The Traces of Destiny
Promises

Still, his speech worked -- "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything, even if it means having to spend the rest of the night and use a flashlight." It was possible that his plan went well if he had already told her before getting out of bed that morning. But unfortunately, he did not do it.

By the time he got home, Maudy had already completed most of the work Garin needed to do.

The lawn was well-trimmed, the walkways were nicely laid out, and he planted a few pansies that were popular enough to appear in Shakespeare's books. Garin knew this job must have taken hours, and saying that he was angry was simply an understatement of his feelings.

In fact, anger alone is not enough to describe his wife's feelings. There was something beyond his annoyance, like the difference between a lit match and a raging forest fire. And he knows it. Several times over the years of their marriage, she had seen that gaze, but only in certain moments.

He swallowed and thought for a moment before finally saying, "Hey, honey," in embarrassment, "sorry yes, I'm so late. We suddenly forgot about time." As he prepared to start his speech, Maudy suddenly turned around and said from behind his shoulder.

"I want to go jogging. You can take care of this, right?"

He was actually preparing to sweep the grass off the footpath and carport, mower and broom were already in the yard.

Garin knew enough himself not to respond.

After he went inside to change clothes, Garin picked up the fish cooler box from the back of the car and took it to the kitchen.

He took out a few fish from the ice box as Maudy came out of the bedroom.

"I was just about to clean these fish." he began, and Maudy clenched his jaws.

"What about doing what I ask?"

"I'll— umm, I mean, let me finish this first so these fish don't get damaged."

Maudy rolled her eyes. "Lupain. I'll do it when I get back."

Martyr's tone.

Garin can't stand that. "I will do it" he said. "I told you I'd do it, right?"

"People are rich' You promised you'd finish the lawn and clean the lawn before going fishing?"

Garin should have just bitten his lips and remained silent. Yes, he did spend the day fishing rather than working around the house, yes, he had disappointed Maudy.

But overall, it's not a big deal, is it? After all, it was only the business of his sister and sister-in-law. Isn't this not a big thing that should be overstated? "Partially not a president who would come to visit. So there's no reason to be irrational about everything."

Yes, he should have chosen to be quiet. From the way Maudy looked at him after he said that, it would probably be best not to overdo it.

When Maudy came out slamming the door, Garin heard the window crackling.

However, as soon as Maudy left for a moment, she realized that she had made a mistake, and she regretted what she had done. He was aware that he had been rude and should not have said so.

However, he would not get the chance to say that he was sorry.

🍂

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"Still smoking, huh?"

Supri Sutrisno, Gajakarta's deputy camat, looked across the table just as Garin pulled out his seat.

Sutrisno raised his hand. "I know, I know you've told me that many times. Hey, it's okay to fool yourself, sir. But if I were you, I'd be willing to put my cigarette on the ashtray before someone catches me."

Garin laughs. Sutrisno was one of the few people in the city who still treated him in the same way as usual. They had been friends for years; Sutrisno was the one who suggested that Garin be a camat, and he gave full support for Garin to get his position now.

Sutrisno is older, he will be fifty-five in March, and his hair is gray. He has gained 18 kilos in recent years, almost all around his waist. He was not the type of higher-ups who intimidated those who saw him, but he was perceptive and diligent and had a way to achieve the goals he needed.

In the last two elections, no one would bother to run against his stretcher. And Garin and Supri Sutrisno's friendship is unique.

"I'm not going to stop by" said Garin, "unless you stop blabbering on this ridiculous accusation."

They were sitting in a booth in the corner, and the waitress, who was startled by the crowd of guests at lunch, dropped off a pot of sweet tea and two glasses of ice on the way to the next table.

Garin poured tea and pushed Sutrisno's glass towards him.

"Nursy will be disappointed" Sutrisno said.

"You know he'll run out of excuses to tease you if you don't bring Raka once in a while to meet him." Sutrisno sipped from the glass. "So, are you hoping to meet Saras today?"

Garin. "Who?"

"Master Raka."

"Did your wife tell you all that?"

Sutrisno. His wife worked at the school in the principal's office and seemed to know everything that was going on at the school. "Of course."

"What was his name?"

"Nursy," said Sutrisno seriously.

Garin looked across the table with a distorted look, and Sutrisno pretended not to understand. "Oh—you mean the teacher? Saracs. Her name is Saraswati."

Garin drink. "Is he a good teacher?" She asked.

"I think so. Nursy told my wife, she said Saras was a great teacher and the kids loved her, but then you would have guessed that Nursy would consider everyone great."

He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if preparing to tell a secret. "But my wife said that Saras was attractive. Someone who looks attractive, if you can understand I mean, sir."

"What does this have to do with something?" ask Garin.

"He also said that he was single."

"And?"

"And there's no more." Sutrisno tore off a pack of sugar and added it to his already sweetened tea. He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm just telling you what my wife and Nursy are saying."

"Well, good," said Garin. "I appreciate that. I don't know how I got through today without Nursy's latest evaluation."

"Oh, take it easy, Garin. You also know, if he's always looking for you and asking for your news."

"Please tell him that I'm fine."

"Gosh, I know that. But Nursy's worried about you. Because he knows you smoke too, you know!?"