After seeing that Salsa had controlled herself, Gus Azzam held the girl's hand again. Salsa was silent and looked at her lover's face with a look that made it difficult to predict what was going on in her mind.
"Salsa... give me a chance to finish everything. "My wife's name is Azzahra, the second daughter of the Al Munawwir Islamic boarding school, from the married couple Kiyai Ameer and Nyai Camelia." In a low voice, Gus Azzam introduced his wife's identity.
Salsa could be seen sighing, and one corner of her lips curved into a sinister smile. Then..
"I should have known, Azzam, not to accept your invitation to have a relationship. "Finally, what I had been afraid of all this time was proven; it turns out that our lineage has become an obstacle in our relationship." The girl interrupted Gus Azzam's words, and there was visible despair in her tone
"Don't be like that Salsa, I hope you don't give up. I'm still going to try Salsa, and to be honest, up until now, I've never touched the girl I married. I still hope for you, Salsa... trust me!" Gus Azzam looked into the eyes of the girl in front of him with hope.
The two pairs of eyes met, but Salsa finally turned her gaze elsewhere.
"Speak Salsa... don't judge me in this way. "I feel tormented, dear..., and I would rather you blaspheme or judge me." Gus Azzam pursued Salsa's statement.
"Hempphh... right, Azzam? Do you think that ignoring a girl you are married to is a solution to our relationship? Aren't you afraid of the sins you will bear in the afterlife..." Instead of being happy to hear the words Gus Azzam said, Salsa responded.
"At the beginning, before you agree to the marriage, you should ask yourself. Instead of hanging the fate of a woman like that." Salsa continued.
Gus Azzam was surprised and never thought Salsa would have an opinion like that.
"It's not like that, Salsa. I do everything to show my commitment to our relationship, dear. It's not that easy just because I want to maintain the dignity of the Islamic boarding school I was taught by my parents. And I think you won't agree if I make you a second wife, right?" Gus Azzam tried to defend himself.
Gus Azzam's last statement really surprised Salsa. The girl glared and stared at her lover's face angrily.
"It's easy for your tongue to talk like that, Azzam. As a fighter for gender equality, I am offended by your words. I told Azzam, your actions are a form of gender harassment against a woman. Think again about your actions and words." Seeing that the man in front of him was unaware of his anger, Salsa spoke loudly.
Several people in the cafe looked at them. Suddenly, Salsa stood up, and Gus Azzam held the girl's hand so she wouldn't leave him alone.
"Let go of my hand, Azzam... don't make me crazy, and I'll scream for mall security." Salsa makes a warning.
"I don't care what you do, Salsa. I don't want to lose you or the opportunity to return to a relationship with you. Please, Salsa." Gus Azzam continues to try to be with his girlfriend.
"I don't care..." Instead of going along with what her lover was doing, Salsa pulled her hand roughly.
Under the gaze of the cafe visitors, the girl rushed out towards the door. Behind her, Gus Azzam rushed after her. The visitors shook their heads at the two of them and returned to focusing on their respective activities.
*********
Apartment..
Until dinner time, Gus Azzam did not return to the apartment that Ning Azzahra rented. Meanwhile, still chatting with Zaidan, Ning Azzahra felt hungry. Several times the girl looked at the watch around her wrist, then looked back at Zaidan.
"Zahra.., do you have an appointment with someone..?" Seeing Azzahra's reaction, Zaidan felt uncomfortable.
"Emmmppphh... no Zaid. It's just that I feel hungry and now it's dinner time." Not hiding what she felt, Azzahra asked honestly.
„Ha.. ha.. ha.., I thought you had another agenda. Apparently it's just because I'm hungry... Okay, let's just go out to get something to eat." Hearing Azzahra's answer, Zaidan actually laughed out loud.
The man finally invited the girl to look for food. Azzahra hesitated for a moment, but after taking a deep breath the girl finally stood up.
"At most, Gus Azzam immediately returned to East Java. I just went with Zaidan, as usual." In her heart, Ning Azzahra spoke to herself.
Zaidan and Azzahra walked towards the elevator door. The two of them walked side by side, apparently taking care not to touch each other. Even though Azzahra was unconsciously holding the man's arm, everything happened without her awareness. Suddenly the elevator doors opened, and the two immediately went inside.
"What are your plans Zahra... are you going to join the student exchange...?" In the elevator, Zaidan confirmed the girl's plan.
"I can't think quickly Zaid... There are still several things I need to consider, including informing and asking permission from my parents." Thinking that she currently had the status of a wife, Azzahra made an excuse.
"It's understandable Zahra... Because before we get married, whatever we do we have to ask permission from both our parents. I appreciate you..." Zaidan responded.
Hearing the word marriage, Azzahra's heart sank and she remembered her husband who had left her alone. The girl did not dare to tell Zaidan that she had gone back to her parents' house because she was forced to get married. And the man who made them uncomfortable was the man they were married to.
"Well... why are you daydreaming Zahra? What are you thinking about..?" Zaidan apparently noticed the silence of the girl standing next to him.
"No Zaid... just thinking about what we want to eat tonight." Azzahra smiled and tried to change the conversation.
„He.. he.. he.., okay. Let's just eat goat's leg soup in front of the Ambarukmo Hotel, what do you think..." Zaidan made a suggestion.
"It's no problem Zaid... I haven't enjoyed that dish for a long time either." The girl welcomed Zaidan's plan.
The man smiled, and suddenly the elevator doors stopped. Not long after, the door opened and the two immediately came out.
"Do you want to wait in the apartment lobby, or do you want to go to the basement to get Zahra's car." Before leaving for the basement, Zaidan asked.
"Just come to the basement, instead of me waiting for you alone in the lobby. I might become a spectacle for passersby..." Azzahra followed Zaidan's footsteps.
"That's right... you might think you're a student who is waiting for a sugar daddy, because the booking is open tonight..." the man teased him.
"Watch out, Zaidan... how dare you make fun of me? I don't go with a sugar daddy, in fact, now I go with a sugar boy..." Instead of being angry, Azzahra responded to the temptation.
„Ha.. ha.. ha.." the laughter of the two echoed, and luckily there was no one else there.