The Duda's Beloved Girl

4. Cocked

The next day, early in the morning Devan had arrived at the office, he could not wait to read the results of the search for the girl. Because it was still early morning, so there was still no one in the office. Only the janitor is doing his job to clean the entire office area. They were astonished to see his superior who had arrived so early in the morning. Usually Devan always comes at nine in the morning, but it's six he's already there.

Devan ignored the curious gazes of them, immediately entering the elevator to go to his room. It didn't take long to get to his room, Devan opened the door and went inside. Sure enough, Aris finished her work in a timely manner. Just look, on his desk there is a blue map that he believes was the result of his search yesterday.

Devan loosened his suffocating tie around his neck, then sat down on his great chair. His eyes continued to glance at the blue map. Before he could open it, his phone just rang. Devan snorted annoyed at being distracted. But his frustration immediately saw after he read the name of the penelfon.

“What's up?” tanyanya direct.

“Bapak already opened the results?” ask Aris behind the phone.

Devan clucked then replied in a potluck. “Just now I want to open it you even nelfon.”

“Sorry sir, I just want to explain it out of concern that you are confused. If so try reading first to check the results.”

“You rule me?!” fierce Devan with his cynicism.

“B-not so sir, I..”.

Devan slammed his phone without turning off his phone. Without a second thought he opened the blue map and read the contents. True as what Aris said, he was immediately confused when he saw the photo of the girl sitting in the market like a confused person. There are many photos that he also saw from the blue map, one of which is a very simple photo of the house. He took his phone and continued talking

 “So what does this mean? Why is that girl just sitting in the market every day? Shouldn't he be in school? I'm sure his age must be the age he should be at school.”

Across the street Aris looks grumbling. “Sabar first kek, it's just like want a company meeting, really details.”

Without Aris realizing Devan can hear his voice even though he shrinks his voice. “What mental you have to dare to grumble behind the phone?”

Aris immediately apologized quickly, he switched the conversation by continuing his explanation.

“So I conclude sir, his name is Lala who is only nineteen years old. And it's true said the father at that age he should still enjoy school. But he quit school because it became the backbone of the family.

His mother is sick and his father has long died sir. Regarding the photo of him in the market, Lala is indeed selling in the market sir. You once said that the photo was taken when he hit the father's car. My guess, at that time he was in a hurry to the market to sell his chili. That's all sir I can tell you.” Obviously Aris at length.

“Now also send us his home address,” reply Devan.

“Good sir,”

Devan disconnects the phone and saves the phone back. He took a photo of Lala earlier and looked at it in detail. In the photo, Lala is sitting while keeping the chili that is still left quite a lot. But Devan did not notice that, he just focused on looking at Lala's adorable face in her eyes.

“If his age is right that means eleven years away from me, his inner”.

His phone vibrates again, Devan immediately checks it which turns out to be a message from Aris who sent Lala home address. After he got it, Devan refocused on checking the files that had to be checked today, of course, which was already on his desk.

Although it was still early morning he wanted to finish it immediately. There's something he should do later. Devan took his glasses and put them on. After that, he got up and focused on his work.

.

.

Lala had just finished her morning breakfast, she was just cooking noodles for herself. This morning he was quite excited to go back to selling in the market. Her mother's condition is getting better and better which is why she's excited. Lala actually wanted to take her mother to the hospital to get intensive care, but her mother refused. But thank God today he can see his mother who has improved.

After washing the dishes, Lala prepared to go to the market. Chili and the motor are ready. Now he just needs to get out and go.

This morning Lala was riding her bike at moderate speed, she did not want yesterday's incident to happen again. He enjoyed every trip, many children his age went to school. Lala smiled as she continued to ride her bike at standard speed. However, as Lala glanced at the rearview mirror, she saw a black car behind her.

“Loh, it wasn't that car back then?” muttered.

“Ah but a car like that is a lot,” he continued and chose to ignore it. He did not know that the car was following him. It was Devan, he had already asked his secretary to cancel all his activities today so that his schedule was empty and he could do the plan to follow Lala.

Devan continued to follow him until his car finally stopped at the market. He saw Lala who got off his bike and then lifted his sack of chili and entered the market. Devan hurriedly got down from the car. He who still wears office clothes managed to become the center of attention. Everyone glanced at him with a strange look, but Devan did not care. He ran around by breaking into other market visitors.

“Aduh, slow down dong Mas,”

“Woyyy this market has no ancestor lo, do not origin serobot aja.”

“About mentang wear expensive suits so just like it,”

Many catapults were directed at him as a result of ambushing the mother who was busy bargaining for fish. His eyes focused only in one direction, where Lala walked with the sack. Devan slows down his steps so that Lala does not suspect.

Lala immediately lowered her sack after arriving at her own place, she rubbed her sweat that came down due to the rush earlier at the entrance. “I'm ready first deh,”

Lala immediately took the broom that was available then cleaned her desk to sell today. Although he only sells in the market, but Lala really likes cleanliness. He always makes sure the place is always clean so that the buyer feels comfortable and does not think dirty. Devan who saw him from a distance was amazed by, only the first time he saw a hardworking teenage girl like her. He smiled at it himself.

He does not realize if his behavior peeping Lala gets the attention of someone. That person also approached Lala who was ready to sell. Devan frowned when someone came to Lala.

“Neng Lala,” call mom who caught Devan earlier.

Lala immediately turned to “Eh Bi Mina, what's wrong? Auntie tea wants more money?” tanyakanya.

The person called Bi Mina was one of the fish sellers there who was very close to Lala. Because once bi Mina was also a friend of his mother. “Not neng, I saw a man who continued to worry about neng,” bi Mina replied while looking at Lala's face.

“Who's bi?” ask Lala curiously.

Suddenly the person called bi Mina was directly pointing towards Devan. Devan was surprised when Lala suddenly looked at him.

“That he neng, from aunty noticed tea he continued to mengeliatin, mana while smiling again.”

Devan clenched his hand, because of the man now he was found out. If only he wasn't an old man he would've beaten up earlier. Devan suddenly arrived in panic because Lala suddenly approached towards him. “Sorry, who is it?”