CITY LOCATION: ANOTHER HEART

Episode 11

“Come, Elle. Why not go down?”

“Should yes, we go to the hospital?” lirih Elle.

“You should see a doctor. Look at your condition, do not watch your baby if it continues like this?” raffi gumam.

Elle frowned uncomfortably, when the memories of eighteen years ago when her mother was taken to hospital—then never returned to her—recooked back in her memory. Painful, even after a dozen years have passed. It might sound absurd. But, that was how he felt when he had to lose the only person he cared about, and for the next like having no one else.

“I ... I can't,” he said softly. Almost inaudible.

Raffi was dumbstruck, as soon as he realized that pale face had turned grim. Something he had never seen before. Maybe he was wrong because he considered trivial what the woman felt.

Raffi closed his eyes. Can't do. They still have to go to the doctor.

Raffi then pulled out his car keys, and stepped out and circled the black Jeep. Opened the door of the front passenger occupied by Elle.

“Come, Elle...” take her later.

“No, Raff, I I don't dare.”

Raffi. Where is the usually stubborn Elle? This ...

this is a woman who is like being scared.

Raffi ducked and whispered. “There's me here. It won't be why.” Elle was silent. “Come on your son's behalf,” whispered Raffi again.

Elle closed her eyes for a moment, then nodded to herself. “Come,” disconnect later. Raffi smiled faintly at it, then retreated and gave way to Elle.

The two then walked hand in hand into the lobby of the hospital which was quite crowded that morning. Beside Raffi, Elle walked half daydreaming. Not paying attention to the busyness and then the people around him. Elle was still speechless as the two of them climbed the elevator leading to the fifth floor. Raffi simply observed Elle in silence. Also when they got out of the elevator, and Elle's body was instantly frozen when in front of them passing a group of paramedics who pushed the patient's gurney towards one of the treatment rooms.

Seeing the silent Elle in the half-dreaming place, Raffi pulled the woman's hand, holding her to walk back immediately.

Arriving in front of the doctor's room, Elle also seemed hesitant when she wanted to enter. Raffi did not say anything, tightened his grip and brought the woman inside. A middle-aged female doctor who was about the age of Doctor Firman greeted them both kindly.

After introducing himself, the doctor—doctor Aini— began to do anamnesis around Elle's condition. After that had Elle follow her to the check room where her assistant had been waiting and preparing the equipment. Looking at Elle who was just speechless, doctor Aini smiled.

“Bapak can come inside if you want to see the condition of the baby.”

“Bby, Doc?” “Bby, let's please.”

Raffi got up from his seat. “Come, Elle?”

Elle stood half unwilling. After entering the doctor's practice room, his fear actually began to be slightly dashed. Especially with Raffi beside her, she felt safer. But after the doctor had interviewed her about her condition, inevitably feel guilty for not trying to be a good mother. Unknowingly Elle stroked her stomach, then got up and stepped into the examination room.

“Fetal age runs about twelve weeks. But if you look from here, I'm worried, the baby Father and Mother seem to be less healthy. Especially from the weighing earlier it turns out the weight of the mother is still lacking. Below normal figure in gestational age as it is now.” Elle turned to Raffi. The man glanced at him sharply.

“I ... I always get sick every meal, Doc. Anything seems to be unable to pass through my throat,” Elle said as soon as they had again sat face to face at Aini's doctor's desk.

The doctor smiled as he typed something on his computer, sending a message to the pharmaceutical installation prescribing the drug to his patient. “Indeed in some pregnant women experience such nausea and vomiting. Usually due to hormonal changes in the body. It is actually natural, because usually such complaints will disappear after entering the second trimester. The problem is when the mother can not swallow food at all, then the nutritional intake for the baby will certainly not be sufficient. Not good for baby development.”

“How about having too much coffee, Doc?” raffi asked suddenly.

“Coffee?”

Raffi nodded. “In a day he can drink more than three cups of coffee.” Elle grimaced hearing it.

“In healthy pregnant women, there is actually no abstinence whatsoever. As long as it is not consumed in excessive amounts. I think, three cups of coffee a day, in this weak pregnancy condition, should be reduced. If it can be stopped first the habit of drinking coffee. If passed on, it is not good, Mom, because at risk the baby was born with low weight.”

Elle swallowed hearing it. Raffi glanced at him. “Groomed well, Mom. This is the first pregnancy, right? For Father, it is better to be accompanied by his wife. It seems that the physical condition of the mother is also influenced by psychological factors in addition to hormonal factors. Mom seems to be under stress. Under these circumstances, pregnant women need more support from the family, especially husband.”

Elle. Stress? Maybe it's true. But family support? Husband? Where would he get it if both of them didn't have it?

Raffi felt the same guilt, so this time it seemed like he had to give up again. It's no longer about her, or about Elle alone. Raffi clasped Elle's hand as they walked out of Aini's doctor's room as he felt the phone in his jeans pocket vibrate. Retrieved and opened the incoming message, from Sandro− without releasing their hands.

Raffi then typed something to reply to the message. Then put his phone back in his jeans pocket. Looked at Elle deeply.

“This time, please, Elle. Same with me. Don't be stubborn anymore. Even if it wasn't for me, it would be for this baby.” Without awkward, even though around them some people were seen passing by, Raffi rubbed Elle's stomach. Still not releasing his eyes from the woman. He was silent, and thinking.

How many layers is there, actually, the boundary between love and hate? What is he really feeling now? Just a responsibility? Or is it, in fact, still a love?

After everything that happened between them, Raffi felt it was not strange that what he had previously thought of as love turned to hate. The Elle he knew, with all that sickening selfishness and stubbornness, was indeed very worthy of being hated.

But this fragile woman?

And after Raffi knew what had made her such a complex female figure, sympathy burst out, which she was unable to hold in her heart. If it was just as simple as sympathy, or responsibility, why not wait for the time he ran to find Elle, forcing her to admit the truth?

Was it even among the hatred that was beginning to flourish in his heart, that despair still vexed stubbornly?

It seems like the boundary between love and hate is only one thin layer. Whether now or eight years ago, Raffi knows that he can always fall in love with this woman even when she is at the worst point of her life. Well, maybe what Raffi felt before was hatred. But, it may also feel that it is still basically a love.

Meanwhile, Elle sank into her own anxiety. To be honest, he missed this guy. Again he reminded himself, this is just about the baby. Not about them. Especially the feeling that man has towards her. Not at all.

“You are still sure you want to marry me?”

“This child needs you, need me. She needs to have a complete parent.”

Right no? It's all about the baby.

He has no choice, he can't be selfish anymore. If Raffi can act like that for the sake of his son, why can't he do the same?

Elle also nodded. Raffi smiled as they finally agreed on one thing. Elle looked at him expressionlessly.

Somehow Elle felt such a great desire to look the other way. Someone was watching him. Justright. When she looked to the right, Elle was stunned. Reflexes, release of Raffi's hand grip.

“Mas Rayhan?”

***

“So who's sick, Mas?”

“One member of the board of directors. It has been since two days ago actually treated here, but only today I can visit.”

Elle just ria-oh hear Rayhan's explanation.

The atmosphere of the coffee shop was not too crowded. Already in working hours. It was too late for people to have breakfast while sipping a cup of coffee. It was too early to spend lunch there. There were only a few people who filled the cafe table located in one corner of the main building of the hospital, paramedics who had just changed sif after a night vigil.

“You ... still not as healthy as it is? Your face is much paler than the last time we met. Why are you, Elle?” asked Rayhan later. “Don't worry me,” he added.

Elle grimacing. It's getting worse for that guy.

“What pain are you really?” rayhan asked again, looking at Elle who was just speechless.

“Ada .. There is a slight problem, Mas. So I checked earlier.”

“And what did the doctor say?”

“Nothing Mas, just anemia equals severe dysmenorrhea.”

Rayhan. Although it actually made sense, her instincts were like saying Elle was lying to her. “And who was with you?”

Elle grimaced again. Finally came out that question. “Friends.”

“Thyou?”

“Iya.”

“If you are sick, why not ask me to take you to the doctor? Even ask for someone else to deliver.”

“Mas is busy, I'm not good.”

Meanwhile, Elle was silent half-down while twirling the glass filled with mineral water. Given the message of Dr. Aini earlier, although his saliva had almost dipped inhaling the aroma of coffee that was thick throughout the cafe room, he held it strong and chose to order mineral water that was definitely safe. He did not want to take the risk until he felt nauseous in front of Rayhan if he ordered another drink.

Rayhan's silent attitude began to make Elle fret. How not? His deteriorating condition, and the insistence of Raffi, he just agreed to the invitation of the man to get married and like forgetting that he is still a lover of Rayhan. Now, what should he do? What's he supposed to say?

“Elle.”

“Ya, Mas?”

“You ... You don't want to explain anything to me?”

“Explain? Explain what?”

“Which guy brought you to check who was it?”

Elle gulped. “I told you he was my friend, Mas.”

“Friends? You're not lying to me, are you?” tanyanya sharp.

Once again Elle gulped, mute. “Mas, i.”

“Honey, it's the cure. Yuk, home.”

Instantly Elle stiffened. Raffi was already sitting quietly next to him. He held up a paperbag from the pharmacy he was holding. When he glanced at Rayhan, the look on the man's face had already turned murky.

Raffi glanced at the water glass Elle was holding. “No more coffee, right? Remember, doctor Aini said, coffee is not good for your baby.”

For God's sake! It was like Elle stuffed Raffi's mouth with scarves wrapped around his neck to keep the man quiet.

“Elle..?” muttered Rayhan staring at Raffi sharply. While that is seen precisely by casually stroking the stomach of Elle. Slowly Elle brushed off Raffi's hand, then whispered to the man. “Please, go first. I want to talk to him.”

Raffi frowned in wonder. “Why the hell, Honey? Just talk, I'm waiting. After that we go straight home,” replied Raffi with an innocent and self-destructive expression.

“Raff, please .. let me talk to Mas Ray first. Stay with us for a minute.”

“Actually who are you?” rayhan asked finally because he could not bear to see the two people in front of him as if he did not care about his presence.

“I would-be husband Elle,” replied Raffi straightforwardly. Rayhan's eyes widened. Elle closed her eyes in frustration. Raffi is really....

“You don't make it up. Now Elle is in a relationship with me. Why do you claim to be her future husband?”

“We are getting married soon. Isn't that right, honey?” raffi said as he glanced at the friendly Elle, who replied to the sharp glance of the woman. “She is pregnant with my child.”

Elle immediately looked down desperately to hear the bomb that Raffi had just dropped. It was in vain that he had been trying to find and string the words to convey to Rayhan, to break the relationship without having the man feel hurt if he had to know about his condition. Rayhan himself was momentarily silent, surprised, saying nothing more.

So, Elle was indeed checking the contents. Anger was growing increasingly bubbling in his chest. If only he did not remember having to maintain his behavior, it would be like he smashed the chair he now sits on into the head of the man who just claimed to impregnate his lover.

“Raff, please .. leave us first. I'll go home with you. Please ” pinta Elle despair.

Raffi was silent for a moment looking at the woman, then nodded and moved. “OK. I'm waiting in front of there. Don't be long.” Elle rolled her eyes hearing Raffi's words. His body instantly froze when before it passed, the man kissed the corner of his right lip briefly. Fearfully glanced at Rayhan who was staring with sharp narrowed eyes.

“Mas, I—”

“What did the man say earlier?”

Elle closed her eyes while sighing deeply, before finally nodding softly. “Sorry, Mom. ”

Rayhan. It turns out to be true.

“You can-you can do this kind of thing. I don't think all the gossip I've heard about you is true. I thought you were a good girl but. ”

“I'm not a good girl. There is nothing wrong with all the news.”

Just look. It would be much easier if Rayhan thought of her as a bitch, a cheap woman, so it wouldn't be too difficult for that man to let go.

“Why Elle, what less am I? Until you do something like this?”

Elle bit her lip. He would not tell the man, that if based on Aini's doctor's count, he was actually pregnant with Raffi's child when he agreed to the man's proposal to be in a relationship.

“Sorry, Mom. ” That's all that comes out of his mouth.

Rayhan looked at him. “What really happened to you? Did he force you?” ask Rayhan again. Half amusing myself. Little hope what Elle experienced was a mistake that was not intended to be done intentionally. His mind is too sick to imagine, the woman he loves to combine love with other men to grow seeds in his womb.

Elle just shook her head weakly. “It doesn't matter, Mom. Because for sure, with my condition like this, it is impossible for us to continue the relationship.”

This time replace the silent Rayhan. There's nothing more he can say. The man let out a heavy sigh, then looked at Elle with the look of injured eyes. “I can ask you something?”

“What, Mas?”

“You ... have you ever loved me?”

Elle was silent for a moment. “I love Mas Rayhan.”

***

A few tables from the table that Elle and Rayhan occupied, Raffi sat quietly watching the two. Although his countenance was calm, but his chest was mired in a storm of emotions.

Actually, it has not lost the pain of his heart that used to be on Rayhan. If only he could not remember where they are now, he had beaten the man because he was still in a relationship with Elle when the woman was pregnant with her child. His mind that was already filled with anger made Raffi not come to the thought that maybe Rayhan really did not know about Elle's condition.

Impulsive for a moment he was acting absurdly in front of Rayhan, doing something similar to the behavior of women in television dramas who like to exaggerate facts.

But let. Let the man know. To stop connecting with Elle.

Raffi narrowed to see Elle had left his desk, approaching him with a slightly dazed step. “You're okay?” he asked while standing from his seat.

Elle shakes. “Come home,” said.

“You're dizzy again? Sit down first.”

“No, Raff, just go home. Add my dizziness long time here,” ketus Elle.

Raffi watched him for a moment. “Ya. We go home.”

Seeing Elle's steps that seemed a little staggering, Raffi just wrapped his arms around the woman's waist, just in case he fell. Elle brushed it off and tried to walk on her own. What the hell Raffi, isn't this in a public place? He was treated like that too. But Raffi did not give up. He stepped parallel to Elle then pulled the woman's right hand and held her while walking. When Elle tried to let go, he held his hand, until finally Elle gave up and let Raffi take him to the parking lot.

“Have satisfied you now?” asked the cynical Elle as soon as she had sat in the front seat of the black Jeep Wrangler Raffi.

“What does that mean?”

“Compassion cornered me.”

“Clocking?”

“Iya. Earlier this morning you knew that you had come to the house of Aunt Indri, I was forced to. Then you dragged me in front of Aunt Siera, forced me to marry you, and still had time to bring up my past. Now, you open up all my disgrace in front of Mas Rayhan. You are really intent yes, want to hurt me,” grumbled Elle cynically.

“I insist for your good, for the good of your baby. And about your lover, what do you want? Still with him, but in your stomach is my son, is that it? He really should know. I'm just helping you talk.”

“Help me to speak, or destroy my pride, your true intentions?”

“Then what do you want? Which self-esteem?”

“Ah, come on, it's up to you! Capek.”

Elle leaned her head back and closed her eyes tiredly. Raffi has really gone too far today on her.

Raffi was speechless looking at that pale face that was splitting his head with those closed eyes. Maybe Elle was right, today she's been acting outrageous.

Moments later, realizing it seemed like Elle had fallen asleep, Raffi then loosened his body looking for something in the backseat. After finding it, she slid it into the upper part of Elle's body, removing air from her car's air conditioner, preventing the woman from catching a cold. Elle remained motionless as Raffi enveloped her. It seems like he fell asleep. Raffi smiled faintly, stroking the dear stomach of the woman who was sleeping quietly beside him. Then start the engine and drive the car out of the hospital parking lot.