The Secret With Bad Boy

Loyalty

The class becomes the place that eventually reunites Kala and Kinanti. After the awkwardness in the rooftop earlier, now they have to try to be ordinary. English lessons are subjects that are currently ongoing. A female teacher is reading a novel called ‘Odyssey’ by Homeros that shows different interpretations of the respondents about 'stories that shape the world'.

Students seriously listen to the snippet of the part being read to later be made an overview. With the exception of Kala, he was more fun looking at Kinanti's back which was slightly bent. The strands of curls covering Kinanti's back, lure Kala's frown to play it by wrapping Kinanti's hair into her ballpoint.

“Kal,” call Kinanti. The teenager who was busy spinning Kinanti's hair turned his head. Kinanti shook her head as a sign for Kala to stop her prank behavior.

“Okey!”

Only his lips were able to agree. But a few moments later he continued his frown on Kinanti's hair, until the owner was upset and pulled his hair to the shoulder without leaving a single strand on his back.

“Mr Kala,” call an English teacher.

Kala and Kinanti kompak. Looks like their English teacher realized that Kala was playing around.

“Ya!” but Kala was immediately sprightly, in contrast to Kinanti who immediately lowered her head with shrinking guts.

“Can you explain to us, what is the content of this Odyssey novel?” ask the teacher.

“Or maybe you want your busy story as long as I explained earlier?” he continued while looking at Kala sharply.

“Hahahaha Some friends of Kala laugh at this bad boy behavior. They compactly think, know what Kala is about a legendary novel.

“It is with great pleasure that I will explain the novel overview Odyssey.” Kala said confidently. He doesn't like to be underestimated like that.

“Please, we are very waiting,” challenge the thick-eyed woman.

Kala straightened her body before answering the teacher's question. The teacher was very sure that Kala did not catch anything from what he had described earlier.

“Odyssey is a story that asks questions about what it means to be a man, especially when he has been stripped of the pre-defined context.” I started the sentence classily and seriously.

“Okey, please continue?” the teacher in front looked surprised by the prefix of the overview Kala made.

“Odysseus was a husband far from his wife, a father who longed for his son to grow up, a warrior whose war had ended, a king far from his kingdom, a leader whose all his troops died, a, adulterer satisfies the desires of the goddesses, and the son whose mother died of heartbreak because he believed that he was dead.”

“He was an explorer, a pirate, an adventurer, a refugee. All the common difficulties faced by men are almost owned by the man,” stressed Kala with full confidence.

Guru Kala was stunned, he did not expect that Kala could make such a clear conclusion.

“Okey, good job. But next time, pay attention to others while talking in front, it is very important.” The woman in her forty years was serious.

Kala did not chim in, he just nodded. Then smiled at Kinanti who was silently watching him. Kinanti never thought that Kala could answer a question that even Kinanti did not understand the meaning of the question.

Under the table, Kinanti gave her thumbs up at Kala, amazing according to him. And Kala, he smiled happily because it managed to make Kinanti amazed.

****

In the office where Lukman worked, there was a commotion. Currently the middle-aged man was dealing with HRD who was introgating him. This is because Lukman applied for an annual leave of ten days.

“Where are you going on leave for ten working days? That means that almost half a month you will be absent from your job. If you feel bored and do not accept being moved to the headquarters, I can send an example of a letter of self-administration to you,” said the head of HRD cynically.

Lukman was stunned, he did not expect that the thought of his HRD head was that far.

“I'm sorry sir, I took quite a long leave, not because I was bored or did not accept being moved to the head office. But I have business to take care of. After all, during my time working at this company, I have never applied for leave even if other than the mandatory leave granted by the company when my wife died. I have never protested in places in remote areas and was required to move around even though in the employment contract, I should work in the field a maximum of fifteen years only. I never protest.”

“This is my twentieth year working here sir. Please understand this time only.” Lukman tried to explain.

“You want to try these same company counts?!” apparently HRD did not accept.

“Not like that, I mean,”

“What do you mean huh, what?!” the man clutched the collar of Lukman's shirt roughly. His eyes barked at Lukman with dislike.

“You know that our work is very much? When others work hard, you take time off. If you can't afford it, why don't you stop?!” exclaimed the man while pushing Lukman's body almost strayed.

Luckily there was a table that held Lukman's body from collapsing.

Lukman was silent, he could not cope. He is well aware that the company is currently very busy. But he also could not delay his treatment. While if he is honest he is sick, maybe he will be dismissed from this company. If he stops, how does he support Kinanti and pay for her medical expenses?

So, this is the only way Lukman can do, which is pretend to apply for a sabbatical.

“Why are you silent? Can't you talk?!” The head of HRD is still not satisfied with cursing Lukman. The staff who were outside his room until it was completely silent, imagined Lukman's current position.

“What is this?” ask a woman dressed Gracefully who passed through the common department room.

“Good morning madam,” greet the staff when they see the arrival of the owner of this company who is none other than Bertha.

“Pagi. Why is it so rowdy in your boss's room?” Bertha was curious about the noise she heard.

“Not approved? Why?”

"I don't know, Madam."

Bertha, who was curious, chose to get closer to the HRD head room and secretly eavesdrop on the two people's conversation.

“Sorry sir, if my leave request is too long. I also understand that the company is currently very busy. But really, sir, I have business to finish. It is also impossible for me to resign from a company that has employed me for twenty years. I beg your permacluman mr.” Lukman implored and bent his knees before the HRD's head.

“Don't much drama you! You're this-“

“What is this?” bertha asked who suddenly opened the door of the HRD head room. This woman was already very sultry to hear the chatter of the two people inside the room.

“Se-good afternoon mistress.” Quickly the HRD head approached Bertha and was about to experience it.

But Bertha ignored him, preferring to approach Lukman instead.

“Wake up, you don't have to bend your knees in front of him,” Bertha told Lukman.

Lukman is trying to get up. His body was very weak and he needed immediate medical help.

“Thank you, Mistress,” timpal Lukman without daring to look at Bertha's face. He was too ashamed of the head of this company because he had made a noise.

“So, you've been working in this company for twenty years?” Bertha quoted Lukman as saying a moment ago.

“Nineteen years over ten months, Mistress.” The HRD chief interrupted Bertha's remarks. Bertha quickly raised her hand as a signal that the thick-moustached, pelontos-headed man did not interfere.

“True Madam, nineteen years eight months fifteen days,” I Lukman who is still bowed.

“Pretty long yes. Sit.” Bertha asked Lukman to sit in the tapping chair while he flicked his hand at the head of HRD to get out of the way. He took over the seat of the round-eyed man's pride.

It looks like Kala, doesn't it? Haha….

“Thank you, Mistress.” Lukman sat down slowly, his head spinning and it felt like his body was about to collapse. Lucky this woman arrived at the right time.

“Where have you been placed?” Bertha is interested to know the track record of this man's career. It is rare to hear there are employees who still survive in this company for decades.

“I was placed in the field, the point point of Sumatra for seven years. Then in Borneo for four years. Sulawesi for two years. East Java for four years, NTB for two years, then Bandung operational office for one year and this month I officially moved here, Madam.”

“You have family?”

“There, Mistress. I have a daughter who is currently seventeen years old. My wife died a few years ago.”

Bertha nodded in understanding. After getting the information from Lukman, this woman turned her head to HRD.

“How long have you worked in this company?” that man this time was interrogated by Bertha.

“Eight years, Mistress.” He said with great pride.

“How long have you served as the head of HRD?”

“Two years, Mistress.”

“Then, how many people are you treating like this father?” bertha's question this time really nosedived the heart of HRD's head. His mouth could not speak.

Bertha smiled slightly. He took a piece of paper and wrote a memo on it.

“Go and meet the general director. Give me a letter to him and do not even dare to read it.” Bertha gave the order clearly.

“Se-now, Mistress?” the man's hands grew so thick it trembled.

“You think when?” cynical Bertha.

“Ba-good mistress. I'll see the director general soon. I excuse.” Quickly the man left Bertha and Lukman. He hurried to the general director.

“If you want a leave of absence, please. Make sure loyalty when returning to work, equal to loyalty before you meet with the head of HRD earlier,” Bertha said with wisdom.

“Sure Mistress, thank you.” Lukman nodded politely to express his gratitude.

“I should be grateful because you want to work in this company even since I still have not thought about how difficult it is to work,” stressed Bertha before then she left Lukman in this room.

Lukman's loyalty really touched him. He is not sure if there are other workers who have loyalty and integrity as much as Lukman has.

Lukman burst into tears just after his company leader left. Seno, who saw Lukman alone, immediately approached his colleague. They cry to strengthen each other.

****