I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE FIVE TIMES WITH THE SAME WOMAN

It’s been 23 years since I proposed you in the hand of marriage.  Time flies and we can’t feel it. We have two grown up kids who have their own activities. We go back to the time when there were only two of us. That was the time that I never forget.

We had met six years before I proposed you. I stopped by at my friend’s house, Batoro. You attracted my attention; I did not want to wait until the next day. I was quite sure with my vision. Yes, you are the one. I told you that I liked you and wanted to be your boyfriends. You did not answer immediately but I know it was ‘YES’ and I did not have to ask you twice. We went through a lot of challenges since then. You never complained whatever situation we were in. My motor cycle broke down so we had to push it a long Jl. Margonda. I did not have enough money to buy drink for both of us in Bogor so I bought only a bottle of teh botol. Even I did not have the money to buy the tickets to enter Botanical Garden. You did not complain. You enjoy every second of our togetherness. You did not even feel tired when we got home. My love grew bigger.

Then I proposed you and we got married. You look so beautiful. All my colleagues came. They even accompanied me to your house including the bules (the native speakers in ILP) taking part in Betawi Ceremony. They brought our crocodile-shaped bread. They had been wondering why I loved you so much that I often talked about you in many different occasions. You looked absolutely beautiful in your wedding dress. My friends did not say anything. They just nodded. It meant they understood why. I fell in love with you twice.

I was very nervous waiting outside the room where you were delivering our first child. From time to time I saw you just wanted to make sure that you were safe. I every time I entered the room I saw the pain in your eyes but you still gave me beautiful smile. You wanted me to be by your side and at the same time you did not want to see me faint because of seeing so much blood. Luckily my mother came to help and stood by your side. Then you delivered our beautiful daughter safely. We could see her big beautiful eyes, white complexion and red hair. You were tired and happy. You were so wonderful. It was the third time I fell in love with you.

We moved to small rent house not far from my parents’ house with our daughter Livia. We were very happy. We enjoyed every minute of our life with our daughter. You said I want to have our second child in the next five years. I answered “Okay”. Funny thing happened while we were sitting in front of our house. The little girl of the owner of the house was also there. She said, “Auntie, you are pregnant.” I heard that myself and of course I am very surprised to what she said. How did she know?. We did not know. A week later my wife was ill and we went to the doctor. The doctor advised us to go to gynecologist. It shocked us. So we went to a mid-wife instead. She gave her a test. The result was ‘positive’. She was surprised but when she looked at my happy face she gave me big smile. Our second child was a baby boy. You were so happy. We moved to a rent house just opposite my parents’. We need big help from them. You took care of our son and I took care of our daughter. Our world was complete. Deep inside my heart, I want to have the third one.

I never really fell in love with other woman. My selfishness to have the third kid had blinded me. I do not like the story but It had given me very good lessons. My wife is the best. She forgave me and accepted me just the way I was. We had been through a lot of challenges and this one had made our love grew even much bigger and stronger. Nothing compares to you. Thank to Allah who had sent me YOU. Allah had opened my forth love to you.

I was with my teachers and students camping in Kuningan when you inform me that you would have surgery at 14:00 tomorrow. I could not believe my ears. Tears were falling. Only one teacher noticed, Ms. Anggi. I could not leave them. There was only one male teacher that time because the other male teachers were busy at school taking care of other business. As soon as Mr. Kenn and Mr. Rovy arrived I drove back to Cirebon and packed. Without giving myself arrest I immediately drove to Depok and arrived early in the morning. Having slept for one hour, I took her to hospital. My sister in law was also there. At 13:30 a nurse took her to surgery room and I had an opportunity to see her before the surgery. She looked scared but still smiled. “Pray for me!”, she asked. “Sure, I will,” I answered. Then the nurse took her to surgery room. I was crying in pain. I am afraid loosing her. People were looking at me but I do not care. I just cried and cried while waiting. I wish I had never hurt her.

The surgery ran well and two days later the Doctor allowed her to go home. A few days later I went back to Cirebon to work. The following week I saw her at home. As usual we had small talk and out of the blue she said, “I can’t accompany you in Cirebon and I can’t serve you well any more. You may find someone there to accompany you.” I felt like lightning stroke my body. “You are the one I love and you are the one I care. I do not need anybody”. As soon as I arrived in the office I saw Ms. Diana and told her that I would resign because my wife needed me. She understood and let me go.

She looked even more beautiful now. You do not need me. I was the one who needs you. You look so beautiful the first time I met you. You are getting older now. You are in pain. And yet you are even more beautiful.

The chance to cheat on our partner in life is always there but our faith to Allah will always protect us from it.

Mr. Sai