Afrikaans | The Price of Sugar, the Cost of Love

Die prys van suiker, die koste van liefde – B1

Hoofstuk 6: Ontsnap na Wit-Rusland

Toivo stap heen en weer in die skamele woonstel, en lyk bekommerd. "Dit is verskriklik, Viljo. Ons het alles verloor en nou sit ons vas op hierdie aaklige plek."

Viljo sug en lyk bekommerd. "Ek weet, maat. Ek het nooit gedink ons sou so eindig nie. Ons het vroeër 'n wonderlike lewe gehad, en kyk nou na ons."

Toivo kyk rond in die klein, vervalle woonstel, die afgedopte muurpapier en verslete mat wat hulle herinner aan hul verval uit genade. "Dit is alles as gevolg van daardie aaklige Antti. Ek kan nie glo hy het ons so bedrieg nie."

"Ons was desperaat, Toivo. Hy het ons uitgebuit," sê Viljo en klink emosioneel. "Hy het ons lewens verwoes, en ons weet nie hoekom nie."

Terwyl hulle op die ongemaklike bank sit, vryf Toivo oor sy kop en voel hoe 'n hoofpyn begin. "Ons moet 'n uitweg uit hierdie gemors vind, Viljo. Ons kan nie vir altyd in Belarus wegkruip nie."

Viljo knik en lyk ernstig. "Ek het daaraan gedink, Toivo. Wat as ons hier probeer werk kry? Dit sal nie meer dieselfde wees as voorheen nie, maar ons sal geld hê."

Toivo lag. "Dink jy regtig ons kan goeie werk hier kry? Ons praat nie die taal nie. Nee, ons het 'n ander plan nodig."

Viljo kyk na Toivo, sy oë vol hoop. "Wel, wat stel jy voor? Ons sit hier vas, maat. Ons kan nie teruggaan Finland toe nie. Ons skuld te veel geld."

Toivo sug en leun terug op die bank. "Ek weet nie, Viljo. Ek weet net... ek weet nie."

Vir 'n oomblik het die twee mans stil gesit, hul moeilike situasie het swaar op hulle geweeg. Die grimmige Minsk-voorstad buite hul venster het gelyk of hulle met hul probleem gespot het.

Viljo praat, sy stem stil maar sterk. "Ons sal 'n manier vind, Toivo. Ons moet. Ons kan nie net opgee nie."

Toivo kyk na sy vriend, sy gesig beide hartseer en vasberade. "Jy is reg, Viljo. Ons kan nie toelaat dat Antti wen nie. Ons sal 'n manier vind om ons lewe weer te begin, al neem dit jare."

Saam het die twee mans hul onsekere toekoms in Wit-Rusland begin beplan, en die somber woonstel het hul veilige plek geword terwyl hulle die uitdagings wat voorlê, die hoof gebied het.

Chapter 6: Escaping to Belarus

Toivo walked back and forth in the shabby flat, looking worried. "This is terrible, Viljo. We've lost everything and now we're stuck in this awful place."

Viljo sighed, looking concerned. "I know, mate. I never thought we'd end up like this. We used to have a great life, and now look at us."

Toivo looked around the small, run-down flat, the peeling wallpaper and worn-out carpet reminding them of their fall from grace. "It's all because of that horrible Antti. I can't believe he tricked us like that."

"We were desperate, Toivo. He took advantage of us," Viljo said, sounding emotional. "He's ruined our lives, and we don't know why."

As they sat on the uncomfortable sofa, Toivo rubbed his head, feeling a headache starting. "We need to find a way out of this mess, Viljo. We can't hide in Belarus forever."

Viljo nodded, looking serious. "I've been thinking about that, Toivo. What if we try to find work here? It won't be the same as before, but we'd have some money."

Toivo laughed. "Do you really think we can find good jobs here? We don't speak the language. No, we need a different plan."

Viljo looked at Toivo, his eyes full of hope. "Well, what do you suggest? We're stuck here, mate. We can't go back to Finland. We owe too much money."

Toivo sighed, leaning back on the sofa. "I don't know, Viljo. I just… I don't know."

For a moment, the two men sat quietly, their difficult situation weighing heavily on them. The grim Minsk suburb outside their window seemed to make fun of their problem.

Viljo spoke, his voice quiet but strong. "We'll find a way, Toivo. We must. We can't just give up."

Toivo looked at his friend, his face both sad and determined. "You're right, Viljo. We can't let Antti win. We'll find a way to start our lives again, even if it takes years."

Together, the two men started to plan their uncertain future in Belarus, the dreary flat becoming their safe place as they faced the challenges ahead.