His Purpose
171. The Return of Memory

"It was ... my friend's company party in London."

Mary turned her head while frowning, a sign that she did not understand what Gabriel was saying. He had stopped crying, although sometimes still gulped slowly because of the effects of his hysteria a few moments ago.

Gabriel looked over and looked at Maria. He smiled weakly before then looking down as he continued to tell stories. "First time I ... betrayed you," he whispered softly.

Maria understands, but it feels normal. Perhaps because Mary had already fully loved Gibran and forgotten El as her past.

"I'm sorry" whispered Gabriel again. "And I'm stupidly addicted."

"One year I betrayed you. It felt like a tight heart as if it was being carried by a heavy burden. I felt guilty, but I couldn't stop visiting him either. I'm a bastard, Maria. I'm really sorry." Gabriel's voice sounded slightly trembling.

Maria kept letting him tell her stories, she knew Gabriel needed them. It is the same, they must both solve this well.

"She's pregnant. The reason why I ran away on our wedding day. I can't possibly marry you while my other responsibilities are neglected."

"That's when Gibran came to make an offer, that he would marry and take good care of you even though I was gone."

"I've known she liked you for a long time, which is what makes me so sure you leave it to her."

Gabriel looked. "Gibran loved you a long time ago, Maria," he said ambiguously.

Maria was silent, she was more interested in the one reality Gabriel had just revealed. "You ... have a child?"

The man shook his head, making Maria reflex cringe.

"He miscarried. And the second pregnancy was the same. Maybe it's God's punishment for all the sins we've done hurt you first."

"Oh .. sorry." Mary did not know what to do. He himself is not capable of doing that.

Gabriel smiled. "It's nothing. I've been trying to be sincere."

They fell back in silence. Both of them leaned against the wall of the room. Thirst and hunger whack, but how else, Mary must desperately endure it now.

Be patient, Son. Sorry I can't eat now.

Mary whispered in her heart as she continued to rub her stomach which occasionally caused movement.

"How many months?" ask Gabriel.

"Eight."

The man nodded. "Valen was also the same, she miscarried at the age of almost seven months. If it still survives it might be eight."

Maria looked at Gabriel concerned. "Patience, yes. God will definitely send a replacement later."

But El smiled bitterly. "I don't know if we can still be together after this."

Maria frowned, while Gabriel again smiled trying to relax. "Nobody knows someone's destiny. Either our love will continue to be hindered by blessing, or I will die right now here."

"Don't talk like that. We'll definitely be home safe. Papa and the others must be looking for us right now."

You don't know how ruthless Willis is, Maria. Or you don't remember.

Before long Bagas reappeared entering the room. The corner of his lips lifted thinly staring at the alternating Mary and Gabriel who were already shabby in place.

Mary observed all the movements of Bagas with care. The man carried a projector, then came out and came back with a large white board measuring almost 2 meters.

Maria and Gabriel frowned, wondering what Bagas was going to do with all the tools including the laptop.

Gabriel smiled mockingly. "Would you like to take us to watch together?"

Bagas ignored, he only turned his head for a moment while smiling obliquely in response to Gabriel's slurs. After placing everything, Bagas turned around and sat down on a chair facing them.

His eyes were right on Mary. "I'll give you an amazing show, Maria."

Maria is deep.

"You don't know how bad your dying husband is, do you?" Bagas grinned. He fiddled with the laptop on the table accompanied by the strange gazes of Gabriel and Maria.

Gabriel stiffens as Gibran's old photo appears for starters. What does that crazy guy want to do? It's a picture of Gibran in college in New York. Don't-don't...

For a moment he glanced at Maria who still had not reacted to anything. It's just beginning. Bagas is getting excited to uncover all the big secrets tucked into the couple's household.

Gabriel stood up and quickly approached Bagas. He tried to turn off the projector which then led to a fight between them.

"Enough. Stop, Goddamn. You can kill him!"

Bagas laughs. "Kill out? Meaning from the beginning you knew everything." They stared at each other sharply. "Including the condition of Mary who lost part of her memory."

"What connection?" Mary's voice is calling.

Bagas and Gabriel looked. Smiling obliquely, Bagas looked at Maria as if he had managed to catch the prey. "You want to know, don't you, honey?"

Gabriel shook his head loudly. "Don't. No, Maria. It's very dangerous for you."

Mary frowned inside. He was very confused and curious. Memories of what Gabriel and Bagas mean here. What does this have to do with Gibran?

Maria looked at Bagas demanding an answer. "Say, what memory do you mean?"

Bagas's eyes glanced at Gabriel triumphantly.

"El?" Maria firmly.

Gabriel still refused to break the grip on Bagas. No, he did not intend to take it off if Bagas did not attack his wound so inevitably the grip was released.

Gabriel coughed holding his chest. When he was about to strike back, Bagas already displayed a number of other photos on the projector. One of them is a portrait of Mary and Gibran that looks familiar together.

Gabriel looked at Mary. His roar watched as Mary's body stiffened violently in place. "Mary ..."

"She has a very beautiful and sweet lover." Bagas started to reopen the sound. "A 4th semester student from Indonesia who in 2 years did not stop chasing and approaching him."

"The girl is infatuated with Aaron whom she calls Senior."

Mary's hands began to tremble, her saliva was dryly swallowed. Various footage that began to feel familiar continues to appear. The photos parse alien memories that are connected to the dreams that Mary often experiences.

The figure that he had previously only remembered in half was now slowly beginning to be clearly visible.

Senior ...

Aron ...

Gibraltar ...

Is correct. They did have a familiar resemblance in the eyes of Mary.

Maria touched her head that was throbbing violently. Various snippets forced in filled his brain which now felt claustrophobic by the memories and strange sounds coming from 2 people.

Gabriel approached Mary. He tried to reach Mary's head, and the woman was patently.

"Mary ..."

Maria did not stop shaking, her body shook violently because the memories seemed to hit her all out.

Gabriel was stunned to see blood coming out of Maria's nose. He tried to stop Maria who seemed to be trying hard to remember everything.

"Marya?"

"The girl's name ..."

"Ofetish!!" Gabriel exclaimed as Bagas was about to reopen his voice.

But the crazy devil doesn't care. He continued the sentence that now increasingly hit hard Mary's condition.

"Maria Pradita Tjandra."

Gabriel ran towards Bagas and attacked the man blindly. Bagas laughed in between the blows of Gabriel that rained down on his face.

While Mary, she stared blankly at the floor below with a shivering body and nosebleed.

Eighty-five percent of his memory is almost back. He remembered who Gibran was. He knows who Aaron is. That senior .. he .. was the first man to incise the greatest wound in Mary's life.