8 To 4: The Mayor's Contract Wife

Sunset

After bathing and cleaning Ajeng and Wira came down to enjoy the delicious food that grandmother promised Ajeng last night. And sure enough, when the grandfather brought them into their house behind the inn, a variety of delicious appetizing dishes were all on the table.

Starting from young banana leaf lemper, vegetable lodeh tewel super spicy, fried tempeh, rendang meat, clear vegetable moringa leaves and sauteed papaya leaves salted fish. Equipped with spices and agarwood tea as well as pulley crackers. Ajeng's smile that initially expands beautifully slowly fades once he realizes that the series of menus presented at the table is his father's favorite banquet menu. Complete and not less.

“Please enjoy the dish.” Said the grandmother to Ajeng.

He also began to pour rendang meat on Ajeng dishes accompanied by puli crackers. The girl who had just seen it for the first time felt strange. Because in general people will pour rice first new side dishes, vegetables and others. But this is even rendang meat first and accompanied by puli krupuk as well. It's so out of the ordinary.

“Why is there a clear vegetable when there is a lodeh?” ask the Wira prankster.

“Because I can't eat spicy.” Tukas Ajeng fast. His father always ordered a special non-spicy vegetable for him every meal with his extended family.

Not wanting to be too much thought, Wira sipped a glass of agarwood tea in front of him.

“What is this, Grandma? Why is ranasaya a rich gini?”

“Teh agaroo.” Ajeng answered before the grandmother.

“Please sample Den Ayu!”

Ajeng held back and began to taste rendang made by the grandmother who tasted very good and in accordance with the taste of his father. And of course it makes Ajeng tormented by longing mixed with longing, anger, hate and guilt.

The hero who was unaware of what was going on to Ajeng started pouring rice into his plate. Then the grandmother without being asked to take rendang to put on the plate Wira. The old woman then left Ajeng who was struggling to hold back her tears.

Wira tried her rendang meat but shit because it is not the meat that the ancestors gave her but rather galangal.

***********

After eating that morning, Ajeng became more quiet than before. Whatever Wira says and ask he only replied with ‘Hah’, ‘Oh’, ‘He’eh’, ‘Hemm’, and a forced smile.

Wira then took Ajeng to the parking lot to pick up the sport bike he was carrying.

“Mas Wira dateng here use this?” ask Ajeng whose face is beginning to return. “It's got Mas Wira?”

By holding back his unwelcome stomach, Wira accompanied Ajeng to many places, see many new sights, try many things, taste many foods and buy many things he wanted.

The day starts in the afternoon and Ajeng wants Wira to accompany him to see the sunrise by the beach. But accidentally Ajeng touches Wira's forehead and just realizes that the man is sick. They finally decided to return to the inn and rest.

“Mas Wira really not papa?” tanya Ajeng after helping Wira fall on the bed. He also brought heartburn and a glass of warm tea for Wira. “Why didn't you say that you can't drink coffee? Rich gini is it?”

“Can't. Just not used.”

“Cih! There's nothing embarrassing about people who can't drink coffee. So why torture yourself rich gini?!”

“But you like to drink coffee and I want to be able to nemenin you chat while chatting.” Gumam Wira.

And somehow the confession made Ajeng face warm. He felt happy that Wira was trying to make him feel comfortable even though he did not know if it was just part of the contract or because the man really liked it.

A few moments later, Wira seems to have fallen asleep so Ajeng fixed his blanket and sat back to Wira on the edge of the bed while reading a book and waiting for the sunset from behind the large glass window in his room.

After reading a few chapters in his book, the sky began to turn yellow and Ajeng began to see a golden luster on the western horizon from where he was sitting.

“Wah! Beautiful...” muttered Ajeng.

“Cantics.” The voice beside him.

“Gosh!” Ajeng jumped in shock because suddenly Wira was sitting behind him while looking at his face from the side.

“Ih,.... Mas Wira makes a surprise!”

Wira then rests her head on Ajeng's right shoulder and that's how they enjoy the sunset that dusk.

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