The Sugar Mommy

Elsa's Reaction

The judge insisted on asking for Elsa's time even if it was just a moment. But Elsa is reluctant to talk alone as long as Rian is not home.

Elsa avoids the bad rumors about herself again. She does nothing and is always found to be the victim of a neighbor's evil slander, what else if until someone sees Elsa alone with a man other than Rian, her husband.

"No problem talking on the porch." The judge pointed out the door.

"Yes already." Elsa stepped outside the door first before being overtaken by the Judge in the back.

Elsa sat on one of the chairs, trying to calm down even though she was curious. Usually the judge comes to meet with Rian. But this time different, Elsa feels Judge has looked more different in the last few days.

"You can talk now, Kim." Elsa placed both hands on her lap. "What do you want to talk to me about?" tanyakanya.

Judge takes a seat—most close to the door. The judge looked nervous as if there was something important that the man would say. "Look, Sa ... I want to say—wait. I'll pick up the phone first." The Judge's one hand was raised into the air, hinting that their conversation should pause as the cell phone inside the Judge's pocket rang.

The judge's face changed in seconds when he found the contact number on his phone. Elsa watched the Judge's face, but the man hurriedly moved from her chair, half running towards the side of the house to pick up the phone from someone.

The judge's move was too hasty if only to pick up a phone call from Mak Ratih. After all, if his parents were calling, why would the judge hide everything?

The judge looked back and forth before sliding his phone screen. He made sure that no one would hear his chat with the caller.

The heart of Judge feels like it's falling free. The phone call came from the city.

"I'll pick up or not, okay? He may already know of my whereabouts." The judge held the phone in his right hand. Busy arguing with himself.

The phone call is dead too. The judge took a long breath. But the peace of Judge did not last long because a message—derived from the number was— appeared on the screen of his phone. It shows a threat message.

"Thank you for my phone, or I'll come to your village and then expose your dirty secrets to Mom and all the neighbors?"

The judge broke into a cold sweat after reading the message. The judge scooped his face rough, as he panicked.

Not long after the incoming call appeared. Again from that number.

The judge changed the number many times to avoid the person. But the figure always managed to find himself, haunting the Judge every day until he felt his life was no longer calm.

"Hello," the judge's great-grandson after the square object stuck to his ear.

The figure laughed triumphantly. The judge pulled his phone away for a while. "Why should I be threatened with a new appointment?!" snapped it.

"It's not so ..." The judge broke out in cold sweat. "I was busy helping my mother's catering business in the village. So, I rarely hold a cell phone."

The figure snorted a sign of disbelief at the judge's reasoning. "Don't have much of a reason for you, Kim! If you don't return to the city soon to solve the problem between us, I will unload all your rottenness all this time! Imagine how your mother would feel if she knew her son was actually working as—"

"OKay! Okay," Judge sidelines quickly. "I'll be home next week then!"

"No! But three days from now" the man said.

Three days is too short to muster courage for the Judge. The man was very scary, cruel, did not hesitate to hurt anyone who had betrayed him. One of them is the judge.

"You know Kim, that I never messed with my threats?" muttered.

The judge immediately ended the call from the man. He was threatened by that man. The reason the Judge returned to the village in addition to missing his mother, where he was born, the Judge was also on the run from someone in the city. The judge found it hard to find a way out. Brain's dead-end. And so he escaped secretly.

"Sa, I'm sorry I have to go home now. My mother called." The judge returned to the porch of Elsa's house. There the woman was still faithfully waiting for him.

"Yes, Kim. Greetings to Mak Ratih, yes."

"Okay, Sa." The judge waved his hand in the air. "I'm going home."

***

Nowadays it is very difficult to find a job. It was felt by Rian. He has been around looking for work— whatever origin Rian can feed for his son and wife.

Tired of looking for work but could not go, Rian fad to go to the market near his home. It just so happened that there was one of the rice stores looking for new employees.

"I can work anything, Ko! I am strong to lift things up," Rian explained expectantly.

"Yes already. Tomorrow you can start work," said the owner of the rice shop.

"So really, Ko?" pekik Rian was happy.

"Yes" he answered. "Not come to be!" his thoughts to Rian.

"Good, Ko! Thank you very much" said Rian glad not to play.

Rian said goodbye to Ko Rio, as the store owner who will hire Rian in his shop.

The wages that Rian would receive could not be said to be large or small. He will receive a payday every day. Rian was grateful in his heart. Although the wages given by Ko Rio were not much, just enough to eat everyday while Rian still had debt dependents to loan sharks.

Rian went home impatiently telling Elsa at home, Rian came home. Hearing that Rian had been accepted into work, his wife would definitely be very happy.

However, reality always destroys expectations. According to Rian, Elsa will be happy, giving him congratulations because Rian finally got a permanent job.

Elsa shows regular motion. Even his facial expressions tended to be disappointed.

From Elsa's point of view, it wasn't ungrateful. But isn't Rian looking for a better job than just looking for a hip-cool in the market? Elsa can guess that they will live all the shortcomings even though Rian already has a job.

"What's the same with your face, Sa?" tanya Rian looked at Elsa's face.

"It's okay!" sahut Elsa ketus. "Already, I'm Moving. I'm going to make some milk for Faqih."

Elsa hopes, Rian gets a job more kayak than just a pelvic porters. If Rian lives alone, it doesn't matter. Rian is already married. Even their son was three months old.

Are the wages of being a pelvic coolie enough to finance their daily lives? Elsa thinks not. It won't be enough. In the end they will remain poor, and be looked at with one eye by the neighbors.

SERIATE....