A Thousand Flowers
Chapters 78. Advice Mother 2

The next day, Izzah to a small shop not far from his house, was about to buy a packet of bread for his monthly guests. Upon seeing Izzah's arrival, the mothers who had gathered there glanced at Izzah with scornful gazes. Izzah ignored him.

“See the Izzah. Newly married has been immediately left. Don't-don't take men,” said one of them, booing Izzah.

“Iya yes .. if you do not, why also wear sunglasses and masks continue,” welcome others.

“Ho .. oh. maybe let no one knows,” the other timpal, make the Izzah ears feel hot.

“Not to be heard, Zah. Mothers here really like that. Less work,” sahut Mother owner stall, cool the heart Izzah.

“Indeed so the reality is, Mom. Try mom to remember! There was once a bride who had arrived late .. eeeh .. wear sunglasses and masks again. How strange!” the reply of the first woman was fierce and was echoed with a nod of the head by her colleagues.

Not wanting to linger over the typical gossip of mothers who make hearts burn, Izzah soon passed as he received his change of purchase from the owner of the shop.

The hordes of gossipy mothers also let go of Izzah with cynical kerling and insulting grin. The owner of the stall just shook his head to see the actions of the mothers.

Rahmi and Fadhil threw questionable glances at each other as Izzah flashed with hurried steps and his head bowed lethargic as if hiding something.

BRAAAK!

Izzah slammed the door of the room, spilling his frustration because of the gossip ringing in the stall earlier. Out of concern, Rahmi quickly followed Izzah into the room.

Closing the door of his son's room slowly when he saw Izzah sitting on the edge of the bed with a sour face.

“Why, Son? You hear something troubling?” asked Rahmi gently, stroking Izzah's shoulder.

Izzah looked at the mother questioningly. “Actually who is the man who became my husband, Mother?”

Rahmi smiled. “Later you will know too. Trust me, mother!"

“But, Bunda–”

Rahmi directly cuts Izzah's rebuttal.

“Son, don't listen to anyone else's talk about your husband. He's a good guy. Remember the words of Mother, a husband is a stranger who has absolutely no blood relationship with you. But you know, when he decides to be your husband, it means he'll give up his whole life, even

life for you. So, respect him! Appreciate all his labor! Support his decisions and learn to love him as sincerely as your heart is because of God!”

“But, Bunda–”

Again Izzah's rebuttal was cut by Rahmi.

“Son, you could have refused the match, but you didn't. Doesn't that mean you've also chosen him to be your husband? Take responsibility for your decision! Rest assured, everything will be fine as long as you remain as confident as the dowry you asked for. Remember, Son! Now your paradise depends on your husband.”

Rahmi ends her banquet with a smile and a warm embrace of a mother that calms her child's anxiety.

Suddenly the thick black fog that lingered in Izzah's heart disappeared somewhere. His mother's advice has reopened her awareness of the true meaning of marriage.

“True Mother, no matter what happens .. I must sincerely undergo this marriage. No matter who my husband is. Not because of anyone, but because I myself have received him for

perfecting half my religion in a wedding frame. I should be as fresh as Mother,” Inner Izzah, promise to herself.

Rahmi rubbed Izzah's head gently and lovingly. He is proud to have a son like Izzah. Since childhood Izzah never denied and always devoted to him. Now is the time for Izzah to feel the real happiness of life. That's what comes to Rahmi's mind when she decides to accept the man's proposal for her son.

***

The day after the wedding, the atmosphere of Izzah's house had returned to how it had been. Ki Daud disappeared shortly after the departure of his son-in-law. Fadhil just flew to Jakarta.

Rahmi was away returning some of the neighbor's belongings she had borrowed during Izzah's wedding. Stay Izzah alone, faithfully waiting for her husband.

That afternoon the weather was a little foggy. Remnants of smoke from forest fires due to long drought feel stifling chest. The hot temperature really makes it hot. Izzah went to the bathroom after cleaning the remnants of the decorations that decorated his bedroom.

“Who are you? Get out of my room!” Izzah shouted loudly when he realized a man barged into his room when he had just finished bathing with a body wrapped in a towel.

The man ignored Izzah's screams. He was getting closer to the girl. In response, Izzah hid his body behind the open closet door.

“You forgot ya?” the man asked casually, making Izzah's heart beat fast.

Realizing there was no one at home but her, fear begins to ambush Izzah. What if the man took away his most precious possession? Panicked to see the man getting closer, Izzah threw the clothes in the closet at the man.

“You want me to help you put on your shirt?” asked the man in a seductive tone without stopping his steps.

Izzah's anxiety increased when he watched the man actually caught one of the clothes he threw. Because of his long steps, in a short time the man was already near Izzah. Forcing the girl to keep retreating until she hit the clothes rack behind her.

Izzah's body can no longer move because it is confined to the two arms of the man. The distance was so close that Izzah's breath choked.

DEG! DEG! DEG!

Izzah's heart skipped like a war drum. He clenched both hands in front of his chest, taking a standby position. A second later he quickly lowered his left hand grabbing the end of his towel which suddenly sagged, making the man smile amusedly behind the mask and the sunglasses

imposed it.

“You know? How hard have I been to refrain from your charms all this time?” asked the man in a heavy tone while removing the mask covering his face and throwing it on the floor.

“A-a-what do you mean?” tanya Izzah stammered.

The feeling of nervousness had completely mastered it. He wanted to scream, but the man swiftly smothered his mouth.

“You are really driving me crazy, Zah,” said with a hunting breath and getting his face closer to Izzah's face.

As well as the fragrant aroma that spread from Izzah's body increasingly pierced his nose. From behind his sunglasses, the man's bead looked at Izzah full of excitement. Makes Izzah's body shiver in fear. Izzah's eyes moved wildly looking for a gap to be able to break free from the man's arm restraints and stocky body.

Seeing Izzah's uneasiness, the man smiled cunningly while taking off his sunglasses.

“Hah!”

Izzah's eyes widened in disbelief as he recognized the face of the man in front of him. Both knees felt shaky. His heart rate was also getting worse.

***