My Mom Wants to Mate
76. Where Are You?

"Later in the afternoon you will go to the expo?"

"No. Please take a picture of her right there just as she left! Start later until the next few days, anyway until the expo is finished. Don't forget the picture is given by the time marker."

When Haris sends photos at the expo, Karen plans to send a chat like yesterday and make as many photo collages as possible.

"Where are you going?"

"I want to go to .. There is."

Haris nodded and walked out of Karen's room.

Anggoro, Citra and Inda were talking three. Other employees are busy with their work.

"Gwgpssttt." They suddenly stopped the chatting activity when Haris came out.

"Why? How about direct on diem? You talking about me again, huh?" Haris' question felt like a shot on target.

"Hahaha, the spiciness, Mas Haris. Our man again talked about the artist Reki Raditya, it's you know he had a child out of wedlock," said Anggoro.

"Oh, Kirain is talking to me again. After all, I came to you guys directly on them." Checkmate!

"It's only natural that if someone comes, the rumor must be put first" Citra said.

"I'll go to the studio first. Oh, hell!" pamit Haris's.

"Daaahhh," said Anggoro, Citra and Inda.

~

In the afternoon, Karen came to the halfway house. He meets Nathan and Dion to ask for information about the ongoing expo.

"Why, Ren?" nathan asked who had just changed his clothes.

Dion followed.

"I want to ask. Doctor Nathan and Doctor Dion are part of the consulting assignment at the culinary expo Hotel Grand Astan?"

Nathan and Dion nodded.

"You met Daniel?"

"No, Ren. We are different shifts. Nathan morning at 9 am until 12 pm, I'm at 12 to 3, Daniel at 3 until closing at 6. I've been meeting the change of shift, but it's just a bunch," explained Dion.

"If I don't see you at all, I'll be in the morning" Nathan said.

"You know where he's going from there? Ever told?"

Nathan and Dion looked at each other.

Waduh, signs. (Nathan).

Pretty boy leaving without a message? (Dions).

They both nodded, doubtful.

They are both his best friends. Surely if he acts up, they're protecting Daniel. (Karen).

Karen nodded. "Well, if you don't know."

"What are you doing, Ren? Just a story," Pinta Dion.

"It's okay. Oh yeah, I have a special request. Please don't tell Daniel I'm here, yeah! Please ... It's a secret."

Nathan and Dion looked up again, then nodded at the same time.

"Eh, where's Lana from Asa?"

"It was in the main building, again playing with Althan. Just go there!" nathan said as he pointed to the main building in the halfway house.

Karen chatted with the two pregnant women until the afternoon. He also met the teenagers of the inhabitants of the halfway house who were fighting for the fate of children in their womb.

***

Some days it runs in almost similar rhythms. The difference is, Karen came out of the room later in the day. He waited for Daniel to go to the hospital to avoid meeting him.

On the last day of the expo, Karen opened her eyes at 7am. He was shocked to see the table in his room. There lay her marriage contract with Daniel.

Karen took it and reread the contract. His eyes arrive at point number 4, Karen and Daniel can have a partner outside.

Under these circumstances, it felt like that point was what her husband wanted to emphasize. He felt all these events were interrelated and it was true that Daniel had a lover out there.

He wants to be negative if we can have a partner outside, huh? All this series of events is really action he cheated and because of this 4th point I have no right to deny him contact with other women. (Karen).

Karen's tears are coming again.

~

In the afternoon, upon arrival at home after work, Karen tidied the clothes into a suitcase. He planned to leave the house for some time.

She looked back at her marriage contract with Daniel on the table.

I can't take it anymore. I go first to rest my mind. (Karen).

He put the suitcase in the car.

Aunt Sum comes by at 6pm and cooks dinner for Karen.

After dinner, he prepared to leave.

"Non, where are you going?"

"Go, Bi."

"Be careful, Nope."

Karen nodded.

Aunt Sum did not watch Karen put the suitcase in the car. He thought his departure was just a moment like yesterday.

~

He also woke Aunt Sum in the back room.

"Bi, where's Karen?"

With narrowed eyes, Aunt Sum spoke, "Lhoh, Non Karen hasn't come home yet?"

"He left? Where to?"

"Not really, Den. But yesterday also went but intermittently. Usually at 7 or 8 to get home. Sorry I was so sleepy Den, so don't wait for Non Karen to come home."

"It's okay, Bi."

Daniel goes back to his room and tries to call Karen. Not connect. He lay down on the bed while looking at the ceiling of the room.

Where is he? (Daniel).

He circled his gaze across the room then walked back into the closet to change clothes.

Lhoh, where's Karen's suitcase? (Daniel).

He realized that his wife's suitcase wasn't there. His hand grabbed the handle of the closet door and opened it. Karen's clothes aren't there anymore.

Oh, my God, where is he? Did he run away from home? Or another vacation? (Daniel).

Once again he tried calling Karen, but he wasn't connected yet.

He called Lana to find Inda's cell phone number. After getting Inda's mobile number, Daniel stopped for a moment.

If he was angry and was with Inda, surely Inda would not tell me. (Daniel).

Daniel thought for a moment then decided to go straight to the places he thought were where Karen went.

Before leaving, he headed for the bathroom for a while. In the bathroom, he was surprised. Karen's shocking departure was nothing compared to what she found there.

He found a test pack that was positive.

Karen pregnant? (Daniel).

He put the test pack in his pocket and then left immediately. This time Daniel moves faster to find Karen.

He came to Inda's house. But Karen wasn't there. Inda suggested to go to Citra's house, Daniel followed Inda's direction.

Still nil, there is no Karen in Citra's house.

She went to Mama Puri and Kendrik.

📞"Ken, I'm on my way home."

📞"Lhoh, why Brother Niel? Is there something that's laughing at me?"

📞"No. Is your mom asleep?"

📞"Not yet, watch the series on cable tv."

📞"Look, you don't talk out loud. Karen's in there again, isn't she?"

Kendrik checked Karen's old room, Mama Puri's room, and all the rooms in the house.

📞"No, he's not here. Brother Ren isn't home, is he?"

Kendrik patted his own forehead.

Yes, he's not home. If anything, why did Brother Daniel come here malem-malem. Ha?! What's?! Is Ren home?! (Cendric).

Kendrik was surprised and a bit late to respond.

📞"Yes, Ken. Karen's not home, I'm looking for her."

📞"Where to go?"

Kendrik patted his forehead again.

Yes if he knows, will not be confused nyariin to yes. Why am I suddenly slow anyway? (Cendric).

📞"I don't know. Just a little while until. You come with me and find him, yeah."

📞"Okay, Brother. I'll just wait outside so Brother Niel is not interrogated with Mama."

Kendrik changed his shirt.

"Ken, where are you going malem-malem? I'm not long home yet to go."

"There's my script forgetfulness, Ma. It's the same as Daniel again."

"Akh is real?"

Daniel's car was heard.

"That's coming, take a peek, Ma, if you don't believe it. But don't tell Brother Niel to stop by in a hurry."

They both open the door. Daniel lowered his head slightly from the window and smiled at Mama Puri.

Really, with Daniel. (Mama Castle).

"Yes, ati-ati! When you're done, go home, yes!"

"Berez, Ma."

Kendrik ran to Daniel's car.

to be continued

Jogja, July 6th 2021