Help Me Divorce

With Banyu

Berti stared at the phone screen that was quiet from the message and phone notifications. There were only a few chats that he was reluctant to read even though his heart was moved to open the new message.

It was definitely from the one person who was always paying attention to him. Banyu continued to contact even though Berti did not care, even he had blocked the contact number of the former, but reopened it.

His thumb moved opening dozens of messages from the man. Berti read them one by one, then reply to some important chat. The message was read, then the video call he received.

Tidying your hair before shifting the logo of the green phone handle. There was a smiling Banyu looking at her, then Berti returned the favor.

"Hi" said Banyu first.

"Hi too." Berti felt awkward.

"You're mad at me? It's been a long time since I've called you and you said that after coming back from abroad I'd see you."

Berti smiled. "You know I'm married."

"I know that, Bert. But you said you wanted to be friends. Shouldn't we have a chat or lunch together as friends?"

"I want to tell you" Berti said.

Suddenly, Banyu felt his heart beating faster. He wanted good news for himself. Of course Berti separated with her statue husband.

"What?" ask Banyu.

"I was pregnant with my first child" Berti said.

"Say it again."

"I'm pregnant!" Berti raised his voice so that Banyu could hear clearly.

"You pregnant?" ask Banyu.

Berti nodded. "Yes, first child."

Banyu smiled. "Congratulations, Berti. I'm glad to hear that."

Berti felt that Banyu's tone of voice was not like the one before. The words of congratulation sounded sad, and like those words did not want to be thrown by the former.

"Your husband must be very happy" Banyu said.

Berti smiled. "All my family are happy."

"Yes, may you always be happy." Banyu seemed to want to end this video call.

"We can have lunch together. I'll keep my promise," Berti said quickly.

Banyu nodded. "Could only. Call me when you have time."

"I'll send you a message."

"Now you sleep. It's late" said Banyu.

"Yes, good night, Banyu."

The video call was cut off by Berti. It felt relieved to be able to chat with Banyu in the midst of loneliness like this. Putting his head on a pillow, closing his eyes until washed away in a dream.

...****************...

The next day, Banyu did not expect that Berti would be so quick to ask him to meet. He has arrived at the restaurant of one of the malls in South Jakarta.

"Hi," a warm greeting was uttered Berti.

Banyu waved his hand when Berti arrived. A woman who did not look like a pregnant woman walked over. Banyu got up from his seat, then pulled the chair and invited Berti to sit down. Very sweet treatment.

"What do you want to order?" ask Banyu.

"Chicken soup only. I'll throw up when I eat. Sorry, if I can't finish my meal later."

"It's okay. Let me order. What do you want to drink?"

"Lemon tea only," replied Berti.

Banyu called the waiter, told them what food they ordered, and the waitress recorded it carefully.

"You were delivered by your husband?" banyu asked, after the waiter left.

Berti laughs. "Will he go take me to see another man? Yeah, maybe it could be because Cakra doesn't limit my association."

"Weird indeed. But I'd be jealous if my wife met another man" Banyu said.

"Although that's a friend?"

"You're having lunch with a man's wife."

Banyu. "I don't know what to do. Yeah, Cakra let you see me again?"

"He's abroad" Berti replied.

"You're pregnant and she's out of the country?"

"He's working."

"If you need something, I'm always there for you" Banyu said.

"Thank you, Banyu," Berti said with a smile.

The waiter came with Berti and Banyu food orders. Like Berti said that he can't eat much because he doesn't want to vomit in the mall.

"You have to eat a lot" said Banyu.

"This is enough" said Berti.

Banyu smiled. "You drive your own car?"

"I'm taking a cab."

"Let me drive you home later."

Berti looked at the clock on his phone screen. "Oh, you have to work apparently. I should've taken you to lunch on Sunday so we'd have a chat."

"We can walk in the morning on holidays. I'll pick you up later."

"You can go first. I want to take a walk."

Banyu. "No. You should go home and get plenty of rest. We can go for a walk later."

Berti smiled, then nodded. "Actually I want to go shopping, but fine, I'll go home with you."

Berti had wanted to pay, but Banyu who instead bought it, then Berti also had time to make a bother with the man by waiting on the toilet. Again vomiting agonized.

After that, the two exited the mall building towards the parked car. Banyu carefully treated Berti as if the woman was a very valuable item.

"This is your house?" banyu asked, when he reached the front of the Cakra residence.

"You stop here, of course this is my home" replied Berti.

Banyu laughs. "yes too. You gave me this address. Naturally your husband is busy, he must have a lot of work."

"Then, let his wife stay home with the waiter."

"You can do anything. Ask her permission to work again. I'm sure if he'll grant it. He loves you and will obey all your wishes" Banyu said.

"If you were told to choose between wife and child, who would you choose?" ask Berti.

Banyu seemed to think. "I choose a wife. He gave me the descendants. A woman who will accompany me in the present and the future. If I'm sick, he's the one who's always there for me, right?"

"Then child? What if you were given two choices. Suppose your wife and child are in death."

"I hope it won't happen, but if it does, then I choose my wife. Not that I don't love him. The child is a care, and one day will return."

"As parents you don't want to sacrifice" Berti said.

"Not sacrifice, but let the deposit be taken. Never mind, why are we talking about this? I'm not married yet" Banyu said.

Berti laughs. "Then I go in first."

"Don't go down first" said Banyu.

The man opened his seatbelt, then got out of the car with a small run towards the next section of passengers. Banyu opened the door, then welcomed Berti out.

"I can go down by myself" Berti said.

"I'm just doing my job" said Banyu.

"You be careful on the road."

Banyu nodded. "Yes, if there's anything, just call me."

Berti nodded, waved his hand, then immediately walked into the courtyard of the house. Banyu just passed after the ex-lover is no longer visible from his view.

Seriate