Substitute Mother
Chaptre 86. Unrevealed
Jeffrey realized the changes in the shape of his wife's body that was getting thinner. Not to mention the pale that seemed reluctant to go from his father's face. Do not forget also the faint blackened eye bags. Busy as they became medical personnel, Jeffrey never saw his wife look this late. Not only did he look tired, but his eyes were also sad.
“You till when did you shut me down?”
Tyona stops her movement polishing the blush-on. At least he wanted a hue on his cheek even if it was fake. “Don't be too confident. Who silenced you”
Jeffrey leaned back, exchanging neutrals with Tyona through the mirror.
“You. Do you realize that you changed, Anna?”
Tyona smiled. Decided to stop putting on her makeup along with her lost mood. “Should I ask you otherwise, Jeff?”
The woman got up, grabbed her bag and walked ahead of Jeffrey. “Come. Later we are late, Mama does not like if we come late”
That's exactly what Tyona thought. The hour before dinner at once home from work makes the streets jammed. Tyona was forced to send a message to her in-laws about the situation on the road so that they would not worry about the delay of her son and daughter-in-law.
Being in one car with Jeffrey after all this time, made Tyona feel uncomfortable. At least while at home he can go to the kitchen, laundry room or other corner of the room that there is no Jeffrey existence. But if in the car, want to run away also where?
“Later discussion Mama definitely not far about anak”
Tyona who was engrossed in looking out the window, sighed faintly without turning her head towards her husband. “Yes. And there's your duty as a husband to defend me”
“Whatever I defend you, Mama will still blame us”
“Salah”
“Ya?”
“Wrong. No matter how much you defend me, Mama will still blame me. Not blaming you”
Jeffrey's forehead shriveled, not liking Tyona's words. “Why are you talking as if Mama is so bad?”
“I never said so. Your habit of assuming for yourself and attacking me with your baseless assumptions. You better stop talking, Jeff”
Jeffrey runs his car when there's a crack in front. Unfortunately, the traffic was still in front of them. The vehicle stopped again, waiting for the next crack.
“You are not Anna as I know her. Anna whom I know will honor me as her husband”
“Oh yes? even though her husband has betrayed?”
Tyona turned her head, seeing Jeffrey crimping the steering wheel so fast. The man's jaw was also hardened. But she was undaunted, Tyona was already tired of the pain that was constantly pounding her mercilessly.
“Do not think I'm stupid, Jeff. You can't dodge, I already know everything”
“Anna..”.
Tyona lowered her head, playing the ring that was still nicely embedded in her fingers. “Jeff, remember? When we choose this ring? We had a debate about the name engraving in it. You want our initials, while I want to be filled with a line of meaningful sentences. After we bought this ring, you tried hard to hold me back from trying this ring too often”
“We've been through a lot of days, many nights together sharing a blanket. Sharing stories about our daily lives, about our dreams in the future. You recall? There are many of our plans that have not yet been realized. One of them holiday in Switzerland” Tyona smile. Remembering the list of their dreams stuck in the refrigerator door. One of them is on vacation. One of the few things they cannot realize. Or will it never happen?
“I'm mad at you, Jeff. But my disappointment is much greater. The man I love, who I believe will take care of me for life, is turning around to hurt me. Sometimes I ask, what is my fault? What shortcomings? If I'm not perfect for you, why don't you just say it straight away so I can fix it as much as I can. Why did you cover it with another woman?”
Silent. The silence broke because of the honking sound of the rear car which turned out the traffic condition had returned to normal. Jeffrey then drove his vehicle without responding to all the words of Tyona. While Tyona, back to his initial attention is looking out the window. At once hid the drops of tears that I did not know how many times today, fell wet the cheeks.
**
“Eat Hannah. You can get sick if you don't eat”
Hannah's position is the same as it was. He hugged his knees and looked blankly ahead. It made Johnny desperate because the food he brought was untouched.
“Let me be sick, if need be I die”
Johnny put both his hands in his pocket. “You think Louis would be that easy to let you die, hm? He'll figure out a way to get food into your system. Not by force cramming, but by other means”
“Wedding is in sight, Hannah. You can't run anywhere”
Hannah looked at Johnny. “Johnny.. Can I ask for help?”
“What?”
“I borrow a mobile phone. Let me talk to Mark. Allow me to stay away so he doesn't get confused looking for me where”
Johnny wants to argue, but seeing how fateful the romance story of Hannah and Mark, his little remaining conscience finally melted. He steps closer to Hannah, thrusting her cell phone. But just as Hannah's hand was about to reach, it was already heard a step. Johnny quickly returned to his cell phone.
Sure enough, not long ago Louis came with the most jerk smile according to Hannah.
“Hai dear, you miss me?”
Johnny retreats when Louis takes a position in front of Hannah. Intending to steal a kiss on her lips but Hannah turns her face away, her kiss ends up on the cheek.
“Don't be too cold to your future husband. Oia, I have a surprise for you”
Hannah, who was too mentally tired, did not find the slightest enthusiasm for the word of surprise thrown by Louis. He looked lazily at the door where Louis' hand was stretched out in one direction. In the next instant, he could see Mother and Helga standing there. Helga hugged Hannah, followed by Mother who rubbed her hair gently.
“I brought Mom and Helga to stay with us”
**
The dinner was awkward between Tyona and Jeffrey. Their quarrel a few minutes ago in a car that was still hanging, seemed to be a burden that made the interaction of the two look distant.
“How's your career, Anna?”
Tyona turned to Gandhi, her father-in-law. She smiled politely, compared to Mama Rianti, Her father-in-law treated her much better. Never had Gandhi touched the spectacle as Rianti often said. Gandhi loved her like a child. Adored her daughter-in-law who is not only beautiful but also smart.
“Karyrku smoothly, Dad. Poly is never lonely, but I love my job”
Gandhi smiled proudly. “You don't intend to go to college anymore?”
“It.. actually I want to take education again but still confused”
“Why?”
“Between hospital management or psychology. Those two options that still can't Anna decide which one is more interesting, Ayah”
Gandhi opened his mouth, about to give a recommendation for his favorite son-in-law but Rianti was much faster to snatch.
“If you keep busy school, when will there be time to have children, Anna? Now you're three heads. When do we wait?”
Tyona lowered her head, clasping her spoon and fork tightly. “I'm sorry, Ma”
“Have been darling. They will also have tried, later if it is time Anna will be pregnant. Education is also important. Aren't you proud to have an educated daughter-in-law like Anna?”
Rianti. “But she must be aware of her nature as a woman, Gandhi. Married and pregnant, while she is young and capable, why delay?”
“Sorry Mama, but I did not delay”
Gandhi grabbed a napkin, rubbing the leftovers that were imprinted on his lips. “Smart kids are born from smart mothers. It's never too late to learn and it's never too late to have a child even if you're three-headed. You need to stop pressing your son-in-law. Anna is Jeffrey's wife, but she also has a life of her own. I as a father support him if he goes to school again”
Rianti. Choose to enjoy dinner even with a sour face. Gandhi exchanged glances with Tyona, giving Tyona a warm smile. The woman glanced at Jeffrey who had been silent earlier. Thinking that her father-in-law was much better at defending her than Jeff, who was her own husband.
Tyona could not imagine Gandhi's feelings if she knew she had any intention of separating from Jeffrey.
**
