The Beginning of the Catastrophe
THE BEGINNING OF THE LIPSTICK TAINT CHAPTER 17

[Gue just met your husband. Are you in Bali? I'm not saying we can meet.]

I was confused to read the message sent by my friend Nayla. I watched over and over again thinking about what it meant. Obviously my husband is in Surabaya currently being served out of town requested by his superiors.

[Whose husband?] Repasku. I really don't know what Nayla means. Either he sent it wrong or something.

[Jeez .. Yes your husband is, Lis! Nanya pake! How neat are her clothes.] There was no long reply from Nayla.

[Gue met at the new hotel.] Not yet had time to reply, came a follow-up message from Nayla.

[Ah, wrong look at the times. Mas Arkan is in Surabaya again. Two days ago I left.] My reply.

I'm not sure what Nayla said. Maybe he saw it wrong.

[Yakali! Hey, I also know Arkan.] Reply again.

Nayla is so. If you talk like bars and ceplas-ceplos. Never a calm.

Nayla is my next door neighbor, only she and her family have been on vacation to Bali since two weeks ago. Of course he was very familiar with my husband Mas Arkan and right what he said, he could not be wrong people.

All I knew was that Nayla and her family were planning a vacation to Malang, but she suddenly told them that she had arrived in Bali. So that people know Nayla and her family vacation in Malang.

[Eh, hang on, Lis. That's your husband's wedding, isn't it?] The message from Nayla came back, which made my heart pound.

I gulped bitterly reading a piece of the sentence Nayla sent. I'm sure this is impossible.

[Don't ngaco ah!] Short reply.

[Gospel! Really, Lis. He had a wedding party at my hotel. I'll try a video call, yeah.]

I haven't had a chance to reply, dialed in a video call from Nayla. With a great racing heartbeat, I pressed the green button on the phone.

I smothered my mouth with my hands when on the screen it was clear that Mas Arkan was walking on the altar to the mop. Outdoor wedding shades of white are very beautiful and charming.

I can't speak of seeing what I see in front of my own eyes even through a mobile phone screen.

Although the distance from the video call was quite far from Mas Arkan, I was still able to recognize my husband from his body gestures, his way of walking and how he smiled.

"Lis, are you okay?" ask Nayla worried. I'm not saying. Rigid tongue.

I don't know who the bride is. I couldn't recognize her because her face was covered in a white cloth.

"Lis, I'm closing yes. Lo calm yourself," said Nayla. The video call was turned off without her waiting for my approval.

[Lis, sorry I closed the video call. I'm afraid of why.] Nayla sent a message.

[Yes, Nay.] Short reply.

I still can't believe what I just saw. I'm sure it's not Mas Arkan. She couldn't possibly be this evil heart secretly wishing for me to even marry again.

I'm sure this is impossible.

I called Mas Arkan's number but there was no answer. Cellphone's turned off. I felt the fog alone in the room.

My chest feels so painful. I can no longer avoid statements. Arkan really married again and cheated on me.

What wrong? Our relationship has been fine all along. We're not having any problems.

The clear weather was peaceful as if a great storm was coming and ravaging my heart.

[Mas, where are you? I called it unanswered.] I'm sending a message.

We waited anxiously but there was no reply.

[Lis, this is how your husband married using the blessing of all is he a Muslim?] The message from Nayla came followed by a video showing Mas Arkan and a woman performing a wedding blessing led by a priest.

I couldn't believe what I saw. Just as he was about to reply, a sudden cry from the mother-in-law came from outside the room.

"Lis, let's help the jagan just sleep and doang tumbahan usually!" he screamed from outside the room.

I let out a breath. I just took a break and saw a message from Nayla. Since this morning I was precisely in the kitchen, because my mother-in-law was holding a thanksgiving somehow in what order.

"Yes, Mom," I said. I wiped away the remaining tears and tried to catch my breath. I didn't want my mother-in-law to ask me why I was crying.

I also don't want to debate this before Mas Arkan comes home and he's telling the truth.

A liverache? Sure oes. My heart breaks formless knowing all this. But I don't want to be rash. All of this should be clear first and then I can make a decision.

***

[Sorry, Honey. I just finished the meeting. Oh right, looks like I'll be in Surabaya longer because the boss asked me to take care of some things first.]