The Azkia Wound Flakes
A Tale of the Past

Azkia felt small standing beside Kevin. Because, Kevin is sturdy, tall and. Azkia kept on thinking and swore that Mia and Joana would surely be jealous to see Azkia standing side by side even if only in the freight elevator.

"Ehm. You know there's a freight elevator here?" ask Azkia. He didn't want to be too stiff with this boss.

"Yes knows. Marco told me." replied Kevin.

"Although I haven't been here very long, but I heard from Marco, you're quite competent. I should thank you. Because of you, this company is doing well" Kevin said as he glanced occasionally at Azkia.

Azkia smiled shyly.

"Yes sir, you're welcome. I just do my job."

The elevator doors open. They're out.

"From the tender you came to yesterday, there were two that attracted me. I want to look ahead. A good prospect. Please analyze the tender company first so that I can compare" said Kevin.

"Good, Sir. I'll do it when I get to the office."

"Send an email to me first. Later when it's fixed, new in print." said Kevin again. Finally they arrive at the office, after missing the finger print, Azkia let Kevin enter first because Kevin is his boss.

Azkia did not like this situation. He is just lazy when he goes into the office later, his coworkers will start gossiping again. Sure enough, after Azkia entered the office, there was already Mia and Joana who were ready to preach to her superiors.

"You're coming with Mr Kevin?" mia whispered but was hysterical.

"Well, crazy. You don't want to get gosipin doi. Uh it was diem-diem..." Joana does not believe that Azkia is also interested in men other than being interested in work.

"What the hell are you guys. I just met you up ahead. The rest talk about work. There's nothing I'm playing behind that there isn't" Azkia said to her desk and put down her bag.

"How did you meet in the elevator? I also just came." said Mia.

"There was a full passenger elevator. So I took the freight elevator." Azkia said she did not pay attention to the look on her best friend's face that looked confused. He turned on his computer.

"What's? Take the elevator together?" Joana almost squealed her voice.

Feeling wrong, Azkia repeated her words.

"Not both. There's OB. Just calm down why?"

"Just tell us from behind" replied Mia crossing her arms around her chest.

"Speaking what the hell, it's over there to the seat. You are a Fangirl idol of Kpop. How can I be interested in macem, Mr Kevin?" azkia asked confused and began to get annoyed with suspicion.

"Aaazzz. I can only watch on youtube tv, instagram or twitter. But if Mr. Kevin, it's real in plain sight. The good looks I can enjoy every day." Mia replied dramatizingly.

"Noisy, noisy. Work there!" Azkia begins to feel uneasy if Mia and Joana come to her desk just for a gigah. He better keep working and find materials to send to Kevin. Today Azkia wanted to keep busy so that she would not remember Nicolas.

***

Nicolas was a pretty good looking boy at school. Many girls are vying to win Nicolas' heart. But, Nicolas is only captivated by Azkia's beauty. Azkia is Nicolas's cheerful and friendly underclassman. That's why Nicolas likes it.

Azkiapun. He likes Nicolas. Many say, Azkia is very lucky to get a big sister and do not need to be afraid anymore if there is a bully Azkia at school. Nicolas must have come and defended him.

Nicolas and Azkia are a popular couple. Who does not know Nicolas and Azkia. Couples who are considered to be dating for a long time and never break up.

But who would have thought, one day before graduation day, Azkia and Nicolas had a big fight. Azkia was crying so much. Azki also did not attend the school graduation event. Friends search for where Azkia is. But absolutely no one can find him. Even one of his friends, looking to Azkia's house.

There was no one in Azkia. Everything looks empty. Rumors began to arrive at Azkia's school. They linked him to Nicolas. They just assume that Azkia and Nicolas broke up. But I don't know what the problem is.

***

13 Years ago...

Azkia looked trembling. He felt scared. This time he experienced it. Now he is in a village quite far from the city. Father, Mother, Azkia and Seruni, move hastily to the countryside which turns out to be his father's hometown.

"It's hard to think about it again, son. There's Mom and Dad here. You don't have to be afraid." said Dad, calming Azkia down. But her father's gentle voice made Azkia feel guilty.

"Dad, forgive Azkia, Dad. Azkia has become a burden to Dad. Forgive Azkia, Dad! Azkia is really embarrassed!" Azkia cried apologizing to her father.

"Azkiah swore to obey Father and Mother to atone for the sins of Azkiah, Father. Azkia will not repeat it again. Azkia swore, Father." Azkia promised her parents. 

"Then, Dad, what about Azkia's pregnancy?" 

Dad's speechless. Dad still can't decide.

"Your gynecology hasn't been in a month, son. If you want to..." I hesitated to say the next sentence.

"No, Ma. Don'tdon't. There are brothers who can't have children, right? Let Azkia give birth to this child, ma'am. And give it to your twenty-year-old brother who has no children, Mom. Dad, how?" Azkiah tried to persuade his father not to abort his womb as much as possible. 

"Are you sure, son, by your decision?" ask Dad.

"Yes Dad. Azkia. Rather than kill, Dad. It's a sin."

"But you're very unlikely to meet your son later." Dad reassured Azkia.

"Yes, Dad." 

Then the mood became quiet. Father, Mother and Azkia went through a difficult time. Only Seruni was asked to shut up and not tell anyone about the pepper.

Azkia pregnancy is healthy. He ate the nutritious food that I cooked for him. And also he checked his condition to the midwife regularly. Vitamins for blood enhancers, folic acid and calcium regularly Azkia drink for the sake of the fetus grows into a healthy and strong child.

He also set aside money to buy pregnant milk so that the content remains healthy. The longer the day passes, the greater the Azkia content. It's getting harder to move and walk. But Seruni swiftly helped her struggling sister.

"Sir.. Please sendal brother, Dek. It doesn't fit, sister's leg is swollen." 

Seruni who since childhood was also trained independently by Mother was used to helping her brother who was in trouble.

"Yes, Brother. Runi take it in the back." Before long, Seruni returned from the backyard and put on sandals for her brother.

"What do you want to eat, brother? Runi has made fried chicken with vegetable soup " 

"Where's mom, Dek?" 

"Mother next door, sister, help cook there."

"So don't want some soup, Dek. It's hard a lot, same please make milk, Deck." 

"Yes, Brother." 

Seruni swiftly helped her brother to eat and drink milk. Azkia already looks difficult to move because her pregnancy is getting closer to the time for her birth.

Seruni returns with vegetable soup and milk for Azkia. Azkia sipped the soup vegetable soup slowly, enjoying Seruni cuisine that was delicious.

"Sister." Seruni hesitated to speak to Azkia.

"Hm?" Azkia was still enjoying her vegetable soup without turning her head towards Seruni. 

"Aren't you going to see Nico again, sister?"

Initially, Seruni was afraid that Azkia would be angered by her question. But it didn't. Azkia had long wondered whether she needed to see Nicolas again or not.

"Make what, Deck? Yesterday before here, my brother fought with him. My brother told me the truth. But it is a depraved man. He just wants to be good."

Azkia again ate the carrots and chickpeas from her bowl.

"Runi feels better here too. We are far from the people we know. I don't get to talk about other people either."

"So I don't think about Nico anymore, Dek. I thought it was the past. How to give birth to this child healthy. Hence, Brother is very grateful, you, Mother, Father, can help and support Brother."

Seruni smiled at Azkia's determination. At first, Azkia looked very fragile. But the longer, Azkia looks to be a strong woman.

Seruni offered milk to Azkia. Azkia put down the bowl and drank Seruni's milk.

***