Just a Bond

Getting Cornered

Watching the activities of the Mother with various expressions that appear alternately on her face, making the heart not stop tingling. There was an anxiety that had also started to slip. I don't think anything will be okay after this.

After a long chat, I don't know what they say, Mother finally said, “Oh, so. Forgive Aunt, yes, Za. There was a lot of emotion, so Aunt immediately nagged. Yes, say hello to Najwa from his mother that is, yes, Za.” Mother then ended the call.

The sharp look he gave back at me shortly after, made me panic again. Seeing Mommy getting closer to the bed, making me reflex to retreat so panicked and not pay attention around, I fell out of bed.

“Astaghfirullah, yes Allah!” pekikku while holding the head that feels throbbing pain. The eyes are also twitching. Where to fall with the back. Oh my God, it feels so 'funny', poke all this body of mine.

Slowly, I got up while wriggling small to reduce the pain. And Mother, he did scream at the same time as I fell earlier, but you know what my mother did? A moment after I managed to get up and walk limping back to bed, Mother instead stretched her ears quite roughly.  “Aduh, Mother!” The screams came back.

“The wife is hospitalized you even relax here?! What's in your brain, Farhan?!” I did not answer Mother's question because I was busy complaining of pain. The jewels in the ears are getting tighter.

“Mother, Mother please release the hand of Mother. My ears hurt!”

“Biarin! It's a punishment for you. Let's answer, why don't you tell Mommy that Najwa is sick, and you're impressed not to care about your wife? Or do you not know that he is sick? Why does Mas Ahmad not know what happened to Najwa? What are you guys hiding from us, huh?”

This hand is still trying to release the Mother's jewel in the ear. But, not stopping, Mother even tightens. Like there is no fatigue at all, even though it has been more than five minutes Mother tapped my ears. Didn't he break his hand?

“Come answer, Farhan.”

“Mother, Mother please, this is very painful. I promise I'll tell you, but let's go first.” My voice until it vibrates like people want to cry because of the pain of Mother's jeweran.

“Promise will not be anything you hide from Mother?”

Already frustrated with the pain in the ears, I immediately nodded to Mother's words. “I-iya, Mother. Farhan wants to answer, but let go first Mother's hand. Seriously, Bun, this hurts a lot. My ears want to be dislodged.” To hell with a voice that already resembled a boy's whining. After that, Mother really let go of her jewelry.

Duh, O God, what a wonderful lady.

“Najwa treated in Bangkalan clinic, Bun. He got sick from eating chicken before we got back here. I came there three days ago, but I was not allowed to meet Najwa with Mas Reza and Mas Gibran.”

Mother's gaze again intimidated. “Why can Najwa's two sisters forbid you to meet your own wife?”

At first I still want to deny because I feel not ready to tell everything to Mother. However, you know for yourself my mother is very sensitive to the strange things around her. “Oh, looks like Mommy knows something.”

Nah, kan. New also and have not answered, Mother has said so.

“This certainly has something to do with the peculiarity of your attitude when Mother is here. Reza and Gibran are not children who will make decisions for unsubstantiated reasons. They must have a good reason why you should not go to Najwa.”

My head's back down. Tired of facing this problem, even though I myself created it. I'm getting cornered. No one is to blame but me.

At the time of starting to tell the story, the sound of Mother's phone that sounded loud again interrupted. The middle-aged woman straightened up, then grabbed her phone inside the bag. Again and again, the fine wrinkles that appear on Mother's forehead create a question in the mind. Who else contacted Mother?

“Bun, whose phone?” my many. But Mommy just glanced at me, then looked back fixed on her phone screen. I became more curious. In addition, Mother who did not pick up the phone, even though it has rang several times, making thoughts begin to wander in the brain.

Some time later, with the ringing call still heard, Mother showed her phone screen towards me. As if electrocuted all of a sudden, I gasped at the name of the caller.

“Mas Ahmad suddenly contacted Mommy. What does he want to talk about?”

I stammered. For some reason, the belief that my father-in-law knew about what happened between me and Najwa crossed my heart. However, I still have not answered Mother's question. “Farhan, replied Mommy.”

I looked up, looked at Mommy, then shook my head slowly. “I don't know, Mother.”

“Lying if you don't know anything,” look at Mother.

“Seriousness, Bun. I do not know why Mr. Ahmad suddenly called Mother. Before we went home, it was still fine.”

I gulped as the interrupting gaze Mother made became more intense. I turned my head to avoid that look. But, Mother gave an ultimatum will pull the ears back, so inevitably I look back at her.

“Bun, why look at me like that?”

“What did you say? Ahmad sir? Have you been calling your in-laws that name?”

Oh, my God, die me! I could not consciously say that sentence.

“You're getting suspicious.”

“Mother fuck, anyway. Pick up Dad's phone. I'll talk to Mommy later.”

***

Come on, ges. Wkwkwk.

Sumenep, Madura, East Java

Sunday, September 26, 2021