Best Defense

It's Me, Not Her

"Hi, Ma." Sapa Nino, come closer and kiss Mama Rossa's cheek.

"Haii, tumben is here early in the morning. What's up?" ask Mama Rossa. Same with Marni below.

"There's something I want to talk to Mama about." Nino looked seriously at Mama Rossa.

"It doesn't seem ordinary, what's up?" Mama Rosa put the book she had read on the table. With the face of his favorite son.

"Ma, please don't keep blaming Franda. He's innocent, Ma. Franda doesn't deserve to hear bad words from Mama." Nino lowered her head, clasping Mama Rossa's hand tightly.

"There's nothing wrong with my wife, Ma. Franda is fine. We're trying. We know Mama wants grandchildren, we're the same. We also want to have children, Ma. It's just we haven't made it." Nino stared fixedly at Mama Rossa's eyes, hoping that she would understand her request.

"Elnino, don't always defend your wife. How many years have you been married? Seven years? It's been too long for my mom to wait for my grandchild. Mama and Papa were old, there wasn't much time for us to play with grandchildren, let alone have to wait. Leave Franda!"

Nino looked up at Mama Rossa's last words. Didn't expect Mama to say such a thing. Like being struck by lightning during the day. He had hoped he would speak well with his mother, if possible, not to let Mama Rossa find out about the results of the tests she faked. But now He had no choice but to stop his mother from telling the truth.

"What do you mean, Ma? There's no way I'm leaving my wife! I love Franda so much, why is Mama so selfish?" Nino stood up and turned her back to Mama Rossa.

"Do you not want to have children? Don't want to have children? You're our only child. Who else would we expect to give us grandchildren if not you? Franda can't get pregnant, Mama wants to have grandchildren. Leave her alone, and find another woman." said Mama Rossa.

"No! Until I won't leave him. Ma'am..."

"What do you expect from a woman who can't give you a child? Many women can give you children. So, please listen to Mama." Mama Rossa walked up to Nino who had been confused since, how to tell her mother about the test results.

"Ma, listen to me..." Nino was silent, took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly.

"Ma, Franda can't get pregnant, it's just.." hasn't finished yet, Mama Rossa spoke again.

"What is it? Not-time? It's been too long. If only one or two years Mama can still understand, but this is seven years! What are you waiting for him for?" mama Rossa said in a fiery voice. He wanted to open his son's mind to leave Franda. Because he thinks Franda's the one who can't conceive.

Mama Rossa did not understand what Nino said. The woman was still trying to digest what her son said.

"It's not Franda that's in trouble, but I. I can't give him a child, Ma." said Nino in a soft voice. Her crying broke instantly. Mama Rossa couldn't believe what her son said. He thinks Nino's just trying to protect Franda.

"What do you mean, Nino? Don't say such useless things just to protect her. Mama knows you love her, but that's not the way!" Still persisting with her thoughts, Mama Rossa continued to refute what Nino said.

Nino took out a white envelope from her pocket. Give it to Mama Rossa.

"Mom can see it, this is the first test result. Original results from the hospital. This is the only real thing, after that I always falsified the test results. I'm afraid Franda left me, Ma!" Nino's sobs were getting heard.

Now Mama Rossa opened the envelope and read the results, many terms she did not know, but when looking at the percentage of fertility, Mama Rossa covered her mouth with her hands. He did not believe what he saw. He was wrong all along. It was not Franda who could not conceive, but her son who could not give a child to Franda.

"So you've been covering it up all this time? Why do you have to do this, Nino? Why didn't you tell Mama and Papa? We can get treatment, many doctors can help. Why did you keep it to yourself and cover it up?" Mama Rossa now hugged Nino tightly, rubbing her son's back.

"I already have a doctor, Ma. I tried many times, but it was hard. The chances of me being able to give a grandchild to Mama are only about ten percent." Nino came back crying in her mother's arms.

"I'm afraid Franda left me, Ma. I don't want to lose her, I love her so much. Don't know what my life would be like if he left. What do I do, Ma?" Nino was getting desperate thinking about Franda.

"Mama's sure Franda will understand, Mama knows she's a good girl. Don't worry, he'll understand and accept you." Mama Rossa tried to calm her son. It was hard for him to believe what his son said, but even more painful to remember all the bad words he said to his son-in-law.

"If it used to be possible he would understand and accept my situation, Ma. But now I'm not sure. I lied to her for too long, not to mention the words of Mama that always hurt her."

"Mama will apologize to Franda, you try to tell her. Speaking when things are going well, Mama is sure she will understand. Now where's Franda? Mama wants to see him.". Mama Rossa was impatient to see Franda and apologized to her daughter-in-law.

"At the boutique, Ma. He'll be empty for lunch until the afternoon. If you want, we can have lunch together." Nino offers. He felt it would be better if they went together, because Franda must be confused if she saw her mother suddenly change. His wife will not be comfortable.

"Okay, we'll have lunch together. Mom come down for a minute." Mama Rossa left Nino who was still sitting on the floor. Give her time to calm down.