My wife's lover

chapter 7

I took my bike and led him out of the boarding house. My kids stopped playing when they saw me leaving with a bag.

Andre approached me, "Dad want to go again? Did you just come home? Why bring this bag?" The series of questions confused me what to answer.

I took a heavy breath. I wasn't ready to tell my two children about my mother and me, "Dad tonight there's a need to stay at my grandmother's house. You guys all right, huh? Don't forget to pray,"

"Mas Andre is coming, Dad," he said.

'You're here with mom and sister, yeah. It's just the two of you, too,"

"Hmm, yeah. But tomorrow I'm home, right?"

I just smiled without answering the question, "Dad go first maghrib hunt. You also enter, you will soon maghrib."

"Yes, yeah," said Andre.

I got on my bike and pedaled it to my mother's house, which was fifteen minutes by bicycle.

Soon I arrived at my mother's house. My mother lives in three with my sister and her son. My father was long gone and my sister's husband was out of town for getting a better job there.

I kept my bike in the side yard, right at the door to the kitchen.

"Mas Anto?" call my brother Aminah. He looked at me with a surprised look.

"Assalammu'alaikum," I said as I took off my sandals.

"Wa'alaikumsalam" he said.

"Where's mom?" ask me and sit at the dinner table.

"Mother is in Hani's same room" she replied. Hani is my sister's only four-year-old daughter.

"Hhmm, go to the mosque first" I said, keeping my bag on the kitchen table.

I came out of the house with a suspicious look from my sister. Hhh, I should be ready when my mother and sister ask me later.

***

After the prayer, I just returned from the mosque. Mother's house looks lonely from the outside. Only the porch lights provide illumination.

"Assalammu'alaikum" I said, knocking on the living room door at my mother's house.

Chequek. The door opened and my mother opened the door for me.

"Wa'alaikumsalam" he said. I went in and sat down in the chair in the living room.

"To, are you staying here?" ask mom wonder.

"Hmm, ma'am" I replied.

"Why? Is there a problem with your wife?" ask mom again.

"Hmm, I'll tell you a story later, but now I want to go to bed first, ma'am," I replied. I'm not ready to be honest about my problems with Mom. I feel ashamed and of course I don't want to make you think about the problems I'm facing. Mama will be sad too.

"Hhh, eat there first!" he then left me alone in the living room.

I'm actually hungry but I'm embarrassed to eat at my mom's house because every month I can only afford to give my mom a little money. My mother and sister ate from the consignment of her husband Aminah who worked outside the city.

I turned on the tv, maybe long can fall asleep even with a hungry stomach. But in fact an hour passed, I still could not sleep and my stomach was more and more requested in the contents. It feels so hungry.

I then went to the kitchen. Alhamdulillah there is still a plate of rice and fried tofu. I eat with lahab. After eating, I went back to the living room because I slept there. At home there are only two rooms, one is used by the mother and one is used by my sister and her child.

I don't know what time I can fall asleep, suddenly my mother wakes me up.

"To, it's dawn. You want dawn in the mosque, right?" my mother woke me from a dream. Since I was only able to fall asleep late at night, I still feel very sleepy this morning.

I sat down and moved my muscles "I pray in the mosque, ma'am," I replied as I got up and walked to the bathroom to clean myself up.

I'm at the mosque until six. Arriving at the mother's house, there is food at the dining table. I am used to cooking early in the morning.

"To,ayo eat first," mother bargained.

"I eat at the store, ma'am," I refused subtly.

"Well, did you have breakfast at the store? Isn't it just lunch?" ask mom wonder.

I scratched my head that wasn't itchy. I wanted to refuse but I had no money to buy food, my money was completely gone. I just got paid tomorrow. Finally, I had breakfast with my mom. There was a little energy after eating my breakfast.

After I finished breakfast, I rushed to the store, working as usual. Although this time I work not so excited as before but I still try to work as well as possible. I try to forget all my problems at work.

***

I walked over to my boss who was holding me back, "Sorry boss, my business is just done."

"Aren't you usually like this, To?" tanyanya was suspicious.

I'm confused, what should be the same story boss, but if not the story later he can think of a no-no. Bosses do not like employees who like to be late and not on appointments. Divorce does not just take a day.

"Hmm, sorry boss. I was in the KUA office" I explained in a quiet voice afraid that someone would hear.

Toni's boss scrunched his forehead, "What? Who wants to marry?" tanyanya full of search.

"I-I want to take care of the divorce," I replied softly.

"What's? You want a divorce? Why,To?" asked the boss surprised by the furrowed eyebrows.

"I can't continue with Lisa, Bos, anymore" I explained without telling her the real reason.

"Yes why? You thought you were okay. Poor your children, to."

"I've been thinking well, Bos. This is the best path I have to take."

"I don't understand your way of thinking, Too," said the boss, shaking his head.

"Hmm, so for example I have to come to court, I can permit you, boss?"

"If in my opinion, think again, To. If it can be fixed," advised boss Toni.

"The problem is big, Bos. I can no longer afford to go home with Lisa" I explained.

Boss Toni seemed to take a breather scented, "Yes already if you don't want to tell me what the problem is. I hope you won't regret your decision" Toni's boss patted me on the shoulder and then passed from before me.

***

In the afternoon I came to the boarding house to give Lisa a monthly ration. But I only gave her half of the usual because I also needed money to take care of my divorce and also gave money to my mother because I lived there. While the boarding money, it is I who pay directly to those who have so that it is not used for other things.

Usually Lisa will protest if the amount of money I love is reduced, but she was silent. Maybe he didn't want to fuss with me or to find my sympathies. I don't know. Ever since I discovered it, she has turned more gentle and patient towards me. But that attitude won't change my decision.

"Dad tonight is staying here, yes, "he asked with a pleading face.

I shook my head quickly, "I'm picking up the kids. If you mind taking care of them, just take them to my mom's house!" I was firm and soon passed from there without any more concern for his whining.

"Dad's home yet?" alya suddenly shouted from outside.

"Honey, here's some pocket money for you. Where's Andre?" I handed him ten thousand dollars and my eyes were busy looking for where my eldest son was.

"Mas Andre is still playing, well," Alya replied as she looked at me questioningly.

I then slipped another piece of ten thousand into my daughter's hand, "Please love Andre, yes. I'll love you again. Now I'm going to Grandma's house first" I said to Alya.

"Dad want to go to grandma's house again?" tanyakanya.

"Yes dear."

"Why don't you sleep here, Dad?"

"Dad's got a job at grandma's, "my answer lies.

"I want to come, yeah, yeah," whined Alya.

I then held both shoulders of my daughter, "Alya here alone yes accompany the same mother Andre. I'll be here again."

"But, huh?" alya protests.

"Dad to grandma's house first, yeah. Well, same with Andre," I said, which soon passed from before my daughter who looked at me with a look of wonder.

I'm sorry, son. I will still be responsible for your life even without your mother. I'm ingrained.

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