The Hate That Ends Marriage

Foreign Man

His footsteps suddenly came to a halt when he heard the sharp reprimand from Bu Leni's mouth, his shrill voice was deliberately tightened for everyone to hear.

"Emang basic yes, that City Girl doesn't know manners. Meet older people on the street, instead of saying hello even play nyelonong aja," he said ketus.

Hearing the innuendo, the mothers who walked with him also insinuated Widya equally sharply. Feeling cornered with no one to help her, Widya turned her back while lifting her umbrella so that the mothers could see her face so clearly. His chin raised haughtily while throwing a condescending look at all of them.

"It's not that I don't have manners, it's just that I give it to people who deserve it, but if you guys do...." Widya deliberately hung up her words, her lips smiling mockingly at them. "Then, excuse me, ladies. There's something urgent I need to do instead of dealing with your insults on me." Bowing respectfully, Widya resumed her journey.

The smile of victory was on his lips, he was very happy to see Bu Leni and her friends were flabbergasted to hear his words earlier. Behind him he could hear the scorn that the gossipers had thrown at him, but he ignored it as he continued to walk as fast as possible towards the Book House.

Arriving at the Book House, Widya immediately opened the door and went inside while carrying a wooden crossbar in her hand, placing the wooden crossbar next to the door. He was afraid that the door would be locked again, just like when he and Radit were locked in this Book House first.

That day remains a mystery to Widya. How could the door that had been opened with all his might turn out to be in a state of detachment from the wooden crossbar when Radit's father and the residents ambushed them doing something that provoked a big scandal in Manju Village.

Spreading his eyes around her, Widya suspects that the Book House has a matchmaker ghost. What else could explain the strangeness that happened to him and Radit? If only the mysterious thing did not happen to him, maybe now she has become a career woman as she wanted all this time, Widya mused grimly.

Regretting what happened that night will not restore Widya's single status back. So, instead of moping, he walked towards the door to open both doors as wide as possible in order to see more clearly all the books inside.

After finding an interesting book, Widya walks to a chair by the window to start reading. Sitting sideways, he read the book very seriously.

He did not know how long had passed when a figure was seen from the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he saw a tall man wearing a green t-shirt and knee-length trousers standing on the side of the door. The boots were stained with a bit of mud attached to both of his legs, his thick short hair was combed back as neatly as possible, and his brown eyes looked at Widya curiously.

This was the first time Widya had met the man, and he was rather fascinated by his rather handsome appearance. However, she does not look as masculine as her husband, Radit. Her shoulders are not as wide as her husband, you could even say that man is not too muscular like her husband. Even so, he was among the unsightly men.

For some reason, every time he saw another man, Widya always compared him to Radit. Maybe this is because Radit has a larger stature than most men, Widya thought. Without realizing it, her face scowled wryly in view of her husband, who was of course misunderstood by the stranger.

"I'm sorry if I interrupted your reading. I had intended to stop by when I saw the storehouse open, but seeing that an unknown beautiful girl was seriously reading, I couldn't help but look at you" she said gently.

"I'm not mad at you, so you don't have to apologize." Crossing her legs facing the foreign man, Widya arched a sweet smile at him. "I can't help if I'm beautiful. So, it's only natural that you're fascinated to see me."

Suddenly the stranger laughed at Widya's wit. His eyes sparkled with humor as he walked into the room.

"Well, Beautiful girl, if you don't mind, may I meet you?" his question was full of interest.

Standing up, Widya closed the book she was reading earlier, then placed it on the table. "Sadly, I don't want to meet you."

This time his laughter was even louder to hear the unexpected answer coming from Widya's mouth.

"I belong to another man, so there's no point approaching me, just so you know" Widya replied, whispering as if it were a big secret.

"As long as the yellow janur has not curved, there is still a chance," he said, smiling endearingly.

Smiling meaningfully, Widya walked past him. Stopping right at the doorway, he turned his head over his shoulder to look at the stranger one last time.

"It's a shame, that's what happened, my friend," Widya said, chuckling as she turned around to leave.

This time the foreign man's laughter sounded louder than before. Apparently, the stranger thought the answer was a joke.

Outside the Book House, Widya saw Mila walking not far from her, her friend was seen after returning from somewhere, because she was walking towards her house. Shouting to call out to her, Widya ran over to him. Reversing, Mila waved at him.

"Where have you been?" widya asked, hooking her hand on Mila's arm.

"I was after my father's garden. You alone?" askalanya.

Pointing towards the Book House, Widya explained about her spending time reading books there. Instead of responding to her story, Mila instead exclaimed in shock, then she waved at the foreign man Widya had met earlier. The man was now standing before the door of the Book House which he had closed with a wooden crossbar.

"When did you come?" ask Mila to scream.

"Yesterday night, Mil. Yes, we'll talk later." Waving his hand, the man gave Widya a mischievous wink before turning away.

Misunderstanding the blink aimed at her, Mila shook her head while waving cheerfully.

"Who is that guy, do you know him?" ask Widya curiously.

"Of course I know him, even this whole village knows him well. You know, don't you, Mr Sugeng?" Widya replied with a quick nod. "Well, he's his son, and he's also one of Radit's best friends."

That last piece of information shocked Widya to death. Who would have thought that the man who had been playing with her eyes was a good friend of her own husband. In his heart Widya hopes Radit will not know about his meeting with his friend.

If he finds out, he'll think I like to flirt with other men.

#TBC