SOLAR & The Specialists
Lubis

ANTARES

Ivanka and Edgar came along with different vehicles. They arrived at half-ten at night at the residence of Edgar's parents after getting a message from Lubis Sahetapi, Edgar's father and Ivanka's father-in-law. Edgar's parents' residence was in a luxury suburban estate known as Antares. Antares had twenty housing units scattered around their vast land. The distance between homes is very far, allowing each owner to have a yard or garden.

"Why did you want to meet?" Edgar ran a little to catch up with his wife.

"Where do I know!" Answer Ivanka with a tone of judes. "The Father just told me to come at any hour today. Got that message, I'm going straight here." Half of the complaining. The complaint is not excessive. He was serving patients when messages from his in-laws to come home immediately went into his cell phone. Ivanka immediately canceled the patient's remaining appointments that day so that she could immediately go to the residence of her in-laws who took two and a half hours from the clinic where she worked.

"Do you think Papah and Mamah already know about us?" Edgar's voice sounded worried.

The question from Edgar made Ivanka stop. They stood face to face on the porch of the house.

"What did you tell them?" There's an accusation behind Ivanka's question to him.

"I didn't say anything. We've agreed to keep this divorce a secret until the court's verdict comes out."

"In that case, I hope this isn't a matter of too much importance."

Edgar laughed half a snort. "You know my parents. They wouldn't have sent us here 'today' if there wasn't a serious problem."

Ivanka bit her lower lip involuntarily, starting to rouse. "We wouldn't know if we didn't go inside, would we?"

Edgar agreed. Both of them knocked on the double doors made of teak wood at the same time. Before long, a housekeeper opened the door and a big smile greeted them. Although both came late at night, Edgar's parents' house seemed to still look busy. Evidently, some of the domestic assistants they met along the way to the family room, where Lubis Sahetapi and his wife were waiting.

"Sit down." Men in white polo shirts and wearing shorts in front of them did not raise their heads from the coffee cup when they arrived.

Ivanka and Edgar sat down on the empty sofa beside them.

Madam Sahetapi who was sitting next to her husband just glanced at her son and daughter-in-law. He focused more on knitting in the hand. The two hands of the seventy-nine-year-old woman were still agilely dancing with threads and needles.

"You and Papah are fine, right?" Edgar rubbed his hands over his thighs.

"It's late. Papah won't be pleasantries." Lubis Sahetbut put a beautiful porcelain cup on the table. "Are you getting divorced?"

Ivanka and Edgar looked at each other nervously.

Not immediately getting an answer, Lubis Sahetapi gestured in the air with her right hand. Before long, a middle-aged man whom Edgar had known as his Papa's personal assistant for the past fifteen years, appeared with a yellow map in hand. He placed the map on the table and then immediately pampered. Edgar opens the map and finds the paperwork behind the house certificate on Selena's behalf.

"What does this mean, Pah?" Edgar did not understand.

"Papa should ask you." Lubis Sahetapi combed her thick white hair with her right hand. Edgar memorized the gesture. His father always brushes his hair to the back of the head if you are upset. But the remains are not at all visible from his vulnerable face. Her mother looked calm when knitting. "You'd be a fool to think that the news of your divorce can be covered up from us. Did you forget that Papah is the owner of the biggest law firm here? Papah knows all the judges, prosecutors, and lawyers in Indonesia."

"We didn't mean to"

"- keeping your divorce a secret?" Cut Lubis Sahet but with a calm attitude that begins to look creepy. The man who got the title of best law professor in Indonesia was short-sighted. "Of course you intend to keep it a secret from the beginning."

"Then what does this have to do with these documents, Pah?" Edgar put the documents he held onto the table.

"You ever think about Selena when you file your lawsuit in court?" Lubis Sahet asked back.

"We plan to tell him when the time is right, Pah." Ivanka finally opened her voice.

The man leaned his back against the sofa. "Selena contacted one of Papah's firm's associate lawyers for a consultation. He wants to get the house you've been in after you've officially divorced."

That left Ivanka and Edgar gasping. Nothing surprises them more than knowing that their only child knows about their parents' circumstances and pretending that things are normal. Then what's the point of them trying to cover up their divorce all this time?

"Selena knows?" Ivanka covered her face with a palm, her heart breaking.

"Why are you getting divorced?" Mr. Sahetbut heed none of that question.

"We don't feel right, Pah." Edgar replied after being silent for a long time.

"That's a silly thing that's often used as an excuse for divorce." Gerrutu Lubis Sahetapi. "Newly feeling unsuitable after twenty years together? Why wasn't yesterday when Selena wasn't born?"

The son and his son-in-law caught the innuendo of the question.

"Father ask you not to come here to convict you." Lubis Sahetapi sipped black coffee from her cup. "The Father wants to give you a warning for acting recklessly. We both don't care about your choices. Whether you separate or not is your business. But if you get Selena hurt and under psychological pressure because of this divorce, then Papah won't hesitate to act."

Ivanka and Edgar exchanged looks.

"Father can make you lose custody of Selena." Further.

"We're Selena's parents. Papah has no right to speak so!" Sergei Ivanka.

"Ivy's right, Pah! It's not fair that Papah is like this when we agreed to part ways well and are in talks about custody of our son." Connect Edgar.

Lubis Sahetbut still sipped her coffee quietly. "Selena has decided." His word.

"What does that mean?" Ivanka asked, looking agitated in her seat.

"Selena said she didn't want to come with you both." Lubis Sahetapi looked at them in turn. "Signs you two are not good at taking care of children. Still think you deserve to be a parent?"

Edgar and Ivanka were both speechless, at a loss for words.

"Moreover your divorce." Further. "Father and Mamah will help Selena get what she wants. Even if it means keeping you two away from her."

"But Selena's our son!" Tears began to wash over Ivanka's face.

"The father finished talking. If you want to stay, please! There are many empty rooms in this house." Lubis Sahetapi got up from her seat, and left without saying anything else.

Mrs Sahetapi stopped her knitting. He looked at the child and his daughter-in-law with a flat look. "You're very disappointed." The woman clicked her tongue and followed her husband.

Now only Edgar and Ivanka live in the room, equally busy with their respective minds. After a few seconds, Ivanka's phone rang. Ivanka picked him up without seeing who called him these nights.

"Hello?"

"Ivy, why are you divorced?! It's crazy, huh?!" Ivanka had to keep her phone away from her ear because it was yelled at by her own mother.

Edgar heard it too. He looked down while covering his face with both hands.

***

The couple, who have not officially divorced, returned to their home at eight in the morning. They couldn't stand Edgar's parents' cold treatment, so decided to say goodbye in the morning. Ivanka had to pay her parents a phone call last night. They got word about the divorce from Ms. Sahetapi. Both are made dizzy until they do not get enough sleep. They did not expect that the treatment of their parents was this harsh if it was about Selena. They should have known if Selena had been their favorite granddaughter. They won't let Selena get hurt even if they have to remove Ivanka and Edgar's names from the family list. The couple felt like criminals. They are Selena's parents.

"Edgar, I have something to ask you." Ivanka rubbed her puffy cheeks. Along the way he had thought long enough to cry sobbing.

"What?" Edgar looked at the face of the woman who was about to become his ex-wife with hardened jaws. He still cares about Ivanka. The sad face put on by the strong woman always managed to make her feel guilty even though she did not know what her mistake was.

"Do you have another woman? My replacement?"

Edgar was silent for a long time, not expecting to get the question.

"Answ."

Edgar nodded. His eyes looked in all directions other than Ivanka. One of his feet played a pebble on the ground. "There can't be anyone comparable to you, Ivy."

"Why did you agree to divorce me?" A tear fell on Ivanka's cheek, she hurriedly wiped it off. He was tired of crying, but the emotional pressure he felt could not control the tear glands.

"I agree because you seem to be tormented with me. I think divorce is the only way for us."

"Then Selena?"

"If the court decides that custody is with you. I can what?"

Ivanka approached. Without warning Edgar's face had been slapped very hard.

"Your resigned attitude makes me sick. All those reasons you made me feel like a loser. Tell me what's on your mind!" Ivanka's voice is high. Various emotions were seen from his reddened face and was now wet with tears that would not stop flowing.

"I don't want to argue with you." Edgar rubbed his sore cheek next to a slap.

Ivanka cried out in frustration. He threw his tote bag on the ground violently.

"Our parents are going to drive me crazy! They can't just take Selena!" His roar. Both of his hands clenched and constantly hit his own sedan hood. Edgar, who could not bear to see Ivanka so tormented, tried to stop her from hurting herself. He held Ivanka's hands together by holding her.

"I'll tell you what I really think." Ivanka was unbroken as she was carried into Edgar's arms. "I honestly can't stand the thought of having to live without you. I started to learn to get used to staying in the hospital for as long as I could. I'm afraid of being close to you because I'm worried about my actions that might make you sicker of me. I could've begged at your feet for a second chance. Damnit damnit! I don't even know what caused you to file a lawsuit in court! I really don't understand how to fix this. So I just shut up and quit like a coward. I'm sorry, Ivy. I can't live without you and Selena. I'm sorry I don't know this myself."

Ivanka's crying really broke. He beat Edgar in the chest with a weak force. He was tired of holding everything alone. Edgar calmed his wife patiently. He patted Ivanka on the back and occasionally stroked her, letting Ivanka spill all. Edgar's blue shirt was soaked all over his chest. Mascara Ivanka also faded to make a messy line on her face. Ivanka's performance is actually laughable. But Edgar couldn't laugh. She was afraid Ivanka would go on a rampage again. For half an hour they hugged under the sky. As soon as Ivanka finished shedding her emotions, she stayed away.

"It's all my fault." Words begin. His voice changed. "I love my job so much that I keep my distance from you and Selena. I don't want to be. I've tried not to. But the distance that stretches and keeps me away from you two is getting wider. I thought I couldn't go back. I seek self-defense by blaming you for any shortcomings that should be ours. My career is brilliant but my family is a mess. I feel most right, and you are to blame. My actions brought about the destruction of our family. I don't know what Selena went through because she had a miserable Mama like me. Now you must hate me, right?" Ivanka covered her face with her palm, starting to cry again.

"So that's why you divorced me?"

Ivanka nodded.

Edgar lowered Ivanka's hands. He looked at his wife as if he was seeing a new side of her. Edgar slowly approached carefully. She didn't expect Ivanka to push her away. She begged Ivanka to let her go. Then their lips touched each other. Initially tasting each other, trying to treat their true longing secretly.

"Can I change your mind this time?" Edgar's whisper on Ivanka's lips. His wife did not answer. He drew Edgar closer by placing both hands behind the head of the man he had been married to for twenty years. Their lips are clenched to each other. The turbulence they thought was gone was back to smoldering in an instant.

***

"What time does Selena come home?" Edgar just got out of the bathroom. He was wearing only shorts and a t-shirt. Both hands were busy drying wet hair with a towel.

"A little while." Ivanka looked at the wall clock that showed two o'clock in the afternoon. She was busy preparing lunch after taking a shower. The woman had not had time to wear anything under her bathrobe. Edgar made sure he was busy all day in a room they hadn't lived in together in a long time.

Her husband approached and hugged Ivanka from behind. He felt Edgar's rough chin tickle his neck and make him laugh.

"I miss the sound of this laughter." Edgar Mumbled. He touched Ivanka's face and kissed her softly.

"Selena's coming home soon." Ivanka pushed him away. Edgar was disappointed.

"You'd better get dressed. Just do the dishes, right?" Edgar looked at his wife's body from top to bottom with a mischievous flick.

"Ah, that's right! I'll leave it to you then." Ivanka peeked at Edgar's cheek and ran to the room to get ready to welcome their child.

After getting dressed, Ivanka returned to the dining room. Lunch is on the table. The two who had not eaten since last night decided to eat first. They eat while chatting casually. Ivanka thinks how long she hasn't talked to her husband.

The clock has shown three o'clock in the afternoon over ten. Selena is still invisible. Ivanka and Edgar have moved into the living room. Occasionally they make out or continue work through a laptop that is in each lap. Ivanka is starting to feel nervous. He always comes home at night. Selena usually sleeps when she gets home. But he routinely gets a message from the driver he hired to take Selena. He just remembered if he had been a few days now he had no news about the hours of departure and return of their children just their puppet.

"I'm going to his room."

Edgar just muttered back. Both eyes were focused on the laptop screen. Ivanka left him to go upstairs. Usually Ivanka never bother to take care of the house because there is a housekeeper who always comes every afternoon to clean the house and cook for Selena. Especially today he has sent a message to the housekeeper to take a day off work. His mood is very good. He did not mind taking a few days off to take care of his home and family. Suddenly he felt a longing for his daughter. It's been a week since they last met face to face. They even missed Selena's seventeenth birthday. He promises in his heart to make Selena a party instead.

Ivanka opened half the door to Selena's room when she saw her son crawling down from the window.

"Selena?" Ivanka opened the door wide and went straight in. "What are you doing, son?"

Selena raised her face when she heard someone enter. Ivanka immediately helped him sit on the edge of the bed.

"Why not go through the front door?" Tanya Ivanka was astonished. He checked the condition of his son's body, worried that he might get hurt. The uniform looks crumpled and a little shabby. There was a faint smell of salt.

"Selena saw Mama and Papa's car in the garage. Selena doesn't want to bother you, so go up through the window. It's common, though." Selena smiled a little. He avoided eye contact with his mother. Ivanka who was somewhat surprised by Selena's unusual demeanor could only sigh heavily. He rubbed his son's head full of affection.

"Eat first, huh?"

Selena nodded. "Selena's going downstairs to finish the shower."

Ivanka got out of bed and went out of the room to the family room.

When he got downstairs, he sat down next to Edgar. "I feel like Selena's kind of changed." He told Edgar.

"Change how?" Edgar asked without taking his eyes off the screen.

"High eyes are not like Selena usually. What happened to him, huh? You think now's a good time to discuss our family matter?"

Edgar closed his laptop while sighing. "Don't be too much! Maybe Selena's just a tadpole." He was silent for a moment. "Selena's home? No sound when I come in?"

"He climbed up the window because he saw our car in the garage. He's uncomfortable in case we're fighting."

Edgar chuckled, "Maybe Papah is right. We are not parents."

In response, Ivanka hit her husband's arm.

***