Mom's Not a Prostitute
Splint Beling
Is love really like this, eroded slowly over time?
---
Sengkang, 1997
How quickly time passes. Not noticeably, Tiara was already two years old. She grew up to be a jolly and curious little girl. He doesn't stay home, he always wants to go out. He was happy to see the vehicle. He will mention any vehicle he sees passing in front of the house. Sometimes I get overwhelmed enough to look after her.
Although there was never a problem, but I felt Daeng Hasan's affection and attention changed after two years of living in my company. The tone of speech, the gaze, the touch, everything was different. Is love really like this, eroded slowly over time? Hopefully this is just my feeling, not because Daeng Hasan is getting bored of me. Or any other thing.
Mak rarely comes here. His aging body no longer allowed him to travel far. He is easily tired and dizzy if he has to drive a distance of tens of kilometers from the city of Watampone. I couldn't see him as often either. Daeng Hasan is involved in a hotel construction project that does not allow him to frequently not enter work permits. In fact, today I had to replace him at work. He was not feeling well, and his foreman would not accept excuses. He said he would be removed from the project if no one replaced him for a while. I was quite jolted when he asked me to leave for the project site this morning. At first I thought he was joking. How could I possibly do such a heavy job? But then he put on a hard look. And I see, it's also very hard to convey. I have even apologized many times before. He said just for once. I-i understand. Lately the job has been a bit quiet. Some even hunted him out of town. Daeng Hasan definitely did not want to be excluded from the project.
Although not sure I can do it, with a heavy heart I set out to the project site after making sure Daeng Hasan can take good care of Tiara. Before leaving, I explained the hours of eating and sleeping our little daughter. After I thought about it, there's no harm in me doing this. Daeng Hasan worked very hard to meet our needs, and is now ill. Only I can help him not lose his job.
On arrival at the project site, I was confused. I don't know what to do. But after introducing myself to the foreman, I was invited to join other female workers. It turns out that in a project of this size there are also female energies who seem to be no less resilient than men. They then led me a lot, directing what to do. The presence of those mighty women made me a little more comfortable in this dusty place. Moreover, they greatly understood my first experience, only gave me a light work. Although only told to move bricks or lift water, for me it still feels heavy. I could barely afford.
We're home at four in the afternoon. Upon arrival at home, I was immediately greeted by the heavy cries of Tiara. As soon as he saw me, he immediately burst into my arms. It seems Daeng Hasan failed to take good care of him. I quickly made him milk and then I took him to the room to fall. I want to put Tiara to bed as soon as possible, so that I can rest in peace. My body felt crumpled, feeling boneless.
"I'm sorry." Daeng Hasan's voice along with the touch of his hand on my calf. He then massaged it. Slowly and gently. I understand, he tried to convey his disrelief seeing me this achievement. I'm not responding. Right now I just want to sleep, recover. And hopefully Daeng Hasan will be fit tomorrow and back to work.
***
On the second day it was certainly not as good as yesterday. A little bit I understand what I have to do. It's just, I feel a little dizzy. And when I was moving bricks, suddenly my head felt swarming with ants. It doesn't taste very good. A moment later I felt nothing, there was only darkness.
When I opened my eyes, my head clanged violently on the back. I'm beeping. Said the friend the foreman told me to take care of me, I fainted for a few minutes. I'm not strong enough to do this job. Fortunately the foreman allowed to go home after the dizziness in my head subsided.
Upon arriving at home, I immediately entered after saying my greetings slowly and softly. Sometimes my head still clang. I wanted to go straight into the room, but my steps came to a halt after the last-goal of hearing Tiara's crying voice. The sound of my little daughter's crying came from the direction of the bathroom. No, I must be mistaken. Although unsure, my hand was still moved to open the bathroom door. I gasped when I actually found Tiara crying in the narrow room. I lift it up and hold it. Tranquilize. Instantly a furious feeling filled the chest cavity. I don't know what Daeng Hasan is doing. Maybe he was sleeping well and chose to lock Tiara up because he did not want to be disturbed. I immediately rushed into the room after pushing the door violently.
In that instant, both my feet seemed to be not resting on the earth, instead resting on something that tried to make me not believe what was plastered in front of my eyes. A pair of naked bodies were racing above lust. My joints felt paralyzed, unable to support the weight which then collapsed with both knees hitting the floor. Daeng Hasan and the bright-lipped woman went into disarray and hurriedly put on their clothes after realizing my appearance. The woman immediately rushed out of the room. Just blocking his way I couldn't. I really wanted to slap him. I just tightened my hold on Tiara's body, drowning her face in the chest. Make sure he sees nothing. Cry broke. Daeng Hasan with the clothes attached origin looked puzzled. It paced without a sound. A moment later, he chose to leave. Either meant to catch up with her girl or just let me get a little calmer. Tiara's cry roared in my arms, forcing me to muffle so that she could calm down. After painstakingly trying to stand up, I went to bed to put Tiara to sleep. He must have been tired of crying for how long in the bathroom. On this bed of messy sheets, I was forced to sip the scent of Daeng Hasan's infidelity. I was like sleeping on a shard, trying to calm down even though blood was pouring all over my body.
God ... I don't know what happened to my household. Why would Daeng Hasan do this after acting like a guardian angel to me all this time? Why suddenly created a storm without preceded overcast? Where does the dark embrace suddenly while the sun is still awake at the peak of its circulation? The more I thought, the more I became confused. I still can't believe Daeng Hasan did this atrocity.
I've heard some neighbors whisper about Daeng Hasan's closeness to other women. But given the good attitude he has always shown so far, it is difficult to believe just like that. I considered all that another form of their envy towards my household that always seemed harmonious.
I'm sure this isn't the first time they've done it. It could be that when Daeng Hasan left home for days to take a job outside the city, he even had fun with the woman. Or when wandering at night on the grounds of wanting to play dominoes with his friends, they even do the actions of the animal in a certain place. Bad prejudices filled my head. Yesterday the same scene happened on this bed. When I was struggling with dust, pretending to be strong and trying to follow the flow of work to the end. Even fainted today. Daeng Hasan even delicious to sip honey from other flowers.
My little daughter was also a victim. I don't know what demon possessed Daeng Hasan's head to the point of locking Tiara in the bathroom. I didn't think it out. My heart feels crumpled. More than just pain.
***
[Connected]
