Ballad First Wife
Sorry, I can't.

I arrived at the lobby and saw the handsome figure sitting relaxed while staring at the garden in front. His legs are neatly stacked together, his hands support his chin with his elbows above the arms of the chair.

The apprentice girls standing at the receptionist table whispered to each other praising the perfection of God's one creation. I smiled thinly. Brother Salman, has always been the lips of women wherever he is. Neither the old nor the young, once Salman appears, their eyes will not be able to see him. No exception to me as it is.

"Assalamualaikum, brother!" my broom.

Salman was a little surprised to hear my voice. Maybe he was concentrating on something else.

"Waalaikumsalam Fir." Salamb changed his position. Now he sits up straight and his legs are no longer resting on each other. His lips smiled and his eyes looked at me.

"What do you need, brother?" tanya after sitting in the seat opposite Salman.

Salman's eyebrows are linked, "What if I don't need to come?" the answer.

"It's not. But all this time brother never came, kept on suddenly coming, so it was a bit of a surprise." I'm quibbling.

Salman responded to Kataanjh with a sweet smile. He then took the file in the bag lying sweetly beside him.

"Read on!" he handed me the file in the map.

"This what?" ask me while opening the map. "Contract letter?!" I immediately arrange brother Salman so know what the contents of the map.

Brother Salman nodded, "Your work has escaped editing. So we're getting ready to print it. So, read both the contract and if there is something you do not understand, please ask."

I held the paper containing the contract with trembling hands. There is happiness filling my heart. There's a sense of pride too. O Allah, this is your promise, that behind the tribulation there will be ease. Behind the disaster is a blessing.

May I be proud, even though I do not know whether my novel will sell well or even just drown.

"How's Fir?" asked Brother Salman to break my wishful thinking.

"I have to sign where you are?"

"Next here." Salman took the contract paper I was holding and pointed to the part where I had to sign. I took the ballpoint pen that I used to slip in my work pocket and put my signature where Salman pointed.

"Here again!" brother Salman's Order.

"Here too."

I continued to put my signature on the place that Brother Salman pointed to without reading the contents first.

"You're so reckless Fir. Imagine if I had malicious intentions, you would just sign without reading them" said Salman.

"Because I believe in you, brother." I replied with a smile.

"Oh yeah?So do you also believe that I can make you happy?" sister Salman. Konta I felt my face heat up. I did not dare look into the eyes of Brother Salman who looked at me with the same twinkle as Alan's.

"Hahahaha.you're funny Fir. Your cheeks are red as tomatoes" Salman's leg chuckled.

I put both my palms on both my cheeks.

"Past anyway. Maybe because of the heat." I said wrong.

"Fira, this is the ac room. Hot cook?" Salman put on a smile.

I'm getting the wrong way.

"Hahahaha." again the laughter of Kak Salman blurted.

"Sister!" my sulk that can not behave properly because it is always wrong behavior.

"Yes.iya..." Salman stopped laughing too. "What time is it to go home?"

"Fifth hour." I replied.

"OKs. I'll pick you up." Brother Salman then rose, "I said goodbye because there is still business."

"Wouldn't you go see Alan?" I remember their friendship.

"What did you do to see Alan? What I miss is that you're not Alan."

Brother Salman's reply instantly made my face heat up.

"Hahaha." he laughed again as he sauntered away. I held his back until he was no longer seen.

"That's great. Who's Fira?"

"That was. My upperclassman from High School. Alan's boss friend too. His best friend." I replied.

"That's yeah. Saucy people sahabatan same saucy people too. Must have been your High School days they became the wrestler of girls "said the interns.

"If I'm to be honest, their charms are stronger now than they used to be." I said beginning to tease the apprentices.

"Really mbak?!" ask them curiously.

"Yes. For example, boss Alan. Sakep. But not now. Now he's clean, well groomed and..."

"Did I get dirty and shady?"

Alan's voice surprised me. I turned my head and saw him standing with his eyes staring intently at me. The two apprentices I had huddled with instantly dragged in fear. They sat down and hid themselves behind the height of the reception desk.

"Sir, since when is the father behind me?" my question is a little clumsy.

"Follow me!" alan said fiercely and left the lobby.

"Mom!" the two apprentices came out from hiding and looked at me anxiously.

"No papa. Our boss's a good man." I pacified them.

*

*

"So he came just to see you?" ask Alan cynically.

"You mean Salman? Ja. He came to ask me to sign a contract. Because my novel I gave the title Ballad First Wife will be published."

"Sad. What is the primitive age now, where does what have to come? Can't be in the email." Sneer Alan again.

I'm starting to hate hearing Alan's tone of voice.

"Why are you Lan?" my many.

"Why did you say?!" Alan got up from his seat and approached me. I backed off but Alan was closing in.

"Alane! Stop that!" I screamed as I felt my back turned to look at Alan's door.

Alan ignored my orders. He locked my body to the door.

"You're my future wife. I won't let you meet another man without my permission. Especially Salman!" firmly Alan.

I jerked. There is no bond between us and even my status is not officially divorced, Alan is as possessive as this.

I swallowed my saliva with great difficulty to dampen the tightness that began to fill my chest. I dared to look into Alan's eyes. I want Alan to see my anger through my eyes.

"Lan! I don't like this attitude of yours! I'm not your nothing. As long as you haven't justified me, we're nobody. You have no right to my life, and vice versa. I have no right to your life. So stop. Stop this ridiculous attitude of yours!" I said firmly.

Alan. It seems he did not expect my firm answer. Alan pulled out his hand that had locked me.

"I'm sorry Ra!" he said with regret.

I let out a breath. "The more we get here, the more incompatibility Lan appears. So it's not too late, get treated. Don't make your illness threaten me and your mother. Remember Lan, heaven under mom's feet."

I left Alan's room finished saying something that might hurt Alan again.

...I'm sorry Lan.I really can't accept you....