Clandestine

A Big News

I

set my heart rhythm when this figure was already standing in front of me with

his smile seemed to hold a lot of mystery. I honestly never knew this guy—even his name

I just don't know. It's just, I remembered the message from Reinard to stay away

every time I meet him, I have to keep my distance and conclude that

this guy is dangerous..

Figures

the one standing in front of me is the beggar. The beggar-looking man

I met my husband and talked to him seriously.

“What—yang

can I help you?” I try to be reasonable. Of the clothes she wears,

he will not ask as he usually does.

The man smiled back.

A smile filled with something mysterious in my opinion. Or am I just overdoing it, over thinking

because of Reinard's message back then?

“Julia isn't it?” tanyanya then,

and of course Langung surprised me. How did he know my name? Who

who told? Reinard's? No way, even I think they have

a less than good and impossible relationship Reinard tells her about

myself.

“I—iya correct.” My leg while

squeezing the bag of groceries I still hold to dispel the fear

which I feel.

“Can we talk to you for a minute?”

ask again.

I weigh in doubtfully.

What talk?

“Akh, don't be afraid of me.”

It seems to know what I was thinking. “My name is Anton.”

I haven't answered. So his name

Anton's? This beggar I meet often.

“How? Do you have time?

I just want to say something important. Something you've been all along

not aware.”

Something important? Seems

I'm starting to get curious.

“Good.” I looked right

left, trying to find a seat in front of the apartment that we can use

to talk to each other because standing position like this is not good. But not

there's a bench here other than near the landfill, and I'm the one who's not

want.

My eyes were stuck in a cafe

cross way. Looks like it's a suitable place, because I'm unlikely

bring Mr. Anton into the apartment.

“How about in the cafe that's it

sir?” tanyaku later.

Mr. Anton followed my eyes,

and he nodded in agreement.

“I drop off my groceries

used to.” I walked to the security guard post and left my things

my groceries, before finally walking in tandem to the cafe across

the walk.

*****

This scandinavian cafe

not so many, just me and some young people in the middle

chatting with his partner. Honestly, I just got in this time and

ordering something here, even all this time I was completely unaware

that there was a cafe that was so comfortable in front of the apartment where I lived. I

sure, if I'm gonna stay here for long with Reinard, it's not

these gentlemen. A mysterious man who wants to give you something

to me through his notes and smile that I do not understand.

“Sorry interrupt your time.” Men

it opened its voice after I sat down before him after ordering two cups

warm coffee.

I just smiled stiffly.

Actually I'm not too busy, because today I'm also free from

job. It's just that I feel like a waste of time right now.

“Bapak wants to say what?”

I asked later, impatient with what he wanted to say.

The man did not immediately answer.

Instead of opening his mouth, he picked up his cup and sipped it

soulful. If I look at the way he talks and behaves, he doesn't

like someone who used to live on the streets. It looks how he is so

‘bia’ with latte and cafe we come now.

“Do not rush.” Legitimate

later then. “Do you not want to know how I can know your name mbak

Julia?”

I'm speechless. Actually I

I wonder how he knows my name. But that was, when I

I have not mastered my surprise.

“So...father knows my name from.

who?” ask me in the end.

She returned smiling—with

“Not drink the coffee first?” it

I hung on to my coffee that I hadn't touched at all. This warm cappuccino

so delicious. Sure is! But that sense of wanting to sip was not at all in

in mind. I just want this blue-shirt guy to say right away

the purpose was to meet me, so I could go home and cook dinner to

my husband's.

“Iya, later I drink.” That is

my answer.

The man crossed his arms

on the table.

“What you don't want to know either

how do I get to know your husband?”

“Do you know each other?” me

back asking. Something I've been thinking about inside a long time

my mind. Reinard always counsels me to avoid meeting men

anton's name, but he dodged me every time I asked him why.

“Ya.” Call me Anton. “We

know each other. Even very familiar.”

I furrowed my eyebrows.

“Akrab?” tanyaku.

“Really?”

Mr. Anton laughed, then

leaning his body on the chair casually.

“Since when did you get married?”

“a few months ago.”

“What Reinard never

tell me about me?” mr. Anton raised one of his eyebrows.

I'm shaking. “Never.” Answer me

honest without covering up.

“After all?”

“Ya...!”

“Gosh.” Mr. Anton is back

straighten his body. “I'm disappointed.”

I squeaked. Since then he

keep going around in circles, and interrogate me a lot like a cop. What

he actually wants from me?

“Please don't convolve.”

Tukasku then after feeling annoyed by what this man was doing in the

in front of me. He kept twirling with his words, and even felt disappointed

when Reinard never told me about it. So, who is he?

As important as if he was in Reinard's eyes until my husband had to tell

his profile on his wife—that's me?!

“What are you in a hurry?” It

looking at me firmly. Even his eyes were sharp on me. As if

said that ‘you should stay here no matter what.’

“Ya.” I looked at my watch.

“It's late afternoon and I want to go home.”

“But I want to tell you

long story once...”.

“So what you want sir

Anton's? Money?” I turned to stare at him firmly—out my patience.

Challenging him with my words that are so piercing. Come on, if you want to

blackmailing me by saying that knowing Reinard well, I would

give me that money. In this day and age, many people do things

like this for money?

Instead of nodding, the man

even laugh. “Not! I don't want any money from you.”

I furrowed my eyebrows.

“I just want to say on

you are who Reinard really is.” He took his latte back to full

a feel. Even his fingers had danced little when the cafe was twisting

a song. It was as if he was celebrating something for his great achievement.

“I know enough of my husband.”

I tried not to get emotional even though I started to get interested in what

which he just said.

“Are you sure?”

I went back to silence.

“Should be in marriage, communication

and openness is important isn't it?”

For this, I agree.

“Yes. I think so.”

“But in fact, Reinard is not

doing that isn't it?”

“What do you mean?!” My voice

a little high, but still controlled. The sound of music filled

the whole cafe was quite helpful in disguising my voice.

Mr. Anton smiled cynically.

“You should be polite

Julia.” Mumbled. “Because I am your in-law.”

A second later I froze in

my place.

*****