The Third Party

13. Quietest

"There's nothing wrong with Emma Ma'am's nature ... He said he didn't do it on purpose."

"Where is he now? Admitting his actions alone is not, let alone apologizing!"

It was great to hear Handi standing up for me in front of her mother. Although from my room, Handi's voice only sounded faint, but I knew she was defending me.

I never wanted to make Handi fight with her mother. Therefore, whatever my in-laws did to me I chose silence and patience. But maybe today my patience is over.

"I'm gonna have Emma apologize. But later, if mom and Emma aren't both emotional."

Yes, right, if now I am asked to apologize I will not want to do it, I muttered in the room.

"If you would obey your mother married to the mother's chosen woman, surely the fate of the mother will not be like this. Of the three mother-in-laws, she was the poorest but she was also the most brash!!!"

"Bus ... Don't say that again."

"Why do you always defend your wife, not your mother? Love is love, but don't fight your mother for your love for your wife!" Heni chimed in. He was like a humping stove that usually only aggravated the atmosphere.

"Make this Handi an example of Hen! If you are looking for a husband, look for the rich! If he wants to be insolent at least he's rich!"

"Bus ... Nevermind ..."

"If you don't accept me calling your wife impudent and unwilling to divorce her, you better start being strict with her! Teach him how to respect your mother! Tell him he's here just hitching a ride at my house!" My in-laws voice sounded blaring. It seems like he did it on purpose so I could hear him.

I don't take heart in my in-laws' words. I stayed here because Handi asked. I also have my own house, my parents' house. But Handi wanted to stay here because she could not bear to see her mother living alone with Heni.

I can't imagine how to be Handi, how she feels now. He lives in this house for his mother. But because of me, she became the moons of her mother and sister. I feel guilty about it.

"Mom should I take you to the hospital or not? Otherwise I'd better sleep now, it's night. Then your blood pressure can go up again." During this time only Handi who cares about his mother's hypertension disease.

"No, I'll wait for Hasan and Aaron!"

"Yes already then, I want to rest. Hen, you better sleep with mom tonight."

"Don't tell me! I know what to do!" ketus Heni's. The boy never respected Handi as his older brother.

"Yes, good night."

A few moments later, Sandy returned to the room.

"You haven't slept?"

I'm shaking. I don't know why I feel so guilty about Handi. Maybe because my mind has returned to clarity and I can also master my emotions.

"Dam ... I'm sorry" I said as Handi sat next to me.

"Why are you sorry?" tanyanya while grabbing my hand.

"Because of me you got into a fight with mom. You're being blamed for what I did."

"You know Han .. I'm willing for you to divorce. I'm it's okay. We can separate well, we can still raise our children together even without the bond of husband and wife." My eyes are back in tears.

"Emma ... Already yes, you do not take heart the talk of the mother earlier."

"It's not about that. I don't care about Mom's words anymore."

"Then what's the problem?"

"I can't bear to see you being scolded and scolded by your mother because of me. Every mother is upset with me, you must be the one who is the impingement. I just realized, it must be very difficult to be you. On the one hand you have to respect your mother on the other you also have to keep my feelings. That must not be easy. Maybe right, parting is the best."

"If you marry your mother's chosen woman, you will definitely not fight with her anymore. You also do not need to work hard because the family of the woman can give everything. What is clear is that you will not feel the hardships you felt when you became my husband. I'd be willing to part with you if it made your life better and happier."

Maybe my love for Handi was so deep that I didn't want her to suffer because of me. Isn't the highest level of loving is seeing the person she loves happy despite not having? Maybe that's how I feel right now.

Don't ask me why I'm like this, because I don't know why my feelings can change in a matter of seconds. Maybe soon I'll change my mind, I don't know.

"How many times do I have to repeat it, baby? We won't be apart until death do." Cesss .. It was so cold that my heart heard Handi's answer. He is a very responsible man either by his words or deeds. Maybe Handi is the only resident of this house who is still sane among us all.

"We sleep? You must be tired." I nodded then we went to bed to close the long, exhausting and emotionally draining night.

*

The next day...

I woke up feeling relieved and calm as if last night there was no great war. I saw that Handi was sleeping, and so was Damar. I finally got to sleep with my little family.

I was about to get up but Handi pulled my hand until I laid my body down next to her.

"Han, let me out. I have to cook and take it."

"No, you're here."

"Let's be mad if I don't do it."

"You will do nothing, let Heni do it. I've permission not to work, so I'll be with you all day."

"really?"

"Hmmm .." he answered with his eyes closed.

Until noon I stayed in the room. I just went out to take a shower after that, I locked myself in my room. Sandi prepared my breakfast and took it to the room. He doesn't want me to meet Heni or his mother for a while. Handi has also bought formula milk as an addition because my ASI still has not returned smoothly as before.

As I was enjoying this tranquility I heard the sound of a car stopping in the yard. I saw from the window of my room, Mas Harun and Maak Eka came. My feelings are back on the raging. What war will I face now. My in-laws must have exaggerated the story to this son and daughter-in-law. But take it easy, I have Handi that I can always count on.

I know why Handi didn't go to work today. He did so not just because he wanted to spend time alone with me, but he knew his brothers would come. He didn't want me to face it all alone.