Chapter 15
The ticking of the clock that kept ticking every second on the bedroom wall kept my eyes awake. It's past midnight, but my sleepiness hasn't come yet. My father-in-law's words echoed again. They want children from us. How could it be?
Meanwhile, Mas Azzam and I can't do that. I don't want to because Mas Azzam already has a wife. Well, but soon the wishes of Mas Azzam's parents will come true. Sis Winda is pregnant, and like it or not, it's also their grandson.
One day they will have to accept that fact. While me? What should I tell my Mama and Papa later. I'm afraid Mama will be in shock and her health will be disturbed like before.
"You haven't slept yet?" asked Mas Azzam reminding me.
"It just woke up, Mas. Thirsty," I lied.
I sat down and drank the water on the nightstand beside my bed. Then lay back down, I tried to close my eyes so that my sleepiness would come soon.
"You can't sleep, Clara. Same, me too," whispered Mas Azzam.
"Why can't you sleep? Miss Winda? You can go there quietly. Mama and Papa must be sleeping too," I suggested to him.
"No, I don't miss her. Hmm, what do you think about Papa's request?"
"Giving them grandchildren? Isn't Mas going to give them grandchildren soon?" I asked.
"Yes, it's true. However... it's not the grandchildren he wants, not them. Mama and Papa want grandchildren from you, Ra."
"Sorry, Mas. I haven't been able to grant their wish. I'm not ready, I'm still confused about our marriage," I said. Mas Azzam was silent, maybe he was still digesting all my words.
"Ma's not going to Sis Winda's place, let's just go. Later before dawn, Mas will come back here again!" tell me again.
Mas Azzam looked at me sharply, then shook his head and turned his back to me. It seems like he's mad at me, but why should he be angry? Wasn't my suggestion very good? He could return secretly to Sis Winda's residence.
He can come back later before our parents wake up. Mas Azzam is strange, given a good suggestion, he gets angry. Alright! I also took a position with my back to Mas Azzam. Our positions are now back to back. I tried to close my eyes again, and finally the drowsiness race came too. Without realizing it, I fell fast asleep.
***
The next day, I had finished cooking for our breakfast just as the clock struck six.
It was still very early, I started cooking after finishing the Fajr prayer earlier. Instead of sitting in my room, I think I'd better cook.
"Oh, my goodness, Clara! You are very diligent, at this hour you have finished cooking. No wonder Mama smelled the aroma of cooking, apparently you are working in the kitchen," said Mama-in-law with a big smile.
She just came out of the room followed by father-in-law behind her. Soon my mother also went out with Papa.
"Yeah, Mom. Let's hurry up and have breakfast," I said. They sat around a table that was already filled with my food. There is fried rice, eggs with sauce, fried ones too.
"Where's Azzam?" asked father-in-law.
"Getting ready, Pa. Wait a minute, I'll call you first," I answered. I went to the room to see Mas Azzam didn't come out either. I slowly opened the bedroom door, it turned out he was wearing his trousers. I will automatically close the door again, Mas Azzam! Why isn't the door locked, anyway? I wondered. Not long after the door opened, Mas Azzam came out with a mischievous smile.
"Why don't you just go in, instead come out again?" he whispered with a wider smile.
"Huh, that's what you want, Mas, right? Alright, no more joking, let's eat. Everyone is waiting for you!" I replied annoyed. Mas Azzam walked while hugging me. My legs froze as if I couldn't move.
"Why?" asked Mas Azzam surprised because I didn't move from where I was standing.
"Why hug? Do you want mode?" I accuse.
"Not a mode, dear. This is just an act, so that our parents will be more confident in our play," Mas Azzam replied.
That's right, I'm ashamed that I misunderstood him. I also followed the acting done by Mas Azzam.
"Well, you finally showed up, Zam. Let's hurry up and eat!" cried my mother-in-law. Mas Azzam sat next to his father, I took a plate of fried rice for him as well for myself. I had just put a spoonful of fried rice in my mouth, but I was already choking on what my mother said.
"Clara, after this, you will accompany us around this housing, yes. Mama wants to get to know your other neighbors."
***
"Sis Neti can help me, right?" I asked Sis Neti hopefully.
"Oh, how are you, Dek? Brother is also confused, where are we going to make it later?" Sis Neti even asked me back.
After finishing breakfast, I went to Sis Neti to ask for her help. I was confused because Mama took me around this housing estate. What if something goes wrong later, we can find out our charade all this time.
"Why are you guys? Why are you worried when I see you?" asked Sis Winda.
"Why are you here, Win?" asked Kak Neti curtly.
"Why are you angry too. I saw Clara coming to your house with a worried face. I was curious, so I came to the club here," answered Sis Winda.
"It's okay! Don't fight, you guys help me find a solution, please," I interrupted before the two of them fought again.
"What solution, Ra! Talk to me, who knows I can help," said Sis Winda.
"Mama and Mama-in-law want to walk around the housing here, Sis. I'm afraid someone will tell Mama about our play. What do you think, Brother?"
"Ugh, that's dangerous. I'll be looking for an idea first!" Sis Winda looked like she was thinking. Me and Kak Neti are waiting impatiently
To be continued