The Third Party

49. Terror

Long after I ended my conversation with Mama Eka I still haven't moved. The story from Ma'am Eka earlier has captured my attention. How can so many people live in one house? That bad?

I put my phone in my bag, and I continued my work. But my mind kept thinking about the story of Ma'am Eka. Should I come to their house and make sure of it myself? Should I take Damar to visit his grandmother?

Ah ... forget it! I better get on with my life without dealing with them again. I actually succeeded without them. Damar also lived a decent life without his father's grandmother and brothers. What else do I need? Why am I dealing with them again?

Her night...

Damar was sound asleep. It's time to read my favorite online novel without Damar's distraction. I took my phone to open an online novel app. But the large number of incoming call notifications in the green color application makes me undo the intention to read the novel.

I opened the notification first, from Heni. She must have called me while I was in the shower, so I didn't hear her. My heart doubts whether I need to call her back or not. But after I thought I didn't have to do that. I better avoid it.

Just now I was intending to ignore the missed call from Heni, my phone rang again, Heni again. Want to not want me to pick up the phone because he must have seen my status online.

"Hello ... "

"Have you thought about it? Do you want to take Damar to visit mom?" ask Heni without saying anything.

"I don't have time. Lately a lot of work."

"Please Emma, I just want to see Damar. He wants to see Damar just once. I won't ask you to stay here like you used to."

I was silent not answering. Instead of considering Heni's words, I was just lazy to answer them.

"Do I need to come to your house and beg you?" Heni lowered his voice. I still kept quiet and didn't want to answer.

"I beg Emma ... Please just this once. Don't you regret it if Damar doesn't get to see his grandmother? Don't you have any pity if my mother's only wish before she dies is to meet Damar?"

"Why are you so selfish and thinking only of yourself? You were the one who kicked me out! Even my house was taken without any of you thinking about me and Damar! We were never in your eyes! Now when you're all so hard just remember us!" ketus balaku. "I told you now we have nothing to do anymore. So better take care of each other's lives!"

"Emc ... " I'll hang up the phone soon. I don't want to hear anything more from Heni.

I feel really upset. Why is it as if Damar has to take responsibility for his mother's pain? Are they playing with my feelings? Makes me feel guilty for not taking Damar to see his grandmother? Are they playing a victim? If this is the case I'm an evil son-in-law for not allowing Damar to meet his grandmother, is that it? They sowed evil upon me. I'm like this because they started first.

A moment later a message from Heni appeared.

"Emma why did you hang up? Are you angry? My words are true, right? Do you not regret if you later die and do not have time to meet Damar? You'll be haunted by guilt for the rest of your life."

The message sent by Heni. And somehow I just got more emotional after reading this message. Why should I feel guilty? Why should I regret it? Why don't they feel guilty for what they did to me. Why don't they think this is the right reply they get?

I don't want to reply to that message. Then my phone rang again. Still from Heni. I don't want to pick up the phone. I threw my phone into bed and then I let it go until it stopped ringing. But there were some incoming messages. It was like a terror to me.

I let it go for a while to make sure Heni doesn't call again, then I take my phone and I block Heni's number. He won't be able to bother me again after this.

I decided to read the novel. I decided to go to sleep because my mood got messed up because of Heni's phone call. But after a moment of closing my eyes, I still couldn't sleep. My mind recalls the times I suffered living with them.

I was active as usual. Even though I woke up late because I couldn't sleep last night, I still did my job as usual. Luckily the people I work with are so deft that they know what to do without direction.

Everything was in order at twelve o'clock. Orders have been sent to the destination address, just serving factory employees who queue to jostle for lunch breaks.

I was too busy serving these people to not notice if there was a Sister Rina sitting among the people who were eating.

"Mom, it's been a while? Sorry, I didn't even know that Sister Rina was coming."

"Once, you go on. I'll wait here."

"Wait a minute ... " I left Mbak Rina and then I called one of the catering employees to help in the shop after that I came back to Mbak Rina.

"We're just going into the house, ma'am."

"But your shop is crowded. Don't leave! I'm just playing for a minute."

"It's okay. I've asked two men to guard the stall. Besides Sister Rina has come all the way here, the time wants to be ignored just like that?"

"I'm not bothering you, am I?" I nodded casually.

"Of course not. I'm just glad that Rina's mom came."

Usually we talk in the shop when Mbak Rina comes. But this time the stall was in crowded condition. I didn't want Ms. Rina to feel uncomfortable, so I took Ms. Rina into the living room.

"Have you heard?" Sister Rina started talking seriously after quite a long time we were making small talk.

"What?"

"Your mother-in-law is sick."

"So you're really sick?"

Sister Rina nodded. "You already know what it looks like."

"Yes, several times Heni called me asking that I bring Damar to visit mom. Has Rina visited?"

"My kids are already, but I haven't. They asked me to visit their grandmother several times. You know for yourself, don't you? When I was his son-in-law, I was lazy to visit when my mother was sick. Especially now?!"

Then we both kept quiet. We suffered the same fate, so it was only natural that we could feel each other's feelings.

"It's hard for Emma that I suddenly have to come to their house. After all they've done to me, is it just because they're in trouble that we have to forgive them?"

I feel you, sister Rina!