Auction Husband
Cookmaster

“Bik, quickly help me!” my words begged as I clasped Bik Sri's wrinkled hands. “Master Al asked to be made rawon, while I have never eaten it,”.

Bik Sri nodded in understanding. Then, the middle-aged woman picked up the materials needed in the storage cabinet. Without many words, he prepared the necessary seasoning.

“Bik, please say whatever the season! Let me cook.”My words stopped Bik Sri's work.

“You sure, Ayna?” bik Sri asked doubtfully.

“Yes, Bik.” I nodded confidently. “Again, I volunteered to make food for Mr. Al,”.

Bik Sri nodded then mentioned what materials I needed to make rawon. He also told me to prepare meat and then sliced thinly. “Let's have a mouthful of his meat, Ay, “ he said.

I did the kitchen with a quick movement. Don't want to if Mr. Al waits long. After cooking, I immediately poured my creation into the prepared bowl. I smiled with satisfaction at the results of my work.

“Rawon was Mr. Al's favorite meal when he was a kid.” I turned towards Bik Sri who was talking. “Maybe Young Master is missing his childhood food,” he said with a smile and a distant looking look.

“May Mr. Al like yes, Bik,”. Bik Sri nodded slowly. The smile did not even fade from his old face. “Prieve me, Bik,” I said before swinging a step away from the kitchen towards the top floor.

Arriving in front of Mr. Al's room, I took a deep breath. My heart is beating fast. I'm so nervous right now. Then I breathe out slowly through my mouth. After feeling a little calm, then I put the bowl on the floor as my hand turned the handle of the door to open the high door. I picked up the bowl on the floor and walked slowly into the room. Mr. Al was sitting on the back of the bed. Eyes closed.

I put the bowl of rawon on the nightstand and asked slowly, “Master wants to eat in bed or on the sofa?”

Mr. Al opened his eyes. Both of his eyes looked red. He muttered softly that I myself did not quite understand what he was saying.

I was still standing on the edge of the bed waiting for him to ask for something.

“Air white.” I'll immediately take what Mr. Al needs. After drinking, the man asked me to prepare a small table for a meal.

I hissed furiously. Why did not ask Bik Sri to bring the small table. Not thought at all.

“Where's the table? Why bengong like a fool,”.

“Where's the table, Mister?” I curse myself for this stupidity.

Mr. Al growled and pointed to the cupboard beside me. “Take it there!” says annoyed.

I quickly opened the cupboard in question and took the folding table inside. Complete also in this room. Should I just move the kitchen here?

“Keep that filthy mind of yours!” the sarcasm.

“Sorry, Sir,” I said as I bowed. Then, I prepared the table on the bed just above his thighs. After that, just take the rawon and put it on the table.

I waited for Mr. Al to taste my cooking with my heart pounding in fear. In my heart, I continued to pray for the food to match the taste of the young master's tongue.

Mr. Al ate without a word. I gawked as the contents inside the bowl were empty. Is my cooking good? Is Mr Al starving?

“Networked!” he rules.

Without any intention of refuting, I moved quickly to clean up the tableware. Back keep the folding table in the closet. The difference is, this time I do my work with a flowery heart. It feels so satisfied. Not like what was done with fear.

“There's more I need to do, Mister?” ask me carefully before bringing the empty bowl down.

“Nothing. Just eat the food,” he said then lay on his back.

“Thank you, Mister,”, I said with a smile.

I raised Mr. Al's blanket to the limit of his chest. Then bring all the food downstairs. The first day was very hard and exhausting. But it ends with satisfaction.

Apparently, Bik Sri was still waiting for me in the kitchen. I put a tray on the kitchen table. “Eat!” said Bik Sri who I replied with a nod.

“Tuan Al it's original very good.” I turned to Bik Sri when I heard him say, “he is very friendly and hardworking. All the workers loved him very much. Mr. Al is also very royal to his workers. He will not hesitate to give us a prize if he succeeds in winning the project. However ...” Bik Sri's speech stopped. I waited for him impatiently. The woman's eyes looked teary.

I sipped water in a glass, eagerly waiting for the continuation of the old woman's story.

“However, since three years ago .. Mr. Al's life changed. After having an accident, he became what he is now.” Bik Sri wiped her tears with the end of her shirt, “we were all sad to see how she was. The joy of this house suddenly disappeared. Turned into a solitude that is always thrilling.”

I gulped my hard-earned saliva. Sadness enveloped my heart. The rich have their own problems. I think only poor people like me have serious problems. Turns out, I was wrong. Everyone has their own difficulties according to the portion.

“Either why, since the first time Bibik saw you. Bibik believes that you are the woman God sent to heal Mr. Al's wounds, Ayna.” Bik Sri's confession made my throat choked.

My body froze in place. Like there was a heavy burden that held me tightly accompanied by a cold that froze my soul.

“Bibik hope, you can survive, Ayna ...”

“Bibik has said it repeatedly, Bik,”. “I'm not that strong to be the woman God sent, Bik. But, I'll live it. Anyway, I need this job,” I continued slowly full of affirmation.

After saying that, I immediately cleaned up my eating utensils. At first, Bik Sri insisted that she clean the dining table. Heh. How disrespectful I am if after being cooked even ask to be cleaned also the rest of my meal. Finally, I insisted on cleaning up on my own.

“It's just my own cutlery, Bik. Don't be lebay, deh,” reject me again while chuckling trying to joke with the woman.

Bik Sri seemed to disagree, but she removed both her hands from the plate tugging action with me. I patted her shoulder gently and smiled broadly, then stepped towards the sink to wash the cutlery I was using.

“Completed!” I purposely called out in a carefree tone so that the woman still sitting on the dining table chair could hear me. Bik Sri seemed to be staring fixedly at me.

Aihs. If you look at it this way, I can also be wrong. There-there's aja.

“Bik, don't tease me so, ah. I'm embarrassed.” I covered my face with both hands. Hearing the voice of the lady made my heart happy. Unknowingly, both of my lips lifted up with a faint smile.

“You are so funny, Ay ...” Bik Sri stood up from her seat and passed away leaving me.

“Funny?” I patted both of my cheeks. Then pressing the cheek while reddening the lips, moving it slowly. “Badut time, ah.” I shook my head slowly, then chose to leave this dining area.

If Bik Sri might step into his room. I stepped back and forth towards the top floor towards my room.

Without delaying time, I immediately laid myself on the small bed. Appreciable. Although this bed only fit for myself, at least the mattress is very soft and able to dispel a little tired me.

I closed my eyes for a moment. Then open the eyelids, staring at the white ceiling of the room. My mind floated on the reason I got to this mansion, then calculated with my finger how long I should be confined inside here.

For two hundred million dollars, I pawned my whole life and my future. That heritage house is precious to me.

I sat in bed when I remembered something. “Bik Sri has hp not yes?” I muttered to myself. I just remembered that I haven't notified Manda. He must be worried because I suddenly disappeared like I was swallowed by the earth.

I sighed and Ban promised to ask Bik Sri about hp tomorrow morning. Before dealing with Tun Al of course, because if it was about the man my focus would only be on him.

“Hah.” I threw my body into the bed. It's better to rest now so that tomorrow morning my body feels fresher and more energetic.

Quickly I closed my eyelids. Sleeping with the lights on has become a habit. At least, since my parents were gone. The darkness is so scary to me. Sometimes, I am afraid of solitude. And it was in that pitch darkness that I felt the real solitude.

I was sitting hugging my knees inside the dark hallway too tired. The air tightened my chest until I had trouble breathing. Suddenly, the sound of booming laughter teased the eardrum. The laughter gradually became real, as if it was very close to my body frozen in fear. My eyes were busy looking for the source of the sound, but I found no one in here. I know that laughter very well. Like the sound of laughter of aunt and uncle who put each other down. Their friends were happy to see me suffer.

I stood with the rest of my strength and ran as far as possible. Stay away from discordant sounds that disturb hearing. Down the hallway of darkness that feels increasingly concentrated. Until my steps reached the end of the hallway. My body stood stiff when I saw a house that I missed so much that it stood firm there.the color seemed brighter than the last time I saw it. The door opened slowly. Someone got out of there in a wheelchair. My eyes glared in surprise when I saw who that person was. His eyes were sharp looking at me, but it also implied sadness. I know he's hurt bad.

“Alvarez,” lirihku similar whispers.

Then, sweat poured down my forehead when I saw the man smiling thinly at me.

I woke up from sleep thirsty and sweating. What dream is that? I could've dreamed of Tun Al. Just-there's. I got out of bed to get some drinking water, ignoring the sleeping flowers that adorned me.