THE SOULMATE FROM HELL
17. SIXTEEN
Betari came with Prayoga.
Of course they deliberately came too late to be the last person to come, but later it would be reasonable if anyone asked. They are used to doing that. They love being the center of attention.
Cheerful K-pop music scene welcomes Betari and Prayoga as soon as the door of the apartment is opened. Starley Kang had never messed around about the party, let alone this was his own birthday party. Betari admitted, the Singaporean woman was indeed his queen to have fun. No wonder every party Starley held always managed to invite many people to come. Like tonight, the luxury apartment owned by women was crowded even to the corners.
“Bet! Finally came also.” Starley Kang's pretty face poked out behind the door, against the background of the party crowd behind her. The half-Korean woman smiled happily. Finally the long-awaited came too. Actually it's not just Starley waiting for Betari to come, there are others.
“Happy birthday, Star.” Betari hugged Starley tightly without forgetting to give a kiss of affection on the right and left cheeks. “Wish you all the best.”
“Thank you, dear.” the smile on Starley's lips is getting fluffy.
“Hai, Starley! Happy birthday.” This time it was Prayoga's turn to stretch his arms around Starley.
“We are not too late right, Star. You haven't blown the candle and cut the cake, have you?” prayoga is not a pleasantries. But, just to tease that woman.
“But, Pre. I was expecting you guys.” Starley Kang was no less tightly hugging Prayoga whom he always called Pra that. Prayoga did not like the call, but the protest was not always carried out by the woman.
“Ouch, I'm moved. Thank you, Star.” Prayoga responded dramatically. There is never actually a candle blow and cake cut session at all Starley birthday parties. Like people's birthdays in general. But if alcohol is not asked. Starley is the son of a man who has a network of famous nightclubs in Asia. Do not be surprised if the parties always flood. Starley Kang was indeed an expert in corrupting the younger generation.
Starley laughed. He knew Prayoga's mouth was more evil than Cinderella's.
“Gue see Instastory The Dream yesterday.” Actually Starley accidentally saw the Instastory. He does not like any boyband even BTS who is very fond of teenagers, especially women and his friends including Betari. She followed The Dream on Instagram because Prayoga, her best friend, was a member of the five-member band.
”Loves are really cool, Pre. I really don't watch the concert. You should have said that there would be a session of you undressing on stage, showing off abs. Know that I bought all your tickets.” said the woman by putting on a face full of regret made-up.
“Halah! Stale lo, Star. Dikasih one free ticket aja lo not necessarily want to come.” cibir Prayoga.
Starley grimaced. “Gue busy, Pre.”
“Reason lo. Most also you busy party here and there.”
This time Starley laughed crisply.
“Lo can undress now, right? I also want to see your body live.”
“Don't pervert, deh!” fierce Prayoga, keep Starley's hand that will unbutton his shirt.
Starley put on a pouting face.
Betari knew that if Starley and Prayoga were made one, they would only end up in a storm, each other satirical or mutually commonplace. They are still good friends and support each other. Betari had no problem being the third person in their midst. Other than being ordinary, he didn't care if it had to be ignored. He can have a mobile phone.
Mobile Phone is ringing. The name Umbara appeared on the screen.
“Bet, where are you going?” prayoga rebuked as soon as he realized Betari was moving away.
“Jawab phone bentar.” Betari walked with wide steps towards the balcony, because the place was not many people and quite quiet.
“Halo?”
“Betari?” Umbara's voice, her husband's voice sounded cold. “Where are you?”
“Again at a friend's birthday event. Why?.”
“Lain times you have to tell me if you want to go.”
“No can do that, dong.”
“Why can't. I'm your husband.”
How come he's so fussy, anyway?
“Iya.” replied Betari in the end. Afraid that his business will be long.
After making sure that Betari will not go home above 11 pm. Umbara then ended his call.
Betari kept her cell phone back while walking off the balcony.
“From!”
Betari turned to hear the call. Only his family called Betari by the nickname ‘Tari’ and him. His ex-girlfriend, Vino Risjad.
Betari had not seen the man for a long time. If this had happened a year ago, Betari would not have hesitated to run and jump merrily until successfully hugged and carried simultaneously. Then the man will stroke his head, while smiling sweetly whispering his ears with the words ‘i miss you so badly, Baby’ and he will let Betari in his arms until the next few minutes. They will channel each other all the longs that mount up every second. Without feeling ashamed even if it is becoming a spectacle material. The world seems to belong to both.
Tears in Betari's eye pelubuk seemed to have spilled, but was held as hard as possible. Want to put where his pride if he gets caught crying here. And again, her tears were too precious just to cry for the man.
From where he stood, Vino Risjad smiled, staring at Betari in longing gesture, but Betari did not want to welcome him. He's not who he is anymore. Their relationship ended that day.
***
Betari snatched the whisky glass from Prayoga's hand and held it up and left only ice cubes at the bottom of the glass.
Prayoga. “Haus really yes, lo” said.
Betari just kept quiet while pouring whiskey in the bottle into a glass until it was almost full and then drank it.
Prayoga watched Betari who he thought would stop in the third glass. But his best friend will now drink his fifth glass.
“Bet, already. Don't drink anymore.” Prayoga's hand gently blocked Betari's wrist to stop her, but Betari insisted. The woman looked at Prayoga like she was giving a warning.
“Lo has been drinking a lot. You can get drunk.” persuade Prayoga, again.
“Ngak. I still want to drink, Yoga.” Betari pulled her hand out of Prayoga's grasp and finally sipped her fifth glass.
Prayoga wanted to swear, but realized that there was no point in swearing at drunk people. Even though he himself is the laziest when it comes to taking care of drunk people. Especially if the drunk person vomits or the worst thing to vomit. Oh, My God! Prayoga did not want such a thing to happen to him. That's so disgusting.
Now, how should he return it? Prayoga took a deep breath. Does she have to call Betari's husband? But he still hesitates to do so. Although, contacting Umbara Atmojo is the most reasonable option since the man is now her husband. If Umbara really came here to pick up Betari. That means it's the same as telling people that Betari is married. And his best friend will surely rampage if he realizes tomorrow. Betari had already warned to keep her wedding a secret from their other friends, enough she, Milky, and Vanilla knew.
Hadeh! Suddenly Prayoga's head became dizzy. He had just had a glass of whiskey. Truly one glass is no more, because the second glass was captured by Betari.
He then sighed resignedly and looked at Betari who was now asleep with her shoulders drooping. Prayoga had no idea what was going on until his best friend took him out by drinking alcohol. Because it's not usually Betari drink this much. If he wants to drink alcohol at most two glasses then already. He rarely drank to this extent.
“Bet!” Prayoga shook Betari's shoulder, while continuing to call her name and only responded with a vague murmur.
“Bet why, Pre? Drunk huh?” asked Harry who had just finished from the bathroom, looking at the sleeping Betari with his shoulders drooping. Harry is Starley's half-brother who always willingly came all the way from New York just to celebrate his half-brother's birthday.
Prayoga.
Harry Kang nodded. “Oh, My God, Betari. The night is still young, it’s too early to be drunk.”.
Is correct. Prayoga grunts. And it’s too early to leave the party. But he had to take Betari home instead of letting her linger in this place.
After all being around for a long time at a party like this was not good for his career. Who knows if someone took a picture or video of himself, then uploaded it to social media. Image of a Prayoga Sasongko personnel The Dream is not a person who likes a miras party. Although the chances are very small it will happen. Because the people who came to Starley Kang's party all had to follow the woman's rules, which prohibited from taking photos or videos let alone to spread it to social media. Starley never checked his guest's phone one by one. However, if someone is caught breaking, Starley will not hesitate to teach him a lesson. The woman always said, this is a private party so no outsider should know. So far, it seems that no one has broken it.
Everybody who attended her private party should know who she is. She is Daniel Kang’s favorite daughter—mafia Korea whose name is famous in the underground world.
“Gue must take him home.” break it up with Harry.
“Prayoga.”
Prayoga, who was about to lift Betari's body aided by Harry, turned to the source of the voice and saw Vino Risjad, Betari's ex-girlfriend, standing behind them. Prayoga did not respond, but the mimicry on his face clearly showed dislike.
“Let me take Tari home.” he said later.
“Not necessary.” Prayoga replied with a stroke. He would never let this Vino Risjad get close again to his best friend. It was enough that he saw Betari being hurt like that. The actions of that man one year ago will never be forgiven. Prayoga he would never do what he did. Totally disgusting.
Prayoga then took Betari with both hands, leaving the feast. He took his best friend into the car and sat him in the seat next to the wheel and put his seatbelt on.
On the way Betari muttered and said obscure words. Prayoga did not respond. While focusing on driving, he thought about what he should say later to Umbara Atmojo.
“I hate your smile. After that disgusting thing you did. How can you still smile at me.”
Oh, so this is because of that jerk. Prayoga gave a quick glance. He was not happy with this fact. Betari to get drunk like this just because of that jerk guy, really not useful.
Prayoga thinks Betari really moved on from that jerk. Apparently, for one year Betari just pretended. This friend of his had truly become a fool. But Prayoga felt himself more stupid than Betari.
“Why?”
“Because he's a jerk.”
“Lo true. He's a jerk!” racau Betari's.
“Mending to silent, Bet.”
Betari turned to her place with my eyes. “Gue noisy huh?”
“Hmmm.”
“OK, I'm silent.”
Then Betari was completely silent until they arrived in front of his house.
Prayoga shuts down the car's engine and exits in the next second. Betari came out on her own with a dazed body, then almost fell if Prayoga's hands did not catch her.
Prayoga helped him walk by tapping Betari's body which was completely weak.
“Gue can no longer.” Betari almost collapses, but Prayoga holds her back. “Mending lo carry me.”
“Ngak. Lo weight.” Prayoga is not lying. Although Betari's body is quite slim but he is quite tall. Carrying Betari while in Starley Kang's apartment wasn't as easy as she thought.
“Come, one more step until.”
Betari finally managed to walk up to the front door. Prayoga rang the bell.
Not long after that, Umbara opened the door. The man watched Betari for a moment. His expression was flat, completely illegible.
“She is drunk.” Prayoga tries to explain.
Umbara took over Betari who was leaning on Prayoga's body with his eyes closed, lifting Betari's body above his hands.
“Thank you, for driving my wife home, Prayoga.”
Prayoga then returned home.
Umbara took Betari into the house, went up to his room. When Umbara put Betari on the bed. Betari even tighter draped his arm around Umbara's neck. As a result Umbara fell to Betari and their faces became very close.
Betari opened her eyes, their gazes met. Betari was silent, and he looked at Umbara full of longing. Then Betari gently kissed Umbara's lips. Umbara did not return the kiss. He kept Betari away from him.
Betari's gaze was clear. “Please, don’t leave me.” Lirih. His hand grabbed the nape of Umbara and buried his lips back on the man's lips. The kiss this time deep and intense, Betari's fingers began to infiltrate Umbara's hair.
Umbara could barely think. But, Umbara was not the one who would take advantage of a drunken man.
“Good night.” Betari smiled with her eyes closed.
