03. Meet Again

Brisa woke up at ten in the morning. She woke up earlier than usual. Beside her bed, there was already a bunch flower and a greeting card.

Brisa struggled to sit up and leaned back against the headboard of the bed. Her bones felt so crushed.

"Ouch."

Brisa groaned when she was about to open her mouth, but her mouth felt sore. She didn't immediately take the flower that greeted her when she woke up, she preferred to take a mirror.

Brisa frowned at her very disheveled face. The corners of her lips were torn. Her cheeks were no longer red but blue. Effect Juan's slap last night.

Brisa shifted the straps of her nightgown. She could see Juan's hand marks on her neck and shoulders. It's also blue like the one on her cheek.

Brisa sighed softly. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't take it anymore. She was afraid that one day she would die at the hands of her own husband.

After that, Brisa got up from the bed with a limp. She's going to the bathroom. She had to take a shower, because there was one place she had to visit every time she finished being her husband's fist.

Brisa grimaced as the warm water hit her skin. She accidentally took a bath by soaking in the bath up. Because if she use a shower, Brisa is afraid that her blistered skin will peel off.

Brisa, who had experience dealing with pain like this, already knew how she could reduce the pain. After this she will go to the hospital.

Juan pointed to a hospital that could quickly heal the wounds and bruises on Brisa’s body. And that was Brisa’s next goal after she showered. Don't ask if the hospital didn't ask about the injuries on Brisa’s body, because Juan had made a separate agreement with the medical personnel there.

Thirty minutes later, Brisa had finished dressing. She had also dried her hair, all with the remaining energy she had.

Finally, the flower arrangement and the card on the nightstand beside the bed could only get Brisa’s attention.

Brisa sat her ass down carefully. The scars from Juan's punches in that area still hurt a lot.

Brisa opened the greeting card, inside was Juan's credit card. She began to read the writing on the greeting card.

"Honey, I'm sorry. I love you so much and make me lost my mind. It's all because I'm too afraid to lose you. I wronged you, and I want to correct that mistake. I'm going home early tonight, so we can have dinner together at our favorite restaurant. See you at five o'clock, honey."

In the beginning, Brisa would be touched and forgive all Juan's behavior. She was in the phase of trying to understand and she even introspects herself.

It was Brisa who was beaten, but she felt guilty for Juan, because she thought Juan was hurt by her for not being able to keep her husband's feelings.

But more and more, after five years of their marriage, Brisa began to understand that the problem was not with her. But on Juan.

However, that does not mean that Brisa wants to immediately divorce from Juan. She didn't want to destroy her family. She wants to help Juan to go to a psychiatrist and make their wedding better.

At that time Brisa had given advice to Juan. It was precisely in their third year of marriage, but what Brisa got was slaps and blows. Juan is offended that Brisa thinks he is mentally ill.

Worst of all, Brisa had a miscarriage. At that time, she did not know that she was eight weeks pregnant. At that time, Brisa had just returned from her niece's birthday, the son of her cousin.

Because of the preoccupation with chatting, Brisa lost track of time and was late for returning to the apartment. She was an hour late from his promise to Juan.

As a result, she found her room into a boxing ring. Of all the attacks, Juan's kick in the stomach was the one that made her feel sick. Her stomach cramped, and an hour after that he was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

And then it was discovered that Brisa was pregnant, but it was too late. The fetus, whose fingers have not even formed, must leave Brisa’s womb.

Brisa wallows in grief and incompetence in caring for the fetus because she is completely unaware of her pregnancy. Coupled with Juan who also blamed her.

It's ironic, because who did wrong, but instead someone else was blamed. Rebel? Brisa never tried it. But in the end, he was the victim, again and again.

Now according to Brisa, it's not only Juan who is mentally ill, but herself too. It's been hurt in such a way, but still want to survive. She didn't even dare to tell anyone about this because Juan threatened to kill her if she told him the dark secret of her marriage.

In Brisa’s head, she had to obey so as not to be hurt. Even if Juan goes berserk, all the blame lies with Brisa, not Juan.

Brisa reaches the hospital, by taking a taxi. She immediately approached the registration area to the doctor who was used to dealing with him.

"Bri."

The baritone voice calling Brisa’s name, stopped her in her tracks. She shouldn't have turned around but her heart didn't obey her brain's commands.

“Del,” answered Brisa also calling out the name of the person who called her earlier.

"I didn't think we could meet again, here." Today Delmar took his mother for a health check-up.

At first, Delmar hesitated, even though he recognized the back of the woman who was wearing a gray overall with a long white cardigan. The long brown hair was also very similar to that of the woman who had always been the owner of his heart.

"Hi, Del."

Brisa was confused what to say to Delmar. It seemed strange, because they had been friends for a dozen years, but being separated for five years made them feel like strangers.

"What are you doing here? With whom?" Delmar asked again.

"I'm having a health check."

"What are you sick of? Who are you here with? Why do you look alone?” There was a clear look of concern in Del's eyes. This makes Brisa touched.

In the past, this man who was one hundred and eighty-seven centimeters tall, always protected him, no matter what. In the past, Brisa could complain about anything to this man. But after Delmar left, she was like alone in this world. In Juan's world who was very cruel to her.

Brisa shook her head. "I am alright. I'm just a normal checkup. And you, what are you doing here?”

"I'm accompanying Mama."

"Aunt Cornelia is sick?"

This time it was Brisa who was worried. She had not visited his parents' house in a long time. Deliberately, because she was afraid to cry when her mother asked her how she was. That's also another reason Brisa has kept herself away from her family.

"Not. Just a regular check-up too.”

"Oh. I'm grateful."

"Which doctor did you check with?"

"I'm with Doctor Ariana."

"Oh, I see. Unlike my Mama's doctor."

Brisa smiled as she nodded her head. There was a question she had been dying to ask from last night, ever since they met.

"How are you, Del?"

“I…” wanted Delmar to say that he had never been fine since he left Brisa. But he was worried that the answer would make Brisa run away from him.

"I'm good," Delmar answered finally choosing to lie.

"I'm grateful." There was another question, but Brisa kept it in her head as best she could.

"What about you? How are you? Are you happy with Juan?”

The question made Brisa unable to answer immediately. He just stared into Delmar's eyes with teary eyes.

'I'm bad, Del. I've been so bad ever since you left me. Juan is mean to me. I suffer with him,' shouted Brisa in her heart.

Brisa immediately ended her gaze at Delmar because her tears had started to fall.

Have you ever heard that we can be as strong as a rock in front of other people, but not in front of the people we love the most?

Because that was how Brisa felt now. Brisa suddenly went limp, all her strength gone. There was only a fragility that desperately wanted to surface and hoped that Delmar would see it.

But no, Brisa couldn't do that. "Del, I'm sorry. I must get there right away. I'll be late," said Brisa quickly.

Delmar's brow furrowed, he knew Brisa’s body language very well. “Bri, can't we chat a little longer? I'm still your old friend, Bri."

Brisa stopped moving, but finally shook her head. "Sorry, Del. I have to go now."

Delmar did not want to give up. Having already met, Delmar wants to fix his relationship with Brisa. It's true what his mother said, he can't always avoid like he has done for the past five years.

Delmar suddenly pulled Brisa’s hand, making Brisa moan because there were marks from Juan's punches.

"Akhh."

Delmar immediately let go. But instead grabbed Brisa’s shoulder. "What are you doing, Bri?"

Brisa groaned again. Make Delmar even more suspicious. This time he immediately removed the cardigan that covered Brisa’s shoulders.

Delmar's eyes widened, he could see the bruises on Brisa’s shoulder. He then took Brisa’s hand. He wanted to see what she was hiding.

"No, Del. Please, don't," Brisa pleaded.

But Delmar didn't want to hear it. He kept to his original intention and was right, there was another bruise that was even bluer on Brisa’s arm. Then he removed the large dark glasses that covered most of Brisa’s face, and again Delmar was surprised. Brisa’s cheeks and temples also have wounds.

Delmar's face turned red with anger. "What's this, Bri? Did Juan do all this?!”