The Ghost Writers
A Chance From a New Friend

Of course Agatha's questions left me at a loss for words. I am good at stringing words through writing, not synchronizing with the mouth in things like this. I can't improvise much less act like that question isn't a big deal but it's full of traps. I tried to think about my answer carefully because I was worried that it would boomerang in the future.

"What does Fanny think of me?" ask me as an answer to his question.

Agatha smiled obliquely. He folded his front two arms and looked at me.

"I just regret it. If it's really your work, why not publish it yourself? Hem, let me guess. Not pretentious, but .. I see you're a person who seems to lack confidence. Maybe that's why you chose to be a shadow. You're afraid that you won't find a place in the hearts of readers. Or maybe you also do not know how to publish the work so choose to sell your story to others who in fact do work as a writer. Or ... You did choose to become a kind of ghost writer because it is more comfortable with hiding your identity mysteriously. You don't want to be known, regarded as an ordinary person with no skills, and well, the point is. So ... Which of the three examples I mentioned above is a reflection of you?" agatha asked which made me feel stupefied.

I who felt cornered finally made the shortest and most difficult decision of my life. I closed my eyes and finally dared to look at Agatha who kept looking at me as if waiting for an answer.

"Everything Fanny said was true about me. Not one of them, but all of them" I answered honestly.

However, Agatha's expression was not what I expected. He looked surprised until he leaned his body towards me again. I who initially thought I would be denounced, insinuated, and heard other bad things was stunned.

"When do you want to be behind the Romans? If you really want to be like her, I'm ready to help. I rarely make offers to others. Moreover, I just knew you. But I see, you have potential after reading the last two works of the Roman Scriptures. Being an action novel writer is not easy. So .. If you want to get out of the shadow of the Roman Scriptures and come forward with your own name, I support. I have many acquaintances who can help. For now, I'm sure you need some time to think about it. So, here's my card. Call me when you're ready to escape the shackles of the Roman Scriptures" said Agatha eagerly as she thrust a business card before me. I accepted nervously and read carefully every single piece of writing that was written there.

"Please Fanny for her opportunity. I'll think carefully when I'm home" I replied, holding the business card tightly.

Agatha smiled with a nod. He called the officer and asked for a bill. Agatha paid for my dinner too. Then we went back to the bench after finishing the conversation.

"I'm so sleepy. So ... sleep first yes," said Agatha while pulling a blanket that she rented from the train service.

I nodded and saw Agatha quickly falling asleep as her head tilted to the back despite the cushions propping her up. I read the letter from the name card. Kufoto with the phone camera at once entered the number. In fact, during that long, tiring and tedious journey, I thought seriously of Agatha's offer to make me a real writer like the Roman Scriptures. However, I feel a new problem will come if my dream can be realized.

How do I outsmart without making Aksara know if I'm like him? Besides, my book has not been found. The reason I worked for her became a ghost writer was because of my book that was lost and found by her. I thought seriously about some bad possibilities and things I should do if I really wanted to be a print novel writer.

The 8.5-hour journey made me decide even before the train stopped at Gambir Station in Jakarta. Agatha who had prepared after she woke up and made her appearance in the bathroom of the train carriage, looked surprised at my answer exactly 1 hour before the train arrived at the last station.

"Hem, I'm glad you're quick to make a decision, Alia. For too long you have been behind the shadow of the Roman Scriptures. If you are not looking for wealth from your work, but rather want to be appreciated and recognized, I think your good intentions will be realized sooner. The majority of the time, fame and money are the main things in order to achieve success. I rarely meet people who do a job because it is purely from their hobbies and likes in the world. On average, they follow the demands of the times and know if they make a lot of money from that type of work," agatha said as I expressed my willingness to become a writer of printed novels like the Roman Scriptures through the way she conveyed it.

"Thank you, Ms. Fanny," I said.

Among happy, but also anxious because I was considered a traitor for exploiting the popularity of the Roman Scriptures. Agatha then asked me to go home and wait for a call from her after sending a short message from my mobile number. I drove a taxi up to the rented house now adjacent to the residence of the Roman Scriptures. Kusuri village road to home.

Quite a dense area, made me buy a lot of souvenirs because they knew that I was on duty out of town, but never honest with the kind of work. I said if working as a freelancer an event organizer that shaded the events until out of town. For the neighbors, it was pretty cool because it was like a picnic. In reality, I was enslaved.

I gave one by one the typical souvenirs of several cities that became stopovers in the tour of the novel Aksara Roma to the nearest neighbors. They look happy for the actual snack is not much. However, seeing my neighbor gladly accept it, my heart that was initially upset when it remembered Aksara became cool again.

The next day, Agatha called me and asked to meet at a cafe. I don't want to waste my chance and wonder what he'll do to help me arrive early so that it's not too late. As it turns out, Agatha is the type of person who also appreciates time. In fact, the two of us arrived together when we accidentally met in front of the cafe entrance.

"Well, I guess we fit right," Agatha said as she pulled the door and I emerged from the sidewalk after crossing.

Agatha opened the door for me. The two of us immediately sat down at an empty table with two sofa chairs there. Again, Agatha treated me. Honestly, I was not feeling well, but he seemed to be indifferent when taking out sheet by sheet of money to spoil my tongue and stomach.

"So gini, Al. According to my acquaintance, he wanted to see your writing first. I'm just saying that all this time your job as a ghost writer. I do not mention the name of the Roman Scriptures for the safety of both of you. Then he asked, so that you make a fiction story in accordance with expertise. Well, then this, I've printed a request from the publisher about what you have to prepare when submitting the manuscript," Agatha said while giving me the paper attachment.

The first is synopsis. I was asked to write a synopsis. The synopsis should not be more than two pages and my synopsis should already summarize the contents of the manuscript as a whole so that the publisher can capture the outline of the manuscript. I nodded slowly with my heart pounding because what I read was real from a well-known publisher. The second is a proposal. I was asked to write a short proposal explaining the reason of the publisher to publish my manuscript. The proposal you write should be less than two pages. Next is personal data. Self data can be in the form of background, competencies that I have, or involvement in a particular membership or organization. For the third point, I don't have it. Agatha's cutie is fitting that she's watching me.

"What's wrong?" asked Agatha looking at me fixedly.

"Mm, that part, Ma'am. I ... have no community and the like" I replied pointing to the inside of the paper. Agatha looked up, but then smiled.

"Oh that. Easy business. That'll be my job. You're ready to ask for anything other than that part" he replied casually.

Honestly, I was relieved by her words just now as if she did have the authority in her efforts to help me. However, I can't be amazed at him right now because what I need is proof, not promise. And in the next paragraph, the publisher will review my manuscript for approximately two months. If in that period I have not received any feedback from the publisher, I am allowed to send the manuscript to another publisher, because the manuscript that is not received will not be stored by my application publisher. Practically, nyaliku ciut instantly. My gaze spontaneously bowed and my hands immediately went limp. I don't know why I'm so pessimistic for fear of rejection.

"Hem, I can tell by that expression. Like I said, you're the kind of person who doesn't care. Honestly, Alia. Your nature like that will harm you in the future. You're easily bullied. You came home ahead of schedule when Aksara tour just ended a week away. Bali and Kalimantan are his last destinations, but you're not going there. Tell me why you came home first" asked Agatha who seemed to have another profession as a shaman.

"Yes, that's it. So far what you have said about me is true, Ms. Fanny. It's just, it seems like it took me a very long time to get out of that fear zone. I'm sorry, if my mentality isn't ready for this," I replied listlessly.

"Therefore, you need my rich man. Our nature is different, but with that, we can be friends or even a solid team. From now on, consider me your friend. Your friend on the train. That's it, don't think about anything else" she replied casually, which made me chuckle. "So ... how long do you think you'll complete the request from the publisher?"

I took a deep breath and tried to think hard.

"I owe a work to Mr. Aksara and is still in the works. I have to find a new idea and it looks like it will be a little long. I'm sorry to disappoint you" I said, and Agatha nodded in understanding.

"Hem, next year ready?" tanyakanya. I raised my head and nodded slowly. Agatha smiled as she fed her mouth with the last piece of the red cake. "As soon as it's done, email me the results of your writing. I will hand it directly to my friend who takes care of the review of the manuscript from the authors. Many pray to escape and can be published later. And my job, too, is to try to convince my friends at the publisher that your work is worth juxtaposing with a Roman writer. Don't lose this chance, Alia. Okay?" he said firmly, and I nodded ready.

That afternoon, I spent time with Agatha to tell her a lot of things. Who would have thought, behind her beautiful and memorable face firmly, she is a kind woman and has a lot of knowledge. Unfortunately, he is not married. Not not unwilling, but he said many men are inferior to him even though Agatha never showed a dominant side let alone patronize the men who were close to him.

Our closeness is more familiar when not talking formally again like the beginning of a meeting, but already using informal language like a long friend.

"Rather than I stress thinking of a mate, mending me enrich the brain and contents of the wallet for the future," he said who already uses daily language in the city of Jakarta, even I call him no longer use 'Mbak' just enough Fanny.

"Mm, Fanny, thank you. I'm happy to meet you. I feel like I have a girl friend. You are a rich psychic who can know my thoughts without me saying," I said with condolence.

"Gue too. Apparently ... Behind your innocent face and innocence, Alia is a smart and very kind person," he said that made me blush embarrassed.

Agatha who had a private vehicle, drove me to the rented house. Honestly, I am ashamed to feel that my place is ordinary. However, he seems indifferent to even say that he had visited a residential complex that was worse than my area for covering an incident there.

"Okay, I'm home. There is another promise with me. Don't forget, work when there's time. You've worked enough for your boss. Time to show yourself if you can. There I will support until you get to the top of it" said Agatha who made my smile grow.

Agatha came home after driving me home. His words made my spirit burn. In fact, I immediately came up with a new idea. I left my duty to complete the story idea for the next novel for the Romans. However, I deliberately postponed the idea of my new story is still fresh in the brain which later I hope more satisfying than Roger's story.

***

puanjang nih script let cepet finished. hopefully kelar this week so that catfish can speed in King D. hehe. tengkiyuw tips bsk again ya😆 catfish to you😘