Chap 38
Runaway!
In Soekarno Hatta airport waiting room.
After two hours of air travel, Jessica and Beryl arrived in Jakarta. They were sitting waiting for a taxi.
Jessica had been quiet ever since. She didn’t say any word. It was because she didn’t want to make Beryl sad, but she was aware. I liked Lexi. Yes, there was no way she was sad, angry, and disappointed to see Cassandra out of Lexi’s room. If so, she had no feelings for her husband.
“Who is Lexi Atmaja?” Beryl asked. At least, he should know the reason why the man could bond with Jessica. ‘That man must be in a relationship with you, Jessica! You wouldn’t cry because of a stranger, right?’ he thought.
Silent.
Disappointment, anger, and sadness combined in her heart.
“Tell me, Jess! Who is Lexi Atmaja? Why is he always around you? Why did you go to Bali with him? Why are you crying about him? Tell me why?” Beryl urged. He was angry, but could only wait for Jessica to tell him everything.
The incident last night and Jessica’s crying this morning, left thousands of questions in her mind.
There was a pause for a few minutes before Jessica opened her mouth. “He’s my husband!” she replied.
“What?” Beryl was shocked. He couldn’t believe what Jessica said.
“Lexi Atmaja is my husband,” she firmly lowered her head.
“So this is the reason you didn’t take my call? The reason you didn’t wear my pendant? Why are you running away from me? Why? Why did you marry him?” Beryl was trying to control himself. He was heartbroken, the girl he had loved all along and was his first love, she married another man.
“I can explain it!” Jessica looked at him.
“Then, explain! I’ll listen to you!” Beryl held back his anger and disappointment. “He threatened you, right?” his accusation.
Jessica was silent. There was no reason why he was conscious now. She realized that she likes him. Loves Lexi, to be exact.
“Tell me something, did you get married out of compulsion? It’s kind of like a marriage contract, right? Or explain something Jess, please,” Beryl said obviously, looking rash. His heart felt heavy, holding back tears. He was unable to accept reality. ‘What? It’s a dream, right? The girl he loves that he keeps for the future is married to another man!’
Jessica was silent, she was reluctant to admit that she likes Lexi. That man who took her honor. Beryl’s gonna be pissed. Same with Chelsea.
“Say something! Don’t be silent!” Beryl urged.
“You guys have been waiting for a long time?” Chelsea who just arrived, asked them.
Jessica glanced up and looked down again.
“What happened, Where is Mr. Lexi?” Chelsea asked. Jessica was only with Beryl, Lexi would definitely look for Jessica like that time. He wouldn’t let Beryl take Jessica away. No!
“Me and Jessica, go back first!” Beryl answered.
“So Mr. Lexi is still in Bali?” A surprised expression was evident on Chelsea’s face. She did not expect, Beryl took Jessica who is currently a wife from Lexi.
“Yes, I deliberately took Jessica home, I don’t like that man who is rude and likes to shout at her!” Beryl said.
“Beryl, you’re not stupid do you know that Mr. Lexi and Jessica are married? You know what happens when Mr. Lexi gets mad?” Chelsea asked, she could think Beryl took away Lexi’s wife.
“I’m not afraid, I don’t want him to make Jessica cry, I won’t let anyone hurt Jessica, even if that man is her husband!” He remembered Jessica’s cries. Beryl believed ‘It is better to take my best friend away than to hand her over to Lexi. Old, widowed, Lexi looks more like a cruel person who wants Jessica’s body than a husband.’
“Beryl you are crazy, you should immediately call Mr. Lexi and tell him that you have returned to Jakarta with Jessica!” Chelsea suggested. ‘I want the best for Beryl. He did not know and did not know Lexi. His father didn’t just stand in front of his boss.’
“What do you mean, Chel? You better shut up. It was obvious that Jessica was crying because of Lexi! She herself, she has only me and you. Who else is gonna help Jessica if not us. Jessica couldn’t have cried if she wasn’t hurt. Are you going to hand Jessica over to that man?” Beryl protested, closed his eyes, he couldn’t imagine what bad luck Jessica would have if she continued to be with Lexi.
“You don’t know Mr. Lexi, Beryl! Anyway I trust Jessica more with Mr. Lexi! You! Don’t you have to go to Singapore this afternoon?” Chelsea sighed. Sometimes Beryl was very stubborn.
“How can I go to college in peace? How can I study while here Jessica cries every day, married to that old man? I’m taking Jessica to Singapore! She will live with me!” Beryl grabbed Jessica’s right hand and held it firmly.
“Stop Beryl, you just can’t support yourself yet. How can you bring someone’s wife?” Chelsea shook her head.
“Then, I have to hand Jessica over to Mr. Lexi, let her cry every day, let her get hurt every time?” Beryl wouldn’t do such a stupid thing.
“Shut up, don’t argue!” Jessica raised her voice to stop her two best friends from arguing.
“I will take you to Singapore!” Beryl grabbed Jessica’s hand.
“No, that’s stupid Beryl!” Chelsea stopped.
“Lexi loves Jessica, and it’s important to her. That man will make her cry again. Lexi? I don’t trust him. It’s better to take Jessica to Singapore, no matter what happens there I can go to college while working to support Jessica!” Beryl urged.
Chelsea tried to get Beryl to listen to her. But in vain, this man still wanted to take away Jessica.
“Jessica, do you want to stay here waiting for Lexi or do you want to come with me? In the afternoon we leave for Singapore, okay?” Beryl ignored Chelsea’s words.
Jessica was worried. If she is important to Lexi, Lexi was going to look for her. It had been 3 hours since she left on the beach the man still hadn’t looked for him. And last night it was clear Lexi allowed Cassandra to sleep together with him.
“Alright Jess, shut up I’ll take her home!” Beryl took Jessica’s hand, then ordered a taxi to go home.
* * *
After 1 hour of silence, Lexi on the seashore relieved pain from Beryl’s blow. The man returned to his hotel room. He wanted to meet Jessica and apologized.
He walked slowly to his wife’s room, weighing what he would do. It might be right, he should apologize.
Lexi arrived at Jessica’s door. Several times he knocked on the door. However, there was no response. Next, Lexi opened Jessica’s room door which turned out to be unlocked. The room was clean and tidy, not a single thing belonging to his wife was left there.
The man immediately ran to his mother’s room. Banging on the door, impatient.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
“What?” his mother, who just woke up, asked.
“Is Jessica here?” Lexi looked behind her mother’s back. He hoped to see Jessica there.
“No, I just woke up, maybe she was having breakfast downstairs!” Mrs. Anna said. It was still too early for her to wake up in the middle of the night.
Lexi walked downstairs. He ran to the park and returned. However, Jessica was not there either. Finally, he chose to go to the receptionist to ask directly.
“Did you guys see this girl?” Lexi asked while showing Jessica a photo that was exposed on his phone screen.
” I saw her, she went with a guy who checked out this morning, ” the receptionist replied. Beryl and Jessica, the only guests who checked out so early.
“Is that guy short-haired and tall around like this,” Lexi asked pointing her nose. He wanted to make sure it’s Beryl.
The receptionist nodded confidently.
No other option, it is definitely Beryl took Jessica home to Jakarta, this morning.
Lexi walked back to his room, ‘I want to go back to Jakarta, right now.’ Arriving at his room, he grabbed his cell phone and it turned out that there had been dozens of phone calls from Arsene.
Lexi immediately contacted his secretary.
Phone call was connected.
“Have you booked tickets for me?” Lexi shouted before Arsene could greet him
“Yes sir, I have reserved two seats for you, this morning! But the plane left about 15 minutes ago,” Arsene replied.
“What?” Lexi was shocked in anger. However, he realized that it was his fault.
“I had been calling you since six o’clock, to get you ready for the airport but you did not pick up,” Arsene explained.
“Book a ticket for the next flight from Bali to Jakarta,” Lexi said impatiently.
“Yes Sir.”
“Jessica disappeared, if you can get to the airport immediately. Don’t let her run away! You got it?” Lexi was getting reckless. He wasn’t willing nor ready to lose Jessica.
“Why did Jessica run away?”Arsene protested.
“It’s a long story, you have to catch Jessica and don’t let her go, anywhere!” he was strictly speaking.
“Yes Sir.”
Lexi ended the phone call. Then, he threw his phone to bed. He was breathing hard. Beryl, that shitty boy dared to take his wife away. “You’re just a shit little boy!” Lexi was furious. He not only wanted to hit Beryl, but also wanted to get his wife’s back.
* * *