Episode 6: "My Name Is Not Your Scandal"
Raina woke up that morning to 47 missed calls.
Every number was unsaved. All from the media.
She opened Twitter. Trending No. 3: #MafiaUncle
A photo of Raizan outside a nightclub three years ago. Black and white. A dark expression. Caption: Who is Raizan Afif really? CEO or Syndicate Leader?
Then another tweet. A picture of her. A screenshot from Aisyah’s old video.
Caption: Is this extra the reason the Mafia Uncle came out of his cave?
Raina sat on the edge of her bed, her hands cold.
Danial was playing dirty.
Her phone vibrated. PZ.
Don't leave the house. I’ll be there in 15 minutes.
Raina replied with one sentence: Too late, Abang Zai. They’re already in front of the house.
At the base of her apartment block, there were 15 reporters. Cameras, mics, lights.
Neighbors opened their doors to peek. The canteen lady next door whispered, "Is that your daughter who became friends with an artist?"
Raina pulled on a thin shawl and headed down. There was no point in running.
“Raina! Is it true you're Raizan Afif’s girlfriend?”
“Did you get that role by sleeping with him?”
“He threatened Aisyah, didn't he? Are you afraid?”
The questions came like rapid fire. The smell of sweat and the flash of cameras made her eyes sting.
Raina stopped in the middle of them. She didn't run. She raised her hand.
Everyone went silent for two seconds.
“My name is Raina,” she said. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear. “I’m 30 years old. I’ve worked as a background extra for five years. I just moved up to a supporting role. That’s all.”
“And Raizan Afif?” a reporter shouted.
Raina looked straight into the camera lens.
“He is my friend. He looks out for me because I was bullied on set. If that’s a crime, I apologize. I’m not used to living without someone watching my back.”
“Is it true he's a mafia boss?”
Raina gave a thin smile.
“Ask him. I don't have his business card.”
One reporter tried to shove a mic too close, nearly hitting Raina's nose.
“Don't touch me,” Raina said. This time, her voice was sharp.
Suddenly, a black car screeched to a halt at the curb. The door flew open.
Raizan stepped out. Black suit, dark face. His aura alone made the reporters back off two steps.
“Get out of here,” he said. He didn't yell, but it was enough for everyone to hear.
“Mr. Raizan! Is it true your brother Danial Afif says you’re a syndicate head?”
Raizan didn't answer. He walked straight to Raina, checking her over.
“Are you okay?”
Raina nodded. “I’m okay. But my hands are cold.”
Raizan took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. Then he turned to the reporters.
“You want news? Here’s your news: Raina did nothing wrong. She works. She pays rent. She’s a good person. If you write anything else, I’ll sue you until you have to sell your mother’s house.”
He pulled Raina into the car. The door slammed. The car sped off.
Leaving the shouting reporters behind in the dust.
Inside the car, it was silent.
Raina gripped the coat tightly. The scent of Raizan’s cologne lingered on it.
“Why did you go out?” Raizan asked. His voice was angry, but laced with worry.
“I told you to stay inside.”
“Because I don't want to hide,” Raina replied. “If I hide, Danial wins.”
Raizan stared at her for a long time.
“You’re crazy.”
“Maybe,” Raina answered. “But this craziness makes me feel alive.”
Raizan took a breath, gripping the steering wheel tight.
“I failed. I promised to protect you. Now your name is ruined.”
Raina reached for his hand.
“My name isn't ruined, Abang Zai. My name is just starting to be written. If it's written because I was brave enough to speak to reporters, then let it be.”
Raizan didn't answer. He drove fast toward the penthouse.
The penthouse was eerily quiet when they arrived.
Every news channel was on. Raizan and Raina’s faces appeared in rotation.
“Raizan Afif – King of the Night World?”
“Raina – The Extra Who Tamed a Mafia’s Heart?”
Raina sat on the sofa. Her knees shook the moment she sat down. Only now did the fear truly set in.
Raizan sat in front of her, his knees touching hers.
“Do you want me to wipe all this out?” he asked. “I can. In two hours, not a single article will remain.”
Raina shook her head.
“Don't. If you delete it, people will think we’re guilty. Let them talk. They’ll get tired eventually.”
Raizan frowned. “You don't understand. This world is cruel. They will dig up your mother, your father, even your neighbor’s cat.”
“They’ve already dug,” Raina replied. “My mother died two years ago. My father ran away when I was 15. The neighbor’s cat is named Oyen. He’s fat.”
Raizan went silent.
“Are you afraid?”
“I am,” Raina said honestly. “But I’m more afraid that if I don't say anything, people will think I don't have a voice at all.”
Raizan cupped Raina’s face. His thumb wiped away a tear she didn't realize had fallen.
“You’re stubborn. But this time… I like it.”
He hugged her. Tight. As if afraid she’d disappear into the headlines.
“Abang Zai,” Raina whispered against his chest. “If the police come, don't fight them. I don't want you in prison because of me.”
Raizan gave a short laugh against the top of her head.
“The police don't dare touch me. But if they touch you, I don't care if I end up in prison.”
Raina pushed him back slightly. “Don't talk like that. Promise me. Live.”
Raizan looked into her eyes.
“I promise. I’ll live for you. Is that enough?”
Raina nodded. It was enough.
That afternoon, Danial sent a video.
CCTV footage from a club five years ago. Raizan beating three men until their arms broke. Caption: Is this the man protecting your daughters, Malaysia?
The video went viral with 2 million views in three hours.
Raizan’s phone wouldn't stop ringing. Lawyers, subordinates, friendly cops.
He didn't pick up a single call.
He sat on the balcony, a cigarette in his hand. He didn't smoke it. He just held it.
Raina came out and handed him a glass of water.
“Drink. Your hands are shaking.”
Raizan took the glass and finished it.
“He wants me angry. He wants me to make a mistake.”
Raina sat beside him.
“Then don't make a mistake. Do the right thing.”
“How?”
Raina smiled.
“Tomorrow there’s a press conference. You take me with you. We tell them everything. From the start. From me being bullied to you helping me. No secrets.”
Raizan looked at her like she was insane.
“You want to expose yourself to the whole world?”
“I’m already exposed,” Raina answered. “Now I want to control the narrative.”
Raizan was quiet for a long time. Then he laughed.
“You… you’re more dangerous than Danial.”
“Why?”
“Because you make me feel like I can be honest.”
The next day: the press conference.
A five-star hotel. A packed hall. 100 reporters.
Raizan entered first. Black suit, blank face.
Raina entered after him. Simple clothes, the 'R' necklace visible. No heavy makeup.
They sat side by side, their hands brushing slightly.
“My name is Raizan Afif,” Raizan began. His voice was low, but the room went silent.
“I don't deny I have a dark past. I’ve hit people. I’ve threatened people. Because back then, I thought that was the only way to survive.”
The reporters scribbled furiously.
“But two weeks ago, I met a woman,” Raizan continued, turning to Raina.
“She doesn't fit your standards of beauty. She isn't famous. She isn't rich. But she is good. She looks out for everyone even when they step on her.”
Raina held her breath.
“Her name is Raina,” Raizan said. “She is my friend. She is mine. If you bother her, you bother me. And I don't play around.”
Raina took the mic.
“My name is Raina. I didn't ask to be famous. I just asked for a fair chance to work. If Mr. Raizan’s old videos scare you, I understand. But I see him now. He doesn't hit me. He sends me chicken rice. He watches over me while I sleep.”
She paused and looked into the cameras.
“So before you judge, ask yourself: have you ever looked after someone who had nothing to give you in return?”
The hall was silent for five seconds.
Then a single clap echoed from the back.
Farah. The production assistant.
Then others followed.
The press conference ended. No scandal. No drama.
Just two people being honest.
That night, Danial called.
“Well played, little brother,” he said to Raizan. “You turned her into a shield.”
Raizan answered calmly.
“She’s not a shield. She’s a mirror. You look at her and you see what you lost ten years ago.”
The line went dead.
Raizan put the phone down. He looked at Raina, who was sleeping on the sofa, covered by his coat.
He pulled the coat up to her chin.
He kissed her forehead gently.
“Sleep well, Raina,” he whispered.
“This time, the world can’t touch you. Because I’ve given you a voice.”
[End of Episode 6]
Episode 7: "A Gift for the Unfamous Girl"
The box arrived at 9 AM.
No sender's name. No card. Just a matte black box with a black ribbon, the size of a palm.
Raina opened it in the penthouse kitchen. Her hands were hesitant. Since the press conference, every unnamed package made her stomach drop.
Inside the box was a small doll. A girl about 12 years old, long hair, wearing a tattered school uniform. The doll’s face had been mutilated—eyes poked out, mouth slashed with a knife.
And a handwritten note:
"You were like this once, weren't you, Raina? Lonely. No one to look after you. Now that you have an Uncle guarding you, you feel safe? Just wait."
Raina didn't scream. She didn't cry.
She closed the box slowly, placed it on the table, and walked into the bathroom. She locked the door.
Then she vomited.
It wasn't just disgust. It was because that doll... 12 years ago, after her father ran away, she really did sit alone in a dilapidated house, waiting for her mother to come home from the factory at 11 PM. Long hair, tattered school uniform.
Who gave those details to Danial?
A knock on the bathroom door.
"Raina? Are you okay?" It was Raizan’s voice. He had just returned from a meeting. His men had called to say a package had arrived.
Raina opened the door, her face pale. She handed him the box without a word.
Raizan opened it. He looked for three seconds. Then the box was crushed in his grip.
"Danial," he said. His voice was low, like thunder before a storm.
"I told him not to touch you."
Raina grabbed his arm. "Abang Zai, don't do anything stupid."
"He sent a mutilated child's doll to you, Raina!" Raizan shouted. It was the first time he had ever yelled at her.
"He wants you to remember being alone!"
Raina cupped his face, forcing him to look at her.
"I'm not alone. Because I have you."
Raizan froze. The rage ebbed slightly.
"Are you afraid?"
"I am," Raina answered honestly. "But I'm more afraid that you'll go looking for him now and never come back."
Raizan took a deep breath. He hugged her tightly.
"Don't open the door if I'm not here. Don't answer the phone if the number isn't saved. Understand?"
Raina nodded.
That night, Raina dreamed.
In her dream, she was 15. Her mother had just passed away from working overtime at the factory—she had fallen down the stairs.
Her father arrived three days later, not to take her in, but to take the house deed.
"Sell this house, and we settle the debt," her father said. His eyes were bloodshot, smelling of alcohol.
"If not, you stay here alone. Choose."
Raina chose to stay.
For three months, she lived alone. Eating plain noodles. Bathing in public toilets. Skipping school because she had no bus fare.
In the dream, a voice laughed. Danial’s voice.
"Look, your Mafia Uncle wasn't there then. And he can't protect you forever now."
Raina woke up at 3 AM, drenched in a cold sweat.
She couldn't go back to sleep.
She stepped out of the room. Raizan was on the sofa, eyes open. He hadn't slept at all.
"Why aren't you sleeping?" Raina asked.
"Because you were having a nightmare," Raizan replied. "I heard you calling for your mother in your sleep."
Raina sat beside him.
"Abang Zai, who gave the info about my past to Danial?"
Raizan was silent for a long time.
"I did."
Raina was shocked.
"What?"
"The day I first met you, I ran a check on you," Raizan said quietly. "I didn't believe a good person could just appear out of nowhere. So I told my men to dig. I have a file on you. Your father, your mother, that old house."
Raina felt like she’d been slapped.
"So Danial got it from you?"
"No," Raizan answered quickly. "I didn't give it to anyone. But my system was hacked six months ago. I thought it was settled. Apparently, it wasn't."
Raina covered her face.
"So all this is your fault."
Raizan didn't deny it.
"Yes. My fault."
Raina stood up and began to walk away.
"Abang Zai, I'm tired. I'm tired of being the person everyone uses to hurt someone else."
Raizan didn't chase her. He only spoke from behind.
"If you want to leave me, leave. But don't leave yourself."
Raina stopped at her bedroom door.
"I'm not leaving myself. I'm leaving you for a moment. To think."
The door closed.
Raizan sat on the sofa until dawn.
He gripped Danial’s note until it tore.
The next morning, Raina didn't come down for breakfast.
The chef sent food to her room. She only took two bites.
At 10 AM, Farah called.
"Raina, are you coming to the set? The director wants to shoot your scene with the hero. If you don't come, they’ll replace you."
Raina looked in the mirror. Her eyes were puffy. Her hair was a mess.
She didn't see an "actress." She saw the 15-year-old girl who was all alone.
But then she remembered her words at the press conference: I just asked for a fair chance to work.
She got up. Showered. Dressed. Put on the 'R' necklace.
She went downstairs. Raizan was waiting at the door.
"Are you going?"
Raina nodded.
"I'm going to work. You don't have to follow me. I can take care of myself."
Raizan placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I won't follow. I'll wait for you to come back. If you aren't back in eight hours, I'm burning that set down."
Raina gave a thin smile.
"Don't burn it. It's expensive."
She stepped out. This time, she walked alone. No bodyguards. No Raizan.
The set was not peaceful.
Danial was there, sitting in the director's chair with his feet on the table.
"Oh, our heroine has arrived," he said loudly.
"Let's shoot the scene 'unfamous girl gets dumped by her mafia boyfriend.' Let's make it realistic."
The crew was silent, terrified.
Raina walked in. She didn't look at Danial. She looked at the director.
"When do we start, Kak?"
The director glanced at Danial, then back at Raina.
"Er... ten minutes."
Danial stood up and walked over to Raina.
"You had the nerve to show up? I thought you'd be off crying somewhere."
Raina looked at him. For the first time, she looked Danial straight in the eyes.
"His brother is more dangerous than you. But his brother never messed with my head like you do."
Danial frowned.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying you're playing cheap psychological games," Raina replied. "You send a doll, you dig up my past. But you forgot one thing."
"What?"
"I lived for 15 years with nothing. You think one box with a doll can kill me?"
Danial gave a cynical smile.
"We'll see. I have ten more boxes."
He stepped back, clearing the way.
Raina walked to her mark. She sat down and went over her lines.
The scene began.
This time, Raina’s tears were real. It wasn't just acting.
When she said the line, "I didn't ask you to protect me. I asked you to believe I could stand on my own," she was saying it to Raizan. And to Danial. And to herself.
"Cut!" the director screamed.
"Raina, you... you'll win an award if this scene makes it out."
Raina stood up. Her legs were weak, but her head was held high.
Danial clapped slowly.
"Good. You endured. But we're just getting started."
He walked out.
Raina sat in the makeup chair. Her hands were cold again.
Farah came over and handed her water.
"Are you okay? He was harassing you, wasn't he?"
Raina nodded.
"But this time, I talked back."
At 6 PM, Raina returned to the penthouse.
Raizan was waiting at the door. He didn't ask anything; he just pulled Raina into a hug.
"You smell like the set," he said. "Sweat and hot studio lights."
Raina hugged him back.
"I'm okay. I spoke to him. I was afraid."
Raizan kissed her forehead.
"Good. Because after this, he won't just be sending dolls."
Raina stepped back slightly. "What do you mean?"
Raizan’s phone vibrated. A video arrived.
The video showed the old, dilapidated house in Raina’s village. Her mother’s old house.
Someone was pouring gasoline on the walls.
Caption: "This house is empty, isn't it, Raina? It would be a shame if it burned down."
Raina felt her blood run cold.
"He wants to burn your mother's house," Raizan said quietly.
"And this time, I won't wait."
Raina grabbed his hand.
"No. If you go now, you become just like him."
"So what am I supposed to do?" Raizan asked, his eyes bloodshot.
Raina took a breath.
"We go together. But we go as Raina and Raizan. Not a Mafia and a victim."
Raizan stared at her for a long time.
"You're crazy."
"Maybe," Raina replied. "But this craziness is why you didn't leave me that night."
Raizan smiled—a dangerous but affectionate smile.
"Okay. We go."
He grabbed the car keys.
"But this time, you stay behind me. Not in front. I don't want anything happening to you."
Raina nodded.
"Deal, Abang Zai."
They headed out.
That night, the rain fell.
And that old house in the village would be the first place Raina truly fought back.
[End of Episode 7]
Episode 8: "This House Isn't For Burning"
Raizan’s black car came to a halt 200 meters from the dilapidated house.
The headlights cut out. There was only the glow of the moon and the scent of wet earth from the earlier rain.
The house was exactly as Raina remembered it. Faded green paint, rusted zinc roof, a leaning wooden fence.
But tonight, three men stood in front of the door. Each held a bottle of kerosene.
Raina moved to get out. Raizan grabbed her arm.
"Stay behind me," he whispered.
Raina pulled her hand away.
"No. This time, we walk together."
Raizan stared at her for a long moment. Then, he nodded.
"Okay. But if I tell you to run, you run."
They approached.
The three men noticed them. One of them raised a bottle.
"Stop right there!" he shouted. "Master Danial said if you showed up, we burn this house down right in front of your eyes."
Raina stopped five paces away. Raizan stood behind her, his body tense like a coiled spring.
Raina raised her hands. No weapons. Only the 'R' necklace around her neck caught the moonlight.
"Do you know who I am?" Raina asked.
The man frowned. "Of course I do. The 'extra' girl who’s the Mafia Pakcik’s girlfriend."
Raina shook her head.
"I'm not his girlfriend. I'm Raina. Fatimah’s daughter. This is my mother's house."
The man laughed. "So what? Your mother is dead. This house is empty. It’s easier to just burn it."
Raina took a breath.
"Empty? No. Inside is a letter my mother wrote when she was sick. She wrote, 'Raina, if one day you feel like the world doesn't want you, come back here. This house is proof you were once loved.'"
The man went quiet.
"Do you want me to read that letter in front of a fire?"
Raina smiled. A smile that made Raizan feel like his heart had stopped.
"Go ahead and burn it. But after you do, you’ll have to live with that until the day you die."
The man hesitated. "Master Danial said..."
"Master Danial isn't here," Raina interrupted. "The only ones here are you, me, and a house with no one left to guard it. Do you really want to be the person who burns someone else’s memories?"
Behind her, Raizan felt like facepalming.
You really are crazy, Raina. You're talking to hired goons like you're talking to reporters.
But it worked.
The man slowly lowered the kerosene bottle.
"I... I have a mother back in my village too," he said softly. "Sorry, Kak."
The other two followed suit, putting down their bottles. They retreated, disappearing into the woods.
Silence fell.
Raina collapsed onto the wet ground. Her knees finally gave out.
Raizan reached for her instantly, pulling her into his arms.
"You're insane," he whispered into her ear. "You talk to people trying to burn your house down like you're talking to a stray cat."
Raina hugged him back. Her hands were cold, but her embrace was warm.
"Because if I scream, I become just like Danial. I want to win a different way."
Raizan kissed her forehead. For a long time.
"You won, Raina. You won big."
They entered the house.
It smelled of must and thick dust. But Raina’s mother’s letter was still there, inside a shoe box under the bed. Her mother’s handwriting was slanted but clear:
"My dear Raina, if you are reading this, I am gone. Don't be angry with your father. He wasn't strong. But you are. Be strong for the both of us. This house is old, but it is your home. Don't let anyone take it."
Raina read it through her tears. This time, she didn't hold back.
Raizan sat beside her on the floor. He didn't say anything. He just held her hand.
"Abang Zai," Raina whispered. "I'm scared."
"Scared of what?"
"Scared that Danial will do something worse. Scared that I'm dragging you deeper into this."
Raizan lifted her face.
"Listen to me. I’ve been 'deep in this' for 15 years. You aren't dragging me in. You’re the one pulling me out, bit by bit."
Raina looked at her. "Pulling you out to where?"
"To a place where I can sleep without dreaming of blood," Raizan answered. "To a place where I can be called Abang Zai without feeling guilty."
Raina smiled. A smile that made all the dust in that house seem to vanish.
She took Raizan’s hand and placed it against her cheek.
"Stay. Just for tonight. Watch over me while I sleep here. In my mother's house."
Raizan nodded. "I’m not going anywhere."
That night, they slept on the floor of her mother's room. Raizan used his jacket as a pillow for Raina. He didn't sleep. He stood guard.
Outside, the rain fell again. But inside the house, it was cold yet safe.
The next morning, Raizan received a call.
Danial.
"Your girl is good at psychological games," Danial said. His voice sounded strange. Not angry. More like... disappointed. "My men all ran back. Said the girl started talking about her mother."
Raizan sat on the steps of the old house, holding the phone. Raina was behind him, folding her mother’s letter.
"Danial," Raizan said. "Enough. She isn't your toy."
"She’s your toy now, isn't she?" Danial countered. "You’ve gone soft. You’ve become dangerous, Zai."
Raizan went silent.
"If I’m dangerous, you’re worse. You attack people who have nothing."
"I’m attacking you," Danial said. "She’s just a tool."
Raizan looked at Raina. She was smiling to herself as she folded the letter.
"She isn't a tool. She’s a human being. And you just lost to a human being."
The line went dead.
Raizan put his phone down and took a long breath.
Raina came to sit beside him. "What did he say?"
"He said I’ve gone soft," Raizan replied. "I told him, yes. Because of you."
Raina leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Good. I like the soft Abang Zai."
Raizan gave a short laugh.
"Don't get used to it. The world will eat us alive."
Raina lifted her head.
"Let it. If the world wants to eat us, let it eat us both together. Don't let us be apart."
Raizan looked at her for a long time. Then, he kissed her forehead.
"Crazy."
"Crazy," Raina agreed.
They returned to KL that evening.
The news about Danial went quiet. He withdrew from the production house and sold his shares to Raizan.
Raina didn't know what Raizan had done. She didn't ask.
All she knew was that since that night, no more black boxes arrived at the penthouse.
But one thing changed.
Raina started asking for more scenes. She asked for acting workshops. She started telling the director, "I want to try this emotion, is that okay?"
She didn't become Raizan’s doll.
She became Raina.
That night at the penthouse, Raizan watched Raina memorizing scripts in the living room.
He sat on the sofa, just watching.
Raina noticed. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Raizan smiled.
"Because I just realized. I’m not protecting you from the world. I’m protecting the world from you."
Raina laughed. "What do you mean?"
"Because you're more dangerous than I am," Raizan replied. "You make someone whose heart was dead come back to life."
Raina sat beside him.
"Then don't die again, Abang Zai."
Raizan held her hand.
"I promise. As long as you hold my hand like this."
They sat like that until morning.
They didn't say much.
But it was enough.
[End of Episode 8]
Episode 9: "Taking the Stand for Yourself"
The KL High Court was packed.
Journalists outside, cameras flashing, police barricades everywhere.
The Case: Danial Afif vs. Raizan Afif – a claim for 40% of the production house shares and management rights.
And Raizan himself was the one who put Raina’s name on the witness list.
“Why did you make me a witness?” Raina asked that morning, as Raizan tied his tie back at the penthouse.
Her hands were cold. Not out of fear, but nerves.
“Because you’re the only person who can speak the truth without being afraid of me,” Raizan answered. He adjusted the 'R' necklace around Raina’s neck.
“You’re not my witness. You’re a witness for yourself.”
Raina nodded. She wore a simple black baju kurung. No heavy makeup.
If the world wanted to look at her, she wanted them to see the real her.
Courtroom Number 4. The air conditioning was freezing, but Raina was still sweating.
Danial’s lawyer stood up first. A bald man with a piercing voice.
“Madam Raina, is it true that you received the supporting role in the drama Hati Yang Hilang only after meeting Mr. Raizan Afif?”
Raina gripped her 'R' necklace.
“That’s true. I auditioned like everyone else. The director approved.”
“Is it true that Mr. Raizan bought 60% of that company's shares two days before you got the role?”
Raina looked at Raizan. He sat in the back, his face a blank mask.
“True.”
“So, you deny that the role was given because of a personal relationship?”
Raina took a breath.
“I deny it. I worked for five years as an extra. I know when I get a job out of pity. This time, I got it because I memorized the script twenty times the night before the audition. I cried for real during that scene. The director said so himself.”
The gallery whispered.
Danial’s lawyer gave a cynical smile.
“Madam, is it true that Mr. Raizan once threatened another artist, Madam Aisyah, to delete a video?”
Raina nodded.
“True. But he didn’t threaten her for himself. He threatened her for me. Because I was being bullied.”
“And you find that normal?”
Raina looked at the judge.
“I find it normal when someone protects a person who is being bullied. What’s not normal is when people laugh while watching someone get bullied.”
The gallery went silent.
Danial’s lawyer shifted strategies.
“Madam, is it true that Mr. Raizan once sent men to your house in the middle of the night?”
Raina felt her chest tighten.
“True. But those men came to harass me. Mr. Raizan came to stop them.”
“And you feel safe with a man who has a history of violence?”
Raina stood up slightly.
“I feel safe with a man who says, ‘If anything happens to you, I’m done.’ I don’t feel safe with people who say, ‘You have no one.’”
The lawyer fell silent.
The judge tapped his gavel.
“Witness, please only answer the questions.”
Raina sat back down. Her hands were cold, but her voice didn't waver.
It was Raizan’s lawyer’s turn.
He didn't ask about contracts. He asked about Raina.
“Madam Raina, before you knew Mr. Raizan, what was your job?”
“An extra. RM80 a day. Sometimes I didn't get paid at all.”
“And now?”
“I get RM8k an episode. I have acting training. I have someone who gets angry at me if I don't eat.”
“Who is that person?”
Raina looked at Raizan.
“The person I call Abang Zai.”
The whispers in the gallery returned.
“Are you afraid of him?”
Raina smiled.
“I was afraid. The first day I met him, he dragged a man out and punched him. I didn't sleep for two nights. But I’m more afraid of living 30 years without someone saying, ‘Don’t work until 2:00 AM, it’s not healthy.’”
Danial’s lawyer jumped up to object.
“Your Honor, this is emotional testimony!”
The judge nodded.
“The court takes note. Witness, continue.”
Raina looked directly at Danial, who sat across from her.
“Mr. Danial, you sent a broken doll to me. You sent men to burn my late mother’s house. You said I have no one. But that day, I talked to the men you sent. I talked about my mother. And they put down their kerosene bottles. They backed away. Because humans aren't your tools. Humans have mothers, they have stories, they have fears.”
Danial turned pale.
Raina turned back to the judge.
“Your Honor, I don't care who wins this case. I just want to say one thing: I don’t belong to Mr. Raizan. I don’t belong to Mr. Danial. I belong to myself. And for the first time in 30 years, I feel like I am worth it.”
The court stayed silent for ten seconds.
Then, the judge tapped his gavel.
“15-minute recess.”
Outside the court, journalists swarmed.
But this time, Raina didn't run.
“Raina! How does it feel to take the stand against two mafia brothers?”
Raina stopped.
“I’m not fighting them. I’m fighting my own way. I spoke the truth. That’s all.”
“Is it true you love Raizan Afif?”
Raina looked into the camera.
“I respect him. He looked after me when I had no one. Whether it's love or not, let that be our business.”
Raizan pulled her into the car.
The journalists shouted more questions, but the door was already closed.
Inside the car, it was quiet.
Raizan gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were white.
“You’re crazy. You said all that in front of a judge.”
Raina looked at him. “Why? Was it wrong?”
“If Danial wins, you’ll have to go to court again. He’ll dig up everything.”
Raina held his hand.
“If he digs, he’ll find a 15-year-old girl who slept in public toilets. That girl isn't afraid anymore.”
Raizan took a long breath. He kissed the back of Raina’s hand.
“You make me want to win this case. Not for the shares. For you.”
Raina smiled.
“If you win, buy me nasi goreng kampung. With an extra egg.”
Raizan laughed. “Deal.”
That afternoon, the verdict came in.
The judge dismissed Danial’s claim.
The Reason: “No evidence of abuse of power. The primary witness, Madam Raina, showed there was no coercion in professional dealings.”
Danial walked out first, his face dark.
He passed in front of Raina and stopped for two seconds.
“You won today,” he said quietly. “But you won’t win forever.”
Raina lifted her head.
“I don’t want to win forever. I just want to live today without fear.”
Danial left without looking back.
Raizan came up from behind and draped his coat over Raina’s shoulders.
“Are you hungry?”
Raina nodded. “Nasi goreng kampung. Extra egg.”
They walked out. The journalists were still waiting, but this time Raina walked with her head held high.
That night, the video of Raina’s testimony went viral.
The captions read: This is a real woman. She might not fit the "standard" beauty, but her voice kills.
Raina’s IG followers jumped from 200 to 50k in one night.
But she didn't post anything.
She only posted one story.
A picture of nasi goreng kampung. Caption: Win or lose, this is all that matters.
Back at the penthouse, Raizan opened champagne.
Raina declined.
“I don't drink. Just buy me a teh tarik.”
Raizan laughed. He ordered 24-hour teh tarik.
They sat on the balcony. KL twinkled below.
“Abang Zai,” Raina asked. “If Danial comes again, what will you do?”
Raizan looked at her.
“This time, I’ll ask you first. What do you want me to do?”
Raina fell silent, thinking.
“Don't hit. Don't threaten. Just talk. Talk the way you talked to me on the first day: ‘Don’t work until 2:00 AM, it’s not healthy.’”
Raizan smiled. “You’ve changed me, Raina.”
Raina leaned her head on his shoulder.
“Good. Because I like the Abang Zai who talks, not the one who hits.”
Raizan embraced her.
“I promise. From today on, I talk first. Hit later. Only if necessary.”
Raina gave a small laugh. “Empty promise.”
That night, for the first time, Raizan slept soundly.
No medication. No dreams of blood.
Because beside him was someone who told him he deserved a quiet life.
[End of Episode 9]
Episode 10: "Choosing Me, or Choosing You"
The offer arrived at 8:00 AM.
An email from a Singaporean production house. Subject: Offer for Role – “The Neighbour’s Girl”
Raina read it while sitting on the penthouse balcony, teh tarik in hand.
The lead role. 12 episodes. A three-month shoot. A six-figure paycheck.
She didn't scream. She didn't cry.
She only whispered, “Abang Zai...”
Raizan stepped out of the room, his hair damp from the shower. He took one look at Raina’s face and knew.
“You got it?”
Raina handed him the phone.
“Singapore. 3 months. Starts next month.”
Raizan went silent. For a long time.
He knew this day would come. But now that it was here, his chest felt hollow.
“Good,” he said finally, his voice soft. “You deserve it.”
Raina looked at him.
“You’re not angry?”
“Why would I be angry?” Raizan sat beside her. “You’re rising. I won't hold you back.”
But he gripped the chair until his knuckles turned white.
Three months. Without Raina. Without her voice in the kitchen at 2:00 AM saying, ‘Abang Zai, eat first.’
Just then, Raizan’s phone vibrated. The caller ID read: Underling – KLIA
He answered.
“Boss, Danial bought a flight ticket to Dubai. Departs in two days. He’s moving 20 million out of the company accounts.”
Raizan closed his eyes.
“Understood.”
He put the phone down and looked at Raina.
“Two choices, Raina.”
Raina knew what those two choices were.
“Chasing him, or taking me to the airport.”
Raizan didn't answer immediately. He stood up, went to the kitchen, and made another teh tarik. He handed it to Raina.
“Drink first,” he said. “You’re pale.”
Raina held the cup. Her hands were cold.
“Abang Zai, if you go after him, I’ll go too. I don't want to leave you alone.”
Raizan gave a short laugh.
“You... you think I’m 25 again? I’m 40, Raina. I don't go running around like I used to.”
“So you’re not going?”
Raizan looked outside. KL was still asleep.
“If I go, I win money. If I stay, I win you.”
Raina felt her throat go dry.
“You choose me?”
Raizan turned. His eyes were incredibly serious.
“I’ve chosen you every single day since you told me, ‘Don’t work until 2:00 AM, it’s not healthy.’ Money can be found. You... I won't find someone like you twice.”
Raina set the cup down and hugged him. Hard.
“Singapore is only for three months. After that, I’m coming back. Here. To you.”
Raizan hugged her back, so tightly Raina felt like her bones might break.
“Don't lie to me. If you feel like staying there, stay. I won't tie you down.”
Raina pulled back slightly to look at him.
“I’m not lying. I promise.”
Raizan kissed her forehead.
“Even an empty promise is okay. As long as you come home safe.”
Two days before her flight, Danial called.
A video call.
He was in the airport lounge. Sharp suit, LV bag.
“Zai,” he said. “Last call. You come to KLIA now, I give you 10 million. We settle this. You keep the production house. I leave.”
Raizan sat on the sofa with Raina beside him.
“No need,” Raizan replied. “I don't want your money.”
Danial gave a cynical smile.
“Don't want the money? Or afraid to leave your girl?”
Raina raised her voice.
“Mr. Danial, if you run, you lose. If you stay and talk things through, maybe you’ll still have a brother.”
Danial stared at Raina. For a long time.
“You’re good at chess, little sister. But I lost this game a long time ago.”
He ended the call.
Raizan looked at Raina.
“What did you just say?”
“I spoke the truth,” Raina answered. “His brother still has a heart. He just doesn't know how to show it.”
Raizan took a breath.
“You really are dangerous.”
The night before Raina’s flight, they didn't sleep.
They sat on the balcony, shared a blanket.
“Abang Zai,” Raina asked. “If I don't come back, what will you do?”
Raizan looked at her.
“I’ll come to Singapore. Buy the apartment next to yours. Annoy you every day.”
Raina laughed.
“Stalker.”
“A stalker who pays the rent,” Raizan replied casually.
“I don't care what I have to be for you. As long as you don't feel alone.”
Raina held his hand.
“I don't feel alone anymore. Not since you came along.”
Raizan didn't answer. He just pulled her into his arms.
At 2:00 AM, Raizan’s phone vibrated again.
A message from Danial.
Just one picture.
A picture of the dilapidated house in the village. It had a fresh coat of paint. The faded green was gone.
Caption: I fixed it. For your mother. Don't be mad at me, Zai.
Raizan showed it to Raina.
As she read it, tears fell.
“He... he fixed my mother’s house?”
Raizan nodded.
“He isn't 100% evil. He just doesn't know how to love.”
Raina wiped her tears.
“If you want to go see him before he flies, go. I won't be mad.”
Raizan shook his head.
“I’ve already chosen. I chose you. He’s chosen his path.”
On the day of the flight, the airport was crowded.
Raizan walked Raina all the way to the gate. No bodyguards. No drama.
Raina hugged him for a long time.
“Abang Zai, if I cry in Singapore, will you come, okay?”
Raizan smiled.
“I’ll come. Even if I have to fly cargo.”
Raina laughed through teary eyes.
“Promise.”
“Promise,” Raizan replied.
He released her.
“Go. Don't look back. If you look back, you won't get on that flight.”
Raina nodded. She walked through.
10 steps. 20 steps.
She turned back.
Raizan was still standing there. Hands in his pockets. Expressionless face. But his eyes said everything.
Raina smiled. She raised her hand, showing the 'R' necklace.
Then she disappeared into the gate.
Raizan stood there for another ten minutes.
Then he turned and walked out.
His men were waiting outside.
“Boss, do you want to chase Danial’s flight?”
Raizan shook his head.
“No need. He’s chosen his path. I’ve chosen mine.”
“Which path is that, Boss?”
Raizan looked toward the gate Raina had just entered.
“The path that has nasi goreng kampung with an extra egg.”
the underling looked confused.
But Raizan smiled. This time, the smile was peaceful.
Three days after Raina flew out, Danial called again.
This time from Dubai.
“Zai,” he said. “I didn't run with the money. I transferred it all back. I just wanted to test you. To see if you still wanted me or not.”
Raizan sat in his chair, feet on the desk.
“Test passed. But you’re still an idiot.”
Danial laughed.
“You too. You left me for an extra.”
“She’s not an 'extra' anymore,” Raizan replied.
“And you... you’re calling me because you’re lonely, right?”
Danial went silent.
Then he said softly,
“Come home this Raya. Mom is waiting.”
The line went dead.
Raizan put the phone down. He looked at the photo of Raina on his desk.
The photo of her from the press conference. Brave eyes.
“This Raya,” Raizan whispered.
“We all go back. Me, you, and him.”
[End of Episode 10]
Episode 11: "I Came Because You Didn't Answer My Call"
Singapore was hot. A different kind of heat.
Raina sat in her hotel room on the 22nd floor, her large window overlooking Marina Bay. But she wasn't looking at the view. She was staring at her phone.
1 missed call from Abang Zai.
3 unread messages.
Since arriving five days ago, she had been incredibly busy. 12-hour rehearsals, accent classes, wardrobe fittings. She intentionally didn't call back. She was afraid that if she heard his voice, she’d burst into tears and beg to go back to KL right then.
But she missed him terribly.
A knock at the door. Room service?
Raina opened the door and gasped.
Raizan stood there. Black shirt, neat hair, wearing the cologne she knew by heart.
No bodyguards. No drama. Just him.
“Abang Zai?” Raina whispered, her voice breaking.
Raizan walked in and closed the door.
“You didn't answer my calls. I was afraid you’d been kidnapped in Singapore.”
Raina hugged him first. She didn't say a word. She hugged him so tightly Raizan felt like his ribs might crack.
“Are you crazy, flying here secretly? What if you got caught by immigration?”
“I have other passports,” Raizan replied casually, hugging her back.
“Are you okay?”
Raina stepped back, her eyes red.
“I'm okay. Tired. Missing you. But okay.”
Raizan reached for her forehead, checking her temperature.
“Do you have a fever?”
“I have a 'missing you' fever,” Raina answered.
Raizan gave a short laugh.
“That’s a dangerous disease.”
That night, they ate at a mamak stall in Geylang.
Raizan wore a hoodie and a cap. Raina wore a mask. But people still recognized her.
“Hey, isn't that the Raina from that viral court case?”
“Who’s that guy? A bodyguard?”
Raizan didn't care. He ordered nasi goreng kampung with an extra egg for Raina.
“I thought I couldn't get spicy food here,” Raina said.
“I know you lied to the chef in KL when you said you couldn't handle spicy food,” Raizan countered. “You just wanted more chicken.”
Raina laughed. It was her first real laugh since she’d arrived.
While they were eating, Raizan’s phone vibrated. A photo arrived.
It was a photo of Raina on set. An actress in her 40s named Linda was screaming at Raina in front of the entire crew.
Caption: Boss, she’s bullying Madam Raina. Saying Raina isn't fit for the lead role. Telling the director to replace her.
Raizan put his phone down, his face darkening.
“You didn't tell me?”
Raina shrugged.
“Linda is a senior. 20 years in the industry. If I fight her, I’m the one who gets fired.”
Raizan stood up.
“I’m going to see her.”
Raina pulled his arm.
“Sit down. This time, I’ll settle it myself.”
Raizan looked at her for a long time.
“Are you sure?”
Raina nodded.
“You taught me how to speak. Now, let me use my voice.”
The next day, it was a heavy rehearsal scene.
Raina had to cry, scream, and apologize to the hero.
Linda arrived late, walking onto the set with a sour expression.
“Director, I don't think this scene works. This girl has no aura. Just make me the lead instead.”
The director turned pale. The crew went silent.
Raina set her script down and looked at Linda.
“Kak Linda, I respect your 20 years in this industry. But I got this role because I auditioned. I memorized 40 pages of dialogue in three days. I didn't sleep for two nights.”
Linda laughed.
“So? Anyone can do that.”
Raina gave a thin smile.
“But not everyone is willing to say in front of 100 people that they once slept in public toilets because they had no bus money.”
The set went silent.
Linda turned pale. “What did you say?”
“I’m saying, Kak Linda, I know I’m not beautiful by your standards. I’m not famous. I don't have a big family legacy. But I have a story. And that story is why people are watching me.”
The director clapped slowly.
“Cut. Raina, perfect. Linda, let's take a 10-minute break.”
Linda walked out, her face flushed.
After that, Linda didn't bother Raina again.
In fact, she came by that evening and gave Raina some throat balm.
“Sorry,” she said shortly.
Raina nodded.
“It’s okay. I understand. You were afraid of being replaced.”
That night, Raizan watched it all from behind the monitors.
He didn't interfere. He just stood there, hands in his pockets, watching Raina handle Linda like a true professional.
After rehearsals finished, Raina found him.
“Did you watch?”
Raizan nodded.
“You don't need me anymore.”
Raina held his hand.
“I do. But not to fight my battles. I need you to come home to.”
Raizan pulled her into a hug.
“And where is home, Raina?”
Raina whispered into his ear.
“Wherever you are.”
Raizan froze for two seconds. Then he hugged her back even tighter.
“Cheesy.”
“But true,” Raina replied.
That night, they stayed in.
Raizan booked Raina’s hotel suite.
They sat on the balcony, watching Marina Bay light up.
“Abang Zai,” Raina asked. “If I get an offer from Hollywood after this, will you be mad?”
Raizan laughed.
“I’d be mad if you didn't take it. I promised I wouldn't hold you back.”
Raina leaned her head on his shoulder.
“Another empty promise.”
“An empty promise I don't want to break,” Raizan replied.
Raizan’s phone vibrated. A photo arrived.
It was Danial. He was in the village, painting the fence of Raina’s mother’s house.
Caption: I’m coming for Raya. Are you coming?
Raizan showed it to Raina.
Raina smiled.
“He’s coming.”
“Then we go,” Raizan said.
“Three months from now. Raya. We all go back.”
Raina nodded.
“Deal. But this Raya, you have to cook fried rice for me.”
Raizan frowned.
“I don't know how to cook.”
Raina laughed.
“Learn. YouTube exists.”
Raizan took a breath.
“For you, I’d even learn how to burn down the kitchen.”
They sat like that until dawn.
They didn't say much.
But it was enough.
[End of Episode 11]
Continue soon...
