Neighbor Husband

Episode 36 - Guests Coming Late

"Sighs... It's heavy on my head. Everything that happened today was completely unexpected." Dede rode his motorcycle towards the contract.

His intention to return to the office after meeting with Ina he undo. He also asked permission from his superiors for reasons not feeling well.

Although he tried several times, but every confession Ina always crossed his head. He never thought at all, he turned out to be just months from his wife and friends.

"Is this my punishment for treating Luke like that?" thought Dede. His head kept thinking about things.

"No. This even happened before I asked Luke to stay away from me. And I'm not alone. Friends did the same to her, even bullying her." Dede tried to deny all that.

Gedubrak...! Tiiittt's....!

"Duh, be careful dong, Mas! My trade's almost spilled all over." Dede almost hit a traveling siomay trader.

"Sorry, Sir. I was not intentionally. Is there anything broken or injured?" ask Dede. He immediately pulled his motorcycle over.

"none. Only you almost made my name turn into a deceased," said the siomay trader while improving his rearview position.

"I'm really sorry, sir."

Some other riders started to stop and gather.

"Have disbanded, dispersed, there is nothing here" said the merchant.

*****

A few days later.

Clontang! Clontang! Clontang!

Luke stirred the red ginger water stew quickly. He no longer cared if anyone heard and protested his current cooking. What is important is that traditional drinks can be drunk immediately.

"Errrgh... Duh, he said drinking ginger water can eliminate colds. But it has not subsided from yesterday, too" said Luke alone.

"Hmmm... Who cooks fish early in the morning? The smell makes you.. Hueeekkk."

Luke ran to the bathroom just four steps away from where he is now. But it felt like forty meters to him at the moment.

"He spewed out all of his entrails there, which was just fluid. Nausea and vomiting is not just happening this time. Two days ago, I always felt the same way. This morning, he went back and forth to the bathroom four times.

Luke's breathing panted. Cold sweat poured out of his body.

"I must be strong" he murmured to himself.

Behind Luke's bathroom wall, a man cooking fried fish, hears all of Luke's activities.

"Why is he this morning? It was a storm like a traveling pot sword, now even vomit just because of the smell of fried fish. Is she a pregnant woman?" gerutu Dede's.

After cooking, Dede immediately had breakfast and prepared provisions. Since he chose to live separately with Ina, he always brought supplies to the office, to save time and fuel costs of the vehicle.

As usual, these experts of gossip have gathered under the clothesline to share the warmest information. What rumors were there this morning?

"Luke's face was pale, yes. Like people do not eat a week," said Nurul began gossip this morning.

"Tyas, your house is right next door to Luke's. Must have heard dong, what happened to him a few days ago," added Kak Nia.

"Yes, anyway. I hear. From yesterday he was vomiting constantly" said Brother Tyas.

"Well, right? I actually heard him vomit. Is she pregnant, huh?" nurul.

"Yes he could catch a cold, or there is a problem with the hull" said Tyas.

"Really, tuh. Not every woman who vomits is pregnant. Many other features of pregnant people. You have never felt it, but you know it" continued Kak Nia.

During her five-year marriage, Nurul has not been given the opportunity to have a baby, until now she is divorced. But that doesn't make Nurul sad. According to him, having a child is very troublesome and inhibits personal activities.

But then Dede remembered all the events of the morning, and calculated the date on the calendar.

"It can't be like that, right? It's been a month and a half since I dropped off Luke who's sick" Dede said anxiously.

*****

"Finally I can get to the campus, even though it is a bit staggering," said Luke relieved.

While chewing on the ulcer medicine, he noticed the class from the front. Students are given independent assignments. In addition to the added value, he can also rest for a while.

The tling! A message went to Luke's phone.

"Hi, how are you? Are you busy today?" write Satria.

^^^"Not really. I only have one more course at ten" Luke replied.^^^

"Then, would you like to have lunch with me? We choose a place that you often visit, so as not to get tired," Satria asked.

Luke thought for a moment, "Why did he take me to lunch together? But if I refuse him, he will surely be sad. A while ago, he helped me. I have also rejected his invitation too often" Luke murmured.

"alright. How about at Padang's restaurant near my campus?" write Luke.

"Can too. I'll slide to your campus around twelve 😉" Satria replied immediately.

At 12:05, there was no word from Satria. Luke waits in his room, completing the draft of his novel for later date night.

Meanwhile at Medika Nusantara hospital...

"Satria, can you handle one more patient before lunch? He had to catch a plane to return to his city at two o'clock" said Iswandi, his senior doctor.

"Well, doctor," said Satria could not refuse the request of Iswandi's doctor.

"Ah, Luke must have been waiting for me" murmured Satria. He sent a message to Luke.

"sorry. I have to deal with a patient again. After that I went straight there."

^^^"Ok. It's okay :)" Luke replied.^^^

"I'd better go to the university hospital, my head's getting heavy. My stomach is also often bruised. Is it because I haven't had a monthly guest this month, huh?" luke whispered in his heart.

Without waiting for long, Luke immediately headed to the university hospital to check himself out.

Right after Luke's test results were over, Satria called.

" Hello Luke. Are you still in college?"

"Yes, I'm in the university hospital again" Luke replied.

"Are you in the hospital? Why?" ask Satria.

"I'm just checking my health, and it looks like I'm-"

"Luke. I'm sorry. It seems like we are not eating together this afternoon. I have an important meeting with the hospital chief" Satria said in a hurry.

"Oh, yes. Alright. No need to apologize. Of course it is much more important," said Luke pretending to be cheerful.

"Next time I'll buy it, in your favorite place," Satria said before hanging up.

"Huh... Just barely. Hold Luke. What will Satria say if you are honest. He can't necessarily accept it, and is as good a friend as he is now" Luke said sadly.

(Connected)

Thank you for reading.