My husband is not the CEO

Eighty Six

Fog still envelops Pine Hill, the occasional drop of water is heard falling on the pine leaves of the rain last night like an irregular rhythm of music but makes the listener feel calm. Natural music has never failed to console man from the turmoil of birdsong and wind.

Smoke still billows from the noodles in the cup which gives off the scent of soto. Plus slices of cayenne pepper on it further make the cup noodles look tantalizing. But not with Rafka, he was just happy to brew instant noodles before it was given to Caramel.

"Be careful hot." Rafka gives Caramel a cup of noodles. They had to have breakfast before returning to Jakarta. Although Caramel actually wants to be here for a few more days but he knows Rafka can't leave the office for so long just because it accompanies him on vacation.

While Caramel eats noodles, Rafka prefers to eat chicken porridge sold near here to fill her stomach. Rafka remains unaccustomed to consuming instant foods.

"That's not Adena, is it?" Caramel narrowed her eyes to see a woman delivering coffee to visitors in one of the gazebos. Rafka followed Caramel's line of sight, it was Adena. "Did he stay?"

"Didn't he wear an apron like a food stall waiter?"

"There's no way Adena's working here." Caramel shook her head, all she knew was that Adena was staying in Jakarta with Ara. But since the last time he met in court, Caramel never saw Adena again.

Rafka did not reply to Caramel again because he was engrossed in enjoying chicken porridge with a plentiful chicken topping. Rafka doesn't care about Adena's life.

"I'll order you some warm tea."

"Thank you my dear." Caramel smiled broadly putting down her cup of noodles to kiss Rafka's cheek. Somehow he was so anxious to see Rafka's cheeks bulging full of food.

Rafka spontaneously stops chewing when Caramel suddenly kisses her, glancing to the right and to the left making sure no one sees them. Fortunately Rafka did not choke, the soft porridge could easily pass through his throat.

"Cold." Caramel slipped her hand between Rafka's arms and put her head down.

"You slept well last night, didn't you?" Rafka stroked Caramel's cheek.

"That's a real shock thanks to the sound of rain hitting the tent, it's music that we won't get every day."

"Excuse me, here's the tea order." A woman's voice makes Caramel spontaneously raise her head from Rafka's arm.

"Adena, is this really you?" Caramel was surprised to see someone delivering tea for her, it was Adena.

Rafka put down her empty porridge bowl and picked up a glass of tea that was still puffing smoke on the tray in Adena's hand. Unlike Caramel who was surprised to see Adena, Rafka is still consistent with his flat face.

"Caramel, I didn't see it wrong." Adena gave a thin smile.

"You work here?" Caramel saw Adena's appearance slightly changed. Eye bags were clearly visible on Adena's face like an exhausted and sleep-deprived person.

"Iya—" Adena's tone hung as if to continue the sentence longer.

"I'll give you the bowl back first." Rafka moved as if to understand that Adena was about to talk to Caramel about something so he had to leave them both.

"You're moving to Bandung?" Caramel slightly shifted her position for Adena to sit next to him.

Adena took a breath hugging the empty tray before sitting down. It was like holding a heavy weight on his shoulders. There was no one he could make a place to complain because the husband was no longer with him. Adena was still waiting for Rama to return even though the man had hurt her so deeply.

"Yes, I have to work because Ara has already started attending school, here I can send her to her Oma."

"What about apartments in Jakarta?" Caramel took her cup of noodles to continue eating after sipping a little warm tea that Adena brought.

"I rent it, since Mas Rama in prison would not want me to have to work alone, parents Mas Rama also do not want to know about us, you know for yourself they don't agree Mas Rama married me."

"But Ara is their granddaughter." Caramel doesn't accept, Ara doesn't know anything about her parents. Mama and Papa Rama should not ignore the existence of Ara.

Adena smiled wryly, "i've been to Mas Rama's parents' house but they don't want to meet when I only intend to get Ara closer to Opa and Oma."

Caramel did not think that Rama's parents who were very good to him could ignore their own grandchildren just because they did not agree with the marriage of Adena and Rama. They may be disappointed with Rama for impregnating other women but there is still Ara that they must give affection to.

"You who are patient, every child born to Earth must have its own sustenance." Caramel rubbed Adena's shoulder to give her strength.

Adena smiled with teary eyes, as no one would listen to her story, Caramel is ready to be a listener while giving him fortitude without caring about what has happened between them first. Adena is so grateful to have met Caramel here.

"Are you both here with Rafka?" Ask Adena.

"Yes." Yeah." Caramel nodded, "long time no play into the forest so come here as well as nostalgia to where we married first."

"What can your child do now?" Last met in court, Adena knew Caramel had just returned from Bali after giving birth.

The deg!

Caramel's tears spread even though she tried to hold him back with all her might, though her lips smiled she could not hide her sadness.

"He's been quiet in heaven." Caramel replied with a trembling voice.

Adena turned away in disbelief at what she had just heard. There was no way Caramel was joking, their relationship was not that close until Caramel could make jokes like this. Adena could see the sadness on Caramel's face, she put down a tray and pulled Caramel's head to hug her.

Adena did not want to ask why Caramel's son could die because it would make Caramel's wounds open again. Because Adena also felt it when people asked why Rama was not with her, why Rama could go to prison or say hello to Rama could have sexually abused his apartment neighbors. Adena was fed up with such questions because they asked not because they didn't know, they just wanted to see Adena's annoyed expression and then laughed at her.

"God loves him more." Gentle Adena speech.

Caramel closed her eyes trying to swallow her tears again, she did not want to cry anymore. Caramel just wants to be happy in this beautiful place and just keep Arnesh's name in heart without making her sad again.

From a distance Rafka sees Caramel hugging Adena. Rafka frowned from when they became familiar even to cuddle like that.

"I'm back at work again." Adena looked at Rafka again.

"Yes, next time I will come to Bandung again if I want to meet Ara." Tukas Caramel's.

"Here I go, I go." Adena waved her hand before stepping away from Caramel.

"I saw you hugging, talking about what?"

"Some girl business wants to know." Caramel sipped the noodle sauce until it ran out. He immediately changed his expression to be cheerful so that Rafka did not ask anything more.

******

After returning home to Jakarta, Caramel and Rafka returned to their daily routine. Caramel is busy making pajama designs to be launched next month to coincide with the 76th Independence Day of Indonesia. It will use the dominant colors red and white for the new product Caramel Sleepwear.

"So much to smell." Caramel closed his eyes inhaling the aroma of fried chicken flour that he made himself. Armed with knowledge from YouTube Caramel makes fried chicken flour that looks like his favorite KFC, but he is not sure if the taste will also be similar.

"May Rafka like." He muttered while putting two pieces of chicken breast on the food box, he would deliver lunch for Rafka. In addition to delivering food, Caramel also wants to meet with Rafka's friends at the office because it has not met them for a long time.

The streets of Jakarta are quite crowded during a hot day, the sound of horns rumbling non-stop as if the louder the sound then the congestion will soon unravel when it is no use at all.

The distance from the apartment to the BMKG office is not too far away just that congestion makes Caramel travel longer. Caramel takes her phone looking for Rafka's name on the contact and then presses the green phone icon on the screen.

"Why Ma?" Rafka's voice was heard.

"I'm on the way to your office, it's lunchtime, right?"

"You cook?"

"Yes, I want to meet Irene and your other friends."

"Alright, stay careful, baby, I'm waiting for you in front."

"okay." Caramel disconnects.

Caramel can't wait to get to Rafka's office because she also knows Rafka's friends. Some of them also often visit the Caramel Sleepwear store on weekends and become regular customers.

From a distance Caramel saw the figure of Rafka standing in front of the building F. Caramel smiled even though Rafka could not see it from outside the car.

Before descending Caramel grabbed a paper bag containing a food box for Rafka in the side seat. Caramel excitedly stepped towards Rafka.

"Wait a long time?" Caramel wrapped her hands around Rafka's back.

"No." Rafka shook her head rubbing Caramel's head. "Thank you for cooking lunch." Rafka took over the paper bag in Caramel's hands.

Caramel nodded, Rafka never forgets to thank him for small things like cooking or preparing his work clothes.

"I brought fruit salad to your friends." Caramel held Rafka's hand as they walked towards the cafeteria for lunch.

"Surely they like." Rafka need not doubt the fruit salad made by Kayla, they never let the refrigerator in the apartment empty without the fruit salad.

They found an empty table in the corner of the cafeteria that began to be crowded with other employees. Caramel took the food box out of the bag and opened it.

"I made my own KFC chicken." Caramel can't wait to try the chicken, which is very difficult to make. Although it looks easy in fact, Caramel had to fail several times to make fried chicken coated with krispi flour. In addition, Caramel also makes a sauce anchovies recipe from his mama and also sauteed spinach.

"It's just deg-degan." Caramel waits for Rafka to try his hand at fried chicken.

Rafka bites the breast of a flour-clad chicken and chews it slowly, "tasty." Honest compliments.

Caramel breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Rafka's opinion of her cooking. Actually, even though Rafka failed, he would still praise Caramel cuisine.

"I like spinach." Rafka took the spinach stir-fry and chewed it quietly.

"You like all the vegetables, baby." Caramel Sahut.

After eating they headed to Rafka's office after putting the container used to eat and taking a fruit salad for friends Rafka. In addition to delicious, Caramel brought Kayla fruit salad so that more people who know the fruit salad made by his best friend. They always support each other's best friend's business. Like Jane who is always ready to help Caramel take care of Caramel Sleepwear.

"Remember that monster flower?" Rafka pointed at the large monster plant in front of the F building.

"Why?" Caramel saw the ornamental plants.

"You call it instagramable, what does that mean?"

Caramel turns away spontaneously looking the other way, it's been long enough why Rafka still remembers it.

"Why do you want to know that you don't like Instagram?" The best way to avoid questions is to ask back.

"But I—" Rafka had not finished his sentence Caramel had already pulled him into the elevator before the queue became long.

"Lisa!" Caramel waved her hand to see Lisa coming out of the room with the words GIRLS on the door. It was the same workspace as Rafka. Lisa is Rafka's friend who works in a division.

"Caramel, how have you not seen for so long." Lisa hugged Caramel not to forget accompanied by chips.

Before Caramel arrived Rafka had told her friends and begged them not to bring up Arnesh's death. Rafka does not want Caramel's arrival here to make him remember their dark times.

"Well, you're pregnant, how many months?" Caramel mis-focused on Lisa's slightly distended stomach.

"Well, five months in, what are you bringing?" Lisa immediately distracts Caramel because she knows Caramel wants to get pregnant soon after losing Arnesh.

"Fruit salad, you must eat yes."

"Well, I'm in a hurry to broadcast, except for me." Lisa immediately got into the elevator waving Caramel's hand.

"okay!" Caramel returned Lisa's hand. "Lisa broadcast too?"

"Yes, from GIRLS usually me and Lisa change."

Caramel mangosteen, those who usually report weather on television are those that have an attractive appearance or are now more popularly called good looking.

They went into Rafka's office, some people had not returned after lunch so the room was quite quiet.

"Thank you, you never empty-handed." Danu nyengir got a box of fruit salad, good enough to wash her mouth after lunch. Danu thinks Caramel has made it out of his depression after losing Arnesh. Danu can feel it because Rafka is no longer pouting and upset every time he comes to the office. It used to be that Rafka's face was always crumpled and grim, not only because Caramel was depressed but also because Rafka couldn't get rations, uh. Although Rafka dodged but Danu knew the main problem of Rafka turmoil is that.

"Gue ain't like you, stingy." Caramel sneering.

"Son, if stingy is not possible my salary is all I love for Indi." Sahut Danu did not accept.

"If it is your duty as a husband."

"Already, if you meet always like a cat and a mouse." Rafka attempts to mediate before the debate between Caramel and Danu becomes more.