The Woman Behind The Scenes

Chapter 32 - Anna and Them

It was still very dark the sky that stretched wide outside the window of the room. Dara closed the window cloth that she had just opened, shuddered under the blanket, then hugged Kio who was still asleep. His hand was trying to grab his phone which he kept under his pillow.18 degrees centigrade. Waw! Bandung is indeed the right place to sleep, without having to burden the electricity bill for the use of AC.

Her husband is no longer there. The man told Dara that he would wake up at dawn and go running around their rented house complex. Dara closed her eyes again, pulling the blanket.

“Hahaha!” boisterous laughter from the voices Dara knew, cancelling her sleep. He tidied up his clothes, then went down to the first floor. In the living room, Anna, sat in Haris' arms, and Tomi on the sofa opposite her.

“Awake up? Just go to sleep again. Still too early,” Tomi who realized his wife's whereabouts, instantly stopped their boisterous laughter. Dara's eyes can quickly catch the conditions in the living room. A used bowl of fast food filled with ashes and cigarette butts, a few glasses with coffee that had been left with just the dregs, and a backpack owned by Haris that was half gaping.

Dara instantly recognized what seemed a little in the bag. A bottle of whiskey with a well-known label, the price is quite expensive. Not wanting to ruin her morning she immediately ignored it, and sat down next to her husband.

“Today who wants to be Kio's nanny, come” he said while ringing his fingers are still a little stiff.

“What time?” ask husband.

Dara did not immediately answer, but was still busy for a while secretly watching Anna's promise to Haris. For the size of Indonesians, they are quite ‘leket’ even in front of the family.

“Jam 12 noon. He'll call if he wants to come here. I'll go up first, yeah. I want to prepare Kio” milk said Dara then passed away. He actually wanted to linger there, but not so comfortable with the smell of cigarettes scattered throughout the living room.

He went back into the room, hugged his son, and slept for a few hours. After all, they're only going to work one more week, he can and can still linger.

Anna made a pretty good first impression. He was so friendly, and full of smiles. He is also very light hand help when cleaning items in a rented house, as beautiful as from the hotel.

The woman was skinny, even thinner than Dara. His hair was as straight as a shoulder, and his distinctive eyebrows were formed swooping down. His teeth look not intact anymore, some parts are broken. But the nose is sharp, telling Dara that she was once a very attractive woman before. His skin is dark brown, very natural because he likes to go here and there on a motorbike with Haris. Her voice is quite low for women, people say because of her smoking habit.

In a few days together, Dara was able to say what people said about the low voice. Anna is a very active woman who smokes. In just one sitting, he can spend 3 to 4 cigarettes. A day he could spend a pack, more than Haris consumed.

Not much Dara knows, that's all from his observations. Maybe she needs to dig up more information from her husband, just in case he can mispronounce and offend Anna.

The sun that was quite warm in the cold air, woke Dara. Kio changed since they arrived in Bandung. He slept more soundly, and often woke up comfortably playing alone in the room.

“Kio? Don't climb, son. Watch out Kio can fall,” he reminds toddlers who are trying to climb a trellis in the window.

“Doorrr!” tomi's voice startled Dara and Kio who immediately ran away to attack his father's embrace.

“Do you want something baby?” ask Tomi to her son.

[You want to eat something, son? ]

“I want Daddy!” kio answered while hugging his father who he called Daddy. Kio since their arrival, became the chatter of the neighbors around. The toddler speaks English fluently with his mother, although there are some words that are not so clear he said. In an instant, Kio had disappeared from Dara's sight, being carried by his father.

“Mama you want breakfast?” Tomi came back again with Kio, and asked from the front door of the room.

Dara shakes. She has not been too eager to eat in the morning, and this has been going on during her second pregnancy.

Geck! Geck! Geck!

The sound of her bedroom door being knocked, and after that came the voice of Anna calling,”Kak! Can I come in?”

“Iya. Just log in, An!” reply Dara while still lying on her bed while looking at her Facebook account.

The door opened, as the fragrant jasmine tea stopped in Dara's nose. Anna is seen carrying a cup of tea that is still steaming. Dara quickly sat down.

“This sister. Drink warm first so as not to nausea.” He brought the cup of tea.

“Thanks yes. Justknow. Hehe” timpal Dara then sipped jasmine tea. The tea was definitely not a teabag, the thick, hot taste of the tea that almost made his tongue burn.

“Not tea bags, right? Delak”

“Kok know brother? That's the tea leaves I'm a godok. Haha. Camping but scrumptious sister, huh?” Anna laughed kindly.

“Repot-repot only you, An.”

“Ah is nothing. Who else would bother if not brother?” he answered briefly with a faint smile.

“In Jakarta live where, An?” Dara started the conversation.

“On the radio inside, brother. Brother ever been to the area?”

Dara shook her head and smiled,” maybe ever, yesterday we went around the holidays Lebaran, but did not memorize the name of the place. With family?”

This time, Anna who shook her head and said with a smile, “Self sister. Cost. Sometimes with Haris. More alone”

“Sorry. You're not here, An? I mean or-“

“Paham. Hmmmm. I'm a native of Jakarta, brother. But it's been a long time apart living from mom, and sister. My sister has one person.”

“Then papa?”

“There is none. It's not clear who, and where. My mama was wayward. Cool huh? Hahaha” replied Anna casually and Dara instantly became guilty of asking that.

“Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to. I also live with a single mother. My dad is also not clear where now.” said Dara.

Dara watched Anna as she spoke. The woman with the simple t-shirt and jeans, looks very cheap smile and tells some of the events during her own stay at the boarding house. She seems to be a few years older than Dara, even Haris is 11 years older than Dara, but must call Dara as a sister.

Anna ... The 3-headed woman has been dating Haris for a long time. He lived alone in the boarding house for a dozen years, approximately since he was in the 2nd grade of High School. She's not a spoiled woman, she works. Never keep a shop, become a sales clerk at a motorcycle dealer, and who is left in a computer store. His mother is of Chinese descent, the same as Dara's father. Her mother's blood was evident in Anna's small eyes. He told me that Haris and he had broken up several times, but again decided to continue their relationship.

Until he came out of the room, Dara was pensive with many questions about Anna in her head.

“Sayang. Kio wants to take Haris and Anna for a walk to the zoo. I'd like to take you to the tea garden. Please take care of Kio first, yes?” Tom suddenly opened the door.

“Why brother Dara? I'm just Aa!” timpal Anna is holding Kio behind Tomi.

Dara nodded with her smile, and prepared Kio's clothes. Anna was obviously very good towards Kio, taking care of him like a child herself. After preparing it, they immediately took the boy for a walk, parting ways with Tomi and Dara.

Tomi will take Dara to the tea garden, but Dara refuses the plan, as they have to wait for the nanny to come. They decided to buy typical Bandung foods and both ate them in a cold room.

“Bi. Anna's. Hasn't it been a long time with Haris?” dara asked, greeted with a nod from Tomi.

“Then. Why aren't they married?” dara resolved her curiosity.

“Later you understand that it's been a while, dear. Oh by the way he also converted, used to be just like you.” Tomi answered his wife's curiosity with a sentence that even made Dara curious.

“Bi ... Mm mm. Him, and Haris. They're drinkers?” Dara asked again.

“Hahahaha! You know where, baby?”

“I see there's a bottle in their bag. I-I mean, I didn't accidentally see that the bag was open.” Dara stammered not want to impress presumptuous.

“Iya. They like to drink. Not new, baby. They were both taken to the police station. One day after the raid, they were stopped and caught carrying marijuana. Hahaha”

“Terus?” Dara curious.

“Terus. I went and ‘redeem’.” Tomi answered lightly.

“Times can be redeemed?”

“Can. Let's just say I want to get them into rehab. In part it is only half a stem of marijuana that has been burned before.” Tom added.