Roni, confused, asked, "Why, Bob? Isn't it good to have lots of friends?"

"Jack isn't a good guy, Ron. I don't want Miya getting involved with the wrong crowd. She's my only sister. You two might be in the same class, so... please look after her," Bobi asked sincerely.

Roni nodded, even though he didn't fully understand the situation yet.

After dinner, Bobi drove Roni home. When Roni invited him inside, Bobi declined due to other urgent matters.

"Alright, Bob. Take care," said Roni before heading in.

Inside, Roni found Maya working on her laptop on the couch. Now that they were more comfortable with each other, she wore her usual relaxed, slightly revealing outfit-causing Roni to swallow hard again.

"Mbak, I'm home," Roni greeted.

"I prepared food. Just go to the kitchen," Maya replied without looking up.

"Mbak, why the trouble? I feel bad. I already ate with my new friends," Roni said.

Maya smiled slightly. "I told you, treat this like your own home. No need to be so formal."

"Alright then. But I'm still full. Maybe later if I get hungry," Roni responded politely.

"Okay. Oh, by the way, Bayu was looking for you. Thought you were home. You should go meet him. Said he wanted to talk," Maya added.

"Got it, Mbak. I'll go see him now," Roni said, then headed out to meet Bayu.