Being a Savings Wife
Because of Flour Dough

"Where is the photo?" Nick took out his old closet. The closet that holds all the relics of his mother including photos that became memories but had not been opened long enough. This long uninhabited room has been a mess, files, boxes and even clothes that were originally neatly arranged have now been scattered on the floor and bed.

"That's the only picture of Aira." Nick ruffled his hair in frustration, he was upset because he had not yet found the photo.

The door was knocked from the outside. The faithful housekeeper takes care of the old house and is astonished to see Nick return home only to ruffle his master's room.

"Search for what, Den?" This middle-aged woman picked up one by one clothes belonging to Nick's father and stepmother. He let out a long sigh because he thought that the relationship between the child and the old man was still not improving.

"Auntie see the brown box, right? Inside was a photo of a baby girl, and there was a red sign like this." Nick opened the shirt and showed me the birthmark on his right arm. Yes, the same birthmark as his little sister.

Aunt tried to remember. "Oh, it's stored in the warehouse, Den."

Nick's forehead shriveled. "Why is it stored in a warehouse?"

"Well, it was you who told me to."

Nick was grieving, he was upset considering the father who could sell his son with the rich man. Nick still remembers how his father laughed at the pile of money in the suitcase and with that money his father opened a furniture business to gain success like now. This is the reason Nick from the beginning refused to run his father's business. Nick doesn't want to use the money he sold his brother.

Nick rushes to the warehouse to find an old object that he can show Aura. If his premonition was indeed true then Aura must have the same birthmark as in the photo and like hers.

***

"It's been too much, Laura. What are you cooking?" Diko shook her head in surprise to see Laura shopping for so many kitchen needs even, the trolli he brought was already too full.

"I learned to cook Indonesian food. Of us married you never eat my cooking. I never cooked for you either. So tonight we eat my cooking, ok." Laura lifted her thumb.

Diko smiled cynically imagining the taste of Laura's cooking that was definitely not tasty on the tongue.

"We're eating out or just goofood." Diko pushed the trolli towards the cashier. Don't let Laura add to it.

Laura ran small and pulled Diko's arm, she looked at Diko with great disappointment.

"It's okay if you don't believe that I love you. It's okay if you don't return my love. It's okay if you don't think I exist. It's okay what you want to treat me like. But, as long as we stay one roof and as long as I'm still your wife let me do my duty as a wife. If you don't like my cooking, you can criticize and suggest that I can correct my mistakes. But, don't stop me from learning to be better." Laura ducked down, she realized she had been talking too much.

Diko took a long breath. If not in a public place, he might argue with Laura. Diko raised one hand and stroked Laura's head. "We're home." Laura looked up at him. "Take care of me." Diko walked back to the cashier.

Laura smiled she felt Diko had changed a lot. Laura did not want to waste the opportunity to win her husband's heart.

Late at night in the minimalist kitchen of Diko's apartment. The husband and wife are still struggling with the raw materials they bought. At first Diko just wanted to sit sweet in the dining room but, seeing how Laura works made her even more confident that Laura could not cook.

"If this is how you can be exposed to hot oil." Diko snatched the spantula from Laura's hand. "Let me fry the chicken. You just make the sauce."

"Be careful." Laura shifted to another place, she chose chili and onion which would be a complement to a sultry chicken as they saw it on the internet.

"You should be careful" murmured Diko."He said he wanted to cook for me, but I cooked for you" she said.

Laura just smiled amusedly at it, she was amazed to see Diko deftly cooking. Laura took off the apron she was wearing, she tiptoed behind Diko and put on the black apron without Diko's approval.

"Must wear this." Laura's hands were busy behind Diko's back.

Diko closed his eyes, why is his wife insensitive? From now on Diko had desperately refrained from eating Laura but, instead, Laura gave herself up.

The splashes of hot oil made Diko open her eyes and reflex backwards however, her back was attached to Laura.

Momentary silence. Laura suddenly became stiff from seeing their position.

"I'll prepare the other materials. You want a vegetable cake? What was his name? A tenacious?" Laura smacked her head lightly as she passed taking the flour and a small bowl.

Diko did not say anything, he returned to focus with the chicken dupenggorengan already almost charred.

Carrots, cabbage and other ingredients have been fused with flour. Diko had already replaced the new oil to fry the dough that Laura made.

"Can I put it in?" Laura checked the heat by putting her hands on the frying pan.

"Slowly." Diko pulled Laura's hand up to stand next to her. "Do it like this. Don't let your hands cook." Diko started frying the dough. Laura focused on seeing it until the frying pan contained a few spoonfuls of bakwan.

Diko turned to look at Laura who was still focused on facing the stove. Laura's eyelids flickered as if playing her plump eyelashes. Laura's sharp nose looks cute and pretty, the thin lips are still red like chery fruit but, there is a speck of flour dough attached to the samingnya.

"It's cooking, it can be drained," said Laura, he did not realize that now Diko was watching. Laura turned. "Why silence? It's sud-dah...." Laura gulped. "Why?"

Diko shook her head and pointed at the corner of her own lips. "There's a stain" he said briefly.

"Nothing, your face is clean and handsome." Laura chuckles.

Diko groaned with annoyance, he grabbed Laura's waist until now Laura stuck to his chest.

"Not on my face," Diko paused her speech and pointed at the corner of Laura's lips. "Here" he said. "There's a stain here."

"Oh." Laura's hand almost wiped her but, Diko held her back. "Why?" ask like bo doh people.

"Let me clean up." Diko's thumb touched Laura's lips until no more flour stains stuck there.

"Already," asked Laura.

"Not yet." Diko put their lips together. He kissed Laura and explored her lips. Laura could not refuse him to participate in the game Diko.

Looks like Laura has to thank the dough she made. Because of the flour dough Diko kissed it.

The next second Laura rejected Diko's shoulder. "Mos." Laura pointed at the stove.

"Just be it." Diko turned off the stove and repeated it again, she slightly pulled Laura away from the hot oil.

The hot ciu-man was still lingering until the sound of the bell shocked the two.

Diko clucked resentfully, no matter who came and disturbed him. Diko just resignedly saw Laura running to open the door.

"Darling...." That's mama's voice.

"Mama...." Laura sounded happy. "Tiara?" squeal Laura.

"Hi, Sister Laura?" That's Tiara's voice.

Diko opened the apron and came out of the kitchen, why did they come to her apartment? Is that annoying Daniel also present?