Baby Amber
Past Events

Today I honestly can't focus on working. All of my thoughts were referring to Ratih's extremely shocking confession. How can we build a housewife for years, but a secret of this magnitude I have never been as small as sniffing it. It was amazing to me, one family so compact to keep all this from me who is now also one of their family members. I am the son-in-law and husband of Ratih, but at least it was never told that Ratih turned out to have a twin brother who died.

"Son, come by yourself?" mother-in-law asked when I suddenly appeared at their doorstep. Mother-in-law's face fluttered here and there, I knew that she was looking for the figure of her daughter.

"Train at home, Mom. Hadi just wanted to stop by for a while. Next time Hadi will invite Ratih here." I said while kissing the back of my in-laws hand. Then I walked into the room, meeting the figure of the man who had become the first love of his wife. The man was lying on the bed. His age is getting dusk and his condition is often sickly, making my father-in-law spend more time lying in bed. Although actually he is still strong to just walk, but after that he will again lay himself on his bed.

"Healthy, Dad?" ask me while kissing the back of the hand of the man I now also call father. The man immediately got up and hugged me. There is a feeling of longing for me who now bears the status of a son-in-law.

"Ratih's not coming?" father-in-law's eyes swept through the room, when the daughter he loved so much did not appear to come with me. I smiled while shaking.

"More than time will Hadi invite Ratih here, Well." after it was felt enough to chat with Father-in-law, I immediately went out and looked for Mother to ask the story about Ranti. The mother who was preparing lunch for me sat down and saw me coming. Maybe he already knows what brought me here.

"What's up, son?" while pushing a cup of water before me, the shady figure looked extremely worried and like it had prepared a thousand answers to each of my questions.

With thousands of words of apology that I said before, I asked about the truth of the story that Ratih revealed to me. The sobbing sound of my mother-in-law made me feel guilty. His face looked very sad, even to speak it felt unable. I patted my in-laws' wrists. He tried to calm her down and stop her crying.

"Mom, Hadi is sorry. Hadi has no intention. Really, Hadi apologized." I said many times feeling very guilty for making Mother-in-law cry.

A shadow emerged from the room right behind my mother-in-law sitting. The figure of the woman was seen poking, peering towards the two of us who were sitting. I got up and wanted to make sure who that woman was, but I finally broke it. I was thinking it could have been Ratih's brother staying over or a guest wanted to get out but stopped because I saw him here.

"Mom, are you going?"I interrupted my sobs Mother-in-law. The moment the cry stopped, Mother's face seemed to shrivel.

"No, Son. Why why?" it seems that Mom is feeling pretty calm.

I got up and walked towards the room I knew had been empty for a long time. Said Ratih and his family, the room was deliberately empty because it was made a warehouse. Had thought, why the warehouse is in between the living room which is even more appropriate in the bedroom. Usually the warehouse is always located in the back, in a separate room and some distance from the family room. But since I'm only a son-in-law, I don't want to ask any further about it.

"Mom, is there anyone else in this house besides Mom and Dad?" ask me when I did not find anyone in the room that turned out to be locked. Mother shook her head slowly, her sobs came back slowly. But I think Mom is ready to tell a story. He took my hand and took me forward. He said he was afraid that Dad would sting our story.

"The room belongs to Ranti. The twin brothers of Ratih. It's true, your wife used to have identical twin brothers. Even the two love each other very much. Wherever they both are." Mom started to tell her story. Soon he breathed a long, rough breath.

"One day, Ranti and Ratih went to shop for college needs. Mom had already banned him because time was almost maghrib. But they both insisted to keep going because tomorrow morning must have been brought to campus. Mother has advised to buy before leaving, but both reasoned that they must have arrived at the campus early in the morning" said Mother.

Mother told me, apparently there is the beginning of the bad luck that will befall both. Ranti apparently wanted to meet the man who became her lover, and Ratih was asked to accompany her. Apparently the man is a bastard, he harmed Ranti and made Ranti pregnant. He was very depressed, often hurting himself. Ratih also felt very guilty for following his sister's request. If time can be turned, of course Ratih will choose to prevent Ranti to leave. Depressed, he committed suicide by dropping himself off a bridge. His head fell down first, and shattered instantly.

Mother cried again, this time the cry was firmer so that made her shoulders shaken violently. Holding her chest, she looked very shocked and had difficulty continuing the story.

"Already, Mom. Don't continue the story." I said while stroking Mom's hand. But Mom shook her head.

"It's time you knew everything, you've become part of our family". Mother said as she tried to wipe away the tears that were melting continuously as if it was nonstop. His breathing was stingy, probably because of the heavy burden he had been sitting on.

"Mom, already. I don't want to open old wounds. Let Hadi know enough. Don't discuss everything." I said I felt very guilty for opening up old wounds to my in-laws. Mother smiled, with her breathing began to be organized she gulped down the white water that I had just poured for her.

I choose to be quiet at home. Ratih is still happily playing with Radit which I find hard to understand. Radit's existence, and Ranti's revengeful intentions on the male figure that made her commit suicide.

"What did you say, Mom?" suddenly Ratih approached while holding Radit and sitting next to me.

"You mean, Sister?" how did Ratih know that I just stopped by his house. I stared at the wonder of the woman who was now my wife.

"Mbak Ranti said you were home" said Ratih to make it difficult to swallow my own saliva. My throat felt choked, like there was a big blockage there.