Only I Love
Chapter 22

Ala looked more nervous. For him, this man's behavior was completely different from usual. It was impossible to suddenly change just like that overnight after leaving town.

"Where did you go yesterday?"

His deathly voice, changed instantly. He took off his embrace towards Ala making the wife even more confused. She who had just felt the warmth of the embrace, took turns now hugging her husband.

"Is Ala wrong to ask that? Sorry Uda, don't be mad. Ala only felt very worried because Uda had no news. A sense of uneasiness lingered in Ala's heart and mind. In fact, Ala was hard to close her eyes fearing Uda for anything."

Syauqi tried to take off the hug, and this time his face looked doubtful. "May I ask you something?"

"Sure, whatever it is will surely Ala fulfill. Ala's body and soul are yours, Uda. Whatever Uda wants, as a wife Ala will fulfill if it can Ala do."

"I ask you not to ask what is your husband's business?" The man got up and headed for the exit without saying anything more.

"Well .." said Ala grudgingly staring at the door. Behind the door, Syauqi scratched his head back feeling muddled by this situation.

Drrrttt

Drrrtts

His phone vibrated and on the flat screen was the name Salma. He glanced at the door, then stepped up the stairs to the top floor to answer his wife's call.

"Hello, Assalamualaikum?"

"Hey my dear husband, when are you here again? I've missed you so much." said Salma across the street.

"Pliss, we've agreed not to highlight marriage today to anyone. I beg you not to contact me before I call you first." Syauqi said in frustration.

"Well, our newly fused times have to separate again? Or, am I going there? Like you said before, you would recommend me at your current teaching place right?"

"I hung up the phone first" said Syauqi, ready to press the red button.

"Don't! Bang, I'm still ka—"

Click, call has been closed. He locked himself in his room. He was sitting on the bed in an agitated face like he had just committed a great sin.

"What should I do?"

*

*

*

Although Ala seemed saddened by the incident this afternoon, but she still tried to calm down and prepare food for her husband who was performing the Magrib prayer at the mosque near his home. Incidentally in the refrigerator there are still foods such as rendang, soup, and some other foods.

After performing her magrib prayer in the room, Ala began to arrange the dining table putting dishes, spoons, and other utensils. After all the food was served, she awaited the return of her husband.

"Assalamualaikum" said Syauqi had been inside the house

"Walaikumsalam warrahmatullahi wabarakatuh." Ala welcomed her husband throwing away his sadness earlier.

"Come on Uda, dinner's already Ala's ready."

The man nodded, taking off the black skullcap that had been attached to his head. Looks like food berkuah and some light menus such as fried tofu served on the table.

"This is Umi's food in the fridge?"

"Ah, Umi food? Yes, beaches taste exactly the same as Umi's. Yesterday Ala just ate this. So Ala warms up again."

She began preparing food for her husband's plate. Take one piece of rendang and know. After that, it was doused with soup sauce and handed the plate to her husband.

"So, Uda really went to Umi's house?" ask Ala. She recalled her mother-in-law's words as she was in turmoil over her husband's behavior walking alone with another woman.

Syauqi only glanced at his wife for a moment then focused on his food back.

"It's healthy, isn't it, Da?"

"The old Udah of Ala did not meet Umi. We'll stop there tomorrow, Uda?" Ala continued to talk while taking the food moved into her plate.

Her husband did not reply, only serious about the food she ate, Ala looked at her husband a little disappointed. She was surprised that her husband's behavior had changed.

"If it doesn't sound like this, I assume you agree!" Ala decided on her own.

"Yahuuk!" Syauqi choked upon hearing Ala's sudden decision.

Ala immediately approached to hand over the glass filled with white water. "Did you forget to read the basmallah before you ate?" canda Ala melts the atmosphere.

"Agreed what? What are you saying?" ask the man who turned out to be aware of his daydream.

"Astaghfirullah, why not go this way? Is the matter outside the city really that big to drain all of Uda's mind?"

Syauqi looked at his wife after her chest felt comfortable. "Did you forget my request. I'm asking you not to ask with all my business, right? You promised to support her." Syauqi continued his delayed meal.

"Yes, sorry." Ala sat down on the bench next to her husband.

A spoon floated right in front of his mouth. Ala glanced at the owner of the hand.

"Well, I'll try to be a good husband to you. You must also respect my request."

Ala smiled nodded. His mouth immediately opened and entered the food directly chewed it.

*

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*

The next day

"Well, starting today, at the request of my nephew, I appointed you as the head of Junior High School in this Pondok Pesantren," said Apak, brother of the late Abi in the middle of the formal welcoming meeting Syauqi in Pondok Pesantren.

The decision made some teachers who were there look not like. Moreover, he had just set foot in this Pesantren Cottage.

"It's against the son-in-law of the late Ustadz Faisal, he can easily take that position" whispered one of the teachers who was seen putting on a sour face.

"Sttt!" the interlocutor's argument is not interested in the incitement given by a teacher named Lutfi.

"Don't that dong? Anyway, he's new here. Why is he the principal? Wouldn't there be more senior teachers who are already very experienced teaching here who would be more deserving of that position?" Lutfi was still staunch with that unwarranted incitement.

"I was listening to Mr. Fajri give a speech! If this is indeed Syauqi's sustenance, even though he is new here, yes we accept it! He could be a compromise. He is a Cairo graduate, so his knowledge must be more than ours" said his interlocutor who still looks not interested in the incitement.

Lutfi realized he could not make the atmosphere hot just because he did not accept the new person to be the principal. His face seemed tense planning something glancing at Syauqi who was speaking over the welcome had been appointed the principal for the Junior High School level in Pindok Pesantren.

'You're too clean young man! We see, what kind of rat path have you used to sit in that post!' inner Lutfi.