Not Glass Cans

6. Salary Three Times

Towards maghrib, Ratih has released me. Before heading to the horror room, I briefly stopped by Uni Wel's room, wanting to know its progress.

"Union, how does it feel? Already healthy?" I held her warm feet.

"Dimming Si.. Looks like, the day after tomorrow I'm strong enough to work again." Uni Wel said softly to you.

"Thank God Uni, I'm glad we're back." I changed into his delicate hand.

"Did you live in that room?" Uni said investigate me. I was amazed by the question.

"What's with that room, uni?" I pretended not to understand.

"Rarely anyone can stay there, two days at most, it's run away."

"really? Why would that be?" I'm curious.

"Don't you feel like the room is spooky, Elsi?" uni Wel changed asking me.

"Indeed uni, but why the room was left so, and so entered the new child, not strong uni." I let out a little bit of my frustration. As a new child, I was also included in it.

"The coach is intentional." Uni Wel muttered.

"Willfully how is uni?" I'm getting curious.

"Every new child of a young age, in your room is the place to be. Only you can last the longest, Elsi. Let's see what the intention is. You are patient." Uni Wel cheered me on. I nodded for him.

"Yes uni, I'll hold on. I'm here anyway a stick of kara." I don't know where to go if I run away like them. Although I have kept the addresses and contacts of some of my friends on this island, it feels shame to visit without having anything. This is the right place for me. Even if only as a lackey.

I think enough, I say goodbye, Uni Wel nodded weakly. I went to my room.

My room was dim, even though the lights were on, it was still faint. I sharpened my eyes. Spitting in all corners of my bream room. I don't like it, there's a creature staying with me. Right, the snake was coiled, curled up to sleep in the corner of my bed. I hold my bed rest immediately. I shook with a loud bang like an earthquake for him.

"Wake up..Wake up...Move to where you are." I spoke to the snake. As if understanding, the snake's head moved slowly, dragging its long body through the window of my room. The snake went back into the water and disappeared again. It was just a black water snake. There's no whisper. For those who do not understand, it looks terrible. The jet black is shiny and big a little long.

In the dark of the bathroom, I took a short shower just to refresh. I commute to prayer maghrib which is almost too late. I'm still chasing, rather than not!

****

The night had passed, I could not sleep as usual. I called my mom, I didn't think I'd see her for a long time.

"Halloo!" I heard the sound of my mother's bars snatching. Rarely a greeting from him. Greet after I remind you, usually so.

"Assalamualaik." I touched my mother very gently.

"Elsi! Where are you now, son?! How many days don't you come home?! Which mountain are you on?!" My mother greeted my phone too kindly, my ears buzzing to hear it. Noisy like a bee. But I miss his voice.

"I wander, mom, maybe long time home. I just pray, yeah..." I still softly make a sound.

"What do you do, what is your private salary lacking? I'll pay you more !" I did get paid from my mother, because I was also ibuki's catering assistant. I open private lessons in my neighborhood, my students are very much. So if it's about money, I can support my single self even though I have to be good at managing it.

"I'm not going home while Mom, I don't want to get married!" I shot my mother's speech.

"Mother accepted Juan's proposal yesterday, she came to see you. He'll be looking for you. Say 'Where are you?!" Mother was impatient. My mother did. My mother is from Malang, East Java. If you speak ceplas-ceplos as is. But my mother was always honest both inside and out.

"Elsi! Don't make your mother ashamed! Juan's our mayor's son! Remember that Si..!" My mother seemed to be emotional, and I also started to bleed. It seems like mom prefers Juan over me, her son. I was disappointed in my mother.

"Mom, I'll hang up. I called again the day after. Assalamualaikum, ma'am.." Before hearing his voice again. Soon I reject my call. Although our conversation was disappointing, it was a relief to hear my mother's voice. The noise was a sign that my mother's health was still very well awake.

*******

This morning I made some more chicken soup. Hopefully, the family will like it again. Ratih gave me a glimpse.

"What's this morning, Elsi?!" His voice is so flat.

"Cow shawl and chicken soup!" I answer equally loudly.

"OKAY. You made enough of that. Another snack, the back man made it!"

"okay!" Ah, glad my heart, it turns out that Ratih started humanizing me.

There is a kitchen again. Looks like back up, there are two waiters there. I think what their job is, while all the snacks, I'm the one who made. So the news of Ratih just now, was enough to get me excited.

****

All the dishes that have been made, presented perfectly on the big dining table. We were back in line, welcoming the morning apples. The boss's family has arrived. They sat in their seats again, the same place every day.

The young man quickly filled his plate. Take a little rice and so much rendang meat. Maybe the worms in the stomach are amit-amit has reincarnated so cute. Bocil also lusted like young men, only rendang meat rice without vegetables.

The fierce boss took the second draw, rendang meat, rice and chicken soup with abundant broth. His mother, just took chicken soup. No rice, no rendang. Silent, the sound of spoons clashing against plates only there. I feel very satisfied. I found Ratih looking at me here. I don't know what she looked at me like that.

"Trainer!" This time the woman, her mother the fierce boss called out to her. Train to get out of line quickly. Standing right beside them, standing quietly waiting.

"Have you determined the man?" The woman asked coldly to Ratih.

"Not yet madam, forgive me." Rehearse

"Don't be late, my son is leaving in two days!" The woman was a little impatient to face Ratih.

"Yes, I'm sorry." Train back to say sorry, I feel a little pity. The woman fell silent and swept a glance towards the line. I'm looking down to protect myself. My friends were too from the beginning. Maybe I'm the only one who dares to. With Ratih of course, but I think that's part of the job.

My handsome garage boss suddenly stood facing us.

"Listen, you! I'll sail on my yacht for a week. I need one man to serve my needs while sailing. Are any of you willing to present yourself?!"

Not a single lackey made a sound, nor did I look down disinterested. He's fierce! Just try half-bluff, who would refuse to serve the handsome sail?!

"Think! If there's no mistake, I'll pay you three times your wages. That's your monthly salary!"

"But if you're not a dick, take your wages this month in half! You gotit?!"

The boss's baritone voice blared, bouncing in the dining room this morning. There is also no voice to support, even though the triple guarantee already exists. However, the threat of half that wage is more dire for us.

"Trainer! This man of yours is a statue of everything! I'll wait for your choice!" The boss sat back. A full glass of water. Then stand up and then pass. Followed by the young man, the leak, and the haughty woman.

The line is back. There was cloudiness in each of those faces. The burden and threat are back this month. That is their working atmosphere throughout the year. There are two options, survive or leave. It's just the guarantee of a big paycheck that they're fighting for.