That afternoon, Revan came again without calling ahead. As soon as he reached Nadia’s front yard, the man let out a long breath before stepping inside.
“Is Bayu here?” he asked at the door.
Nadia happened to be sweeping the front room, so she came face-to-face with Revan the moment he opened the door.
“He’s in the back,” Nadia replied. Her hands were cold.
The neatly dressed man walked straight inside. In his right hand, he carried a brown folder.
“These are the office documents he left behind yesterday, Mas,” he said.
Bayu then came toward his younger brother as he emerged from the kitchen. “Oh, right. Thanks for bringing them over.”
Bayu noticed Revan’s strange behavior but said nothing because he felt awkward himself, even though countless questions were swirling through his mind.
“Sit down first,” Bayu said. “What would you like to drink?” he asked.
“No need, Mas. I’m in a hurry.” Revan sat down. His eyes went to Nadia.
Nadia was pouring tea, and without anyone else noticing, her hands were trembling.
“This is for you,” Revan said, holding out the folder. “The PKK savings-club documents you asked me to hold on to.”
Nadia’s eyes widened. When had she ever asked him to hold on to those documents? she wondered, struggling to contain the fastest heartbeat she had ever felt.
As Nadia took the folder, Revan whispered so softly that only she could hear. “Open it when you’re alone.”
Neither of them realized that Bayu had seen everything. “What were you two talking about?” he asked suspiciously.
“Nothing, Mas,” Revan said quickly. “Just the kids.”
“Revan,” Bayu said suddenly. “Be honest with me.”
Revan flinched. “Honest about what, Mas?”
“About you and Nadia.” Bayu’s next words nearly stopped Revan’s heart.
For Revan and Nadia, the world came to a standstill as they realized how much they had hidden from Bayu.
Nadia nearly dropped her glass.
“Mas...” Nadia whispered.
“I found the photo,” Bayu said. His voice was flat. Hurt. “The photo of you two in the kitchen. Five years ago.”
Revan lowered his head. “Mas...”
“And I know,” Bayu continued. “When you had a fever yesterday, Nadia was the one taking care of you. You called her. Her book was with you.”
Nadia burst into tears. “Bayu, I—”
“QUIET!” Bayu roared. For the first time ever. “I want to hear it from my own brother.”
Revan lifted his head. His eyes were red. “Yes, Mas. I have feelings for Nadia. I have for five years. Since before you got married.”
The confession hit like a slap.
Bayu breathed heavily. “Why are you only saying this now?”
“Because I thought I’d finally been able to forget,” Revan said. “But when I saw Nadia again, here in this house again... I couldn’t.”
Bayu stood and walked toward Nadia. “What about you?”
Nadia sobbed. “I was wrong, Mas. I kept those feelings inside. But I never—”
“Never what?” Bayu cut in. “Never acted on them? Or never thought about it?”
Nadia couldn’t answer.
Bayu took the folder from Nadia’s hands and opened it. Inside was a letter.
To Nadia, I’m not asking you to leave Bayu. I know that would be wrong. I’m only asking for one chance—to be honest. If you choose to stay here, I’ll leave and never bother you again. But if there’s even one percent of your heart that belongs to me... wait for me on the front porch at eleven tonight. —Revan
Bayu crumpled the letter and threw it. “CHOOSE!” he shouted. “Choose him or choose me! Choose my brother or choose your husband!”
Nadia dropped to her knees. “Mas, don’t do this...”
“I’ve been your husband for seven years, kid,” Bayu said quietly. Tears fell from his eyes. “I’m the father of your children. What is Revan to you?”
Revan stood as well. “Mas, don’t blame Nadia. I’m the one who started this.”
“QUIET!” Bayu turned toward Revan. “You’re my brother. My own flesh and blood. How could you do this?”
Revan sank to his knees too. “Because I’m human, Mas. I’m tired of lying.”
Three people. One room. The children heard them from their bedroom and began to cry.
Nadia covered her face. “I don’t want to choose. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“You have to choose,” Bayu said. “Now.”
The wall clock read 10:50 p.m. Ten minutes until eleven.
Nadia stood and walked toward the door. Bayu and Revan both held their breath.
Nadia stopped in the doorway. She didn’t turn around. “I choose...”