Lies
I Can't Forget You

“Hm ..” He could not answer it quickly. The woman seemed to think for a moment before speaking her mind. “Because I thought you'd be in trouble if you didn't bring your identity card. They tried to contact your office, but no one picked it up so I gave it to them. I'm sorry I've shared your private number without permission.”

Raya's just worried about him. Karan knew that for sure. Although the one who gave Raya was her personal number, but to meet with a casual chat with the woman, Karan did not mind her number being given to someone else. What gave him was his ex-wife. How could Karan be angry?

“No, don't apologize like that. It's okay,” Karan said trying to stop apologizing to her.

“You rest easy, I've asked them to delete your number so I make sure they won't intrude on your privacy.”

There is pain when Raya mentions the word ‘privasi’, reminding Karan of his behavior that often violates the privacy of the Kingdom when Raya so respect him. “Thank you,” Karan revealed again. The man averted the stupefied feeling in his heart by sipping coffee from his glass.

When Karan raised the glass, it was clear that a ring was ringing on the man's right ring finger. Raya wasn't sure, but the ring looked like a wedding ring. The shape is familiar in the head of Raya. Unfortunately he does not remember. Karan used to wear their wedding ring several times, especially in certain events. Because Karan is rarely at home, Raya does not recognize Karan's wedding ring. It was possible that Raya only remembered the past so she felt like she had seen the ring.

“Did you come here yourself? You didn't bring anyone else with you?” tanya Raya after sipping her hot chocolate to remove her reflection about the past.

“Absolutely who should I bring?”

“Yes, anyone. Boyfriend, lover, or maybe your wife?”

“My wife?” Karan was flabbergasted, then he chuckled softly. “Yes you were right, I should have brought my wife here.”

The atmosphere was back silent. Raya fell silent even though she was the first to ask such a bold question. There were no words Raya could convey to Karan. The woman was just busy gulping down her drink into the toilet. Then, he watched his surroundings, staring at the leaves that had fallen from the tree as if it was the most beautiful sight he had ever witnessed in his life. Confused how to respond. Karan spoke so seriously that he was only joking a little. Although Karan started his words with a light nudity, the man clearly expressed what was in his heart in earnest.

While Karan thought something else. He thought Raya just meant to tease him. But after seeing the response the woman showed, Karan became doubtful. It seems like Raya really seriously asked that. The woman thought she was married. Karan does not matter if the thought is on someone else, but he does not want Raya to think the same thing. Karan does not want Raya to be mistaken for him.

“Au—”

“Kau—”

The two men spoke at the same time, then stopped talking after hearing each other's voices. Karan can't just let it go. He let Raya talk first. “It's okay, just say what you want to say first,” he exclaimed in defeat.

“Ah, no. I just wanted to congratulate you on your wedding. Because you didn't invite me, so I can't give you and your wife a wedding gift.”

Karan looked at Raya in confusion. Raya looked so calm as her lips spoke her congratulations. It was as if it was the most sincere remark the woman could say. I don't know why Karan was so hurt to know. He did not want this, he did not want Raya to feel calm when he said there was another woman at his side. Karan wants Raya to feel jealous. This is his selfish desire. But that's exactly what Karan is. A selfish man who only prioritizes his desires until he loses the woman in front of him.

“Raya, look, actually I—”

“Wait a minute!” cut Raya's. The woman's phone rang until she would not want to cut Karan's words. “There are important calls. Can I lift it?” ask her to Karan as a sign of courtesy. It was an ethic commonly used by high-class people when wanting to interrupt their conversation with something they had to ask permission from their interlocutor first.

Karan nodded his head. “Ya please.” He gave permission to his ex-wife.

Without wasting a chance, Raya raised the call. Everything seems normal at first. Raya greeted the person who spoke to her over the phone using Italian. But everything changed when Raya called the guy with a call ‘Bee’, then ‘Honey’. If it were just those words alone Karan would not be suspicious. Unfortunately Raya showed a strange gurgle. The woman looked so happy when talking to that person. In fact, Raya also had several times to speak in Indonesian to apologize. Of course it comes with a smile that never faded since Raya first picked up her phone call.

There was something that seemed to have just exploded from inside Karan. Something that made his heart hurt even more. It was like dousing vinegar over a wound that had not dried. The thing that made her tears almost drip. Squeezing his hands at each other, the man turned his gaze in the other direction, just like Raya did a moment ago. Stare at the falling leaves on the floor to control himself.

Karan forgot this. A very important thing. The Kingdom with its million charms must already have someone who would protect it. Someone better than Karan Reviano. Though he had thought Raya might be like him, remain alone. However, the woman apparently chose another path. On one hand Karan felt grateful because at least Raya had not experienced what she had been through all this time. Suffering in solitude. Suffering from such deep regret. Raya could find a man she could rely on as a mooring of hearts and life support. That's good news for the woman. At least Karan knows that Raya will be fine even if there is no her.

While on the other hand, Karan felt so miserable and hurt. He could not resist the flames of jealousy that burned his heart. The expectations were so high when meeting Raya. He hopes that with his meeting this time, all their misunderstandings will be resolved. Once done, there may be an opportunity for them to make up again. Really, Karan really wants to get back with Raya, and fix their broken home life. Unfortunately that opportunity never seemed to exist for Karan.

“I'm sorry, this call really can't be left.” Raya opened her voice after talking to the caller. After putting her phone in the bag, Raya connected her sentence. “So where were we? Oh yes, your wife. I'm sure you'll be happy with your new wife. Again, I congratulate you.”

Karan turned his gaze from the tree towards Raya. With those almost watery eyes Karan spoke to his ex-wife, “Ya, I am sure I will be happy with him. She's so beautiful and nice. I'm really grateful to get it.” Although he also regretted having released it. Karan wanted to say that, but he could not. His mouth could no longer be open to convey that feeling.

Raya was slightly fixated on seeing Karan's eyeballs staring at him intensely. There was something difficult Raya explained from those two eyes. Is that a sadness? Not likely. Karan is married to another woman. There was no reason for the man to be sad anymore. “Yes, you are indeed such a man.”

“Man like what do you mean?”

“Men who are able to make women fall in love easily.”

The phrase Kingdom had indeed slid from his lips, but Karan's sense of hearing was seized by something behind him. The loud voice of a boy that was so familiar in his ears. Luca's Voice.

Sontak Karan turned his head right as the four-year-old shouted while running towards him. Wrongfully. Not running towards him, but towards Raya. The boy not only ran to the front of the Kingdom, but also hugged the woman as his little lips uttered a call that jolted Karan.

“Mommy!”