The Lord's Concubine
The Journey of Ivan

Ivan smiled warmly even though the welcome from the middle-aged woman was not so pleasant. He approached Aunt Nurmala and sat down next to the woman.

"I'm sorry, Mrs Nurmala. I'm not trying to make you this way. I am only doing the duty given by Lord King to me" said Ivan.

"Heh, you guys are the same! Equally evil," Nurmala said.

Ivan returned to smile.

"But, have you forgotten, Miss Nurmala? You are just as evil as us. You've plunged an innocent girl who knows nothing into the abyss of suffering just for the sake of your ambition for wealth" Ivan said.

"What do you mean?" annoyed Nurmala while looking at Ivan with enlarged eyes.

Ivan just smiled and instead of answering the question from the woman, Ivan asked back.

"Where are Farra and her sister, Aksa?"

"Where do I know? I don't care about them anyway. Let them be vagabonds and barreling in the streets" Nurmala said without the slightest mercy.

Ivan exhaled heavily and then got up from his sitting position.

"You are truly an irresponsible Aunt, Mrs Nurmala. Didn't you know that they were orphans, who had no more kinsmen than you. And you steadfastly let go of your responsibilities for granted," annoyed Ivan who then stepped his foot toward the car.

"What do you care, Mr Ivan? Anyway I'm their aunt, I'd love to do anything to them!" he shouted half.

Ivan could only shake his head while opening the door of his car. After entering, he immediately drove the car through the streets that may be passed by Farra and Aksa.

"Farra, where are you now?" muttered Ivan while looking at his left and right sides.

Meanwhile.

Still at the food stall, though,

Zian watched Farra who was silent while staring at her plate. He wondered why Farra had not touched the food.

"Farra, you don't like this food, do you? If so, I'll order something else for you" Zian said.

Farra shook her head quickly.

"Ehm, don't-don't! I'm actually full, brother. And can I just pack this food to take home?" ask Farra.

Before Zian answered Farra's question, suddenly the cute Aksa interrupted his sister's speech.

"Sister Farra lied, Brother Zian. Aksa had heard Kak Farra's stomach ringing and Kak Farra had not eaten anything since meeting Aksa, either" Aksa chanted while chewing his food.

"Aksa!" Farra rounded her eyes looking at Aksa. "lie, Brother Zian! Really, I'm full." Farra panicked and embarrassed because Aksa spoke too honestly.

"Aksa's right, Farra. You can't lie. Eat, I'll order two more for you to take home" Zian interrupted as he gently ruffled the top of Aksa's head.

Farra was increasingly uncomfortable because it was already troublesome for the man. Especially if they just met.

Zian looked back at Farra who was still silent. "Farra, do you want me to bribe you?" zian said in half a whisper.

Farra rounded her eyes while shaking her head quickly. "No, Brother! I can do it myself" said Farra as she grabbed a spoon and began to enjoy the food.

Zian and Aksa exchanged smiles as they saw Farra enjoying her food voraciously. Yes, actually Farra was hungry because since yesterday afternoon he had eaten nothing.

After a while, their meal was over.

"Thank you, Brother Zian. May the Lord repay your kindness" said Farra, smiling warmly at the man.

Zian returned Farra's gaze while nodding his head slowly. "Together, Farra. Um, can you wait for me for a second?"

Farra and Aksa looked at each other for a moment, then after that Farra nodded. "All right,"

Zian approached the shop owner's mother and then paid for their food. And according to his promise, Zian also wrapped two pieces of rice complete with side dishes.

After he finished paying, Zian returned to the place where Farra and Aksa were waiting for him. He approached the brothers with a straight face.

"This is for you" said Zian while handing over a bag of crackles containing two packs of rice that he had ordered.

"What is this, brother? Well, why am I being such a hassle?" farra said with an anxious face.

"It's okay, Farra. Accept it, the windfall cannot be refused." Zian smiled looking at Farra.

Farra bowed respectfully then thanked Zian many times. After thanking her, Farra continued her journey with Aksa. A long journey that does not know where to go and where to go.

Zian looked at the two brothers without blinking a single bit. And after the shadow of the two brothers disappeared from his view, Zian also returned to drive his car.

In the car, Zian looked worried. His heart and mind kept on going to Farra and Aksa who were now walking towards a place that Zian himself did not know where.

"Reverse, no, reverse, no, reverse, no!" mumbling Zian.

Unwittingly by Zian, his hand reflexively turns around the wheel and resumes meeting Farra and Aksa.

"I'm pretty sure they don't have direction and purpose. I have to pick them up and take them home with me. At least until they have a definite purpose," he murmured as he drove his car forward while looking for the whereabouts of Farra and Aksa.

...***...