Novel-novel oleh Gabriella Tan

"You shouldn't spend this much money," my mother said."But it's for our Diolinda, Ma," I replied."I know. But you guys don't have to act stupid like this.""Then what should we do, Ma?" asked Arga confused."Just fill this big bag with pieces of paper you -- Ella, you have to go there.""Where?" I asked confused."To where the kidnapper is.""I don't know where the kidnapper is," I replied.My mom slapped her forehead in frustration. "You can call him for the kidnapper's address on the grounds that you're going there to give him the $14,000.""But all I gave was a plain scrap of paper?" I asked.My mom nodded. "If you don't come back within 30 minutes, Arga and Harry will come with the police."My mom's idea is absolutely brilliant. I nodded and immediat

Diolinda has been missing for a week without a trace. The police have searched everywhere in the city, but there is no sign of Diolinda. It's been a week since my mom accompanied me at home to just cheer me up, even though I know that my mom's heart was also broken knowing Diolinda had disappeared. In my sad days because Diolinda disappeared, the terrors reappeared. No, this time it wasn't like that horrible incident. Like this morning, I got a message from a different number. Xxxxxxxx : your daughter was stubborn like you, she was even willing to not eat a bit when I only gave her rat innards. I'm sick of reading that message. I cry. I can't imagine my youngest daughter being forced to eat rat's innards. What a savage human. I keep crying every time I read the message from the kidnapper. He even sent me a video showing Diolinda's current st

The alarm on my cell phone rings loudly. Four in the morning. I forced my eyes open. A strong hand was still wrapped around my stomach. I saw the owner of the stocky hand was still sleeping with his face hiding behind my breasts. I felt strange and surprised at the same time. Why does a husband love his wife's breasts more than his children? When the children can be weaned, the husband cannot. Why? Oh, forget it. As long as Arga only likes my breasts and not other women's breasts, it's not a problem. I slowly let go of his hand and headed for the kitchen. I took a deep breath of the air this morning. It's really cool. It was in this kitchen that the incident two years ago took place. For the past two years I have tried my best to heal my trauma. not easy because that incident has killed my son, even my life is also in danger. I smile. I am very grateful to have Rosemary, Diolinda, and Arga who always accompany me during m

Please hold on for mommy, my beloved son. Please stay alive. I'm sure you're very strong. I'm sure you're a great kid.***After hours I was unconscious (said Arga), I opened my eyes. The white room smelled of ethanol immediately greeted me. I saw Arga -- my husband was sitting beside me with his head down and his hand still holding my right hand. Looks like he fell asleep.I stroked his curly hair with my left hand until he woke up. Arga blinked a few times."Are you awake, La?" asked Arga in disbelief.I smiled and nodded.Arga pressed the bell on the right side of my bed. A doctor came into my treatment room and was surprised to see me who had woken up from my 'long dream'.The doctor checked my body, starting from the eyes, pulse, and heart rate."When did your wife wake up?" the doctor asked Arga."Just now," replied Arga."Your wife's condition has started to improve. But you have to keep her in

I saw Arga was neat with his black shirt and black jeans."Are you going to the shop now?" I asked as I handed him a plate of Arga's favorite waffle for breakfast.Arga nodded. "Today Harry started working on me," Arga replied as he shoved the waffle pieces into his mouth.I smiled happily. It's been two months since Arga's business has grown rapidly and it's been two months since Arga has banned me from working again. It's because I'm seven months pregnant. like when I was pregnant with Rosemary and Diolinda, Arga forbade me to work and better stay at home. It sucks."May I come with you to the shop?" I asked hoping this time Arga would allow it.However, my man again still wouldn't allow it."You're pregnant, honey. Rosemary and Diolinda should be home with you," said Arga.I put my puppy eyes on -- hoping that Arga would melt. But the truth is not. My man is so stubborn and undeniable."I bought a friend for you, right

I woke up when the sun had touched my skin.I stretched and opened my eyes. I lazily reached for my phone on the nightstand to see what time it was.Gosh! It's now 7:30 in the morning.I glanced to my left, there was no Arga. Where is she? are my daughters awake?I quickly got up from my bed. But just as I stood up, my head hurt so bad that I had to walk while holding onto the wall so I wouldn't fall.I saw Rosemary and Diolinda watching TV in the living room. While Arga is busy cooking in the kitchen."Why haven't you showered yet? Don't you guys have to go to school today? Honey, why do you look so relaxed? Why didn't you wake me up?" I kept nagging.Arga smiled. He kissed my lips briefly. "Honey, today is a holiday. Did you forget?"My face flushed with embarrassment. How could I forget that today is a holiday? Oh

Lagu Superman milik Super Junior berdering dari ponsel Tamara, membuat Sang Empunya ponsel pun terbangun dan segera mematikan alarm tersebut. Memang sengaja Tamara menggunakan lagu tersebut sebagai nada dering alarm di ponselnya agar ia segera terbangun. Kembali hidup sendiri – sama ketika ia mengekos setelah kepergian Diana – setelah ia jauh dari Joseph dan Giselle, membuat Tamara mau tak mau harus kembali serba mandiri. Hidup sendiri di Kota Pelajar yang tentu jauh dari rumahnya membuatnya harus mendisiplinkan diri. Karena kalau tidak begitu, ia sendiri yang akan kehilangan waktu berharganya. Setelah memilih pakaian untuk dikenakannya ke kampus, Tamara pun berjalan menuju kamar mandi. Kamar mandi yang hanya ada tiga bilik di setiap lantainya membuat seluruh penghuni di lantai tiga – tempat Tamara tinggal pun harus berbagi dan bergantian. Seperti saat ini. Jam baru menunjukkan pukul lima kurang lima menit pagi, tapi tiga bilik kamar mandi terlihat penuh, bahkan Tama

Di suatu siang – seperti biasa – Tamara dan Giselle sedang duduk di ruang keluarga sembari menonton TV dan memperhatikan Ale bermain. Tiba-tiba ponsel Tamara berdenting, menampilkan sebuah pesan singkat dari Joseph. Papa: Ra, kamu bisa ke kantor Papa sekarang, ‘kan? Dengan cepat Tamara mengetikkan sesuatu di ponselnya. TamaraAltey: Oke, Pa. Giselle yang melihat bahwa mata Tamara tak lagi fokus pada tayangan di TV dan lebih asyik dengan ponselnya itu pun menjadi penasaran, dengan siapa anak tirinya itu berkomunikasi. “Hayo, SMS siapa tuh?” tanya Giselle sembari melongok, ikut melihat ke layar ponsel Tamara. “Papa, Bun.” “Kenapa sama Papa?” “Papa suruh aku ke kantornya.” Giselle mengernyitkan dahi. “Ada apa?” “Nggak tahu. Papa suruh aku segera ke kantornya.” “Ya udah sana. Sama Pak Dadang, ‘kan?” “Pak Dadang, ‘kan, lagi istirahat, Bun. Aku

“Geser dikit bisa nggak, sih, Ran?” tanya Alice seraya mendorong tubuh Rani agar sedikit menjauh supaya memberinya banyak tempat untuk berbaring. “Hih, lo apaan, sih, Lice? Banyak tempat tuh,” jawab Rani tak suka jika keasyikannya menonton film diganggu oleh Alice. “Di situ nanti tempatnya Karina sama Rara. Lo mikir dong, badan lo aja segede itu masih juga kaki sama tangan ke mana-mana,” protes Alice. “Lo nggak ngomong pun gue juga tahu kalau itu tempatnya Rara sama Karina. Tapi, ‘kan, mereka masih keluar. Lo yang santai dikit kenapa, sih? Ganggu aja gue lagi nonton pacar gue nih – Leonardo DiCaprio,” gerutu Rani. “Kalian kenapa, sih? Berisik banget dari tadi,” tanya Tamara yang sudah muncul di hadapan mereka bersama Karina dan beberapa kantung plastik berisi makanan dan minuman yang mereka inginkan. Dengan segera Alice dan Rani membaur bersama Tamara dan Karina, seakan lupa dengan perdebatan mereka beberapa detik yang lalu itu. “Ra,”

Tamara mulai membiasakan diri hidup mandiri, bertemankan kesendirian di tengah ingar bingarnya ibu kota setiap harinya. Semenjak Revano pergi, justru Tamara mendapatkan banyak teman. Alice, Karina, dan Rani resmi sudah menjadi sahabat Tamara. Entah apa yang membuat mereka tiba-tiba mau bersahabat dengan Tamara. Meski hidupnya dikelilingi oleh banyak teman, Tamara tetap merasa ada yang kurang di hidupnya. Siapa lagi kalau bukan Revano? Kepergian Revano rupanya menyisakan ketidakrelaan dalam hati Tamara. Sekuat apa pun Tamara menghibur diri, tetap saja tak berhasil. Kini seseorang yang ia cintai setelah Diana juga meninggalkannya. Terlebih karena Revano lah yang mengambil ciuman pertamanya. Mungkin bagi sebagian perempuan, ciuman bukanlah hal yang luar biasa, tapi bagi Tamara, itu adalah hal yang sangat berarti. Tamara tak akan semudah itu menyerahkan ciumannya pada lelaki. Tamara menghela napas.Hm, ya udahlah, mau gimana

Revano mengemudikan mobilnya dengan kecepatan tinggi mengikuti ambulan yang membawa Pram tersebut ke rumah sakit. “Vano!” seru Alyana memanggil puteranya. Akan tetapi, sang pemilik nama tak menyahut, ia justru berjalan masuk bersama dengan para dokter dan perawat yang membawa brankar dengan seseorang bertutupkan kain putih di atasnya. Alyana memandang heran pada Revano. “Biar aku saja yang menemui dia.” Di sinilah Revano berada – di kamar jenazah. Ia menangisi seseorang yang terbaring kaku bertutupkan kain tersebut. “Pa, Papa jangan pergi tinggalin Vano. Vano sayang sama Papa. Apa Papa nggak kasihan sama Mama yang kesepian kalau Papa tinggal? Papa tahu sendiri, ‘kan, kalau Mama itu nggak bisa berlama-lama jauh sama Papa. Gimana aku sama Brian, Pa? Kami masih butuh Papa. Kami ingin Pap—HUWAAAAA!!! SETAAANNN!!!” Alex membungkam mulut anaknya yang berteriak seperti toa di tempat sepi. “Jaga mulutmu, Vano!” bisik Alex semba

Sudah dua minggu ini Revano rutin menjenguk Tamara. Sejak meninggalnya Diana, Melati – sahabat Diana itu lah yang merawat Tamara. Wanita paruh baya yang belum menikah itu memutuskan untuk membawa Tamara tinggal bersamanya di rumahnya yang cukup mewah itu. Meski ia yang merawat Tamara kini, tapi Melati tak pernah membatasi siapa pun menjenguk puteri dari mendiang sahabatnya itu, termasuk Revano. Tamara mengamati Revano yang dengan lahap menyantap salat buah yang tadi dibawakan Revano untuk Tamara. “Kenapa?” tanya Revano bingung karena sedari tadi Tamara terus memandanginya. Tamara menggeleng. Revano menghela napas dengan berat, ia meletakkan mangkuk berisi salat buah yang sudah habis setengah wadahnya itu. “Kenapa?” tanya Revano lagi. Kini ia memilih untuk duduk lebih dekat dengan Tamara. “Van, aku sebenarnya nggak apa-apa kalau ditinggal. Beneran deh,” tolak Tamara. “Ra, sini deh,” kata Revano meminta Tamara lebih dekat lagi de

Come back like a big baby. That's Kevin's reality now. His spinal cord problems caused him to only be able to move a small part of his body. All day Lana served him meals and shifted from bed to wheelchair. For the needs of bathing and defecating, I act as a waiter. It's okay, I will do as my destiny to be his wife, if only Kevin's mouth stopped cursing and saying billions of dirty sentences that irritated him. “B*tch!” “Idiot!” “B*stard!” He had much more to say if Lana and I were judged to have made a mistake. How I want to run away from this reality. Just thinking about the endless burdens of life was already taking up most of my energy. I want to be free, breathe the fresh air out there. running a messy boutique business during my stay with Kevin in the hospital. There's no leader like me, I guess.

Today the doctor allowed Kevin to go home. I immediately tidied up all the necessities that he used while being treated at the hospital.I also called Lana to ask her to come to the hospital. Yes, I need her help to carry all Kevin's belongings.Doctor Steve, a neurosurgeon, said last night about Kevin's paralysis. For a long time, my husband would rely on a wheelchair to move around.“Why are we taking a taxi? Where's your car?" Kevin asked."I told Lana to sell it," I replied."You are crazy! That's the only luxury I'm proud of and you're just selling it off?”Kevin's voice rose. He didn't even care that his voice was heard in all directions so many people were looking at us."Shut up!" I shouted furiously. "You need to know, Sir. That in order to pay for your maintenance, I must make us lose the car. Humans don't know themselves."“But you know, that car means a lot to me. Without that car I feel&hell

I'm tired. I want to go home and lie on my soft bed. Although in that place the tragedy of the torture that Kevin did to me often happened, I still miss him. Isn't there a place as comfortable as home? But, that's Kevin's house, isn't it? and I'm just a pebble picked up from the road.The wind blows again and again. Jack always comes when I'm feeling down. At times I feel I am at a crossroads, continue to live life or end it in my own way."You want to go home?" whispered Jack, as always, suddenly and mysteriously.I let out a short breath. “Yeah, as you know. You really don't need to ask, because your instincts are too sharp to know what's on my mind."Jack laughed, formless. "But sometimes, I want to make sure in person, honey," he said affectionately.“Get me out of here, Jack. Even if it's only five minutes. I want to get away from all my responsibilities as a wif

"Can you be quiet? You'll get weaker when your emotions run high," Jack hissed. Through his piercing eyes, I could tell he was furious. I sighed and looked back at Kevin who was lying in front of me."How do you feel, Kevin?" I asked, almost expressionless.Kevin tried to squirm but failed. His body seemed to be glued to the bed. “Please, dear Jenny. Get me out of here. My body hurts so bad.” Kevin groaned in pain.I glanced at Jack who was still crouched in the corner of the room, asking for advice on how to serve Kevin. Jack blew cool air into my ears from a few feet away. My chest shook violently. I watched Jack disappear in the gray smoke which of course only I could see. All right, Mr Loser. This time I will treat you as a good wife, I muttered to myself.I fell silent in a sitting posture. Besides being nervous, I was also confused about how to act. Kevin kept groaning. It was possible that the wounds on his body

Kevin's body lay on the hospital emergency room bed. The doctors and nurses were busy treating the wounds on his body. The body I once loved so much at the same time I hated so much.“Why don't you just die, loser? So that my life will not be complicated in the future," I said to myself. Every now and then I shudder to see blood everywhere.My stomach is getting nauseous. It was like being stirred in a bowl of fish head soup which smelled unbelievably disgusting, fishy and intense. Immediately I stepped into the green zone of the hospital to just get some fresh air.Lana followed me in a hurry. He seems to be very worried about me."Madam, what do you need?" She asked slowly.I shook my head. "Go home, Lana. You are also tired and definitely need to rest. Kevin is nothing to you but a lousy master who only knows about hurting." I snorted.Loud enough that Lana refused to open her mouth. It seemed like he wanted to say

I sat glued to the chair. I'm torn between leaving or staying. While Lana was neatly packing, I was still wearing shabby clothes with a dull face with no makeup on."Not for long, Madam. Mr Kevin might really need you," he advised me.I shook my head. Anger still enters my heart, remembering Kevin's treatment this morning."Come on, Madam. Mr Kevin is in critical condition. Only Madam he can rely on at this time," Lana coaxed.“Would I be sinning if I let him languish in the hospital?” I asked.“Madam, what are you talking about? It is not good to do evil, let alone repay the crimes of others with the same treatment. There is your future child in your womb, Madam. And that's Mr Kevin's son."I was silent for a long time. It took time for me to forgive Kevin. An apology that doesn't only come out of my lips but is pure from my heart for him. But for what? Kevin will be cruel