A Wife's Escape

Lantern Festival

"What?! The death of my mother-in-law?"

Nisa was still confused and in disbelief, her curiosity could not be held back anymore. He pulled Valen to slightly move away from the door of the room where Keyran shut himself in.

"Tell the truth! Please tell me everything!" pinta Nisa with a pushy look.

"Emm .. but, I have a requirement. Madam should not bring up or spread about this to others later." Valen said in a hesitant tone.

"Yes, say it!"

"Huft .. well, actually the Master began to lock himself as he is today since the departure of the Grand Lady, namely Mrs Kenanga, his nickname is Nana. And this has been going on for a long time, since you were 7 years old. Worse since then, the Master has also begun to be less fond of the Great Lord."

Nisa was silent, for a moment she glanced towards the door and looked at him with a look of pity. He was also curious about how Keyran was so quiet. He took a deep breath and then looked back at Valen.

"I told you everything, including the beginning of this incident. Why did Keyran hate his own father? And what does that have to do with the lantern festival?"

"Alright if the Madam insists. The beginning of all this was a mistake made by the Great Lord. The current Grand Mistress, that is Lady Ratna, was actually just a servant in the residence. Once upon a time he suddenly resigned as a servant, and after 3 years later he returned with a boy."

"That's Daniel!"

Turns out he's a bastard.

"Right, but the situation was that 2-year-old Mr. Daniel was sick and in dire need of treatment as soon as possible. At first everyone did not believe that he was the son of the Great Lord, but when tested the DNA the results turned out to be suitable. And after Mrs Ratna explained that she had been harassed while still a servant, she returned to the main residence for the reason that she had no cost for her son's treatment."

"The Great Master at that time also admitted his mistake, he said that when he was drunk, he could not control his actions. So inevitably he had to take responsibility and finance Mr. Daniel's entire treatment. Quarrels were inevitable, knowing the harsh reality made Mrs Kenanga fall ill, even she often fainted from being too depressed. From then on Mr. Keyran began to hate and always defy his father."

"The identity of Mr. Daniel as an illegitimate child is also inevitable. Because basically the Kartawijaya Family is a well-respected family among conglomerates, of course the Great Lord cannot let the identity continue to stick and bad rumors spread everywhere. Eventually she decides to marry Lady Ratna, though she is actually reluctant. Mrs Ratna initially refused, which she wanted as accountability only to the extent that Mr. Besar wanted to finance treatment. But strangely Madame Kenanga clenched her chest and persuaded Lady Ratna to accept. She was like that because she felt unfair if Lady Ratna did not marry, because after all her husband had abused her to have children. Moreover, Mrs Ratna also did not report to the police."

"After the wedding, the two Madams seemed to get along, basically they were both equally kind. But still Mrs Kenanga is still often sickly. When Mr. Keyran was 5 years old, he grew up with Mr. Daniel. But at that time Mr. Keyran was still innocent, he did whatever he thought was right. She never acknowledged Lady Ratna as her stepmother nor Mr. Daniel as her sister, and even bullied her often."

"Year by year passed, but nothing could change Mr. Keyran's hatred. When Mister was 7 years old, he had already begun to understand various things. At that time he was told by his school friends that there would be a lantern festival, he was very interested and wanted to invite Mrs Kenanga to attend the festival with him. But unexpectedly the Great Lord forbid on the grounds of the health condition of Mrs Kenanga. Mrs Kenanga did not want her son to be disappointed, so she insisted on coming."

"Saking his spirit, Master decided to leave first, he said he wanted to buy all the lanterns. When the show was almost over, Mrs Kenanga did not come too. But who would have thought it turned out on the way Mrs Kenanga had a traffic accident and died on the spot. The incident took Mr. a hit, he blamed himself for the death of Mrs Kenanga. From then on he had always obeyed whatever the Great Lord said. And since then you've always locked yourself up during the lantern festival that takes place every year."

"The reason I forbade Madam from entering earlier is that it is feared that Master will hurt you. Actually this applies to everyone, whether anyone tries to disturb him at times like this then you will without a doubt injure the person. Even whenever he learned of any news of a traffic accident, he was always panicking."

"Ehmm .. so that's why Key was so freaked out when I thought I was involved in the accident. But," Nisa turned back to the door. "Since the age of 7 years, that means 20 years have passed, already 20 years he is trapped in this condition, if it is like this .. has not included prolonged trauma?"

Turns out this is why Keyran always sends people to secretly watch over me and always forbid me from doing this. He no longer wanted to risk losing someone he cared about. I admit that his intentions are good, but his ways are too extreme and seem like limiting my freedom.

For a moment Nisa was silent, and suddenly she looked into Valen's eyes, but then she looked down and one of her hands clutched tightly onto the other arm.

"He actually needs support, needs help to pull him out of this condition. Even I've actually been in this condition, a condition where I blame myself for everything that happened. I can get out because someone helped me. But Keyran ... All of you who were previously close to him or his family, do none of you care?"

"No one doesn't care, of course the Great Lord has done everything he can to remove this trauma, but you refused everything and said you didn't need his help. Even the Great Lord had tried to bribe the local government to no longer hold a lantern festival, but was rejected for reasons of very many enthusiasts, of course if it was abolished it would cause opposition. The master will also be very angry if anyone brings up the matter about his condition. And the one who knows about this very little, only the Great Lord, me, Aunt Rinn, and the last one is Madam."

"Then what now? What do you usually do at times like this?"

"Nothing, usually tomorrow you will no longer lock yourself up, but a few days later the mood is still not good. Everything will come back as usual. Madam need not worry too much, just act as if nothing happened."

"What did you say?! I'm his wife! How could I possibly be silent when my husband is suffering from trauma?! Anyway I have to get in! My husband has been suffering for too long!"

Nisa rushed towards the door but Valen suddenly blocked her way.

"Surge!"

"Mrs, you better think about it again. What if something happens to you later? No one can guarantee Master's actions against you."

"I can guarantee! He loves me so it's impossible for him to hurt me. Valen, I'm asking you please step aside. If it doesn't help at least don't get in the way. You don't have to worry about how I'm going to be. Trust me, please don't stop me from meeting my husband ..."

"B-but still this is risky, if anything happens the madam should run out quickly. If it's true that you can be free from his childhood trauma, then I'll help."

"Good, you should have supported me! Now break the door down!"

Valen nodded then prepared to take a swing to break down the door. But the door was so sturdy, it had been a third try but still had not succeeded.

"Damn it!" Valen grimaced in pain while holding his shoulder. But he has not given up and still wants to try again.

"Enough!" nisa's yelling makes Valen stop. "It's free, we do it together!"

"Eh?! But Madam's body .. moreover Madam also just got out of the hospital, I think it's best not."

"Be quiet, the condition of my own body I know best. I'm sure I can do it!"

Valen nodded in agreement, with the cue from Nisa the two of them together broke down the door with all their might.

BRAAKK!!

The door opened, Nisa just walked into the room. And unexpectedly after Nisa entered, she closed the door again. Valen who is still outside can only resign and hope nothing happens to Nisa.

Nisa took a deep breath, slowly she noticed the whole situation around her. The room was dark, there was no light as illumination, there was only a beam of light coming out of the ventilation holes. The entire room was in a mess, even most of it looked broken and thick dusty.

Nisa walked slowly without making a sound, and she was surprised at the state of Keyran. The Keyran who was currently sitting bent his knees on the floor and leaned against the wall close to the window, whose even curtains already looked shabby. He lowered his head to his knees, his hair looking as disheveled as a jubilee scar.

Nisa ventured to get closer, slowly she gathered in front of Keyran. Instantly Keyran looked up, his eyes were red, his cheeks were wet with tears, and he glared at Nisa as if he did not like her presence.

"Key .." said Nisa with trembling lips. His hand advanced to grab Keyran's face, but Keyran immediately brushed it off.

"Go!! Leave me alone!!" keyran shouted as loudly as he could until his voice sounded outside. She even encouraged Nisa to stay away from him.

Nisa gritted her teeth, she immediately got up and suddenly slapped a hard slap on Keyran's cheek.

THE PLAAK!!

Keyran touched the cheek of Nisa's slap, then he looked at Nisa with a sharp gaze, as if he did not accept it and wanted to reply immediately.

"It hurts, right? It still hurts, right?"

Keyran was silent, yet he was still staring at Nisa in the same way. She had absolutely no idea what Nisa meant by suddenly slapping her.

"Shut up!! You don't get it! Go quickly or I'll hurt you!!"

"Yes, I don't understand what it's like. But I know, I already know everything! So stop like this, it's not entirely your fault!"

"No! My fault! If I didn't ask, then my mother would still be alive! It's all because I'm selfish, I'm too selfish, I deserve to be like this!"

"I beg you to stop, Key .. This is not your fault. You want to be like this for 20 years or a lifetime, in the end the result will still be the same, your mother will never come back! What you're doing is free, free you keep lamenting the departure of someone who is impossible to return. Be sad, but don't drag on like this!"

"I may not know what it's like to lose a mother, but I've also lost someone I love. If you really love your mother, then stop this right now! I'm sure your mother doesn't want you to be like this at all. And now, with you like this, it's the same as letting your mother down! You're just making your mother unsettled in nature!"

"A-I .. disappointed my mother?" asked Keyran with a trembling tone.

"Yes, you're disappointing." Nisa grabbed Keyran's face, stroked him and wiped his tears. "Now you understand, right? So just get here, don't blame yourself for your mother's passing."

"I'm your wife Key, I'll always be with you. I say all this not only to comfort you, but also to tell you about the fact that your mother loves you so much. My mom always said that if she wanted her son to live happily, I'm sure your mom would. So forget your grief and live happily, your mother would be proud to have you as her son."

"really? Are all your words true?"

"Of course, this time I didn't lie. My husband is a good man, well-established, handsome, wise, responsible, smart to take care of a wayward wife like me, patient in all my troubles, moreover, you love me with everything I lack. Who is not proud to have you in their life? Your mother must be proud that you grew up to be this kind of person, especially if you live happily. Trust me, your mother must be calm in nature."

"Don't go on anymore, okay? Try to accept and face the truth. You're not alone, there's me who'll always be by your side. I know you're reluctant to show your weak side, but in front of me you don't have to, I'm here for you. You don't have to do anything, just holding on is enough. I'm sure you can get through it. I don't know what it's like, but seeing you like this is enough to make me understand. I can understand your feelings because I love you. Very, very much love you ..."

Keyran's lips trembled, he slowly removed Nisa's hand from her face. Suddenly he pulled Nisa's body into his deck, clutching it so tightly, as if he would never take it off.

"I-I beg you to stay with me forever ... I've lost the person I love the most, I don't want to lose the person I love. Whatever happens stay with me, never leave me ... I don't know what to do without you, I beg you to accompany me every step of the way....friend me all my life ..."

Nisa smiled, she returned a hug from Keyran then patted his back slowly.

"Yes, I'm still here, and will always accompany you. It's okay to be sad, but enough. If you are sad, I am sad too. All my life I've wanted to share all the wonderful things with you, so overcome your sadness and regret. There is nothing to be sorry about, what has happened should have happened. So live without regret and stay energized. By the way .. sorry for slapping you, I didn't mean to ..."

"What's wrong, I still love you. Thank you for coming into my life, I am grateful to have you ... Let it stay like this, I want to hold you in for a little longer."

"Yes, hold me as much as you can."

It's okay Key, losing someone is really painful. And it turns out that since childhood you have lacked the name of affection, but for so on will no longer be. I have a plan for you to feel what family warmth is. Yahh ... despite the annoying and less-than-natural family.

***

Keyran still continued to hold Nisa, even arguably very long, until Valen who was still outside was sleepy but did not dare to go home.

His body was no longer trembling, the sadness and guilt that continued to haunt him had also reduced a lot. Memory of traumatic events that often present as nightmares, emotional stress that feels like repeating the event, now it feels no longer stifling in the chest.

Before she was inclined to ignite herself, she had lost interest in things she liked and felt hopeless. Therefore he became a figure who prefers to be alone and difficult to establish relationships with others.

Tonight was the umpteenth night where she showed sad eyes. He who does not smile on this special day, but he has confidence together with loved ones will surely see a dazzling tomorrow.

In the day he hated and wanted to be forgotten, he clasped tightly onto the hand that was extended to him. His beloved wife who had made him melt with her warmth. The fog of sadness that continued to envelop him finally disappeared. He doesn't know what's going on but he's sure, there's going to be a lot from now on. How many times did he get angry and cry, even if one day he would get through it.

"Nisa." call Keyran in a quiet voice.

"Hmm ...?"

God, how long has he been holding me? I was so comfortable I was unconsciously sleepy.

"Let's go!"

"Where?"

"Lampion festival."

"Eh?!" Nisa was surprised and immediately took off her embrace. "Whatchu mean? Please don't push yourself for me, besides it's just a festival, there are many other festivals. So it's okay, this time I'll obey and stay home with you."

"You're wrong, I'm not forcing myself or anything. I failed to celebrate the lantern festival with my late mother, so now I want to celebrate it with my wife. I want to do my first lantern festival with you."

"Really?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Seriously gapapa?"

"Yes!"

"But .. if leaving now is free, when we get there the show is over."

"Don't you make your own lanterns last day?"

"Yes, continues?"

"We can fly it in the back garden, besides this area is not a crowded area, plus the weather is also not windy, so it's safe to fly the lantern here."

"Hmm... may be, it can be! By the way ... You feel better?"

"Have you not seen?!"

"It's dark in here, not even your face is clearly visible."

"Yes too. Let's grab a lantern, but before that .. can you kiss me now?"

"I said it's dark, better be later."

"Ck, I have the solution!"

Keyran immediately stood up and helped Nisa to stand up as well. Then he opened the dusty curtains. And suddenly she pulled Nisa back into her arms and kissed her lips gently.

"Uhmm ...?!" Nisa is surprised that she is still not ready, but then she puts her hand around Keyran's neck and enjoys the kiss.

Nisa is secretly satisfied, though her date fails but at least the kiss she hopes she gets anyway. He expected a kiss done under the moonlight amidst the sparkling lights of the lanterns, but he remained satisfied despite only kissing under the moonlight that pierced through the window pane.