One Hundred Million from Mr. Jin

One night, as Jena finished packing and was walking home from the factory, Mr. Jin unexpectedly appeared, approaching her near the cemetery area that had been flooded the previous week.

Of course, Jena was shocked; never in her life had she come face-to-face with a supernatural being. She almost suffered a heart attack and died on the spot. Moreover, her body was already unwell due to exhaustion that night. Jena's face turned pale, her legs weakened, and for a moment, she collapsed. Fortunately, Mr. Jin managed to catch her body and apologized profusely.

"I do not mean to frighten you," said Mr. Jin while fanning Jena's face with his large palm. "Come on, don't faint, don't faint!" Mr. Jin felt panicked seeing Jena's face grow increasingly pale, with all her joints trembling violently in his embrace.

Mr. Jin fanned Jena's face even harder. “Take a deep breath, yes, then exhale!”

Jena grasped Mr. Jin's wrist, "Please don't harm me," Jena pleaded desperately. Then Mr. Jin released her from his embrace. The woman then stepped back a few paces, her breath coming in gasps.

“I’m sorry, I had no intention of hurting you,” said Mr. Jin.

“Then what do you want?”

“I just want to thank you for saving me.”

“I didn’t do anything,” Jena replied.

Mr. Jin furrowed his brow. "Don't joke around. You must have done something. Otherwise, there's no way I could have escaped from the curse of that damned shroud rope."

“I swear I don't know.”

"Enough, do not be so humble. As a generous genie, I will surely repay your kindness. I will offer you three choices, noble woman," Master Genie began to hover low, circling Jena. Meanwhile, Jena, still frightened, braced herself in case Master Genie suddenly made a move.

“You can only choose one. Love? Children? Or wealth? Come on... hurry up, what's your decision???”

Jena was not yet able to think clearly. Besides feeling anxious, she was still confused about what was happening. Secretly, Jena pinched her thigh, scratched the palm of her own hand, and she truly felt that all of this was neither a dream nor an illusion.

"How? How? Quickly, quickly, I don't have much time!" Mr. Jin, tall and stout, crossed his arms and smiled in front of Jena.

Jena was silent, slowly she began to succeed in banishing her fear. If Mr. Jin really wanted to kill Jena, surely this would all end now. But, in fact it didn't. Jena then asked, "Are you really going to fulfill my request for free?"

“Really. I didn’t lie to you, let alone take advantage of you. It’s just that you can only choose one. Love? Children? Or wealth? Choose wisely.”

Mr. Jin's offer made Jena feel uncertain. "Duh, that's hard," he muttered. Then he rubbed his eyes and pondered.

I think my family is perfect. We grew up together in love.

“Why do I need love?” Jena thought. “Do I love my husband? Of course I love him. More than that, I was the one who fell in love with him first rather than him falling in love with me. Besides, my husband is a handsome man. Throughout this marriage, I have never turned to other types of handsomeness because he is so handsome. So is my husband to me. He always says I am beautiful, there is no woman more beautiful than me. And he loves me, he definitely loves me. And even though our finances are not yet stable enough, we rarely argue. Except about my night shift. He doesn’t like me working, especially if I take the night shift. But what can I do? There is no way I can refuse because my husband forbids me. The good thing is, we have never fought so far. I think my family is perfect. We grew up together in love. So I have decided that I have a love that not everyone can feel in their entire life.”

Then Jena considered the issue of children. Jena really wanted to have children. From the beginning of their marriage, Jena had hoped to conceive quickly. So had her husband. They had tried various ways, from taking aphrodisiacs, improving their nutrition, drinking fertility herbs, to being prayed for by dozens of religious teachers from different villages, and being cursed by a number of heretical shamans. But, the prospective child still had not succeeded in landing in Jena's womb.

However, after thinking about it, having a child does require a big responsibility. It is not just the desire to have a child or feeling that you have a lot of love to share, and it is not the feeling that someone has felt worthy of being a parent, but also about the readiness of the burden of life.

Jena and her husband realized that their finances were not yet secure enough to have children. Moreover, the future seemed increasingly dark. It seemed that the crisis was right across the country's eyelids. Therefore, Jena's failure to get pregnant did not make the husband and wife feel too sad. Moreover, a hospital examination stated that both of their fertility was fine, not sterile. It was just not our destiny, said the obstetrician.

So, Jena will not choose children. And now there is only one choice left, which is wealth. Oh, who would refuse wealth that is given for free? From the beginning of the offer, Jena's mind was actually focused on this third choice.

“These are strange times,” Jena thought, “people can even die just because they don’t have money.”

Jena's life and household issues always revolve around finances. About the coming month, about the salary and factory contract that will not necessarily be continued, or just money that suddenly comes out due to being ticketed by the police or a flat tire that feels really troublesome. As a result, without having to think too long, Jena stated with full confidence that she chose wealth.

“That is my wish!” Jena said firmly to Mr. Jin.

“Are you sure? Will I lock the answer and you won’t be able to take it back?” said Mr. Jin.

"Certain!"

“Fun, fun!” said Mr. Jin while jumping and clapping his hands happily.

“Okay, first close your eyes, honey! Get ready for a life of endless glamour!”

Jena's heart started beating fast again. Her blackened vision behind her eyelids suddenly showed a faint shimmer as Mr. Jin played with his hands, waved, and swung at the starry night sky, while colorful dust that shone brightly like fireflies began to fly around Jena's body. Suddenly Jena's body felt goosebumps, the hair on the back of her neck stood up, and there was a feeling that writhed behind her heart.

“Taraaaaa!” said Mr. Jin who spread his arms wide in front of Jena. “Open your eyes, darling!”

A smile first appeared on Jena's face before she even saw the gift that Mr. Jin had given her. Jena opened her eyes slowly. She stole a peek, then when she felt that she had seen right, Jena suddenly widened her eyes as quickly as she blinked after that.

Isn't a hundred million a small amount for a magical genie?

Jena couldn't believe it, that night, Mr. Jin only gave her a small suitcase.

“Is that all?” Jena asked in surprise.

Mr. Jin was no less surprised. “What do you mean? It’s a hundred million.”

“Isn’t a hundred million a small amount for a magical genie? Without me splurging once, it will all be gone in three years,” Jena said.

“You are an ungrateful and wasteful woman!” Mr. Jin scolded. “A hundred million is a lot of money. You can go on vacation, buy a luxury house in the city center, or shop to your heart’s content.”

“Says who?” Jena chimed in. “Please don’t misunderstand, Mr. Jin, a hundred million is indeed a lot. It’s just that isn’t it too little for your promises of luxury? I thought you would give me at least five trillion.”

“FIVE TRILLION?! ARE YOU CRAZY!” For a moment, Mr. Jin flew around in circles around the branches of the tree, then when he came down he felt dizzy. "You really are an ignorant woman."

"Sorry, Mr. Jin, but one hundred million is too little to splurge on in this expensive and complicated era, don't you know that?"

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was indeed ungrateful,” Jena continued. “My expectations were just too high.”

Mr. Jin was still surprised. He scratched his wide chin. “All I know is that a hundred million is everyone’s dream,” he whispered to himself.

“What year is it now?” Mr. Jin asked Jena.

“2025.”

“Ah, damn it! I’ve been cursed for so long, it seems!” Master Jin slapped his forehead. His cheeks suddenly turned red from embarrassment.

“Look at that!” exclaimed Mr. Jin, pointing at the banana tree behind Jena. Then when Jena turned around, Mr. Jin hurriedly said goodbye. His body instantly disappeared in a snap of his fingers and thick smoke billowed around him, burying his escape.

For a moment, Jena looked around and found nothing but her own shadow and a suitcase lying on the wet grass. Jena let out a long breath.

“At least I don’t have to worry about money for the next year,” she said. Jena then carried the suitcase containing the hundred million and continued walking home.

One hundred million was a lot of money for a woman who came home two hours late.

But not long after, Jena stopped again. She dropped her suitcase to the ground again and crouched down.

“A hundred million is a lot for a woman who comes home two hours late,” Jena thought. “What will my husband think when I get home? If he really loves me, he should believe me. However, accidentally meeting a genie on the way is the most ridiculous excuse I can give him.”

Jena supported her chin, and gloomily pondered for a long time.

“How am I going to take this money home? I am a woman and a wife.”

2025

Nuzul Ilmiawan, alumnus of Indonesian Literature, Andalas University. Born in Bireuen, October 2001.

Setiyoko Hadi was born in Solo. He began studying painting at the Surakarta Cultural Association (HBS), guided by painter Soemitro. He joined the Bandung Fine Arts Studio under the guidance of painter Jehan. He studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, ITB. He has been actively working and exhibiting until now.