FAITHFULLY YOURS (BSBB)
Chapter 2

...Chapter 2 | Faithfully Yours...

Our day is not over. After shopping for cosmetics and skin care products, we visited a spa salon in a shopping mall. The salon is quite crowded because it is the end of the week. While sitting waiting in the waiting chair, Rara complained.

"It should have been spawning first, just shopping. A lot about gini groceries, so be it." Rara circulated a glance around the salon that began to look crowded. "Where else is rame gini" he said.

Waiting for about twenty minutes, we finally went in for treatment. Our bodies were spoiled with relaxing massages, then continued with scrubs and milk baths. Enjoying a series of refreshing routine treatments, two hours passed. We who have finished continue the payment. While waiting in line at the cashier, I saw a mother accidentally drop her credit card.

Marlita Gunardhi's. I accidentally read the name listed on the credit card and immediately flinch. My mind was piqued for a moment, wondering if this mother recognized me or not. Staying calm is an attitude I try to show. I handed the card back to the woman who wore a batik-patterned light-brown shirt, made from which it looked expensive. He said thank you.

After we paid, Rara and I got out of the salon. But unexpectedly, the mother of the credit card owner was waiting for us.

"Sorry, what time is it, huh? I forgot my watch and my phone ran out of battery. So, can't call the driver" the mother said.

"Oh, it's half-five in the afternoon, ma'am" replied Rara.

"Oh, so. I happen to want to go eat after this. Would you like to eat together as a thank you for that?"

"Bolehh," answered Rara plainly.

"No, thank you, ma'am," I said at the same time.

'Don't carelessly accept the invitation from a stranger,' I looked at Rara and gave a gesture of refusing her.

Rara ignored me. "The wind is not rejected" he whispered.

Finally, we sat down at a restaurant and ordered a menu. Shortly after the meal came, the mother began her conversation.

"Your name ... Mia, right?" ask Ms. Marlita reassuringly. To-the-point.

"Yes, Mom."

His purpose and purpose was to treat us as if it was read by me. I think he wants to ask me for help again. I watched Rara eat voraciously. As for me, this throat seemed to be pierced by bones to refuse to swallow anything.

"I am Andre's wife."

I was silent for a moment because I had validated the uncomfortable atmosphere I felt here. "Actually I already know ..., "my answer is calm.

"Gee. I wanted to surprise you, but you surprised me. You recognize me?" Miss Marlita has a smile.

No, it seems that the most shocked was Rara, she did not realize that the one in front of us was our former client. It made Rara who was busy chewing, now silent and not wrinkled. I just looked at the mother and smiled.

She was the wife of an Om whom I dated a few months ago. I've been aware of it since I saw his credit card that had fallen off earlier. Ms. Marlita is my client and under the agreement, me and the clients will return as strangers once our case is over. Where the man I had been targeting had returned to him, and we lived each other's lives. Uniquely, Marlita and I have never met before. He just asked me to help him over the phone and this was the first time we met face-to-face. Even so, of course I recognized him. Before accepting the job, I first learned who the client would use my services.

"What do you want to say?" my many.

"Wait first. Aren't you wondering why I know you're Mia?" Marlita asked back.

"I'm not curious. You want to tell me or not it's not a problem" I replied.

"To count someone who works in a world like this, you are polite. I recognize you because—maaf—I've been following you. And actually, I want to thank you again for helping me take away the rights of children. The problem is that he's back acting like he's never been hooked. So, I want—"

"I'm not continuing my relationship with Om Andre, Mom," I said. "When the case is over, I never get in touch with any target again" I said firmly.

"I know. I know it's not you, because my husband has another woman again. I also know every month Andre returned to Jakarta, but never returned home. He didn't even see his kids. Actually, I don't care what he does, I don't even care anymore. But, when he started ignoring his children, that's where I couldn't stay silent. The last year Andre has only met his children 3 times. Next month is our first child's wedding" Ms Marlita said.

"Then, what do you want me to do?"

"I would like to ask you to call Andre again and convince him to attend his daughter's wedding. Just tell me you know their marriage because you know the men."

I exhaled slowly. My guess is right, he wants to ask for help again. This is what makes me not want to get involved more deeply with the personal lives of the clients after completing the task. They have complex lives.

"Sorry, Mom. But, I'm not accepting a new case."

"Please, Mia .. this one time only. I'm asking you to call Andre and have him attend his daughter's wedding. At a minimum, he did not forget to visit them," he asked. "Our youngest child who is still in 3rd grade always asks when his father came home. Do you know how torn my feelings were when I heard that? As for the child, I will always be weak!" Ms. Marlita looks emotional when talking about her children.

"I really hope he can accompany his son at the altar. Although only for a moment, it means a lot to us," he added sound resigned.

Finally, I nodded my head in agreement. "Yes, Mom, I'll tell you."

His face is now bright. "Thank you, I really appreciate your good intentions." He picked up his bag and pulled out a brown envelope. "Please accept this little fee, Mia."

Besides the expensive perfume, of course I love the smell of money. Then, I received a gift from Ms. Marlita. He shook my hand thanking me and we parted ways.

***

Here, I'm sitting waiting for someone. On the front porch of a dormitory that has two chairs and a small round rattan table in between. Off in front there is a green expanse of plants in the park that are still wet due to morning dew. This beautiful atmosphere reminds me of my old school days.

I stripped off all of Mia's attributes and went back to being myself, a aunt of Adeline Cikita Setiawan, a 13-year-old girl who would never see her parents again. Forever. Not in this world.

"Aante!"

I turned to the voice I missed, the sweet and innocent young girl was smiling to see me. Like flower buds that are waiting for their time to bloom, I take good care of them. He's the main reason I collect money. Therefore, I also choose the best school and leave it in the girls dormitory. In my opinion, that way he will be safer and more awake than the cost of free hours. He can also learn to be more responsible for himself.

"Aunty's hair is now brown. At school, our hair can't be painted that color. Adel envied me, deh," he lamented when he looked at my hair.

I laughed when I heard the first words that came out of his mouth were complaints. "Later, if you have graduated from High School, you can paint colors. Patience, yeah." A bag of supplies I thrust. "Tante really made a promise to come, didn't he?" I was greeted by a quick nod by Adel. "Adel ate?"

"This morning. But not too tasteful. The hostel cuisine is not good." Adel pressed his lips forward while tying up the thick black shoulder-length hair.

"Pity. This auntie bawain, nih, shrimp stir-fry chickpeas, chicken steak, the same vegetable soup for Adel. Eaten up, yuk."

Adel's face changed when he opened the provisions that I had prepared. Slowly, he nodded. A clear droplet fell on his thigh wrapped in dark blue trousers, I realized he was crying.

"Adel ... why?" my many.

"Adel misses Papa with Mama. Miss Aunt. We miss getting together again," he said honestly voicing the contents of the heart.

Naturally if he thought, his body even looked thinner. Poor you, Del. But life has to go on, honey. You must be strong. I looked at him, gently stroking the head of my nephew who was starting to grow. "Student learning. Not for good value. Make Aunty value is not everything, it is important you understand what is taught. Finish well what you do. Let your future be brilliant. Papa Sama Mama up there must be happy too," my message.

"Yes, Aunt." He wiped his tears.

"Tuh, Auntie brought you things that you definitely like. There's new clothes, school shoes, English dictionaries, reading books, and stationery." I pointed at another bag full of stuff. It was like a magic bag belonging to Doraemon.

"Waah .. thanks, Aunt." Those eyes sparkled back in an instant as they looked at all the contents in the bag.

I stroked Adel's head, his black hair felt soft. "Now eat first, dong," asked him who immediately ate the food I prepared. I was so happy to see him eating like that. Not felt, it was my turn to shed tears. You deserve to live well, Del. Auntie guarantees your needs are met. Aunt promise.

"By the way, Auntie knows Heny, huh?"

"Heny?"

"Cheny, Temen Adel. Said Temen, Aunt never met her father Heny. Is that really? What's the matter, Auntie? Why, not Adel?"

"Huhh??!" I was shocked by Adel's question. I don't even know what to answer and how. Is it true that I ever came out with my unwitting target that was Adel's papa friend?

"Ma-time huh?? Who said that??"

"Partner."

"Any cake, yeah. Focus on the same lesson."

"Yes, Aunt."

***

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