IPTYFM

CHAPTER XlV

“Johann Renner’s wife complained to the villagers that her husband doesn’t do anything at night, not even a kiss. Isn’t that right, Mrs. Bauer?”

The landlady, who was unintentionally becoming a witness by following us, looked embarrassed and didn’t know what to do.

“Is that true?”

“Well… it’s true, but…”

“And Mrs. Bauer also mentioned that the Renner couple living in this house’s attic never make any noise at night, which seemed strange.”

“Brigitta! Damn it! What if people here hear this?!”

The landlady tried to cover Brigitta’s mouth, looking at us discreetly. She was the one who spread the rumors about our night affairs among the villagers.

“And he goes to the church on random days, and interacts with the priest. It’s not strange that I find it odd.”

“So, did you see me having an affair with the priest?”

“No, that’s…”

“Did you see it, or didn’t you?”

Under Johann’s questioning, the officer also asked Brigitta the same question. Eventually, under pressure, Brigitta confessed.

“No, I didn’t see anything like that.”

“Of course, you didn’t. There was no such thing, and I’m not a homosexual.”

Now, Brigitta found herself in a position where she was the one being reported by Johann.

“Officer, this is Mrs. Zimmermann’s revenge.”

“Revenge?”

“I tried to keep it a secret for Mrs. Zimmermann’s honor, but now my safety is more important than her honor.”

“Lies! Everything that man says is a lie!”

“Officer, Mrs. Zimmermann tried to seduce me, but when I rejected her, she accused me of being a homosexual in retaliation.”

“No, it’s not true! Nothing like that happened! That man is lying!”

Before Johann could expose what had happened, she insisted it was a lie, despite it being the truth. But the officer seemed to be unaware of the contradiction in her vehement denial.

“My husband is telling the truth.”

So, eventually, I stepped in.

“I am a witness.”

Johann looked at me with a puzzled face. I bowed my head and apologized.

“I’m sorry. I saw it.”

“I told you not to come out alone because it’s dangerous.”

“Officer, look at this. This is how my husband treats me, like a child. I woke up in a hospital after being hit by a bomb. It hasn’t been even half a year since then. The reason why our relationship looks strange is because of my condition.”

“That’s right. See how much Johann cherishes his wife.”

The landlady started supporting us. Even the upper neighbor from the hill, who came down after hearing the commotion, joined in.

“Johann likes men? That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard this year.”

Supporting our side may indicate that Johann has earned substantial respect in the village. On the other hand, it might be because there is a shortage of young men willing to work, the people don’t want to lose Johann.

“Johann is a rare and faithful man these days, officer. Isn’t it natural for a man with a wife to keep a distance from other women?”

“That’s right, and going to church frequently is commendable. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone criticize that.”

“Ladies, what are you doing now?”

Brigitta looked as if she had been hit on the back of the head by the village women. Given that these were villagers she had lived with all her life, she probably assumed they would unquestionably be on her side, so she initiated this without any evidence.

Her plan was to join forces with the villagers, pushing Johann into a corner, intending to tame him according to her wishes.

“Even the pure should have some limits.”

I, too, was not going to endure insults quietly any longer.

“Hey, Mrs. Zimmermann. Why blame my husband for your indecent advances, like a horny alley cat, only to be rejected? You should blame yourself.”

“What did you say? You, who looks like a bone spat out by my dog!”

Brigitta tried to attack me, but the village women stepped in to prevent it. In the meantime, I proposed to the still skeptical police officer.

“If you can’t trust my words, should I make my husband’s thing stand here?”

“Rize.”

“Oh, no. If Madam insists like that, then…”

Even the police officer, as surprised as Johann, withdrew.

* * *

Moonlight poured through the small attic window. The sound of an owl echoed through the gap in the poorly fitting window frame.

Tonight, my inability to sleep wasn’t due to the bright moon or the owl hooting harmoniously.

“Sigh….”

I turned my head away from the moonlit window and glanced at the back of the man lying next to me but feels very far away

Perhaps my sigh or my gaze, after a while, Johann turned to look at me.

“Is something hurting?”

I shook my head. Nothing hurt.

“I can’t sleep.”

“If you drink valdrian tea, you might be able to sleep.”

Well, even if I drink a sleep-inducing tea, sleep might not come. I grabbed Johann who was about to sit up to make tea.

“Johann.”

“Yes.”

“Be honest with me.”

“About what?”

“Do you like men?”