The Third Person (English)

Part 14

Anyelir’s POV

Quickly I leave Adi with this scorching anger – or disappointment to him and Melati, to be precise. A speck of regret for believing in my co-wife creeps into my chest. I shouldn’t have been enchanted by her kindness for always demanding Adi to be fair. Now, everything is crystal clear in front of my bare eyes. Melati’s promise to help me win Adi’s heart is nothing more than a sweet lie. Nonsense.

My tears spill again. I do not know anymore... this marriage is too thorny for me to carry on. I just want to finish all this, but the disappointed faces of my parents and Adi quickly flash through my mind. Also, I won’t be able to bear the way my neighbors will look at me if they find out my status as a widow if one day a divorce finally happens.

God, what should I do?

Crying for too long makes my head dizzy. Too heavy to stay awake, I just want to sleep to erase all the problems. However, the faint sound of the call to prayer that echoes in this evening hour suddenly gives me strength to wake up and continue living.

I still have God.

I hurry to clean myself, so I can immediately fulfill my obligation. My tears spill again as I pray to God to ease everything I’m going through. I ask for a strong heart to live the days ahead more sincerely.

My eyes slowly flicker when I hear a knock on the door. Adi’s voice echoes in the silence of this house, saying my name. I wake up and realize that I fell asleep on the prayer mat after praying.

“Anyelir.” I hear Adi’s low voice again.

Shouldn’t Adi go out with Melati tonight? Why is he here right now?

But I choose to ignore my curiosity and his call.

None of my business.

I take off the mukena I’m still wearing and opt to go to the balcony of the room. I would prefer to look at the dark night filled with millions of stars rather than meeting Adi, who has not given up calling my name at the door.

The cold night wind gently caresses my body. I press my hands to my chest, hugging my own body. The smiling faces of Dad and Mom cross my mind, but so does Melati’s. Mom and Dad are the only reason I survive in this marriage. While Melati is the main reason I want to end it. All are like tangled threads that are difficult to untangle. For now, I can’t decide which will bring peace to my life until a hand touches my shoulder.

Without turning my head, I know who is behind me right now.

“Please let go,” I say quietly. I don’t want to be touched by anyone except my parents.

Adi gives up on my words. He quickly removes his hand from my shoulder. He moves to stand on my right side.

We both look up, gazing at the same sky. The silence envelopes the two of us. Meanwhile, the sound of rubbing leaves in the wind, like a symphony, accompanies our silence.

“I want to sleep.” I don’t want to stay any longer by his side. I’m not in the mood to just argue with him.

I am about to step back into the room, but my wrist is suddenly grabbed. I stop my steps but don’t turn my head around. My eyes focus on the maroon bed sheet ready to welcome my body.

“I’m sorry,” softly Adi says. Sounds sincere, but I am not touched at all. I close my eyes. I’ve had enough of hearing his sorryies for heaps of the umpteenth times. Sorry that holds no value anymore to me because for sure, even after this, Adi will hurt me again.

“No need to apologize,” I interrupt while trying to get his hand off mine.

“Anyelirs ....”

I desperately restrain myself from exploding again or bursting out a cry in front of him.

“I want to sleep, you can come out now,” I say.

Adi lets out an audible sigh. Then without saying any more words, he leaves me.

An incoming message notification distracts me when I reach the bedside. I grab the phone on the nightstand. Scrolling slowly, then I see a line of messages from my co-wife. A message that slaps me so hard for having thought so lowly of them.

Melati: [Anyelir, please take care of Adi. He told me he’s not feeling well, so he can’t accompany me to the party.

After the party, I’ll be out of town for training.

So, please take care of Adi. Thank you.]

*****

An awkward morning. I come downstairs to find Adi in the kitchen, stirring his drink. Honestly, I feel guilty for having negative thoughts about him and Melati. But instead of apologizing, I keep quiet and make my drink.

“I’ve made toast,” Adi tells me.

I turn around to find him staring at me with a look that I cannot define.

“I’ll just have breakfast at the office,” I refuse gently.

I do not want to argue with him this early, so after refusing his breakfast with wide steps, I head to the living room to sip my hot tea.

I turn on the TV to drive away from the silence while sipping my tea. The hour hand is still at number six. There is still another hour to leave for the factory, but it seems like forever. I don’t want to linger alone with Adi. But to leave this early will make it too obvious that I am avoiding him.

I lean back on the sofa and close my eyes. Hoping... by staying like this, Adi won’t initiate a talk. But my guess is wrong again. I feel the left side of the sofa I sit on sags, which means someone is sitting beside me. I keep my eyes closed, having no intention of opening my mouth right now until a hand reaches out to hold my hand.

Then Adi’s voice rings again, “Anyelir, let’s have breakfast together,” he asks again.

I pull my hand from his grasp. Still, with my closed-eyes, I answer, “I’m not hungry, Di.”

“Alright.” Adi gives up, and it relieves me. But the next sentence leaves me seething with feelings ... I don’t know what to call. “I’ll pick you up this afternoon.”

*****

I still can’t help but think about Adi’s rapidly changing attitude. Only yesterday morning he was cold to me because my cooking didn’t suit his palate. This afternoon, as soon as I gotget out of the factory area, he was alreadyis already leaning against the car body. One hand toys with the phone, while the other hand slips in his pocket. With his handsome face, no doubt he becomes a fine meal for every single woman in my office.

He looks at me when he realizes my presence. A friendly smile emerges from his clean face.

“I brought my motorbike,” I say when I arrive in front of him. My gaze focuses on the motorbike that I parked not far from the gate.

Adi follows my gaze, then looks back at me. “Just leave it here. I want to take you somewhere.”

“To where?”

“Come on.” Unexpectedly Adi grabs my hand and guides me slowly into his car.

I comply, too tired to argue. Moreover, we are now in a public place. I don’t want my household disharmony to become public consumption.

Far outside the car, Marta smiles and waves. I haven’t told her about the fried rice incident yesterday because I feel embarrassed complaining to her too often. I open the windshield to wave at her, and then send a message to her to return to bring my motorbike inside.

*****

The day is getting dark when Adi stops his car at the refueling point. During our trip to somewhere, our moment was only filled with silence. Only the singer’s voice from the music player was turned on to liven up the atmosphere in the car.

“Are you hungry?” Adi asks when the car gets back up.

“Not yet.”

“We’ll have dinner and evening prayers,” he decides.

I just nod.

There is silence again. Rossa’s voice singing Tegar – Strong plays beautifully in the car. I choose to close my eyes to avoid the awkwardness. A little regretful, why I had to obey the man beside me if he doesn’t even consider my presence at all.

*****

I open my eyes as a hand gently strokes my cheek, and a familiar voice begs me to wake up.

“We are there.”

I jump a little startled and straighten up my position when I realize Adi’s body is so close to me. He smiles wryly, looking at me closely, making me nervous.

I take a good look around to see where we are right now. In front of us, there stands a luxurious ivory-white painted building with lots of glasses. People who are quite familiar to me – Adi’s cousins gather there.

I turn my head to demand an explanation from Adi.

“Sona is celebrating her wedding. We are invited.” Adi explains calmly.

“We’re in the Peak?” I ask for confirmation.

Adi nods, “Come on down, they’ve been waiting.”

I follow Adi out of the car without wanting to argue. Waiting for him by the side of the car, Adi takes out a bag from the back seat.

“Come on.” Adi takes my hand and leads me to the villa in front of us.

All eyes are fixed on us, some people I know are wearing their friendly smiles.

I am completely stunned when I observe people who attended first. They’re wearing semi-formal clothes. The women wear casual dresses, while the men wear short sleeves and jeans.

A hint of suspicion looms back. Is Adi deliberately trying to embarrass me by inviting me to an event without giving me time to at least change my work clothes first?

Unconsciously, I stop my steps and look down, lamenting my appearance.

“Why?” Adi asks. His forehead creases deeply.

“Why didn’t you say we were going to a party?” I try to say as quietly as possible so that no one hears it. “I'm still wearing my work clothes, Di,” I complain.

Adi smiles in response to my nervousness. “I brought your clothes, don’t worry.” He picks up the bag he had taken from the car and shows it to me.

Thank God.

We walk back to the villa, still holding hands. To be honest, Adi is the one who still doesn’t want to let go of his grip. Without being able to brush it off, a warm feeling spreads throughout my body, savoring Adi’s attention he’s been showing since morning.

Just let it be, whether Adi is faking it or not, I want to spend time with him while I get the chance.

Continued.