BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT BEAUTIFUL

25. The Achieving Rara

I still focus on replying one by one to incoming reader emails. The response from them made me so excited to make this rubric even bigger.

"You just came?" I turned to look at Ken who had just arrived. He did move into the manager's room, because he still had to learn from me.

"Yes" he replied, putting down the bag, and then starting the computer.

"Why just came now. It's nine o'clock, you know."

"Sorry Ra, there's something I need to do."

"Personal issues?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"You have to work professionally, Ken. I know you are close to Mr. Pras. But during this three-month trial period, you were under my supervision. If you work like this I'm not sure I can get you off my team."

"You mean?"

"I can replace you with someone new."

"Lho, how is that? Oh, or don't-don't you want to replace me with your ex. What's-her-name? Alif, Andi, Andre ... A?"

"Ariff."

"Well, do you remember the former story?"

"Astagfirullah, who cares about him? Arif is married. You think I'm not sane."

"Who knows you're the kind of guy who's hard to move on."

"Sokay know!"

"Who knows."

"Here, don't talk about him anymore. Lazy!"

"I just met our new director."

"Huh?"

"You still angry?"

"You know the guy."

"Know. It's even close enough."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes. Don't believe? I can help you meet him. Wanna?"

"No need. Why too. I just want a message, if you're late or can't attend, in these three months please call me. Understood?"

"Yes the manager's mother. But I don't have your phone number."

"Here's your phone."

Ken gave me the gadget. Just finished entering my number, suddenly a phone came in. Monica Ariella.

"Any phone?" ask Ken.

I couldn't say anything, and then give Ken his HP back. Then he walked away from me while he got the phone call.

Monica Ariella. That was Arif's wife. Why'd he call Ken? Does he know Ken? What's the connection between them?

"Rome!" call Brother Gita, break my reverie. He gestured for me to enter the meeting room immediately.

"Oh my God, what's going on between Ken and Monika?" I'm not calm. I don't know what the reason is. Why would you be so upset when you find out Monika called Ken.

What Mr. Pras said in the meeting room could not be examined because my mind was fixed on Ken and Monika. What's going on between them?

Ahhhh no. What's really going on with myself? Why do I think of both of them? Even if there's a connection between Ken and Monika, it's none of my business. My life is more important than thinking about the lives of others.

The boisterous applause of the managers made me realize that I was having a meeting. Now all the gazes are on me. Including Ken. What's the matter?

"Come on Ra, come forward." whispered Gita's sister who sat beside me.

"Why brother?" I whispered back.

There is no time to explain because Mr. Pras asked me to come back. I can do nothing but obey. Apparently there is an additional bonus because the rubric I built made the company double in advance at the beginning of this year. As the person in charge, I get a savings bonus.

"Thank God, thank you everyone. Please support ya." I said, bowing my head.

"You why Ra?" ask brother Gita.

"That's okay, brother." I replied.

"So you're daydreaming, right?"

"A little, brother."

"You still thinking about Arif?"

"Not really brother. Why do I think of him again."

"Then why? You're not usually like that."

"I'm actually thinking about Ken, brother."

"Huh, Ken? Why indeed? You got something, Ra?"

"Astagfirullah, no brother."

"Then?"

"I don't know, there's something weird about him."

"Surprisingly how's Ra?"

"So suddenly Monika called him."

"Monika Arif's wife?"

"Yes, brother."

"Well, where does it matter?"

"Do they mean know each other?"

"Yes could have been. Maybe it was a school, or a neighbor. Or maybe a brother. Nothing is impossible, right? You're actually weird according to brother."

"Cock me, brother?"

"Your tumbens care about other people's business."

"Oh that. It's nothing, brother. It's just weird."

"You've completely forgotten about Arif, haven't you?"

"Yes, brother. I don't care anymore about him. Especially after everything he's done to me and my family. Yes, brother, don't talk about him anymore."

***

[Ha ... halooo ..] The voice from across there was stammering.

[Assynoltomodel. Who is this with?] ask me, while taking pen and paper. Worrying about calling is one of the sources who had sent an email.

[Mbak Rara, can I talk?] that voice sounds heavy.

[Yes. With Rara. Who is this?]

[Yuni, ma'am. Please me. Please listen to me. Okay, mbak?]

[What can I do to help Yuni?]

[Mbak, I'm sad. I was just left by my future husband.]

[I'm sad, ma'am. May mbak share the story with me, who knows we can both find a solution.] I immediately turn on the recording machine, worried that there is information missed from the source.

[That man was my first love. He was a good man who I really wanted to be my husband in Cantinua. Every day we met, until finally because we were tired of waiting for him. I asked my mom and dad to propose to her. Maybe because of forced, feeling indebted or because urged by his family who also hoped to be different from my family, finally my proposal was accepted. We prepared everything very carefully. A pretty fancy wedding party. He even prepared the best dowry for me. But finally I knew, it was not him who prepared, but his father and mother. He was doing everything under pressure. Then on H day, I found him already proven stiff. He committed suicide because he could not accept all of this. He didn't love me and wasn't sure he could stay with me.]

[Astagfirullah.]

[He left me forever. I can no longer see yes. In fact, his extended family and almost everyone in the know hated me and my family for thinking it was Us that caused his death. I did it because I love him so much. I didn't know it would all end like this.]

[Mr ..].

[I want to go with him. I no longer want to live in this world to be with him forever. I really love him!]

[Sir, please don't think. Maqc ..].

Clik. Phone disconnected. I immediately felt a breathlessness. Imagining, someone who had no idea where he was, was currently thinking of ending his life. Oh my God, how should I?