Ballad First Wife
Fira's New Career

"Fira!!!" the crisp voice of a woman greeted me as I walked into the mansion of Brother Salman.

 I was happy to hear Elsa's voice, but my legs were fixed in place when I saw Elsa's condition.

Elsa who used to be beautiful, good in stature, tall in height, why is now a woman who even though her face still looks beautiful, her body becomes thin dry.

"You don't want to hug me, Ra?" elsa's words jerked me. I woke up and I slowly approached him and hugged him. I can't hold back my tears.

"Sa, why are you doing this?" I asked while sobbing. My back warmed as Elsa's teardrops fell there.

"Later to tell me." whispered Elsa and released my body. I was so nervous to see the condition of his frail body. Suddenly Elsa held my hand firmly as if looking for a crutch. His body looks weak.

"Sa? You okay?" much worry.

I saw Brother Salman approaching immediately and grabbed Elsa's hand which gripped my arm. My body brushed when Brother Salman's hand accidentally touched my arm even though my arm was covered in cloth.

"Ma, let's sit down. Don't push yourself." Salman's soft voice asked Elsa to sit back on the chair.

Elsa according. He sat down and looked at me. With a gesture of his hand, he asked me to sit next to him.

I sat next to Elsa. My school-age best friend immediately grabbed my hand.

"Sorry!" it's the question that made me not understand what the apology meant. Even so I nodded so that he would calm down.

Alan came in with Ryan. He accompanied Ryan who whined to buy something sold by a merchant in front of Salman's house.

"Hi, Sa! How are you?" hello Alan was ordinary as if Elsa's situation like this did not bother him.

"As usual, Lan." replied Elsa as if Alan already knew her condition. Alan knows and I'm the only one who doesn't.

"Hi.handsome. This must be Ryan, right?" greet Elsa to Ryan. Ryan approached and reached out his hand to shake Elsa's hand and kissed her.

"Yes aunty." replied Ryan.

"Uhh the gem." Elsa pinched Ryan's pinched cheek made my son smile while grimacing.

"Where are you, Ma?" ask Salman.

"In the playroom. Ordinary, he was the most at home there." replied Elsa.

"Ryan, come with Salman. Meet the children om, later you can play together." invite Brother Salman while extending a hand to Ryan. Ryan looked at me for permission. I'm nodding. Ryan took Salman's hand and followed him to his son's room.

"Ra, I'm concerned about the condition of your household. The patient and strong!" said Elsa. I'm shocked. Where does Elsa know about my household condition. My eyes were on Alan.

"Don't blame Alan. I always ask him to report about your situation." said Elsa when she saw me staring at Alan. As for Alan, he doesn't understand what we're talking about at all because he's focused on his phone.

"Thank you Sa. InshaAllah I am strong." I replied with a smile.

"Don't feel alone. If you need anything, call me. We are friends and more than that, let me make amends for you" said Elsa, who is still a riddle to me.

"What's wrong with you, Sa? You're not wrong with me."

"I have something wrong with you, Ra. A big mistake that I don't know if you'll forgive him or not. But I hope you'll forgive her." Elsa patted the back of my hand.

Our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Salman.

"Come, eat. Bi Rani has prepared it." asked Brother Salman. "Lan, let's eat first. Keep your phone first. It's like a wife on a cell phone. In elus-elus continues." Salman's brother teases Alan.

"If my wife isn't just elus, I hug and kiss her too" Alan replied and they both laughed.

"Eat him a piece of marriage." continued Elsa who also teased Alan.

"Choakan Sa. I'll propose to him soon. And hopefully he doesn't reject me." Alan replied as he stared at me. I directly lowered.

"Need help, Sa?" I said to shift my nervousness over Alan's words. Elsa nodded. I then helped Elsa up and swept her into the dining room following Brother Salman and Alan.

"Here you go" said Elsa, asking for help sitting next to Alan.

"Eh, why aren't you there?" I asked as my eyes turned to the chair next to Brother Salman.

"Too far, Ra. I'm tired of walking." Elsa reasoned. I followed his will. Pulling the chair next to Alan and helping Elsa sit down.

I saw that Alan had taken the rice and side dishes, he was ready to eat when I nudged his shoulder.

"What's? Wanna bribe?" alan asked as he lifted a spoonful of food.

Elsa and Salman looked at us.

"Ck, no. You moved there. Let me sit here." I said.

"Here's Ra!" call Salman with his reasonable attitude.

I then stepped up and sat down next to Brother Salman. Unintentionally, my feet were humming the carpet that was lining the dining table. My body staggered forward and fell on Brother Salman who immediately caught me swiftly.

"Are you okay?" ask Salman. Our eyes looked at each other and I saw that light in his eyes. Light as I have seen it before. Once upon a time when we were in High School.

I hurriedly pulled my body from the arms of Brother Salman. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, brother." I said nervously.

"It's okay. Sit down!" Salman pulled the chair next to him. I stepped up and sat in that chair. I was about to open the plate to take a meal, but suddenly Brother Salman has done it for me.

"Please!" he said after I finished opening my plate. I'm nodding.

I looked at the menu on the dining table. Why all the menus are my favorite food.

Seeing that I was only watching the food at the table, Alan who was sitting opposite me immediately stood up and took the rice and placed it on my plate. He also took some of my favorite dishes.

"Quick eating! Don't think too much!" said Alan.

I was very clumsy with Alan's attitude. I saw Elsa. He smelled a smile. I also glanced at Brother Salman. He was not bothered by Alan. He continued to eat his food in a relaxed manner.

"Thank you, Lan. But you don't need to be like this. I can take it myself." I said. I slowly started eating my food.

A side dish landed back on my plate. "Didn't you like this?" brother Salman asked after putting a piece of chrysanthemum fried squid onto my plate.

"E.iya." I'm more nervous than when Alan took the food.

"You see Ra? There are still many who love you. So losing your husband doesn't have to put you down" Elsa said. "After all, perhaps this is God's answer to someone who always says your name in his prayers every night. You were separated from Andre in order to be with him." continued Elsa.

"Ohuk!!" Salman coughed at the choking on food.

Since the water teapot was close to me, I immediately poured the water into the glass that was in front of Brother Salman.

"Please Ra" said Brother Salman. He then continued eating. So did I.

We finished our meals and sat in our own places. Bi Rani, Elsa's housekeeper, takes care of the dirty dishes and keeps the leftovers. When the table was clean, he put some snacks and fruit on it.

"What time is check in?" ask Salman.

Alan looked at the circular watch on his wrist. "Three hours" he answered.

"There's still time, why don't you go for a walk" Elsa suggested. "Ryan must love being around."

"Isn't it still a pandemic?"

"No papa. You can already. Just don't forget the health protocol." replied Brother Salman.

"But..."

"Why?Afraid contracted? Don't worry, if you're sick and infected, I'll take care of you." Alan said.

Elsa laughed while Brother Salman just smiled thinly and. Ah.impossible. He is Elsa's husband. Conscious Fira.

"Oh Ya Ra's. When did you finish your novel?" ask Salman suddenly.

Alan coughed immediately.

"Novels?" I looked at Brother Salman confused.

"Gini Ra's. Earlier I apologized for acting so presumptuous. I once opened a computer in your room and I accidentally read your writing. I copied it and I sent it to Salman. Salman says the story you wrote is good. So he intends to publish it." Alan explained.

I let out a breath. If you knew Lan, it was a scrawl about the life I lived as well as a fantasy of the life I expected. Not novels.

"How's Ra?" Salman's question made me look up. "Dear if you just stop at your computer. Good story. It'll blow up later."

"I'm not sure Brother." I hesitated.

"Try Ra. I'm sure you're capable." persuaded Elsa to encourage me.

"Yes. Don't waste my efforts stealing it from your computer" Alan said with a grin that was immediately followed by a crisp laugh Elsa. This time I heard Brother Salman also laughed even though he was soft.

"alright. I'll try." I said at last.

"Well! So donk. Let's take a walk celebrating Fira's new career as a writer" Alan said excitedly. He smiled broadly. Sure oes. With my consent, he assumed I would not punish him for stealing my writing. But just wait for you, nosy Alan. I will punish you.

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