8 To 4: The Mayor's Contract Wife
Reply Letter
Ajeng was still stunned by the content of his conversation with Rega even after the bespectacled man left him alone in the casual room of the city hall office. After thinking about many things, Ajeng then intended to go home and prepare a banquet for the merchants later that night.
When he was about to leave, Ajeng saw the newspaper Suara Citizens published by the government's broadcasting division lying under the table. He picked it up and read it carefully. Rega is right, his name is indeed being discussed a lot in the last few days. Although only mentioning the mayor's wife to explain his name, but the imagery of an Ajeng implied very well from the articles.
However, Ajeng's forehead began to frown when his name was aligned with Rega who was predicted to be the figure behind the success of the women's hut dharma event a few days ago. They wrote that Rega arranged and planned everything and that Rega also invited the vegetable merchants to come and fill the multi-purpose building that day.
Not only did they exclude and even bury the name of the Hero, they also accused the Hero of focusing only on his personal affairs and not having time to care about the problems of the event. So that it is the Kingdom that must desperately fight for everything alone.
Ajeng again breathed an upset breath. He had never seen such a coup attempt in any movie he watched. But Carang Sewu turned out to be much more amazing than that. And what makes him even more upset is that the Hero chooses to cuek as if not harmed at all.
“Crazy basics!” sayat Ajeng to all the cheap drama in Carang Sewu.
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After preparing all the banquets since noon, that night Ajeng waited for the arrival of the vegetable traders he had sent invitations. At first Ajeng waited leisurely while listening to music on his favorite local radio waves. But it was getting night and no one came when he had prepared a banquet for a hundred more.
Ajeng sat pensively with fullness on the porch of his house. He did not know what was wrong and why no one would come to fulfill his invitation. Though he only intended to entertain them while chatting casually talk about the relocation plan.
“You're not papa, Jeng?” asked the Wira who had just returned home and saw Ajeng sitting on the terrace chair while putting his body to the table.
“Mas Wira?” greet Ajeng while wiping his tears.
“After home?” ask the hero innocently.
Ajeng. “Ngga none of them came.”
“Ya already..we just share the food to others who need more.”
“Mas Wira how can it be that calm? Wira didn't wonder why this happened? Mas Wira not angry?” ask Ajeng in a high tone.
“Ngga no use also angry. They still won't come.”
“So Mas Wira knows why they didn't come? Does this have anything to do with Mr Rega again?”
“Already. Don't talk about that anymore. I'll take a shower and hand out the food. Have Bi Sumi and the others pack their food!”
Ajeng pulls the hand of the hero and stops him before entering the house.
“So Mas Wira really knows it will be like this?” tanya is desperate. “Why did Mas Wira not tell me before?”
“If I forbid, would you believe it? Don't you trust Rega more than I do? You never even talked about your plan the same as me.”
Ajeng recalled that he got the idea suddenly and had not had time to discuss it with Wira. Moreover, they could not be said to be making up after last night's debate.
Wira just patted Ajeng's shoulder slowly. “Sorry me well?!”
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That morning Ajeng was still very angry with everyone because he felt played and sabotaged when he really intended to care and help their problems. Wira repeatedly knocked on the door of his room but Ajeng did not intend to care about it at all.
Shortly afterwards, Bi Sumi knocked on the door and said that a letter had come for her. Ajeng immediately opened the door and jumped in excitement. There is a box with a letter and a digital camera inside.
He opened his letter and started reading it.
To my sister Ajeng
How are you, Jeng? Brother is sure you are fine as you can write letters all this time for brother. Brother is happy that you survived and are in a safe place at the moment. About what you ask, Papa does include you in the search list of special people. Looks like he didn't dare to look for you openly, well you know? Because of your status and status. So you have not been able to find your existence until now. But you calm down, if until they manage to bring you home, brother guarantee it is not because of brother. I promise I won't tell anyone where you are. So, don't be afraid Dad!
For a while, stay careful. Brother send you a camera so you can take pictures of everything you like so you can save when you can not go back there again later. Enjoy as many opportunities as you can. Brother will try to divert the direction of their search away from your existence. But brother can't guarantee it will last long. Have fun.
Hail miss, hail,
Your brother Alvin
Tears Ajeng berlinang read the reply letter sent by his second brother. He felt longing, anxious and happy mixed into one. He was grateful that Alvin was still as good as he used to be, when they were kids. For Ajeng, Alvin is the only person he can trust most among all his family members. And seeing Alvin had to lie to his father to protect him, made Ajeng feel guilty and grateful.
He unwrapped the digital camera that Alvin had sent him. Exactly the same as his favorite camera that Alvin gave as a gift for his twentieth birthday, three years ago. The morning delivery managed to restore Ajeng's cheer that morning. He then tidied up his letter and prepared to go to work.
“Gosh! Why is Mas Wira still here?” tanya Ajeng was shocked when she saw Wira still sitting on the terrace chair.
“Pawn you.”
“Ngapain? Mo where?”
“Kalijaten.”
“Mas Wira want to go there? Not that Mas Wira said no want to do a job in vain?” sindir Ajeng recalled the words of the previous Wira.
“This time will not be in vain.”
“OK. Let’s go!”
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