8 To 4: The Mayor's Contract Wife

Rigid Gelagat

The next morning, Wira came to Ajeng's room with a p3k box to treat Ajeng's wounds. Wira put Ajeng's left hand on his shoulder and then began to change the bandage and clean the wound on Ajeng's left arm. Feeling bad, Ajeng pulled his hand from Wira's shoulder but the thick-browed man held her back.

“Do not misunderstand! I'm doing this because I don't want you to take too long off. You should always be safe because your safety is important to my citizens.”

Ajeng directly distanced his hand from the shoulder of Wira. “So you bothered to do this because of your duty as mayor?”

Wira shifted her gaze from the wound to Ajeng's eyes while nodding. “Investment from Mr company. Suzuki will overcome the economic crisis of this city and bring prosperity to all citizens of the city. That's why you need to stay healthy until the project is realized."

Ajeng snatched the medicine and bandages from the hand of the hero. “Mas Wira go! I can lalakin myself.”

Wira recaptures her bandage and begins to mount it over Ajeng's wound. “How do you put a bandage with one hand?”

The hero finished his task well then said, “Today you can take a vacation."

**************

Abdi came to Wira's room with a report when Wira stood pensively in front of the window of his room. He recalled how panicked and worried he was when Ajeng disappeared last night, how angry he was that someone dared to hurt Ajeng and how upset he was when Ajeng did not heed his warning. Though he realized that it was too much just to fulfill a marriage contract that they agreed.

“Good day, Sir!”

“Oh, noon!” suddenly the daydreams of Wira scatter when hearing the voice of Abdi. “What's up? Oh yeah, do you know what Ajeng did all day?”

“So Bibi said Bu Ajeng was exercising all day, sir. Last morning running, tennis then this afternoon he went to the sports building.”

“OK. So what's up?”

“We've cleared up those thugs.”

“Good.”

“But there is still one person who made it through.”

“Ngga problems. He will surely soon lead us to the mastermind we are looking for.”

****************

A man with a scar on his face is receiving a phone call from his men.

“Report Boss!” said the man with a loud breath. “Our headquarters has just been raided, we were beaten and taken to the police station.”

“What?!”

The man then recounted the incident he had experienced since meeting Ajeng and Wira that night until how they were raided and beaten and then dragged forcibly to the police station.

“Wira.” The man muttered with gritted teeth and clenched hands.

“I managed to escape but could not leave Carang Sewu. They tightened the guard at the city border.”

“Hold! For a while you have to hide until the situation subsides. After that, I will send help to get you out of there. In the meantime, find out who that woman is and what it has to do with the Hero! It's time we made the calculation.”

“Good Boss.”

*************

The only way that Ajeng could do to overcome his frustration was to spend all his remaining energy on exercising. That way, he does not have much time to daydream and think about things that are not important. For too long playing basketball alone, Ajeng felt tired and ended up sitting on the dusty basketball court floor.

“Tegar?”

“Bu Ajeng must be tired.” Said Tegar while opening a bottle of mineral water and thrusting it to Ajeng.

Ajeng received and gulped it until half lived. “Still well? Since when are you here?”

“Since Bu Ajeng came.”

“So you followed me from home?”

“I even stayed up all night at home when Bu Ajeng slept.”

“Still well?

“It was my job, Bu.”

“Strength to compete?” hag Ajeng while showing basketball to Tegar.

Rigid took off his suit, folded his sleeves and prepared to fight. “Who is afraid?”

When Wira arrived at the sports hall, the two were busy playing basketball together. They look familiar and enjoy the game.

“Ehem...” Dehem Wira to stop the unpleasant sight in his eyes.

“Pak Wira?!” Tegar hurriedly tidied up his clothes, put back on his suit then faced Wira. “Sorry, I didn't know you were coming.”

Wira looked at Rigidly, then told him to go home. “Let me take care of Bu Ajeng.”

“But Sir –“

Wira looked back at him and Tegar hurriedly corrected his words, “Good Sir.”

“Mas Wira why here? Isn't it still working hours?” tanya Ajeng after Tegar left the two of them.

Wira offered the lunch he brought to Ajeng. “It's break time.”

He wiped his sweat with a towel. “Mas Wira does not need to do rich things gini. My hunger will not harm its citizens Mas Wira.”

Ajeng took the rest of the drinking water given by Tegar and left the sports hall. Wira follows Ajeng's steps and stops him right in front of the gym building's door. He then put the lunch he brought into Ajeng's hands.

“Eat this so that later tonight can welcome the arrival of Rega and Manda to home!”

“Wait! Why did they come home and why should I welcome them?"

The hero turned his body facing towards Ajeng. “Because they came to see you.”

“But I don't want to entertain them. It's already outside my working hours.”

“Jeng!”

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