CITY LOCATION: ANOTHER HEART
Episode 9
Indri Maheswari sat half-dreaming, stroking the long hair of a beautiful woman who was now curled up spoiled and putting her head on her lap. For Indri, Elle remains the same. Still remains the little girl he took care of and he raised as a message from his late best friend.
It doesn't feel right. Dozens of years have passed since he first brought Elle to Jakarta, leaving Surakarta with many wounds along the journey of her life. And now, after all the things that Elle had just told her, guilt once again came under. Guilt for not being able to take good care of their children. He felt he didn't do anything. Or at least, keep and work on keeping Elle happy, and stop hurting herself.
“Not all men are equal Elle,” muttered later. “You know Raffi is in love with you .. Why even behave like this?”
“Om Adji used to love Auntie, then what? Om can still leave Auntie, right?”
“But Raffi is not Om Adji, dear. Not also like your real father .. can not you equate like that.”
“They're boys, Auntie. Same thing.”
Indri sighed heavily. Stubborn, like Sophia.
“If Aunt is not hurt because Om, if Aunt can still believe in men, why until now Aunt is still living alone?”
“Elle, Honey, Aunt is still alone until now not because Auntie does not trust men anymore. You are wrong to think like that.”
Slowly Elle wriggled up, then sat facing her foster mother with a confused face. “Salah?”
Indri smiled, looking at Elle affectionately. “Honestly, Auntie is heartbroken. Aunty was heartbroken because of separation from Om Adji at that time. It's not every relationship ends pleasantly, Elle. That's a reality that must be acceptable to every human being.”
“Om even ninggalin Aunt for reasons that make no sense, because Aunty can not have children, right? Is love really that shallow, Auntie?”
“That's no unreasonable excuse, Elle. Everyone would want to have children or offspring.”
“But it could be through adoption, Auntie, Om just looking for reasons to leave Aunt. Men are like that, aren't they, Aunt?”
“No, no, Elle. There are a few things you don't know about Om and Auntie's relationship. With or without children, we had agreed to part at that time.”
“Agreed?”
“Iya. The farewell was a mutual agreement.” “But because there are other women, right, Aunt?”
“Indeed. But if at that time Aunt insisted on maintaining our relationship, the existence of the woman actually also will not be much influence.”
“That is, Aunt?”
“Tante himself decided to part ways with Om.”
“Tante who decided like that? But Aunt and Om love each other, right? I've never seen you fight.”
“We really love each other. But, a relationship is not always as it seems from the outside. The only ones who know are the two people involved. Not anyone else.”
“Then, why until now Aunt is still alone?” Once again Indri smiled. Miris. The decision, which he considered the best for himself and Elle, was also instrumental in shaping the bad perception of his foster children on a relationship between men and women.
He took a pinch of Elle's long hair, then tucked it behind his right ear. As she always did, when Elle was a innocent girl a dozen years ago.
“You know, having failed in marriage sometimes makes women afraid of new relationships. Auntie is like that too. But, if you think Aunt is traumatized and no longer trusts men, it's clearly wrong. At that time Aunt just needed to give time for herself Aunt. Thinks. Mused. About anything. In essence, Aunty also needs to evaluate why the marriage of Aunt at that time with Om Adji until it ended. There's no way the fault is on Om Adji's side entirely, Elle. Aunt must have a hand too. That's what Auntie tried to ponder.”
Elle was silent. Trying to digest and reflect on it.
“Again, Elle, that time Aunt got the trust to look after you. Life has to go on, right? At that time Aunt decided for a while on her own. Take care and take care of you. That trust has to be kept, Elle. Moreover, trust that comes from God.” Indri smiled as he rubbed Elle's stomach.
“As with any path she comes to your womb, it means that God has entrusted her to you to take care of her. And he's innocent, Elle, not guilty of anything. Your baby has nothing to do with your past or your late mother. Aunt please .. take good care. Treat him fairly. Give all his rights. Including his right to feel the affection of a father.”
Elle turned her face the other way.
“You also love Raffi, right?” asked Indri who saw Elle still silent. Indri will never forget Elle's confession to him a few days before his departure to Sydney almost seven years ago. He also did not expect the story of a pair of humans that still continues until now, and must roll in a plot as complicated as this.
“But I can't believe him, Aunt.” “Why can't you believe it?”
“I .. I just.”
Elle fell silent.
“I'm already unable to believe.”
***
It's been almost an hour Raffi himself in his car. In front of a tiny house painted with milk chocolate. While the surrounding situation was getting quieter, and the moon was already moving higher and higher.
I don't know what brought him to bring his Jeep to the front of this house. After three days of being caught by her mother coming out of Elle's room, and telling her all about her relationship with her father, Raffi has not met Elle again.
‘Papa can ask something to you?’
‘What, Pa?’
‘When you knew about the baby, did it ever cross your mind to escape responsibility?’
‘Now, Pa. I hate his mother. But the baby didn't have anything wrong.’
‘Good.’
‘Papa not angry with me?’
‘All boys must have been wayward, Raff, reasonable. But sometimes it is necessary too. There are some things that a person must go through, to become a human being, to be a good man. Real man.’
‘I have to how, Pa? It's true not my decision?’
‘You just have to finish first, whatever you feel in your heart. You can solve the problem between him and you. Believe me, Papa supports you, kok.’
‘Mama, how? Mama is mad big same me.’
‘Let Papa talk slowly to your Mom.’
Although he really wanted to.
Not because of the miss. I don't know. His mind was still filled with hatred and heartache. However, his curiosity for the woman's condition, and the baby who is now in her womb— her child— is far greater than all the negative feelings that are raging in her heart.
What exactly is the will of the woman?
Obviously the fetus was his son. Why is he still not admitted?
For God's sake, if he were a man, it would be like Raffi to smash his head against the wall to be crushed as hard as that rock. Raffi shook his head, then just stepped down and walked to the dark house. It's been this late, what exactly does he want to do here?
He was long in front of the white-painted door, before his hand was moved pressing the bell on the upper right of the door.
About two minutes later, Indri appeared. It didn't seem to be sleeping yet, as there were no signs of drowsiness on his face. Just surprised.
“Raff?” Raffi just smiled, with an unkind expression from meeting at eleven in the evening. “What do you need?” ask again. “Ya already, log in first.” Seeing her bewildered guest answer her question, the woman then retreated to give Raffi a way to enter.
‘Lo sure, want to do this? You're not going to mrs? If it has happened, you can not go back to how it used to be.’
‘Because I don't want to go back like I used to, so please .. help me, Raff? Just this once, before I go.’
‘Why should I?’
‘Lo my only friend.’
‘But, Elle ... I can't ... wreck elo like that?’ ‘Gue want, so no one will ever turn on elo.’
Raffi did not meet Elle when he came to the apartment yesterday, also this afternoon. He had no idea where the woman was. I don't know what led him, I know he's in front of this house.
“What do you need, Raff, it's important? These nights come here?” asked Indri again, after putting a cup filled with coffee in front of him. Looking at his guest who was still confused replied, Indri only gave a smile. “Or, Elle whose phone asked you to come here?” ask again.
Raffi shakes. “No, Aunt.”
Indri frowned. “Oh yes? Then why is it fitting so well? Elle ... fever like it. Aunty thought, she told you to come here, so Auntie was shocked these nights you came.”
Instantly his forehead creased. “Foam?” tanyakanya. Indri. “Have been taken to the doctor, right, Aunt?” I don't want him to worry. Especially considering Elle's physical condition which was like weakening in their last meeting.
Indri. “Since eighteen years ago, Elle has never wanted to deal with doctors.”
“But if you do not see a doctor, how .. he will have to get treatment, Aunt. What if something happens? Ckck, isn't he thinking about that baby in his belly?!”
Indri again smelled a smile, finding a worried tone tucked between Raffi's grunts. “Ya is like that Elle, if yesterday not to faint was not necessarily he also wanted to be checked by a doctor.”
“Faints?”
“Iya, fainted in restaurant. Your mom didn't tell?”
Raffi shakes. How would you tell if his mother was angry with him? But, fainting? If Elle's not well, what about the baby?
“If you may know, why did Elle not want to be examined by a doctor, Auntie?”
Indri. It seems to Raffi also turns out Elle did not tell anything.
“You want to hear the story?” ask Indri later. Raffi nodded.
“I never knew any of that, Auntie. I just know Elle doesn't have parents. Her mother died of cancer. That's it.”
Indri smiled miris. “Tante won't be surprised. Besides Aunt, Elle can never trust anyone.”
‘Elle.’
‘Ya?’
‘Gue.’
‘What?’
‘Gue flavor ... I love the same lo.’
‘Lo lo say what just now?’
‘I love you Elle, I love you lo, Gracelle Ariadna.’
‘Raff, don't get me wrong. I do not ask you this lasain just because you want to cry it to me.’
‘No, you're wrong. I love you for a long time, there is this incident or not, I will also realize my feelings.’
‘No, Raff, you are wrong. You shouldn't have said that.’
‘Where is it?’
‘Because I don't love lo.’
‘But, if you don't love me how can I, how can you lo ’
‘Gue already said earlier, I ask for help lo.’ ‘Elle how can?’
‘Lo temen me, the only one I trust. I just don't want to go to Sydney as I did yesterday, so thank you very much for helping me.’
‘But I have the same taste lo, what is it not effect?’
‘Neither Raff, thanks. But that's not what I expect from lo.’
‘Elle, we've come this far, there's no meaning whatsoever to lo?’
‘No Raff, consider this a kind of farewell
from lu.’
‘Lo tetep will go?’
‘Iya. So please, don't expect anything, let alone wait for me.’
Raffi was silent a long time later. Still digesting the newly obtained facts. Indri did not speak up again. Just observing the silence of the young man.
“You ... want to see Elle?” ask Indri later. Raffi turned his head and looked at Indri confusedly. But the woman just smiled, nodded, took Raffi to move from his seat, followed Indri's steps to the front door of Elle's room.
“Tante deliberately invited him here yesterday. In addition to kangen, Aunt also did not have the heart to see him alone in the apartment, his condition was like that,” Indri murmured. He looked at Raffi. “Log in. Aunty does not allow Elle to lock the door, fearing that why-why and Auntie do not know.”
“Nothing, Aunt?” ask Raffi.
Still smiling, Indri shook his head. “Nothing. Just log in,” said. Then left Raffi in front of Elle's room door.
Finally, despite doubts, Raffi pulled the brass handle and pushed the door open. The room lights are on, but dim. As far as Raffi is concerned, Elle cannot sleep in a dark room.
Elle curled up like a baby. Raffi knew every curve of the woman's body, and from the blanket that sagged down to the waist Raffi clearly saw, the crazy body that always made him crazy was now eroded so thin.
At one time, shouldn't pregnant women gain weight? Because it has to eat a lot to adapt the increased energy needs with the presence of tiny creatures in its body. If it is like this, like the body that does not get enough nutrition ... what will happen to the baby, to the child? Raffi shakes.
Whatever he now feels for Elle, his son cannot grow up unworthy. If Elle's still stubborn, if necessary she'll force him. To hell with whatever Elle's refusal of her.
Raffi then moved closer to Elle's bed. His hand just stretched out, sticking the back of his hand on the woman's forehead and cheeks. Raffi. Real hot.
Raffi would have already pulled his hand when he felt the woman twitching uneasily. His eyes are still closed. Her hot fingers held Raffi's hand to stay in his face. The man could only sculpt when a soft murmur was thrown.
“Raff ... don't go. ”
