Part 7
1448 Words
“I don’t want to go home yet,” I say, shortly after the car Adi is driving mingled with other vehicles on the street.
Adi says nothing, his gaze focuses on the street. Meanwhile, as usual, his face is flat as plywood.
I exhale softly. It feels like I need more oxygen when dealing with a snowman like Adi.
“Take me to the sharehouse.”
Adi still says nothing. But the path he chooses does lead us to the sharehouse. At least he follows my words.
Still silent, we get out of the car and enter the room.
“Pack up your things. We’re going home now,” he says after a long pause. His eyes glare at me, making me scared of the radiating anger.
“I want to be here,” I say gruffly.
Adi walks towards the cupboard, picking up the suitcase, and deftly inserting my clothes. I just stand watching Adi’s actions.
“Di. I still want to be here,” I jerk, trying to grab the suitcase from his hand, after realizing all my clothes has been put in by him.
Adi stands up. His eyes scan my body from head to toe. Instantly, I get goosebumps. My hands cross reflexively to my body, which is still wrapped in work clothes.
Adi is getting closer. Now a flash of passion is visible for sure in his eyes. I’m getting scared that Adi will do that again.
“Di.”
Adi still won’t answer, but his body is getting closer, while my body has now hit the wall. I can’t go back any further to avoid him.
Adi’s body is now standing right in front of me. His breath rushes against my face, hands resting on the wall to lock me possessively.
“I will make you mine completely, right now.” My body bristles at his hoarse voice. Adi is now driven by passion, and it scares me to death.
Shaking my head slowly, I try to tell Adi not to go any further. He sniffs my cheek slowly, then stops right in front of my lips. Our eyes meet. In the next second, I feel a soft peck on my lips, and then I’m drowned.
“Diiii ....” I gasp between our breaths.
“We’re going home now. Or else...”
I nod quickly. “Alright, let’s go home.” Not wanting Adi to go any further with me, I finally obey him.
Adi pulls himself away, still staring closely at me. I see clearly how he exhales heavily. “Well, you go get ready. I’ll wait outside,” he says later.
I exhale slowly, an instant relief washing over me. I take my suitcase and then put all my things inside.
I go out at a slow pace and find Adi talking to the landlady. I approach them, about to say goodbye to Mrs. Yati — the kind shared house owner.
“Anyelir, are you sure you want to move out of here?” she asks, looking at me.
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you for your all kindness,” I say sincerely. I hug Mrs. Yati’s plump body.
“You’re welcome. Do visit me whenever you want. And don’t forget me.”
We break the hug. I look at her old yet beautiful face. With a smile, I say, “InsyaAllah, I’ll visit you on holiday, ma’am.”
After that, Adi and I get in the car. Still, I can’t believe what is happening right now. Why should I follow Adi to go home? And why did Adi’s attitude change all of a sudden?
I steal a glance at the handsome face that focuses on the street, smiling bitterly, thinking how lucky Melati is to be loved by Adi. After all, Adi is a good man. He is responsible for us in the matter of financial support and respects our parents too. As long as I live in his house, I know he never leaves the prayers. And his sweet voice when reciting Al Quran made me shed tears once.
It’s just, maybe when he was forced by his parents to marry me, he gradually turned into a cold and annoying man, even if that only applies to me.
“Not satisfied looking at me yet?” Adi’s baritone voice breaks my reverie. Instantly I look away to the other side, hiding the rosy blush on my cheeks.
“I am handsome, right?” Oh, the ever so confident Adi.
“By average, yes,” I argue without turning to him.
I hear Adi chuckling. “Don’t worry, we’ll live together again. So, you can satisfy yourself looking at me.”
I stare in disbelief at the man who is now smiling broadly. How can he be so full of himself?
“Really?”
Adi frowns. “Of course.”
“Why?”
Adi is silent, not answering my last question. His gaze focuses on the road that looks deserted. I choose to keep my mouth shut. I curse myself, why I asked that question. What do you expect? Does hope Adi say he loves me? Is that so, Nye? I close my eyes to get rid of the feeling I can’t quite name in my heart.
*****
“Nye, dinner is ready.” Melati’s soft voice can be heard from outside the room.
“Alright, just a moment,” I reply as I grab the hijab and put it on.
CLICK.
I open the door and see a beautiful face with damp hair.
“Come on, come down.”
I follow Melati down the stairs. I can see Adi is sitting at the end of the table while playing with his phone.
“Nye.”
“Yes?” I look at my co-wife who is looking at me with an awkward expression.
Melati is silent for a moment, maybe she is composing the words she wants to say. Meanwhile, Adi is still engrossed in his food. He only glances at us in turn.
Melati clears her throat and then says, “Di, you’d better do the talking.”
I glance at Adi who has put down the spoon. Then, he drinks and wipes his mouth clean with a tissue.
I wait curiously. And then, my body suddenly stiffens upon hearing the words that come from Adi’s lips.
“Starting tonight, I will sleep in your rooms in turns. A week in your room, and then a week in Melati’s.”
Did I hear it correctly? I widen my eyes. I’m pretty sure my face looks like a fool right now.
“From today until the next six days, Adi will sleep in your room.” This time Melati speaks.
I’m still silent, trying to digest the shocking words my husband and co-wife said. Will I sleep with Adi for a week?
*****
I’m in the bathroom, sitting on the toilet while adjusting my heartbeat that has been beating irregularly since the earlier scene on dinner.
A week and this will happen for who knows how long I will sleep with Adi. I should be happy because – maybe Adi just wants to be fair to both of his wives. However, a fear creeps into my mind since Adi’s attitude changes.
“Nye, are you still in there?” I can hear Adi’s voice from outside the bathroom.
I wash my face quickly then immediately open the door.
“What is it?” I ask as soon as the door opens.
“You were in the bathroom for so long, I thought you fell asleep,” Adi says while examining my face. His forehead frowns deeply.
“Oh, that... my stomach hurt a bit. I ate too much chili sauce this afternoon,” I lie.
Adi nods, “It’s getting late. Let’s sleep,” he says, then turns and walks to the bed.
“Come on,” he says again, seeing me not leaving the door.
I walk slowly towards the bed while Adi is lying down and covering his body.
“Where do I sleep?” I ask, just to make sure. I don’t want the incident in Bandung to happen again, where I got kicked out of bed.
“Come here,”
Continued.
- Writer
