Under The Rain's
Chapter 32—Diary

Diaries. The only true friend since Reva was a child. In fact, when he was unable to pour out all his feelings to Rafael and Erin, the diary was never absent as a silent witness to each of his stories. Reva is not very good at talking. Every strand of the word on his head seemed to choke all on the wall of his mouth whenever he wanted to uncover a story. But the woman loved to write. And he wrote everything. From the darkest point at the bottom of the calamity to the glimmer of light at the end of the passageway.

Nadia who had just been showered by various new facts about the woman she had long known was a flood of tears. Things that he had previously thought were impossible, began to turn after him as invisible terror. How could Reva have experienced all of that without anyone knowing? How could that woman hold everything by herself? Nadia was not thinking. He would not even be able to pass a day without whining to anyone who was nearby. Nadia the spoiled girl, finally reached a turning point in her life at that time.

“Rin ... I'm so evil.” Her weak tone was heard as she realized that her married life was above the suffering of others. When he realized that someone on the other end had to fight desperately just for the sake of a confession. But really, Nadia knows nothing. He did not know that all that time he had set foot on a gaping wound that was getting stepped on more and more sore.

“Nad ... no one knows his past is as dark as it was.”

Erin felt what Nadia was feeling. Both surprised and unexpected. After all, everything that has to happen is bound to happen. Suratan of destiny was imprinted in the universe even before the first breath of the world blew. Maybe not much can be done about it. Que sera sera.

“And because of me, El has become like that, Rin! I'm the one who obviously told the guy about the past, both of them. I sent El to hell myself, Rin!”

“Nad, sooner or later, this is bound to happen. The problem between them is not because of you. It has been around for a long time. It's kind of an unavoidable time bomb.”

“But, Rin, I made things worse. Now we can only pray for El to heal quickly. And even that hope is very small, Rin.”

“Udah, dong, Nad .. Do not beat yourself up, huh? We can definitely skipatin this all together, kok.”

“Rin, we must tell Mama,” firmly Nadia as she clutches the diary with both hands. “Maybe it's not too late, Rin. Maybe we can still find Reva and bring her here. Because El needs so much presence on his side now.”

“Tante Vienna? You sure, Nad?”

“No one has more right to be the daughter-in-law of Mama Vienna than Reva. I'm sure, if Mama read all these stories, she would understand why this tragedy happened.”

“You ready, Nad?”

“My relationship with El was never good from the beginning, Rin. Everybody knows that. We agreed to get married to help each other, nothing more. Now enough, I can not continue again after knowing this fact.”

“You know, Nad, ring on the ring finger Reva—”

“Not too late, Rin!!! I'll keep the police report, but to find Reva, not to file this case!”

“Alright, if you are sure to let go of everything.”

“What's up, Rin? Let go of that, if we feel we have something. I'm the same El never had each other. So, what to give up?”

“Thank you, Nad, you can handle all this well. I don't know to be proud or sad because your marriage is on the edge.”

“Rin, one thing I learned from all this, that we will not feel lost over something we never had. So, honestly, I'm fine, kok.”

“Iya, Nad. I understand.”

“Well, even though I never liked Reva, because she was a song. But, I can't really see him like that now.”

“Songg? The feeling is that he is silent, Rin. Neco-neko. Songongnya where, huh?”

“Yeah, that, ‘kan, because it is precisely you who are songong, Nad! He's lazy same behavior you!”

***

Broken cries gushed into the air as Vienna began to read the entire contents of the diary. The moment he realized that his beloved son had become every reason for the inner wound within one's soul. Vienna lamented. Deeply sorry. How could such a cruel thing escape his surveillance? Why he could be insensitive when Reva came to him, bowed languidly in search of his son who was out of nowhere. In fact, at that time his granddaughter was already there, in the womb of a woman who he had considered as his own daughter.

The age of twilight is the reason why Vienna is not strong enough to withstand the onslaught of emotions that he has just received after knowing the various ill-fated news. As a result, he fainted many times. The hospital, which was supposed to be the place where he visited his son, turned into a place where he himself needed to undergo treatment. His health condition had decreased due to high blood pressure and dehydration. Even so, Erin and Nadia were already completely determined to uncover and unravel the tangled threads between all of them. Vienna has to stay strong through everything.

“Reva where now, Rin?” ask Vienna weakly. The infusion hose is attached to the pulse on his right arm.

“We don't know yet, Auntie,” geleng Erin resigned while massaging her left arm gently. Erin who had been busy accompanying Vienna who had to get a referral to and fro never once left the middle-aged woman. “But, we will still report to the police, Aunt.”

“Mama calm down, yes!” sambar Nadia who also looks earnest to ask for help to anyone he knows. Fortunately, Nadia has a very wide network of connections. He has several lawyers and psychologists. One of his close friends was also the wife of a Satreskrim policeman. Hopefully between them will be a bright spot in the case of the disappearance of Reva at that time.

“Nadia, sorry yes, Mama inconvenience you continue ...”

Nadia who was initially busy struggling with her cellphone then glanced at her mother-in-law who was lying weakly on the bed in a hospital room. He looked at the woman who always patiently faced him with pity. It seemed, just that time he was really drifting in the intense togetherness between the two of them. As long as he was his son-in-law, he never really cared about the old woman. They only occasionally chatted and met face-to-face. However, that time, he really sincerely wanted to talk to her from heart to heart.

“Mama, Nadia's sorry. During this time, Nadia can only be a daughter-in-law who always makes Mama have a headache.”

“No, Nad. You have sacrificed a lot for our family. You work at once take care of Kaia. You permit El to stay at your house, without ever demanding anything.”

“Mama, it is Nadia who is grateful to have a good husband and understanding as El. However, it seems like everyone already knows that we are not in love with each other. Sorry, Ma, our relationship is unlikely to continue.”

“Yes, Nad, Mama knows. Anyway, nothing else El can love to you when she herself is now again sick that bad ...”

“Eh? Mama don't tell me that, dong! Nadia didn't leave because El was sick, Ma. Because there is something much more worthy. Nadia promised, Nadia will take care of El until healed. Nadia will take it all.”

“We don't know what it will cost to—”

“Mama be calm! Mama forgot, yes, that Nadia is a lot of savings? Nadia's source of income is everywhere, you know, Ma. Nadia can definitely cover the cost of treatment until El is fully healed. At least, that's all Nadia can love El now.”

“But, it doesn't taste good, Nad. Mama does not want to feel indebted again to you ..”.

“Ma, Nadia was going to build a big house, because the apartment was already narrow for the three of us. There was, of course, Nadia Kumpulin. But it doesn't matter anymore. El's health is much more important, ‘kan?”

“Mama don't know what else to say to you, son ...”

“Nadia only have one request ... Mama wants, ‘kan, sorry Nadia for all Nadia's mistakes since the first?”

Vienna began to shed tears as the nine-year-old daughter-in-law gently kissed the back of her hand and forehead. Among all the pain that Vienna was feeling, he was very grateful that a ray of hope was still burning in that pitch-black space.