
"Who?" ask Space.
"Mother of ... ex-husband," Salma said slowly. In his heart he regretted bringing an important guest to this restaurant. How this big city feels cramped with three annoying people that he must avoid.
"Salma, what else?" Armand's mother asked in a soft voice.
"In company of guests, Mom." It was a shame he responded to this stale alkaline question. It was clear the food was on the table, why ask again.
"Ow, are the twins coming too?" Armand's mother grabbed Cakra and held him. Each movement, accompanied by the clattering sound of gold bracelets and necklaces hanging on the body of the former mother-in-law, "Mother's chakra take it there for a moment ya." Mother pointed towards the group of expensive-looking women.
Worth all the jewelry attached to the body of Armand's mother, apparently was attending socialite events that were held every month. Salma recalled, her former mother-in-law always charged a special ration to support her hedon life every month.
"Former mother-in-law?" ask Space. The two of them were observing Mother Armand who seemed to be showing off her chakra to her friends. Salma only responded with a small nod, "Sorry, husband died or separated?"
"Separate," said Salma slowly. He turned his attention to Candra who was writhing because of her disturbed sleep.
"I'm sorry, but you're great still getting along with your ex-mother-in-law. Sometimes couples who separate affect the estrangement of kinship between two families," said Angkasa. Again Salma simply chimed in with a smile. It's good if that's what other people judge about his life, they don't need to know as bitter as what he has to live.
"Salma, I'll go home first. Next time if there's a need, the kids just leave it with Mom." Armand's mother smiled kindly. His eyes occasionally glanced towards Space. Salma knew exactly what Armand's mother was observing.
That afternoon Salma only accompanied Angkasa lunch and then looked for a place to stay. After that, Angkasa asked Salma to go straight home using the car he rented out for pity to see the twins who were exhausted.
At Tania's house, Armand's mother rushed in to find her only child.
"Tan, where's Armand?"
"Room," said Tania indifferently.
She was getting tired of her mother-in-law's presence. Come just to ask for money or a side dish to eat.
"Mand, Armand!" Armand's mother patted the back of her sleeping son on his stomach, "It's still late afternoon sleep." Armand wriggled and then turned his body.
"How can you handle gini anyway, Tania, can't you take care of that?" Armand's mother shook her head at the appearance of her son. Sideburns that have grown irregular, weight is getting uncontrolled. Armand looks very unattractive compared to when he was working first.
"Why the hell, ma'am," murmured Armand.
"Mom met Salma. He brought the kids to eat at the same restaurant as the handsome boys." Hearing his mother's words of praise, Armand opened his eyes immediately.
"Who?" Armand was immediately on standby.
"Ga knows, but he looks like a rich man. Uh, where are you going?" Mother held Armand's hand which was about to come out of the room after grabbing the t-shirt that was draped on the back of the chair.
"You asked me who the man I saw with Salma was."
"Eehh, no. He's none of your business anymore." Armand was already about to file a protest, but his mother whispered something that finally made Armand nod his head in agreement.
"Mom came home first, you remember what I said earlier. Uh, Tania, don't forget, I'm waiting for her transfer this month" she said before leaving the house. Tania snarled and pretended not to see.
"What's up, Mom? What did mom say?" chase after Tania after closing the door.
Actually, she was lazy to serve the biological needs of Armand, because her husband was starting to look his true nature. Not a year into being a wife, Tania feels like an ATM for her mother-in-law. Not to mention that Armand was very lazy, his job was just sleeping, eating and playing games on his phone. Armand let him do the catering order alone with the stomach that has begun to enlarge.
As long as Angkasa was in the city where Salma lived, the two of them grew closer and closer. This afternoon Salma accompanied Angkasa to meet with the leader of the local television station in his area.
"This Salma has tremendous potential, sir, I was disappointed when he resigned from my event. Though the event, his life is in Salma," said Pak Iwan, Salma's superior when he was still active as a host.
"I already know just by looking at it," Space chimed as he glanced towards Salma who pretended not to hear.
"Salma, your children are old enough you can start active again. No one has been able to match your popularity here," said Mr. Iwan.
"My time is past, sir. Let the young man replace me." Salma blushed into the limelight of the two great people in front of her.
"Yes, Mr. Iwan. Salma's time here is over, it's time for Salma to develop wings in the capital," said Angkasa. Salma only responded with a chuckle. He considers the word Angkasa is just a stale base sweetener talk.
"Waaduuh, if Mr. Angkasa who asked me did not dare to compete." Mr. Iwan raised both his hands while laughing loosely. Salma again just shook her head with a small laugh, she felt funny with the two men before her.
"Hows it? When are you ready?" ask Space as they are on their way home from the television station.
"Who for what, sir?"
"To Jakarta."
Salma laughed again, this time more separated than when on the television station.
"Laughter, I'm serious Salma. You better develop your talent there."
"Thank you, sir, but I don't have any dreams of a career in the capital."
"Why? True said Mr. Iwan, you have the potential why not developed while still being able to. Your path is wide open, many people dream of being in your position now, Salma." The sky excitedly explained the reason why the beautiful woman next to him had to go to the capital. Salma's laughter dimmed, he began to think about the words of Mr. Angkasa, Mr. Iwan and also the two new friends he met during the awards ceremony.
"My children are young, sir," said Salma lirih. He was not sure he could make a good career in the capital alone with two toddlers.
"Your parents?"
"Both are deceased, now I live with my brother and his wife."
"Sorry," said Angkasa regretfully, "Maybe for the beginning, the children while you can leave it to your mother-in-law until you feel confident to take them to live with you in the capital. Your mother-in-law seems kind and very affectionate with her grandchildren," continued Angkasa.
Salma smiled wryly hearing Angkasa's response about the mother of her ex-husband. Let only he know the real situation.
...❤️🤍...
Come by my friend's work