After Party

Has Ended

Luna and Mrs Soemardjan were sitting in a spacious living room. They had been sitting opposite each other in silence for five minutes. Each one seemed unable to start the conversation. Thoughts of both raged between the two different women of that generation. Only the ticking of the wall clock filled that unsettling silence.

"Sorry to disturb Mami this afternoon." Said Luna who was finally able and managed to make a sound. Luna bowed, not daring to look into her mother-in-law's eyes.

"Aren't you working?" Madam Soemardjan asked with a stifled voice.

"I'll give you permission, Mum." Luna replied briefly.

Then Mrs Soemardjan just kept quiet. The silence returned to them.

Luna changed her uncomfortable sitting position. Madam Soemardjan saw Luna's belly begin to enlarge. He realized, this woman in front of him brought his granddaughter. The woman is still his daughter-in-law.

"What do you want to drink?" He asked while standing up to call one of his servants.

"White water." Luna replied.

Luna felt strange at that moment. All this time, he had never sat in this intimidating living room. A large sofa with carved dragon carvings and urns as tall as a human surround. Luna never liked this living room. He always passed through the back door and straight to the living room. There, there is a comfortable sofa and direct access to the dining table.

Being in this living room, made Luna feel estranged.

"Am I considered a guest? Am I still part of the Soemardjan family?"

Suddenly the question surrounds Luna's fragile and increasingly sensitive head.

His eyes were teary with a stab of grief.

Mrs Soemardjan returned with a maid who brought two glasses of water.

"Hello, Ms. Luna. How are you doing? It's hard not to play here for long!" Say Asih while putting a glass on the table.

"Good Bi. Thanks for the water." Sahut Bulan while smiling wryly.

Mrs Soemardjan sat back in her place. His face looked stiff and tense. He had been holding back his feelings from now on. Everything he wanted to convey.

"Why did you come here?" Asked Madam Soemardjan in a firm tone. Finally, the word came out of his mouth as well.

"Mommy. I know, Juna is here..." Luna. Now, he dared to look at his mother-in-law.

"Why did you want to meet him after you hurt his heart, hurt his feelings!" Mrs Soemardjan said harshly. Tension was visible in their eyes at this moment.

Luna choked, surprised by what she had heard.

"God, what did Juna say to his mother? I hurt her? I hurt her feelings? Didn't Juna explain the whole story to her mother?" Inner Luna.

"Mommy, we need to talk. Our business is not finished! It's not about me hurting him or who's hurting who. How we hurt each other!" Luna said with a high voice.

"You just go home, Juna is very hurt because of you." Said Mrs Soemardjan with a voice that pierced Luna's heart.

"Mom! Can I meet Juna? We need to talk. Maybe his new phone number? Or whatsapp? I really need to talk to Juna, Mam!" Luna said, now in a lower tone and pleaded.

Madam Soemardjan shook her head firmly.

"Forget it!" Answer her firmly.

Luna looked at her mother-in-law in surprise.

She knew from the beginning that her mother-in-law did not like her. She is not the kind of daughter-in-law her in-laws want.

However, Juna always supported and strengthened him. Luna always felt protected. But now, Juna is not there. Get away from him, without word. Luna suddenly felt dazed.

"But, Mami. I have to straighten things out with Juna!"

"Easy! Juna doesn't want your presence anymore! And you don't have to bother waiting and don't bother him. That's enough, just once you hurt her!" Madam Soemardjan replied with a frenzy while looking intently at the Moon.

Luna remained silent. Eyes glazed.

The question of dancing nari in Luna's head when she heard her mother-in-law's words.

Luna could only stroke her stomach. His heart was broken into pieces, considering the fate of the child in his womb later. Her tears are no longer held back.

"I'm sorry, Mom." Pamit Luna with a raucous voice while wiping her tears. He's headed for the exit.

It's all over. He has no hope anymore. She finished her house with Juna.

***

Today is his first day in Solo. Juna met with his co-worker. She's a woman with a brown skin and a sweet smile.

The woman's name is Ayu. As the name suggests her face is beautiful (ayu) typical of Javanese girls. He is polite, and the path is always slow and the speech is slow. Juna likes. Ayu is different from the girl he had met in Jakarta.

"Sir Juna, are you ready to see the new branch office building in Solo?" She smiled with a professional. His right hand held a large map.

"Oh, sure." Answer Juna aloud.

Ayu had just escorted her to her hotel residence for the next month in Solo. The hotel is quite magnificent with a traditional Javanese touch in every corner of the room.

Juna and Ayu walked past the receptionist. Some of the hotel staff women were clustered, seen gossiping and giggling as they passed by.

"Why them?" Nina asked as she pointed at the hotel staff with the thumb of her left hand.

Ayu glanced slightly back.

"Maybe you are considered an artist from Jakarta." Sahut Ayu's.

"Well, how can you?" Juna was a bit confused.

Ayu bowed in shame. The driver approached them in an office car.

"Soally, my face is cute like an artist on television." Ayu replied blushingly before opening the car door.

Juna. Her face. He had somewhat forgotten about this asset. In Jakarta, of course there are many types of antics that beat it. Plus the treatment of his wife who always considered it trivial had made him forget about the advantages of it.

But in this small town, the man with an attractive face, plus spreading an alluring aura his number could be counted with a finger. Self-confidence if it increases tenfold.

"Why can the people here be nice? Friendly? Are there any rules about it? Or is it hereditary?" Ask Juna curiously.

"It all happened naturally. Since birth, they have been taught Kramas and do good things. Friendliest. Respecting others, respecting each other. It all starts with the smallest neighborhood, the family." Terang Ayu's.

"Oh." replied Juna.

Juna glanced at Ayu's finger. There was no ring on the ring finger anywhere.

"You're married?" Juna asked nervously.

"Not Sir. That Father?" Ayu asked back.

Juna was silent for a moment. Her wedding ring was not used that day. He could admit anything at that time. Especially in a sweet and gentle woman like Ayu.

But, Juna decided, he came to Solo to find a solution, not add to the problem.

He sighed for a moment.

"I'm already married. My wife is pregnant." Her speech.

Ayu's eyes were surprised to hear Juna's reply. However, it quickly wiped out with a happy smile.

"Oh, huh? You must be very happy to have a momongan!" Ayu said looking sincere.

"Yes, sure. Of course I'm happy." Juna said with a tone not so sure.