Before Divorce
Chapter 19 - Complicated

Shiena prepared to hear Litha's story. It seems Litha's life is not as easy as people imagine.

"I'm telling you this, not because I'm asking for a defense from you. I feel like I can trust you, Shiena."

Litha paused her sentence. "Me and Mas Arya have known each other since I was little. We were neighbors when we lived in the village. After graduating High School, Mas Arya decided to move to the city to find work. Arya was my first love. He is like a brother to me."

Litha looked forward laughing. Shiena could see if Litha had a great love towards Arya.

"When I was 20 years old, I decided to move to the city. And in the city I helped Mas Arya to find a job. At that time, the Aryan mas company was not as big as it is now. He said he had just started his business. And yes, I have to go back heartbroken because Arya is married to Esti and has Willy."

Litha looked at Shiena. "You can think of me as a fool, because I want to marry a married man. But you have to know why I received Aryan's gold pin."

Shiena blinked her eyes. Shiena thought whether she deserved to hear all of Litha's confessions or not. Shiena is nervous to hear the story of Litha and Arya.

"Since the age of Willy stepped on 5 years, the household of Arya and mbak Esti began to have problems. Mas Arya who was busy developing his business was instead made uncomfortable with Esti's attitude that was too excessive."

(Excessively? How excessive is it?)

Actually Shiena wanted to directly ask Litha, but her tongue was too faint to ask. Shiena would let Litha continue her story alone. For now Shiena should be a good listener for Litha. He wanted to hear the story of Willy's family.

"Mbak Esti is a nurse. I don't understand why Esti can act like that. According to Arya, mbak Esti has a psychiatric disorder that results in her being excessively possessive and also tends to hurt herself and others. Esti once hurt Willy just to keep Mas Arya from going to work. Ma'am Esti is afraid that Arya will leave her. Whereas at that time Arya only fulfilled her duty as a husband."

Shiena daydreams. His memory is directed to Esti, who in the future still lives in a mental hospital.

"Shyena..."

Shiena flinched as Litha's hand grasped it.

"Eh? Yes Aunt."

"If you don't believe the story of Auntie, you can ask Bik Sumi. It was he who saved Willy when Esti intended to hurt him. But unfortunately, Esti manages to take Willy away and says that Arya's men have abandoned them and I've taken Mas Arya from them."

"Bik Sumi?" Shiena had never heard of Bik Sumi from Willy.

"Bik Sumi is our domestic assistant. He was the one who took care of Willy when he was a kid."

Shiena was confused. "But..why doesn't Willy remember Bik Sumi at all?"

Litha smiled. "Come to our house. And let Bik Sumi explain everything to you."

Litha glanced at her watch. "Tante has to pick up Martha. Sorry, Shiena. Auntie's story ends here. Sorry I couldn't tell you everything. Maybe next time Arya can tell you herself."

Litha resigned. Leaving Shiena who was still overwhelmed with great curiosity.

"Where does Om Arya want a story. He was trying to avoid. Om Arya does not want the story of her family's past to be known by others" Shiena muttered.

Shiena sighed harshly. The day started late afternoon. Shiena chose to leave the cafe.

Along the way, Shiena thought about what Willy had experienced all along.

(It's too complicated, Shiena. You won't be able to understand how Willy feels. It turned out that he had such a deep wound. What am I supposed to do?)

The taxi driver's voice ripped Shiena's daydream. "It's over, Non."

"Eh, yes sir. It's the fare."

Shiena got out of the taxi and entered her house in shaky steps. Today it feels so tired. Shiena chose to head straight to the room and clean up first.

#

#

#

Litha's story was still ringing in Shiena's memories. How could she not know anything about the man she had lived with for 10 years? Willy was too tight-lipped on his life story and did not want Shiena to interfere too deeply.

(You're the one who never paid attention to Willy? I'm a selfish person who thinks our lives are okay. Mas Willy had his own wound)

Suddenly Shiena remembered about Esti. Her future mother-in-law remains a mystery to this day and future. No one knows for sure his life story.

(Shall I go see Miss Esti?)

After the lecture hours ended, Shiena chose to go to the mental hospital where Esti had been staying all this time. Even Shiena did not understand exactly when Esti ended up being treated in a mental hospital.

"Non what are you doing here?" ask the taxi driver to be confused.

"I'd like to see my relatives who are being treated here, sir." Shiena reviewed her smile when giving her the taxi fare money.

Shiena's feet stepped towards the all-white place. Shiena held onto her chest that felt stiff.

(God, was this the right decision? How can I be here now?)

"Sorry, can anyone help, ma'am?" A security guard asked Shiena.

"Eh? Tha-that's Sir... I'm..." Shiena felt her decision right now was extremely hasty. He has not thought everything through carefully.

"Shyen! What are you doing here?" The sound of someone making Shiena turn. It was Willy.

Shiena's eyes are breaking. (Ouch! How'this? why is Willy here?)

"Oh, so this is mbak's friend Willy? Then he wants to visit Bu Esti, right?" The words of the security guard made Willy's countenance change instantly.

Shiena could only lower her head. He couldn't look at Willy.

Willy commented a forced smile to the security guard. "Yes, Sir. He's my temen."

Willy pulled Shiena's hand and took her away from there. Shiena who felt that Willy's hand was so strong started to grimace in pain. Even his footsteps were shuffled as he followed Willy's wide steps.

"Baby, pelin! It hurts! Where the hell are you taking me?"

Willy took Shiena some distance away from the hospital area. Willy threw Shiena's hand violently.

"Aw! Why the hell are you? So rude!" Shiena held onto her flushed wrist.

Just this time Shiena saw Willy's face flushed red with stifled anger.

"I asked you again, what are you doing here?" Willy's glint of sharp eyes frightened Shiena. Just this time Shiena saw anger in Willy's eyes.