Should We Divorce?

21

"Why am I to blame? Why should I feel cornered? Can't I be mad at what you've done?"

The line Ares spoke on the phone last night kept on blowing in Serena's ear, swirling in her mind. Confusion increasingly hit his brain which is already full of question marks. Last night's events were so tight, but Ares' teary eyes could not be ignored.

The man left without saying anything. Leaving Serena still sobbing in her tears. Resisting pain in the heart and also pain in his entire body. Cheating for hours without closing your eyes. At two o'clock in the morning, the phone rang. One call from the man who had just slashed and hurt her heart.

The voice on the other end of the phone was raucous, a little weak. His voice was muffled by the sound of discotheque music playing very fast. Although in the faint and noisy combination, Serena did not miss a single word that Ares said. His brain was recording clearly one by one, but he did not quite understand what Ares' words meant. Before asking, the call is unilaterally disconnected. Depends on the unresolved knowledge of Serena.

"Mrs the soup!" Pekik Mbok Nunik who hastily turned off the stove.

Serena surprised. He was surprised to see the soup broth water he was cooking exploded because it was too long heated. The woman grimaced little looking at Mbok Nunik who still looked panicked.

"Mrs gapapa?"

"Reprize, Mbok. Thanks yeah. Thankfully there are mbok."

"Yes, Madam," he answered with a nod. "Oh yeah, Him, in the living room there's Madame Yolita."

"Huh?"

"Yes. That guest who knocked on the door was Mrs Yolita."

Serena suddenly became agitated. Her mother-in-law came to visit but Ares hasn't come home yet. He will ask where his son is. And if Serena answered honestly, their household disorder would be sniffed. Moreover, Yolita including people who are sensitive to something.

With doubt Serena walked towards the middle room. Formal jumpsuit to the office is attached to the blazer strip. Her straight black hair was intentionally parsed. His thin lips that were given an orange lipstick showed a beautiful smile to the mother-in-law who had welcomed him. Also seen Altan who has been sitting with a henchman while eating chocochip cookies that Serena guessed must be the hand of Mama Yolita.

"Hi, Honey. How are you?" Welcome Yolita in Serena's arms.

Serena let go of that hug and smiled broadly. "Good, Ma. Mama and Papa are good too, right?"

"Good dad. And Mama felt even better after meeting you." Yolita's teacher who was avenged by the amused ugliness of her daughter-in-law.

"What would you like to drink? Let me make it first."

"No need. Mama can take it herself. You should get ready for the office, right?"

Serena chuckled lightly as she glanced at the home sandal she was using. "No, Ma, just put on some shoes. I also cook for breakfast. So go get a drink first."

"No, honey. Mama's not thirsty yet, really," yolita stroked on Serena's hair. "Udah sit down first."

According to her in-laws, Serena was sitting on the living room couch. Seeing Yolita who handed over the paper bag was quite large.

"Mama cook rawon today, keep your keenets who like rawon made Mama. Yes, Mama bawain. Coincidentally Mama also made cookies like Altan yesterday."

"Oh, Ma, really bother."

"Not bothered. Lagian tuh Altan really excited to eat it. Tired Mama makes cookies so on the screen."

"The reason cookies make Oma delicious, anyway." The boy's chattering made his mother and grandmother chuckle.

"Thank you, Ma, one more time. I'm definitely gonna eat this. Sorry to have made Mama come this far."

"Together, Honey. Mama deliberately came all the way here because she misses you and Altan."

"Don't you miss Papi too?" Tanya Altan who is focusing on memomoti chocochip in the cookies.

"But you are bummer ah. Oma's not kangen, huh." Yolita's chuckles are crunchy.

Serena just smiled faintly and stiffly heard the joke about Ares. Uncomfortable, he draped his hair to the ears - which involuntarily made his slightly bruised left cheek become highlighted.

Yolita's eyes that accidentally saw her, squealed suspiciously. Her hand spontaneously held Serena's cheek, and the owner grimaced. The two stared at each other with hard to read gazes.

"Why are you cheeks?" Ask Yolita quietly.

Serena soaked her lower lip and shook her head. "What a hell, Ma."

"This bruise can't be all right, right?" Elus Yolita on Serena's cheek very gently.

Serena silent. Confused what to answer. His ten fingers clutched together nervously. Yolita's shady eyes implied the anxiety that made Serena truly unbearable.

"What...this is Ares?" Unknowingly Yolita's lower lip shook.

Still unmoved. Serena looked at her nano-in-law. He is confused whether he should be honest or not. He had never lied to Yolita before. But if he is honest, he is afraid that the problem will widen everywhere.

"So right because of Ares?"

And Serena's choice fell on the trunks on her head. The woman did not want to make Ares look bad in front of everyone, let alone her own mother. "Not Ares, Ma. Yesterday I was splashed with hot water while making tea."

Yolita was silent for a moment. His eyes were aiming at the sanctions. "You sure?"

"Yes, Ma," Serena smiled. "Some... Ares couldn't have hurt me."

Yolita's hand dropped slowly from Serena's cheek. The mature woman looked still in disbelief. There seems to be something odd. His eyes could not hide his anxiety.

"Ares where? Mama didn't see her car in front, and she's not here either." His head twists sweeping all sides of the living room.

The ringing on his finger really didn't help. Serena was getting more anxious. His seat was uncomfortable. "Uhm... Ares.. that, Ma..."

"Yes? Ares? Whither? Where the hell is he?" Read Yolita with a bit of impatience. Because honestly, there was a bit of emotion in his heart. He could not believe that a hot spill could make Serena's cheeks so bruised. It was like a slap. And Ares is the one who is most likely to do it. Yolita had to get an answer from her own son's mouth.

"Anu, Ma, Ares---

"That's Papi, Oma." Point Altan at the main door that makes Yolita and Serena turn.

Ares' body stood stiff when he found his mother's eyes staring at him slightly sharply. The man locked his lips tightly and tried to calm down even though he knew the atmosphere after this was impossible not to tense.

"You just got home, Antares?" Yolita got up from her seat near the standing point of the son. His gaze was truly not as gentle anymore as before.

Serena got up after hinting Mbok Nunik to bring Altan into her room. Undeniably, the aura of tension between the mother and child also made him tense.

"You just got home from work or you've been wandering around until it's a mess?" Yolita asked, looking down at Ares from top to bottom. Watching how unfavorable Ares's appearance is now.

"I'm home from work, Ma."

"This morning people usually want to go to work, not just come home from work," Yolita smiled obliquely tilted her head. "Is the world turned upside down now?"

Ares flinching. For this business, his mother is a champion. Yolita could always beat her interlocutor with her words. Even just stared sharply Ares sure the enemy's guts will shrink. And that skill dropped on Ares. The man also scared his mother when facing the enemy. But if the opponent was Yolita herself, let alone Ares, her father - Henrialdi Risjad - would have lost.

"I'm overtime. Much work." Ares replied expressionlessly.

"You know what you can't go home by yourself? Another thousand temples?" Syndir Yolita with a sharp look.

"Ma, please, I don't have time for this storm."

"Just like you don't have time for your wife and kids?"

Ares' lazy whimper just got away with it. The man threw his face to the side because he was too tired to face his mother. She had not slept all night thinking about Serena. Not to mention the slap that he accidentally slapped because of emotions, making guilt continuously pierced his heart.

Until finally the deadlock forced him to call Serena last night. I don't know what he's talking about. He himself did not remember because he was too drunk and immediately turned off the connection because the dizziness in his head was getting worse.

"Antares

"Ma" Serena approached Yolita. She held her in-laws' arms to ease the tension. "I-this is all misunderstanding. Ares is not wrong."

"Your husband is clearly wrong, Serena. Don't defend her," then Yolita's head twisted and skinned Ares sharply. "What kind of husband can not go home for work reasons."

"That's no excuse, Ma. Please don't corner me anyway."

"If you don't want to be cornered, let's be honest with Mama why don't you go home?! Honest sam-a

"Ares went to his tea anniversary, Ma." Cut Serena fast.

Yolita turned to Serena. Staring at the daughter-in-law with a look of disbelief.

Yolita remained silent for a moment. And that opportunity Ares took advantage of to get out of there. The man kept his cold and hard face past his mother and wife. Didn't mind the defense Serena just gave.

"Wait," orders Yolita to stare at Ares' strapping back. The owner stopped stepping. And Serena was worried. "Serena, please make lemon water. Your husband has had too much to drink."

...• • • • •...

After the tension that some time ago occurred, Serena invited Yolita to breakfast together. His intentions wanted to slightly divert the suspicion of the mother-in-law and his anger towards Ares. He tried to be calm even though his heart was tight. He was afraid that if Ares came out later, the tension would come back. Hopefully, Ares does not refuse to eat breakfast together and makes Yolita more suspicious.

"Not eaten, honey? Is there anything less than Mama's cooking?"

Serena flutter stiffened as it turned out Yolita noticed it. "No, Mom, it's delicious. It's really good."

"Certainly why not eat it? Mama watch you daydream constantly."

"Ah that. no, really. Maybe it's Mama's feeling."

Yolita reviews a thin smile. "Yes, continue eating it. Oh or if you want more spirit, add sambal. Mama also intentionally brought it."

Serena raised both her eyebrows stiffly as Yolita grabbed a small bowl filled with tucked sambal. Her in-laws were spooning quite a lot of sambal into her plate. "Mama love you so much. You love Mama's chili."

He admitted that Yolita's sambal was a champion. His good champion and his spicy champion. Serena really likes it, but she can't eat it now. His stomach is a little troubled. How he refused his mother-in-law's banquet.

"Cock-awkwardly? Let's eat." Big smile Yolita.

Serena grimaces are bad. "A-ak..."

"Come, Honey. Mama guaranteed not to have stomach pain. Mama's okay, that's all."

Serena's body movements were completely stiff. He tried to grab a spoon in front of him to whisk a little sambal. His hands hesitated as he brought the spoon closer to his mouth.

"Don't eat it." Sergey's the one who made it all look up.

Ares who was fresher and tidy with his formal suit looked a little panicked while holding the spoon that almost landed in Serena's mouth. Although her face was stiff, Serena knew Ares was worried about her. The couple shared their hard-to-understand views. Time seemed to stop right then and there, as if they wanted the two people to continue to share their views.

Yolita gave a short throb that made the two misbehave. Especially Ares. The man cursed the stupidity of himself who still reflect attention on Serena.

"What's up, Antares? Why can't Serena eat the sauce?" Yolita asked calmly as she placed her hands on her chin.

Ares was silent for a moment neutralizing the mimic of his face. The man stared at his mother for quite a while. "He's got stomach acid. Not good eating spicy early in the morning."

Serena's movement**************have her hand stopped. The woman looked up at Ares who answered Yolita's question just now. Although without expression and the usual cold tone, inexplicably Serena's heart warmed to hear it. The woman did not expect Ares was still as careful as before. He was happy to see that there was one good side of his Antares left.

Damnit damnit! Ares cursed in his heart. He hated being looked at by his mother and that woman. He hates being the center of attention.

"I'm leaving, Ma." Pamit Ares is good. Not strong to resist embarrassment.

"Breakfast first."

"Sorry, Ma. But I can't."

"Why?"

"But you never have breakfast at home, Oma."

Altan's plain statement made Yolita turn to her grandson.

"But never had dinner again with Altan."

"Oh yeah?" Yolita spread a thin smile even though her heart began to be haunted by anxiety again. "Who did Altan eat it with?"

"Just like Mami."

Sighing for a moment, Yolita reopened her voice. "You know, today Oma will make Altan eat together again with Papi and Mami. Altan wants?"

The little boy looked up while holding Ares' left hand. "But want to have breakfast with Altan again?"

Seeing Ares just silent, Yolita again chimed. "Must want dong, honey. Aren't you, Antares?" Look at Yolita meaningfully at her son.

Ares can only resign while moaning lazily in the heart. The man pulled the chair to the left of Altan, but when he was about to land his body, Yolita dispelled.

"Why sit there? Mama's got a chair here, Antares." Yolita pointed at the empty chair to her right with her chin.

Ares flinching. As he looked ahead, his eyes skimmed with Serena. Both are silent. Serena knew Ares was frozen because she was reluctant to sit next to him. Ares doesn't want to be around him. What can Serena do? If the mother asks, no one can refuse.

"Why silence? Come on."

Second time. Ares followed the mother's request. He sat beside Serena, so that he was in the midst of his mother and wife. A perfect combination, right? Ares felt himself surrounded.

Serena knew her mother-in-law must have been very suspicious that something was wrong in the household of this son and daughter-in-law. But let him be naive and as if his in-laws knew nothing. The first step he took to hack into Yolita's slight suspicion was to serve Ares a meal. Take the plate and fill it like a wife in general. Although Ares seemed unable to be invited to compromise, because the man continued to be indifferent and cold.

For the first five minutes the breakfast atmosphere was silent and the air was uncomfortable. Serena kept her head down while occasionally bribing, because the rest she stirred more. Her mother-in-law also seemed to have not lowered her anger tension completely. It was seen that there was still a flash of fire in his eyes. Not much different from Ares' jaw that has continued to harden since. Maybe here only Altan is cool with chicken soup.

"Oma, how come you're not here? Opa said, Opa wants to buy Altan toys."

"Well, you work, honey. So you can't come here." Answer Yolita.

"Papi's kayaking, Oma?" tanya Altan who was hit by Yolita. Then the boy's lips pursed in agitation. "Altan doesn't like work. Work makes Opa can not come here bring Altan robots.

"Later if Opa is not busy, surely Opa here bring Altan a lot of toys."

"But Altan doesn't want Opa busy like Papi. Oma will be home alone because Opa won't be home."

Yolita flirted with an elusive mimic. Ares and Serena also looked at their son with an unreadable gaze - perhaps surprised.

Deheman Yolita was heard a moment later. The mature woman glanced at Ares with a sharp delicacy. "Who said Oma was home alone? Although Opa is busy, Opa always has time for Oma and Opa always comes home. Opa never worked late until Oma was alone."

"But why does Papi rarely come home?"

"Of course, your Papi is busier than the president." Syndir Yolita with a crisp laugh at Altan.

"Keep up

"Altan," Serena said as she shook her head slowly. "Abisin used to eat it, honey. Talk about it later. Kasian tuh Oma eat it so perseverance continues."

"Yes, Mi."

Serena breathed a sigh of relief and glanced towards Ares who was stirring up her lazy food. The man did not loosen hard on his face at all. It seems Ares really does not feel at home because it continues to be insinuated Yolita.

"Let's tell me Altan, Serena. Maybe all this time he was too lonely and had no place to share." Yolita smiled faintly looking at the son-in-law.

"Yes, Ma."

"Ares never felt so lonely. Because in the past, as busy as Papa, Papa must be spending time playing with Ares," Yolita turned to Altan with a look of pity. "Mama became the same kasian Altan who was less noticed by his own father."

Prangs. The sound of the touch of a spoon and fork that was placed rough made everything stunned. Ares was of course the center of their confused gazes. The man looked sinister as his eyes were completely frozen sharp.

"What the hell is this, Antares?" Yolita asked a little emotionally. Because he can't be angry in front of Altan.

Ares stood up so that the chair behind him frowned in pain. "I'm done."

"Don't tell me Mama never taught you about manners. That's not how you behave when you're eating this."

"I don't think this is eating. Because the dining atmosphere is filled with warmth, not sarcastic innuendo."

Ares just misses leaving Yolita who seems very emotional. The woman stared at the back of the son who had just fought her. What the fuck? Since when has Ares been so presumptuous?

"Ma." Serena tried to calm down by rubbing the back of Yolita's hand.

"Its okay, dear," Yolita replied coldly and a sharp gaze straight ahead. "You don't know what problems you're facing and afflicting your household. But the one that Mama asked for," Yolita's gaze softened as she looked at Serena. "Solve everything well. Mama didn't want you and Ares to separate. If Ares is wrong, on behalf of him Mama apologizes. Ares may not be the best man for you. But Mama believes you're the best for her. Please hold on."