DREAM OF THE SHADOW

CHAPTER 16

From a distance Yuna could see a familiar figure. Rebecca. Unknowingly Yuna approached him, wondering if Adit was there too. Cathy and Joshua were engrossed in chatting and just following Yuna. Yuna sees Becca picking clothes and seems to be alone. Yuna was a little relieved. She fears her husband is acting shameless by exposing his relationship with Becca in a public place. But what does Becca do in the place of special clothes mom....pregnant??

"We just eat there yuk." take Yuna suddenly turn right. They spend time telling stories. Yuna hoped that the sound of her laughter could cover up the uneasiness and big question marks in her heart. Joshua saw a slight strangeness with Yuna's attitude, but he wouldn't ask her. Perhaps it was not yet time for her to interfere in Yuna's household matters.

*****

"Honey, look. I bought a maternity suit last month. I forgot myself because I kept it in the closet." Becca showed off the maternity clothes she bought.

"Are you going to wear that?" ask Adit.

"Yet. Just to fit you back there." replied Becca while folding back the clothes she bought.

"Honey. You know I love you and our son" Adit said. Becca stops and sees Adit.

"But it looks like I'll have to reduce my stay here. Yesterday Yuna.."

"No!!" scream Becca.

"Listen to me first. Yuna wants me to act a little more assertive if we don't want to get divorced."

"Then did you sacrifice me and our son? I'm pregnant with Adit. You should be here more often. You should be able to keep me. I've given up enough all this time, baby. I never demand more as long as you're fair. But now...What the fuck is Yuna asking you a little more assertively? Mean what? He wants you to leave me? Aye right? That's what he meant, right?" Becca rampaging.

"No. Not darling. I just didn't stay the night. We still meet every day. I promise." said Adit while calming Becca down.

"I'm not stupid Adit. At first you will keep your promise, but for a long time you must disappear. Sure. Go if you want to go, leave me and my son. We don't need you! Go!" Becca yelling. Adit is confused as to what to do, he takes his suit and comes out of his room. But suddenly her steps came to a halt when she heard Becca screaming in pain.

"aaah..Uhh.." Adit goes back into the room and sees Becca holding her stomach.

"Why you, baby?" ask Adit to worry.

"My stomach.sakitt. Ahhh.." Becca's face paled. Adit immediately carried her.

"Train!! I took my mother to the hospital. You lock the door." order Adit to Ratih, the maid who stayed with Becca for a month.

Adit takes Becca to the ER while holding her hand.

"Dear, I'm sorry. Sorry." Adit forced the nurse to wait outside the ER. He was very scared and worried to see Becca's condition.

'This is my fault. I shouldn't have said that to him.' Adit regrets. With this condition, he felt he knew what would be his decision.

"The wife needs to be hospitalized, maybe about two days is enough. It has to be bedrest. His condition was very weak, he had a contraction in his uterus" the doctor said.

"Good doc. Thank you." said Adit. He rushed to see Becca.

"I'm here, baby. You and our son are okay, just need a little bedrest. I'm sorry ya." Becca turned her face away. He did not want to see Adit's face because he remembered his words earlier. Adit understands that Becca is upset with him. He'll give Becca time until her anger is gone.

*****

Yuna gets a message from her husband that she will never go home again. Now he's used to it. But the big question in him is when he will live this life. Suddenly Yuna missed her mother. He saw a wall clock that showed nine o'clock at night, meaning in Tokyo it was eleven o'clock at night. He's not calling her, maybe tomorrow's better.

Ever since he saw Rebecca who was buying maternity clothes, he had never calmed down. Adit also didn't tell her anything. Her most positive thought was that Becca bought it for someone else. And he did not dare to ask his negative thoughts.

Yuna changed her clothes and thought she would walk outside for a while. He drove slowly because he did not know where he was going. Finally after he found out, he plugged his gas. He was in front..Jupiter's. Yeah, maybe Yuna could be a little refreshing by herself. Of course he would not repeat his stupid attitude with a drunken stupor like yesterday.

Yuna ordered a drink and sat down at the front desk of the bartender. He began to get used to the sound of loud music and it was quite exciting to see those who were dancing enjoying the music. The loud music sound of the DJ then changed to the voice of a man who sang live. Ed Sheraan's song Talking To The Moon makes the atmosphere romantic. Some couples started to dance slowly. Yuna enjoyed the band performance that was present that night. He just found out in Jupiter there is also a live show of band players.

Yuna looked at the band members. Cute. The singer whose voice is not inferior to Bruno's. Guitarist. Bassist. Drummers. Waitie? Did he not see wrong? Who plays drums is Joshua?

Yuna turned her gaze right as the song ended. He didn't want Joshua to see him there. But it's too late.

"Yuna's? You come here often, right?" shua asked as she sat next to him and ordered a glass of water.

"No. This is the first after yesterday's incident" Yuna and Shua said just looking at it.

"Truly I didn't lie" Yuna said again as she turned her back.

"I didn't say you were lying. We're out yuk. Noisy in here. I want to talk to you." Joshua took Yuna's hand and pulled her out.

"We'll just eat satay yuk." take Shua.

"You're not drunk, are you? Don't drive if you drink a lot." Yuna said.

"I've never drunk Yuna. I know enough of the limits of alcohol." Shua smiled.

"So why did you get to band there?" ask Yuna.

"My friends and I used to play there. Just unwind, I often band at school if you forget."

"Now I ask, why are you alone there? What's..Adit's not coming home?" Yuna was surprised and turned to Shua who was driving.

"What does it mean that Adit didn't come home?" ask Yuna.

"Which husband lets his wife into the club alone if she's at home? If you were my wife, these nights I would just hold you in bed." Joshua laughing. Yuna felt her cheeks flushed.

"Ma..That's why you married dunk."

"But Adit's not home?" ask Shua again.

"I'm half Shua. It's night." said Yuna.

"Two servings of bang." Shua ordered from the car.

"Two shirts?" ask Yuna.

"Where do you know you can spend. It's delicious." Yuna just nodded and they were silent for a moment.

"I want to ask you something" Joshua said. He could no longer keep his curiosity.

"What?"

"When I drove you home drunk. You said I was playing you first? What does Yuna mean?" Yuna surprised. That's what he said when he was drunk. He tried to remember it but failed. Gosh darn. He opened his old wounds.

"That's..I just called it." said Yuna.

"You don't call it. You mentioned my full name clearly and said I was playing you." Shua looked at Yuna sharply.

"Indeed you played me. You used to say you liked me but you actually bet with your friends. What does it mean I'll accept you after twelve hours you shot me huh?" Yuna took a deep breath. Finally he asked Joshua the question he had been harboring for almost ten years.

"Huh?" Joshua had not been able to digest what Yuna said so quickly.

"Twelve hours what's Yun?" ask again.

"I knew everything Shua had about your bet back then, which is why I rejected you. I didn't want to question him because it was so embarrassing. I lost enough confidence for a very long time."

"Wait first..Where are you from.." Shua's sentence was cut off when her window was tapped by the satay seller who brought her order. Shua gave Yuna a plate of satay.

"Where did you hear about that bet?" ask Shua.

"Becca asks her sister Vino. You remember Vino?" ask Yuna.

"Yes, I still see him often. And Becca told you I was betting with my friends that you would accept me after ten hours of shooting you?"

"Twelve hours." ralat Yuna.

"Whateverb. Oh..My..God!!" Shua has not eaten a single stick.

"That's been a long time. There's no need to apologize because I've forgiven you for a long time. It's just that I'm very upset and whether I'm lucky or unlucky I conveyed that frustration to you when I was drunk yesterday." Yuna devoured satay in front of her. He suddenly became very hungry because of the confession.

"Yuna. Looks like Rebecca lied to you. It's not Vino. Between the two of them, I don't know. I've never bet anything. At that time I really liked you" Joshua said. Yuna rolled her eyes, not believing what she was hearing.

"I like you Yuna. Ye know? I was very disappointed when you rejected me, when at that time I was sure you would accept me" Shua said again.

"really? You're not kidding, are you? I won't forgive you if you lie to me twice." Yuna threatened him by brandishing her skewer.

"Even if I never lie. You were lied to by someone else."

"But why did Becca lie?" Yuna immediately got an answer from her own question. He had seen and felt for himself the consequences of Becca's selfishness. The friend who stabbed him in the back.

"Eitherway. But I know you know him better than I do." replied Shua. He was only able to enjoy his first satay prick.

"You want more?" shua asked as she looked at Yuna's already empty plate.

"I ran out of energy earlier." They laugh. Laugh at their stupidity first. Shua returned their empty plates and paid for them.

"So, can I shoot you again?" shua asked with a smile looking at Yuna who was now becoming more mature and beautiful.

"Ga use binder again?"

"Want? I still keep it. But I want to express it in person today so that there will be no more misunderstandings between us. I like you Yuna Sakura. From the past until now. I thought I could forget you when you rejected me first. But after I met you again, I realized the feeling was still there and never changed. It might be getting stronger now" Shua said as she held onto Yuna's hand.

"Shua, I.."

"I haven't expected an answer from you now because I know your status. You can solve all your problems first. I just wanted to say that you're not alone. I'll stand behind you now, give you support, whatever you need. One day I might be standing next to you. But whatever your decision may be, I will support you" Joshua said.

"What do you mean Shua? My problem?" Yuna was astonished by what Shua said.

"Adit and Rebecca. I know everything." Yuna took off Shua's hand and covered her gaping mouth. He was very surprised by Joshua.

"Where do you know?"

"I've seen them together. I didn't know at the time that Adit was your husband. You know everything, right?" ask Shua. Yuna didn't cover it up anymore. Only once did he feel that someone was beside him. No one knows about their household problems. Yuna crying. Sad, disappointed, ashamed mixed into one.

"Shameful yeah. I was Becca's shadow. He was always the center of attention wherever we were. Maybe from the beginning Adit also liked it, it's just that I was betrothed to him." Yuna wiped her tears.

"Who said you were just his shadow? From the beginning I just saw Yuna. I like everything about you. And just so you know, we won't be a shadow because we are the main cast in our own lives. And we decide everything with the help of God as its director. You must be strong. Decide on a path that will make you happy." Shua wiped away Yuna's tears that kept coming down.

"I'm afraid of Shua. Whatever path I take, the risk is too great."

"Something will be sacrificed if we want to achieve something. As long as what we get is worth it, I think it's the right path." Yuna nodded. He feels a little relieved now.

"Go home yuk. My car's still in the club." Shua nodded and headed back to the club. Yuna gets into her car after saying goodbye to Joshua. Shua follows Yuna's car from behind. He did not calm down to let her drive alone at night with a confused mind. I don't know what Shua thought so she could say. Expressing love for the wife of a person. Maddened. He didn't even plan everything. But Shua was quite relieved to take off all the heavy weight on her shoulders all this time. The question of his mother why he did not seek a lover and wife was answered already. Because he loves Yuna Sakura, a woman he used to only like.

*****