Before we split up
Chapter - 28th

"Ayunda, are you sure?" nindyra asked, her eyes fixed on the object at the end of Ayunda's fingers.

A small box made of very thin wood, which could easily fall off even if only lightly touched. Ayunda rarely saw the box, even sometimes he thought this box was stored in a safe place, far hidden in his clothing room. But this box did exist, a treasure box from his shattered dreams.

Folding one leg, Ayunda sat on the edge of the bed and unscrewed the box, he saw some things in it that could pull him to dark places in his soul, freeing a dangerous love that makes him want to hold the box tightly in his chest until it is destroyed suppressed his feelings.

Nindyra sat in front of Ayunda, then, with one finger, she touched the pale green protrusion in one of the nearly half-finished baby shoes, which was inside the box, then whispered, "Gentle."

Ayunda smiled at Nindyra. "This is a shoe that I knit, before Galen left without having time to wear this on his tiny feet" Ayunda said. Then he took a photo and gave it to Nindyra, who was carefully holding the edge.

“Oh, wow, this is you and Samudra?” he asked while pointing at the photo of the woman in front of him who was holding his stomach that began to bulge. "You look so happy"

Ayunda tried to smile. True, the love that Ayunda felt when the photo was taken also felt very happy, he could never believe if the happiness could be lost.

Ayunda put back the photo carefully, Ayunda turned to the thing she was looking for. A slender, thinning gold ring at the bottom, and studded with five diamonds. Samudra's wedding ring.

Ayunda's wedding ring.

Ayunda could still feel as the Ocean placed the symbol of immortality on her ring finger. He could still feel a gaping narrow hole in his stomach when he realized Galen was not there.

“You don't have to do this, Ayunda. I mean, did the Ocean ask for it?”

Ayunda. The Ocean will never ask for it back, but that doesn't mean the Ocean doesn't deserve it. This ring belongs to the Samudra family, whether Samudra will remarry or not, Ayunda returns it.

"I've kept it for a long time." It's time for Ayunda to let go.

Nindyra unsealed the small black velvet box they bought from the jewelry store this morning.

Ayunda stroked the beautiful ring one last time, feeling a cold trace of tears slipping down her cheeks. Surprised, he laughed and wiped it off.

“Ayunda?”

Ayunda ignored Nindyra who was increasingly worried about the condition of Ayunda's fragile heart, he put the ring on the silk pad and closed the box. “I'll be fine. I'm fine before getting to know the Ocean and I'll be back fine.”

Maybe if Ayunda said it repeatedly, he would finally be able to believe if he was okay.

So what about Mr Samudra?” The head of the Ocean flinched and his gaze locked onto Mr. Wijaya, the man sitting across from the meeting table. Then it turned to look at Daniel, who gestured a slow nod as one short message appeared on the laptop that opened in front of him.

"Pak Samudra just call it. They've agreed on every point, except the right to clean water."

Daniel left nothing unturned in the meeting, including when his most annoying boss daydreams in the middle of important negotiations his company.

“Thank you, I thought we could finish it. I'll give you the new numbers and we'll talk again on Monday.”

“Alright then, Mr Samudra.” Mr. Wijaya also moved from the chair and shook the hand of Samudra "This project will be very profitable and will make us get a lot of money, Mr. Samudra.”

Yes, if only Samudra paid enough attention and stayed focused until this deal was closed.

After Tn. Wijaya left, Daniel glanced coldly at him.

" Samudra sir sure? I've never seen Mr. Samudra waste such an opportunity, never!!"

Ocean's molars beat as his jaw clenched full of frustration he made himself. “I know.” As he knew, if his performance would affect the people around him. The ocean must stop swirling in the shadow of Ayunda that he cannot escape.

Daniel exhaled and stared at the ceiling, looking exasperated than the Ocean had ever seen before.

Okay, the Ocean is a mess today, but they've been together for seven years, so of course Daniel understands the nature of the Ocean "There's more you want to say, Daniel?"

“See the last few weeks Mr. Samudra many problems. And I hope—” Daniel tidied up his collar before staring anxiously full of sympathy to Samudra “— Pak Samudra can..

Fuck'em. Sure didn't.

It feels like the ocean wants to vomit. Daniel, his assistant who he knows is aggressive and has great business sense, can ask if his boss needs a hug and ice cream.

“Isn't that bad I look like?”

Daniel weighed the question long enough when the answer was obvious, Ocean looks pretty messed up since the first hearing of his divorce on the title.

“Forget it. Give me a revision to Mr.'s offer. Wijaya and go.”

Daniel nodded and immediately exited, the Ocean returned to his room.

After entering his study, Samudra saw the newspaper on his desk. In the newspaper, Angelia's management confirmed the news that Samudra was not the father of the baby, but they did not reveal who the father of the baby in Angelia's birth.

Samudra ignored the newspaper because Ayunda kept clean hard to continue their divorce process, he took a summons to the two who were next to the newspaper. Samudra already knew the letter would be sent today by his lawyer, he continued to convince himself that it was the best, as soon as the second hearing was over the judge would decide their marriage divorce, he will forget Ayunda.

He will be able to close his eyes without seeing a sad smile, and the resignation also a longing that blends into one when Ayunda observes Aviran in his studio. Ayunda's hair scattered like a black ribbon in the wind as Ayunda bent over the tide pool, admiring the starfish inside. The ocean will be able to stop dreaming about Ayunda every night, contact Ayunda every morning and take it as a wind then if he remembers that from what happened this, none of them wanted it, he said, and that sensual moans and gasps of laughter are but the echoes of time coming and going.

For Samudra.

One day, Ayunda would give it to someone else. Ayunda will turn to the tol*l man who has been ready to wait for her because that is what all the strong, intelligent, sexy, and seductive women will do, they will eventually forget their past.

Shit, he thought of Djiwa again!

The ocean moved away from her desk, and her second divorce papers, she stared out the window.

Remnants of light on this day and the city of Jakarta lie beneath it in the mute light of twilight. Taxis and cars cut through the streets and sidewalks, which are now filled with people dressed in work clothes. Women laugh while walking towards their goals, couples walk together, some join hands, some build intimacy by embracing the woman, it looks very clear even from the fourth floor of the Ocean workspace.

Samudra and Ayunda once walked the streets, they had dinner at a famous restaurant a few blocks from his office. Spend the night making lots of plans. They're so happy. The ocean has everything. An uphill career, a wife he loves, and preparing to receive the arrival of their children. Look at it now, he can only stare and miss out on all the meaningful things.

He thought that he could go back to childhood and warned himself of the failures, sorrows, and futility that he was destined for, if only he could resist the good times with Ayunda to prepare himself for the future.

No. gabe. Because in childhood he has not learned to find a way out, or face failure. And of course he lived his good times with Ayunda.

Fuck, even after experiencing all the pain for years, then Samudra tried to do it again, trying to rise from the sense of loss to Ayunda.

The ocean was walking in an indeterminate direction in his study, smashing his hands against the wall and closing his eyes.

"I should be able to forget you."