The Brainstorming event at Puncak ended without a call or miscall from Bintang. Nor the SMS or small talk.
"How come you didn't call? I regretted. Feel like a lost child. People have been cared for by their spouses. Chatting, so it feels good to hear it too…." Luna protested half pity, inside the car on the way home.
"Sure their wives call, it's for sure! It's not just attention. Their husbands were at the Puncak with many beautiful girls. They must be worried," said Bintang lightly. "For me, I'm positive thinking; I trust you, Mbak*), it's impossible for you to do inappropriate or cheat. Moreover, who do you want to cheat with?" he continued confidently.
"I just wanted to be called ..." Luna complained.
"Then when I called later, you think I didn't trust you. Just left for a day had been called. After all, you're not a child; even if you get lost, you already know the way home," continued Bintang calmly.
Huh, annoying.
***
And sure enough, what Luna feared, happened.
'Mas I've arrived. I'll wait in the usual place' That's the message. Sent on the same day of the event at Puncak.
"So, where have you been while I'm gone?" Lure Luna on another occasion inside the car on the way home.
"Yes, moving. Looking for opportunities. An entrepreneur, if you're not smart, where do you get the money? Who wants to give it? The man explained at length. "Unlike an employee, whether the company is profitable or loss-making, who cares, the important thing is to get a paycheck at the end of the month" He continued then "So what?"
Luna didn't immediately answer Bintang's question, "Have you ever heard of a wolf in sheep's clothing?" Luna changed the topic.
Bintang is silent.
"Do you know what it means to be an enemy in a blanket?" Hit the girl again.
Still silent.
"Speak Mas."
"Why are you thinking and talking about something that has no benefit?" Bintang replied briefly.
"I need you to listen to me; there's still something stuck in my heart."
"You are a typical melancholy, aren't you? Maybe 100% melancholy. While I'm pragmatic." Said Bintang changing the subject.
"Mas, why you don't have a heart?" Luna persisted with her question.
Bintang looked at the woman.
"To be honest, I want always to love you, and make you happy. I never want to see you sad or confused; frankly, if you are sad, I am sadder. If you're not happy, so am I. Why...."
"Yeah, just do it." Bintang cut the words quickly
"You ignore my feelings."
"That's just how you feel."
"You never cared about my feelings."
"That's just what you said."
"The proof is that I have been silent for three days, and you never ask."
"Who knows, you just don't want to be asked?"
"Then if I keep quiet, you'll too, quiet forever?"
Bintang silent
"I was silent, I wanted to be asked, why?" said Luna again, softly.
"How do I know?"
"That's why I tell you, If I'm quiet, I just want to be asked... why?"
"Okay, now I ask, why do you quiet, Mba? Done."
"Uh, it's not funny," Hira hissed. "Still, you don't feel guilty, huh?"
"No," Bintang replied briefly.
"You've made a big mistake but act like nothing wrong."
"What's wrong?" exclaimed Bintang, confused
"Ask yourself"
"What's the problem?"
"Okay, here's my husband, I want you to be honest, please be honest, with whom did you make an appointment last week?"
Huh. Crash. Bintang sighed loudly.
"Sunday night… wait… No. Nothing. Sunday night, I'm at home, did you forget?"
"But that night, you were neat as if you wanted to go even though it didn't happen. I just wanted to know, who did you make an appointment with?"
"I forgot"
"Don't lie. Mas; I want to go there, but I'm afraid you won't come. I called; how come you didn't pick up?"Luna imitated the short messages on Bintang's cellular. "Remember?"
"What did you say?'
"Whose send a such message?"
"Oo ... you suspicious. After all, why fiddle with people's cell phones."
"You're my husband, not someone else; it's normal if I want to know."
"Why do you confused? It may be a prankster. "
"Mas, let's clubbing again." Luna continued, "From the same number. Again, Mas, again. That means you've been there before. It's funny a misguided SMS from the same number."
"If you're curious, why don't you call the person back?"
"I just asked a simple question, why is it so difficult to answer?"
"It's already been answered."
"That's not the answer."
"So answer yourself."
"I asked nicely, but you don't want to be honest. Why don't you want to be honest, why?"
Bintang ignored.
"No answer. Afraid of hurting my feelings, huh? If you know it will hurt, why do you do it? That's called selfishness." Attack the girl again.
"You always have negative thoughts." Bintang Pretext
"If you give me negative facts, how can I think positively."
"You shouldn't have to think about those things; you have to trust me; the other woman, in the end, if not about money, it will trouble. There is no way for me to be like a fool." Bintang lowered his voice.
Luna silent. "Thanks for the explanation; it's quite entertaining. So, I want to meet your friend. She invites you to the club; who knows, we can have fun together." Luna urged
.
Bintang did not comment anymore. Even if he had to choose, he would have preferred to die rather than admit it, even though it was true. His face hardens. Usually, Luna gives up when Bintang is cranky like that. He can do whatever he wants without caring about the consequences. But this time, she was still not satisfied with Bintang's answers.
"Why can't we be open to each other, can't be honest and trustworthy? We live under the same roof, but actually, we live separately."
Bintang feels it's better to keep quiet.
"Maybe because I'm too good a person, huh? It's too simple, doesn't vary, and is not weird. As a result, you don't have a challenge anymore, something to conquer, so you're looking for an external challenge.?"
"My challenge is how to make as much money as possible so that we add at least one outlet every year," Bintang replied quickly.
Then go back to smoking cigarettes.
"You deserve to have a wife who is not only beautiful but also nagging like Noni… the types of flirty girls. Maybe you feel alive if you are married to that kind of person."
"Not really. Wrong if you think so. Do you think I choose the woman carelessly?"
Luna was quietly flattered.
"My ideal woman is like... " Bintang paused for a moment, "Sophia Latjuba." He continued calmly, "It's a pity I'm a married man."
Luna pinched Bintang so hard. The man only smiled faintly yet painfully
Damn it!
***
It's been three days since Luna had a cold war with her husband. Even though Bintang drove her to the office every morning, they never spoke.
A long history, there has never been an apology out of her husband's mouth even though he was wrong. Even if he admits he is wrong, instead of saying sorry, he will make Luna five-star flavored village fried rice and feed her. Bintang is excellent at making village fried rice. It tastes special and never changes. So when Luna gets angry and then gets a plate of five-star village fried rice, it means; Peace.
***
Luna silent beside Bintang. No more conversation in the car, just cold. And Jam. And a lazy heart. But Luna tries to keep her heart clean and not frozen.
Finally, arrived home, and it was raining. As usual, Bintang went down first and immediately ran away. Luna was empty inside the car, alone. Didn't feel anything or think about anything. Expect nothing. Just looking at the rain. It's dark out there.
She eats the silence.
All of a sudden Bintang appear out of the house,
Bring her an umbrella.
Luna was surprised unexpectedly.
Something that doesn't seem like him
***
*)Mbak, greetings for older women in Java;