The Third Party

47. My achievements

"You know Emma, of all of my daughters-in-law, you're the most beautiful. I think Handi's the luckiest for having you. If only Rina were as beautiful as you." Suddenly Mas Hasan poked me in the cheek. I was surprised to not think he would do that.

My feelings are not good. This compliment sounds strange to me. I moved my body away from Mas Hasan. But the more I drifted away, the closer he came like he didn't want any distance between me and him.

"What do you want?"

"Are you not lonely living alone?"

"I'm not alone, there's Damar always with me."

"I mean, don't you want "it"? Glancing down my lower body. "You know what I mean?" I began to feel uneasy with the way Mas Hasan looked at me.

"I don't know what Mas Hasan meant!" my answer. I know where Mas Hasan's talking is going. But I was thinking if I didn't serve him maybe he'd stop here.

"If no one wants Mas Hasan to talk about it, Mas Hasan should go home. It's late at night, one can think of all sorts if I receive a male guest late."

"But I still want to be here, I still want to see you. I have admired your face for a long time, only you are my sister-in-law and I still have Rina. But now we're both alone, so it doesn't matter, right?"

I kept shifting my body until now sitting on the end of the sofa while Mas Hasan was still trying to attach his body to mine.

It turned out that only his appearance seemed calm and authoritative. He's really just a jerk who can't respect women.

"Didn't you want it? You haven't felt the warmth of men for a long time, have you? I can give it to you if you want." Whispering in my ear instantly made me shudder in disgust.

I used to be disappointed when he defended his mother without thinking about my feelings, I can still forgive that. But this time, he really made me lose my sense of disdain and respect for him.

"I don't know what you're talking about! Mas Hasan's best to leave because I want to rest!"

And suddenly Mas Hasan kissed my lips right after I finished talking. My reflexes pushed his body.

"What the fuck are you?!!" I stood up and moved away from Mas Hasan.

"Come on Emma, don't be hypocritical! I know you want it! How long have you been a widow?"

"I am the widow of your sister! Don't you remember that?! Aren't you ashamed?!"

"Shame on who?! If you don't tell anyone, no one will know!"

"Get out of my house now!"

I need to stay calm. Don't let Mas Hasan know that I'm really scared. What if he goes further? In my house there was only Damar and he was asleep. Lasmi has also returned home. If Mas Hasan desperately wanted to do the action, surely I would not be able to fight because of his large height.

Since then I tried to be patient and try to keep my attitude even though Mas Hasan had harassed me. I still respect him as my brother-in-law. But his words this time I can't forgive.

I stepped my foot closer to Mas Hasan again until he smiled, thinking I was tempted by the money he offered. But as soon as I stood right in front of him I lay my hands.

"Gat!!!" I slapped him. Although it might not hurt for him at least it could show how angry I am right now. He's been so outrageous.

Mas Hasan glared while holding his cheek.

"Women don't know themselves! You should have realized, only I want to be with you! That's because I feel sorry for you! No one else will touch you! Just look at your looks! Kumal and kampung! You want to be paid whatever price you won't sell!" The mouth of Mas Hasan who had previously issued seduction and sweet words to me now turned into insults and words that humbled me.

"That's good because I don't intend to sell myself! And you should also realize, without Mbak Rina you are nobody! No one will respect you like before, including me! Now get out of my house before I scream for help!"

"You'll regret Emma!!!" mad at Mas Hasan before he left my house.

And now here I am, sitting drooping with mixed feelings. Anger, fear, disappointment, sadness, shame, humiliation all mixed into one. Mas Hasan, one of the people I was disinclined with, was about to harass me. Not to mention the words that say if I also sell myself, also slums and villages that will not sell even though they are neutral. Isn't that painful?

Finally my tears came. Why is my husband's family the source of my grief and misery. Not only my in-laws, but my brothers-in-law as well.

*

I buried the incident that night in a tight circle. I don't want to talk about it with anyone. Let it be my secret and Hasan's.

But after that incident I had another goal in my life besides raising Damar well. I want to change for the better to show the Handi family who I am, what I can achieve without them.

I'm increasingly focused on the catering business that I just started. I started to get into the offices of the schools. I don't feel ashamed promoting my theater to those places.

Until finally my catering business is getting bigger and I employ five people every day. It's an incredible achievement considering I started it all zero.

I'm also not much in the kitchen because there is already a special person in charge of cooking. I just prepare the seasoning and the ingredients also control the quality of the food.

In three years my efforts advanced rapidly and my economy grew very well. I can already buy a car from my own business without touching Damar's savings.

Sometimes Mbak Eka or Mbak Rina come to visit. They often praise me for my progress and my appearance is much different than it used to be. That's because now I diligently do the treatment in the beauty salon.

After Hasan's arrival that night, I no longer counted on using money for myself. I began to dare to use money to do body and face care. I also did not hesitate to buy new clothes so that I did not look as shabby as Hasan said.

Hasan and Heni were never seen again. I never asked their news to Mbak Eka or Mbak Rina because it will only remind me of my heartache or rather our heartache to them.