moving on

Nazri eyed the black dregs in his teacup. The wedding band on his ring finger caught the setting sun’s rays occasionally.

‘So… is this the end?’ Elisa’s voice was barely audible through the din of the café.

Nazri was apprehensive to answer that question. But it was obvious – the wedding band answered it for him. And yet, Elise was being ignorant; it was pretty clear that there was no Elisa in Nazri’s future.

Nazri and Elisa were once lovers; the future was pretty much set. There will be a semi-detached house in Bangsar, three kids (insyaAllah) and they would be both working to support the family; him the successful and renowned photographer and her, the famous chef-cum-author. But that was what Nazri thought; all of a sudden, Elisa disappeared from his radar.

*****

It was the fasting month at that time, and Elisa told Nazri that she would want to have a week of separation in order for her to finish her latest book. Nazri was quick to agree, stating that the separation might make his miss her all the more (always the romantic). A week passed by, so Nazri resumed contacting Elisa. But Elisa failed to reply to any of his messages. Nazri tried calling, but knowing Elisa’s habit of not answering calls, he made the conclusion that she wanted an extra week to finish up the book. Two, three days went by and still, not the slightest news from Elisa. Nazri grew impatient. He called, texted, left Facebook messages and wrote on her Wall, YMed, e-mailed, even going as far as asking Elisa’s best friend Andie about her. But even Andie knew nothing about Elisa’s mysterious disappearance (whether Andie was covering up about Elisa, Nazri would never be sure.)

Nazri decided to leave it at that, thinking and praying for only the best about Elisa. There was no way anything bad could have happened to Elisa; he could feel her. Such was his love for her.

Two weeks passed by. Nazri went online and went to Elisa’s Facebook page to check up on her. Imagine Nazri’s horror when he spied upon the relationship status: “in a relationship with Kieran Faizul”. Who the heck is Kieran Faizul?

Nazri was dumbstruck. He was in love with a woman who was already out of love with him. And for how long has this been going? Since the silence? Since before that? He felt so stupid. And yet he wasn’t quick to sever the tie that was their relationship; he proceeded to send a Facebook message to Elisa.

Subject: salam

No wonder you have been silent all this while. I won’t stand in your way. Have a happy relationship with him.

Another similar text message was sent to her.

A moment later, Nazri’s phone vibrated. It was a text message from Elisa.

What are you talking about?

Nazri was too angry and too sad at the same time to reply that text message.

A few days later, Nazri replied to the text message (and the Facebook message). He stated that he cannot believe that he was still in love with a woman who was not in love with him anymore, and was having an affair. He felt so emasculated by this.

The text messages continued. But it was already over for Nazri. He won’t deal with it anymore. There was no point in showing compassion for someone who obviously doesn’t.  What was utterly unbelievable was that Elisa kept denying everything despite the glaring relationship status (which she never changed till today), and the pictures in her profile that further cemented the relationship’s authenticity. This was Elisa’s statement that struck Nazri speechless:

One day you will change your relationship status back to “in a relationship” with me.

*****

Nazri sat opposite Elisa in the noisy café; he stared into the horizon, thinking about various things: Rosaline, his loving wife whom he had met after breaking it off with Elisa and the most wonderful lover (inside and out) on the planet; how the bitterness of the Kopi O he ordered which was offset by the sheer beauty of the sunset that evening; and of course, Elisa. As far as he knew, she was the least of his concerns now.

‘Yes, it’s the end for us.’ Nazri stood up to leave the café. But not before settling the bill for his Kopi-O and her Teh Tarik.