8 To 4: The Mayor's Contract Wife
Memories that Shatter
The next morning, Bara returns to visit Ajeng in his room and is shocked to see Ajeng drooping weakly with his hands infused.
“Jeng!”
Ajeng turned his head for a moment and went back to sleep on Bara's back.
“What happened? Do you really have to go this far? Do you know that everything you do will be in vain?”
Ajeng. Then Bara moved to the other side of the bed so Ajeng could see him. Ajeng was about to turn to the opposite side, but Bara hurriedly prevented him by showing the souvenirs he brought from Carang Sewu. There are seasonings of fruit market Kalijaten favorite Ajeng, meat gimbal from rice liwet Bu Jum and various snacks typical of Carang Sewu.
Then a waiter knocked on Ajeng's room door and brought a tray of fried duck rice along with tripe and gut fried way elephantmada.
“Where is all this?” tanya Ajeng. He then got up and saw that the contents of the tray the waiter was carrying was a completely different thing than usual.
“You must know that this is Gajahmada street duck.”
Ajeng looked at Bara not understanding. “Where did you get this?”
“I purposely went there to buy it. So you want to eat and not drop rich gini.”
Ajeng was not at all touched by Bara's confession. “Tell me where do you know this!”
“What? This is the most famous fried duck in Carang Sewu.” Bara Elak.
“With innards and sambal not spicy?” ask Ajeng with teary eyes. His nose is back.
“Where do you know that the sauce is not spicy? You haven't tasted it yet?”
He wiped his tears and snot. “Then sambal rujak kalijaten? The Gimbal Bu Jum? Is it also very famous until you can find it easily even though they are in the market and the corner of the alley that can not be visited by car?”
“Jeng –“
“Did you find Mas Wira?” ask Ajeng with tears.
“Is he the only one who knows about this?”
“Ngga there will be others who know that I have to order first sambal not spicy in Bebek Gajahmada.” Ajeng replied holding a sob that made his chest tightened.
Bara surrendered. “OK. I was there to find him. And this is what I got.”
Ajeng immediately grabbed both of Bara's arms and looked at her sharply with her red eyes swollen from crying too much. “Where is Mas Wira?”
“For what do you know? In the end, I will be your husband. Not him.”
“I don't care. I just want to know how Mas Wira is. I beg!” pinta Ajeng wept and banged his head against Bara's chest which stood stiffly beside his bed.
“She is fine and chose to stay afloat.”
“I know he will confess it.” Ajeng replied while showing his smile even though his tears were still dripping. “Is he healthy?”
Bara could only nod despite her heart breaking. I don't know what got into him. He himself also barely believes that Ajeng really made him fall in love even since the first time he saw the girl ten years ago.
Ajeng then removed his hand from Bara's arm and began to grab a tissue and wipe away his tears. He then took out a tray of duck rice and ate it voraciously even though his tears were still dripping.
“Slow-slow, Jeng!” pinta Bara, anxious to see Ajeng eating like a hungry beggar. He continued to spoon the rice into his mouth when his mouth was still full and had not swallowed all the food in it.
He was furious to see Ajeng as if deliberately wanted to show off how happy he was to eat the food that he missed so much. He chewed the food inside his mouth while crying.
Bara then thrust a glass of water and put it in Ajeng's hand. He drank it slowly. Bara then put the tissue in front of Ajeng. The girl took it to wipe her eyes and nose.
After looking calmer, Bara fed the rice to Ajeng's mouth slowly, little by little. Ajeng began to be controlled and Bara's heart grew sicker knowing how much Ajeng missed the man more than anyone.
After finishing eating his duck rice, Bara thrust the slices of fruit that the waiter had prepared on the table, then poured the spice on it. “Try this!”
Ajeng nodded again and his tears almost dripped over the fruit.
“Where?”
Ajeng just nodded and said nothing. But it was much better than seeing it droop like an undead.
“I will leave empal and other food to the waiter. You can have them heat up if you want to eat.”
Ajeng nodded back. Then Bara pamit.
“Wait!”
The steps stopped in front of the door. He then looked at Ajeng.
“Still.” That's all that comes from Ajeng's beautiful lips. But for the Bara it was more than enough.
“OK. I go first.”
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Ten years ago....
It was the seventeenth birthday of coal. His family gave him a special gift, namely a vacation to Madrid to watch a live football match his favorite football club. When he exited the stadium, he chose the wrong door and separated from his parents.
In a confused situation, suddenly a girl helps him approach and helps him. The girl was very cold, quiet and did not ask much. But strangely he knew that Bara was panicking and needed help. Even after helping Bara reunite with his parents, he kept a cool attitude as Bara and his family thanked him.
"Excuse me!" call Bara when the girl just leaves.
The girl turned around. "You must be indonesian. At the end of the road there is an Asian restaurant that provides a variety of food menus that match the tongue of Indonesian people. You can stop by before you go home."
"You are also an Indonesian?" ask Papa Bara. "Where are you staying?"
"My father Suryo Diningrat, Governor of Jakarta."
"Well! How fortuitous. So you're Mr Suryo's son? I'm Taufik and I know Papa well. This." papa Bara handed over his business card to Ajeng. "I am your papa's loyal supporter. I'm sure he'll make it to the next president."
"I'm sorry." Ajeng suddenly came back cold and just left.
"Why is that a child? Is there a child who does not like it if his parents become a candidate? Huh uh?" taufik grumbled after the girl actually left.
But not so with Bara. Every smile and flat expression of the girl was so imprinted on his mind. He sure will never forget the face of the girl even though he dated many other girls after this.
"He may be just lonely, Pa." murmured Bara while smilingly staring at the place Ajeng disappeared from before him.
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