Mastenges

113. You fired!

The mat! The mat! The mat! The mat! The mat!...

The clock ticks sounded so loud, as if laughing at four pairs of husband and wife who were sitting on the sofa of Amoroso's workspace. They all did not stare at each other, all lowered their gazes. Each of the wives looked so agitated that they played their fingers on their lap. While the husbands, stunned to imagine what they would receive after they met Amoroso who they were still waiting for his presence.

Cklekk!

There was a doorknob on the pull and there was a man who was inviting Amoroso into his room.

Amoroso looked at the four couples and stepped towards his desk. Amoroso put the bag in his hand and turned to the four pairs of husbands and wives. Slowly he stepped towards the seat that was purposely vacated for him. Amoroso sat on the chair, his gaze did not escape from the faces one by one in the room.

"Emmmmm!" Amoroso cleared his throat, while the four couples in front of him were seen almost jumping in surprise.

"Will anyone admit their mistake?" Ask Amoroso.

Each of them looked at each other and again lowered his face.

"Father Agus" Call Amoroso.

"Ready sir!" Agus Sahut.

"We almost became besan because of the match between my son and my father."

"Yes sir!" Agus again.

"But, I heard the sloping news that led to my family and the good name of me and my wife. Can you explain?" Ask Amoroso.

Agus looked shaky and misbehaved.

"That night, my wife cried. As he heard the slanted news who knew who was blowing it towards our family. My wife heard the news from Good's mother who kindly delivered the news, before the news got wider."

"Then, I deliberately invited my good father and mother to my house. And apparently, he gave a hint, if he knew the news from Sitohang's mother. Isn't that so nice mom?"

Farida raised her face and looked at Amoroso with a guilty look. As for Hellena, look at Farida. He felt betrayed because he was called by Farida.

"Right sir," Sahut Farida.

"What's the reason mom delivered to my wife?" Ask Amoroso again.

"Sa-I just want to stop this rumor. At least, I want Erna's mom to know that the people around her are talking about her."

Again the wives looked at Farida with dislike. But Farida no longer cared, inevitably, she had to purge herself and her husband's good name. Agar Bagus can avoid dismissal that would make Bagus and Farida feel embarrassed.

"And, I immediately invited Sitohang's father and mother to my office. From the description of Sitohang's mother, he heard this news from Eko's mother who happened to be he looked at. Isn't that so Sitohang's mom?"

"I-i-iya sir," Sahut Hellena. Then, he lowered his face again.

"Why did you spread that?" Ask Amoroso.

Hellena was silent.

"Can you answer that?" Amoroso.

Hellena looked at Amoroso with a clear face, then she put her palms together, a sign she was pleading with Amoroso.

"Sir, I know I was wrong, for spreading invalid gossip. But please don't fire my husband, sir.." Hellena started crying. Her husband looked bad to her.

"I asked, why are you spreading it?" Ask Amoroso again.

"Sa-me, I'm just a prank sir. Her name is mommy and I believe in Nice mom," Hellena looks upset to Farida. Since she understood very well, with Farida telling Erna, it was certain that Farida and her husband, Bagus, would be safe.

"White? Did my family make it into her fad Sitohang's mother?"

Hellena fell silent in silence hearing the question from Amoroso.

"Now I want to ask Eko's mother. According to information from Sitohang's mother, she heard the gossip from Eko's mother. Is true?"

Rani, the wife of Eko raised her face and nodded doubtfully. His face was still pale, as he had just been discharged from the hospital, due to Magh's illness.

"Yes, sir" said Rani.

Amoroso chuckled and shook his head.

Without thinking much, Rani nodded her head. Justifying what Amoroso said.

Now Amoroso's eyes were on Mela, the wife of Agus. The person he was upset with would be the future in-law of Typhoon, his son.

"Bu Agus, I don't know what my mother's motivation is to spread the news like that. I think our family relationship is close. In fact, we plan to marry off our children, Lestari and Typhoon. Suppose you hear such news, you should ask me or my wife directly. There's no need for me to tell mother Eko or the others. But why did you say that until the news reached my ears and my wife? Don't you think we're family?"

Mella looks so embarrassed by the question from Amoroso.

"One of them is a question from me. Agus' mother knows where this rumor comes from?" Ask Amoroso.

Mela's body trembled, her forehead and palms were sweating. She felt like she was sitting in the sickle seat in the court and in front of her was a judge ready to decide the hanging of her and her husband.

"Sir, it's not like that. I mean..."

"Please answer mom. I don't like to waste my time in vain." Amoroso.

Mela fell silent again, she could not mention her husband was the source of the gossip that she received and circulated because of his uncontrolled speech to and fro.

"Who did you hear these rumors from?" Amoroso.

Mela looked at her husband who kept his face down. In a few years, her husband will retire. What happens if her husband is fired? How is the career of Agus who has been hard-earned by Agus so far?

"Please answer mom!" Amoroso.

Mela was surprised when Amoroso snapped at her. He looked at Amoroso with a stare that shrunk his guts.

"I heard from someone."

"Who? Just say it."

Mela tried to think of the exact reason she was going to tell Amoroso.

"Who's mom?" Amoroso.

"Some-one sir, I don't know either."

Amoroso laughed and shook his head, not believing in the ridiculous reason of Mela.

"Don't play me! This is my family's good name! Understand that! You want me to fire all of them!" Threaten Amoroso, while pounding the table in front of him. Due to Amoroso's uncontrollable emotions, he immediately held onto his chest which was starting to hurt.

"Sir!" It was good that I went from sitting to helping Amoroso. However, he undoes his intention to help, as Amoroso raises his hand to prevent Bagus from helping him.

Agus looked nervous. He was well aware, if he would not be able to avoid the problem. He believed so much in his wife. He was sure that his wife would not have the heart to divulge the secret. Because he assumes, his wife will not want to destroy the career that he has worked hard to build. However, Agus forgot, what is and whatever secrets concerning his institutions, should not be leaked or discussed to others. In fact, to his own family or wife.

"Java!" Amoroso back on the table.

Although Mela protected her husband by admitting guilt, or pointing to her husband telling her the gossip, the outcome would be the same. They will be both in the depak of the agency.

"I told my wife" said Agus in a trembling voice.

Amoroso frowned. He really did not believe what Agus said. The friend he would make his besan.

"meaning?" Ask Amoroso.

"Tens years ago, I had heard the news from among the Adjutants who were also rumored out there. When the closeness between Amoroso's mother and one of Amoroso's father's aides produced a child, namely Typhoon. Honestly, I don't believe the news. Until I kept the meeting until a few days ago." Agus Terang.

"What made you talk about it again?" Ask Amoroso.

"Because there was no Typhoon at the family dinner, and the attitude of the father to the Typhoon all this time. I know I was wrong. But my attitude towards the Typhoon made me wonder. In fact, when the Typhoon was inaugurated, my father did not attend."

Amoroso was devastated to hear Agus' explanation.

Agus also felt free to talk, because he already felt the responsibility. Whatever it is, it will be deposed by Amoroso.

Slowly, the pain in Amoroso's chest grew more excruciating. He was squeezing his chest.

"You..! You're fired..!" Amoroso said, along with the collapse of his body on the floor.

"Sir!" Everyone there panicked. Except Agus and Mela.