The Former

BE LATE

It was very clear that the truck hit the car next to me. If only I had taken a step too late. I will also be hit by the truck.

While the front of my car was crushed to hit the sidewalk. I am grateful that there are no wounds. Only shock made my chest tight, making it feel hard to breathe.

My head feels dizzy. Dark view. The world is starting to spin. I fainted.

*****

"Alhamdulillah. Mother aware. Why-why not Bun?" Maya says.

When I opened my eyes, I was already lying on the patient's bed. There was Maya accompanying me sitting beside me lying down.

"Mother is not papa. Who are you here with?" I said slowly.

"Father Same. But again to the toilet."

'Vino's here? Does that mean he still cares?'

I tried to raise my head. Wanna sit. But my head hurts. Like getting hit by a hard thing. Maybe at the time of the accident, I didn't realize my head hit the inside of a hard car. Until my head hurts like this. I held my head. Bows. Resist pain.

"What do you want? Do not be forced to sit down first. Your condition is still unstable, Bun."

Vino was suddenly by my side, holding and pushing softly on my shoulder, for me to lie down again. I'm manut.

'This is actually Vino, right? This is Vino, my husband?' my mind that didn't expect Vino to be with me.

I smile. The pain that I felt, suddenly disappeared with a flash.

"You .." I said, which Vino immediately cut off.

"Udah. Don't move and talk too much. Rest."

I smile back. Like I want to stop time now. Seeing Vino like this, made me fall asleep.

'Vino really cares about me. Or because there's Maya, she's like this?' suddenly my heart is broken.

"Bun. Where did Mother go? I'm in the front room, Bun, reading comics. I called him to go instead."

"So Mother there was an impromptu meeting. Boss Bunda sent a spit-cepet camenya, so Mother so do not see and do not terrorize You. Sorry Mother yes. Mother hurry."

I lied again. I don't want Maya to know I'm having a storm with her dad. If Maya finds out, Me and Vino are going to divorce, which is all my fault, because of Me, Maya will be even more devastated and disappointed.

This crybaby me cannot hold back the tears that suddenly have dripped.

"Work you crying? Mother why? Mother's pain?" ask Maya by crying too.

Seeing Maya who was crying because she was worried about me, made me even more claustrophobic.

"Mother is not papa, dear. Mommy is just grateful, still given the chance to live. Mother is okay."

Vino who was playing his phone, I saw a glance at me. Just glancing.

*****

Tomorrow.

I'm allowed to go home. I choose the afternoon so Maya can come with Mr. Dadang to pick me up.

"Assalamualaikum" I said as I entered the house.

"Waalaikumsalam," said Bu Iyem who immediately welcomed my arrival.

"Dad hasn't come home yet, Miss Iyem?" ask Maya.

"Lohs. Kirain followed from the Office directly pick up Mother Neng Maya."

"No. I said I'll see you at home. Kirain is nyampe. You were in the hospital a long time waiting for a letter home from his doctor."

"Yes, Neng. Mother told him to go to the room, rest. Do not stand up. Come on Mom, I'll take you."

"Yes, Bun. Break in the room yuk."

"Mothers. Neng Maya's. If so, excuse me. Take a shower. Just finished cleaning up, haven't had a bath."

"Yes, Miss Iyem. Thank you, ma'am." said I and Ms. Iyem out of the room.

"Mother want anget tea? Let me make it."

"Boleh May. Mother pingin the angel-anget."

"Yes, I made yes. Mother sleeps away."

I'm nodding. I saw Maya step out of the room. Maya's attention is heartbreaking. My tears are relentlessly forcing me to come out whenever I think of divorce and custody.

'I must how, O God. Really, I wouldn't be able to be far away from Maya. How do I get Vino to forgive me. I have to How is Allah ... Forgive Me ...'

My crying is silent. Just a breath. Crying like this makes me feel more sad. I think I want to scream. Tauter. But it's impossible. I wouldn't be able to if Maya knew I was falling. Maya can't know.

"Czech" my room door opened.

I rush to wipe my tears fast and rough. I looked. I thought Maya, it was Mama Renata.

"Mommy?"

"You why? Last night we had a fight with Vino?"

"Do you know I have a problem with Vino?"

"That's Mama Vino. Yes, you must know about him. Moreover, your problem is the same as Him!"

"Kalo Mamah know, why can't Mamah prevent Vino from admitting this to me?"

"Ngapain Mamah must prevent Vino from doing what Mamah really told?"

"Whataaa? Did you mean Mamah ...?"

"Yes! Mom sent Vino. Do you know who Indri is? Indri mamah's nephew. Incidentally when Mamah married Papah, Indri was in the Netherlands. At her parents' house. Mama's introduction to Papah was also for Indri's interference."

I really flinched it. It's insanity. Totally bonkers.

"But Indri didn't say anything while still seeing me, when I was Vino's Wife. Is that all part of Mamah's plan?"

"Yes. Right. Mamah wants Indri who is with Vino. So that Mom is not wasted in this family. But unfortunately for years Mamah tried to separate you and Vino. There's no results. Vino is too in love. Love dies with you and Maya."

"Indri isn't already engaged to Rey? Why are you still hoping for Vino?"

"Initially, Indri was tired. He tried to forget Vino. Eventually Indri meets Rey, she decides to get engaged. But again you're the obstacle."

"Yes. I-i know. Indri told me. Because of me, Rey decided not to marry Indri. But when I'm with Rey, I don't know if Rey is engaged, let alone Indri."

"But Indri was already hurt for the second time with the same person, namely you."

My head hurts. Hearing Mama Renata's story made my head hurt again. I never thought, for years my household and Vino became the target of the bad guys who had been in it. Even Indri and I are good friends.

Now, next month is exactly 10 years of my marriage to Vino. They gave me a divorce. And most painfully, separating me from my son.

"Now Indri can take Vino's heart. And now, just wait for your time to divorce Vino and stay away from Maya forever" he said.

"Evil! You guys are really bad!"

I'm yelling. Crying out. Cry broke. Breaking up the room. No matter what else someone will hear.

"Praaaannnggg" the sound of the object breaking.

I'm turning. My crying stopped when I saw Maya drop a glass of tea for me.

"Wicked Granny! Grandma made a cry Mother!"

Maya screamed while crying. He stood glued to my door.