Chapter Seven

Golden Tower.

"Sorry for the long wait, Naz," Kafka said as he entered the meeting room where Nazwa was waiting for him. "What's the matter, Naz? Suddenly came here. There's something important that can't wait for me to come to your house, Mmh? How great is the urgency of your longing for me?” tease Kafka.

"Looks like today's weather is sunny in your heart huh?" Nazwa smiled sarcastically.

“Mm… yes. I won the tender, Naz. That's a big tender. I'm very excited, "explained Kafka with a big smile.

"Oh yes? Isn't it because you managed to get a rival to show how much power you have in attracting women?" quipped Nazwa.

The smile on Kafka's face disappeared. "Nazwa, what is this?" he asked.

“I should be the one asking! What's wrong with your brain, that you casually open a match for my love. You think, my heart and love are trophies that can be grabbed and rotated, don't you?!” sprayed Nazwa.

"Have you talked to Rafi?" asked Kafka starting to understand the direction of Nazwa's conversation.

Nazwa was silent. But her eyes speak volumes. She looked at the man who had healed her broken heart. The man who gave her hope to be able to feel the calm and peace of life again. But after this Nazwa no longer knows whether that hope will still exist.

For a few seconds, only Kafka and Nazwa's eyes spoke. Until finally Kafka gave up. "Naz, listen first. It's not what you think. I'm not making a match for your love,” Kafka tried to explain.

"So what?" cut Nazwa impatiently.

“Can we talk about this after office hours? I'll go straight to your house or we'll go somewhere to talk about it. This is not the right time and place, Nazwa. Not with that kind of emotion,” said Kafka firmly.

Nazwa sighed. "Okay," she relented. Kafka is right. This issue cannot be discussed with emotion.

*****

The week before.

“At first, I was confused. Why can you be so careless about leaving a woman as special as Nazwa? Sorry Fi, we're man. I'm sure you also understand what the specialty of a Nazwa Rengganis is. A woman we both know,” Kafka started his conversation with Rafi, the ex-husband of the woman he wanted to marry. Frankly, he was surprised when Rafi came to introduce himself and asked for time to meet and talk to him. He had known Rafi from Nazwa's stories but had never met him in person.

"That's the biggest stupidity in my life," regretted Rafi. “Kafka, that's actually what I was asking to see you for,” said Rafi then.

"What for? You doubt my sincerity in marrying Nazwa?” asked Kafka.

Rafi shook his head, "That's not it," Rafi sighed for a moment. “To be honest, I want you to cancel your intention to marry Nazwa.”

"You mean?"

"Kafka. I want to reunite with Nazwa. Not just for our two children. But I need it myself. You're right. Nazwa is a very special woman. And I've never found a woman as special as Nazwa."

“Then why did you let her go in the first place? Don't you know, how she struggles to get up after your divorce? Sorry Fi, at least I know your problem. Did Nazwa tell us where we met?” asked Kafka.

"No. Since we separated, Nazwa has never opened up about her matters. And she never wanted to know about my problems,” replied Rafi.

"Then how did you know we wanted to get married?" asked Kafka.

“Salsa and Hanif told us. I also got your phone number from them," replied Rafi.

"Okay. If so, I will tell the story. Nazwa and I met at a psychiatric counseling center. Counseling that aims to motivate wounded souls to rise. All those present at the counseling, on average, had heartaches that destroyed their motivation to live. The same goes for me and Nazwa,” Kafka began.

"Nazwa is in counseling?" Rafi asked in disbelief. "How much pain was she in after our divorce?" Rafi muttered which was still heard by Kafka.

"Yes. When we first had to come out and talk about our hurt, Nazwa just stood there for an hour speechless. We understand, maybe the wound in Nazwa's heart is quite severe. At the third meeting, only Nazwa could tell his anxiety. At that time she felt like a woman who had very bad luck. She was confused, she had sacrificed a lot of her interests for the sake of the family she raised. For the sake of her husband and children who she loves so much,” Kafka smiled. Recalling the time when he underwent therapy with Nazwa.

“Nazwa felt angry and also very disappointed because she felt her sacrifice was in vain. She was divorced for no good reason. Nazwa was present at the counseling because she realized she needed help to cool her heart and mind. Nazwa wanted her not to sink too deep. “Children need their mother, so I have to get myself up and have a strong heart”, that's what Nazwa always says in every question about her hopes for counseling.”

"How long has Nazwa been following the counseling?" asked Rafi.

"About six months. With twenty-four meetings. But at the eighth meeting, Naz was able to control her emotions. And at the tenth meeting, she already got what she wanted. As a man, I am very embarrassed. Nazwa is a woman who physically, is weak. But mentally, she is very strong,” said Kafka.

“You as a mentor or…?”

“I am a participant as well as Nazwa. And it was because of Nazwa that I was able to rise from adversity. She continues to motivate me in a way that burns my emotions. She said, if I can't accept it and get up, I should come to the next counseling wearing a skirt and lipstick.” Kafka laughed amused at the end of his speech.

Rafi smiled. Nazwa is the type of woman who speaks bluntly. But quite logical. She is firm but wise. Huh! Nazwa! Rafi complained sadly in his heart.

Kafka resumed his story. “Nazwa was chosen as our team leader because her progress was faster than us. She continues to motivate me to open my eyes and erase the wounds. Because she said, no matter how angry I am, it still can't bring back what happened."

"Incident?"

"I am a man who was abandoned by wife and children because of material things, Fi."

"How long have you been married?"

"Five years. The first three years were good times and two years hell. It turned out that Ewi, my ex-wife, married me not for love, just material things. Before getting married, Alhamdulillah I already had a fairly successful workshop business apart from being an employee. Two years later due to the global crisis, the workshop was a bit shaken. Automatic belt-tightening is done. Evie objected. And he still lives a luxurious life as usual. At that time Ewi had an affair to get what she wanted.”

"Cheating?"

"Yes. With a man who is a special customer of my workshop.”