The Honorary Owner
74

Ruby was well dressed and was enjoying her breakfast, when she found Hiko had just returned after a day ago disappeared somewhere. His face looked tired and shabby with messy hair, he went to fetch some drinking water on the dining table.

A pungent smell like cigarette smoke, alcohol clings to Hiko's body, from where Ruby can guess where the man was last night. They ignore each other, Ruby focuses on continuing her breakfast and Hiko leaves after drinking water.

Ruby went to the office wearing an online ojek, a denim jacket wrapped her body that had not recovered properly. He went straight to Heru's room to leave a contract with Sunrise Animation that he had signed.

"I'm sorry, sir." Ruby Saying.

"I told you it's okay, By. I'm glad you can grow." He said, "But you still have to finish the rest of your contract here, huh? Just a little while, right?"

Ah, yes. I think I can go right away. Inner Ruby.

Ruby nodded her head, "I'm going back to work, sir." Pamit Ruby, "good morning."

"Yes, By. Good morning." Good morning."

Ruby went back to her study. Entering the animator's room his eyes were immediately fixed with the figure of Abriz who was also staring at him. He could see that Abriz was sad to see him. Ruby just smiled faintly at him while greeting her friends then sat down at her desk.

"By! You're going to Japan?" ask Irma.

Ruby nodded, "do'ain no hindrance yes, Ma."

"I swear you're so cool, By!" The other law.

"Detep inget the same we, do not forget to share the science also in the grub." Added Tasya.

Ruby nodded, among her friends only Abriz was not happy to see Ruby's departure.

Among the boisterous friends, Ruby got a whatsapp message.

/I want to meet you to talk to you about something, By./

Not from Abriz, but from Nara.

He already knew what Nara wanted to talk about, he was lucky that Nara still wanted to talk to him because he wanted to explain something to his best friend.

**********

Ruby had finished her work faster and she asked Abriz for permission to go home early. Not because he was sick, because he had to see Nara immediately.

A Cafe Nara subscription in the middle of town becomes an option for Ruby and Nara to meet. Ruby can see Nara when she just entered the cafe courtyard because Nara chose to sit near a large glass window.

The atmosphere of the cafe is very comfortable, not too many visitors that afternoon. Ruby approached Nara.

"Hi, Ra." Greetings Ruby. He hugs Nara and continues kissing on the right and left cheeks, the typical way Ruby and Nara meet.

"Hi, By. You sick?" Be aware of the temperature of Ruby's cheeks warmer.

Ruby just smiled.

"What do you want to order? The Blue Ocean Soda? It's right here."

Ruby nodded, "Yes, Ra. Can."

Nara raised her hand to call a cafe waiter. He mentions an additional order for Ruby after a waiter approaches her.

"Good, Brother. Waiting, yeah." Said the waiter and left.

Nara looked back at Ruby. "You know what I want to talk about, right, By?" Ask Nara.

Ruby nodded. "I'm sorry to be the third person between you and Mas Hiko."

Nara silently looked at Ruby, "You have the same feeling as Hiko, By?"

The deg!

The question surprised Ruby.

Ruby was silent for a moment, "How dare I do that, Ra." He answered, but he did not dare to look Nara in the eye.

"What have you done to Mas Hiko? the way he's treated me is different since he married you."

"What do you mean, Ra?"

"He won't touch me anymore. What did you give him?" Nara asked, "Did she touch you, By?"

Ruby speechless.

From Ruby's attitude, Nara could deduce something if her conjecture was correct.

"How far has he touched you?" Nara started to growl, her hands were already clenching in anger. "Have you ever kissed?"

"Ma ..."

SPLASH!!

A glass of Blue Ocean Soda still on the tray of servants moved to Ruby's face.

"I HATE YOU, BY!"

Shouted Nara, grabbing the attention of Cafe visitors. Nara takes her bag and leaves Ruby.

Ruby silently endured the cries and embarrassment, she wanted to step away but her legs were too heavy to do so.

A waiter shoved him a tissue, unable to bear to see Ruby like that. "Please, Brother."

Ruby smiled, "I'm going to go to the toilet for a second and I'm paying for this." Ruby Said.

The waiter just nodded. "The toilet's behind the stairs, brother." he pointed at a door behind the stairs.

Ruby nodded, taking a deep breath and then leaving her wet desk to the toilet.

"Ruby!"

Someone's call made Ruby raise her head, it was Genta and some of her friends who had just come down the stairs.

"What's going on here?" Ask Genta.

"He's Hiko's wife, Ta." Ask one of his friends.

Genta. He saw some of the clothes, jackets, and skirts he was wearing wet.

"Lo why?" Ask Genta.

Ruby just shook her head then left Genta and went inside the toilet.

"What is the incident?" Ask Genta's friends.

Genta approached a servant, asking if anything had happened just now. And they told me about what Ruby had experienced.

"Ooh. that girl who used to come here with me and Hiko?" Ask Genta. "Thanks yes, Ma'am."

That must be Nara, Inner Genta.

"You guys go back, I take care of this one first." Genta said to his friends.

"Ok, go back, Ta."

Genta waited for Ruby near the stairs, a little while he was inside but Genta remained patiently waiting for him.

Chequek!

The toilet door finally opened, blue stains on Ruby's shirt and skirt were not too flashy. His face looked fresh, probably because he was washing his face. But her eyes were red, her tears were still visible there.

"Mas Genta hasn't come home yet?" Ask Ruby.

"I'm waiting for you, there's something I need to talk to you about." Genta.

Ruby stared at the customer desk, she was already uncomfortable talking here.

"To the second floor." Bring Genta.

"I'll pay for the order first, Mom." Ruby Said.

"Udah, just a little! This is my cafe, just relax." Answer Genta, "Come!"

Ruby followed Genta up to the second floor. Unlike at the bottom, the design on the second floor uses a vintage style with a sofa as a customer seat. The distance between the table with each other is also wide, not too close, so it is comfortable if used as a place to talk about personal things.

"Want to order another drink?" Ask Genta. He sat on a different sofa to Ruby.

Ruby shook her head, "No, Mas. Thanks." Answer Ruby.

Genta just nodded, he looked at Ruby. "Why did Nara do that to you?" Tanya Genta did not have much fun.

Ruby was a little surprised, how could Genta know if the one who did that was Nara?

"Please don't tell anyone, Mom." Ruby Pinta.

Genta nodded, "Hiko's problem?" Guess Genta.

Ruby nodded. "I don't blame him for doing this to me, I was wrong, I was a thorn in their relationship."

"I was hoping you could stay with Hiko, By."

Ruby looked at Genta, surprised.

"I'm grateful Hiko wants to marry you, I know the mistake she made that night. I'm sorry for leaving him and coming late."

Ruby was more and more surprised, she could not say anything.

"I purposely made Hiko marry you, I want her to take responsibility for you. Maybe it is through you that he can stop doing it at will. I'm sorry."

"I know he married me out of guilt, he might have pity on me." Ruby said, "But I've asked her to divorce me, Mas. Don't expect more from me."

Now Genta is surprised by Ruby's statement. "Why, By? You guys just got married."

"I want to marry her just to get a status. Better someone else see me as a widow than a rape victim's girl." Ruby replied, "and also I want to make Mas Hiko's parents can accept Nara as her son-in-law, I want Nara to be happy with her choice. I want Nara to marry the person she loves, be able to protect her and love her."

Genta scrunched his forehead.

"But maybe I can't convince Mas Hiko's parents anymore, because I have to get out of their lives."

"Why, By?" Genta asked, not willing to accept Ruby's decision.

"I'm afraid to be the third among them. I don't want to hurt anyone."

"You scared?"

Ruby nodded.

"You got feelings for her, By?"

Ruby was surprised by the question.

"If you don't have feelings for her, you won't be afraid, By."

Ruby was silent, she wanted to deny it but she did not know what words were right to answer Genta.

"Stay next to him, By." Genta Pinta.

Ruby shook her head, "I'm going back to Japan, Mas. I've signed with one of the animation studios there."

"Oooh, so this is why he went to the club last night?" Genta smiled happily when he got an answer to his question. "She seems frustrated with your decision."

"He won't let me go, but I'll keep going."

Gent fell silent. She really wants Ruby to be with Hiko, but seeing her situation now looks very clear if she is being tormented with her own feelings.

**********

Adzan Magrib had been reverberating some time ago, but Ruby still had not set foot in the house. Since then Hiko has been busy pacing the front yard waiting for Ruby's arrival.

Unexpectedly, Genta's car stops at Hiko's yard and Ruby gets out of there. Genta opened the car window and waved Hiko's greeting.

"Gue first, yeah. Sorry, can't stop by." The word Genta then passed.

Hiko clucked in annoyance, "Who told you to stop by." Mumbled.

"Acasino'aikum ..." Say hello to Ruby without looking at Hiko, she just passed into the house.

"Wa'alaikumsalam, where are you from? why are you with Genta?"

Ruby ignored Hiko.

"By!" Hiko pulled Ruby's hand.

Her face was pale, with some of her hoods, clothes, jacket and skirt slightly wet and many blue stains on it.

"Lo why? How wet?" Hiko pulled the front of Ruby's jacket

Ruby brushed it off and continued her steps towards the room. Hiko was still following her, but her steps came to a halt when Ruby stopped right in front of her bedroom door.

"Stop following me and stop caring about me, Mom." Ruby Said.

Hiko pulls Ruby's hand right before Ruby opens her bedroom door. He held Ruby's forehead, rightly guessing if Ruby still had a fever.

"We're going to the doctor!" Hiko pulled Ruby's hand.

"Let go, Mas!" Ruby pulled out her hand.

Hiko growled with Ruby's attitude, "Don't act like you're strong!"

"Mas also don't act as if you care about me! Don't make me think more, you just love me!" Ruby's scream was followed by her sobs.

He sat crouching, piled his arms above his knees and gulped his face there. He cried out as hard as he let out his anger.

- Connected

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