The Woman Behind The Scenes

Chapter 42 - Rush!

From a week after the quarrel, Dara was once again a calm sea. As usual, she chose to dampen her emotions instead of having to prolong the problems her husband had been trying to raise. Tomi did not comment much, nor did she become so rare to see her phone while with Dara and their children. He knew his behavior could trigger Dara's jealousy, and another quarrel would occur.

Dara is not a stupid woman, of course, she knows that one habit can be repeated anytime Tomi is fraternal. However, for now he can stroke his chest a little, hoping all is well. Moments after the altercation, Dara began receiving WhatsApp messages from Fani. The daycare babysitter provided the information she needed to know about her children, occasionally sending photos of Kio and Kayla activities. Indeed not ‘sehangat’ messages that he sent to Tomi, it seems Fani save a sense of admiration for Dara's husband. Dara does not want to be long if communicating with Fani; just enough so that he does not remember too long chat Tomi with the woman.

Several times when they picked up the children, Tomi just waited outside the daycare gate, so as not to fan the embers that were already in Dara's heart because of what he sowed earlier. Dara is a very easy woman to do crazy things with jealousy and heartache, and Tomi knows that. Several attempts to kill himself, enough to explain exactly what this woman is. On several occasions, Dara muttered as if she was letting go of her frustration, because she thought Fani did not develop a smile every time she met him.

“Cih! Who needs that smile? Hypocritical. What is my fault?” that's what he once said when he got on the bike after picking up his two children, and Tomi did not comment. Commenting let alone telling the virgin to think positively will only aggravate the atmosphere, and corner himself. He chose silence, and it was the right decision.

It has been three months since the conversation of the coronavirus broke out in the office, and now word has spread that Indonesia has finally got the first sufferer who has just returned from abroad. The public became so excited, because the transmission of the virus was so fast. In the office, they still wonder if WFH will be implemented, because until there are sufferers, the government has not obligated anything. Dara remains strict in maintaining the diet of his family, because the issue of this disease is transmitted quickly in the body with low immunity.

Drrrt! Her phone shook that afternoon, while Dara was working in the office. Tomi sits right next to him, while Danang and Mira are on his left side.

Rafa: [I want to go to Bandung ... Wanna meet? ]

A very heavy question for Dara, because she knew her husband did not like her to go for a walk out of the house or hang out. At the age of 6 years marriage, Dara spent 90% of her time at home, and rarely met anyone. If he has to get out of the house, and meet someone, all must be with the consent of Tomi, and the man never allows.

Dara: [No promise. But I asked my husband first, yes. ]

Rafa: [You changed a lot, didn't you? Your husband is lucky to have a wife. ]

Dara smiled reading the message, but did not reply.

“Who is that? Rafa who?” the eyes of Tomi's eagle turned out to look at the screen of Dara's phone.

“Friends. Friends SMP ... It turns out that some friends have been in Bandung ..” Dara's talk was not responded to Tomi. The man's face looked flat, showing his dislike.

“You often chat so same people?”

“What do you mean?”

“You're my wife. Never chat with the opposite sex. Usually reunions so that provoke sin,” ketus Tomi answered his wife. Dara understood what her husband meant. After all as bad as Tomi's treatment of him, Dara was completely unthinkable to play with fire. It is still the same Dara, the faithful one.

“I know. I'm not like that.” said Dara briefly.

Dara returned to her laptop screen, replying to the incoming emails. She continued to ring the words of her husband, making him laugh a little cynical in his heart. For, has he not broken anything and vice versa?

“Bang! Whoa, Bang. Brother Dara can come with you? We'll eat later.” Danang went behind Tomi, asking for permission while massaging Tomi's shoulders.

“Friction dikit dong massage, just know again pegel. Where do you want to eat anyway? I'm not invited?” answer Tomi. Dara pretended to be busy with her email, so as not to interfere.

“Eating-eating team, bang. I'm not Mira's team. Sorry yeah. But sister Dara borrowed dong, Bang. Kasian never left home.”

Tomi nodded then said, “Good. Justjust go. The kids will be with me, safe. Who knows if the lady needs refreshing.”

“Awwwww! Thank you, Brother!” Danang hugged Tomi.

“Tuh sis, can come. No more excuses, sister Dara.”

Dara smiled half a small laugh and said, “iya. Onion!”

Tomi finally let Dara go out, after a long time he was always at home.

“This is your card. Wear just enough.” Said Tomi thrust ATM Dara's. Still the same, so far Tomi who keeps and regulates all finances because they have to share with family in Makassar.

“Kids how?” ask Dara.

“Faith. Later with me at home.” Tom answered briefly.

Drrr. Dara's phone vibrated again. Another message from Rafa.

Rafa: [So how, Dar? ]

Dara: [Sorry, yes. My husband does not allow it. Anyway, I have an event with my team mates. ]

Rafa: [Where is the show? I can come by. Just for a moment, just want to see you. ]

Dara was turbulent, and very strange as she suddenly considered what Rafa had said. He knew Tom would be very angry if he knew that. Again he did not reply to anything.

That afternoon, Tomi went home first, while Dara would go with her friends. They were still waiting for the Goddess to finish her work.

“Spotan dong, Dew. Huh, Dewiiii!” Danang told Dewi to type faster.

“Ah noisy nih, Danang. It's over soon, bahel.” Dewi accelerated her finger movements, while Dara still saw the message from Rafa, earlier.

“Nang. Here deh. I want to ask.” Dara pulls Danang close to him.

“According to you, can't ya?” he thrust his cell phone, showed a message from Rafa.

“Meet aja brother. If it's just friends, I don't think there's any harm, we're the same. Except being two-year-old,” said Danang gave an opinion, but still Dara felt guilty for weighing it.

“I'm afraid Tomi is angry, Nang.”

Danang pinched Dara's cheek as if he was anxious with the woman.

“Kak. The brother didn't want to go to the hotel. Just an old friend, nothing. We have ramean.” Danang tried to convince Dara.

Dara: [In BEC, yes. But please don't be long. I just say hi. Afraid of being slandered. ]

Rafa: [Okay. Ready for Hajj. ]

Only this time Dara felt guilty like that, but in his heart he assured that he only wanted to greet a friend who had not met him for 10 years. They were so close during Junior High, and Rafa always helped Dara a lot in completing schoolwork and assignments.

“Come! Sorry, lama” Dewi approached Danang, Mira, Dara, and 3 other friends of theirs. They rushed to the basement, taking a waiting taxi.

Dara looked unsettled throughout the trip. He is very afraid if suddenly Tomi catches up with him to go to their place of association, and becomes misunderstood if he sees Rafa.

“Kak. Comeondown. Arrived already. Think what the hell brother?” Danang embraces his friend's shoulder with his wooden movement.

“Ah! Tau ah, Danang. I canceled once, yeah. But it's 5 o'clock, it's definitely on the way. Uh! Hold on, I'll call Tomi.”

Dara makes a call to Tomi's phone, but is not answered.

Dara: [ Where? Already at home? ]

Tom: [ Still here. Ye? ]

Dara: [New to, BEC. Why haven't you come back home yet? ]

Tom: [A little while. Kio still plays with Fani. ]

Dara's head instantly became hot. She shouldn't have gone with her friends and let Tomi go with her.

A group of employees entered a cafe, sat down and opened a menu book. Dara was still stunned, as if her mind was somewhere else.

“Kak. What do you want coffee for? Sis. Brother, Dara!” Danang shook Dara's dreamy plan.

“Oh. Cumbrous. Machiato. I want machiato.”

“Kak why?”

“Iya, Ra. What the hell are you? Story dong, Ra.” said Mira sympathizes. The woman clasped Dara's hand, and she seemed to know that all was not well.

“Later to tell ya, teteh.” Said Dara and then reviewed the small sweet smile. He opened the message notification. Rafa has arrived.

Dara: [Where are you? I'm the only one there. I don't feel good about friends. ]

Rafa: [Okay. First floor, in front of the ATM ]

“Nang ..”

“Iya there go, aman” Danang directly know Dara's intentions. Dara also went for a moment to meet her Junior High friend. From a distance he could faintly see a tall, thin man, white-skinned and glasses. That's Rafa. His face did not change, only growing tall and mature.

“From!” Rafa waved his hand. Dara approached her friend, and for a moment she could see Rafa's big smile as he looked at her. The two did not shake hands with each other, because they both knew the limits.

“Away? Oh gosh. You changed once now. Udah, I just want to see you, kok.” continued Rafa. He handed Dara a shopping bag.

“What is this? Sorry I can't accept.” Dara re-picked the bag and Rafa refused.

“Not for you. For children. Accept yes, Ra. “ obviously Rafa.

“Sorry I can't take long. Sorry very.” Dara's getting nervous.

“Iya. It’s ok. I also have a need to buy something here.” said Rafa, then the two say goodbye to each other.

Dara carrying the shopping bag, but did not want to see what it contained. Danang who saw Dara walking from afar, squinted her eyes again, nudged with Mira, and both of them laughed as if teasing.

“Ciyyyeee. So a gift is given? I want also dong, kayak friends so.” Goddess seductive, followed by teasing laughter from other friends.

“This is nothing. For children. I was married, Dew” Dara told her friends.

“Nothing, Ra. You should be friends too. Do not stay at home, and the tree has grown back, you do not know.” said Rita, one of her friends.

Dara kept the package, then a sense of grandeur enveloped her heart. So far nothing has happened, although the messages from her husband are disturbing, but she is trying to keep enjoying her time with her co-workers.