"Honey, you're finally home. I just happened to finish cooking your favorite meal."
A radiant smile curved across Lina's lips. Her eyes shone with longing as she looked at her husband, Bayu.
The pregnant woman welcomed the husband who had been living apart from her because Bayu worked in the city.
She treated him with warmth and kindness, hoping to make Bayu happy and deepen his love for her.
"Daddy... Daddy... Yay, Daddy's here. You're still taking Dilla to the city, right?"
Lina froze in confusion and stared at Bayu when she heard Dilla—the daughter from Bayu's previous marriage—reminding him of his promise.
"What does Dilla mean, Honey?" Lina asked, then remembered that Bayu had called her a few weeks ago.
Bayu had only said he needed money. He hadn't mentioned that he would be taking Dilla to the city.
"Lina... Where's the money I asked for? Get some money ready for Dilla, too, because I'm taking her with me."
Lina furrowed her brow. "Wait, Honey. You haven't answered my question."
"Ugh, you ask too many questions. A wife is supposed to obey her husband's orders, not badger him." Bayu's voice rose an octave.
Lina was startled when Bayu snapped at her instead. Not wanting to start an argument, she went into the bedroom and got the money. She also packed clothes for Dilla, her stepdaughter.
The little girl looked happy, but her excitement made Lina suspicious and left her wondering.
It felt as though Bayu was hiding something from her.
"So, are you ready?" Bayu asked.
Bayu rose from his seat when he saw Lina leave the bedroom carrying a bag filled with Dilla's clothes.
Dilla had also been dressed up and groomed beautifully by Lina, her stepmother.
Lina glanced at Bayu, who was sitting on the sofa like a guest visiting the house, unlike usual.
"I'm ready, Daddy."
Dilla answered enthusiastically.
Lina fell silent, overcome by a sense of impending doom.
"What do you need this money for, Honey?" Lina asked as she handed the money to Bayu.
"You don't need to know. Just come to the city three days from now. I'll tell you the address later," Bayu replied, taking the money and putting it into Dilla's bag.
"What's going on there?"
"Stop asking so many questions! You're so damn annoying. You're giving me a headache!"
Lina let out a heavy sigh at her husband's answer. "I'm sorry, Honey. Aren't you going to eat first?" she offered, after working so hard to prepare the meal.
"No need. I'm in a hurry!" Bayu refused.
Lina's husband then took Dilla by the hand and led her toward the car parked outside the gate without looking back.
"Bayu... wait, Honey!"
Bayu ignored Lina and kept walking.
Lina clutched her aching chest and watched Bayu's back as he grew farther and farther away.
Tears streamed down her face as she watched Bayu leave with Dilla for no clear reason.
Lina's body crumpled, and she sank to the floor near the door.
She had hoped Bayu's return would soothe her longing, but all she received was his indifference and coldness.
Heavily pregnant, Lina desperately wanted to be pampered, loved, and cared for. She wanted him to accompany her to her checkups with the midwife, or even simply ask how the baby in her womb was doing.
Even while Bayu was in the city, he had never called to ask about her pregnancy.
Bayu only said he couldn't come home and transferred enough money to cover Dilla's needs.
As for supporting herself, Lina sold cakes and took food orders from the neighbors.
"Oh... where's your husband, sweetheart? I hurried home because I wanted to see him," Auntie asked. She had just returned from the rice fields and was putting her farming tools away.
Lina quickly wiped away her tears so Auntie wouldn't know she had been crying. With great effort, she stood while holding her swollen belly.
"You were crying, weren't you, sweetheart? Why?"
The elderly woman looked at her suspiciously.
As she walked toward the simple dining table inside the house, Auntie approached Lina.
Both of Lina's parents had passed away. Auntie, who lived in the same village, had then taken care of Lina after she became an orphan.
"I just got something in my eye, Auntie. I'll keep you company while you eat, okay?" Lina said, sitting beside her.
"Why is everything still untouched? Your husband hasn't eaten? Serve your husband first, sweetheart. Auntie can eat later..." Auntie's words made Lina's heart tremble violently.
Her eyes filled with sorrow as she looked at Auntie, who had always taught her the meaning of devotion.
"Bayu already went back to the city with Dilla, Auntie."
Lina was forced to tell her the truth, even though it was difficult. She didn't want to make Auntie sad like she was.
"What? Dilla went with him too?" Auntie couldn't hide her shock.
"Yes, Auntie. Dilla insisted on going with him. But Bayu asked me to come to the city three days from now. Maybe I'm supposed to pick Dilla up and bring her home."
"Oh... well, then just go with Mr. Kardi later. Mr. Kardi usually takes vegetables to the city."
Auntie was a typical simplehearted village woman who accepted everything without complaint. Lina couldn't see even the slightest hint of suspicion on her face. Auntie always faced life with quiet surrender and acceptance.
After Auntie left the house, Lina washed the dishes and then went to her bedroom, where she sat on her 160-centimeter-wide mattress. Lina began thinking about her husband again. It was true—ever since he had spent several months in the city, his attitude had changed. He rarely called, and when he did, he mostly spoke with Dilla. Whenever Lina wanted to go for a checkup, her husband always had an excuse to refuse, saying he was tired and wanted to sleep.
Lina's tears continued to roll down her cheeks. She couldn't put her grief into words; it was expressed only by the tears pouring endlessly from her eyes until she grew exhausted and lay down, closing her eyes until the morning sunlight greeted her.
Lina opened her eyes and sat up, staring toward the window. The brightness of the morning was nothing like the brightness of her feelings; she felt miserable.
Lina rose from her bed with difficulty because her belly had grown so large, but she continued trying. She had to carry on with her day and her usual work making cakes, because the income allowed her to meet her daily needs.
Three days later...
Lina finally left for the city, riding in Mr. Kardi's pickup truck.
Bayu had also sent her the address she was supposed to go to the day before.
The long journey quickly made Lina's lower back ache. But she was grateful to know Mr. Kardi, who understood her condition as a woman nearing the end of her pregnancy.
Several times, Mr. Kardi invited her to take a break. The old man giving her a ride seemed unable to bear seeing Lina suffer.
In his heart, he cursed Bayu, Lina's husband.
"Are we almost there, Mr. Kardi?" Lina asked, unfamiliar with the roads in the city.
"We're here, Lina. But why is the building decorated like there's a wedding going on? You have the right address, don't you, Lina?"
"This is the address, Mr. Kardi." Lina showed her phone to Mr. Kardi.
"Yes, it's correct. This is the address. But who's getting married, Lina? Were you invited?"
Mr. Kardi's questions seemed to awaken something in Lina.
Who was getting married?
Why had Bayu given Lina the address of a wedding venue?