After You Go
23. New Beginning

Alma sat in front of the mirror while combing her long hair. He stared at his reflection in the mirror with a creepy grin.

"This is just the beginning, Bara. Look forward to a surprise more exciting than me!" said it.

The grin on his face grew wider. It was getting more scary for anyone who looked at him. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. He immediately got up from his seat and walked towards the door.

"What's up?" ask Alma. His tone sounded sharp and unfriendly.

Bu Tiwi smiled. It was as if he had gotten used to hearing that tinge.

"Eat yuk! The same father Bang Bryan was waiting at the dinner table" said Tiwi.

Alma clucked in annoyance. He was least fond of the habits in this family that necessitated eating in the dining room. There is no reason to be sick.

"Yes... yeah! Get back in there! It's really onion!" resounding. Alma then turned back into her room. He slammed the door a little hard making Bu Tiwi surprised.

Bu Tiwi could only sigh deeply. The woman never complained or protested with Alma's attitude. To him, while Alma still considered himself to exist, that was more than enough.

In the room, Bagas seemed to be looking at a piece of photos neatly stored in a small frame. Photo of a pair of high school students celebrating graduation.

"You never change, Al. To me, you're still the Alma I used to know. My feelings for you have not changed either. I still love you in silence." Bagas gently stroked the framed photo.

His eyes stared at the photo with a feeling that was hard to explain. There was a feeling of disappointment when she found out Alma's love wasn't for her. There was a sense of happiness when he saw Alma being able to smile even though it wasn't for him.

"Well!"

Bagas exhaled his breath violently. He wanted to relieve his chest that felt tight when he remembered about Alma.

"If you had known, Al. If only you knew how much I love you. Is it possible that you will receive my love? Is it possible that we'll be together forever?" ask her with a sad look.

"Al, my heart cannot accept another woman. My heart is forever yours. If you are my soul mate, I ask God to always give way. But if you're not my soul mate, I hope we can get the best mate," he said at last.

Bagas closed his eyes after saying that long sentence. He then exhaled again. This time gently and slowly.

Meanwhile, Garland appears to be in a cafe. In front of him sat a girl whom he had always avoided.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be honest with you. I was too scared at the time. I'm afraid you don't believe me" he said.

Garland was silent. She listened to every word that came out of the girl who had once been the queen in her heart.

"Now, you know for yourself, right? How did your father treat Alma?" abugn.

Garland remained silent. He did not respond to the girl's words.

"I don't want you to hate your father. I don't want you to be a bad boy either. But you have to know one thing" he said.

"Your father will be like that forever. He will not change even if he is severely punished" he continued.

Garland was silent. He understands now. How Mayang felt when abused by his father. He now knows how his father treats women. Now that he was also aware, his father's actions were not justified in any religion.

...****************...

The days passed quickly. Alma had forgotten what happened a few days ago. Where he almost dip*****a by Bara. Fortunately, at that time, he refused.

"Tumben is not accompanied by prince bucin?" Bara rebukes Alma when he sees the secretary arrive at the office without being ushered in by Garland.

Bara put on a slanted smile. "Yes! You think I'm not jealous of anything when you see you're friendly with that guy," he said.

Alma smiled again. He grabbed Bara's hand and grasped it tightly.

"Whoever is beside me. No one can take your place in my heart." Alma kissed the back of Bara's hand gently and affectionately.

Seeing Alma's treatment, Bara's chest rippled. Not because he feels love or how, but because of lust.

Alma smiled looking at Bara who was trying to hold something inside.

"I go in first. I have to prepare the file for this morning's meeting" he said.

Then he moved from before Bara. Walking in a made-up style so that Bara can not forget himself.

Meanwhile, Garland seemed to have just woken up from her sleep. He was holding his head which was still throbbing pain. He recalls what happened last night.

"Issha! Uh! ***n! Why is my head so dizzy?" ask him to yourself.

"That's because you drank too much last night. It's dizzy now," said someone suddenly.

Garland looked at the girl who answered her question. His eyes were squinting and his brain was spinning. He was trying to remember who the girl was.

"You were drunk all night. So I'm taking you to my place." The girl walked closer towards Garland.

Garland was silent. He spread his eyes around the room. This is not his room. This is a girl's room!

"You just calm down. I didn't say anything about you. But---"

His words stopped when he saw Garland trying to get off his bed.

"Where are you going?" ask the girl.

Garland did not answer the girl's question. She looked for her clothes that turned out to be in a basket of dirty clothes.

"Your clothes are vomited. So I opened it and put the shirt in the laundry basket" she explained.

Garland turned her head and stared intently at the girl. He felt that the girl had been rude to him. Regardless of the girl, Garland was wearing her dirty clothes again. He didn't care about the pungent smell of his vomit marks.

Elsewhere, Alma was accompanying Bara to a meeting. He seemed very dexterous in preparing the files that Bara needed for this meeting. No wonder Bara and all her office friends love Alma's performance.

"Thank you for the cooperation, Mr. Bara. I am very happy with this partnership." A fat man greeted Bara and Alma in turn.

"I also thank Alex. Thank you Mr. Alex for accepting this cooperation," Bara replied.

They both laughed at the same time. After that the man who was called Mr. Alex was resigned to resign. Bara and Alma are alone.

"I go to the toilet first, yes" she told Bara.

Bara looked and nodded. "Don't be long" he said.

Alma smiled and nodded. After that, he went from there to the toilet. It wasn't until five minutes that Alma had come out of the toilet. He walked back to the table.

"Basin' cheap women!" hardik someone.