Anila For Anala

CHAPTER 2 - WHITE GOLD RING

"Okay, everyone is ready in their respective positions. Weekends will be more crowded than usual. Just focus on the target." Anila gives encouragement. "We pray for smoothness today, pray is welcome." 

Anila looked down for a long time. Ask the owner of the plan to launch all his efforts. Her team is the spearhead of the company, and Anila is her brain. The success or failure of Anila's marketing program affects the sustainability of the company. Thousands of people with their families. 

"Aamiin, prayer can be ended." Anila raised her head when all her men were well. He realized he was praying for too long.

"Sar, the mall is not crowded, you are briefing children to review product knowledge, yes." Anila looked around before continuing, "I go to the toilet first, continue to ... coffee shop at the end there," said Anila, pointing with the chin of the coffee shop in the corner of the mall. 

"Well, Ma'am," complied Sari. 

"If there's anything, it's samperin, yes." Anila passed by while patting Sari's shoulder, still without a smile. Makes Sari clumsy to remember her mistake while in the car. 

***

Day cream doubles up moisturizer and sunscreen, plus a little bit of sprinkle powder. Anila reviewed using a large brush, ending with a little blush. While his eyebrows and eyelashes extension no longer require touch. Enough liptint to make the lips that have been embroidered look fresh.

Anila spent the largest portion of her income taking care of herself. Vitamin C injections, installing braces—which has now been removed, to embroider eyebrows and lips, and install eyelashes extension. 

Not to mention hair treatments such as creambath, coloring, hair mask, and hair spa. This is still nothing compared to the price of skincare. It really makes pangling anyone who has known Anila for a long time.

The pinch that hung Anila's hair, she took it off. Dropping irregular hair waves. With just a touch of her clenched finger, Anila tidied her hair. Closing a little bit of his forehead. The body part that made him the most insecure. Yes, Anila was satisfied with herself in the mirror.

***

"Espresso, please," pinta Anila sure without looking at the menu list. One index finger went up hinting he only ordered one glass. "There," pointed Anila at one corner of the room. 

'Maybi-lah Author' a book about mental health and autoimmune survivors comes out of his bag. Anila opened a sheet that had been blocked by the barrier. This is the 2nd time Anila has read the book. Amazed at the figure of Mas Bi. Handsome and well-established man, plus faithfully accompanied Maybi, his wife. The wife has many limitations. Even threats cannot have offspring. Perfect guy, amazed Anila. 

Anila was astonished sometimes. What makes a man faithful. The beauty of the wife, or the expertise of the wife in serving all the needs of the husband, or just the luck factor? No, for Anila all there must be a logical explanation. However, what. Anila herself is still finding out. Not a few he found, a perfect wife actually had to swallow a bitter pill of betrayal.

Unknowingly the two pairs of eyes repeatedly glanced at him. Whisper quietly, then let go of a mischievous smile. Trying to flirt.

From the corner of her eye, Anila finally realized. Anila raised the right hand that had been stored in the lap. Put it on the table without getting blocked. With her thumb, she played a white gold ring that adorned the ring finger. Clearly looks disappointed in the two men on his desk.

This was one of the reasons, why the ring was still coiled on his ring finger. The ring is useful for self-limiting. Limit yourself from the opposite sex, of course. At least people understand that he is married. 

Another reason, because Anila had not intended to find a replacement. Or maybe you won't find a replacement. The second substitute, the ring and the giver, Ranala. Anila is still neatly kept in an untouched corner. Until it takes root, moves the entire nerve, to change Anila as she is now. 

***

“Come, login.” Ranala opened the front door of her house. It's five kilometers north of the city center. Dago area villa complex is indeed suitable with Ranala's character. Ranala is introverted, closed. Because most of the houses in this area are rented out for temporary rest. The change of occupants in a short time is certainly beneficial for him.

“Mas Rana live alone here?” ask Anila while looking around this vintage industrial-style house. Unfinished walls and carved gebyok above the front door that makes Anila concluded so.

Ranala smiled without answering. Anila also does not need a real answer. Just trying to break the silence. 

Anila thought the front door was access to the house. Turns wrong. The front door was a carport and park. The closed garden, really reflects the character of Ranala. A fairly large park. At a glance, it can be estimated that the area is equal to the area of the main building.

“The page is huge, Mas.” Anila's view goes around the minimalist garden in front of her. Japanese grass throughout the garden ground, with the only tree in the corner. Highlight the lights from the ground on the right-left, making catapults kencana a prima donna. Although the sky is dark, it is clearly visible twigs are slender and terraced. 

“Kan, let later Mas can play the same ball Mas children here.” Ranala threw a meaningful smile that managed to leave Anila speechless. His body was stiff, but not with his heart. His heart was beating at an average speed. As hard as possible Anila tried to brake, but in vain. A tight heart rate pumping blood is no less fast. Anila felt a swish in her blood stream. Rise up to the face and warm it up.

The same taste Anila had felt before. When Anila was forced to accept the offer Maliq—sof his friend, to ride a motorcycle together. At that time, Anila had no other choice. Her bike crashes while Anila has to catch up with time to follow UAS (Semester End Test). UAS English Language. Courses that must be retaken because they got a D in the previous semester. Anila is not good at English. 

Anila puts a backpack between Maliq and herself. Give distance. But unfortunately, when stopped at a red light, Maliq rested both hands from the handlebar of the motor. Accidentally touching Anila's calf covered in black fungus. Anila shuddered. There was a whirling over his body.  

“Still at home outside?” Ranala's question that managed to melt the stiffness of Anila's body, was even stunned. Anila rubbed her pashmina-covered neck. Curse himself. Why still think of other men when he already has the status of a wife. This is his first night. First night? Anila was nervous. Was she?

Anila followed Ranala into a spacious room without a talent. Wooden floors, monochrome walls, and furniture that again nuances industrial vintage. Black leather sofas, gramophones, and antique swivel cable phones reinforce it. Very masculine house, Inner Anila.

Ranala opened the wooden door in the corner of the living room. Anila was getting nervous. 

Anila's dark brown suitcase was placed by Ranala beside the open door. “Clean-clean first, gih! The bathroom is inside.” Ranala invited in.

Again appeared a strange swish that spread from the lower body. Anila tried to arrange as best as she could. Encouraging his brain to think clearly. Not to do anything stupid in front of Ranala.

Anila's long breath was puffed out silently. Calm down before replying to Ranala's orders. “Okay, I clean first, yes,” reply Anila try as calm as possible. 

Anila set foot in Ranala's room. Ranala closes the door to Anila and leaves her. Ranala's politeness is what makes Anila melt since the beginning of the introduction. Instead of tracing the face of Anila who wanted to be betrothed to him. Ranala just lowered her gaze, making Anila feel honored.

Anila crawled every corner of the room. There are no pictures of themselves, friends, or family there. It was like entering the display room of a furniture store. No intimacy is shown.  While Anila was anxious, there was absolutely no clue to her husband's life. Where to start?

Too tired to think now. The rush of warm water tends to heat up the head to the feet of Anila. Provides a relaxing effect after tired of welcoming hundreds of guests.

21 Years, no, not even 21. Nine months into the future, he is only 21. At such a young age, she had held the status of a wife. Wife of an adult man. 

Not a thing without long thought, or fulfilling mere lust. Anila just doesn't want to go through something good with the wrong start, going out.

Salat isya who was late at night Anila did it alone in the room. Anila was not yet confident enough to ask Ranala to come in. Even if only to do prayer isya congregate. His heartbeat did not want to be invited to cooperate if it was too close to Ranala. 

I need some time. Time asks God, alone. Ask for calm to face tonight. Anila offered a prayer with full earnestness. The eyes were tightly closed, as well as both hands raised parallel to his mouth. Repeatedly the same prayer was said. Until the nervous yawning along with the prayer that continues to be read.

 Silence, there was no sound of human movement outside the room. Anila put her ears on the door. The door that confines the room with the middle space. The longer Anila gets agitated. Whether to stay waiting in the room or approach Ranala outside. Anila moved away from the door, a moment later approaching and holding the doorknob. But close again. 

Anila tried meditation methods to reduce her anxiety. Taking a deep breath through the nose. Hold him for a moment before breathing out through his mouth. While taking a deep breath through the mouth, Anila let out a soft voice, “Ahhh”. Like making dew while blowing a mirror. Succeeds. His heart rate is back to normal.

Bismillah. Slowly Anila lowered the doorknob. Open the door as fast as possible. Avoiding the creaking sounds that may occur. 

There's no sound. Where is Mas Rana? Astagfirullah. Anila screams stifled. 

Ranala fell asleep on the black leather sofa. Still complete with white shirt and cotton pants. Two buttons shirt top open. It seems like Ranala is trying to reduce the tightness. Anila felt guilty letting her husband wait a long time.

Anila sat down beside Ranala. Intends to wake Ranala up to switch to the room. But Anila chose to look at Ranala's tired face. Wanted to rub her hair, peek at her forehead. Thank you for being willing to take care of him.

Long, long enough. Anila's eyes were fixed on Ranala's handsome face. Until Anila realized there were traces of tears on Ranala's cheeks.    Anila noticed the vision as she realized something else. His hearing. His ears caught the sound that turned out to be coming from the music player. Connect via Bluetooth to Ranala's phone. Anila found the male vocals sad. Realized it was the only song playing. Repetitively. 

So are we over now

Do we just turn the page and let the story end

Do we just walk away just like we never met

I know we said some things and now you want to leave

But baby, that's no reason to let it good love die

Goodbye

Why must it be this way

So many words

So many other words that we could say

Goodbye

After all this time

Can't we try

Goodbye