The Woman Behind The Scenes

Chapter 30 - The Last Days

“What will you eat when you land?” tomi asked as she stroked the head of his wife who was leaning on his shoulder. The plane that had delayed her departure caused the pregnant woman to feel unusually tired, and her husband knew her stomach would have to be filled again once they landed.

“Hainan? How about hainan?” dara replied filled with a spoiled voice, and sounded tired.

Tomi nodded, and clasped his wife's hand tightly. Letting his suspicions in Bali pass him by, it turns out that a correct decision was made by Dara. Throughout the holidays in Bali they were not involved in any debate at all.

“Sometimes it's worth it too..” thought Dara in her heart and then closed her eyes again while waiting for the giant iron bird they were riding on, landing perfectly.

Still like yesterday, Manila feels hot. Dara could see some people running towards their pickup car outside the airport, so as not to be too exposed to the sun.

Tomi is busy grazing their suitcases, which contain a lot of souvenirs for coworkers. Tomi is like that, always not forgetting her company wherever she goes. A taxi sedan stopped right in front of them, and then took the family to the apartment. Cecil's been waiting there for sure. He had sent a message a few days before their return.

“How about Cecil?”

“Let me do the talking with him ..” Tomi replied casually. He is more experienced with moving around like this than Dara.

The car stopped at the apartment lobby, clearly visible Cecil waiting with a smile. He immediately embraces Dara, then holds Kio after that, releasing the longing for the child he is foster. His eyes glazed over, saying that he would enjoy these last days. Ah .. apparently Tomi has said about their plan to move to Indonesia.

Dara was amazed by Cecil ... Not only good, he is also airy to accept all their decisions. Staying nimble he helps Dara to take Kio to her room. Several times he kissed the child's cheek again, like a mother who had not seen her child for a long time.

“I will go home the day after tomorrow, mam” said Cecil with his thick English accent Filipinos.

“We will miss you. Of course you know it,” reply Dara while embracing Cecil's shoulder and shed a few tears. Mixed between happy, and sad must part with the person who has been helping him. Maybe in his own country, it's not easy to find people as good as Cecil. Especially if you think about it, all this time Kio has problems with ogah-ogahan eating and crying while sleeping.

“I want to tell you something, mom. But tomorrow ...” connect Cecil. I don't know what he's going to say so I have to wait for tomorrow. Dara nodded, assuring.

Tomi then entered the apartment, directly laying her body on the sofa. Not bad ringsek also his back after hours of sitting on the plane. He took a deep breath while looking around the apartment. Some of Kio's work with colorful hand stamps, some collages.

“We only brought a few. Aren't you, baby?”  he asked Dara who was cleaning the dust on the dining table.

“Iya. It must be just a few ... Anyway we can buy more furniture in Indonesia later.” as usual with ease she assented her husband's opinion.

“Toys ... Kio's toys are still good. Most of us carry. Can be sent to his brothers.” Tomi continued.

Tomi is inclined to make a decision based on what will happen at his ex-wife's house. It is not an easy matter for Dara to learn to swallow, assuring with a slightly bitter taste.

“Iya. Can ...” again he did not fail to be an obedient wife. Always agree, confirm whatever it is.

There is no word long break, Dara has started busy sorting through the furniture they will bring to Indonesia. The rest that was not brought, will be given to Cecil and some employees in the apartment. Dara's goods are not so much, because her smart husband ‘ saves’, does not always give her permission to buy this and that.

For the size of people who work abroad with a good salary, Dara is fairly simple. Have a pair of flat-heeled shoes, a pair of sports shoes, a pair of sandals. That's it ...

Tomi collected more shoes than his wife, as well as several watches, and glasses.

“Women should give it to her husband. Why buy so much? I don't need to see you changing this,” is about the way Tomi always said to melt the instinct of womanhood of his wife who way happy shopping. Speech that according to Dara initially did not make sense, but was swallowed with ease at last.

Not only sorting out the items to be brought, Dara also represented her husband taking care of some letters in the office for their move. All can! Of course, the wife should be able to. Again that was also a sentence from Tomi's mouth.

“Fiuh!” Dara exhaled after packing all the furniture to be carried. Three boxes with super large size, just enter two adult humans.

“Enough mam?”

[Enough, mom?]

“Enough. The rest, you may take them home ..” Dara replied to Cecil while stomping her own shoulders.

[Enough. The rest you can take home ]

“Your husband. Sleep?” he asked in a very quiet voice.

[Your husband, is he sleeping? ]

“No. He is outside with Kio. Buying bread's. Why?”

[ No. He's out with Kio. Buying bread. Wh why? ]

Cecil brought his chair closer to Dara, and suddenly clasped his hand.

“Mams. You are young. You are beautiful, and smart. Don’t let men torture you. I don’t know how to start this. But please don’t get angry yet, here ..” said Cecil with a half-worry and worry face.

[ Mother. You are young, beautiful, and smart. Don't let men torture you. I don't know where to start. But please don't get mad here, yeah ]

Dara began to focus on Cecil. This is the first time they have spoken this seriously.

“What’s wrong?” ask Dara.

[What's up? ]

“One day when you worked in midnight shift. Sir Tom ... He ... But please don’t tell him,” Cecil becomes full of worry.

[one day while you work the night shift. Mr. Tomi ... She ... Please don't tell him ]

Dara nodded, and indeed he would protect Cecil if anything happened.

“He brought a lady here. Older than you. With mini skirt and pink shirt.”

[He brought a woman. Older than you. With a miniskirt and pink shirt ]

It felt like Dara's heart stopped for a moment. It became so stiff, and the blood might just stop flowing for a moment. He fixed his expression so as not to make Cecil worry.

“When was this?”

[When was that? ]

“That day when you said your bed sheet smells like cheap cologne, and you asked me to change” replied Cecil.

[That day, when you said your sheets smelled like cheap colonic fragrance, and you asked me to change them ]

Dara was silent, but her tears this time could not shed in the slightest. Just shocked, but unable to react. What he felt was like someone was beating a very strong drum on his chest.

“You know her name?” he asked like a detective.

[You know his name? ]

“I don’t but she’s not Philippines. Maybe Thai or something else ..” replied Cecil with eyes that keep looking around.

[i don't know but he's not here. Maybe Thai or maybe some other country ]

Dara clasps her son's nanny's hand. This woman kept this secret, and with courage she had told Dara. It would be very unfair if Dara had to fuss about this, then she was hinted at by Tomi.

“Don’t worry. I will not discuss this now. You are safe. Thank you ...”

[Don't worry, I won't be discussing this right now. You're secure. Thank you ]