Waiting for the Light to Return
Chapter 10 - Into the Fire
One day, if I become the Minister of Education and Culture (yeah, right), there is one thing I will add as an instrument of assessment of a teacher.
Because for me, there are important things that one must master in order to become a teacher in addition to classroom management skills and teaching competencies.
Was it?
No other than, the ability to push personal emotions deep into the back of the soul.
Yeah, like what I'm doing right now.
I mean, look at me.
Fashionable looking with pale yellow blouse front knots stamped with my new white blazer and trousers. The hair I let neatly severed framed my perfect Javanese face. The smiles and laughs I put on while teaching my children and interacting with my colleagues.
And it was only a few hours before that I was crushed to pieces in taste and in heart.
...
My God, Dra.
What am I wrong with you?
What did I do until you could walk away from me for that woman?
Do you really hate and blame me for what happened to Tia?
Is that how deep my sin is for you, Dra?
...
Andra
online
The surprised? 17.52
My world is collapsing.
Tears flowed unnecessarily and my heart broke as I replied to the message.
Where did you get that photo from? 17.53
It didn't take long, Andra's answer came.
Andra
online
It was Windra himself who sent. Let me forward his messages to you. 17.54
Shaking in fear but wanting to resolve this pain as soon as possible, I left the screen open.
Strengthened the words of Windra he sent to his friend.
Words of betrayal.
Andra
online
(Forwarded) There she is. Beautiful, ‘kan? 17.54
(Forwarded) So come play here later. I’ll introduce you to her. You’ll like her as I do. 1755
...
“Wi, want to play at home? Kalyha kangen weighs just like you. Basic that child, bribed using ice cream also directly get his heart.”
I tidied up the SWOT analysis papers from the table where Nadien and I discussed with a laugh.
“Not the bribe, Dien. It's called an affection. Do not stingy with your own child so.”
Nadien laughed back.
“Iya, yes. I'll buy him crepes. So you want to come? All of you later we continue to discuss the matter of permanent teacher promotion.”
I'm shaking.
“Sorry yes, Dien. But I'm not a workaholic yet. My working hours are still normal, we continue to discuss tomorrow. And say my sorry to Kalyha, I have business today, Dien.”
Nadien looked disappointed.
“Yeah, cocky now there's all business. What business anyway? Shop?”
I smile.
“Well, that's it, Dien. Next time yes.”
With those words, I left my best friend in her room.
Walking through the door, I pulled out the phone from the pocket of the blazer and opened Whatsapp.
A message was waiting for me there.
Andra
online
Hi, Beautiful. So the meet-up today? 14.15
My blood rippled, pumped rumbling in the head.
My fingers trembled a little, I answered.
So then. See you there, Dra. 14.15
You think only you can hurt us, dr. Rawindra's?
Guess what's?
I can hurt us even more.
***
Abalone Cafe's.
One of the elegant cafes that booms amazing in the city of Bandung.
One of our favorite restaurants we accidentally discovered two years ago.
I remember Windra was celebrating her specialist graduation, so the happy doctor took her family, me and Tia, to drive for a luxurious restaurant.
“Pa, where are we going, cih?”, Tia asked plainly.
Windra removed her hand for a moment from the gears and stroked Tia's cheek.
“We want to eat, honey. Papa wants to buy Tia and Mama today.”
I bent my face from between the two front seats (Tia insisted she wanted to sit alone in front of him) and chimed in.
“New papa gets a gift from God, Honey. So Papa wants to share with us.”
Without pause Windra added.
“Iya, so now Tia wants anything to say, huh? Papa the deal.”
Our sweet Tia thought for a moment, and then glimmered in reply.
“Fish, Pa!”
Windra turned his head and gawked for a moment.
“Fishan? I mean, Tia want to buy fish?”
I laughed from the back seat.
“Not, Dra. Tia loves fish again. Yesterday Mbok Jem cooked tilapia burn out one tail alone. Great ‘kan?”
Understand, Windra laughed.
“Yeah, fast Papa's beautiful son is getting chubby. Yes, let's eat fish!”
“Eh, Dra. We are on the Holy Way, you know. There are seafood restaurants in the area?”
Windra.
“Eh, yes. If you turn back any further, Babe. I'm already this hungry. Please check Google Maps dong. There are good seafood restaurants in this direction no?”
I snorted amusedly.
“That's why if the road is thought of, Babe. It's steering wheel only, so confused ‘kan.”
After entering the keyword ‘ seafood restaurant area Suci Bandung’, the name Abalone was the one who jumped the top.
A rustic-style restaurant with a five-star international flavor located in the Padasuka mountains, slightly below the Caringin Tilu area.
The restaurant where Tia ran to and fro after spending a serving of tuna sambal matah (spicy lovers, descendants of Papanya).
The restaurant where I gave Windra a proud kiss (of course when Tia was busy looking out the window).
Restaurant where Windra returned my kiss with her special temptation, “Thank you for the kiss, Babe. Go home quickly yuk. I want more.”
...
The restaurant I chose to meet Andra this afternoon.
Because for me, the first step of my best revenge on Windra is to meet another man in the place where we both once were.
Then thats.
When my car entered Abalone's parking lot, Andra was already there.
Smiling and opening the door for me.
I let him help me down and not let go of my hand as we walked in.
Misson's revenge to dr. Rawindra starts now.
***
“So, how’s work?”, asked Andra.
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Work’s still the same as always. Nothing interesting.”
Andra smile.
“You know, Wi? From the first time I met you at that school, only one of my questions.”
I asked with an eyebrow raised.
Andra reached out and caressed my hand. I didn't pull it.
“Approximately students can concentrate no yes, have a teacher as beautiful as you?”
I smiled thinly.
This heart is numb in everything, or it might be more appropriate to say that there is no other feeling than vengeance here.
“Ah, dreadlocks.”
Andra laughs.
“It's honest really, Wi.”
I looked the other way and cursed my mistake right then and there.
Because I saw a table next to the window. The table where we ate first.
Dehem, I asked. Trying to disguise curiosity with a careless tone.
“So, have been in contact with Windra since when?”
The laughter on Andra's face faded slightly.
Releasing my hand, he answered slowly.
“A few days ago.”
I nodded and still tried to look unconcerned.
“How was it started? Because as far as I know you guys have been apart for a long time, ‘kan? You served in Sumatra if it's not wrong, huh?”
Andra sighed.
“Look, can we talk about something else, Wi? We're talking about fun things..”
“Not”, cut me. “This is all I want to talk to you about. There's nothing else. So you better answer my questions.”
I looked at him straight and asked again.
“So how can you initially contact back with Windra?”
Andra returned my gaze for a long time, then replied.
“When Tia first entered the hospital, I finished my practice in Riau and returned to Bandung. That's when Windra asked me to take his place at Hasan Sadikin Hospital.”
I forgot to pretend to be indifferent and started to pay attention to her every word.
Andra continued.
“I thought it was just a joke or an outburst of emotion because he was in a rage. But on the day of Tia's funeral, she actually called me, making sure that I was working in her place.”
Andra paused for a moment, took a sip of her ordered coffee, then continued.
“And trust me, Wi. I had no idea she was gone the day after. I just took his post at the hospital. Not even the hospital people know that he left.”
I asked slowly.
“Then?”
Andra shrugged her shoulders.
“Nothing. There was no contact at all from him for an entire year, until a few days ago. I remember it was one day after the one-year anniversary of Tia.”
My heart is beating fast.
That was the day Windra called me.
Andra continued her story.
“He called me. He told me what happened between you all these years, gave me your number, and asked me to check on you. He also told me that he was in Dallas, Abby Grace Foundation.”
The coldness ran all over my body.
Andra kept telling me.
“She said she wants to go home to Indonesia after one year, as promised. But there was one and another thing he had to take care of so he would be home late. When I asked him what he should take care of, he sent me the photos and messages I forwarded to you yesterday.”
Andra smile.
“Then that's how it was, I was going to call you, but I think it's less dramatic for our reunion, yeah. So I followed your Instagram and found out that on Saturday you were in the coffee shop. So I came and what happened.”
I don't know what to say.
So Windra left after making sure no one knew about her goal or plan.
Then after I had been so mad at him, now he wanted to go home, but was hindered by something.
Who am I kidding?
He wanted to go home, but he met a woman.
Then that coward let me go to his own best friend?
This is insane.
This is too crazy.
Andra reached out her hand again and grabbed me.
I didn't pull it back.
He smiles.
“The way I see it, and of course you also agree, Wi. Windra has given up on you and decided to start a new life there. He also wants you to live your new life here. With me. So I say, let’s get on with it, shall we?”
For the first time in my life, I felt so worthless.
That is not what he wanted.
...
So that’s what you want, dr. Rawindra's?
So be it.
