LOGINAfter my mother shot down my pleas to cover my medical bills the 100th time, I clutched my bone cancer diagnosis papers and trudged to the crematorium. "Hi, I'd like to reserve a cremation slot ahead of time," I muttered to the clerk. Half an hour ticked by before my parents and adopted brother arrived in their car. My dad, a forensic pathologist, cracked me across the face. "You're pulling a fake-death stunt now, just to steal the spotlight from your brother?" My mom, a hospital director, snatched the papers from my hands and shredded them into confetti. "Faking records using my credentials and tying up hospital resources? You've crossed the line!" My brother cried, tugging at their sleeves. "It's all my fault. I'll skip the amusement park forever. I don't need a thing. Just quit riling up Mom and Dad." I spun around, my hand pressed against my throbbing chest, and begged the crematorium staff. "Please, when it's time, cremate me and scatter the ashes in the river. I've got no family left in this world."
View MoreRaymond si pria muda tampan berbodi bagus ini senyum ceria, malam ini adalah malam sakral baginya dan Rahma, istrinya. Ulang Tahun ke 4 mereka sebagai suami istri.
Raymond hanyalah sales sebuah dealer mobil yang dikatakan sulit laku, karena jual mobil-mobil asal negeri Tiongkok.
Sial…masih separuh jalan lagi sampai rumah, Raymond terpaksa berteduh, hujan yang tadi sudah gerimis, kini turun dengan derasnya.
Tiba-tiba ponsel jadulnya bunyi, ada chat masuk. Raymond pikir istrinya yang ngontak karena ini sudah pukul 21.00 lewat, tapi saat di buka, ternyata dari nomor tak di kenal.
“Hmm…siapa pengirimnya, kok ada lampiran fotonya,” batin Raymond, kaget saat membuka kiriman tiga buah foto tersebut.
Matanya melotot, jantungnya berdegup kencang. Foto itu perlihatkan seorang wanita cantik dengan rambut panjangnya dan gaun malamnya yang berwarna merah menyala sangat seksi, sampai perlihatkan pakaian dalamnya yang membayang.
Siapapun laki-laki normal pasti tergoda!
Walaupun gambar ini sedikit buram, karena di ambil secara sembunyi-sembunyi dan tempatnya seperti-nya sebuah pub atau klub malam, tapi wajahnya masih bisa di kenali.
Si wanita ini tak sendirian, ada seorang pria setengah tua yang terlihat merangkul si wanita seksi ini dan mengecup pipinya dengan mesra.
Wanita itu mirip sekali dengan…Rahma istrinya.
Raymond…serasa tak menjejak bumi, tubuhnya seketika mematung.
Benarkah itu Rahma…kenapa dia begitu dekat dan akrab dengan pria setengah tua necis dan terlihat sangat kaya raya itu?
Jadi…isu-isu miring yang selama ini dia dengar, sejak karir istrinya melejit dan kalahkan dirinya, di peroleh Rahma dengan cara selingkuh…apakah benar adanya?
Saking marahnya, Raymond letakan begitu saja kue berharga 145 ribu di sebuah halte tempatnya berteduh tadi. Dan tak peduli hujan deras, ia tancap gas pulang ke rumah mereka.
Raymond tak melihat mobil istrinya di garasi, artinya Rahma belum pulang!
Hatinya yang emosi kini dia redam, dengan berpikir positif, paling wanita di foto itu hanya mirip.
Tapi…kenapa 3 foto itu dikirim ke dia…apa maksudnya? Pikirnya dengan galau.
Pukul 23.45 menitan terdengar mobil datang, Rahma istrinya membuka pintu dan langsung menuju kamar.
Mereka berdua memang bawa kunci rumah masing-masing.
Melihat Raymond sudah ‘tidur’ dengan memunggunginya, Rahma hanya hela nafas, dia lalu ke toilet dan hapus make up cetar-nya.
Padahal Raymond aslinya belum tidur, hatinya masih galau dan panas dengan foto itu.
Tak sampai 15 menitan usai merebahkan diri di sisinya, dengkur halus Rahma terdengar. Raymond berbalik dan melalui siluet lampu tidur dia melihat wajah istrinya seperti orang yang sangat kelelahan…!
“Hmm…dia lupa dengan ulang tahun ke 4 pernikahan? Tapi…kenapa dia begitu terlihat lelah..?” kembali batin Raymond berkata, rasa curiga makin menjadi-jadi.
Paginya di meja makan…
Raymond masih terngiang-ngiang dengan kiriman 3 foto yang belum ia hapus, saat melihat istrinya kini terlihat makin cantik dengan blouse warna krimnya.
Di tambah rambut panjang yang sengaja dikritingin dan diberi warna coklat melewati bahunya, plus parfum mahal, cantik sekali Rahma ini di tambah kulit tubuhnya yang putih dan mulus serta semampai.
Rahma memang terlahir blasteran, ayahnya asli Australia, ibunya Sunda.
Mulut Raymond sudah gatal ingin bertanya, kemana saja istrinya hampir pukul 00.00 baru pulang tadi malam.
Tapi mulutnya kalah start, bibir Rahma yang di lapisi lipstick merah menyala duluan bicara.
“Bang, siang nanti mama tiriku dan kakak perempuanku datang dari Australia, mereka akan nginap di tempat kita selama di Jakarta. Katanya rumah mereka sedang di renovasi, jadi sementara pulang ke tanah air dulu, sekalian travelling,” cetus Rahma, sambil memotong roti dan memakannya perlahan.
Raymond diam saja, dia menunggu, apakah istrinya ingat hari ini genap 4 tahun mereka jadi suami istri?
Tapi…sampai Rahma pamit duluan ngantor, tidak ada sama sekali ucapan istrinya tentang ultah itu. Raymond hanya hela nafas panjang.
Padahal ini hari Minggu, tapi Rahma tetap kerja!
“Oh ya…aku mungkin pulang malam lagi, soalnya aku menemani bos di kantor metting dengan klien kakap, yang akan bangun pusat perbelanjaan di Kalimantan,” cetus Rahma lagi sebelum berlalu dari hadapan Raymond.
Si lelaki tak berdaya karena kalah karir dan penghasilan.
Dan kali ini Rahma tidak bawa mobil, tapi di jemput sebuah mobil….mewah!
Raymond hanya bisa mengangguk dan tidak ada ‘kuasa’ melarang. Ia tahu diri, saat ini, 90 persen kebutuhan rumah tangga mereka uangnya dari kantong Rahma.
Sejak karir Rahma melejit, mereka naik pangkat dari keluarga sederhana ke keluarga kelas menengah elit.
Kebutuhan hidup mereka pun otomatis menyesuaikan…mau tak mau, Rahma lah yang dominan keluar biaya!
Raymond bersihkan bekas makanan mereka, hal kecil yang dulunya dilakukan Rahma, kini dialah yang melakukannya, mereka memang tak memiliki pembantu.
Sesaat ia merasa harga dirinya jatuh ke titik rendah…!
**
BERSAMBUNG
Simone didn't give them a warm welcome. "What do you want with him?"Vernon and Morgan stepped forward, desperate. "We're here to bring Samuel home."Simone scoffed, "Home? He didn't have one. Or a family. If he did, this place was it."Morgan bent forward, pleading. "We were wrong. Can you tell Samuel not to hold it against us?"Simone rolled his eyes. "Too late for that. You want to talk to him? Try the afterlife."Morgan couldn't believe it. "That's not a joke to make."Simone slammed the table, furious. "You're worried now? Where were you before? He's gone, and showing up now won't change that!"He pushed them toward the door. "I don't want to see you. Get out of my house!"Vernon, struggling to stay calm, grabbed Simone's arm. "Please, have some pity on us. Even if he's gone, let us see his body."Maybe it was his forensic instincts, but Vernon wouldn't accept my death without seeing proof.It was ironic. Who would fake their deaths just to spite their parents?Simone,
Vernon's eyes blazed with anger.Morgan and Olivia rushed over, confronting Derek. "You said you were bringing Samuel cake. You even had your dad pull strings to find his address."Derek blinked. "Yeah, I brought him the cake."Thinking they were just worried about him, he slapped his forehead. "I waited for Samuel to eat the cake, so I got held up. My bad for not calling to let you know."Vernon slapped him across the face. "You're still lying? If it weren't for you, Samuel might still have a chance."Derek, shaken by Vernon's rage, tried to stay calm. "What are you talking about, Dad? Is this about something Samuel said? Some misunderstanding?"He pouted, putting on his pitiful act. "I know he hates me, but I didn't think he'd frame me like this."His tears started, but Vernon shoved the video in his face.Derek stepped back, nervous. "It's not what it looks like, I swear."His voice trailed off as guilt took his words.Morgan grabbed his collar. "We treated you like our ow
Back in my room, I sent the video to my parents and Olivia.They didn't take it seriously at first.Vernon frowned. "What is Samuel up to now? He left home, and now he's sending us messages?"Olivia scoffed, "He didn't come back for cake, and now that Derek is being sweet and brought it to him, he's trying to suck up to us. His tricks are so obvious."But as the video played, they went silent and exchanged stunned looks.Olivia faltered. "I'll call my friend to check if this video's been edited. Derek can't possibly say those things."Morgan nodded. "Yeah, no way Derek would do this."Vernon, with his years as a forensic pathologist at the police station, stayed quiet. He could tell the video was real, but he clung to a shred of hope.While Olivia called her friend, Vernon sent the video to the tech team to verify it. Both got the same answer: the video was unedited and authentic.Morgan's eyes widened. "So, Samuel's illness is real?"Vernon's face fell. "Is it real? You're t
I went to my best and only friend, Simone Kendall.Simone lost his parents young and grew up with his grandma. She loved him, and though they weren't rich, he had it better than me.Before Derek came into my life, I had it good and helped Simone when I could.When kids at school bullied him for being poor, I stood up for him. When he almost dropped out because he couldn't afford tuition, I gave him nearly all my allowance to keep him in school.Over time, we became inseparable.I never expected anything from him, but Simone was the type to repay kindness. When my life fell apart, he always had my back and tried to help.When he opened the door and saw my sorry state, he pulled me inside. "What happened, man? Did Derek mess with you again? He knows you're sick and running out of time. Why won't he leave you alone?"I sighed, trying to play it off. "It's fine. I don't have much time left. Let him do what he wants."Simone patted my shoulder, upset. "You're too soft on him. You ne


















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