Forced to endure

Chapter 40

Me and some of my other neighbors were huddling around the vegetable cart. As usual, if the mothers gather there must be an updated gossip in our village.

"Eh ... You heard it, right?" And this is where the gossip begins.

"What a real one?"

"It seems so."

"No idea, huh? When you see the man, there is not much talk. Uh ... Turns out?"

My neighbor was talking about someone I don't know who. Understand that I rarely hang out with them because my time runs out at the stall.

"Now nothing can be a guarantee a man is cheating or not."

"Listen-hear .... The wife witnessed for herself her husband and another woman in their home."

"Say again, the affair was his own friend. Similar artist story huh, her husband gilded his own friend?"

Then these mothers giggled as if what they were talking about was something funny.

Mothers ... If it happens to you, can you still laugh like this?

I just kept quiet and focused on choosing vegetables, the sooner the better so I wouldn't have to get involved in this morning's gossip show.

I wondered if they were talking about me like this when I was in trouble? Even though I tried to hide the state of my household, I'm sure they knew.

These neighbors of mine are like people who have the ability to look up, can know what is happening without being told. They just nod and talk as if they know everything. They seem to talk about other people as if they themselves have no problems.

"But on pity as well, yes. Her husband is quiet and not so handsome, it is thought that he will not be exposed to the temptations of women. Uh ... turns out to be the same as the man who looks installment."

"Lah .. mending male installment, if he cheats we are not surprised because it has been seen from the nature of installment. If the quiet guy seems to know cheating, is it hard to believe?"

Who are they talking about, maybe insinuating me? My ears were hot for a long time and they heard their conversation. I better get out of here.

"Mom-mother, I am first ..." I say goodbye to those who are all older than me.

"Win ... How rushed?"

"Yes ... afraid of the misfortune to his stall."

"Oh ... Don't say yes to what you heard." Someone still talks like that to me.

.

...****************...

The stall was closed because Shanti had gone home. There's a lot of work, but I don't want to do anything. I just daydreamed while staring at the pile of clothes that were still wrapped neatly in plastic.

I remember the conversation my neighbor had this morning. A man who cheats cannot be seen from his appearance and attitude, nothing can be a guarantee.

Suddenly my phone rings. I see who's calling.

Likha?!! Not wrong? What'd he call me for?

I ignored the phone call from Likha. It was too bad to have to deal with him after several times he tried to humiliate me.

A few moments later he called back. But I still ignored him. So it kept repeating, until I finally hid my phone in the desk drawer.

I don't need to pick up the phone from Likha. There's nothing I need to talk to him about anymore.

Not long after, the door of the stall was knocked from the outside. I think it was Mas Adji who caught up with me as usual. Soon I moved to open the door.

"You're following me, Mas?" ask me while opening the door of the stall. But it wasn't Mas Adji I found behind the door.

"Maikha ... ? What are you doing here?

"I went to your house but your husband said you were here. I didn't pick up your phone either. I'm confused, I don't know where else to go." Finally Likha cried in front of me.

"Come in ... " I brought Likha inside the stall.

Seeing her current condition, I decided to put aside the resentment for her attitude towards me a while ago.

"Sit ... " Likha obeyed my words. "What what?" soft ask.

Instead of answering, Likha just back sobbing.

I let Likha cry, after her crying subsided then she opened her voice.

"My husband cheated ... "

I sighed hearing Likha's words. It was obvious who this morning my neighbors were talking about.

I'm not surprised at all given what happened to me. I can hardly believe that there are men who don't cheat.

Somehow the criteria of men who do not cheat, I have not found an example. Even men who look polite and quiet can cheat. The poor can also cheat, especially those who have everything.

"Do you know where your husband cheated? Have you confirmed it?"

Likha nodded then started to tell a story.

"I find it strange that my husband's attitude has changed lately. He often looks in the mirror to see his appearance. He also rarely invites me to hook up .. You know what I mean, right?"

I'm nodding.

"From there I began to suspect. I opened the phone but nothing strange. I also once followed him, but he did not do anything strange outside either. Turns out he did it at home, in my own room." Likha's cry broke again.

Lost already my sense of vengeance seeing Likha like this. I feel sorry to see it. I once felt in his position, it was very painful. The difference is, Likha is looking for a place to pour out her heart, while I just hold it myself.

"I have to how to Win?"

I kept quiet not knowing what to answer.

"Take it easy, then talk to your husband."

It is easy to talk, the fact that there is nothing to talk about properly when knowing our husband is cheating. I remembered my fight with Mas Adji that night.

Seeing his face alone was already provoking emotions, let alone talking nicely with him, was impossible! It felt like cursing or shouting out loud in front of his face.

"I'm angry, I'm hurt, I'm ashamed, I don't accept Win. I don't accept being treated like this."

"Then what do you want?"

Likha. Sometimes she wipes away her tears that have not stopped flowing.

"What do you think Win? I should how? You've experienced something like this, right? You can get through it.

"Have you met that woman?" Likha nodded.

"Have you spoken to him? You know who he is?"

"You know that woman, too. Eva, I found my husband with Eva in my room."

"What??? You serious???" I'm surprised to hear this.

"I'm such a fool Win. I trust him too much. I thought he was my friend but it turns out he wanted to take my husband."

"My fault Win, I often invite him to play at home. I let him go free in my house. Even if he visits until night I don't suspect anything."