Mothers

28 Gossip 2

Nina took the key to Candra's private room which only Nina knew about. Nina walked into the basement and Herlina followed. To reach Candra's private room, you have to pass a staircase that is only illuminated by a few small lights. And there's only one door there.

Nina opened the private room with the key held. Perhaps Nina was a little calm now that it was rare for her to enter this space.

Nina turned on a light that was not too bright, similar to a movie theater. Nina invited Herlina to enter the room and how surprised Herlina was when she entered Candra's private room.

"What are you doing in this room? The room is soundproof and if anything happens, how would the others know?" asked Herlina, now she was worried about Nina. Nina felt touched by what Herlina had just said. Then, Herlina grabbed Nina's face and saw her condition.

"You okay, Nina? You're not hurt?" Herlina held onto Nina's plain cheeks without make up. Previously Nina always put on makeup but not this time.

Not yet able to answer Herlina's question, Nina shed tears on her cheek. His heart was warm and he felt trembling with a touch of Herlina.

"I'm sorry, Mother..."

"Why Nina? What's up?" Herlina looked at Nina with a different look. It was no longer Nina who destroyed her child's little family, but the warm and lonely Nina.

Nina was still crying, she really felt touched by Herlina's attention today.

****

Renata returned to campus as usual. Trying to forget the sadness that had hit him all this time. Thanks to the arrival of Maria and Evano yesterday, it has become a comfort medicine for her heart.

Arriving at the campus on a motorcycle, he grabbed the phone that was in the jacket pocket. Since then the sound has not been lifted by Renata. Mahendra. For a few days Mahendra had not contacted him. Is there something he got again?

"Where are you Renata?" mahendra asked as Renata lifted his hape.

"I was in college and started college again. I didn't go in yesterday." replied Renata. I heard a sigh of relief across the phone.

"alright. You go to college first. If you have time to meet call me." said Mahendra.

"alright. See you soon."

Renata enters his campus building and pursues the courses left behind.

****

"So when's the hearing for Mr. Candra, sir?" ask Liliana who is typing a report for the Kinanti case.

"Two days left. About, did Renata want to see her father?" mahendra muttered.

"I think Renata will meet him. Yep. After all Renata is the son of Mr. Candra. Although it looks unconcerned, Renata is the one who looks most similar to Mr. Candra" Nugraha assured Mahendra. But Mahendra still remains anxious about Renata's reaction.

****

Herlina sat on her favorite living room couch. He begins to straighten out what happened to Candra and Nina about that personal space.

"So, what's Candra doing down there?" ask Herlina.

Nina seemed hesitant to answer him, but it seemed like all of this was indeed to be told.

Nina pulled out her hape. One time he never recorded through the video feature in his hape about what Candra did to him.

"I don't dare to open my voice, Mom. I knew Mom would trust Candra more than me. And would say I'm crazy if I told you all that. But I'm recording this secretly if one time Mom doesn't believe me, I have proof." Nina thrust her hape at Herlina. It looks like Candra is blindly beating Nina to the point of kicking Nina's stomach.

"At that time, I wasn't pregnant. Candra was furious and I was beaten up.." Nina told me while shedding tears.

Herlina was silent at the video. Far from Herlina's view, he never thought that Candra would do something this low on women.

"So, how long has Candra been beating you?" herlina looked at Nina.

"It was about six months ago, ma'am" replied Nina.

"It's been that long and what are you doing Nina? You didn't tell me?" ask Herlina worriedly.

Herlina felt helpless now. It is wrong to assume that Nina captured Candra from Kinanti. Many times Nina said that it was not Nina who wanted to be here. But Candra. What's more, Candra beat up her daughter-in-law in the basement and she didn't realize it.

Herlina moved the seat next to Nina. Herlina felt sorry for ignoring Nina.

"I'm sorry, Nina. I didn't know that Candra did anything bad to you. I'm sorry, Nina."

Herlina hugged Nina stroking her back. While Nina was still sobbing because her heart was now relieved, there was no need to harbor any feelings for Herlina.

****

Candra stared at the small window in the cell. He did not expect that his life would end behind a prison cell. A vivid recall in his memory as he attempted to ensnare Kinanti with a cord around her neck.

"Candra, last.kan.aku.am..punnn...canndrr.aa" Kinanti's voice was choked and unstable. He felt he could not speak a bit. However, instead of compassion for Kinanti Candra punishes Kinanti.

"Again? Forgive me? Every time I meet you, you look at me disgusted as if I'm trash!"

Kinanti was still trying to grab Candra's hand to untie the wires wrapped around her. But Candra tightened the cable.

"It's a punishment for a presumptuous woman against me! You know who I am? Candras! Candra Tanujaya will inherit the largest resort in the country! While you are just a despicable woman who does not deserve pity.!" candra said without paying attention to the condition of Kinanti who had been limp.

"You have to rot here. Yea? Okay?" Candra was still trying to ask Kinanti in that condition, but it was too late. Kinanti was no longer able to move anything. Kinanti is already dying and Candra is starting to panic.

"Okay, Kinanti, Kinanti! Why did you die? How'this?" Candra's fidgeting. He can't think of anything. He calms himself. He was also thirsty because he had been screaming. He took a drink from the refrigerator. After he took the knife from the kitchen, Kinanti's death was made as if he had killed himself and covered it with a hanging in his house.

****

Renata met Mahendra who was waiting in front of his campus. Renata carried several books in his hand that looked very heavy.

"Sir Prosecutor. You've been waiting a long time? Is there any progress?" asked Renata as soon as he met Mahendra.

"Go in my car. We're talking inside."

Renata becomes increasingly curious as to what Mahendra will say. After getting into the car and tidying up his seat, Renata was ready to hear whatever Mahendra was going to say.

"So what do you want to talk about?" ask Renata.

Mahendra looks confused where to start. He was very afraid if his words would hurt Renata.

"How are you feeling now?"

"It's better than yesterday. Maria and Evano came to me. They tried to comfort me." replied Renata innocently.

"Ehm. Here's Renata. Your father has been arrested and has become a suspect. The trial is two days away" Mahendra said with a serious look at Renata.

Renata felt his heart pounding fiercely. He also eliminates the trembling in his heart by pressing his fingers and his book. Somehow he feels now. But Renata tried to toughen up in front of Mahendra.

"Goodoo. The man who killed my mother has been arrested. I hope he gets a heavy sentence."

Mahendra is well versed with Renata at the moment. It can't be lied to that right now Renata's voice is shaking.

"If possible you could look at your father.."

"What am I looking at?!" Mahendra is surprised by Renata's unusual voice. Yep. Mahendra understands. Renata is angry to find out who Candra really is.

"He killed my mother with heart and was very cruel. What am I looking at him for? Pitying her? Congratulate? Or "Dad. be stoic. This is a trial for you." Nah! I don't think of that man as my father!" Renata could not hold back the tears that were already in her eyes. His tears fell and he felt very emotional.

"My mom was definitely begging for mercy by the time she strangled him with a cable. But instead of taking it off, he strangled her to death. Should I be nice to my mother's killer even if it's my own father?" renata said with great sadness.

Mahendra could not answer anything and he had expected this. Thus, he had no choice but to respect Renata's decision.