THE DECISION

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and it was already the fifth month that Hira lived in Ms. Yulia's boarding house. Although each party tried to carry out their respective roles as well as possible, the situation did not show significant changes.

Except for her longing for Billy, which is getting stronger. And Billy's love for Hira which is getting crazy. And Mrs. Yulia's worries are getting worse.

And the house is so perfect grows the seeds of love in the hearts of its inhabitants, blooming beautiful flowers in all directions, complete with sharp thorns ready to tear anyone involved in it.

Hira always tries to behave as normally as possible. Never dress up too much to attract attention. She wears an office outfit throughout the day because her mindset is indeed WFH, working from home, her office moving to Mr. Billy's and Mrs. Yulia's house, which is also the quarantine place.

Billy understood her as well as he understood himself. He tried to fulfill his role as a husband as best he could because he knew the woman he loved also upheld integrity.

The man reduces his habit of exercising, jogging or cycling with his family. He knew that being together would make his lover's heart uncomfortable. It would cause jealousy and sooner or later hurt the woman he loved so much. In the end, he mostly stayed home and watched Hira's figure through the only window.

Hira also knew that when she didn't see someone for a long time, there was someone watching her through the window. Sometimes she protests, Ah, it's not fair. It's so nice that you can see me Billy from inside there. While I can't see you from outside here.

Yulia, during her marriage this was the first time she really 'lost' her husband. This is the first time she has felt tremendous jealousy, because of her husband's love for another woman who she knows exactly who it is, even though she feels her husband's struggle to keep her to remain a good and responsible husband as before.

It was when suddenly Billy liked gardening, lingering in the back garden doing anything there, whether it was grass, flowers, fish ponds, bicycles ... when Hira was on the sofa. It's true that they can't see each other because of the towering wall, but as a wife, she knows exactly what the real purpose is, is to be close.

When suddenly Billy liked to wash the car and went back and forth dealing with his car beside the house or going in and out with his motorbike parked next door, he couldn't hide things like that from his wife who was at home 24 hours a day.

Or when he usually stays in the dormitory on weekdays, suddenly he comes home more often, even 180 kilos from Jakarta Bandung round trip every day during the fasting month; Yulia feels that his return is not just for her family. There are other reasons for sure and how could he hide them from his wife?

There is a message from IG popping up on the cellphone screen.

EVERYTHING HAPPENS WHEN IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

EVERYONE IS ALWAYS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE

YOU WILL NEVER MISS OUT ON WHAT IS MEANT FOR YOU

EVEN IF IT HAS TO COME TO YOU IN A ROUNDABOUT WAY

***

Hira was sweeping the front yard of her room when suddenly someone passed behind her. Still looking down, Hira tilted her head slightly to see who was passing by. The man turned his face to the side without looking at her fully. Haiii... where have you been... Hira thought instantly. A sudden burst of excitement erupted from her heart.

From the back side, Hira looked at Billy's cheeks which looked clean and fresh. Arriving in front of the stairs, the man turned to go upstairs. Now Hira felt that someone was watching her movements from the second-floor balcony. She was embarrassed that she didn't dare to look up.

Not long after, Yulia passed as if in a hurry to catch up with her husband. "See Ate, don't you...?"

"Didn't come last night, bu." Reply Hira

"Yes, Home," exclaimed Yulia firmly.

"No, bu... the vehicle hasn't been seen since yesterday" Hira insisted.

"There, the car is parked at home..." Mrs. Yulia said while pointing to the front garage of the main house, with a little winning smile on her lips.

"Oh. Who did you ask?" Hira asked back.

"Aa... A Billy."

"Ohh... I thought it was Tante. Auntie Teteh. If it's Ate, she didn't come home, her bike hasn't been there since last night."

Ate was what little Winda called her. Ate or Tante means Aunty was the occupant of room number 1 next to Hira's room. Ate often sells harvested hydroponic vegetables to her office friends, so Hira thinks Yulia is looking for her. How did AA become Ate?

Mrs. Yulia blushed slightly, feeling guilty.

"Bapak may go upstairs," said Hira to reconcile the atmosphere. The two women looked up at the same time. And sure enough, from the balcony on the 2nd floor, the man silently watched the two women below, then went downstairs.

Hira entered her room without seeing the husbands and wives walking back and forth toward the exit door. She didn't hear any conversation.

***

The previous Friday, Yulia had invited the women of the study group, to recite the holy book at their house. Hira never knew the purpose; her feelings became suspect when the guess who passed the front of the room looked at her in such a way.

Bibi appeared expecting to be asked. But Hira kept quiet and didn't ask anything. She was more absorbed in feeding the cat with the dry food she had in her hand.

Silently, Hira had made a decision. The energy in this house already felt unhealthy. Hira didn't want to make things worse. No one could stop her if it was her decision, no matter how much it hurt her. The decision was also to protect her heart from the evil of her mind.

***