Because I Don't Want to Lose
13 - Aunt Julid

Tristan is still trying to keep approaching Anaya. Despite opening her heart, Anaya refrains from meeting her alone. He prevents being seen again with people who recognize him, especially Ridwan. Anaya knew, Ridwan was eager to find a loophole to drop his image.

His relationship with Izzar improved. The awkwardness began to fade even though Anaya still spread an invisible distance in her heart. Anaya already did not mind cooking also for Izzar, because the man was not stingy to buy food for the entire house.

On Thursday night, when Anaya had just arrived home, Izzar delivered an invitation to his mother who would celebrate his birthday at the family villa in the Megamendung area. Mama Izzar invited her sisters and nieces, and of course Izzar and Anaya.

“Usually we leave Jum’at noon, and return Sunday. Just get-together and just eat-eat, anyway,” said Izzar.

Anaya's forehead frowned. In his mind immediately imagined a family meeting full of pleasantries and also gossip. Two things he doesn't like very much. After all, why would he get close to the Izzar family?

“Hmm... I don't have to come, right?”

“But my brothers were surprised to know I was married. And, they want to meet and acquaintance with you.” Izzar replied casually. Plain.

Anaya's eyes widened. “You forgot our wedding is just pretending?”

“I remember! I knew! But they don't know, and don't need to know if we're just playing a show... Or you don't mind if they know?”.

Anaya put her head on the back of the sofa. He closed his eyes. Mumet's head. At first he thought it was just enough to play his wedding in front of Ridwan alone. But now, more and more of its audience.

“Anaya?” Izzar called out softly.

“I can't, Zar!” Anaya moved from her seat. “If asked, just say I have another event.”

Izzar stared at Anaya's departure from before him. Although Anaya's tone of voice never again sniffled, still a disappointed light shot out on Izzar's face.

Early the next morning, Anaya is awakened by the ringing of her cell phone. He was immediately fully awake to see the name Ridwan plastered on his screen.

“Halo?” Anaya greeted with a hoarse voice.

“I want to go to Bandung today until Sunday.. can I take Naira?” ask Ridwan without further ado.

Anaya was shocked to hear Ridwan's sudden request like that.

“Why sudden?”

“What's the reason?” Ridwan's tone of voice hardened.

“We want to go to Megamendung. There's the Izzar family show. This morning we leave,” replied Anaya.

Reluctance to give up Naira to be taken away far and over a day by Ridwan, prompting him to take the discourse of Mama Izzar's invitation as an excuse.

“I'm Naira's real father, Nay!” Ridwan sounded annoyed.

“I never said no. But, according to our agreement on custody, if you want to invite Naira you have to tell her in advance! Do not be impromptu and when I have promised to take her vacation to another place!”

“Ngga need to find a reason!” Ridwan cut off his phone.

Anaya jerks. But he tried not to care.

“Mama!”

Naira's voice resuscitated that the child was still lying beside her, wrapped in a blanket.

“Ya?” Anaya hugged him.

“Who was on the phone?”

“Papa.”

“Oh!” Naira puffed her cheeks. “This morning, we want a vacation to Megamendung with Father Izzar?’

Anaya. Apparently Naira listened to her conversation with Ridwan earlier.

“Ngga, we're not going anywhere.”

“Kok, Mama lied? Earlier, I heard Mama say to papa: we want to go to Megamendung because there is a family event Izzar?”

Duh! Anaya regrets. This kid is too smart to lie.

“Later, if you know Mama is lying, papa is angry! Mama is also a sin!”

“Ma?” Naira looked at Anaya with her big clear eyes.

Anaya is caught in a deep dilemma. Among the battles of conscience that always taught honesty to Naira, and his ego who sought comfort by not involving themselves with the Izzar family.

“Mama is beautiful, why are you dumb?” Naira rubbed Anaya's cheek. “Will we have a holiday with Father Izzar?”

Anaya sighed before nodding. Naira smiled broadly.

“Yeay!” The boy kissed Anaya's cheek, threw her blanket, then ran out of the room. Anaya understood he would look for who to share his joy with.

Anaya covered her head with a pillow, and a loud shout vented her irritation.

Izzar who was initially surprised by the change of Anaya's decision became aware after Anaya told the cause. Inevitably they so leave early in the morning according to what Anaya said to Ridwan. Anaya is afraid that Ridwan is spying on her.

Although leaving in the morning, they still arrived in the afternoon, because Izzar had to stop by Sentul first to check the project of building a restaurant he worked on, because Izzar had to stop by Sentul to check the project of building a restaurant he worked on, and Anaya also had to look at the work of his men handling the event of a grand work meeting of an agency in Bogor.

Anaya is amazed to see the villa of the Izzar family. The two-story building is located in the middle of a large land with the landscape following the contours of the sloping ground in front, and rising to the rear. The parking area is located at the bottom after the entrance gate, coupled with a stretch of grass almost twice the size of a futsal field with typical mountain plants. The swimming pool welcomes in the foyer with rows of lounge chairs.

The villa building is predominantly white with spacious living rooms and warm interiors. There are 4 bedrooms downstairs and three bedrooms on the second floor, as well as a rooftop garden with stunning views of the hillsides. There are a lot of Instagramable corners in this place.

Anaya can imagine the romance of a private wedding if carried out in her yard.

“Who is the design?” ask Anaya.

Izzar pointed at his chest. “It used to be this way, only six years ago kurehab. This villa used to wake my grandfather.”

Anaya. He likes the taste and style of Izzar styling his villa.

Mama Izzar who had arrived since noon, with the driver escorted and accompanied by her domestic assistant, screeched happily at the presence of the three. The jolly woman thanked him many times with the cake and various breads that Anaya bought on the trip.

Then he introduced Anaya and Naira to his brothers who had already arrived.

Izzar showed me their room downstairs. Anaya immediately fretted to see a double bed in it.

“Quiet! I'll sleep downstairs with a mat.”

Anaya's unrest disappeared.

Dinner, it's going on. Naira is thrilled and immediately befriends the children of Izzar's cousins. Everyone was polite to Anaya. Either because it was basically good, or because they respected Mama Izzar as the oldest in their family.

When Naira began to sleepy, Izzar's mother told Anaya to put her to bed in the room. How glad he was given a way away from the noise. Shortly after Naira fell asleep, Anaya fell asleep.

Late at midnight, Anaya awakens as Naira wakes up and asks for a drink. As she was about to descend, Anaya was surprised to see Izzar sleeping on the mat under her bed. Anaya looked at him for a moment. This man really holds his promise.

Smoothing her steps, Anaya exited the room towards the kitchen. The atmosphere of the villa was calm. The doors were closed, except for one of the doors next to Anaya's room. Still a voice spoke in it.

After taking out a glass of water, Anaya walked back in further quieting her movements. However, the conversation in the room whose door was opened caught his attention.

From inside the room there was a chatter of two women from whose voice Anaya recognized him as Izzar's aunt.

The two question each other's decision to marry Anaya, who is a widow with one child secretly. As well as comparing Anaya with Sasika, Izzar's former fiancee, who they think is prettier and better.

“Don't-don't Anaya was already pregnant first,” said one of Izzar's aunty.

The deg! Anaya's heartache heard it. His legs were trembling and his chest was tight. He immediately returned to the room and closed the door a little hard until Izzar woke up. Anaya hoped that the occupants of the next room who were talking about her were also shocked.

“Where to?” Izzar asked with half-painted eyes.

“Take a drink.” Anaya rushes to wake Naira and drink the water she asks for. After a few sips, Naira went back to sleep.

Anaya put her glass on the nightstand. He has not been able to master the emotional explosion that triggered his puddle.

“Why you?” Izzar was astonished by the uneasy look on Anaya's attitude.

“Ngga anything!” Anaya drowned her face in the pillow.

Her tears are pouring. He's wounded

...***...