The Third Person (English)

Part 10

The next morning, as usual, we have breakfast together. Melati makes breakfast for the three of us. Sandwich and vegetable juice.

“I want more, honey,” asks Adi, turning to Melati. My co-wife then takes another piece of bread with a slice of meat in the middle. Suddenly my eyes are fixed on Melati’s ring finger and see a white gold ring with a jewel in the middle. A diamond, I believe, since the thing’s sparkle is uncommon.

“Nice ring, Mel,” I say honestly. The ring looks so nice, really. Simple but elegant.

Melati and Adi throw glances at each other. I frown and get confused at their attitude, who suddenly look awkward.

What’s wrong?

“This ....” Melati is about to answer.

“A gift from her aunt during our wedding, but she puts it on now,” Adi says, cutting Melati’s sentence.

Such a luxurious wedding gift! I refuse to believe it, but I feel bad to show it. Finally, I just nod and smile thinly.

We continue eating our breakfast in silence. After that, we leave together. Adi drops me first, and then Melati.

*****

“Anyelir, can you come to my room for a moment?” Mrs. Laras speaks while standing in the doorway. I exchange a glance with Marta for a moment. Suddenly my chest is pounding, wondering why suddenly she calls me to come to her room.

“Me, Ma’am?” I ask her to confirm.

“Yes. Come on! I have something to talk about.”

Again, I turn to Marta. The girl in the floral print shirt nods and smiles faintly, encouraging me. All the way to Mrs. Laras’ room, my mind wanders. Thinking maybe I made a mistake but too late to realize it.

Then finally we arrivedarrive in her room.

“What’s the matter, Ma’am?” I ask after sitting across from my boss on the wooden table layered in the glass.

Mrs. Laras grabs her gadget, then, the next second hands it over to me.

“Is this... your husband?” she asks carefully.

I take the device from the milky-skinned hand. My eyes fall onto the picture displayed on the screen. Then my eyes suddenly widenedwiden, looking at the two figures shown there. Although the lighting of the room that I guess is a restaurant is not very bright, I can confirm that the two people in the photo are Adi and Melati. It can be seen from the clothes they wore last night. I don’t know what exactly happened last night. Adi said they just attended Melati’s cousin’s party, but in that picture... again, I have to taste this throbbing pain. Even when I look at it again, there is a tart cake with a candle in the shape of number 23 and a “Happy Birthday Melati” written on it.

“Is that really your husband?”

I struggle swallowing down the saliva. I want to say no, but Mrs. Laras has met Adi at our wedding celebration, also at the family gathering. I want to say yes, but I feel ashamed. Not because I am sharing my husband, but because Adi is utterly unfair towards me and favors Melati.

“Anyelir, I’m not a mere nobody for you, right? You can tell me anything if you want.”

I just nod. I feel ashamed and broken at the same time. Adi had promised to be fair to us. But now, the truth? Even Melati... I really didn’t expect they would lie to me in such a way. God, it hurts!

My mouth suddenly shuts up, unable to open. I’m struggling to catch my breath, so my tears don’t spill in front of Mrs. Laras.

“Anye, who is the woman who was with your husband last night?” Mrs. Laras demands an explanation.

“S – she is my co-wife, Ma’am,” I stutter.

“WHAT?!” Mrs. Laras shoots up with bulging eyes upon hearing my answer. While me, for some reason it is difficult to hold back the clear droplets from falling down my cheeks.

Mrs. Laras rushes over to me and hugs me tightly. I am now crying. Finally, I spend an hour telling her a lot, everything, without anything more to cover. Yes, Mrs. Laras, behind her stern and fierce appearance, is both a caring boss and a good listener.

*****

Adi did not pick me up this afternoon. A few minutes ago, he sent a message and told me that he could not pick me up because he must meet a client.

I get home, coincidentally at the same time with Melati who has just arrived.

“Was the traffic jam bad, Nye?” she asks.

“Just a little, Mel.” I glance again at the ring on her finger. I guess the ring is her birthday gift from Adi last night. Oh my God, why is this so painful to bear. My birthday was a month ago and Adi didn’t even remember it. Let alone taking me for a special dinner and giving me gifts.

Anyelir, quit dreaming!

“What are we going to cook for dinner tonight?” Melati’s question breaks my daydream.

“Whatever you want, Mel. I’ll just go along. After all, Adi loves your cooking more than mine.”

“Ah, not really. Adi once told me that he missed your capcay.”

I look at Melati questioningly. “Impossible!” I mutter but can still be heard by her. Then her answer makes me feel a little flattered.

“Yes. Adi said that your capcay is delicious. He wanted you to make it again but was too shy to ask.”

Suddenly, I feel something invisible slaps me because I haven’t cooked for Adi for so long. Uh, wait! I’m mad at him right now, right? Adi and Melati had lied about their dinner last night. So, you don’t need to feel guilty, Nye!

*****

We have dinner together. Adi talks a lot about his business. Our husband is planning to expand his cafe branch in Bali. I smile in response. While Melati is smiling broadly, she even imagines that she will be able to have frequent holidays to Bali.

“I’ll take my leave,” I say, ending my dinner. Then, immediately walk away to the kitchen. Avoiding is way better than having to watch a live romantic scene, which makes my chest clench.

“Can you help me?” Adi suddenly stands near me, holding out a dirty plate and I accept it without looking at his face.

“Anye, I’m sorry for bothering you. I already cleaned the dining table. I’m going to my room now. I’ve got work to do.” I turn and nod slowly at Melati.

“Honey, I’m going to our room,” she says goodbye to Adi.

Now, it’s only the two of us left in this kitchen. Adi is still standing beside me, leaning on the kitchen island. I clear my throat to get rid of the awkwardness of being around him. Adi’s locked gaze on me doesn’t go unnoticed though, but I choose to ignore him.

*******

Adi’s POV

After eating dinner, I follow my first wife to the kitchen to bring dirty dishes, and also to chat with her even if only for a moment. Anyelir has been mostly silent all the time since I decided to marry Melati. But I choose to leave the matter behind. She’s just jealous and I believe as the time goes by, she will accept the fact that she is not the only one.

However, since Anyelir returned from the sharehouse I managed to make her smile again and make her no longer as quiet as before. Although, she still talks shortly when needed. But tonight, she was silent again. Even when Melati and I talked about Bali, she only smiled slightly and didn’t respond to our conversation.

“Can you help me?” I lean on the kitchen island while handing her the dirty dishes. She takes it with her face down without looking at me.

I was about to speak when a voice then stopped my words.

“Anye, I’m sorry for bothering you. I already cleaned the dining table. I’m going to my room now, got work to do.” Melati says, a bit shouting.

“Honey, I’m going to our room." I nod minutely. Then, I see Melati disappear, up the stairs, and into the room.

Now, only the two of us are left in this kitchen. I keep staring at her, paying attention to her moving hands, soaping and rinsing the dishes. I hear her clearing throat. I don’t know why. Still, without looking at me she dries her hands and turns around, moving to leave me alone in this room without saying anything to me at all.

“Why is she suddenly ignoring me?”

Continued.