At the door of the house, I paused. I wondered, is this really her house? Lots of stuff that looks luxurious. Crystal chandeliers, display cabinets with display items inside that also look bling bling (sparkling) all.
But I already feel Bella has a high taste too. Some time ago she showed off to me that she had just bought an eyebrow pencil that was quite expensive too. At least in my opinion.
Maybe because I never had any interest in eyebrow pencils. And of course without reducing my respect for her profession as a traveling Pempek*) seller.
Every day she goes around with her motorbike moving to different locations to sell it. She sells pempek which has been wrapped in plastic mica, each package contains 3 types or flavors. She sells it for 50 thousand for 3 packs.
She put all the mica plastic packets in a large plastic container tied to the back of her motorbike. And she always sold out every day.
I got to know her to better one day when she was 7 months pregnant and she was still selling riding her motorcycle.
The day was getting dark, and the lightning and rumbling in the sky were faintly audible, like the sound of a suppressed cough.
I asked her to come over to the house and she agreed on the condition that I fulfill her request to buy out the rest of her sales first.
We talked on the terrace. I made hot tea for her, I was sad to see her already big belly still traveling around on a motorcycle selling.
"What if you suddenly give birth on the road?" I asked. "Where's the husband?"
It turned out that her husband was at home. He helps make pempek at night, but the wife goes around selling it. Because if the husband sells it, it never sold out. Maybe if the woman sells a lot of people feel empathy, especially in a state of old pregnancy.
But basically, Bella is also very tenacious, and hardworking for sure. Sometimes she asks for references from friends or neighbors who think they want to buy her pempek, and she comes to the house by knocking on the door. So if it always sells out, don't be surprised either.
Since then she has often stopped by my house, sometimes borrowing something, sometimes asking for help, and more often forcing me to buy up the pempek. And I can never refuse because Bright likes it too.
When the baby was born I visited her at the hospital.
One month later I made a proposal or illustration of the child's education savings insurance. I explained all the benefits.
In the event of a disaster with the head of the family, in addition to getting an inheritance for business capital, his child's education fund has no need to bother thinking about it.
The second month there was no money. The third month is not yet possible. In the fourth month there are still many needs. I only asked once.
I also explained that this insurance was for her benefit, not mine. Because I care for her. Even if I got a commission from the company, it was a gift, a token of gratitude that the company gave me because I had helped market the program. But that was not my main purpose in offering the insurance to her.
Months passed and it was a long time before I saw her selling. When I had prospects in the area near his house, I used it to stop by.
I still had her address when she gave it to me when I made the illustration proposal. And here I am now, at her house, and she's not there. There was only her husband.
"Oh, bu... the insurance is done already. The policy book has been received," her husband said when I asked about the insurance.
I was very surprised. "Ohh... May I see it, pak?" I asked directly.
Her husband picked up three of their insurance policy books and handed them to me "It hasn't been long in coming" he said as he casually puffed on a cigarette.
I opened the policy book with shaky hands. I looked at the name of the agent, the premium amount, and the fund allocation... it was much bigger than the proposal I had made for her. Then I returned the book to her husband as I said goodbye.
I felt like getting angry. Upset to death. I was really furious with her. What did I do wrong? If she needed anything, what did she come to me for? How could she lie to me? I wouldn't accept this, why does she cheat me this way?
Yes, I know it's her right. But it shouldn't be that way. I just want to know. I really want to know the real reason why she did this to me.
I cursed this harsh reality.
I've had many proposals rejected. But I'm used to it. I didn't take it to heart, it wasn't possible to accept all of them either. But this particular one I was really curious about to death.
Then the opportunity came.
She passed by with an empty container in front of my house.
I clapped my hands hard.
Her motorcycle was already running away but luckily she heard my clap, she made a U-turn and stopped her motorcycle in front of my house.
She seems to surrender seeing my displeased face.
"So the story is like this, bu." Bella tried to explain the situation after we both sat on the porch.
"I told you once when I needed a lot of money,"
I remembered the time when I couldn't help her lending the money. "Finally I borrowed from the bank. My application was not approved for a long time."
One day this bank employee called me, he said that if you want to be approved, it's easy. I had to buy insurance with him.
So the bank employee also had a side business as an insurance agent too, ibu. I couldn't help but agree, because I really needed it."
I silence.
A little relieved.
"Why didn't you tell me frankly?"
"I didn't feel comfortable, bu. I also thought that ibu wouldn't be angry, you're nice person. Too kind"
Oh... so this is my problem. I let out a long sigh.
Too kind, she said.
***
The same thing happened in case number 39.
This is my own former office mate. Husband and wife. Both of them were my former office mates.
I made an illustrative proposal for education savings for their children. The response was ... easy ... later later... until I forgot to follow up.
Remember when she also forgot to ask me for help if she wanted to close their policy.
Haahhh???? when did you join .. how come you want to close it?
Both husband and wife looked at each other feeling bad about themselves, I knew that they really forgot that I had offered the same insurance to them.
I felt that I was complicating their position. They also felt awkward and uncomfortable, and this is actually what I don't like, making their position difficult and also a dilemma for them.
Duh... that's how complicated it is.
"Where's the agent... it's not a good idea to ask me for help," I replied half-jokingly, but seriously annoyed too.
"Ahh... Ka Luna is a nice person..." She said lightly overcoming the ackward moment. "You're too kind"
I knew it wasn't seduction.
Nor is it flattery.
Again, too kind.
But that's no excuse.
Even if I change my direction, maybe I'm just bored or
I've lost my curiosity.
***
*)Pempek or empek-empek is a traditional food from Palembang, South Sumatera, made from soft ground fish meat mixed with starch or sago flour and several other ingredients