Chapter 2: The Beginning Story
January 27, 2013
Yu Marsiyah, is my distant cousin came to the house with a face that I can't describe, a mixture of sadness, surprise, and haste.
"Roni. He was trial in the house of the Waru village headman. Your husband caught having sex with Wati, Pak Bayan's wife. It was crowded. Luckily your husband was not beaten badly by the residents."
"Could not be him, Yu. Roni is in Ngawi visiting his sick mother. Yesterday he just got a text message from his sister."
"How could I be wrong? I just from there. That guy is really your husband. Come on, I'll take you there if you don't believe me."
I doubted with what Yu Marsiyah said. The reason is, yesterday Roni showed a text message from Rina. His sister reported that my father-in-law had a stroke and was being treated at the hospital. When I wanted to join with him, Roni forbid it because of Keynara would be exhausted beside that Key has to go to school. If we go in the long time, Key will missed her lesson.
Earlier I asked Roni to leave early in the morning, before the sun began to rise. In fact last night I owed my sewing boss for the cost of visiting my mother. Understandably, Mas Roni's money has been used up for the cost of daily meals.
Now is 9 P.M. Keynara is sleeping with my mother. Finally, I accepted Yu Marsiyah's invitation. I took a jacket to protect myself from the cold. Afternoon, it rained until it was Asr time. January is the peak of the rainy season. People in my place make it an acronym that January equals to everyday rain.
Yu Marsiyah took me on her motorbike. On the way we did not talk because of the noise of passing vehicles. I didn't really think about Yu Marsiyah's statement, I'm sure she was wrong.
Ten minutes later, we arrived at the house of the village head of Waru village. There are more than ten motorbikes parked in the yard. Before I got down, Pak Bayan, who was standing in the doorway, had already pointed his finger at me. The man in black stepped closer.
"Well, that's his wife. See, what your husband did, Til. I left for training Jaranan in Lombok Village, your husband rape my wife. Both of them were still doing it when I entered the room. Your husband is savage, Til. Savage!"
"Please, calm down. Calm down," asked Yu Marsiyah.
Roni and I knew Mr. Bayan's family very well. He has an underwear convection business. I used to take stitches there. Pak Bayan's words made me start to believe in Yu Marsiyah's statement earlier. Ignoring the crowds gathered in front of the Lurah's house, I walked in an orderly pace, wanted to confirm the truth about the man who was cause of the commotion.
In the living room of the Lurah house, there is a wooden table surrounded by rattan wicker chairs. Some men are sitting there. I didn't know them, but the faces were familiar, maybe we had passed by on the road because the village was really small. On the chairs sat a man and a woman. The woman has a long hair. Both of them I yet seen their face of.
When I get closer, Mr. Waru village headman stood up. My heart skipped a beat when I saw a mole under the ear of the man sitting with his back to the door. The man turned. Seeing his face my head was like being electrocuted. The world seems like spinning.
"Roni."
The woman whom sitting next to him turned her head too. Her eyes were red and swollen. I wanted to spit out a million curses, but all the words were swallowed back with my spit. Nora Candrawati, Mr. Bayan's wife who is Roni's mistress, is much older than me. Because of the wealth she is able to dress fashionable.
I stood there silently, like a soldier who lost the battle. It's already hurt to forgive Roni. Trust and relationships are like glass to me. My late father said, glass means if broken could not be fix. After all, living with Roni never gave me better life. The wages as odd jobs are sometimes enough, sometimes not.
When I want to get back to my house with full anger in my chest, I stopped this step. I turned my face to Roni's back.
"Our marriage is end. I will package your clothes to Ngawi. So, you will no need to set foot in my house again."
Roni stunned. His cheeks are bloated because of Mr. Bayan's big hit. I turned and ran outside. Yu Marsiyah tried to catch me.
"Are you sure, Til? Please think about it with a cold mind."
"I can't. He has not giving us a better life. And now cheat? Who you think I am? It's better to live alone and raise my daughter."
Yu Marsiyah only silent. She started the motorbike and took me home.
When I reached home, my mother greeted me. She seemed confused to see me out at night with Yu Marsiyah.
Before she asks, I tell her everything.
"Don't be too fast to make such as decision. Calm down. Think about it first. Maybe Roni right now make a mistake. Look at your daughter. Don't be so tough," asked my mom.
"This is my life, Mom. Just pray for me. That's it, Mom. I want to clean up that crazy person stuff."
I rushed go to my room.
I opened the wardrobe that standing next to the TV. Roni's clothes are on the top shelf. I threw all his belonging to the floor. I've been holding back my anger as much as possible. The weird one is the tears didn't fall, but my muscles felt very stiff. Want to toss, want to punch.
The sound of Yu Marsiyah's motorbike getting far away. My mom comes in.
"Let me send all of these to the expedition tomorrow, Mom," I said.
"Calm down, love. Everything can be discussed. Besides that, the cost of the divorce is expensive."
"I'll sell the sewing machine for paying of the divorce, Mom. It's a big machine and still in good condition, it sellable more than two million."
Keynara came out from her room. The ten years old girl rubbed her eyes.
"Why did you take out dad clothes, Mom? Where is he?"
Hearing my daughter question, the tears that I have been holding on for a long time finally drop. I hug her tightly.
"He won't be coming home, love. We are now living with grandma. Don't ever ask about your Father again. I will work hard so that you can go to singing school as soon as possible."
I felt the girl nod in my arms.
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