THE SOULMATE FROM HELL
8. SEVENS
Umbara got out of the car while carrying a paper bag with the logo of one of the Chinese restaurants. His face looks tired. Every week in two months this nonstop exhibition. Hence when married, Umbara only took two days off. Not to mention the statues from Asri Luhur just entered the gallery. His new staff is still no-one, Umbara has to be there to do everything. Really tiring.
As he walked towards the main door, the first thing he saw was a long-haired woman sitting leaning against the door with her hands folded in front of her chest and eyes closed.
Umbara. He thinks there's a bum who escaped the guard and hitchhiked to sleep on the porch of his house. Remember, his house does not have a fence. The developer does prohibit every homeowner to install a fence and change the facade of the building. The reason is of course for the sake of aesthetics and keeping the concept.
The woman was Betari, his own wife.
Umbara.
Why is Betari sleeping outside?
For a moment, he observed the sleeping Betari. It looks like a bum, he thought.
“Go to the damn mosquitoes! Don't bother me.” One of Betari's hands was raised in a wagging motion. Then shut up again.
Umbara frowned. He did not see many mosquitoes.
“This is me again in the forest where the hell, Amazon what is Papua? Lots of mosquitoes. Uhh...Itching.” Betari was delirious again, this time scratching the right side of her face down slightly to the neck.
“Betari?” call Umbara.
“Hmmm.” Betari just muttered, without opening her eyes.
“Betari? Build.”
“What, anyway? Sleepy tau.” reply Betari, still with eyes closed.
“From, wake up. I want to enter.” This time Umbara's patience began to erode. “Come wake up.”
“Nmobile.” Betari was still very sleepy. He had no intention of opening his eyes and wanted to continue sleeping.
Umbara gave a rough sigh. He put the paper bag in his hand to the floor, then squatted in front of Betari.
The next second Umbara carried Betari. Took him into the room of the woman who was on the second floor—right in front of her room.
Umbara had just opened the door of Betari's room, she was greeted with a messy room like the entry of a thief. A large suitcase opened above the floor— in front of the bed. It was a mess, some scattered on the floor. It seemed Betari had indeed rummaged through the suitcase in search of something.
Umbara laid Betari on the bed and kindly covered her.
****
Betari woke up the next day at 7, still wearing her clothes yesterday. She yawned repeatedly before walking into the bathroom.
Betari washed her face and looked at her face in the mirror.
“Gosh! My face!” He was surprised to find his face filled with red spots like mosquito bite marks.
You fucking mosquito!
Betari then remembered that last night she could not enter the house. Because of the statue of the monkey simelekete aka Raden Umbara Atmojo, her annoying husband did not give her the key to his house.
“Basic statue of a fucking monkey!”
Last night Betari was driven home by Hendrik Leo.
After dinner in Yabai, Vanila took her to Grand Indonesia to buy perfume. It just so happened that they met the famous singer when he stopped by a shoe store—Hendrik Leo said he wanted to buy shoes for his mother. They chatted for a while while looking at the shoes. Hendrik Leo even asked Betari to help him choose shoes for his mother. Betari also chose shoes with low heels in white and had a back strap which was then immediately purchased by the singer.
From the shoe store then ended with Hendrik who offered to drive Betari home, more precisely forced.
Upon arrival at Betari's house he found himself unable to enter the house. Her husband, Umbara Atmojo, has not returned because the man's car is not in the carport.
Betari called Vanila many times to ask to be picked up, she would stay at the woman's place. But somehow his phone call was not answered at all. He could have asked Hendrik Leo to come back and deliver him to Vanila's apartment or to a nearby hotel—the man must not have been far from his home. But considering his relationship with Hendrik who is still in the new stage is known. Betari felt that asking for help to Hendrik Leo could be considered inappropriate, or inappropriate. Although he is sure Hendrik Leo will help him willingly. Betari knew that Hendrik Leo was trying to get close to him. It was clear from the man's attitude.
...***
...
Betari ran a little when going down the stairs to get out of the house.
“Where do you want to hurry?”
That soft-pitched question clearly did not belong to Umbara. The statue's men clearly did not care about his personal life and Umbara had already confirmed it on the first day they were officially married.
Betary turned.
Gendis Atmojo emerged from the kitchen.
When did her mother-in-law come?
The feeling was when Betari went down to the kitchen and cooked water to brew tea that he deliberately brought from his studio. The kitchen was still quiet, only after that Umbara went down. But they just look at each other. There is no reprimand. Betari, if you have to say hello to the monkey statue. But that was ten minutes ago. Hehe...
The bell, Betari did not hear either.
Betari smiled broadly behind her mask. “Tante..” uh no. “Mama, morning, Ma.”
Betari is not used to calling Gendis Atmojo as mama. In addition to still being his son-in-law, Betari was already used to calling Gendis, Aunt Gendis. They have known each other before and often even met because they both volunteered in PEDULI Indonesia, a non-profit organization that aims to provide long-term humanitarian assistance and welfare development to children and mothers in need in Indonesia.
Gendis Atmojo observed Betari's performance from top to bottom which he said was unusual. An oversized jacket with a skull that covers the head, plus a black bucket hat and medical mask, do not forget a pair of sunglasses with a simple square frame. It's good to be counted as someone who is sick. Maybe more precisely mental illness. But Gendis Atmojo might have thought that her daughter-in-law was mentally ill.
Indeed, it is still morning but the weather is quite good, not cold even fairly warm to heat, the sun shines bright and the blue sky clean— very suitable for sunbathing. There are no signs that it will soon rain and the weather will be cold.
“You sick? Fever?”
Well, Gendis Atmojo is a very considerate person. Lucky the Statue had a mother this good, make jealous. Inner Betari.
“Ngak, Ma.” Replied Betari while shaking slowly. Then Betari salim on Gendis.
“Keep why are your clothes like that? Not hot wear jacket in the weather again as good as gini?”
Betari realized her clothes today were beyond reason. Remembering the sun will soon be very hot.
“Oh, this..” He was confused to explain his situation. He could be honest. But fear is overrated. Time only because the bite marks of the Betari mosquito must reach as soon as possible. Yes, times, if the spots are only one or two, Betari does not need to groom and style k-pop idols who are afraid to be recognized by fans when again on the market. The thing is, right, it's almost as open as the neck, up to the hands as well. Just like people who get smallpox. I am ashamed to see others. Moreover, later he has a live with Chiky. Uh, that's not a problem anymore, Tiktok filters are a lot of good.
“This is another trend, Ma. So I try itin.” It is a lie to this Betari.
“Say you are embarrassed if on your skin there is a red-red mark.” it sounds Umbara, the monkey statue.
What the hell!?? This one monkey wears everything appear? Hush!! Move there! Betari's growls in the heart.
Ordinary Umbara does not care about the affairs of others let alone to comment. But see Betari who will go out of the house with an excessive appearance like that—only because of mosquito bite marks. How it feels Umbara's mouth so itchy want to rebuke.
For the size of a cuek like him, hi this can dong? it's called progress. Progress in communication, for example. All this time Umbara irit said.
Oh wait!!! Why do his words sound ambiguous? Until the expression of Gendis Atmojo so strange. Some kind.... Ah Betari it's hard to explain. It is strange but does not refer to dislike instead.
Don't tell.... Her mother-in-law thought strangely.
“This is because of you!” Uh, that's Betari's mouth why also follow me carelessly.
Gendis Atmojo smiled.
Kan, Betari is right. Must have been thinking no.
