Behind The Lies
Under the Wet Sky

Two pairs of feet stepped together under the torrent of rain. Black umbrellas cover both.

“I want to show you something,” said Iyash.

Aruna asked nothing. He even thought of something else.

Iyash took her to the garden and showed her the colorful light that adorned the wet garden. Right in the middle of the park there is a gazebo in which there is a gray sofa made of synthetic leather, a plaid stone floor with grass around it. The lanterns hanging over the wooden roof lit up every night.

Aruna was astonished to see how beautiful the garden was surrounded with white flowers. He ignored the rain and left the umbrella Iyash was holding. His lips were on their backs, his head was turned upside down while smiling at the wet sky.

Iyash smiled at Aruna that afternoon. She let her umbrella fly in the wind, then ran towards Aruna. “I've kept my promise.”

Aruna fell silent and looked at the man.

“You said that later I will be an architect, you asked to make a garden, yes, ‘kan?” Iyash circulated his gaze and Aruna followed the direction of the man's gaze. “This is the park.”

Aruna flabbergasted. Iyash then pulled her hand and took her to the gazebo. “I purposely made this park in a parlor. Let me miss you, I just came here.”

Aruna. Fortunately, Iyash did not see any tears falling from his eyes.

“Sorry it took a long time to show this.”

Aruna just nodded. That afternoon Iyash didn't hear him talk much. The circumstances made the woman unable to remember much with Iyash. What he was thinking back then, was the sin of him leaving with another man?

“Why not ask for Mr Yayan?” Iyash then looked at the woman who was advocating for the palm under the raindrops.  “While he knows this place.”

Aruna did not listen to Iyash's words, he was even too absorbed in enjoying the rain. The smile on her face was painted accompanying the beauty of that afternoon.

Iyash was stunned and continued to look at him until he was unaware that the two corners of his lips were on his back.

Aruna continued to smile and did not realize that Iyash had been watching her since. He then sighed. “I remember the last time I enjoyed the rain with you, Mas.” Aruna turned her head and instantly her smile faded as what she saw was not Faran.

Immediately Iyash's lips stopped. His heart was slipping and his chest was hurting.

“Sorry,” said Aruna while retreating. Just like Iyash his chest was also pounding.

Iyash. I don't know since when Aruna forgot her figure.

Aruna wet the throat. “Iyash, I–”

“I know, you are married.” Iyash smiled bitterly. “Congratulations, Run.”

Aruna's mouth opened and was about to convey something.

“Ashilla says that the wedding is the message of Mr. Ridwan.”

Aruna rubbed the rough of her two eyes which kept on shedding tears until she made her eyes blur. “Sorry, Yash, sorry.”

Iyash grabbed the woman's hands. “We're best friends, I just want our relationship back to good, like before I expressed love to you.”

Aruna was even more sad to hear Iyash say that.

“No apologies and thanks in friendship.” Iyash gave a pause.  “Please, Run.”

Aruna wet the throat.

“If you need your husband's permission to be friends with me, do it, you just call him and say everything.”

Aruna's heart is beating. He moved his hand away from Iyash then shook his head.

“Why, Run?”

Aruna throws her ass against the couch. She covered her face and cried.

Aruna fell silent and held back a sob.

“I miss your smile.” Iyash invites friendship, but he forgets to put his own feelings. “Please, smile again, please.”

“I have to go home.” Aruna rises. However, Iyash held his hand.

“What purpose did you come here for, Run? You don't want to show off your relationship with that doctor, ‘kan?”

Aruna nodded and looked at Iyash's hand.

“You're wrong to think I've got your replacement.” Iyash then got up. “The woman you saw at the airport, she's just my friend.”

Iyash fell silent and he grew tired because Aruna said nothing to respond to all her words since coming to that place. He felt that Aruna did not appreciate it.

“Eh, but what care you, we, ‘kan only friends,” said Iyash slowly while releasing his hand grip. “Great yes The doctor, can be patient with you,” added Iyash while standing and facing the other direction. “God does know what is best for you.” He looked at it briefly. “And the best it wasn't me.”

Aruna took a breath, then walked a few steps and turned her back to Iyash. “You're right. I shouldn't have come here, I should have been able to keep my husband's honor, I can't meet you personally like this.”

This time it was Iyash who shed tears. “You've been like the moon and until whenever I can't reach you anymore.”

Aruna bowed down and held back her stuffing again.

“If you no longer have any feelings, why do you have to be this sad?” ask Iyash.

“I miss my best friend,” said Aruna. “I miss when he said, ‘if you need a story friend, you said, ‘there is me’.” Aruna's throat was blocked.

Iyash took a few steps to nearby Aruna. “Then you say and say everything.”

Aruna turned around and looked at the man. “I never forget you. Until the second I decided to go to Indonesia, in my head was you. Every time I remember Jakarta everything that is terbesit is no longer monas, but you.”

Iyash stared bitterly at the woman.

“And God instantly brought us together, as if I had just asked for it.”

Iyash.

“Times I apologize to you because I feel guilty. It's not this meeting I promised, Yash.” Aruna then reached into the bag and took out her diary book.

Iyash was stunned when he saw Aruna open the book volume and pulled out a torn paper tucked between the wrapping of the white volume.

“This is what I actually wrote for the first time after the accident.” Aruna showed the paper, and then read it.

Iyash.

“I'm sorry for the worst night we've been through. It's all my fault, I don't even dare to see you sprawled weakly in a hospital bed.”

Aruna gave a pause. Throat's choked.

“I asked your mama to tell me I'm dead. You don't have to blame him. I did it all for you and your mom. I hope we meet again at the right time. You make your dreams come true, make your parents happy. I will do my best for my life too. Don't worry about me, dad took me to grandpa's house and you know, he's a rich man.”

Iyash. The dam in both eyes fell down.

Aruna continued to sob, but did not stop her from reading the letter she wrote ten years ago.

“Yash, you must be good at fighting, taekwondo, karate, thifan or whatever you learn, not to protect me, but to protect yourself. Yesterday's incident also taught me that I should be able to do all of that. God will meet us when we are both great, who knows we can compete in the ring.” Aruna's voice grew quieter, the sentence was stuck in the throat. “Haha no.” He took a deep breath. “That's boxing.”

Aruna took a breath. “Hopefully we will meet again in the hemisphere that God has set. I want our second meeting to be as special as first you give–” Aruna dropping her body onto the wet floor and bowing while crying.

Iyash cried while dropping his knees in front of the woman, and then hugged her tightly. “I've read it repeatedly. That's what makes me sure that you'll be back.”

Aruna's heart is beating.