THE SOULMATE FROM HELL
16. FIFTEEN
“I don't like infidelity.” Umbara looked at him deeply. Sounds cold. Betari has never heard her voice this cold “The affair could ruin my and your good name. I know we don't love each other. But we don't get married to play games. Remember that.”
Umbara's gaze implies decisiveness as well as condemnation. At this time Betari can feel how dominant Umbara is when speaking. During this time Betari only found Umbara stiff and sometimes cold without hospitality.
“You'd better decide your girlfriend's.”
Betari. He knew Umbara misunderstood. But, his courage to explain to the man was lost to nowhere. Maybe I was swallowed by the dark bead that was now highlighting it?
Umbara turned around and left him. Betari was still silent to the man who had disappeared into the room.
With that, the misunderstanding between them still continued.
After a while, Betari took a breath. Bizarrely. His face feels stiff. Eh? Just now....
The sound of Sagara's cry made Betari run towards her room. When he arrived Sagara was carried by Umbara.
“You can make milk.” Said slowly. Umbara only caught a glimpse and was busy again calming Sagara who was still crying.
Betari did what Umbara asked. He came back not long after carrying a bottle of formula that was immediately welcomed by Sagara's hand, the boy had stopped crying his eyes looked puffy.
You spoiled brat. Betari looked at Sagara who was still sleeping spoiled in Umbara's sling. Sometimes his cousin's biological son can be so spoiled like this. Especially if you are with Juan Salim. Betari was always envious. But, problem... This is Umbara, the stranger he just met yesterday. Whereas with Prayoga who already knew him from being a red baby, Sagara is not up to this stickiness.
Then Umbara looked at him. Their eyes clashed with each other, before Sagara's voice took over the man.
“Om, Bara! Because you want to pee.” Sagara has been taught to say that he wants to pee. Even if the boy was wearing a diaper he would still say. Good Abrian!
Umbara took the boy to the bathroom, and soon Umbara's voice called for Betari to take him to the paper.
“Makasih.” said while welcoming the diaper in Betari's hand.
Actually Betari wondered why Umbara looks very skilled in taking care of small children. Even without Betari telling him this, Umbara knew. Like wearing a Sagara diaper before the boy goes to sleep and when is the time to replace it. Umbara is also very good at handling Sagara who is fussy to cry. Just try if there is no Umbara who helps him, Betari sure he must be very troubled. Usually if he is visited by Sagara at the longest he can only be up to half a day, the rest of course he leaves it to Juan Salim. Oh, yep... Umbara today to be willing to skip work, loh. He wants to take care of Sagara.
Is that also what makes Sagara comfortable with the man.
Upon his return from urinating, Sagara went straight to the mattress.
“Tante Dance move there, dong!” Sagara pointed at the side of the mattress that pressed against the wall.
“Ngapain. Aunty sleeps here just make sure you don't fall.” You brat! Especially want to lo. Because you also last night I had to sleep in fear.
“Tante Dance the fear of falling.”
Huh uh?! But I don't want to sacrifice to take care of you, boy.
“Makanya aunty Tari moved there.” kekehnya. “Or because of crying nih.” Threatened him.
Small-small nganceman. Must be his father's teaching. If not who else.
“You're guilty.” That's Umbara's voice. “Later he cried really you take care of.”
“Iya, huh. Aunty moved in. If you fall do not cry.” Especially my mistake.
“Om Bara here! Same sleep Gara.” Sagara with as good as the eel, as if he was the owner of the mattress invited Umbara to sleep with him. The boy patted the side of the mattress that had been bedded by Betari.
Umbara did not refuse, he then laid himself beside Sagara.
Oh, so that's it...
Long ago nyebelin nih boy. It looks just like his father. Lucky darling. Try not, sure I already live lo on the road to be picked up by scavengers.
Sagara had raved for a while before the boy finally said goodbye to Umbara. Only in Umbara. “Good sleep, Om Bara.”
Sagara hugged Umbara. As the boy did to Abrian, or Juan Salim and the boy's grandfather, Salim Hill.
“Good sleep, Sagara.”
So, I'm messed with the story, Betari's pout in the heart.
Not long after, there was a soft snoring of the two. Betari turned to the side, staring at the figure of Umbara lying beside him, their distance was only Sagara's small body. Then Betari fell asleep with a dream that Umbara had warned him to immediately disconnect his girlfriend before the man fell asleep.
Which girlfriend is it?
The next day, Abrian Salim finally came to pick up Sagara, as the man promised three days ago.
“Papa!” Sagara, the boy who had just finished lunch could not even wait to immediately hug his father, he ran to meet Abrian.
Betari who witnessed it so remembered the scene in an Indian film that he used to watch often when he was a child. He approached and stroked the head of Sagara that Abrian had carried.
“Who the hell was crying yesterday while saying that his father is evil.” ledek Betari. Sagara did not respond. Goddamnit! The boy was still busy kissing his father's cheek. Their interaction is really similar to that of a cat with its mother.
“Lo don't bully my son.” Abrian accused.
“That's doang lo say bully.. lebay, lo.” Betari pulls her hand from Sagara and sits down on the sofa followed by Abrian.
“Eh, you didn't teach my son who didn't.”
“Not say thank you, even recriminate.” Betari's pouty. Fucking lo! Betari curses with silent lip movements.
“Please mouth lo, Tar.” hissing Abrian. “My son is still a plain boy don't lo nodainin. Ntar he gedenya so kayak you kan kantir.”
“At most you are like Juan Salim.” Betari doesn't care. “Halah! Kayak lo never make dizzy sir de Bukit aja.” Betari plucks the wine on the table and devours it.
Abrian cussed with silent lip movements as well.
Betari just flicked her shoulders casually while leaning on the back of the sofa.
“Again he. Nape?”
“Gue wants to say thank you to him.” said Abrian casually while petrifying Sagara down from his lap. “Gue sure 1000% sure your husband who takes care of my son. If you yourself you must have brought Gara to the same grandmother's house grandpa.”
“Ngak. It depends on the sikon too. Lo kok ngremehin I mulu, anyway. Bummer.” Betari does not accept.
“Ngak. Emang lo it.”
“Iya,deh.” says Betari fierce.
“Tar, I was one plane with ex lo.” Abrian took a piece of fruit on the table.
“Which one of me was?” sorry, yes, my ex a lot.
“Former lo the most depraved.”
“Oh,” Betari poured water into an empty glass, then sipped it while watching the news broadcast on TV.
“She nanyain lo. I think he's the same lo.”
“Let's aja.”
Abrian bit his banana while glancing at Betari sitting beside him. “Sok cuek lo. It is originally lo.” god.
“Baper right lo?” Abrian nudged Betari's shoulder.
Betari grunts patiently. “Whispering lo.”
Not that Abrian was silent even more noisy. The man examined Betari's face. “So you still love her?” guess it.
Betari did not answer.
“Oke, fix lo still love her.” said Abrian, without meaning to be mocked again.
“Om Bara!” call Sagara suddenly.
They were shocked. Sagara walked to the back of the sofa where they were sitting.
Abrian looked back. As it turned out, Umbara was already standing right behind them. Whoa! Lothawat! Since when was he there? Did he hear my words? Inner Abrian.
“Siang, Mas Bara!” greet Abrian with a smile. The contents of his head kept turning around thinking about his own words. If you listen, where it is from. Will he be angry with Betari? Must be angry. Which husband tries to accept that his wife is still in love with her ex. If I'm obviously angry. Jealous. Minimal amount. That's how Abrian's head is now.
“Siang,” reply Umbara. “You picked up Sagara, huh?
“Ya, Mas.” Actually Abrian was a bit confused, he had to call Umbara by what name. Umbara was a few years older than her, but she was the wife of her cousin's sister.
***
“Eh, Tar.” Abrian pulled the arms of Betari so as to make their bodies cling.
“What, anyway.”
“That was about your husband heard no, yes.” whispered in the ear of Betari. Abrian did not want Umbara who was walking in front of them with Sagara, to hear him.
Betari moves her shoulders.
“Lo not afraid of what?”
Betari's forehead frowned.
“Kalo husband lo denger how?”
“Ya, already. How about it again. Wong has been hearder.” Betari relaxed. “Eat him, next time your mouth tell you to be careful when you say. Repotn if there is no brake mouth.”
“Mouth lo also.” sambar Abrian sewot.
“Papa!” exciting Sagara
Abrian looked straight at his son. “Ya, Dear?”
“We go home now, nih?” asked the boy who seemed reluctant to part with Umbara.
“Iya. Why?”
Sagara was silent, looking at Umbara who stood looming before him.
Abrian who saw that immediately understood. He believes that Umbara must be a very good person to his son. He even bothered to persuade his son. Lucky Betari got a man like her, inner Abrian.
“Now Gara go home first. We play again sometime.” Umbara crouches in front of Sagara.
“Appointments, yes, Om.” Sagara thrust his little finger in front of Umbara and was immediately welcomed by the man.
“Iya, promise.” said.
May Umbara not hear his words earlier, Abrian prayer in heart.
***
Betari went straight back inside as soon as Abrian's car disappeared from her eyes. She should get ready to go to Starley Tan's birthday party, later tonight—which is just a few hours away.
“From, I hope you really think about my speech last night.” Umbara's voice managed to stop Betari's steps that would climb the stairs.
Just as Betari turned around and was about to open his mouth, Umbara was back in his voice. “If you still want to mess around. I'll be more serious.”
