Our Story: The Sudden Chancellery
32. Corroboration

Introducing

Amanda Seyfried as Gemma Aruna

Gemma could not sleep until the morning after reading a message from a woman named Rita. Who her? How much does this have to do with her husband? This message clearly indicates that he has cheated.

Gemma is sometimes afraid of this. Because now, he is not as attractive, as young, and as beautiful as before. At dawn, the woman thought a lot.

Why could Indra commit such treachery when she desperately struggled to stay true to the path her own husband had designed? He had complied with all Indra's wishes, but now what did he get?

His mind floated on when was the last time Indra kissed him or touched him. That was a long time ago.

“Sayang?”

The call made Gemma look back. He didn't realize that time had shown at 4 past 35 minutes. In half an hour, Viani must wake up and get ready to join Indra who will work, as well as lower it in front of the school gate.

Hurriedly, Gemma stood up and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Her brain was very deadlocked because it continued to be filled with various questions that she was confused when to say it to her husband. He opened the fridge, saw what he could cook for the whole house this morning.

The choice falls on the frozen Karage Chicken pieces in half-living packaging. He took out the food. Intending to put it on the kitchen island, the frozen chicken package fell down and stomped hard on the counter surface.

It was inevitable because his hands were constantly trembling, holding back the disappointment, sadness and anger mixed into one destroying his mood this morning blindly.

“What the hell fell that?” ask Indra who has now finished washing his face and approached the wife.

“Side,” says Gemma who avoids Indra's gaze.

The woman took various cookware that she placed carelessly to cause unpleasant sounds to be heard. Holding back her tears, she turned on the stove, put down the pan roughly then poured cooking oil in it.

“Why? Is something wrong? You don't usually think of gini.”

Unable to bear it anymore, Gemma raised her head and asked loudly. "You just asked what's wrong? Why don't you ask Rita?!”

Indra's body immediately stood stiffly behind his wife. His tongue suddenly twisted and his eyes widened when he heard the name called by the wife.

“How long has it been?”

“Gem..”.

“Jawab honest! How long is it?!” The woman growled with mounting anger.

Indra's face turned pias, his mouth opened but not a single word came out of it.

“Jawab.”

Indra looked down, not daring to look at the wife who was looking at him with an angry look mixed with sadness.

“One month.”

A rough snorting sound from Gemma's mouth rang out along with tears that began to drip slowly.

Indra cupped Gemma's face with gentleness. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry ..”

While removing the liquid on his face with the back of his hand, Gemma again asked. “When you cheated on him, did you think of my feelings?”

“A-I ..”

“Ngak, right? Is it because of this, you don't want to touch me again for a year?”

“Gem .. I swear, I equal Rita new this month ...”

“Then who were you with?” do not blame Gemma who has accused of not-not remembering Indra has a stable passion.

“Not there, Honey!”

“I've been taking you often. But you always refuse. Is it because of this?”

“Not, darling.You know the past year, I've been a GM, I've been busy a lot. My salary goes up, here's the same time I'm not left.”

“That's just your excuse!”

“Gem! I'm holding the Java area! Do you imagine how busy you are? I have to have two assistants! I travel out of town often. It's all for our family!”

“What is it that you make a justification for your affair? Tell me, who is Rita?!”

“He's a nobody, he's someone else! I don't feel the same way about him!”

"You feel it or not, you're cheating!"

"Gem. I really didn't mean it."

"That month was not accidentally again his name.” whispered Gemma with hunting breath and deflated flower chest. Intentions still want to poke Indra with a variety of questions again, but all disturbed when Viani appeared.

“What morning storm, Pa, Ma?” he said while rubbing his still sleepy eyes.

Without delay, Indra arranged his expression. Likewise with Gemma who turned around to remove the teardrops with the tip of her pajamas. He instantly turned on the stove and fried the Karage Chicken he took out of the refrigerator a dozen minutes ago.

“Come Lunaviani Suteja-ku most Papa dear...Buruan shower, later Papa anter,” Indra said to Viani. When Viani returned to her room to take a bath, Indra touched Gemma's hand and whispered. “We'll talk later. Do not let Viani know this.. is not good for him.”.

Everything was going as usual that morning. Except with the feelings of Indra and Gemma respectively. The wrinkles on their forehead cannot be covered.

After all dressed neatly, they sat together in the dining room and ate in silence. Their attention was split as Indra's phone rang. He lifted it up and spoke for a few minutes. It seems with his parents.

“So it was Papi, he said he would come this afternoon... Nice cook ya?” Indra looked at Viani. “Come Darling. Ready, right?”

“Already...” said Viani who was laughing while staring at her phone. Without looking at Gemma or lowering her phone first, she greets Gemma and passes by.

“I love you,” Indra said. He looked down, about to kiss Gemma, but his wife hurriedly brushed aside and avoided him, so that the lips only reached the wife's cheek. He also sighed disappointed. “I think, that's a punishment for me.. I'm leaving now.”

While watching the departure of his two soulmates, Gemma stared at the door that Indra had closed with nanar. He fell down, sitting on the floor weeping for his fate. His chest throbbed with pain.His heart ached over Indra's betrayal.

There was nothing he did but cry and wail with the sound of ringing filling the entire apartment. Recalling the happy times between them where she was finally able to forgive the past sins Indra had committed on her, Gemma thought her husband had changed.

Today's incident really slapped her hard, that everything in this world has an expiration date, including the loyalty of her husband.

Gemma cried until there were no tears left. He sat on the floor on the back of the sofa with a dull face due to the tears that had dried up.

Then there are three messages, entered simultaneously on Gemma's phone. The first, from the mother-in-law who said that she wanted the Sweet Sour Snapper for dinner.

The second, he was suddenly included in a group called the Tunas Persada High School Alumni class 2004-2006.

Just now that Gemma had entered it, the group immediately made a fuss. Gemma chuckles when she sees all her friends.

The biggest ones are Stefan and Marco. Gemma hears that Stefan has become a businessman, while Marco is an Engineer at a heavy equipment company.

And here he is. Gemma was a bit scared if she would be questioned. So he turned off the group notification and stayed silent. Because he was afraid that he would be asked about his life after a very gloomy and embarrassing High School. And there is nothing to tell from his life other than being married and having children.

Not working, not going to college, all the dreams that he had assembled first finally evaporated.

Then, his attention was turned to the third chat message he had not read. Gemma opened the message. And instantly his heart beats very fast.

[Diana: Gem.. Gala here in Jakarta. ]

It's not that Gemma is happy with the news. He's getting down. See him now? Far from beautiful or shining. He peeked at Gala's name in the group.

The picture is a photo of himself. Still handsome, with deep dimples that he really likes. Hundreds of full moons have passed, but it turns out that smile is still able to make Gemma difficulty breathing.

But while recalling her marriage to Indra, Gemma immediately shook her head, dismissing all the actual flavors still present. So the woman ignored the message from Diana.

He took a shower and got ready. He went to a large market to look for fresh Snapper ordered by the in-laws, while holding back the stifling feeling of his chest.

...***...

“We go down, Pi,” Indra said as he hung up. She turned to Gemma who had been wearing jeans with a pretty flower blouse. He looks fresh with that look.

Indra looked at his wife who was arranging the dining table neatly. “The aroma is good, Dear..”.

Gemma does not glance and does not respond to Indra at all. He soon passes from Indra, before him to get out of their apartment. “Viani, wait here yes. while cutting the pudding that you have made in the refrigerator.”.

“OK!” Viani replied without looking at Gemma anymore.

Arriving below, a white SUV drove from the entrance gate of the area.

“We must be friendly, dear.” Indra said while embracing Gemma and peeping her cheeks gently. “You smell good... I like it.”

In such a situation, Gemma chooses to follow what Indra says. Pretending that everything was okay rather than later being interrogated by her in-laws.

The SUV stopped right in front of the lobby, and his two in-laws came out from inside. They are a good couple and so powerful. Gemma admired Indra's parents who were very loyal to each other.

But that also made him very upset. During this time, Gemma was not close to anyone, especially after Mitha died two years ago from a heart attack. So did Yahya who lost contact with him. The last time Gemma heard from Indra that her father was now in another city.

At first Gemma thought they would be a replacement for her parents. But the truth is they are very perfectionist. Not infrequently, Gemma gets a reprimand for small things. That's what makes Gemma never detail telling things in her household.

“Goodnight Pi, Mi..” said Gemma politely while kissing the back of her two-in-law's hands followed by her husband.

“Hmm.. Good night,” said Philip, Indra's father.

“Goodnight, Son..” Mira, Indra's mother, also greeted her daughter-in-law. “Order Mami already made?”

“Already, Mi...” says Gemma timidly.

“Ayo, Pi.. Mi... log in,” take Indra to both parents.

Gemma sighed deeply for the long night she was about to go through and let them enter the lobby first. She had to put the matter aside until her in-laws actually came home, and intended to solve everything with just her husband.

But there is a strange feeling that is plaguing Gemma's mind right now. He felt he was being watched by someone else. Gemma spread her eyes around him. And caught someone who was indeed staring at him intensely at this moment.

He squinted his eyes and closed his mouth, not believing what he was seeing right now. Gemma is sure she's not the wrong person.

Gala, standing opposite him, looked at him with that gaze. The gaze that always made his heart melt whenever it was stared at like that.

Why did he have to show up again? Gemma is distracted. She doesn't like to see Gala here.

“Gemma..”.

Although not heard, Gemma could see that Gala was trying to call her. Ignoring all past feelings, Gemma turned around, and left Gala there without greeting her at all.

Gala can't see it like this. He is not in his best form. He felt so shameful and looked pitiful.

...****************...