LUNA (SUBSTITUTE WOMAN)
LONGS

Maria entered the room and approached the Carnation standing in front of the mirror. As much as possible Anyelir made his body invisible and covered by the servant who was still standing in front of him.

Maria was getting closer, while Carnation was still trying to tighten the pillow ties on her body.

"Ma, when's it coming?"

Arjuna's voice suddenly rang out from the doorway of the room, making Maria's footsteps stop and immediately turned to Arjuna with a smile. Meanwhile Carnations heaved a sigh of relief while asking the waiter to speed up his work.

"Just now, honey. Mama stopped by after going to the ranch with Sabrina." Maria answered.

"Oh so." Arjuna responded briefly to Maria's explanation, then he went into the room. "Nye, what are you doing?" asked Arjuna who still did not see the wife's body clearly.

"A little while, Mom, I'm fixing my shirt. The zipper is stuck," said Anyelir.

A little while later Anyelir asked the waiter to leave his room, and it was at that moment that Arjuna and Maria saw a graceful Carnation with a slightly large dress and a slightly enlarged belly as well.

"Hi, Ma." Carnations approached Mary and immediately shook Mary's hand.

Maria smiled happily as she looked at Anyelir's belly that was beginning to bulge, but not with Arjuna. The man looked confused why suddenly the belly of Carnation became big.

"Mama brought you cakes, fruits, and other foods below. Come on, look." Mary led the Carnations down the stairs to the family room.

Arjuna followed his second step while busy watching the belly of Carnation. Carnations that felt being noticed by the husband immediately blinked and signaled Arjuna to be ordinary. Arjuna understood and obeyed what Anyelir wanted.

Moments later the three of them arrived at the living room where Sabrina was sitting and waiting patiently for Maria.

"Hi, Nye, hi, Mas." Sabrina stood up and greeted Arjuna and Carnations.

"Hi, Rin, sit down" said Anyelir, and he sat on the sofa next to Mary.

After that, they were all busy chatting about various things around pregnancy. And during the meeting, Mary was very kind to the Carnation, something that Mary had never done.

"So, when you were pregnant Arjuna and Siska were too, Nye. At the beginning of pregnancy, you can not eat anything because you always want to vomit, but during the second trimester, you become greedy. Papa Arjuna was confused because he saw what he wanted to buy. My mom also loves to play in the rain. Every time it rained, mom would run to the porch and take a rain shower. Papa and the waiter got confused and forced her into the house, but she refused." Maria laughs. "Pregnant mothers often do unexpected and silly things."

Carnations then chimed in Maria's words with Enthusiasm. "Really, Ma? Anye has also been so since entering the second trimester of pregnancy. Anye so like to eat anything, especially watermelon fruit and also so like to play rain."

Arjuna raised his eyebrows as soon as he heard the words of Carnation, because not once did Arjuna see Carnations playing in the rain and eating watermelon. All just a mere Carnation, just like the stomach of his wife who suddenly distended without cause.

"Right, watermelon is Arjuna's favorite fruit. Surely your baby will be similar to Arjuna. Oh, yeah, Nye, mama's already signed you up for a maternity class. That's why mama stopped by here, 'cause mama's gonna deliver this member's card to you." Maria pulled out a pink card from her handbag and handed the card to Carnation.

Carnations receive cards from Mary with trembling hands. "Ma, Anye can list herself and-"

"This class of pregnant women belongs to Sabrina's friend. It will be easier to keep an eye on you there because Sabrina is also there a lot. Isn't that right, Rin?" ask Maria to Sabrina.

"Yes, Aunt."

"Well then mama said goodbye first. Remember, yes, the food is spent, and don't forget tomorrow's first-day class. Make sure you and Arjuna are present."

"Me too, Ma? Pregnant Anye, why am I in class?" Arjuna. He does not want to be included in a silly class attended by a silly wife like Anyelir.

"Ck, you're her husband. You should accompany your wife dong. Be careful if tomorrow you are not present, I will ask your father to close the office if you do not come," Maria threatened before the woman out of Arjuna's house.

After Maria and Sabrina left, Arjuna immediately squeezed the distended belly of the Carnation. "What the fuck?"

Carnations hit Arjuna's hand squeezing a pillow on his stomach. "Ish, Mas, don't be rude, I'm pregnant." Carnations grinned, then sat on the sofa while staring at all the food that filled the guest table.

"That pillow ... Why did you tie that pillow to your stomach? It's strange" Arjuna commented.

Carnations looked at Arjuna while shaking their heads. "I am pregnant, Mas, it is impossible if my stomach is flat after the age of three months of pregnancy, then you can be suspicious. I watched Luna every time I came to the apartment, and I saw her belly was this big."

Hearing Luna's name being called, Arjuna's blood rippled and his heartbeat became abnormal. He hadn't seen Luna for a long time and he missed her very much.

"really?" ask Arjuna.

"Yes, mas, right. Luna's stomach is this big now, and do you know, Mas, if Luna has the same habits as you said earlier. Luna likes to eat watermelon now, but as long as she works with me as far as I know she doesn't like the fruit because it's too watery, and Luna also always plays rain every time it rains. The waiter who works there told me that every rain falls Luna will definitely run to the balcony and let her body get soaked with rain." Carnations then stood up. "I'll ask the waiter to deliver all the food to Luna's apartment, Mas, there's no way I can eat, then my weight can go up."

"It's up to you" said Arjuna, then Arjuna leaned back on the back of the sofa while rubbing his face violently. "I miss you, Lun."

***

The next day early in the morning Anyelir was already busy making video calls with Luna. He did not even get out of bed, nor did Arjuna who was still lying next to Carnation.

"Lun, get ready at nine, I'll pick you up at the apartment. Ah, no-no, we can't go together. Hem, let the driver pick you up after I get to class. We'll set it up so it looks like we didn't meet there on purpose."

"Don't I tell you yesterday that I don't want to go to class, Mom, ah I mean, Anye." Luna replied across the call, her voice so hoarse, signaling that the woman had just woken up.

Arjuna who heard Luna's voice immediately opened his eyes wide and listened to the chatter of Luna and Carnation. Luckily the room lights were turned off, so Carnation did not know that Arjuna had awakened. Only the sleeping lights next to the Carnations were turned on so that Luna could see the face of the Carnations in the video call.

"Ck, Lun did you know that my in-laws enrolled me in a pregnant class. I don't think I deserve it. You deserve it because you're pregnant. That's why I enrolled you in the same class over the internet yesterday and this morning is your first day."

"Ah, okay, Nye, it's up to you." Luna yawned and then whimpered. His moans were clearly heard on Carnations phone, making Arjuna's body stiffen with worry.

"Lun, what's wrong?" ask Carnation, who looks worried.

"I think the baby just kicked in" Luna cried. Luna looked very happy and at the same time the woman was crying.

Seeing Luna crying, Anyelir also cried. "Really the baby kicked?"

Luna nodded. "really. I think he's a potential football player, Nye, his kick was pretty shocking to me."

"Yes, Lord, I envy you so much, Lun, I will never be able to feel the way you feel right now. You are very lucky" said Anyelir.

"Don't talk like that. Sorry if I made you sad." Luna rubbed her phone screen, as if she could wipe the tears of Carnations from the flat object screen.

"No. I am happy, not sad. It is you who looks sad. You are pregnant and feel everything alone there. I'm sorry for making your condition this way. Later when you have given birth, I really hope that you will soon get a good soul mate, and in your next pregnancy you'll feel all those wonderful sensations in your belly accompanied by your perfect husband." Carnations said solemnly.

Hearing what Luna said, made Arjuna's tears drip. "I miss him."

***

Luna got out of bed lazily at the hour. He even took a bath reluctantly and dressed modestly. If not for the forced Carnation, he could not have been willing to leave the bed just to go to the pregnant mother's class.

Geck, tok, tok!

The door of his room was knocked and a moment later a minister opened the door and smiled at him.

"Good morning, miss, an invitation for you has come" the maid said.

Luna quickly tied up her hair carelessly, then immediately came out from inside her room, crossed the guest pour and exited the apartment.

A luxury sedan greeted Luna's arrival in the basement complete with the driver who opened the door for her and the sedan immediately slid towards the place that had been determined by Carnation.

***

Inside the large hall, each part of the wall was filled with mirrors, there were dozens of pairs of husbands and wives who were chatting.

Carnations and Arjuna stared at the crowd around them and started reading the practice schedule today.

"Our group is a new group, Mas, so today we will not practice" said Anyelir, shortly after he read the schedule in his hands.

"Then, why are we here if not for practice?" asked Arjuna lazily.

"Today is special for introductions and a little education about pregnancy. Look, it is written here if the husband is obliged to accompany the wife. No loss I brought you." Carnations commented while pinching Arjuna's cheek.

Arjuna just shut up. He was bored to death now, especially since this morning his mood had been damaged by the voice of Luna he heard from Carnation's phone.

Luna arrived after a while at the training building that Anyelir had shown, and an officer greeted Luna kindly and escorted Luna to the hall that had been prepared.

"To this day we have not yet started his gymnastics, ma'am, today is a special day of introduction. All participants must be accompanied by their husband. Is your husband coming?" asked the training officer as he continued to step towards the main hall.

Luna shook her head. "No, my husband doesn't come."

The officer glanced at Luna at a glance and again threw a warm, friendly smile. "It's okay, ma'am, next time we'll meet your husband."

Luna sighed then put on a reassuring sad face. "My husband will never be able to come?"

"Oh, yeah, why, Mom?"

"He's dead" said Luna.

The officer stopped his steps, then looked at Luna with a look of pity. "Yes, God, I'm sorry, Mom, I don't know at all."

"No problem. I've been sincere and may he calm down there." Luna put her handkerchief to the corner of her eye, as if she was wiping her tears, but she was not.

***

The noisy main hall instantly became quiet when an officer named Kiren entered the room together with a beautiful woman who looked in disarray.

Although messy but the woman looks shining, her hair is tied carelessly, her face is without make up, and her, and the strange costume clinging to her slender body made the woman look different from the pregnant mother who was inside the main hall. Yes, that woman is Luna.

Luna looks ordinary, not awkward and embarrassed although it can be said if she is wrong costume. If other participants use tight gym t-shirts and leg pants along the knee, Luna instead uses a long-sleeved sweater and jogger pants along the ankle.

Arjuna's chest was pounding irregularly since both of his eyes were glaring at Luna who was stepping right behind Kiren.

"Luna!" Carnations shouted while waving hands.

Luna who saw the Carnations immediately approached the woman and they hugged. Despite hugging the Carnation, Luna tried not to greet Arjuna, but she saw clearly that the man was standing next to the Carnation and kept looking at her with a sharp gaze.

"Today we're not gymnastics, we're just doing introductions. Ah, a waste of time." Carnations tell Luna.

Luna nodded. "Yes, I know. The officer told me."

Carnations then scan the appearance of Luna from head to toe. "You should wear gymnastics clothes, not sweaters, Lun."

"I don't have gym clothes."

"How about we buy it after we get back from here." Carnations give advice.

"Just whatever. Oh, yeah, how do you make a belly that big?" asked Luna, pointing at the belly of Carnation.

Carnations chuckle. " With a pillow."

Luna laughs. "It's creative."

Arjuna cleared his throat repeatedly, hoping that Luna would talk to him, or at least look at him, but Luna did not do that. Arjuna knew, Luna must still be angry at him.

"Oh, yes, Lun, everyone present here should bring along their husbands. I don't know that rule, if I knew I wouldn't have registered you here." Carnations speak in a soft voice.

"No problem, I also told the officer that my husband would never be able to come."

"Oh, yeah, then what did he say?"

"It's okay. You can still do gymnastics without a husband!" Luna pressed the word husband, although she did not look at Arjuna, but Arjuna and Anyelir understood that Luna was upset right now.

"Did you say that your husband worked in a faraway place?" ask Carnation again.

Luna shook her head. "No. I'm just saying that my husband is dead and may my husband be calm there."

Seriate.