At Least I’M Free
XXII

9 Years ago in a hotel ballroom that had been changed in such a way for a seminar, it appeared Anggia dengah sat among 500 other people.

After being invited by her friend, the woman who just graduated from college was willing to attend a teaching seminar that the minister of education was pleased to hear. Like a seminar event, after the opening and reception there are some materials delivered about the development of domestic education in the last 5 years. In addition to evaluating the curriculum and teaching staff, they also discuss strategies to advance the quality of education.

Although Anggia listened to everything carefully, there was one speaker who really attracted his attention. In addition to physical attractiveness, the man also had a strong charisma and stoic aura. Even in explaining his thoughts he uses an effective way so that people can easily understand. Even so, the way it does not reduce the intellectual value it contains.

As if hypnotized, Anggia is so focused on paying attention. Even after the event was over, he still thought about the man named Ian Kurniawan.

"The basis of human logic must be built solidly from an early age. Therefore, primary school is a very important foundation of mind and must be formed with a quality education system and the best teachers in this country."

The sentence continued to begeming in his head until a few days later, Anggia who was still “unempuran” was also started looking for info about the man who seized his attention. Although still young, Ian Kurniawan has excellent academic qualifications that allow him to become a lecturer. Even so, he chose to work in elementary school. At that time Anggia was more fascinated, because it means that what the man was talking about at the seminar was not mere nonsense. He really reawakened his idealism into real life.

Not stopping there, after carrying out a lot of information, Anggia also had a way to apply to the elementary school where Ian taught, namely Elementary School 3. Luckily they were in need of a new homeroom so easily Anggia managed to execute his plan.

"Good day sir. The english teacher? Ah, greetings know me Anggia who replaced the homeroom class 3-B," said Anggia when he passed Ian in the corridor at the turn of the lesson.

"Oh yesiya. I heard from the others. Greetings yes, call me Ian" said Ian kindly.

Anggia smiled widely because she could talk directly to people she admired. However, he must be very careful to keep his interactions reasonable. However, do not let Ian realize his interest in the married man.

Therefore after they shake hands, Anggia leave and rush to the office. The initial impression is quite good, his mind does not know that a few months later something very bad will happen to him.

...* * *...

"Because he has a problem with his wife."

That one sentence alone had succeeded in making Anggia join other female teachers who were chatting in the corner of the office.

"Emang got nothing? Negosipin fellow teacher?" Anggia asked in a joking tone.

"Well, this is not gossip, but fact." Someone chimed with confidence.

"Hehe, yes. So how? Ian sir, what's the problem with his wife?" Anggia fishing rod, success makes it all back to the topic.

"Well, anyway, having a busy wife and rarely in the house is not good. Is he a medical guy, right?"

"Yes, his wife continues to be too emotional. Labil is the point."

Anggia nodded in response. Of course, none of this can be fully trusted. Even so, this information was quite satisfying his curiosity. Because even though Ian is famous for being friendly, but he has a very closed personality especially if it concerns his personal problems.

But it is because of this that Anggia's new ambition to peer into Ian's mysterious little persona begins. The first step is to get used to it. Almost every day Anggia approached Ian even if only for pleasantries and asking trivial things. He no longer cared about the impression of himself in Ian's eyes. As long as its existence was acknowledged, it was enough.

Over time the casual conversation became a habit and felt very natural between the two, and after that everything became easy.

"Sir, this is me making a lot of nastar cake. So I want to share for the father and family" Anggia explained as she offered a jar of nastar cake.

"Thank you..." Ian accepted. "Then I'm not good. What if I buy a cafe instead?"

Of course Anggia will accept it with pleasure. However, he refrained from getting too excited. "If you force me, I will."

So they went to the cafe together after work. Again everything went as smoothly as Anggia had planned.

In the presence of a cup of coffee and nastar setoples, Ian looked down like he had lost his soul.

"I can't stand it anymore" he said.

Anggia closely watched.

"absolutely suffocating. But I still have to hold it. After all, no one would be happy if I were frank with the situation." He took a cup and drank the filling.

Meanwhile, Anggia processes the words heard. He knows that marriage is not an easy thing, but if you still maintain things that can not be maintained especially to sacrifice your own happiness, is not such a thing also not good?

From that thought Anggia also proposed, "you should pay more attention to yourself. Happiness is worth fighting for. I'm sure it's not the wrong thing. Listen to your heart, don't mind what people say."

Anggia never thought that his words would really be heard and done Ian. There is regret and guilt that follows. What Ian was talking about at that time was not about marriage, but dirty desires that were the beginning of the destruction of many people.