Mastenges

96. The rumors spread

"Thank you" said Erna, then she hung up on the sofa right next to the desk.

"What's wrong mom?" Asked Amoroso who had just come out of his room.

Erna glanced at Amoroso with reddened eyes, holding back her cries.

"You crying?" Amoroso asked again, as he approached Erna.

"No, I'm fine sir,"

"Say, what's wrong with you?" Amoroso.

Erna was silent again. He slowly cried.

"What's up, tell me. So I understand mom!"

Erna shook her head and covered her face with both palms.

"Who were you talking to? Did someone offend you?"

Erna looked at Amoroso closely. Then, he again drowned his face in both palms.

"Mom.."

Erna wiped her tears and let out a long sigh. He tried to calm himself. Then he moved from his seat.

"Where are you going, ma'am?" Ask Amoroso.

"I want to pray Isya first."

Amoroso nodded and followed Erna from behind. Starting from taking ablution in the bathroom to Erna performing Isya prayers.

After the last greeting, Erna prayed in her cries, before kissing the back of Amoroso's hand.

"Mom... What's wrong?" Amoroso rubbed both cheeks Erna who began to loosen because of inedible age.

"I'm ashamed sir,"

"Thy? What was? Shame why?"

"There's a slanted rumor behind me. I don't know where that's from. It's just, ma'am Good just told me on the phone."

"What rumors?" Amoroso's face looked serious and curious.

"No, it's nothing." Erna rose from her alphabet and folded her entire prayer set.

"Mom, I'm your husband. Tell me the truth, don't you shoulder it yourself."

"What if I said you'd understand? You gonna take it?" Erna asked with a face expression that was no less serious.

"God willing," said Amoroso.

Erna smiled bitterly, then she shook her head.

"Forget it,"

"Lady..."

"I said forget it!" Jerky Erna.

Amoroso was surprised to see Erna's reaction snapping at him. Erna had not yelled at him for a long time. The last time Erna snapped at Amoroso was when she had a fight with Erna 30 years ago. The moment he and Erna had a big fight, when Amoroso questioned who Typhoon's real father was.

"Why are you yelling at me?"

Erna was silent. Slowly, he sat on the edge of the bed, right beside Amoroso.

"Are you still questioning the Typhoon as your biological child or not?"

Amoroso was silent, he stared at Erna with a battered-looking face.

"Why are you questioning that?" Ask Amoroso.

"Are you spreading that rumor again?"

"What are you talking about, Mom? I don't understand..!"

"What do you want? You want my honesty? I'm being honest that Typhoon is your real son!"

Amoroso was silent, he kept staring at Erna's two eyes that were beginning to be soaked in tears.

"You heard ma'am, even though I was wondering, there was no way I would spread the gossip and disgrace of my own family. Especially what concerns you, Mom! You are my wife! Your Aib is my disgrace! Your creeds are my creeds! You are me mom!"

Erna fell silent, she swallowed her saliva and wiped her tears slowly.

"Well I ask, what gossip is mom?"

"Gossip is that Typhoon isn't your real son!" With emotion Erna revealed her uneasiness.

"Astaghfirullah," Amoroso rubbed his face with his palms.

"I thought you were..."

"It's not me. I explained to you, Mom.." Cut Amoroso.

"Want to?"

"I'll find out. It's about my pride" Amoroso said. Restlessly he got up from his seat and walked around the bedroom.

"What are you doing?"

"I'll figure out a way, find out the source of the gossip. If I get caught, I'll fire her husband."

Erna was silent, she looked at Amoroso who was still anxiously pacing back and forth in the room.

"Is the question the same?" Ask Erna.

Amoroso stopped his steps and looked closely at Erna.

"Questions?" Ask her.

"Yes, are you still questioning the Typhoon, so that you are so different from the Typhoon, compared to the other children?"

Amoroso. Then, he lowered his face deeply.

"Sir,"

Amoroso looked back at Erna carefully. He sat down next to Erna.

"I'm sorry if I say this, but I just want your honesty Erna. We are old, we have little time in this world. I beg for your honesty."

"Oh, so you're still questioning who Typhoon's real father is?" Erna asked with teary eyes.

"It's not. But. ah come," Amoroso again moved from his seat. However, Erna quickly held Amoroso's hand.

"I told you, he's your real son."

Amoroso looked at Erna, trying to find honesty in his wife's eyes.

"Actually, something is strange to me."

"What?"

"Sorry mom, I don't doubt you. Only, why do you prefer to stay in your father's house, compared to our official house? Your reasons make absolutely no sense. That always makes me wonder. Did you deliberately stay at your father's house just to meet with Galang every day? Please be honest this time."

Erna was silent for quite a long time.

"Especially, when I came home and came to your father's house, I saw Typhoon playing with Galang, and Typhoon called Galang as Baba. This heart is broken ma'am..."

Erna's tears flowed back, making her cheeks very wet.

"I could have done a DNA test. It's just that I can't accept reality. If he was my real son, I would have sinned against him. Suspecting him, hating him, or even being cold to him."

"However, if it turns out that he's not my real son, what should I do? Hating you? divorce you? And I love you very much. I can't live without you, Mom. But I also won't be able to accept the fact ma'am. My life ends when it happens."

Erna clenched her hands on her chest. It was painful for him the words spoken by Amoroso.

"So, I'd rather bury it deep. Let me raise the Typhoon as a man. As my son, even though my heart keeps asking who he is."

"Mom, maybe tomorrow, I'm gone. You may also be the first to precede me. Please, at this old age, be honest with me. Decades I've been trying to reconcile, maybe it's time, I'm ready to accept whatever the truth is." Amoroso knelt before Erna with his face bowed deeply.

"If in all honesty he is my biological son, I am willing to apologize to Typhoon. But if he's not my real son, let everything go as usual. I'll keep looking for who spread the rumors and fire her husband. I promise you, I won't blame Typhoon. Or blame you. In fact, I was the most guilty person so far. Because I'm so fucking cowardly."

"Mom, be honest.Tell me what's in your heart. I'm sorry if I'm wrong, and I'll forgive you, if you're sorry."

Erna stared fixedly at Amoroso. Then, whisper something into Amoroso's ear. At that moment, Amoroso sat on the floor. He was transfixed, his tears began to flow profusely on his old cheeks.

"Is that your honesty?"

"As you said, my age is near death. I said honesty. That's his honesty. By Allah, that is his honesty. Now it's up to you. I'm tired..." Erna got up from her seat and was about to leave the room.

"So, the reason you're staying at your dad's..."

"Indeed, my reason is funny, scared at home because I feel danger. You know, a lot of snakes came into the house. Because behind our official house there are still bushes. And you know, I'm a snake phobia. Besides, I feel comfortable living with my parents. When I met Galang often, it was something I could not avoid. I'm sorry" Erna closed the conversation. Then, he hurried to leave Amoroso alone.