Renata blinked her eyes and woke up with excruciating pain and soreness all over her body. Her head was throbbing like there was a huge hammer stammering her brain inside out when she forced herself to get up slowly off the bed.
"Ouch..."
She massaged her head gently to relieve the pain and tried to remember what happened last night. Ok! She felt like something had happened last night. What is it?
Limply, Renata grunted lazily and tried to get up and walked towards the bathroom When she washed her face, her consciousness returned as soon as the cold water touched her face. Refreshed her memories. In a flash, her eyes widened in disbelief when Renata saw her reflection in the mirror. OMAIGOD!!!!
OMAIGOD!!!! OMAIGOD!!!! OMAIGOD!!!! OMAIGOD!!!!
Hickeys!!!
She blinked several times once again and rubbed her eyes, then tend closer to have a better look. Renata glared at herself in panic and start counting the red marks that spread across her neck, chest, and shoulders carefully. One, two, three, four….. FUCK!!! THEY ARE SO MANY!!!
Wait… a minute… yesterday….night… did… she….
Shortly, her mind turned back to the scene vividly from last night. When Johan gave him the divorce papers, then…she went to a nightclub…. then..then….she remembers that she drank too much...then…then…she wanted to go home…then..then….she remembered when someone clung to her body in the club and the stench smell of alcohol from his breath. Then… then…. There is one more person…
Renata could only remember the faint citrus scent she inhaled last night and the warmth of the man's body as long as they hugged and he brought her out from that wicked place. But she couldn't remember clearly the man's face and appearance. Renata also remembers that it was the same guy who brought her to this hotel….then…after that…what did they…..
The next guess made her body shudder in horror as she hugged herself.
Was she raped by him??? By this stranger? A random guy that she, unfortunately, met at the club?? Oh my god.... Damn…. Fuck!!
Her lower body was aching so much and the kiss marks that were scattered all over had clearly stated the visual facts of what had happened last night.
Renata palmed her face pitifully while tears were rolling down her cheeks once again. Sitting on the cold bathroom floor, Renata couldn't help but curse herself for having a stroke of bad luck in less than 24 hours.
She felt like the stupidest woman in the world.
A day before, she stood firmly on her feet in the world that she had built herself. She has a handsome husband that loves and adores him. She had a good career in a fashion magazine. She is beautiful and fashionable. She is a socialite and has nice friends. How perfect it is?
A child…
Yes, that's the problem. She was born with an imperfect womb. But, what is wrong with that? Is it God's punishment for her because she already had a lot of good things and fortunes in her life?
Renata laughed ridiculously to herself. Discarded by her husband and raped by a stranger on the same day. What's less pathetic in her life now?
Sitting on the floor, Renata was utterly silent for a while and sobbed. Pitied herself in miserable circumstances. And, after thinking for a while, she made a decision. She stood up, wiped off all the remaining makeup on her face, got a shower, then wrapped herself in a dry towel. Slowly, she came out of the bathroom.
On the table next to the bed, there was a small piece of paper with a phone number and a name on it. Gustav.
Oh, the stranger…
Renata thought of him while her fingers picked the paper from the top of the night drawer.
Then, there is a paper bag with a famous branded dress inside that fits perfectly with her body size. There is a debit card and another piece of paper with the password on the card written on it. One more thing, there are 2 white capsules in the plastic that has been provided for her. And a small card.
"Please take care of yourself, dear. Call me when you're awake. Gustav…"
A dress. A debit card. A med. Hmm… not bad. It seems like, her bed partner yesterday wasn't a lousy person at all. At least, he still had a sense of responsibility for a strange woman like her. Renata smirked as she stuffed everything into her purse. Except for the pain medication that she drank with a glass of water immediately.
Now, what should she do?
Renata didn't want to go to the office today. Not with her gloomy mood after last night's incident. It would take her at least 2 days to calm down and relax. After a while, Renata took a deep breath and called her boss, Meilani.
"Good morning, May. I'm sorry I'm not feeling well, may I take a leave for 2 days? OK? Is that so? Okay, thank you…"
Renata hung up the phone and checked her savings account. Her mouth smiled broadly when she saw the amount of balance that was more than enough for her to survive for a whole year without the help of Johan's allowance. All her hard work was not in vain. Hoho!
In a minute, she looked for a studio apartment that she could rent for the next 6 months, after she found the one that she felt was fit for her, Renat contacted the property agent and book an appointment that day. In less than an hour from now.
Moreover, she also checked her cellphone, there were 20 missed calls and 35 messages from Johan who was frantically looking for her last night after the dinner. Renata snorted and blocked her ex-husband's number with a straight face. Like I hell care!!!
After all, Johan had abandoned herself and chose to submit to his family's wishes. Renata considers all romantic moments that have happened in their marriage before as lame stories. If memories could be thrown in the trash, Renata would have done it!
Now it's time for her to rebuild her own life. Paddle her own boat firmly and look to the future. The pain and sorrow still stay there. In the deepest part of her heart. But Renata has decided to be tough and regained her strength and keep moving forward from now on.
.......................
"Okay, deal, sir! I'll take this unit…" Renata said firmly and shook her hands with the property agent after she saw the condition of the studio apartment, she had chosen this morning. A bright smile appeared on the agent's face. If only he had met lots of lovely clients like Renata, he would be rich by now.
Not long after, Renata called the expedition company that she often used to help with house moving.
"Hello? With Easy Express Expedition…. Yes, I need your help. When? Now. Yes, now! It's today…."
"Ok, I'll be waiting for your arrival..."
Renata mentioned her home address and immediately, rushed home by an online taxi.
Arriving in front of her house, Renata walked fast and entered the house. Only to find Johan still waiting for her incoming. His look is disheveled with dark circles around his eyes. Indicated that the poor man was restless and didn't sleep at all that night.
"Honey..." Johan murmured and called her softly as he stood up and walked towards her to hug his wife. Swiftly, Renata dodged and brushed off her husband's hand.
"Stay away!! You're nothing to me now…" Renata shouted at him fiercely.
At the same time, the expedition car also had arrived in front of her house. In an instance, Renata's mouth curled into a wide smile.
"Perfect!!"
"Just in time!!"
Renata pointed to some furniture that must be transported and brought at once. The expeditionary officers carry out their duties with dexterity and care.
In less than 2 hours, all the items that Renata has pointed out had moved successfully into the box car. Their house is half empty now while John stared blankly at the empty spaces. He never thought that Renata, who he used to know was so gentle, could act so agilely.
"Please sign it, ma'am. So, where do you want to move these things?"
Renata mentions an address and prepares to leave as soon as possible but Johan acted faster and held her arm. "Wait, honey…"
"We need to talk…"
Again, Renata brushed her arms abruptly and throw a dead glare at her ex-husband.
"There's nothing more that we could talk about…" Renata replied coldly. She's fed up with this guy!!
"Get out of my way, I have to go..."
"Where are you going? Please, please listen to me first…" Johan pleaded with her with a pitiful look.
Renata brushed the man's hand away once again with a disgusted expression. "Goodbye, Johan Alvaro."
Shortly, Renata turned towards the front door and slammed it with a loud sound.
...........................
2 hours later…
Renata watched the whole moving process carefully until it was done and ordered some additional furniture afterward. In less than 6 hours, her apartment space has been transformed into a cozy version of herself. It's bright, chic, and elegant. One more thing, there's no Johan there.
A new page of her life had been turned that day….
Renata looked at her puffy eyes and applied an eye mask under them. She had decided to rest well today. Enjoying her new home and letting all the sadness and pain in her heart be carried away by the cold water that flows under the shower. Putting back some effort to love herself again today. No more self-blaming. Accepting all flaws and her imperfect state as a woman. Trying to convince herself that everything will be okay. Stood up independently as a whole new person. Because she is a woman. One of the strongest creatures that are destined to bear all the burdens and tremendous pain. A creature that failed and was able to rise again like a phoenix.