THE NO-MAN'S LOVE
10. JUST OUT OF PITY
I am not tired because I no longer want to wait for him. Tired because my body is no longer as strong as it used to be. There's something different I feel, but I can't tell anyone. There was no way I could complain to my husband, because every time he came home, his tired face made me not want to add to the burden of his thoughts and feelings. I'd better keep all this alone, whatever the risk.
***
Egidia woke up more than the planned time. As he opened his eyes and felt his body slightly better, the wall clock above the bedroom door had already led to the number twelve.
“Astagfirullah, I slept very long and soundly. Until I miss my lunch time.”
With a stomach that is not yet fully comfortable, he immediately wakes up and strengthens his balance before standing up and getting out of the room. The woman tidied her hair tied together, then stood up and took a slow step. The road can not be fast, because it withstands pain that turns out still piercing the stomach.
What's wrong with me? Why does my body feel so weak lately? Just finishing ordinary household chores immediately felt weak. Not to mention if I have to stay up late to finish writing, I become very easy to lose concentration and thinking power which usually get ideas that can quickly and easily be poured into a series of words.
Even so, Egidia still forced herself to prepare a simple lunch for herself. The stomach must be filled, if not want the pain to drag on and can be more twisted.
Don't spoil it, Egi! You've become a wife. A wife who must be strong and healthy to be able to serve your husband at all times.
Arriving at the kitchen, the woman made sure there was still rice that had been cooked this morning. Just make vegetables and side dishes that can be made the fastest. Because his body is not fit, he is increasingly eager to eat a lot of vegetables and fruits.
Just opening the refrigerator door to pick up the materials, there was the sound of a doorbell that Genio had installed on the front fence. Egidia postponed her activities and returned to the room to wear an instant hijab.
Still clutching her stomach which returned to feeling nauseous, she peeked out from the end of the window curtain before opening the door. He saw Tiara standing outside the fence, carrying a closed bowl.
Soon he opened the locked door, then walked through the yard to get to the fence. A sweet smile expands on the lips, even though the body feels weaker under the hot sun.
“What's up, Tia?” greet and ask while pushing the wheeled fence to the side and invite his guests in.
“I cook vegetable soup with chicken meat. There are no activities outside the home. Please taste, yes! Hope deigned.”
Egidia's face looked cold because of the unexpected sustenance, when she woke up late and had not had time to cook.
“Alhamdulillah! Thank you very much!”
“Yuk, go in first. I'll change the container,” take it friendly.
Tia who had never entered Genio's house only nodded and followed the slow steps of her new neighbor who seemed to be holding something in the abdominal area that continued to be held.
After closing the fence without locking it, Egidia walked ahead, so that her behavior could be noticed by Tia who felt the veiled woman was not okay.
“You sick? Your face is very pale, Egi.”
The shoulder-haired woman with the neatly arranged bangs sat in the guest chair after being welcomed by the owner of the house.
“No, I'm fine. Just a little tired of cleaning the house because Mas Gen and I haven't had time to clean up together.”
He had not had time to pull the chair to sit for a moment, his body was dazed and felt floating. Despite trying not to fall, he still ended up sitting on the floor by holding on to the leg of the chair.
The rowdy sound of the moving chair being attracted by Egidia's hand, made Tia suspicious and ventured to presumptuously go inside, having called out first.
“Egi? You okay?”
Passing through the living room containing the sofa and television, Tia finally saw Egidia who was still trying to stand up again.
In a panic Tia half ran over and helped the hijab-wearing woman sit down and calm herself down. Since the dining room was directly connected to the open kitchen seen from there, the neighbor took a glass of warm water to drink by Egidia.
“Thank you. Sorry, so trouble you!”
The smiley woman felt awkward because it troubled the guests who should have been entertained, but instead came to help.
“Sama-sama.”
“Other times, feel free to contact me or Ms Mutia if you are having trouble or are sick like this. We ‘kan neighbors, it is only natural to need each other also help each other.”
“Later we exchange numbers yes, to make it easier to communicate.”
Egidia smiled and nodded very slowly. Not only his stomach that still feels uncomfortable, his head was getting heavier and wanted to be broken down. However, as strong as possible still being held so as not to worry Tia.
“Wouldn't you contact Mas Genio?”
“He should know your circumstances!”
Egidia shook her head with a gloomy face pleading. If Genio had known he was sick, the man would have told his parents.
“Don't, Tia! I beg you not to tell anyone else who it is, including Mas Gen!”
Gen can't know! I don't want to make him bother and care about me just out of pity.
“You must be taken to the doctor, Egi!”
“No! I'm it's okay. Really am! It's just fatigue, it will be soon healed.”
"I will rest again after this and after, it will definitely heal soon!" sure with a slightly grimacing face, resisting the intense pain that attacks the head.
Tia shakes. His new neighbors are very stubborn. Just thinking of a way to coax, Egidia's weak body suddenly drooped to the side, precisely sustained by her two hands that reflexively opened and stretched out to hold her back.
“Egi!”
