Patience of My Husband

44

Arka parked the car in the parking lot outside the club'. It was not very crowded, because it was still late afternoon. This place is crowded if it is ten o'clock and above. I grab my phone and I slide the screen. I'll call Joy soon.

As soon as I heard the answer I immediately greeted him. "Hi Joy, where are you, are you in the parking lot outside" I said.

"Crazy, what time. Tumben lu was nongol first. It's still two hours away"

"Where are you?" Ask again.

"Gue's still on the road. Wanna go to the club' 'What a hurry. Want to help me with the party?" Joy Ledek.

"Yes, I've been waiting for ya. I'm in the parking lot outside" I decided to call Joy. I put my phone back in my handbag.

"Tante, why are we staying here" asked Luna.

"We're waiting for Aunt Joy, Auntie's friend. Come soon. Patience baby" I rubbed her soft cheek.

"Wait a minute ya bringel, out of here we buy toys yes" Arka tried to cheer Luna who was getting bored in the car.

"No, Luna doesn't want any more toys. Luna's toys are plenty." Answer while complaining.

"Later we buy toys. Tomorrow's Sunday, so we can play three. Om Arka is on holiday so you can play with luna. Yes dear yes, but do not cuddle gini dong. Look at that cheek, like a balloon to erupt" Arka continued to persuade Luna. Luna laughed probably because she heard Arka's last sentence.

"It's dong, it's more beautiful." My leg while pinching her cheek.

"Out yuk, we're looking for food there" Arka pointed at the street vendor.

"But there's a very sweet race" Gertutuku.

"Ngantri bentar aja kok" said Arka.

"Not really?" I asked full of doubt.

"It must be delicious, the proof is that rame kayak" Arka reaffirmed.

"Come Aunty cobain first. It must be good, look a lot of people buy" Luna tried to persuade. If Luna had spoken, I could not refuse her invitation. Arka just smiled at me.

We also got out of the car "Honey the road is rame, Luna in the car just aja" said I. Arka immediately raised Luna's small body.

I walked in Arka's footsteps. Arriving at the street vendors, many people lined up waiting for orders. Arka told me to sit on the available plastic chair. "Sit here yeah, I want to order first." Arka took Luna down from her carrier . Then Arka stood lined up like the others queuing up to make an order. Then he came back to me and sat down next to me.

"The order is coming soon" said Arka, giving a bottle of water to me and Luna.

"It's really good, isn't it?" Ask me again

Hearing my question Arka even chuckled "Take it easy, even if they sell on the side of the road but it does not feel inferior to a fancy restaurant. The price is cheap too. So don't worry about it" replied Arka.

Not long after the order arrived. Three servings of siomay complete with chili and also slices of lime on a separate plate. Arka and Luna immediately ate the siomay. I still hesitate to eat it. Because I'm not used to food on the fringes like this.

"Why silence. Come eat. Cobain first, baby, good. I'm bribing ya" Arka thrusting a spoon in front of my mouth. But I refused. "No need to eat mine" I replied.

I started eating Siomay in front of me. And I swipe my mouth to feel the taste. Good, yes it tastes good. Not inferior to those served in fancy restaurants.

"What a good way, right?" Ask Arka who dariitadi watch me eat.

I'm nodding. "That's delicious".

"From now on if you want to eat no need in a luxurious place. In this place, it is also delicious. You will get used to it too." Arka. I nodded slowly answering Arka's words.

My phone rang while I was eating. I saw the screen and Joy's name on the screen.I immediately swiped the green button to answer the call.

"Hello Joy's...

Yes, I'm across the street...

Just wait a minute...

I'll be there soon..."

I ended the call from Joy and then sipped the drink that Arka gave me. "Darling, Joy has arrived. We go there" I said.

"Not in the end first" said Arka.

"Can't throw away food, you know Auntie, later the food is crying" Luna chimed.

Without answering their words, I immediately continued eating me of course in a hurry.

"Honey, slow down when you eat" Arka stretched out her hand, her finger gently rubbed the tip of my lips "See this" She showed a siomay spice attached to the tip of her thumb.

"Thank you dear" Ucaoku felt ashamed for eating me to the point of being overwhelmed. Luna laughed and saw me like this.

After the meal the three of us returned to the club's parking lot to meet Joy who was waiting for me. I saw him sitting on the hood of the front car. A man was standing in front of him. From a distance looks cigarette smoke that pokes out of the cigarette in the suction Joy.

"Honey, you wait in the car, take Luna into the car. I'd like to talk to Joy for a second.". My whisper to Arka.

Arka watched Joy from a distance. Maybe Arka understands what I mean. Without asking again Arka brought Luna into the car. I kept walking towards Joy.

When she saw me, Joy came down and threw away her cigarette. "Hi Ca, where did you come from. I'm waiting here to dry up" Joy hugged me.

"I'm still eating" I replied.

"Sorry Joy, my husband is not ngijinin. Anyway I came here also bring a child so there's no way I'm taking him in" I replied.

"Gue know, you're definitely not allowed. It's okay. No problem for me." Joy hugged me back.

"You're not angry, are you?" I ask him again.

"Yes is not.***** so bad that I am angry ma lu because of this doang. Oh yeah ca, know my guy." Joy introduced a gentleman who stood opposite me.

A Caucasian man, fair-skinned, black hair, tall posture, even taller than Arka stretched out his hand to get acquainted. I also returned his hand.

"Seriously this is your guy?" I was a little surprised.

"Yes, he's here to pick me up. Next week I'm getting engaged to her" Joy replied.

"You said to Italy because there's a family business, but now it says it wants a fiancee. Where is it really?"I asked a little more annoyed.

"Yes sorry, yesterday I lied ma lu, ma temen-men too. I want to surprise them. Tonight I want to know Robert with them."

"Keep, when are you here again?" Ask again.

"I don't know. The reception was also held there, because Robert's family wanted it that way" Joy explained.

"I can only pray for you, wherever you are may you always be happy" I shed my tears in front of him.

"Hi, please don't cry dear" Joy hugged me again, and rubbed my back.

"Why do you suddenly want to get married?" I asked in his arms.

"Because I want to live a happy life like you" She whispered, her voice as if held back. I let go of his embrace and I noticed his face.

For the first time I saw Joy shedding her tears. Joy has never complained or grieved about her situation. Joy was my friend who was the cuckiest with everything. Joy was also my most tomboyish friend. As long as I knew her I never saw her dating any man. Even just to tell a man he was like an allergy.

It's only natural that I was surprised when Joy introduced Robert as her boyfriend and even her future husband. Since when they were connected I don't know. Whatever the decision, I will continue to support it.

"What are tears?" I wiped Joy's tears with my fingers.

"Happy, because I married a man who really loved me. Even Robert was so faithful waiting for me all this time".

"So you've known me a long time?" I asked, Joy nodded.

"Yes"

"Since when?" Ask again.

"Since I studied in Melbourne"

I breathed a sigh of relief hearing his explanation. Not long after, I was ready to go home. Joy drove me to my car because she wanted to say hello to Arka.

"Hi bang, thank you for sending Caca here" Joy waved her hand at Arka. And Arka replied with a smile and a nod of her head.

"Yes Joy, I said yes. Say my apology to the others for not being able to join" I said while hugging her.

"OK I'll be there. Be careful" he said.

I got in the car "Bye" I waved my hand from the car.

Arka stepped on the gas pedal slowly and immediately left the parking lot. The streets of the city began to be crowded so that cars walked crawling. In the car, there were no words I said to Arka or luna. Still carried away with the situation. I don't know if I should be happy or sad about Joy's passing. I should have been happy because he was going to live his new life, but on the other hand I had to be sad because I couldn't see that happy day.

I was shocked when Arka's left hand touched mine. "Why you?" Tanya Arka turned the flash towards me then turned back to face the street in front of her.

"It's okay" I replied with a smile I forced.

"Lying, you look sad. What's wrong with you?" Ask Arka again.

Shut up for a moment before saying again, I held Arka's hand tightly. " Joy is getting married" I replied softly.

"good right. You should be happy to see your friend happy. Not sad like this?" Say Arka again.

"I was sad because I couldn't make it to that happy day. They will celebrate in Italy" I replied.

"That's where Auntie is, not far from here?" Luna spoke up. And I was surprised to hear that Luna was listening to my conversation with Arka.

"Near my dear, there are many tea gardens and the place is very cold, very cool" replied Arka.

"Kok om know, have you ever been there?" Ask Luna again.

"Tau dong, it's Italian" replied Arka.

"We're going there, o'm"

"Where?" Ask Arka

"To the house in Italy" replied Luna

I turned towards Arka, and hit her arm. My sadness is slowly disappearing. I laughed at their conversation and so did Arka. Luna who did not understand was just a smile full of astonishment.