"What's wrong, Yu?" interrupted Akbar. His voice rose an octave.
"I miss him, Bar. Do you remember? When I was pregnant with Zaskia, he really liked to rub my stomach," Ayu rushed to hug Akbar, tightly gripping the back of her best friend's coat.
Akbar understands that this is not the time to be an investigator who questions Ayu more deeply. Akbar has no choice but to let Ayu hug him.
I don't know who Ayu is referring to at this time, whether her ex-husband has incised the wound or there is someone else, I don't know.
"He's hurt, Bar. He's also sick," Ayu's shoulder blade rose and fell in rhythm with her sobs.
"Yu, you speak clearly, please," Akbar ordered because he had not been able to absorb Ayu's words well. Ayu burst into tears, Akbar could feel the wetness on the front of his shirt.
Akbar is silent, no longer questioning Ayu, a typical KPK investigator who is handling a major corruption case. Because the essence of facing a Suci Indah Ayu is not to force her.
Ayu's tears began to subside, she looked up at Akbar who she believed was still waiting for her answer.
"Do you want to talk?" Akbar asked after wiping the clear water flowing down his friend's cheek. Ayu just nodded weakly, Akbar then led Ayu to sit on the sofa.
The man who was the same age as Ayu was still looking at his best friend's eyes, "You're not pregnant, are you?" asked Akbar for the umpteenth time.
Akbar can breathe a sigh of relief because what he had hoped for was just a hoax. But there is one question that still lingers in Thareq Akbar Satria's mind, who is he referring to by Ayu?
"I'm not the only one who was hurt by Yudi and Bella's marriage," said Ayu later.
"Anyone else? Who?" asked Akbar with a frown on his forehead. Ayu got up from her seat, took a figure that she placed in the corner of her desk and showed it to Akbar.
"He, Bar. He is also injured, he is Bella's fiancé. Akbar's heart beat fast like a war drum being beaten. Ayu understands what Akbar is feeling right now, the figure who disappeared for 4 years has now returned, disappeared for no apparent reason and returned with sad news.
"How do you know?" asked Akbar.
"Daddy, yesterday Daddy investigated Mas Yudi and Bella." Ayu explained what she experienced yesterday afternoon.
Both of them were lost in their respective silences while looking at their portrait together when they were still in gray and white uniforms.
"Bar, look for him, okay? For my sake, Bar." Ayu asked. For Akbar, Ayu's every word is an order for him.
Until whenever Suci Indah Ayu is the queen.
KREK~~~
Before Akbar could accept Ayu's wish, the door to Ayu's room opened without a knock.
The attention of the two friends shifted in an instant. Ayu and Akbar should have been sensitive that it was Malik Ibrahim's doing, Akbar's cousin.
"Bar, for a meeting with investors, just let Ayu and I take care of it." Malik explained as he put his hands in the pockets of the pants that wrapped his long legs.
"Why?" asked Akbar who could not properly digest his cousin's words.
"Manda, Manda is in your room, you just take care of your girlfriend," Malik jokes.
Akbar seemed hesitant to hand Ayu over to the number one person in Darma Corp.
"You doubt me? I can take care of Ayu as well as you."
"Yu, let's go now. I'll wait for you in the lobby." And then Malik Ibrahim left Ayu and Akbar, who were still confused.
"I promise, tomorrow I will find him. At least now I know where to look for him." Akbar said, calming Ayu.
Now there is only Akbar here, alone. He seemed to forget what Malik said that Manda had been waiting for him all this time.
Again his two beaded eyes stared sadly at the portrait of his togetherness with the two people he considered more than friends.
A hint of guilt resurfaced, gnawing at his soul. His tears fell unbidden.
"The one whose life was destroyed should be me, not the two of you. Thank you for saving me that night, thank you for sacrificing your future for me. I promise, I will unite you again. You just need to be patient, it won't take long," said Akbar then returned the figure he was holding to its original place.
And then Akbar went back to his room to meet his idol who had been waiting for him.
~~~
Ayu's cell phone ringing suddenly distracted Malik and Ayu's focus, "Just pick it up, Yu!"
Malik ordered. Malik has indeed considered Ayu as his sister just like Akbar. Moreover, Ghea, Malik's lover, is also one of Ayu's friends.
"Thank you, Lik." After receiving a nod from Malik, Ayu quickly shifted the green icon on her cellphone.
"Why, Mom?" asked Ayu. But Ayu did not get another answer other than Kinanti's sobs.
"Mom, Mama why?" Malik's attention was broken again by Ayu's tone of voice, which seemed to want to damage his eardrums.
With sobs Mama Kinanti explained Zaskia's condition to Ayu, suddenly Ayu couldn't control herself. He could not avoid the condition of his only daughter.
"I'm going to the hospital now, Mom, wait for Ayu, don't leave before I come," said Ayu.
"Why, Yu?" Malik asked when the call between mother and child was cut off. Ayu explained about Zaskia who fell from the stairs because she was not careful.
Malik was stunned in disbelief, "You calm down, don't panic yet. Try calling Akbar first." Malik ordered. Malik drove his iron carriage at a fairly high speed, he didn't care about the curses of other drivers aimed at him, the most important thing was how Ayu got to the hospital as soon as possible.
With fast and long steps, Ayu walked down the corridor of the hospital. According to information provided by Mama Kinanti, Zaskia is still being treated in the ER.
"Mom, how is Zaskia doing?" Ayu asked while looking down at her little daughter who was sleeping due to the effects of the post-stitching anesthetic on her forehead.
"Doc, how is my child?" Not getting an answer from her mother, Ayu turned to ask about the daughter's condition.
"After waking up, Ananda Zaskia can go home, Mrs." Ayu and Kinanti seemed to be able to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Mom, go to the cafeteria first, okay? Want to take it?" asked Kinanti.
"Just water, Mom." Ayu answered without taking her eyes off Zaskia. Now only Ayu accompanies Zaskia, she looks at the five year old girl's face.
"Ki ... Don't leave Mom, okay? Stay here with Mom. After your daddy left, you were the only one who was the spirit of Mommy's life, Mommy's reinforcement." Ayu doesn't care whether Zaskia hears her screams or not, the most important thing is that she has released all her feelings.
Ayu faintly listened to the boisterous nurses. Ayu hastily wiped the traces of wetness on her cheeks. Her curiosity seemed to push her to know what was going on.
"GET AWAY! STOP!" shouted some of the sisters.
Ayu's legs suddenly went limp when she saw the figure lying stiffly on the hospital bed, her legs seemed stiff and could no longer support her body perfectly, why did these cloudy clouds seem to not want to leave her life?
To Be Continued ….