Lara's Pieces (When the Ex Returns)
I Don't Want to Be Mixed

Azzura slowly stepped out of Askara's house. There is no longer any hope of staying in the Askara house, as it will hurt someone's heart.

“I have to go, there is no way I hurt Doctor Salma,” Azzura said.

Open the front door slowly, so that the squeak does not sound Salma or Askara.

“Mbak? Where are you going, Mommy?”

Azzura furthest heard someone calling her. Salma was thirsty, so she had to go out to get some drinking water. Usually Salma went straight to the kitchen, but she chose to check the front door, already in the lock or not. And, he saw Azzura who was sneaking slowly, stepping his feet by carrying the tote bag he had brought to bring some of his clothes.

“Do—doctor Salma?” he said nervously.

“Where to, Ma'am?” ask Salma.

“Let me go, Doc,” said Azzura with a lowered head. “Sorry my arrival back here, has made the household doctor and Mas Aska disturbed,” said Azzura with a vibrating voice.

“It's already night, Ma'am. Can be discussed in the morning. If you want to go home, then let Mas Aska deliver. Where do you want to go home, and who do you live with? Bude and Pakde mbak instead of Singapore?” salma. “Here alone, Ma'am,” said Salma relented.

In her heart, Salma wanted Azzura to leave, and not to disturb her household with Askara. But, as a doctor, he knew what a patient felt. Especially patients who suffer from pain like Azzura. To be treated is the same, it can only ward off pain, to heal it is impossible. Salma knew the feelings of someone who had an illness like Azzura. He will be afraid, he is devastated, let alone no friends, or someone he cares so much to accompany and support himself. Like Azzura now. Not having anyone else. He is a kara, and that is because of his own actions. She went years without saying goodbye to her husband. Leaving her husband and very small child.

“Mbak, come on in. We can talk tomorrow morning,” Salma said.

As Salma approached Azzura, he grabbed Azzura again and escorted her to his room. “Mbak break, huh? From tomorrow on, I'm in my check. Mbak is here, do not go anywhere,” said Salma.

“For what, Sal?” ask Azzura. “To disturb your household?”

“I know, used to be the wife of Mas Aska. The situation is different now, ma'am. I gave myself a chance here, to be close to Afifa and Mas Aska, but to be honest in the depths of my heart, I did not want to, and I could not if I had to be combined,” says Salma honestly. “I'm an ordinary woman, Ma'am. I do not have a patient and steadfast heart to share a husband with. I am not the woman chosen to live a polygamous household, I am not the wife of the Prophet who is able to live all that. You know how I feel. But I don't want to live alone either. Just here, there's me, Afifah, and Mas Aska. We will take care of mbak,” said Salma.

“Thank you, you already allowed me to stay here, and close to Afifah and Mas Aska. I'm sorry, if I had asked for more, Sal,” said Azzura.

“Mbak break, yes?” salma.

Azzura just nodded. He knows how Salma's heart is. She was also female, certainly the same, feeling what Salma was feeling right now.

^^^

The morning before Salma was on duty to the hospital, as usual Salma prepared breakfast with the help of assistants at his home. The assistant who has also worked at Askara's house.

“Bu Zura?” His assistant did not believe Zura was returning home, yesterday Nani did take a day off, so he did not know Zura had come to the house this afternoon.

“Bi Nani how are you?” ask Azzura.

“Ba—baik, Mom. Healthy mom?” the answer is always to ask.

“Healthy, Bi,” replied Azzura.

“Iya, I'm the same aunt at home,” Azzura replied.

“Ra, later in the afternoon mom, dad, and others will be here. I said last night that you came home here. I don't want to cover all this, so I told them, and in the afternoon they will be here,” Askara said.

“Iya, Mas. It should be so,” Azzura replied.

“Mbak, I have prepared warm water for the bath. Oh yes may I know the drug that is being consumed now?” ask Salma.

“Iya for a moment I take it, Sal,” Azzura replied.

Azzura went to his room, taking the medicine he still consumed until now. The pain is getting worse, the cancer cells have spread, and attacked his lungs.

Askara clasped Salma's hand, then kissed her. “Don't leave me huh, Sal? Whatever happens,” whispered Askara.

“Whatever happens? If that happens you should marry Azzura? Do I still deserve to stay, Mas?” answer Salma.

“I won't, Sal. I promise that,” Askara said.

“I keep your promise, Mas.” Salma.

Askara does not want to repeat the events that happened to his parents, where his father prefers to return to his ex-wife when his mother was pregnant with him. Although there was still love in her heart for Azzura, she did not want to wish Salma, because she already loved Salma very much.

“I don't know how to tell everyone, Sal, that Azzura will stay here,” Askara said.

“Yes to be honest, after all just stay here, as long as they are not married you maybe they can understand, let alone know how Azzura is, right?” answer Salma. “We are equally clear on everything later,” he added.

Azzura came out carrying his medicine and showed it to Salma. Salma was a little surprised by the drugs that Azzura was taking, because Salma knew Azzura's pain was getting worse, and had already invaded his lungs.

“Why hide all this? Why is it so bad, Ma'am?” ask Salma.

“This is my fault, Sal. I went far away, leaving behind my husband and children, but the results were still worse. Maybe this is a punishment for me to have left two people I love in my life,” said Azzura.

“Which is important now, you have to be strong, you have to undergo treatment again here. Later I will talk to the team of doctors at the hospital,” said Salma.

“Iya, Ra. You should be able to live all this. Salma and I will accompany you, and Afifa. You're not alone, Ra. There we are,” Askara said.

“Iya, Mas. Thank you,” said Azzura.

Azzura sipped her tea. Then he prepared the medicine before eating. Like these Azzura days for many years, ever since he was sick.

“I came here, but I really want to come back to you, Mas. I want to be with you for the rest of my life, with just you, and our son. But, the situation is different. You already have Salma, you belong to another woman, and there's no way I can have you anymore. This is my fault,” Azzura said inwardly.