The Love That Is Taken
Theresia's Offer
Rosa then opened the conversation. "Please drink first, There," he said while putting two glass mineral water right in front of his guests. "Sorry, this house rarely has guests and Karin lives alone here. So there's only mineral water available."
Her guest snorted cynically, "Means my husband rarely comes here, dong? Or maybe Karin who often comes to visit her apartment?"
The girl whose name was called was gasping. His face was pale. Rosa looked at him pity. The woman felt her niece was facing trial with herself as the defendant.
Karin lowered her face deeply. Feeling mixed. A combination of guilt, shame, confusion, and helplessness. When her aunt was on the phone telling her about Theresa's desire to meet her, the girl was preparing to be cursed by her lover's legitimate wife. That's why he was just being satirized by her.
"There," Rosa said. "Didn't we agree that you're going to have a good talk with Karin? That's why Auntie is willing to accompany you here. Please There, we're all adults here. Let's talk about it with a cold head."
Theresia's anger overflowed instantly. He stood up and pointed his index finger at the woman. "You're defending your nephew. Basic parents are not wise to educate their own foster children! It was as if asking me to speak well with this actor while you yourself just sat quietly watching himself be happy on top of my suffering! You know how hurt it is to be betrayed by the man I've respected all along? Yeah, I used to have a lot of respect for you, Aunt Rosa! I admire your professionalism at work. Somehow my father could have built his business without your support. But it turns out that all this time Papa kept a tiger in his own house! A ferocious tiger that apparently waited for the right time to destroy the happiness of Simon Hidayat's family!"
Rosa was agitated at the young woman's accusations. Unexpectedly this once so sweet and cute child has turned into a violent young woman and reneged on her own promise. If I knew Theresia would behave like this, from the start I wouldn't want to see her in a restaurant. How could he possibly so easily lick his own saliva. He promised me he'd have a good talk with Karin, his mind disappointed.
"Mother Theresia" said Karin, who could not bear to watch her tanti being pointed at and harshly worded. "I'm guilty of being in a close relationship with your husband. But hope you know, our relationship was established after you two separated and took care of the divorce. So it wasn't really me who caused Mother Theresa's marital breakdown."
"Who is guilty of this?!" exclaim Teresia growled. "Have had an illicit relationship with my husband, now you accuse me of causing the breakdown of my own marriage. Huh! There are actors who admit their mistakes. You cheap woman! Your heart turned out to be so geeky behind that innocent looking face. Is that how you seem to win my husband's heart? By pretending to be naive, naive, meek...."
"I'm really sorry, Mrs There," Karin said in a raucous voice. Tears began to pool in her eyes. "There is absolutely no intention in my heart to destroy the household of others. If Mother Theresa thought so, I can't do anything...."
Suddenly his stomach felt nauseous. Then, excuse me to go to the bathroom for a while. Theresia looked at him with a cruel look as if she was about to swallow him whole.
Theresia took a long breath. Aunt Rosa is right, I'm in the heart. It's free that I keep getting angry. Oh, well, it's all happened. Papa in heaven wouldn't like to see me like this either. Use logic, There. Use logic! Fine, Papa. I'm halfway through this. I'll follow your advice....
"I drink first, Auntie," he told the hostess. Rosa nodded. Next the guest took out a straw from the plastic and stuck it in the glass mineral water lid in front of him. His heart gradually calmed down after sipping the water a few times. The atmosphere returned to silence until Karin finally reappeared.
The girl's eyes looked puffy. Her nose is reddened. It seems she's been crying. But Theresa did not feel the slightest pity. He was more and more excited about completing his plan.
"Yesterday Mas Jon asked me to speed up the divorce process. So he can marry you before your belly gets bigger. She was afraid that you would be a gossip of people for conceiving without a husband" said the woman, staring at the girl who was bowed before her.
Seeing that Karin had not commented, Theresa continued, "Now I ask you, Karin. Are you ready to marry Mas Jon and become a mother? Don't you want a better future than marrying a man who's about to turn forty and become an ordinary housewife? You are young, beautiful and well educated. A beautiful future still lies wide before you and can be easily achieved as long as you want it."
The girl raised her face. "I don't understand what Mother Theresa meant" she said.
Meanwhile Rosa suddenly felt horrified. He felt an unpleasant feeling. Theresia's eyes and facial features now looked so cold, as if they had no feelings. But aunt Karin was unable to speak. His tongue feels ugly. He regretted that he had brought his former boss's daughter to this house.
"I want to make an offer that is a win-win solution for all parties, Karin," said Theresia calmly. "I have no one in the world anymore. Papa and Aunt Mila left me alive. I'm not young anymore and I'm sure you also know that my uterus is barren. So I ask your humility to make amends by handing over the child you bear to be with Mas Jon!"
Karin was shocked to hear the request of her lover's wife. Rosa herself to gawking. Good Lord! the pekikin' in heart. What the hell is this Theresa? How could he ask my nephew to give up his own flesh and blood?
"You two don't worry" explained Theresia later. "It will be as good for the child as my own. It's the fairest solution for everyone, Karin. You made up for your mistake by handing over your son to stay with my husband. After that you are free forever. No one's gonna call you a man's husband-capturing woman. You will be reborn as a girl who is flawless and ready to achieve your dreams. What a great offer, right?"
