LUNA (SUBSTITUTE WOMAN)
THE WOMAN WHO STOPPED FOR A WHILE

There is nothing happier for Carnation today than the fact that Zion is by her side when her own husband turns away and prefers Luna. His body is still sweating and amazingly satisfied after having sex with Zion. Zion is very understanding, besides being able to make her satisfied, Zion also treats her so gently. Unlike Arjuna who will just leave immediately after getting satisfaction when they love.

Carnations stroked Zion's chest and landed several kisses there, then she said, "Arjuna prefers Luna," said Anyelir.

Zion frowned. "You mean?" Permission did not understand where the direction of the talk of Carnations because suddenly Carnations discuss about Luna in the midst of their togetherness.

Carnations sighed, then sat up straight beside Zion who was still lying down. "We had a fight over something. Instead of standing up for me, Arjuna asked me to step out of his presence and spend some time alone with the whore!"

Zion was shocked to hear what the Carnations had to say. "Rapid," he said.

"Yes, bitches. I know that you must have known what Luna did before she came to my house and became my husband's second wife. There's no way you don't know because you're friends with him."

Zion remained silent for a moment, then she asked Carnation, "Who told you that?"

"Luna herself. She confessed that she was a prostitute." Carnations then took her seat and said again, "If I had known that she was a prostitute, I would not have asked her to conceive my husband's child. It doesn't make sense that a good family like ours should raise a child born from the womb of a prostitute."

Zion suddenly stood up and immediately put on her clothes. For him what Carnations have said has been very outrageous. He did not like if there were people who talked about Luna like that, especially to talk about Luna with bad words after the sacrifice that Luna made.

Seeing what Zion was doing, the Carnations became confused. He stood up and touched Zion's face, "What's wrong?" ask Carnation.

Zion removed the Carnation's hand from her face and said, "It's nothing, it's just that I don't like to hear your assessment of Luna. Whatever Luna's past is, you have no right to judge her that way, Nye. You have no idea how hard life Luna lived. And what's the problem if you take care of a baby born from Luna's womb? Luna is still a mother regardless of her past, and I don't think a mother deserves an insult."

Carnations swallow Saliva, he does not expect that Zion is angry with him just because of his bad words about Luna.

"What I said wasn't wrong, was it? Luna is indeed a prostitute, Zi, and she's-"

"Here you go, Nye, I really don't want to discuss it with you right now. I just wanted to say, if baby Luna isn't good enough for you, let me and Luna take care of the baby. We don't need anything from you or from your husband." After saying that, Zion directly came out from inside the hotel room and left Carnation alone in a state of heartache and disappointment.

***

Luna sobbed in Arjuna's arms. Arjuna's attempts to calm Luna down are in vain, as Luna insists on leaving the house and forces Arjuna to join her. However, Arjuna did not want Luna to go anywhere because she could not go anywhere.

"You don't love me, which is why you don't want to come with me. Okay, if that's what you want, let me go" said Luna, after the umpteenth time Arjuna said that they didn't have to go from there.

Arjuna squeezed Luna's palm and said, "Don't, Luna. Please don't be stubborn. Think with a cold head. I can't get out of here. A lot of responsibilities that I bear, instead of me not wanting to go with you, are not at all. I just can't leave, because I'm in charge of the company and the others."

Luna is not satisfied with Arjuna's answer, for Arjuna's reason is only about the company. Not once did Arjuna say that Arjuna loved her.

"So it's just about the company?" ask Luna.

Arjuna took a breath. "Not only that, but I also have to keep my parents feeling."

"Then?"

"Anyelir and Carnation's parents."

Arjuna rubbed his face violently, then approached Luna who was now busy pulling her suitcase from the corner of the room.

"What are you doing?" ask Arjuna.

"Wake off. I'll come back and give up your baby after this baby's born."

"But, Lun-"

Luna raised her hand in the air, asking Arjuna to stop talking. "My desire is simple, but you can't keep my wish, so don't talk anymore. I don't need a word, Arjuna."

After saying that, Luna immediately came out of the room while pushing a suitcase full of clothes. His determination was already unanimous to leave Anyelir and Arjuna, because Anyelir had insulted his baby, and because Arjuna did not want to come with him.

***

A stroke of luck would come to the right person, and that fortune was currently approaching Bimo. Just now he stopped his car right across the street from Arjuna's residence, at the same time he saw Luna coming out of the fence of the mansion while dragging a suitcase.

Bimo who had longed for Luna was unwilling to waste the opportunity, especially when he realized that Luna was crying at that time.

Bimo swiftly got down from the car and crossed the road to approach Luna who looked pale and exhausted.

"Lun," said Bimo, as soon as he arrived before Luna.

Luna was shocked as soon as she saw Bimo's presence before her. Honestly, he actually expected Zion to come suddenly and magically take her away from the Carnation house instead of Bimo. However, despite his surprise, Luna did not attempt to escape. Her body was already so weak and her stomach ached, where could she fight Bimo at the moment.

"What are you doing? You're going?" bimo asked, while scanning Luna's appearance, and her gaze was then fixed on Luna's distended stomach which even more tempted her.

Luna nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry." Luna took a path beside Bimo, then continued on.

Bimo blocked Luna's path. "Where are you going? You have no destination, Luna, come with me."

"No."

"Don't be selfish. Think of your baby" Bimo said. "There's no way you're going back to the Red House pregnant, right?"

"I can take care of myself. After all, I don't want to go with a bad guy like you at all!" hiss Luna.

"I'm cruel, Luna, I know that. But, I still have my pride, where might I hurt a pregnant woman. Come with me for a while until you can decide what you're going to do next."

Luna was silent for a moment, occasionally she stared at the fence of the Carnation house that was still wide open. He wished Arjuna to get out of there and persuade him, restraining his departure. However, since Arjuna did not seem to be doing that, Luna nodded in agreement. "Alright," Lun said, to Bimo.

Bimo smiled in satisfaction, between believing and not when Luna said she agreed to go with him. However, he tried to hide his excitement and immediately grabbed Luna's suitcase from Luna's hand and led Luna to his car across the street.

Seriate.