GENK DUDA ACUTE
76. Life is a Mystery

Dean was still curious about what Musdalifah had to say to make sure Asih was not in the house. The shadow of the simple appearance of Asih disturbed his empathy. Dean's gaze goes around looking for where Santoso is. It turns out that one employee really became a birthday party clown. Santoso is cross-legged in the middle of a family room rug surrounded by children.

The dining room and family room were very boisterous at that time. Dita and Widi walked to and fro exploring every corner of the room and the displays they could reach. The slightly larger toddler sat down against Santoso who was doing his perfunctory magic. Rio's son who is already sitting on the SD bench looks more henchmen playing games through a tablet.

“Mus,” call Dean. He walked across the dining hall to Musdalifah who was talking to Toni.

Musdalifah and Toni looked at the same time. They were quietly waiting for Dean to arrive at their side.

“Napa, De?” ask Toni.

“My feeling is now bad, deh.” Dean said as he walked closer to Toni to the corner of the living room.

“What's the matter? Asih?” guess Toni. Dean nodded.

“We take the middle way. Let's fair. Also come here because of your request. That's for sure. Well, you have to set how to nyokap lo do not decet-deket cell phone again. After Asih, I was worried that you could contact the Intelligence Agency because he felt threatened. Danger is great,” Dean said.

“Asem! Okay—oke, noted. Trus? Why then?” ask Tony again.

“Gue kasian. Felt so bad.” Dean was silent for a moment, pursing his mouth.

“Tumben lo feel bad,” said Toni smiled.

”Gue is still curious Mus said how to Asih.” Dean glanced at Musdalifah.

Musdalifah cleared his throat slowly. Now he feels bad. “I said a little difficult words to impress it was a difficult thing. Because in my opinion, Mbak Asih will also not be too understand.” Musdalifah believes Dean understands what he means. Given how shrewd the man was talking.

“Remember, Mus, saying difficult terms will make us look smart. But when the interlocutor does not understand our intentions, then our communication is declared a failure. Looking smart is easy. But making others smart because they understand our speech, that's the real smart. Elementary adjustments. I hope you didn't talk about operating Microsoft Surface Studio in front of a group of farmers who are complaining about crop failure.”

Musdalifah was silent for a moment digesting Dean's speech. Then he nodded in a sign of understanding.

“Terus?” ask Tony patiently. Dean never seemed to worry about what he was doing.

“Musdalifah should make sure Asih gets home safely. He's here for sure out of money for transportation. His house, right, is far away. Or ask the driver to anter him to his house. He was very young, Ton ..” Dean looked at Toni's face with a serious look. “Gue so bad gini.” Then he closed his mouth.

“Mus,” Toni said, nodding at her secretary.

“Good, Sir. Anything else?” ask Musdalifah. “If there is any more let me do everything. After being asked to make sure Mbak Asih left, now I am asked to deketin Mbak Asih again. The ends of my being stuck,” upset Musdalifah, pursed his mouth looking at Dean.

“Inget installment ...,” sizzle Dean half sneer.

Musdalifah immediately clenched his mouth and narrowed his eyes at Dean. If only he had a position equivalent to a cocky lawyer in front of him, Musdalifah felt confident able to serve the man's words

Musdalifah was only worried that he could actually move to Papua after arguing with Dean.

“You have a casual chat, about the situation. That's aja. Inget about adjustment,” Dean said. He glanced at Toni who was busy with her phone, not listening to their conversation.

“Now, Sir? You want to relax first,” said Musdalifah.

“Two days, Mus. Wait until Asih arrives at his house,” Dean said. Musdalifah again snorted and immediately left Dean and Toni.

“Hape teruusss,” Dean quipped on Toni. The insinuated flinch. Still looking down at the phone with a smile that has not subsided since.

“Pak De, where is Mbak Mus going again?” Ryan came near his boss.

“Case can not be closed. There is still no running,” replied Dean. “That's taken care of like aja,” continued Dean.

“Iya, relax. The event organizer is very troublesome,” Ryan replied chuckling.

“Lo is full new,” reply Dean. Ryan was getting cackled.

“Eh, really mating?” sambar Langit walked over while holding Zurra and Rio next to him.

“Serious, Ton? Really kebelet?” ask Rio. Everyone looked at Tony. However, the man who is being satirized by his friends is still busy with long messages.

“What did you say just now?” tanya Toni after pocketing her phone. At once everything shook.

“Ton, I think—”

“What else, Dean?” cut Toni. “Lo seems really anxious from earlier,” Toni said.

“It looks like you need to find Asih before he gets home. Say what, cake. He's here because of lo.” Dean nodded small as if confirming to himself the belief in his words.

Tony looked at the other three men. Ryan shrugged his shoulders which meant ‘terasern’, Rio and Sky nodded simultaneously. And Dean, once again nodded.

“Mbak Asih,” call Musdalifah again. He came to a large round table located in the middle of the terrace outside the kitchen.

The kitchen terrace was used as a place for domestic assistants, drivers and nurses at the Anderson Family residence to exchange the latest rumors. From the story of a child who has difficulty eating, a sulking husband, the title of the latest novel, Andin gave birth but Al is in pain, until the gossip about Ojak's father defended his son. Everything's complete.

The Musdalifah pulls one seat next to Asih. “What's up, Ma'am?” tanya Asih, turned to Musdalifah for a moment. He zipped his bag, then draped the bag on the boat.

“You came home from the driver. Mr. Toni's request. Wait here, soon the office driver nyampe.” Musdalifah pulled out her phone, she scrolled the screen for a moment. Experience teaches him not to focus too much on waiting for someone to answer so as not to seem intimidating. This applies to Asih who is more worthy of being called a girl than a woman.

“My house, right, is far away. Later even troublesome,” sahut Asih. He obviously didn't mind if someone delivered him. He was just explaining the situation and the risk to his house that had to split the forest first could arrive.

“There are things we really don't need to worry about.” Musdalifah recalled the advice from Dean a moment ago. Adjustment of speech to the interlocutor. That's what a slick lawyer taught him. New science. There's no harm in him trying.

“I'm worried about Ms. Anderson. When healthy he was good to me and mom.”

“Maybe so did those of Mr. Toni's friends. Worry,” Musdalifah said. “You live alone at home? I suggest you don't stay alone. That loneliness is sometimes more dangerous than threats coming from others.” Musdalifah feels he is advising himself now.

“I'm sometimes at aunt's house all day. Go home to clean up. My residents may also be lonely if I am not there,” Asih said laughing.

Musdalifah. Instantly the feathers bristled. He looked up to see the face of Asih.

“How much are you? Klau can know,” asked Musdalifah.

“21 years, Ma'am. Says my guy looks more mature than my age.” Asih looked at Musdalifah's face closely.

“Still young, really. Keliatan,” Musdalifah said. “Who says you are more mature than your age? Why don't you—”

“Santet? I'm gonna have to say that, right?” Asih chuckles. His laughter looks so loose.

“I don't mean—”

“I can't. Not like that,” cut Asih. He still laughed amusedly at the reaction of Musdalifah when he said about the santet as obvious as that.

“Before I must have said a lot, yes ..” murmured Musdalifah. Asih nodded casually.

“Living cost in big village isn't?” ask Musdalifah.

“I work at MSME sugar palm, Mbak. My savings from Bu Anderson are also plenty. It used to be said that it was my cost savings to get married,” Asih said. “Now Bu Anderson is not even interested,” he continued.

“If anything, call Bu Anderson's phone number. In the meantime, Mr. Toni is holding his phone.” Musdalifah looks at Asih.

“Do not regret twice, Ma'am. The first is always hard to forget. But, the second regret can cause trauma.” Asih spoke looking at Musdalifah's face carefully.

“You do not speak strangely,” Sergah Musdalifah. He clutched his arms again while staring at Asih.

Asih shook his head slowly. His mind that had been gathered for a moment. It's like talking while daydreaming.

The sound of heavy and fast footsteps could be heard approaching them. Musdalifah looked back to see who had come. Toni appeared a few seconds later under the porch's door wicket.

“That office driver has come, Mus. I asked to come in here,” explained Toni.

Asih nodded small. Musdalifah stood up from his seat.

“Mmmm—Mbak Asih, thank you for being a friend of mine. Maybe all this time I rarely take the time to mami chat. Later I will take Mami to play at home, yes.”

Asih. “I'm sorry to go home, Mr. Toni. Sorry if I made a mess,” he said sincerely. He lifted the small bag of clothes he had brought.

“Sorry, I don't mean—”

“Nothing, Mr. Toni. I have no problem.” Really felt no problem for it. Ms. Anderson told her that her presence there was already known to the child. In fact, the man in front of him seemed to know nothing. He felt he could not blame the sick mother and the child who tried to keep his promises.

A white SUV walks into the backyard and stops right in front of the terrace. The middle-aged man came out to meet the Asih Innate.

By that afternoon, Asih returned to his village with a driver who had been entrusted with a message to ensure the girl arrived at his aunt's house safely.

Toni was relieved because the drama of the clenic thing with Asih and its mystery was almost resolved. Stay how to answer the question of the Asih reason that suddenly left.

Musdalifah felt relieved and wondered about what Asih said to him.

“Do not regret twice,” murmured Musdalifah.

To Be Continued