The Untouched Heart

Chapter 245 - Forcing Him Home

I cleaned my face in the bathroom and changed my clothes. My mom did the same. I don't have enough dress to wear, but there are some shirts that fit on your body. Our clothes were soaked with sweat and tears, so we couldn't wear the same clothes to go out for a moment.

When I saw Mama change clothes in front of me, for the first time, I saw a stitch on her left chest. She is a strong woman. After losing one of his precious body parts, I never heard him complain.

“Don't look at me like that. Losing this chest is no big deal. I am alive is a gift to me. My age can be longer than Grandma and Mom because this cancer can be detected earlier.” Mom smiled.

“Tante is great. At the time the Aunty family mocked on the day of thanksgiving at home, Aunt kept smiling at them,” my praise sincerely.

“Just call me with that call. Call me mama as usual,” he said. I immediately cheered happily, then hugged her.

“Thank you, Ma! I promise I won't disappoint Mama again.” I felt his clap in my head. “Aduh. Why did Mama hit me?”

“Because you will definitely break your promise. So, it's better never to say it. The job of the child is to disappoint us, while our job as parents is to scold and punish you.” Mama laughed a little. I want to protest, but that saying has a point as well.

After our performance was done, we went downstairs. Yuyun took the children out of the living room. Since the building we were heading to did not prohibit carrying pets, then we brought Ara with us.

Hadi and Dira were very happy when they found out who we were going to meet. An hour into the drive, we arrived at the parking lot. Sakti soon came to help Liando bring us our lunchbox.

Judging from the time indicated by my watch hand, then Hendra had already returned to his room from morning therapy. I pressed the combination number to open the door on the panel, then heard the sound of a key sign opening.

Hadi, Dira, and Ara entered first, then Mama and I. Liando and Sakti brought the food to the counter in the kitchen. Hendra was hugging Hadi and Dira, then lowered the children because Ara also wanted to hug him.

“Come, we eat,” take Mama. “Where are you going? Sit down here. We eat together.” Liando and Sakti, who were planning to exit the apartment, stood again near the counter. “I said sit.” They sat in empty seats. I'm laughing a little.

Mama and I opened each box and invited them to take as many as they wanted. I gave Hendra a share. He and the kids sat on the couch. Me, Mama, and our two workers were sitting near the counter.

After the meal, Mama asked the two men to get Hendra's clothes cleaned and carried the two suitcases she had brought from home to the car. My mom asked them to wait until we arrived. They comply.

“What is this, Ma? I don't want to go home to Mama's. I have grown up, so I am free to decide where to stay,” said Hendra saw Sakti and Liando passing in front of him with his two suitcases.

“You will go home where your family is. It's enough you play hide-and-seek here,” Mama said firmly.

“I don't play stealth. Please keep talking Mama. Kids can hear.” He brought his wheelchair closer to us. “What's going on between Mama and Za? Why can you come together to this place?”

“Do not switch topics of conversation. Come on, we're leaving now.” Mama turned to look at me and saw that I had finished tidying up our food box. “We're home, Zahara.” I comply.

I brought the two big bags filled with empty food boxes, then invited Hadi, Dira, and Ara to come with me. Dira approached his father and asked him to sit down with him. Hendra followed him by sitting him on his lap.

“Ma, what the hell is this? I'm not coming with you guys. I stay here,” the protest as Mama pushes her wheelchair from behind. Hendra tried to hold back by holding the wheel, but he lost strongly to his mother. “Ma, please, don't make me shy.”

“You don't make me ashamed. Which husband stays alone when his wife is home? Which father lives far away from his children? You're sick, it's not good to stay away from your wife and children. You go home,” Mama said firmly. “I don't want to hear one more word of rebuttal from you.”

Mama with Ara and the children came home with Liando, while me and Hendra with Sakti. Hadi and Dira don't seem to mind one car with their grandmother in the absence of one of us. Mercifully.

“My coach will be dizzy because he continues to come to a different address every time accompanying me to do physiotherapy,” said Hendra in an annoyed tone.

“Then it's all because of who?” my challenge. He looked up and opened his mouth, then he was silent. He closed his mouth back and turned his head towards the front window.

“I was lazy arguing with you.” He crossed both hands in front of his chest.

“What do you remember this morning so you're upset this way seeing me?” ask me slowly, trying to draw an answer from him. “You are aware that the memory happened many years ago, ‘kan?” He sighed softly.

“Why have you never come to me? Why did you give up when I divorced you? Did you love her so much that you didn't want to fight for our marriage?” tanyakanya.

“What? You're saying that I'm not fighting for our marriage? I'm trying to explain to you that there's no connection whatsoever between me and Vivaldo. But you don't want to believe. I know that I do not dare to express love, but I give all my attention to you as a sign of affection.

“We were so happy that Hadi was three months old. I was surprised that you gave the divorce papers after everything was fine. You show absolutely no signs that our relationship is in trouble,” my protest. She's speechless. I dared to touch his hand. He did not refuse my touch.

“Honey, we've already discussed all this. Be patient with holding back all the emotions you feel when one by one your memories come back. I love you and I will never hurt you again. You can ask me anything, we can talk about everything, but don't go again. Please, don't talk about divorce anymore.”

“I love you too.” He smiled thinly. “Tell me, are there any other surprises that will make my soul shake? I cheated, maybe?”

“No. You never cheated,” I replied quickly. “That's why the betrayal I committed hurt you so much. You are a loyal man, dear.”

“Did I ever hit you or say something rude to you?” again, his face looked worried.

“You have never committed violence of any kind to me. You may say a hurtful word, but I don't remember. And there's no point in being remembered, too,” I said reassuringly.

Hendra who was looking at me looked behind me with a frown. He looked at Sakti. “The car on our right from earlier asked for a way. Let him in our column, Sakti.” I looked towards the window on my right. There was a car that was too close to us.

“I've reduced the speed, he's also reduced the speed, Sir. I stepped on the gas a bit, he also increased his speed. And the left car also does the same thing,” said Sakti. I looked at the left car window. He's correct. There are cars that are too close to us.

“Then, step on the gas and start them as fast as you can, give distance to the car in the back. If they are still attached it means they are doing this intentionally. I'll give you a cue when you can hit the brakes,” Hendra said giving instructions. “To wear your seat belt, dear.”

“Hendra,” I said worried. She smiles.

“It's okay. We'll be fine,” he said calming me down. Suddenly his face changed. He closed his eyes and growled in pain. “Akh, my head!”

“Honey? You're all right? Hendra?” I'm getting worried about seeing both of his hands squeezing the car seat. Why is he in such pain?