Look At Me Once

Persist

"I'm Anisa, Buk." Anisa kissed the back of Hana's hand as a sign of her respect. "His first wife was Mas Alwi" he continued.

Hana's body stiffened. Did he not hear wrong? First wife? Whatdoes thatmean?

After releasing her hand, Hana glanced towards Lathifa who looked nervous.

Understanding if her mother was going to issue various questions, Lathifa immediately switched the subject.

"Hum, today I'm off, I'll help out at the restaurant. Oh yeah, Miss Nisa said there was a meeting this morning? Yes, we're leaving quickly! I'm afraid it'll be too late. Know for yourself, the streets are often jammed," Lathifa explained at length.

It was not Lathifa's intention to expel Anisa, but this was to avoid misunderstanding between her mother and Anisa. Lathifa had no intention of concealing her mere status as the second wife.

After taking Anisa away, Hana pulls her daughter's arm into her room. The room that used to be the work space of her late husband, is now used as a room by Hana after losing their home.

Hannah sat her daughter on the edge of the bed and Hana sat next to her. Hana stared intently at her daughter, demanding an explanation from Lathifa.

Silent.

Lathifa was still reluctant to open her voice, she was afraid that if she spoke wrong and would make her mother angry.

Hana who was feeling careless from waiting too long, decided to speak first. "Explain!"

"It's quiet ... Lathif didn't mean to lie, Mother." Lathifa lowered her head, unable to see her mother's face showing disappointment.

"Then what is Thif? You want to play your mother?" hana's voice trembled slightly.

"I can explain everything Buk." Lathifa got up and fell at her mother's feet.

Hana looked unmoved, she was so disappointed that Lathifa hid such a big thing from her.

"I'm sorry Lathif Buk." Lathifa could no longer hold back her crying, she buried her face in her mother's lap while sobbing.

"Oh, I swear it wasn't Lathif's intention to lie. Lathif was just afraid that Ibuk would not approve of this marriage. Lathif waited for the right time to tell Ibuk."

"You don't think of mom as your parents, Thif?" ask Hana. "Mom disappointed in you."

"Mother"

"Let mom alone first, Thif!" hana's Word.

Lathifa lifted her face, with a heavy heart Lathifa came out of her mother's room and gave her mother time to calm down.

Every day Hana silenced her daughter, various ways Lathifa did to seek the attention of her mother, ranging from asking various small things, making small mistakes, but not the least to make Hana distract her.

Hana instead of hating her daughter, she just wanted to teach her daughter a little lesson.

Until the afternoon arrives, Anisa accidentally stopped by Hafa Resto to take Lathifa home with her. Anisa and Lathifa left the restaurant after saying goodbye to Hana.

"Why are you, Fa? How'd his face get bent?" asked Anisa who found Lathifa just sitting quietly with a beautiful face.

"Fa!" call Anisa again.

"Eh i-iya, Miss Nisa called me?" lathifa stuttered from her daydream.

"Is there a problem? Why are you daydreaming?"

"Ti-nothing, Ma'am," Lathifa lied.

But Anisa didn't believe it, "Don't lie, Fa. What I see doesn't match what you say."

Lathifa was getting agitated, confused as to whether to be honest with Anisa.

"Aren't we family? don't you already think of me as your brother?"

But Lathifa persisted in silence.

"Huft ...." Anisa exhaled a rough breath. "If there's a problem don't be harbored alone, Fa! Tell me, I'll try to be a good listener to you."

Lathifa looked at Anisa's face from the side, and Lathifa told Anisa everything.

Anisa pulled over her car, and stared fixedly at Lathifa's frustrated face. Anisa also felt responsible for the matter, after all she was also guilty of not having originally explained her status to Hana.

Anisa drove her car back and without saying she turned her car back to Hafa Resto.

"Where are we going?" lathifa asked with a confused face.

"Back to the restaurant, Fa. I'll explain everything to your mother."

"But Ma'am"

"Quiet, Fa. Trust me everything will be fine."

Arriving at the restaurant, Anisa approached Hana and said she wanted to explain something.

Hannah invited them to speak in her room. Arriving in Anisa's room explained everything to Hana.

"Is my daughter not an actor?" ask Hannah to Anisa.

"No, Ma. Lathifa only fulfilled my request, she never disturbed my household and Alwi mas," explained Anisa. "I'm the one who should be thanking Lathifa."

"Lathif just wants to help Ms. Nisa, Buk."

"Mom felt really bad as a parent. It's like selling your own daughter." Hana sobbed and hugged Lathifa.

"Don't talk like that, for Lathif Ibuk has become a good and perfect parent" said Lathifa and returned his mother's embrace.

"God willing I am sincerely born and inward, Mom. All of this has become the fate line of Lathifa and me. Don't worry, I'll look after and love your daughter for the rest of my life." Anisa calms Hana down.

"Thank you, son. How noble is your heart. But have you ever known the consequences of polygamous marriages?"

"God willing, ma'am" Anisa and Lathifa answered almost simultaneously.

"Mother hopes that there will be no heart hurt between the three of you. Because it's not easy to run a marriage, let alone a polygamous marriage."

...*****...

One month already Lathifa was living with her new status as a wife. For one week Alwi will sleep in Anisa's room. One week later Alwi slept in Lathifa's room, and so on. Alwi tried to apply as fair as possible to his two wives.

Yes, it was fair before Anisa's eyes. However, in reality Alwi and Lathifa slept with separate beds. Alwi secretly bought a single bed to put in Lathifa's room.

As he said on the night of his bride, Alwi only gave material living to his second wife without even thinking about the feelings of his young wife.

Despite the pain in his heart, Lathifa frothy not to think about the matter of his marriage. Lathifa just wanted to focus on her education.

That morning, as usual Alwi would sit between his two wives. Anisa on the right, Lathifa on the left.

Round dining table near the kitchen which every day always shows the harmony of a happy family with various kinds of food served on it.

So great Alwi and Lathifa played the play in front of Anisa.

"Fa, later you leave for campus ushered Mas Al only! I had to attend a seminar outside the city" Anisa said after finishing her meal.

"But the distance between the office and the campus is far, dear. Moreover, the path is not unidirectional," Alwi subtly refused.

"Mas, you can take Lathifa first, Mas the owner of the office. A little late isn't masala, is it?" persuade Anisa.

Alwi glanced at Lathifa, not wanting to blame her husband, Lathifa immediately made an excuse. "Sir, I can go alone. I want to stop by the store near the restaurant, there are some things I have to buy. It's gonna take a little longer."

"Good bike?" ask Anisa.

"Yes Ma'am," replied Lathifa while tidying up the dirty dishes.

"When we go to the car showroom huh, Mas. We bought a car for Lathifa, ", said Anisa.

"As far as you are, honey. Do what you want while it's still in the good" replied Alwi.

Lathifa could only bite her lips, how envious she was of her husband's treatment of his first wife. While him?

Just talking never, let alone calling with a 'honey' call'.

Lathifa closed her eyes for a moment. Trying to strengthen her heart, she had to be strong. He must persevere for the sake of his promise to help Anisa, at least until he graduates S-1.

"No need, Ma'am. I'd rather ride the bike than the car" Lathifa subtly refused.

"You'll love to participate in wild racing, it's only natural that you prefer to ride a motorcycle" said Alwi.

"Mass-out"

"It's okay, Ma'am. It's true what Mas Al said, that's the fact." Lathifa cut off the words of Anisa who wanted to rebuke Alwi.

"But it's safer to get in the car, Fa. Anyway the day after tomorrow we go to the showroom!" firmly Anisa tells that she does not want to be denied.

"But Ma'am, I can't drive." Lathifa was still trying to resist subtly.

"It's easy, Mas Al can teach you how to drive. You can, can't you, Mas?" anisa looked at her husband.

Alwi just stood still then grabbed the glass filled with water in front of him and drank it.

"Especially when you're pregnant, Fa. It will be more convenient for you to use a car," continued Anisa.

"Generic ... Uhuk ...." Alwi chokes at Anisa's statement.

"Slow down, Mas!" anisa said as she patted her husband on the back.

Lathifa who felt awkward about the topic, chose to avoid and walked carrying a pile of dirty dishes to the sink.

"Is there any sign of you getting pregnant, Fa?" anisa asked slightly raised her voice because of their distance.

"Ehm, be-yet Ma'am," replied Lathifa who had just returned from the kitchen.

"It's okay, Fa. Just pray that the fetus will soon be present in your stomach," hope Anisa. "Maybe you and Mas Al have to try harder, a honeymoon seems okay, too" he continued.

'How can I get pregnant? our bed was separated' Lathifa wanted to say it, but she paused when she got a sharp look from her husband.

"Assalamu’alaikum ..." a greeting from the living room, making the three people wonder who is visiting so early?