Chapter 16
"Clara! Well, even chat there. Let's take a walk around the house here. While it's still morning, so the sun isn't too hot yet!" Mama called from my terrace.
"I'll take care of it later! But remember, don't visit Mr. RT's house!" said Sis Winda confidently. After saying that, she just left. I was surprised and asked for an opinion from Ms. Neti.
"How about it, Sis?"
"You don't understand, Dek. But try it first. Take your parents and in-laws for a walk around here. Brothers and sisters, let's go!" replied Kak Neti.
There was no other way, I had to follow Sis Winda's advice earlier. With an excited and anxious heart, Kak Neti and I took Mama and Mama-in-law around. Meanwhile the two Papas stayed at home. on the way we passed neighbors who were going to work on their motorbikes or cars. I felt grateful because they were in a hurry, so Mama couldn't chat with them.
However, arriving at the alley crossing, we met people who I was lazy to meet.
"Assalamualaikum, Beautiful ladies," said Mak Ijah, glancing at me. I sighed softly, hoping that he wouldn't say anything like that.
"Waalaikumsalam, Grandma. Introduce me, Clara's mother and this is her mother-in-law," my mother said, making me feel horrified. Why did I also meet Mak Ijah?
"Oh, so this is Winda's mother-in-law, eh, Clara. Introduce me to Winda's grandmother," said Mak Ijah, making me glare. While Mak Ijah smiled slyly while glancing again.
"Oh, Son Ijah, Winda's grandmother. That friend of yours, isn't it, Ra?" asked my father-in-law. I nodded stiffly, my heart getting more excited. Sis Winda, what is your plan? If this is the case, it will make everything even more messy.
"Y-yes, Ma. Where's Sis Winda, Mak?" I answered frantically. Mak Ijah smiled again. Then said she didn't know where Sis Winda was.
"We are, right, different houses," she answered casually.
"Huh, Can she keep her mouth," I murmured.
"Why, Ra?" asked my mother.
"No, Mom. I'm in a hurry, let's go home quickly, let's go!" I had to lie so we could leave as soon as possible.
"Oh my gosh. Why are you just saying? Let's go home now!" my mother asked. Breathing a sigh of relief, I followed the two beautiful women in front of me. Congratulations, I thought
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The incident this morning is still etched in my memory. I can even feel the anxiety. also worried that she couldn't help me with her words.
Thankfully Mama believed me when I said I was desperate. Forgive your daughter, yes, Ma! I feel curious about Sis Winda's real plan. He said he wanted to help, but why did Mak Ijah seem like he was going to expose our lie earlier?
To find out all that, I went to Kak Winda's house. He was relaxing enjoying a bowl of instant noodles that was still steaming. In my heart I feel sad to see it. Every day he only eats instant noodles and instant noodles again. What about the growth of the fetus it contains.
"Come in, Ra! Do you want this noodle? Cook two packs of me earlier," he said while holding out the bowl he was holding.
"No, Sis. Thank you. I came here because I have something to ask," I said. I sat in front of Kak Winda who was still busy finishing the noodles in his bowl.
After he finished eating, then he looked at me with a smile.
"What's the problem?" She asked casually. Then I will tell you what happened on the road. Sis Winda looked surprised then I could see a thin smile rising on her lips. Sis Winda looks happy, but she quickly changes her expression.
"Mak Ijah can't be invited to cooperate, apparently. I've already told him, if you meet your in-laws, don't mention my name. Apparently, he didn't hear it," said Sis Winda. How come I don't believe in Sis Winda's statement, huh? What else could I see her smile earlier.
However, I can't accuse him of doing that on purpose. I have no proof. Finally, I returned home feeling irritated at Sis Winda. When I got home, I saw my mother-in-law having a serious conversation with her husband. Seeing my arrival, they called for me to come closer.
"What's the matter, Mom? Where's my mother?" I asked after being in front of them.
"Your mother is resting in the room, seems tired," replied my mother-in-law.
"Must be because of the walk earlier, huh, Ma?"
"It's also possible, Ra. Hmm, Mama wants to have a serious talk with you. Where do you think there is a place so your Mama doesn't hear our conversation?" asked Mama-in-law making me feel surprised.
Looks like Mama-in-law is being serious, but why doesn't she want my mother to hear it.
"Mama is afraid that her health will be disturbed if she hears about this matter, Ra. Is there a place where we can talk more freely?" continued my mother-in-law again.
After thinking for a while, I finally took my two in-laws to Kak Neti's house. It was a suitable place to chat, because there were only Kak Neti and her young child. Her husband was at work and there were only three of them in the house.
"This is Neti's house? Beautiful too, yes, neat and clean just like your house, Ra," my mother-in-law cheered. We have arrived in front of Kak Neti's house. I just smiled, then called Kak Neti.
"Assalamualaikum, Sis Neti." There was no answer, so I repeated one more time louder. Soon the front door opened and Kak Neti appeared wearing an apron, it looked like she was cooking.
"Waalaikumsalam, uh, there's also Clara's mother-in-law. Come on in, Auntie!" asked Kak Neti while opening the door wide.
I also invited Kak Neti to the back while my two in-laws waited in the living room. I'm asking permission to chat here at my mother-in-law's request. Sis Neti didn't mind even though she was happy to havⁿe guests like my in-laws. I thanked her and asked her to come back.
To be continued