DISCLAIMER!

THIS IS Historical fiction inspired by true events surrounding the “comfort women” system established during World War II.

The characters, names, and specific events portrayed in this book are fictional, but they are based on real histories of wartime suffering experienced by countless women across Asia.

The story seeks to honor the memory of the victims and survivors of sexual violence and to bring awareness to this painful chapter of human history.

Some scenes may contain sensitive or distressing content, including references to violence and trauma, intended not for sensationalism but for historical truth and empathy.

Readers are advised to approach this work with discretion and compassion.

Story~

It was the month of rainy season, Nur was determined that she will come back home with some vegetables before the pouring starts but she was still not able to find any for the lunch.

"Have the others already collected them?" She groaned in frustration, wipping away the sweat from her forehead. She was walking around the forest for three hours with the heavy bundle of woods on her back. With another round of the forest she spots some paku under the trees.

"Finally!" She sighs in exhaustion and bend down to puck the paku. It was still dry and fresh.

When they weren't under control of imperial Japan her parents had a peaceful livelihood. She remembers saying goodbye to her father and crying by her mother side while seeing him off. Some soliders had barged in and taken her father by force to work on the railways. She couldn't forget it.

Water droplets hits on her cheeks, she looks up- hoping the rain would wash away all the sorrow and when it stops a new light would imerge. Shaking away her thoughts she quickly gather everything and head back home with Paku and woods.

                  》☆《

It was the early afternoon when Nur returns back home. Her mother is usually on the field but comes back by lunch. The house always feels empty with just two people. Many rumours have been speculating around the village that the men would not return- Japanese soilders were cruel, they would never let them live peacefully. But Nur and her mother didn't believe those rumours and always hope for her father to return back home safely.

"Ibu! Ibu!" Nur calls for her mother in exhaustion and drop the wood on the floor. Her mother was already preparing for the lunch with the leftover vegetables. Her hands were trembling while she stirred the pot. After Nur's father left her mother was left to handle the expenses alone. Nur went to her and hugged her, her heart aching from not able to buy medicine for her mother. "Ibu... I could only find paku and most of the wood are wet because of the morning shower." She complain to her mother as usual. They were the only one left in the home and relied on each other. Nur begins to rat about her friends and neighbours while her mother just laughed at her complains. Nur was furious that her mother didn't take any of the complaint about the neighbours seriously but still melted at her laugh and warmth.

                    》☆《

"Should I hit your head if it's hurting?" Wan asks with serious expression which Nur knows he is joking and it's his way of checking if she is alright.

"So not gentleman, Wan." She snickers. Wan is her childhood friend, the person she relies on the most.

He shrugs. "What can I do? You make it hard for me to be a gentleman."

"What is that supposed to mean?" She narrows her eyes on him with an accusatory glare.

He lets out a chuckle then put his hand on her shoulder. "What made you so lost in thoughts?" He asks with genuine concern.

She stretches her arms and sighs. They are at Wan's workshop. He makes pots made of clays, inheriting his late father's skill. "Mom is getting weaker and more sick. I told her many times to stop working at the field and let me handle it." She frowns with frustration. "But she never listens!"

Wan rubbed circles on her back with no words. That's his way of comforting her, giving her company to listen.

"Oho? Having a romantic moment?" Amira giggles as she enters the workshop.

"Shut up." Nur snaps at her friends playfully, hiding her distress perfectly infront of her. She doesn't want Amira to worry when she already has a lot on her plate. Amira lost her parents when she was a child and used to live with both her grandparents, but now her grandfather was taken to work for the Imperial Japan so it's just her and her grandmother.

Amira chuckles and turn to Wan. "Relax, I came to get the Belanga. Is it ready?"

He nods and heads inside to get the pot while Nur and Amira talk about all the things. Soon they head to the market and find Fatihma scolding her little sister.

"Fatimah!" Amira called her excitedly. Fatimah stops and turn to them with a smile, a little pink coloring her ears from embarrasment because they saw her scolding her little sister. Fatimah was not one to raise her voice at anyone and she was always kind, putting others before her, but seeing this new side of her made both of her friends giggle and curious about her.

"Hey little sister!" Amira ruffled the little girl's hair playfully by Fatimah side.

"Hmm, what did you do to get scolded by your older sister, Aisyah."

The little girl glared at Amira then spat at her face. Fatimah quickly pulled her back and yelled at her again.

"When will you start behaving!?" She turns to Amira with apologetic face. "I am so sorry, Amira. Here." She offers her a handkerchief.

Amira takes it with a chuckle. "No worries, she is just a child so don't yell at her."

Nur was laughing while holding her stomach. "Oh my god! I think Aisyah has started to hate you, Amira. But speaking of Aisyah...where is she?" She looks around.

Fatimah groans in frustration since it is a everyday story. "I really sorry for causing the trouble, I will go look for her." She turns away from them just as Nur grabs her wrist to stop her.

"Let's look for her together." Amira says with a grin.

They weren't able to find Aisyah until sunset. She was at Wan's workshop, sitting at chair and staring at him while chewing on some sweets.

                   》☆《

"Nur, Go see who is at the door." Her mother yelled from where she was cooking breakfast.

Nur went to open the door only to find two Japanese soilders and the village chief.

"Nur! It has been such a long time since I last saw you!" The village chief smiled at her. "Is your mom home?" He asks, looking over her shoulder. Her mother comes behind Nur and let them inside. The village chief is her father's childhood friend but Nur never liked him. He always seem to get her nerves and make comment on how she carries herself.

"Nur has grown a lot." He remarks. "It's time she starts working and lessen some burden on you." He tells her mother. "The imperial Japan has promised employment to the woman upon hearing their hardship. Since the war needs a lot of supplies it would be good for Nur to work in the factories."

He went on, promising fair wages, better environment and proper meal everyday. Nur didn't believe him but their was not any better to refuse the offer. She thought if she didn't receive proper meal or better environment then atleast her mother would not have to work at the field for few money which barely feed them, her condition was getting worse day by day.

Her mother refused instantly but Nur insisted on working. The chief smiled "Listen to your daughter, Farah! How long can you go with your sick condition. The imperial Japan promisee to give her fair wages."

Those promises were too good to believe but Nur, wanting to lessen the burden on her mother and get a proper meal regularly tempted her.

"I will be leaving tomorrow morning with the others." Nur informs her mother while she packs her clothes in a bundle. The Chief gave her only one day to decide upon whether she wants to go or not. They both knew- the choice was just for show. If the Imperial Japan wanted then the soliders would use force to requiret the women, just like they did few months ago with most men in the village.

"Nur..." Her mother sits besides her on the floor and takes her hand in her own trembling ones. "Promise me something. If something bad happens then you will run away from there as soon as possible."

Nur smiles with loving gaze at her. "I promise. Amira and Fatimah are also coming with me."

Her mother nods affectionately then pulls out some cash from pocket and give it in her hand. "Take these and eat something on the way."

Her eyes widen and she quickly shakes her head. "No, Ibu! You keep these cash besides they will give us regular meal...like they said." Nur says the last part with uncertainty, not believing herself but she didn't want her mother to strave while she is not here.

In the end Nur finally gives up and takes half of the cash.

                    》☆《

"Do you really have to go?" Wan squeezes her hand in desperation. He hates himself for not being able to protect the person he cares and cherish. He was not even able to protect his elder brother when the Japanese soilders barged into his house and took his brother forcefully to work for them at the railway. It happened again- the woman Wan promised to be with always is leaving him and he can't do anything.

Nur sighs and takes her hand from him. "You know as well that I have no choice. If I refuse now then they will come some other day and take me by force." She looks into his eyes. "How worse can it be? They will make us work for hours or maybe gives us one meal a day. They promised that they will let us go when we get of marriageable age."

"Do you really believe them? The imperial Japan is cruel. They made us turn in their supporter while taking away our rights and will. We live in hell because of them. We..." His throat bobbles. "We can't trust them."

"Regardless I have to go. Please take care of my Ibu while I am away." She smiles  then her mood turns sour when her eyes land at the village chief who was grabbing a woman's hand from the window, the woman was clearly uncomfortable. "Look at the chief flirting with another woman while he has a wife and a daughter." She said in disgust then without thinking she stormed towards him. Wan following after her.

"Ah! Chief! What are you doing here? I thought you were preparing a place to stay for the Japanese soilders." Nur hide her disgust behind her grin. He quickly step back from the woman and turn to her.

"Ah yes! Oh my... look at the time. I think I should go and check on them if they need something." He tried to excuse himself from the situation.

"Please send my greetings to auntie." She says then let out a groan in frustration after the village chief leaves. "Those men disgust me to the core." Wan was still standing besides her with a grin and admiration in his eyes.

"You look a lot better when you are not smiling like that." Nur says and visually shivers.

"Why? Does my smile makes your heart flutter, Nur?" The way he says makes her breath hitch. She stares at him before replying.

"Maybe but it sure gives me a stomach ache."

"That's called getting butterflies, sweetie."

Nur makes a disgusted face despite the blood rushing to her face. "Don't make me vomit here."

Wan laughs heartily from her expression and Nur joins him too. "Why are we laughing?" She asks while chuckling.

His eyes crinkle at the corner and he flicks her head. "Idiot."

She gives him a sharp slap at his arm. "Hey! Don't call me that!"

They bicker until Aisyah grabs Wan's wrist, pulling his attention to her.

"What a little troublemaker doing here?" Nur gives her a playful glare.

Aisyah ignores her completely as if she is nothing but an insect.

"You want to watch the pot making again?" Wan asks, lowering himself to her level. Aisyah nods.

"You like pot making, Aisyah?" Nur asks and gets ignored by her again which is strange because her bubbly personality never let anyone ignore her- specially not by a mera child!

"Do you also want to come, Nur?" He asks her gently.

Nur shakes her head. "No...not now I have to go prepare for my departure." She says, the reality sinking in- she has never been away from her home in the past so this was a big step in her life.

Wan nods with pained expression before going back to his workshop, Aisyah following behind him.