Loved Bunian Wolves
3 . Questions in Benak Runi

When he returned home to their home in Merbayu village, Raka was much pensive. Likewise with Runi who did not dare to ask anything. He tried to act as if nothing had happened. He only hoped, Raka only looked at one woman in this world, namely herself. He was also convinced, that what Aswini said earlier this afternoon was just like the wind and then in Raka's ears.

"Kok seems so tired, Mom?" Runi sat next to Raka as they arrived home. Then in the room, she gave some gentle massage on her husband's shoulder. Raka did not dodge, but did not answer. He only gave his silence in response to the thousands of questions lodged in Runi's mind.

"When I was doing the dishes in the back, what were you and Mom talking about?" Runi asked, curious as to what answer Raka omeh would give her. But Runi had to swallow disappointed because Raka did not answer him. Long unheard of reply, Runi asked again to try to lure Raka to talk.

"Ah, there's nothing. Don't think about it, baby," said Raka half-dreaming.

Runi was still lightly kneading Raka's shoulder, but for some reason, Raka put her hand there and lowered Runi's hand, as if to pull over to get out of there.

Runi was stunned until his hand floated in the air for a moment. It was not usual for Raka to ignore him like this.

Raka who had just brushed off Runi's hand involuntarily saw the change in expression on Runi's face that looked surprised. He immediately smiled his thin smile. Raising his right hand, then rubbed it into Runi's face gently.

Raka softly said with a repulsion of guilt."It's night. Go to bed, honey."

Runi smiled bitterly. Unlike what he expected, Raka was not honest with him. Even if Raka told him about the results of the meeting with Aswini that made her heartbroken, maybe Runi could understand. But in fact it is not. Raka chooses to keep the information from her mother, about a woman named Widuri. And precisely, Raka's silence increasingly made Runi wonder. Why should Raka be quiet if Widuri is a nobody to her husband? Does that mean, Widuri is a special figure for Raka?

"What happened to you, baby? Why are you quiet?" Ask Raka who may have realized the difference in the attitude of Runi since returning from the residence of the mother.

Runi, who was indeed unwilling to make a fuss, only shook her head slowly. She wears a deceiving smile, as if to show Raka that she is fine. "There's nothing, honey. I'm just a little tired."

"Then, would you like me to flirt? Come, baby!" Raka smiled gently as she patted the bed next to Runi, asking his wife to come over. Either really will massage the body of Runi, or just ask for another.

Runi let out a long breath. He exhaled slowly, but his chest felt so tight as the air in his lungs was slowly released. But even though his heart was upset, half-hearted, he followed Raka's call to approach. She placed her body weight against her husband's body.

"Why shut up, my dear Runi?" Raka asked with her hands coiled around Runi's stomach. His breath felt hunting in the niche of Runi's neck, as if demanding his right that night. Right, instead of spawning Runi's body, but instead Raka's hand was moving to and fro.

And well, Runi was lulled. Before the night passed in a gripping silence, Raka's embrace still warmed Runi's body. The caress of Raka's lips still made her fall asleep. The touch after touch that Raka gave off also just froze her. However, Runi's soul felt empty, as if Raka's love had evaporated, along with her sense of trust being eroded by a thousand questions.

Who's Widuri?

What was the relationship between Widuri and Raka in the past?

Did they ever really love each other?

Is it true that Widuri is still expecting her husband?

How does Raka feel about Widuri now?

Why did Raka not refuse the orders of her mother?

***

After a conversation with her mother, Raka begins to consider her mother's persuasion to meet with Widuri. It is not difficult to make excuses to Runi, because he is also accustomed to stopping anywhere after returning to work on oil palm plantations owned by Pak Baskara, Widuri's father. And not every day he had to go home on time.

At first, Raka hesitates to accept her mother's request. He was afraid that his heart would falter to defend his love for Runi. Because honestly, the story between him and Widuri is not over. Widuri left four years ago without a word with the reason to study far out of town leaving Raka. Though Raka actually knows, Widuri is chasing another love, making Raka's love for her only clap one hand and run aground before developing.

But in fact, a speck of longing was still there for Widuri. Raka still wants Widuri. Even after four years passed, the moments of waiting for the meeting with the woman of his past still makes Raka's heart pound so crazy again.

Then one afternoon, the time to go home to work had come when the golden light began to greet. A cool breeze began to caress in a charming twilight. The sun is already very inclined towards the west, will even soon enter into the dispute. Raka came out of the exit of the Pak Baskara oil palm plantation where she worked with light steps, although her heart was pounding.

And yeah, that's it. Standing there, a shoulder-haired woman waved at him at the gate. Pick him up! Her red dress fluttered in the wind, her beautiful body shone in the afternoon sun that painted a beautiful silhouette on the rocks. Her pretty lips curved out, supporting a smile that in fact until this moment Raka could not forget completely.

Ah, Widurim! That smile was the same as four years ago while still mingling with Raka in this village.

Raka could not ignore that smile. Nervously, he steadied his steps to approach the beautiful figure in the red dress.

"Hi, w-what's up?" Tanya Raka made small talk.

Widuri started her answer with a sweet smile. "Good news. You?"

"Well, this is how it is" said Raka as she put her shoulders together. He continued, "No change. Still the same worker on your father's farm."

"Ck, you're low," Decak Widuri said. He knew for sure that Raka was one of the trust employees of Widuri's father who was in charge of recording the turnover of the plantation.

Decakan Widuri made Raka wrong. Widuri smiled and asked, "You don't want to know how I'm doing?"

Raka rubbed her nape while grinning her neat teeth. This gesture is usually seen when someone is feeling wrong.

He said, "Sorry. I-I was too nervous to forget to ask you how. Em, how are you?"

"Well, very good even," said Widuri with a big smile. He felt Raka was very funny, because the man's misconduct looked so adorable in his eyes.

"You wanna stop by the cafe next door first?"Tawar Widuri's.

Raka also nodded. "Come," said Raka with a big smile on her lips

***