Chapter 3 Argumen

"Yesterday, did anyone come to see you at the office?"

Bang Rama stopped pulling out his shirt from the wardrobe. After a night of mulling over the photo Faiz sent me, I finally gathered the courage to ask.

"Who do you mean?"

"A beautiful woman. My friend accidentally saw you at the office and said you were meeting with a woman there."

Bang Rama didn't respond immediately, leaving my head swirling with questions. I could only continue asking while helping him get ready for work. A plate of fried rice was already served at his seat.

"Bang Rama!"

"I work in a city, not a forest. Of course, I meet men and women at the office. What exactly are you trying to imply?" Bang Rama asked calmly as he ate his breakfast.

Yes, it was too early to accuse him of an affair. A good marriage like ours shouldn't be tainted with baseless jealousy.

In just over ten minutes, Bang Rama finished his breakfast and was ready to leave for the office. He approached me, bent slightly, and gently rubbed my now noticeably large belly.

"I'm off to work, okay?"

Bang Rama's sweet smile washed away my anger. But after he left, a message appeared again on my phone.

[Do you have time? I want to meet. Just light talk, no other intentions.]

I had already heard that Faiz was in Medan. When I didn't respond, he insisted on calling. Reluctantly, I declined. I didn't want to invite anyone into my marriage, especially Faiz, my ex.

---

I stared at my groceries after leaving the market. It wasn't too far, just one ride on public transport. Even though walking was now more burdensome with my growing belly, I still wanted to go out to breathe fresh air. I had already left Mira at my mom's house.

Din!

A white Pajero honked not far from me. The driver's window rolled down, and my annoyance faded when I saw the man behind the wheel.

"Nai! Heading home? Let me give you a ride!"

How quickly he had succeeded since the last time I left him. Faiz, my past. It had been a long time since his last message, which I ignored. Fate finally brought us together.

"No need, Iz, I'll take the public transport," I replied, glancing around nervously. I wiped the sweat pouring from my forehead.

Faiz stepped out of the car and approached me, taking some of my grocery bags.

"You're pregnant and walking alone with all these heavy bags? Come on, let me take you home! I'll stop by and greet your parents too. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

After his persistent persuasion, I eventually agreed, enjoying the cool breeze from the car's air conditioning, which eased the heat.

"How far along are you, Nai?" he asked, glancing at my rounded belly.

"Almost seven months, Iz."

"Oh."

Not much had changed about him, except he looked more dashing in his business suit. Yes, I'd heard he had been promoted to manager. His life must be much better now.

"Are you happy, Nai?" Faiz asked seriously as he turned the wheel to the left.

I didn't answer. It wasn't that I wasn't happy, but I still felt guilty for sacrificing Faiz's efforts in the past to fulfill my parents' wish for me to become Mira's stepmother.

"Well, you look happy, Nai."

I turned my gaze to the car window, tightening my grip on the old dress I was wearing. If I had married Faiz back then, maybe I'd be dressed in elegant gowns worthy of sitting in this luxurious car.

"Don't tell me you're not happy, Nai, because I won't back down a second time."

Our eyes briefly met before the sound of brakes brought the car to a stop in front of my parents' house. Mom looked surprised when the luxury car revealed Faiz, the man who almost became her son-in-law, stepping out with me.

"Faiz?"

Her eyes widened, and her beaming smile spoke volumes. Dad, on the other hand, cast a disapproving look as Faiz opened the back door and unloaded some bags-not mine, but his-placing them near Mom's feet.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am. Are you well? Here's a little something for the family."

Lavish gifts. Wait, had all of this been planned? Wasn't our meeting earlier just a coincidence?

*

Bags, shoes, some branded clothes were gifts Faiz offered to my family. There was even a necklace peeking out from a red velvet box.

"Wow, you've really made it now, Iz. If you had become my son-in-law, I might have gotten to ride in that white car," Mother said, glancing at Faiz's luxury car.

Only Mother and Faiz were chatting. I glanced awkwardly at Father, who was showing a sour expression toward my former lover.

"What do you mean by these gifts? It's too much; after all, you're nobody to us," Father grumbled, annoyed.

Mother muttered, pinching Father's side and giving Faiz an apologetic look.

"Forgive Father, Iz. He's just clueless about luxury goods."

Faiz smiled and said, "Well, who knows, maybe I could still become your son-in-law."

Their conversation brought laughter. Not wanting to linger, I went inside to find Mira, who was watching TV. It wouldn't be right for me to keep interacting with Faiz. I took my daughter to go home.

"Let me drive you, Nai!" Faiz quickly intercepted my steps.

"No need. My house is close, just a hundred meters," I refused, a bit flustered.

"Yes, it's close. But since you're pregnant, what's a five-minute walk might turn into fifteen minutes. Poor Mira, she'll get tired in the heat," Mother chided.

Reluctantly, I accepted Faiz's offer to drive us home. Upon arriving, some neighbors saw us and began whispering, making me the talk of the neighborhood.

"Aren't you going to offer me tea, Nai?" Faiz joked as he set down the shopping bags on the front porch table.

"No, Iz. It's best if you go. I need to cook, and Mira looks sleepy. Thanks for earlier."

I was surprised when Faiz took my hand. He looked at me intensely, with a meaningful gaze.

"I just want to talk briefly. Just out here, to avoid any gossip. I don't even need a drink."

Faiz pulled out a chair and sat down, resting. Although uncomfortable, I knew I had to hear what he wanted to discuss.

"Have you asked about that woman, Nai? The photo I sent you before?"

"Why are you bringing that up again? Don't meddle in my marriage; it's none of your business."

Back then, I didn't get an answer from Rama either. It wasn't something urgent enough for me to keep pressing on who the woman in the photo with my husband was.

"Because it's not just once. I've seen that woman several times with your husband."

I swallowed hard as Faiz pulled out a stack of photos from his pocket. The office, the street, a café, even our home-all were places where Rama had met the same woman.

Rama used to be my brother-in-law. That's why I didn't know much about him. Plus, I was just a substitute wife who had to marry him suddenly, for Mira's sake.

"I don't want to speculate. So, it's best you ask him directly, Nai."

"As far as I know, you're a manager," I retorted, holding back anger. "Do you have that much free time, Iz, to follow my husband everywhere?"

Seeing my indifference, Faiz exhaled sharply. He quickly stood up, adjusting his suit.

"I just wanted to know what kind of man you're living with, Nai. I let go of our love and commitment for a man I'm not even sure is better than me."

Silence filled the air as my heart pounded. Was it because of Faiz's concern, or jealousy bubbling up after hearing that Rama often met that woman? But who was she?

"I'm leaving now, Nai. Hopefully, we can meet again."

Without a smile, I let Faiz go with his white car. My gaze shifted to the stack of photos. I picked up one showing Rama's cheerful face.

"Is it true? Are you cheating on me?"

If Rama was indeed cheating, then he had no conscience. I had sacrificed my life to take care of him and his daughter. Would he truly have the heart to hurt me?

*

"Nai! Where's Mira's food?"

Although I heard Rama calling, my attention remained on the photo in my hand.

Faiz was right. This wasn't normal.

I wanted to demand an explanation from Rama, but a pain gripped my belly. If he was really cheating, was I ready to accept it? I gently touched my swollen belly. If I was stressed, it could affect my unborn child.

"I'll wait until this little one is born. Hopefully, you have no connection with that woman, ."

I hid the photo beneath the deepest layer of fabric in my closet. Quickly, I went out as Rama called again. Watching TV, I fed Mira her favorite fried egg dish.

"You're off work tomorrow, right? Take me for an ultrasound," I requested.

"Want to know the baby's gender, huh?"

I nodded. "Yes, I can't wait."

"Hopefully, it's a boy."

"Yes, amen," I said, stroking my belly. "But boy or girl, it's all the same, . A blessing from God that we should be grateful for."

"It's not the same, Nai. I hope it's a boy, so it's balanced. Your sister gave me a girl, so hopefully, you'll give me a boy. But it seems your family has more girls. I'd be disappointed if it's another girl."

I sighed, looking at my round belly. This was my first child. Boy or girl, it didn't matter to me because I didn't have any biological children yet. But if it was a girl, would Rama take out his disappointment on me?

*

"Praise be to God, it's a girl," the doctor's words dampened Rama's smile. Even before the examination was finished and the transducer was still on my belly, he left the doctor's room.

"Yes, Doctor, thank God."

"May she stay healthy until delivery," the doctor wished me well.

My gratitude was not reflected in Rama's expression. He looked downcast as he sat on the motorcycle outside, occasionally typing on his phone.

"Ram!" I called out as I walked slowly.

Ignoring my outstretched hand, he quickly started the motorcycle. His earlier enthusiasm when coming to this clinic had vanished. He wore a sour expression as he waited for me to climb on the back.

"Let's stop by my mother's first."

"Yes. Let's get some cake. Your mother loves bika ambon, right?" I said, remembering my mother-in-law's love for the famous Medan dessert.

Only grunting, he sped through the streets. With a box of cake in hand, I hoped our visit to my mother-in-law's house would be warmly welcomed.

"Peace be upon you."

"And peace be upon you, too."

Only Rama's mother greeted us, as his father wasn't around. Sitting comfortably on the carpet in the living room, I told her we had just returned from my pregnancy checkup. Her eyes sparkled with excitement for her second grandchild. Being her only son, the arrival of his child was eagerly anticipated.

"Another girl?"

Her voice rose, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her disappointment was clear.

Another girl? The word stung. The news of my baby girl's impending arrival seemed unwelcome.

"Well, Ram! How's this possible? You're getting older, and you got another girl. When will we get a boy?"

*