Mastenges

67. Set aside

Berta was silent, when he heard Pongki's story about the Typhoon. His body and lips trembled, his hands constantly squeezing one with his other. Restless looks he can not hide from his beautiful face, even though it has entered the age of twilight.

"W-Is the information valid?" Tanya Berta who still does not want to believe if it turns out Typhoon is a person who will be ready to imprison her husband.

"Yes, I've read about his bio sent by a trusted man."

Berta back fixated, his body felt weak, his chest felt tight. He did not expect if the Typhoon, his favorite driver was just pretending to be innocent in front of him.

"Together," Pongki grabbed both of Berta's shoulders and looked at his wife.

"I don't want to go to jail. I know I'm wrong and a coward. It was also what made me leave you and meet Anna. I know, I was wrong to have chosen a bad path. I know I deserve to be in the law. But I could not afford to spend my days in Berta's custody. I'm afraid, I'm gonna die rotting in jail. My dream in old age, from first marrying you to this very second, is still the same. I want to be happy with you and die in your need."

Berta looked at both of Pongki's eyes that held back tears.

"Together, come. Go with me. I've had my assistant take care of all our needs to leave and live abroad. I chose to stay in Spain with you. The factory thing, I don't care anymore. Let it... When the police came and confiscated everything, I really didn't care. The important thing is, we go and stay there until we die."

Tears dripped down Pongki's cheeks. Likewise with Berta, he sobbed to hear Pongki's plan to avoid the law that was haunting him.

"I'm gonna call someone to burn down the factory. Then, we have no proof. I really want to put an end to all of this Berta. I've been insaf. I don't care about everything. I just want you," Pongki hugged Berta tightly, on the edge of their hotel room bed.

"Did Paijo get the evidence?" Ask Berta in a stifled voice.

"I don't think so, he's only been working two weeks with us. He hasn't done anything yet. So, there's still time for us to go. Please, just be normal with her. Let him not be suspicious. After we return from Bali, we let Bella go home, while we will stay at our apartment near the airport. Once everything is sorted out, we'll run away together. With that, Paijo's mission would fail. There's no evidence and the factory will be set on fire by my man. There is no trace left of me. After a few years, we can go back to Indonesia. Do you believe me?"

Berta looked at Pongki with a pale-looking face. On the one hand, she realized that her husband was guilty. On the one hand, he was not willing if Pongki should be detained and get the threat of life imprisonment in bui. Instantly, the dream of old age together with Pongki felt so far away. The worst possibilities begin to haunt each other.

"Tomorrow morning we return to Jakarta. Please, just be normal with Paijo. Let me set everything up. You take it easy, I won't be caught that easily." Pongki tries to convince Berta, so that his wife does not feel worried.

"What about Bella? He'll be graduating soon. Did we not attend the graduation? How's life? Do we have to let him live alone here? I don't have the heart with Bella" said Berta in a sobbing that became more and more.

Pongki. Next week, Bella will be at graduation soon. Bella is also not used to living away from her parents. Bella is a spoiled child and always needs herself and Berta.

Pongki let out a long breath. Then he fell down agitated.

"Bella's an adult, Berta. He can do it. Rest assured..."

Berta looked at Pongki carefully.

"Did Bella tell us to come after her graduation?"

Pongki looked at Berta, and seemed to think for a moment with what Berta said.

"Can, we have to disappear as soon as possible. Other business matters, I'll leave them with my confidants" Pongki said.

Berta smiled with eyes that were wet with tears. Then, he and Pongki embraced again. A tight hug, a firm hug.

..

The sound of water ripples on the beach and the dim light from the lighting on the path not far from the beach, adds to the romantic atmosphere. Typhoon and Bella walked side by side with their hands clasped together. A smile continued to expand on Bella's lips. As for the Typhoon, the man seemed to have something he was thinking about.

Bella looked at the Typhoon and frowned.

"Joe... You why? What else do you think?" Bella asked with a worried-looking facial expression.

"Ah, no.." Cyclone, trying to smile at Bella.

"Really?" Ask Bella again.

"Yes," Typhoon rubbed Bella's cheek and mumbled his smile that he gave to her.

"We just coffee there yuk," Typhoon pointed to a cafe on the beach.

"OKAY.." Bella said with sparkling eyes.

"You go first, I'll go to the toilet" said Typhoon.

"Oh, okay.." Bella nodded and walked first towards the cafe. While the Typhoon, stepped towards the public toilets around the beach.

The typhoon entered the public restroom, after he confirmed it was safe, he tried to contact Antok and Suprapto with a shared calling mode. No need to wait for long, the two colleagues immediately received a call from him.

"Hello bang, something's weird tonight."

"What?" Ask Suprapto.

"Pongki's attitude changed drastically. I suspect him, don't-don't.."

"check check, antelope one... Kijang one..!" There was a call from Handy talky belonging to Antok.

"In the meantime," Cut Antok.

Suprapto and Typhoon wait for Antok who will answer the call from a communication tool with his fellow colleagues.

"One deer here, what's the matter with the rats?" Antok Sahut.

"Why are phones so hard to contact?" Ask for a voice from the end there.

"In a call with Typhoon and bang Suprapto." Bright Antok.

"Report, there's activity on Pongki's secret cell phone number."

The typhoon frowned when he heard the report from Antok's Handy talky, which he could clearly hear the conversation through his phone.

"What activities?" Ask Antok.

"Suspects seem to be fleeing the country."

"Suspects also planned to burn down the factory, after escaping."

Previously, Pongki's secret cell phone number had been intercepted by experts. All thanks to the Typhoon that had stolen while Pongki's phone was left in the suitcase.

"What!"

Antok, Suprapto and Typhoon looked surprised to hear the report.

"Thank you for the report" Antok said.

"Where's bang?" Antok asked who spoke to Suprapto again.

"What are you doing Typhoon? Is there a mistake? It looks like Pongki knows who you are!" Suprapto sounded very panicked.

"I-I didn't do anything wrong" Typhoon said.

"No way! There's no other choice. The operation will be accelerated. We'll nab him at the airport on landing!" Suprapto.

"Snap! Prepare the team for tomorrow morning. Don't forget, report to the airport police." Suprapto's Order.

"This matter I will report to the commander. You Typhoon, stick target continues! Don't just date your work! Remember your job! Because you're off guard, you're caught! It's nothing, I'm worried about you! It concerns your safety as well.. What if you keep on being off guard and you're also trapped by Pongki and killed! Do you think we're okay!" Suprapto was really loud with Typhoon, so Typhoon todak could say nothing. He was silent and accepted all the words uttered by Suprapto.

"Keep aside, this is the duty of the state. Don't play with feelings while on duty. It makes you negligent!"

"I-i-iya bang," said the Typhoon in a barely audible voice.

"Go's! Gos! Gos! We're meeting tonight too! Fortunately I was in Jakarta. If not... Arghhhh...!" Suprapto turned off his phone.

Now only Antok and Typhoon are still connected in the call.

"Bro.we are sworn to be loyal to the state. Kuta was sworn to be honest and to work wholeheartedly. Never forget that. Mother Earth, like our birth mother. We are ready to defend ourselves to death. Society and the younger generation, like our siblings. We are ready to protect for the safety of our own nation. I don't want to blame you. It's just, I'm asking, don't forget that,"

Typhoon fell silent, he leaned his back against the wall of the public toilet.

"Bro, I believe you're a great man. Work well. See you in Jakarta." Close Antok.

Tut's.... Tut's... Tut's.... Tut....!

The storm closed both of his eyes. Then, he bowed lethargic.

"I'm sorry Mr. Pongki, Mr. Berta, Bella. I love my own country and my own younger generation more." Typhoon Mumbles.