Meet Salsa

In the room..

Gus Azzam suddenly woke up from sleep because he could faintly hear a conversation outside the room. The young man then got up and sat for a moment to restore balance to his mind.

"Who's outside? It seems like Ning Zahra's voice," the young man muttered to himself. His ears pricked up, and indeed, the girl's voice he heard was Azzahra's.

"Hempphh... that girl is fearless. "Even though we didn't get married based on approach or love, without my knowledge, Ning Zahra dared to accept male guests; it was really not wise." After exhaling a long breath, Gus Azzam thought again about his wife.

The young man then stood up and walked towards the sink. His right hand turned the faucet, and he washed his face for a few moments. Not knowing what caused it, Gus Azzam suddenly felt annoyed. After making sure his eyes could see clearly, the man grabbed the small bag and the car keys and rushed to open the bedroom door.

"That man is also handsome; who is he? Is he Ning Zahra's boyfriend..." With his eyes glancing at Zaidan, Gus Azzam thought to himself.

Seeing Gus Azzam come out, Ning Zahra went awry. Zaidan looked at the girl's husband and smiled while nodding his head. Meanwhile, Ning Zahra became passive, as if she didn't know what to do.

"Where are you going, Gus? Have you had enough rest?" After controlling herself, Ning Zahra asked her husband quietly.

"It seems like it's none of your business, Ning... where I'm going." As he approached the elevator door, Gus Azzam answered harshly.

"Hey… can you show some courtesy. Azzahra asked you nicely, but you ignored her question." Hearing Gus Azzam's bitchy response, Zaidan immediately became angry.

Ning Azzahra was shocked, and subconsciously, the girl grabbed Zaidan's arm, asking him not to react violently. After receiving a warning from the man talking to his wife, Gus Azzam stopped and looked at Zaidan. However, seeing his wife's hand on Zaidan's arm, Gus Azzam smiled sarcastically and continued walking towards the elevator door. Realizing her husband's attitude, Ning Zahra reflexively released her grip on Zaidan's arm.

"Just ignore Zaid. Let's just continue our conversation. I ask that you send me the student exchange registration link. Who knows, maybe I might be interested." The girl shifted their focus to prevent Zaidan from asking all sorts of questions about Gus Azzam.

"Okay, Zahra... It's just that I don't like his attitude towards you. Who is he... is this man still related to you, and why did he come into your room?" Instead of stopping to be curious about Gus Azzam's whereabouts, Zaidan tried to find out.

Ning Azzahra was slightly surprised, but the girl tried to neutralize the situation.

"Yes, Zaid... that's why I said I didn't care. I become uncomfortable if you confront him. Now, it's better if we return to focusing on our conversation at the beginning." Finally, the girl was forced to lie about her husband's identity to keep Zaidan quiet.

"Okay, Zahra... if I hadn't looked at you, I would have dealt with that man." Zaidan seemed to sigh.

"By the way... for student exchange, the campus will guarantee operational costs. There are also offers for further studies at foreign universities, and the application form can be prepared starting now." Zaidan explained, sending a flyer via WhatsApp media to Azzahhra.

The girl was silent and immediately downloaded the file, which she then studied for a while. Zaidan also studied the requirements and procedures for submitting forms for the student exchange program.

**********

Ambarukmo Plaza

Gus Azzam looked pensive at the Coffee Balcony in the mall, with his eyes distracted. In front of the man was served black coffee and croissants, and cigarette smoke could be seen rising from a nearby ashtray.

"Damn it... Ning Zahra usually ignores me. Is it because of that man that this girl dared to abandon me, who brought her to this city?" Gus Azzam's thoughts apparently couldn't be separated from his wife.

The man looked annoyed by what happened, so he couldn't shake off the incident.

"Even though our husband and wife relationship is not official, we should at least respect me as a friend or close family member. "Not like before, just because there was a male guest who might be her boyfriend, then ignored me like this." The man continued to play with his own mind.

Still feeling annoyed, Gus Azzam turned his gaze towards the entrance. Suddenly the man's heart beat fast when he saw a young woman who had just entered the cafe where he was currently.

"Oh my God... isn't that Salsa... Why did Salsa come to Yogyakarta without telling me...?" Seeing the girl who had just arrived, while muttering a question, Gus Azzam stood up and came to the girl.

"Salsa... who are you here with...?" Gus Azzam asked, probingly, while tapping the girl's shoulder. The girl turned around.

"Azzam, it turns out you are in this city too. Honestly, Azzam, I'm bored. I've been trying to look for you for several days, but I haven't gotten a response. "Finally, I'm on vacation in this city; it's been three days." Also surprised, the girl named Salsa responded to a question asked by Gus Azzam. The girl's face showed annoyance at her interlocutor.

"Hempphh… I'll explain it to you, Salsa. Come with me first..." The young man grabbed the girl's wrist and took her to the table he had been sitting at.

Salsa was silent, her lips pursed, but the girl obeyed where Gus Azzam was taking her. Salsa is a girl who has a close relationship with Gus Azzam. It's just that because Gus Azzam's status is the son of an Islamic boarding school owner, it took time for the man to convince his parents. But apparently, fate said otherwise. Before Gus Azzam introduced Salsa to his family, he was forced to marry Ning Azzahra.

"What defense will you use against me, Azzam?" As soon as they sat on the chairs, Salsa asked the man questions.

"Don't accuse me like that, Salsa... I have important business with my family, Salsa, and I hope you can understand me..." Feeling guilty, Gus Azzam tried to find an explanation.

"Is that so, Azzam? What's the explanation? What's the explanation if you left me without explanation because you married a girl at the same level as you?" Emotions of anger started to come over Salsa.

Gus Azzam was surprised that his girlfriend knew what happened to him. And it was never expected before.

"Salsa... please forgive me, dear... I can't act in front of my parents... and until now, I haven't touched the girl I married, Salsa. Please… trust me..!" Gus Azzam grabbed both of Salsa's hands and held them tightly.

"What...??? Do you think that your actions were right, Azzam? You might as well have been messing with two girls. By not carrying out your duties as a husband, do you feel like you are the most loyal and true man...? And leaving me alone without any information and me getting news that you are married is also a justifiable thing?" As if she had the opportunity, the girl expressed her emotions in front of the boy.

"It's not like that, Salsa... give me time to convince my parents. I did not touch the girl I married because I didn't want to hurt her. If the girl separates from me one day, she can give it to her husband." Without feeling guilty, Gus Azzam still defended himself.

Hearing her boyfriend's words, Salsa's emotions became even more burning. The girl's eyes focused sharply on Gus Azzam until other cafe visitors unknowingly overheard their conversation. Several people stared at them, although then they focused back on themselves.

"Okay, Salsa... I admit I was wrong. But don't judge me like that because I'm also helpless in front of Umi and Abi..." Gus Azzam's attitude softened, not wanting to increase his lover's anger.

Salsa was silent, and the girl started to shed tears. Only sobs escaped the girl's lips. Gus Azzam's hand slowly pulled out the tissue and wanted to wipe the tears from his lover's face. But before the hand got close, Salsa moved her face away from the man's hand. The girl pulled out her tissue with her right hand and wiped it.