THE SOULMATE FROM HELL
7. SIX
The atmosphere of a simple Japanese shop called Yabai, every day is always crowded with visitors of various ages, especially in lunch hours like this. In addition to its fine cuisine, Yabai is arguably one of the most comfortable eating places in the capital. It is located in one corner of the most beautiful shopping area in the capital city.
Umbara pushed the Yabai glass door slowly and the cold air from the air conditioner hit him. A waitress greeted him in Japanese. Umbara only nodded at a glance. He then walked towards the stairs on the right side of the kitchen towards the second floor. Towards the office space where the owner Yabai.
“There's a newlywed, nih. How's it? Have you done it, dong?” the remark came out of the mouth of Sudjiwo Tedjo or Jiwo—, the friend of Umbara and the owner of Yabai, as soon as Umbara entered into his small office space.
Umbara sat next to Baron Adiningrat his other best friend— who was busy watching a live event tiktok on his cellphone. He had absolutely no interest in responding to Jiwo's remarks.
“Yes, elah. Dikacangin dong i.” pout Jiwo.
“Eh, Wowo very noisy anyway lo. No need to kepo. Kayak never dogged aja.” said Baron to Jiwo. “Where is the food, Wo? You call us here for lunch, right?”
“Sabar, Net. Short of it again also. You continue watching the ciki-ciki first.” Jiwo said.
“Chiky has finished live.” reply Baron. He's been shutting down his tiktok app since. Because there was nothing else he wanted to see. After all Baron downloaded tiktok just because he wanted to see live show Chiky. There's nothing else.
Baron switch open youtube app. He intends to watch Chiky's latest vlog. Besides being active on Tiktok Chiky is also active on Youtube. But he found something surprising.
“Eh, this bini lo is not, anyway?” Baron shifted his iPhone to the front of Umbara's face. While Jiwo who kepo even took the iPhone.
Jiwo observed the less than five-minute video and commented. “This bini lo kok is in the MV of Hendrik si PK.” Where in the video, Betari becomes the lover of Hendrik Leo— famous singer and songwriter. Exactly famous jerk in the eyes of the three of them. “Bini lo models? Or artist?” ask Jiwo to Umbara.
The person asked did not answer.
“Si Betari tuh arguably internet celebrity who is quite famous for your time do not know anyway, Wo.” said Baron.
Umbara also just found out about Betari's work. Surprisingly again, he thought Betari was unemployed. Today the Baron does not mention it. I don't know when he'll know. Or he won't know for the rest of his life. In Umbara's eyes, Betari was nothing more than a son of a spoiled rich man who sucks.
“Ngak. I'm not a father who is interested in ABG kayak lo, Ron.” Answer Jiwo.
“Yes, I know Betari right because she often appears in his live Chiky. Not because I'm hooked ABG.” sewot Baron. Time is only because Baron likes Chiky whose face is still cute like his Juhi—kannya. Jiwo as well as label Baron as ABG lovers, the effect is like Baron pedophile. Chiky is not ABG. He was even older than Bethari.
“Siniin hp me, Wo!” baron exclaimed to Jiwo, his hand held forward as a gesture. “Let's see.”
“Mending you don't have to see, Bar.” Jiwo said while giving the phone to the Baron sitting in front of him. “Sweet is so. You will be hot.”
Tuh, right. Baron nausea. Si Jiwo his language makes me want to spit. ‘Sweet is so. You will be hot.’ What fathers try to say that. Did Raden Umbara Atmojo ever say that?
“Whisper,” sahut Baron. Then give the phone to Umbara.
Umbara watched the video for a moment. His face was expressionless. Then return the phone to the baron.
“Where?” ask Jiwo to Umbara.
“Apanya.”
“Video.”
“Good.”
“Lo not jealous?”
“Ngak.”
“Not really jealous? It was bini lo in the arms of Handrik.” This time the baron asked.
“That's acting.” I don't care even if it's real.
Not long after that a waitress came in carrying some food.
***
It was late when Vanila picked up Betari at the woman's studio, which was a few blocks from the apartment building, and Milky lived together.
As soon as Betari sat down, she immediately told Vanila to turn on the car audio. Rose Blackpink's voice was singing in a quiet car.
“Where is the honeymoon?” Vanila opened the chat.
“Boro-boro honeymoon. The first night I was invited to make a fuss with him.” replied Betari with perfectly pursed lips.
“What storm?”
“Males I discuss him. Make blood rise.” Betari said honestly. Although this morning Umbara drove him to SCBD for a meeting with a client and bought him chicken soup for breakfast. But still Umbara is a bitch. From the beginning, the guy was a bitch. Just remember how they first met at his mother Prayoga's birthday party.
“Mending discuss others.”
Vanila nodded.
“Lo want to eat what, Bet?”
“Eat anything, it's up to you, Van. I'm okay the important thing is to be full.”
“Tumben lo do not choose.” Booing Vanila while turning off the car engine.
“Known, mouth.”
Vanilla parked the car in front of a shopping complex. Not far from where they stood, Betari saw a bustling modern Japanese tavern. The name of the shop made Betari's forehead wrinkled. Yabai said, it is ambiguous. Can be used to express danger, insinuation, or praise. If for praise the meaning of yabai becomes; severe, gokil, or, steady. Betari was curious. He could not wait to try their cooking.
“It's a new store, yes, Van.” taps Betari as they road ahead.
“Ngak. It was a long time ago, though. Just that I also just found out yesterday because I was taught to lunch clients here.”
“There is this crowded restaurant in Jakarta and we just found out. Oh, geez. Our culinary soul needs to be questioned deh.”
“Yes, nih. Shame I ngaku already kulineran up to all corners of the country.”
The two laughed together.
They entered the store and ordered two bowls of Katsu Teriyaki chicken, two ochas, and a serving of Uramaki sushi.
“Eh, Lala said this morning you diantarin same guy.” vanilla asked on the sidelines of their meal. Lala and her other team no one knows that Betari is married. Only certain people know about Betari's marriage to Umbara. Their marriage was held behind closed doors and only attended by nuclear families and close friends of the two. That's Betari's request.
“Who? Bang Hendrik's?
This time Vanila guessed the name of Hendrik bang, not Umbara whose incident is the husband of the friend. Because Vanila concluded from their conversation earlier that Betari's relationship with the man was not good.
While Hendrik bang, Vanila knew the man who was actively approaching Betari. Precisely after they finished shooting MV for the latest single released today.
Somehow Hendrik felt when he knew Betari had a husband.
Betari. “Not.”
“Who?”
“Si monkey earlier that anterin me.”
“Say by husband.” goda Vanilla. He smiled wryly looking at Betari.
“Ih, don't screw around. If anyone hears of danger.” Betari reminds Vanilla.
“Emang why? Afraid of your fans on the run do not accept you already married.”
“Lah, it lo know.”
Vanila. The name of Betari Salim is on the rise. If because of his new status spread and his popularity even dropped, right baby. There are also many fans who turn into haters just because their idol has a girlfriend. That is what Betari fears. After all Betari has struggled hard to get to his position now. Vanila was one of the living witnesses of Betari's hard work during this time.
“Emang lo plan to hide your status until when?”
“Ngot know.” Reply Betari. He still didn't want to think about it. If you can, Betari wants to continue his day as usual.
