Waiting for the Light to Return
Chapter 14 - Run
“So so, Wi. Weird ‘kan? The effect is like that of the company forcing us to choose between work and our families. Those two things are not supported to be chosen between, right? Should that company name understand dong, we also ‘kan will not be able to work well if our family is not taken care of.”
I chuckled at Nadien's repetition.
She has been increasingly animating her role as a member of the complex mothers indeed. Complaining and venting while washing dishes with hair tied to the potluck and negligent as a strap. Fortunately, it is not a batik negligee.
In the gurgling tap water, this morning Nadien was recounting his frustration at the company where her husband, Aristo, worked.
You see, Aristo is an international risk management trainer who does have to travel to and fro every two weeks.
Training in Singapore, consultation in Banjarmasin, meetings in Manila, and more.
But one full month yesterday, he was asked by his company to take care of a management training project in Dubai. Surely after going a whole month, we hope that the next month he will be put to rest, right?
Wrong. Just returned home three days, yesterday he was asked to go suddenly to Denpasar. Preparing for the annual event of the company he said.
So that's it, I counted fifteen minutes full Nadien was angry about this topic. And it’s completely okay for me.
Because for me, there is no better place for me to escape from my upside down world, than into another person’s upside down world.
Thinking about another person’s problem makes me forget about my own problem. At least for a while.
“Experience, long time I ask him out also from there, Wi. My patience. The company of people is taken care of for months, sought out the root of the problem and solved. Own wife? Own child? Boro-boro.”
I looked up and smiled at my friend.
“Dien, actually the core of this problem is not because of work-family balance ‘kan?”
Nadien dried his hands and looked back at me in wonder.
“Hah? You drunk or what, Wi? ‘Kan that from earlier I discussed?”
I got up from the couch and approached him.
Arriving in front of him, I said quietly while holding back a laugh.
“The essence of your long repetition is actually simple, Dien. You yesterday were ‘pengen*’* when Aristo was asked to leave. Yes ‘kan? No obedience yes, Dien?”
His laughter exploded and he hit my arm hard.
“Crazy! Your mind is yes, Wi! It contains porn only!”
I'm laughing too. The laughter stopped immediately as he chapped.
“If you how, Wi? Yesterday directly ask for ration dong same husband?”
...
Well, what am I covering up for.
Upon my arrival here, Nadien immediately greeted me on the fence of his house with the question, “What exactly is it, Wi?”
The question I answered with annoyance.
“Windra, Dien. He came home yesterday.”
His eyes were round in disbelief.
“No way.”
I rolled my eyeballs lazily.
“Yes way's. Yesterday Andhara called me when I was outside, saying there was a black Jeep parked in my house. Which other black jeep would dare to park so? And when I came home, he was there.”
Nadien interrupted me to enter his house and asked.
“Continue? He's apologizing? She explained why she was gone all this time?”
My jaw tightened in anger.
“Same as no. He did not apologize, did not give an explanation, did not discuss his departure at all. Act as usual. Like nothing happened.”
His eyebrows are linked in the same rage with my frequency.
“Crazy the person.”
I threw myself on the couch.
“Exactly.”
Nadien immediately sat down beside me and kept asking curiously.
“So what does he do once he gets home, Wi? What are you guys doing? Silent-welcome like? Ah, awkward yes. If I were you, I would have run away from last night.”
I snorted in annoyance.
“Yes that. Awkwward indeed. It's the only one I can't understand. How could it be that after doing such a bad thing, he did not feel guilty. Still smiling, still preparing my toiletries, still preparing my morning coffee.”.
Nadien watched me closely as long as I spilled all my irritation.
From part to part of the story, slowly his expression changed.
From being extremely upset, to being calm and attentive.
At the end of the story, he was at a loss for words and could only hold my hand.
“Wi..”
Trying to calm my hunting breath, I could not answer.
Squeezing my hand, Nadien said carefully.
“I understand you are very angry with him.”
I laughed ironically.
“Not angry anymore, Dien. I can’t stand him. I can’t stand being in the same room with him.”
Still clasping tightly, Nadien said again.
“Iya, Wi. But somehow, hearing what he did yesterday and what your response to him was, I feel.”.
I looked at him.
Nadien smiled with empathy.
“I feel deep down in your heart, you still love him so much, Wi. And... I’m sorry, Wi. I knew Windra was so guilty of disappearing and not apologizing until now. But serving you? Make your favorite coffee? I feel like he still loves you very much too.”
Nadien did not wait for my reaction and thank God, because I really did not know what to answer.
He stood up and patted my shoulder gently.
“I while washing dishes Yes, Wi. Piled up in the kitchen. My house assistant is sick.”
“And then Princess Elsa shut the door and say... One, two, three!”
Enthusiastic, Kalyha sang Frozen's “Let It Go” tight on my lap, until I laughed amusedly at the action.
“Yeah, left for a while already so bestie his Aunty Goddess nih.”
Nadien emerged from the stairs with wet hair, walking up to us in the living room.
His chanting interrupted, Kalyha sulked.
“Mama just bother him anyway. I'm again the same Aunty Goddess, know.”
“Mama bother, huh? Mama bother? Have you been brave with Mama?”
Laughter rang to fill the room in this mansion while Nadien showered his daughter with kisses.
“Mamaaa, stop!”
Nadien laughed and landed a last kiss on Kalyha's cheek.
“Iya, yes. Dear Kalyha, we have breakfast first yuk Mama has prepared tuh. Aunty Dewi also wants breakfast.”
While Kalyha got up and ran to the dining room, I asked in surprise.
“You cook in the bathroom or how, Dien? Your assistant is sick ‘ right?”
Nadien chuckled and showed me his phone.
“Please on, Wi. Nowadays, online food is only. That's all you have to bother.”
I pulled out my best friend's head.
“That's your god, Dien. Breakfast take away just the style is already like cooking yourself.”
We walked to the dinner table, still laughing, when suddenly my phone rang.
Staring at me for so long, Nadien then said with a ignorant smile on his face.
“Windra sure. Meet him, Wi.”
I shook my head while reaching into my pocket.
“Do not ngaco ah, Dien.”
I lifted the phone into visibility and froze for a moment.
Simultaneously, Kalyha's voice called out from the kitchen.
“Mama, let's hurry! I'm hungry already!”
Panicked, Nadien hurriedly said to the two people in one sentence.
“Yes, yes for a minute! Wi, I'm first. Don't you stay on the phone for long!”
I nodded and smiled briefly.
While Nadien's footsteps continued to drift away, I looked back at the name calling from the screen.
Still riveted.
...
“Halo?”
“Halo, Wi. Are you busy?”
“What's up?”
“Meet yuk at this lunch hour. Want ‘kan?”
I let out a breath.
“No. Windra..”.
Laughter rings from across the phone.
“Iya I know Windra's home. Just take him along. We had lunch together, yes.”
Without an answer from me, he continued.
“We don't want to hide this longer, ‘kan, Wi? Our dates and everything.”
Stung, I replied in a sharp hiss.
“How dare you...!”
Laughter again.
“Just kidding, Wi. Never mind, just relax. I wait, Windra is OK.”
Tone connector.
Closed phone.
Limp, I reached out my hand. Trying to support the body by resting on the wall.
WhatsApp clinks calling.
Glancing at the screen, getting a message.
Windra
online
Wi, later at 12 you are empty ‘ right? Andra wants to take us to lunch. Remember Andra, ‘right? That's pal. Want huh? I'll pick you up later. Where are you now? 08.42
“Wi? Yuk eat... A wi? What's up?”
Nadien hurriedly approached me worried.
I looked at him and knew at that very moment that I could not hide from him.
If there’s no hiding, then what’s left for me is...
“Mm, there was a call from the store, Dien. Emergency services he said. I'll go home first, yeah. Thank you for the time, Dien.”
“Lho, Wi?”
As soon as I could, I stepped away.
Too raging.
