Chapter 4 Doubt

The next day, the sight disturbed Lisa.

From upstairs, she saw Frans talking to a beautiful and authoritative woman. She didn't want past events to disturb her mind again.

"Who is that woman?"

Lisa was getting scared and didn't want to be left behind by Arka, but Frans was very serious when he said he wanted a grandchild.

Two years ago, in the bedroom, Lisa and Arka had finally gotten into a tense conflict over the unborn baby after eight years of marriage.

"How many times have I told you, I don't want it!"

"Why are you acting like this, Lis? It's been eight years since we've been married, there's nothing wrong with a surrogacy program."

Lisa cried, sitting on the edge of the bed while holding back the screams of her heart. It wasn't wrong that Arka was getting tired, but she still wasn't ready to lose her husband.

"We tried IVF before, but it didn't work. Don't give me empty hope again, Ka."

Arka began to calm his emotions, and touching Lisa's tiny fingers was all he could do to soothe her.

"We're just humans who are always trying, Lisa. The IVF process fails because your uterus is not strong. We'll continue to heal you, and during that wait, maybe the surrogacy program will work and we can have children."

Despite Arka's persuasion, Lisa was not ready for its decision. She was furious and swatted away her husband's hand.

"Then be patient until I can conceive on my own! What does it mean to have a child but from another woman's womb? I want to know what it's like to be pregnant and give birth. It will make me more perfect as a woman. Why don't you understand?"

Arka began to get annoyed as he walked to the side of the table. Not knowing who to vent his anger at, the files on the table scattered to the floor.

"You're selfish! Why don't you think about me? I just don't want to see you sad! It's not just a child I want, but I want to keep our home. It's been almost eight years, Lisa!"

Lisa cried softly. She understood Arka's desire, but it also hurt to realize that so many people were hurt by it.

"How long will this go on, Lisa? We never even told Dad about your condition! If he'd known you couldn't have children because of the cysts you had and the removal of one of your ovaries, he would never have wanted you as his daughter-in-law."

Lisa felt like she'd been slapped. He didn't mean to be rude, just wanted Lisa to realize it.

"If he finds out about this, our marriage could be finished right now. Maybe he will ask us to separate and I...."

Lisa immediately hugged Arka. Her husband was only hunted for fear of being separated from his wife, not because he wanted to have a child.

As Arka and Lisa drowned in their sorrow, the presence of Frans and Wendi at the door of the room finally became a bomb ready to destroy their hopes.

"Dad, I can explain everything," Arka coaxed.

They stopped in the living room. Wendi looked shocked although she couldn't judge Lisa who was crying hysterically with fear. Frans and Arka's fight shattered the peace of their family.

"How could you lie to us, Arka! What kind of woman did you marry, huh? And now, what do you want me to do, forgive you?" snapped the head of the Wijaya family.

The flames stopped little Farrel, who had just returned from school with his aunt. He loved his grandfather very much. This was the first time he had seen his beloved grandfather screech so violently.

"So you planned all this from the beginning? To cover up your wife's big secret and disgrace, you distracted us with that child! Do you want us to accept that child as our biological grandchild? Do you intend to spend your life with such a flawed wife? How long do you want to keep this a secret? Until I die?" cried Frans.

It was an insult that hurt. Arka couldn't rebel because he had wronged his parents. He couldn't even keep Farrell away from that horrible event.

"Divorce him and marry another woman! Give me a grandchild before I die!" Frans criticized, again.

"I won't do that, Dad. Please, give us more time," Arka pleaded.

"I'll start looking for a woman for you to marry. Take care of your divorce papers."

The joy disappeared. Even a few days later, Lisa found that Frans had begun to be rude to Farrell.

Not only that, their house was often visited by several women whom Frans proposed to Arka as potential wives after the divorce process was carried out.

Lisa couldn't stand it and wanted to leave, but Frans seemed to have lost his temper. Until that day, Lisa could not hold back her tears when Arka knelt before his father, asking not to be separated from Lisa.

"Please, Dad, give us one last chance. Our life was originally fine. I believe we still have hope. And Farrel, please don't treat him so cruelly because of the sins we committed. You love him, don't deny it."

Arka clasped his hands together as he knelt in front of his father who was sitting in the living room.

The old man's face did not change. The light in his eyes dimmed as he gazed at Farrell, who was crying in the arms of his beloved grandmother.

"How much more time are you asking for?"

Arka let out a tired breath. His eyes sparkled with hope.

"At least two to three more years, Dad. I'm sure Lisa's treatment will work and we can have a child. Farrel will help you wait for your grandchildren to be born," Arka continued.

"Just pray that I can live until then. You disappoint me, Arka!"

Lisa couldn't forget that incident. Since that day, she had only been looked down upon by Frans. Even Farrel was affected.

*

Lisa snapped out of her reverie. So afraid of the possibility, she left the house. Stopped right under a lush tree on the side of the road, then grabbed the cell phone to call Arka.

"When are you coming home?" she asked.

"Geez, I miss you that much. Ask first, 'Have you eaten or not, darling? What are you doing?' Huh, not romantic."

Lisa didn't speak again. She heard the sound of a small child crying from the cell phone. And the sound of Arka's laughter, which was so beautiful in her ears.

"Where are you?" Lisa asked, again.

"Oh, I'm in the pediatric ward of Bogor Hospital. The kids here are so cute. Just now I also played briefly in the baby room, there are twin babies. How cute!"

Lisa walked unsteadily and couldn't hold back her sadness anymore. Almost ten years had passed and Arka was still longing for a child.

His lips said nothing, but Lisa was sure there was some regret in Arka's heart. Her husband was innocent, she was just imperfect.

"Honey, I think I'll be back tomorrow afternoon. Tonight I still want to talk about something with the hospital here. Don't forget to eat and take your vitamins! I'll call Farrel later, I miss him."

"Don't forget to eat too."

"I'll close first. Love you!"

"Love you too."

The call ended.

All these years Arka's love has never faded. However, Arka would never have the heart to hurt his father further.

It was already past the second year since Frans had extended his apology. That meant that this year too, Lisa should be able to give him a grandchild.

She was sure Arka wouldn't leave her. However, Frans' attitude towards Farrell and Arka's unrest had left Lisa almost desperate.

Lisa felt very dizzy under the hot sun. The stress that can raise stomach acid levels makes her want to vomit the contents of her stomach.

When she was about to collapse, Lisa was surprised when someone grabbed her shoulder swiftly. Her hazel eyes began to open to find out who was guarding her at the moment.

"Sorry."

Lisa turned her head and was surprised to see the person who helped her.

"Suga?"

"What's wrong with you?"

Old friend. Lisa smiled reluctantly because it had been a long time since she had seen the husky-voiced man with the pale skin.

"Just a little dizzy," Lisa said.

"I'll take you! I'll get you checked out. It just so happens that I'm going to the hospital."

"I'm fine, just a little tired."

"No. Your face is so pale. Already, don't argue. How come you're getting older and more stubborn?"

The car was speeding along the highway. Shortly after that, Lisa fainted until Suga called the medical staff to hurry up and get checked.