8 To 4: The Mayor's Contract Wife

The Sly

That morning Wira and Ajeng really went to the traders at the Kalijaten vegetable market. They shopped and interacted with traders, distributed parcels and exchanged opinions on relocation plans. Wira also bought a bracelet of woven wool yarn of various colors for Ajeng and instead Ajeng bought Wira a pair of socks.

Actually the content of the talk is very classic, exactly the same as the reviews in the report that was laid out in the monitoring team. But what is different is, the response of the traders to the arrival of Ajeng and Wira. The merchants who initially hated Wira with all his track record and bad image, suddenly felt comfortable and familiar communicating with their city leader.

Not even a few of the traders who complained about his personal problems and Wira patiently listened while giving advice. And suddenly Ajeng had a brilliant idea in his head.

The hero then tells about his intention and goal of relocating them to the inner side of the market more safely and comfortably. With his sincerity, Wira managed to convince the traders of his intention to keep the safety of the traders from the risk of traffic accidents, both on the highway and the railway crossing in front of the Kalijaten market.

Ajeng uses his new camera to photograph Wira secretly. When Wira laughed and joked with the merchants, when Wira greeted a tempe merchant grandmother and when Wira handed a small parcel to those gathered around her. He even got a rare shot when Wira hugged an old man whose legs were paralyzed next door but still wanted to sell corn and kale at the Kalijaten market.

“Bu, when is the day why come to the seminar?” tanya Ajeng to one of the female vegetable traders who had come to his seminar.

“Oh, the.... Because Mr. Guardian asked for.”

“What? Mr Wali?” tanya Ajeng could not believe it. “Not invited by Mr Rega?”

All this time that's what Ajeng thought. That it was the Kingdom that invited them as the journalists wrote in the Citizens' Voice daily.

“Eh no, Mom.... Mr. Wali who came here and asked that we all be willing to attend and listen to mother. Said to provide moral support for mom.”

Ajeng gasped for a moment and felt ashamed and guilty. He could imagine how disappointed Wira was to know that she was not much different from those who belittled and stabbed her in the back.

“Oh yes, Ma. Why didn't last night's moms come to my house?” ask again.

“Well, what event is there, Mom?” ask the merchants back.

“Loh, not the mothers have got info from the market manager if I and the Guardian invite all mothers to my home?”

“Times anyway, Mom. No info whatsoever tuh.” Answer one of the traders. “Wait a minute, let me ask you Mr. Umar, the manager of the market here.”

The merchant then called Mr. Umar who was talking to Wira. “Pak Umar! Did Mr Umar get an invitation yesterday from the city hall?”

“Invitation? What invitation? Nonexistent. I don't accept anything.” Sahut Pak Umar.

“No, Ma. No one wants us.”

‘So Rega really lied to me and never sent me the invitation I asked for?’ batin Ajeng was annoyed at his own stupidity.

The hero approached Ajeng and patted his shoulder slowly to calm him down. The shy Ajeng turned away avoiding the gaze of Wira. Wira then handed Ajeng a sugary candy and the girl who was about to cry smiled again.

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“Bu Ajeng?” sapa Rega when Ajeng came to see him with gasping breath. “What do you need?”

“I want to talk to Mr. Rega.”

Rega ordered the officers to vacate the room. In an instant, the room was empty.

“What's up?”

“What exactly is Mr Rega's intention to do with me? Why did Mr Rega lie to me about the invitation?”

“Oh, invitation yesterday well? That, the part in charge of taking care of the invitation was busy completing the meeting invitation I requested. So they did not have time to make Bu Ajeng?”

“Pak Rega thought I would believe the same ridiculous reason Mr Rega made?”

“Ngga. I have no problem if Bu Ajeng does not believe.”

“Why does Pak Rega not tell me if the invitation is not spread?”

“Because I don't approve what Bu Ajeng is planning.”

“What does Mr Rega mean? I'm the Mayor's wife, sir, your boss. What right do you talk like that to me?”

Rega laughed out loud. “I deserve to praise the courage of Bu Ajeng to marry a man whom Bu Ajeng absolutely does not know his background. Bu Ajeng can ask himself to Mr. Wira why I do not need to be afraid of him. Excuse me. There are still many more important affairs.”

“So it is true that Mr Rega was also the one who sabotaged the tourist market event?” Ajeng threw a photocopy of the extension invitation he got at that time to Rega.

Rega picked up the paper and smiled. “True. Indeed, I designed the extension event so that no built MSMEs would come to the tourist pasaw. Wh why? What can Mr Wira do to me?”

Rega laughed again. “Pak Wira it's just a doll for me. A doll that I can play with as I please. Wh why? Bu Ajeng was disappointed because it turned out that Mr Wira was not as cool as he looked?”

Rega smiled as he passed from Ajeng's sight. Ajeng clenched both his hands. He promised to repay Rega's deeds to him and Wira. A sly person like him should not be silenced for too long. Therefore Ajeng went to talk to Wira.

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