CITY LOCATION: ANOTHER HEART

Episode 8

After turning off the sink faucet, Elle fell silent staring at her own reflection. Despite having a bed rest a day last night, his face still looked pale. Doctor Word's prescription doesn't seem to help much. The proof, dizziness and nausea still attack him.

Elle lowered her head, and her gaze was fixated on something.

There's a toothbrush and Raffi's razor still left behind.

Swaying, thinking. Ah, maybe he forgot. Let it. Later, after his physical condition improved, he would clear things up. Throw it away, maybe.

Elle dried her face, researching herself. Decided that his clothes were time to be replaced. It feels sticky and uncomfortable. Elle crouched down, pulling a loose sheet of sweatshirt out of her pile of homegrown clothes. His eyes are stuck on something. Another t-shirt, it seems accidentally interested. While pulling the shirt out of the pile, intending to tidy it up, Elle fell silent.

Raffi Sweatshirt.

Which was left that night. Seven years ago.

Elle kept the shirt up until now. Take him wherever he goes. Like talismans. Even took her along when she moved to Sydney. Wearing it every time his longing for the man could no longer be withheld.

Elle shook her head, putting the blue jersey into the top pile after folding it neatly. It seems like after this he will come back often wearing that shirt back. Elle was silent again as something flashed through her mind.

Sydney.

Why didn't it happen to him? Yeah, of course you are. Elle looked up releasing a sigh of relief, finding the path she was looking for. The first thing he had to do after this was to restore his physical condition. He should immediately convince the doctor to give him a flying permit recommendation.

Elle got up and changed clothes.

Stepping slowly, Elle went outside from the room to the kitchen. Found a lot of food that Aunt Siera had delivered from the restaurant for her this afternoon. Despite having said she could not swallow any food except wheat bread, the kind woman did not care. He sent one of the restaurant staff to bring him food.

All the delicious food concocted chef Adam did not interest him at all. He then took out a piece of wheat bread as usual and began to chew it. After that, again, I don't know what pushed him so he just moved to turn on the stove to attack the water to brew a cup of concentrated coffee.

Elle began to inhale the aroma of coffee, half daydreaming while observing the enamel cup in her hand. The patterned old-fashioned cup used to belong to his late mother. Then he inherited it, and became the favorite cup that he always carried around wherever he went.

He was about to sip the coffee when he heard the bell ring. Who comes in these nights? Maybe Rayhan. He didn't say he was having a bed rest on the man.

Slowly Elle stepped forward. While the bell was still being pressed repeatedly with great impatience. If it wasn't Rayhan, Elle would have been prepared to curse anyone who had met in such a disrespectful manner. When she opened the door, she could only hide.

“By login?” ask guest.

She should have just kicked him out, but instead of telling him to leave, Elle nodded and retreated giving her guests a way to enter.

“Ngapain you came here?” ask Elle without a stale base. “You need to be the same.”

“Nights like this? Don't know what, it's time for people to rest? Why not come to resto tomorrow?”

Raffi did not reply, but stared at Elle sharply.

For God's sake, this woman. Why is his mouth so sharp?

When he saw it before the door, Raffi was stunned. His face was pale, the hollows and dark circles under his eyes were all too obvious. His cheekbones, why are they getting so prominent? Elle looks unhealthy. It looks so...weak and fragile.

Instantly his heart was broken. For a moment she felt a strong urge to come closer, and hugged the woman. The damned woman's sniffling and sharp mouth, like resuscitating her again on what her purpose was to come here.

‘It's your baby, Elle..’.

‘Rayhan is not his father?’

Two sentences continued to resonate in his head, ever since he stepped out of the Maghali’s courtyard two days earlier. Two sentences that mess up again the feelings that he had been hard-earned to tidy up. Tore down the calm he got with desperate effort.

Elle's pregnant?

He still has a hard time believing. Even if it is logical, it is not impossible actually. Because among the passions that they often indulge in blindly, it could have been tucked away one time when they are alpa.

If the news had been received a few months earlier, he would probably have welcomed it with great joy, because he had the chance to have that damn woman. Forcing her to use the baby as an excuse. It's funny, but that's what happens to your brain if you're in a relationship and love a stone-hearted woman like Elle. Deadlocked.

When desired never obtained. When they are left, opportunities come. Destiny is like that sometimes. Not in line with human reason. Now, what's he supposed to do? With the baby should he come back, then kneel pleading with the damned woman to take him again?

For so long, for the reason of love, he just let the woman pull out her feelings. Act as they please. Trampling on his pride as a man. Didn't he say he was leaving? Will not bother the woman again, will not be involved with her again, will not interfere with her life again. This time he again had to suppress his ego and self-esteem, even this time for a different reason: responsibility? Raffi closed his eyes for a moment. Trying to neutralize whatever else was raging in his chest, so that he could focus on his original goal.

“There's something I want to ask,” said Raffi. As cold and sharp as Elle's tone.

“What's the question, how important is it? Until the night like this ngetok door home people.” Elle still sharply answered.

The mask. The mask he always used in front of Raffi. To cover up what he really felt in his heart. Elle was quietly watching. His appearance is still as usual. But the unusual sideburn, the black shadow of the lower eyelid ... Elle knew this guy wasn't as neat as usual. His head suddenly felt dizzy after observing Raffi, dizzy was hit by feelings of worry and guilt. His feelings began to stir. And damn it, the contents of the hull also participated. Elle sets lips to resist nausea.

“You don't feel the need to explain anything to me?” ask Raffi at last.

“I thought we had no relationship. No more business, so what should I explain?”

“This one time is Elle, do not have to ketus so. I asked you nicely. Please, please ... answer carefully also.” Raffi was silent for a moment. His emotions that had begun to be provoked must first be muted. “You .. pregnant. My son.”

Elle froze. And panic.

“What are you doing by the way? Getting pregnant? Who is pregnant? Do not miss the wrong address. Another woman you hamili, even you came here,” said Elle, still with an indifferent tone that sounded very annoying in Raffi's ears.

“You just answer, no need to say I am so.”

Elle frowned feeling the nausea that attacked again. Put the back of his hand under his nose, holding his mouth so as not to make a sound. “Jawab what the hell, I don't ... hegh!”

Suddenly an attack of severe nausea, urging anything laboriously could pass through his throat, spewed out. Unable to hold him anymore, Elle half ran into his room while smothering his mouth with his palm.

Raffi was stunned on the spot. She nodded, then moved and followed Elle into her room. When I got there the bathroom door was closed. He clearly heard the voice of the woman as if she was removing all her stomach. Raffi is approaching. Pulling door handle. Locked up.

Raffi is there.

Has Elle always been like this? If so, his face should be pale.

About half an hour later, Elle came out of the bathroom. The parasite is turning pale. Walk a little unsteadily towards her dresser and then sit there, looking for a tie of hair and curling her hair up high.

“You're okay?”

Elle turned around, shocked to find Raffi following her. “Ngapain you here?” ask her with a raucous voice.

Raffi did not answer, repeating his question. “You're okay?”

Elle fell silent, recognizing the faint, worried tone, tucked away in a question sentence spoken in that flat expression. The worried tone he missed. But just like before, the piercing gaze was like returning his consciousness to build a fortress of self back.

“I'm nothing.”

Raffi watched him again. “You haven't answered my question, Elle.”

“Which question?”

“You're pregnant, right?”

“Who said?

“Not important. Just answer.”

“Nggak.”

“Not lie.”

“And vomit earlier what?”

“Nothing, just in the wind.”

“Ckk ... Stop, Elle .. answer honestly.”

“No, Raff!”

Raffi closed his eyes, snorting in frustration. Stone-headed, as usual. With the rest of his patience remaining as layer, his emotions were quickly the prettiest. Raffi was about to open his mouth when suddenly the bell rang. Half reluctant, Elle moved. Leaving Raffi who was still silent in his room. Who else comes in these nights? What Rayhan? Woe if the man comes here when Raffi has not left.

“Elle ... Dear?”

Elle momentarily gawked in disbelief. Then screech happily and scatter hugging the figure who was smiling warmly at him. “Tante Indriiii!”

Indri laughed softly returning the tight embrace of his foster child. After breaking the embrace, the woman observed Elle closely. “You why are so skinny now?”

Elle just shook her head. Even tighten his embrace again and whine spoiled. “Tante when to go home, why not say anything before?”

Indri just chuckled. “Surprise, dong.”

Elle sneered at hearing it. As she realized, Elle looked. “Sama Aunt Siera too? How can? Uh, go in first, Auntie,” take her. Still struggling spoiled on Indri's arm, he brought the woman in.

“Tadi tante near-by streets Maghali’s there. Come around. Kangen with Siera. All of you want to meet you. But he said you were sick. ”

Instantly Elle froze in Indri's embrace. His eyes glanced at Siera. Did Siera tell Aunt Indri about her condition now?

Amidst the silence, their attention suddenly focused on the figure who had just come out of Elle's bedroom. Elle gulped. Ah, fuck!

Indri then looked alternately with a confused expression at Elle who was frozen silent, and at Raffi who was also shocked to see his presence. It was Siera's voice that finally broke the silence.

“Raff, why are you here these nights?”

***

The atmosphere of the living room dominated by dark blue was tense. No one spoke up since the hostess asked to gather earlier.

The youngest, who is usually chatty and talkative can only look confused at his older brother who is downcast with a tangled face. To his mother who had never before been seen by him put on a wrathful expression, staring intently at his eldest son. Also his father, who though seemed calm, was also visibly confused by the situation, as he was.

After returning from his father's office, Dera had heard his father who received a phone call to go home immediately. There's something important they should talk about. Seeing the change in face, Dera guessed something serious was happening.

Although he was worried that something bad happened to one of his family members, he breathed a sigh of relief when he arrived home to find both his mother and brother in good condition. The question now is, what really happened until his mother looked this angry?

While Siera looked at her son with a roaring emotion on her chest….

‘It just so happens Elle, there's Mama, there's your aunt too. So, all you say in front of them, whose child is in your stomach.’

‘Silent you are Raff, don't talk about anything!’

‘What does this mean Elle, Raff?’

‘Tante Indri doesn't know that Elle is pregnant?’ ‘Raff! Shut up!’

‘Already, do not need to deny again is Elle.’

‘Raff.’

‘Mama knows that Elle is pregnant? But Mama and Aunt Indri do not know whose baby is the child?’

‘Raff, if you can't be quiet, get out of here!’ ‘The baby is my son, right?’

‘Now!’

“You have to explain everything to Mama.”Raffi raised his face. Instantly a sense of trepidation rose in his heart. There was anger, a burning anger that seemed much bigger than when Raffi broke off his engagement to Naura. But her mother already knew. He can't back down anymore, let alone cover up.

“Mama already knew earlier,” replied Raffi, venturing to look at his mother.

“I mean Mama, how can you say Elle is pregnant with your child while just a month ago your engagement with Naura you decided?! Don't tell me it happened because of this problem!” Siera's voice began to rise.

Raffi is back.

“Mama already knew about the pregnancy from doctor Firman, but Mama did not know that the man was you, Raff!”

His father was shocked. And Dera, instantly shut her mouth as she almost squealed in surprise. He was about to say something, when the tail of his eyes caught his father's head, hinting for him to shut up.

“Mama never taught you to be a brash man! What exactly is going on? Why do you say the baby is your child, while Elle insists on saying no, obviously the same Mama!”

“Because it is my son, Ma.”

“Then why did Elle even say no?”

“He who lied.”

“Lying? If that's your son, there's no way Elle said no. Mama is also a Raff woman, there can be no woman who wants to cover up whose child she bears from her own father!”

Because Mama's not Elle.

And Mama doesn't know what Elle looks like.

“Do you force him?”

“Forcing how Mama meant?”

“You ... harassed him?”

Raffi shakes. “I'm not that kind of man,” he murmured softly. “But the baby is indeed my son, Ma, that's all I can say now.”

Siera lowered her head, closing her eyes while she was massaging her throbbing temples. “Mama already do not know anymore what exactly you are.” His voice sounded tired, making Raffi instantly grimace back when a lot of guilt began to hit his heart.

“Sorry, Mom. ”

Siera simply shook her head, then snorted loudly. “Mama is really disappointed!” Siera then moved on and walked away without saying anything more.

Raffi was already standing about to chase after his mother when his father signaled for her to remain seated on the spot. The middle-aged man who was still gallant followed the steps of his wife into their room.

Raffi can only be alone. Dera timidly shifted her seat closer to the only brother she had. “Bang. ” call her slowly.

“Hmm?”

“That was serious?”

“Which one?”

“Nggg that Elle's sister is pregnant with her son Brother?”

Raffi pulled his back leaning on the shoulder of the sofa, laying his head with a tired expression. Then nod. “Iya. Why, want to be angry also like Mama?”

Dera. She wrapped her arms around her brother's stomach while smiling. “Congratulations, Brother already wants to be a father,” he said then giggled himself. Raffi just raised an eyebrow hearing the giggling laughter of Dera. “So I don't have to wait long to have a nephew.”