Irwan's body stiffened, and so did Joya's. They were both confused by the situation they faced.
Lina snorted in annoyance, seeing her son-in-law who was still sitting motionless. "Useless son-in-law!" she cursed. He grabbed Joey's hand roughly to wake her up. "Sit a minute!"
Joya winced as he tried to sit up. Suddenly, Lina let go of her hand so that Joa's body swayed and almost fell under the bed. Luckily Irwan immediately caught his wife's body. He sat behind Joya to support his wife's body.
Dub! Dub! Dub!
Their hearts were pounding. Irwan's hand holding Joya's innocent shoulder made Joya's already hot face even hotter. Moreover, his back against Irwan's chest which felt hard. Joey's face turned red at that.
Seeing her daughter's face getting redder, Lina put her palm back on her daughter's forehead and neck. "Your temperature isn't rising. Why is your face so red. Are you allergic?" he muttered.
"Irwan... take off Joya's clothes. There might be a rash on her body," said Lina while looking at her daughter's body. "If there is a rash, the pain will usually take a long time," he continued.
Irwan took off Joya's top shirt which was stuck in his limbs. Joya looked up at Irwan with trembling eyes, but Irwan didn't show any expression.
"It's okay. The important thing is that you are healed," Irwan said to calm his wife's heart.
Joya also lowered her head in shame while crossing her arms, covering the exposed upper part of her body.
"Thank God there is no rash," said Lina. Then he looked at his son-in-law. "You have to remember, if Joya has a fever and a rash appears, don't get exposed to water and cold. She might itch."
Irwan nodded. Even though his chest and head rumbled violently at the sight of his wife's innocent body. However, Irwan tried hard to remember every word his mother-in-law said.
"Uncover Joya's chest, then lie down," Lina ordered. He got up and took a bottle of oil. Then drip it onto the saucer and stir it.
With shaking hands, Irwan pulled up the blanket and put it on Joya's shoulder. Covering his wife's open front body.
Joya holds the blanket covering her. His body tensed again, when he felt the movement of Irwan's hand which was unhooking the cloth covering his chest. Joya's heart pounded even more when Irwan slowly removed the cloth. "Lie down," said Irwan as he shifted Joya's body slowly and laid him down.
Joya also lay down. His eyes fixed on Irwan's face who was still turned away from him. it turns out that her husband is not a cheater, Irwan doesn't take advantage of opportunities in narrowness.
"Come on, lie down! Let Mommy apply the medicine," said Lina while carrying a bowl filled with massage oil.
Joya lays down. Occasionally, he still coughs because of an itchy and uncomfortable throat. Irwan smoothed the blanket on his wife's open side, then closed it.
Lina sat beside Joya. Then smeared the oil that he was concocting on his daughter's back.
"Watch mommy!" he said to Irwan. "If Joya has a fever, immediately massage her body like this. Massage quite firmly until her skin turns red, but not too strong. Later, the scars will be hard to disappear. After blushing, massage gently," said Lina while practicing her words.
Even though Irwan didn't understand why Joya had to be treated like that, he still watched his mother-in-law's hand movements.
" If it's just compressed or given medicine, Joya won't recover. It can take up to a week. And you have to remember, don't occasionally compress it if Joya has a fever and a rash appears on her skin. You're her husband, you have to know how to take care of your wife when she's sick . " Lina again rubbed oil on Joya's back.
"Joya, a crybaby, is not like her sister. If she feels sick, she will continue to cry. But don't let it go, she will cough later. And if she gets nauseous again, give her warm water, as her mother taught her before," he said.
Lina saw her sleeping daughter. "Look! Just get a massage, he's asleep. Joya, if you're sick, you don't need a doctor. It's just that you have to put up with the sound of her crying," he said. Lina turned her head, glancing at her son-in-law. "You understand what mom said?"
"Understood mom!" said Irwin. He looked back at his mother's hand movements.
It turns out that, as cruel as parents are, they are still parents. They love their children even though in a different way. Even though Lina grumbled a lot and spoke harshly to Joya, she knew all the good things for her daughter.
"Mommy can't stay here long. Windy will be angry if she finds out that we've been gone too long," she said, reaching for the used compress towel to wipe her daughter's back from the remaining oil. "Find a T-shirt for Joya," he asked.
"Sweaters?" asked Irwan.
"Just an ordinary loose shirt," Lina replied without stopping her activities.
"Joya doesn't have a shirt like that, mom. She only has pajamas and a nightgown," said Irwan.
Lina glanced at her daughter-in-law. She smiled warmly at him. "Just bring your t-shirt," he said in a soft tone.
Irwan was stunned, this was the first time his father-in-law spoke softly to him. He opened his wardrobe and looked for his t-shirt. Then gave it to his mother-in-law.
Irwan looked away when Lina turned Joya's body while putting a shirt on her body.
"Give her loose clothes if she has a fever. To make her more comfortable," she said, Lina's voice sounded trembling. Irwan glanced at his mother-in-law who was crying while rubbing her daughter's face. But you can give him love and attention."
Lina wiped her tears. He took Joya's right hand and noticed the ring on her daughter's finger. "Thank God! You gave him the ring. Mama had to take her wedding ring from Leo. Because if Mama doesn't protect it soon, Windy will take it from her by force. After all, Joya really doesn't need it anymore. Leo isn't a good man for her."
Irwan was stunned. He didn't know that his father-in-law had been hiding something behind his rude attitude all this time. Irwan was touched to see his mother-in-law crying while kissing his wife's face.
" Maybe you think our attitude is cruel to Joya. But, this is the only thing we can do for her good."
"In fact, even if we hurt Joya, it's solely for her own good. Since childhood, Windy has always been envious and jealous of her sister. Even though, we have given the same thing. She is always jealous when she sees her sister getting new things. better than him. If he sees us giving new items to Joya, Windy will not hesitate to attack his sister," said Lina.
"You see this. The scar on Joya's cheek." Lina glanced at her daughter-in-law. Irwin nodded. Lina looked back at her daughter's face. " When Joya and Windy were little, my mother bought the same doll for them. Windy didn't like it. She broke Joya's doll and scratched her sister's face with a pair of scissors. Luckily the wound wasn't too deep, though it still left a mark." Lina sobbed remembering her eldest daughter's attitude.
"If you have the desire, Windy will do anything to make it happen. She doesn't even hesitate to hurt her own sister. Do you know, the real reason we agreed to Windy's request to swap your partners?" she asked. He straightened his seat, then looked into the face of his son-in-law.
Irwan shook his head. She smiled. " because we know Windy is not a good wife for you and Leo is not a good husband for Joya. Ridwan Lung, we know you also know about their affair."
gosh!
Irwan jumped in surprise when he heard the name his mother-in-law called him.
" Mama?"