ERIKA (The Slandered Woman)
Chapter 22

"I'll drive you home, yeah, Erika." Afnan volunteered when the young widow finished teaching him.

"Thank you for your offer, Afnan. Sorry, I can go home by myself. Assalamualaikum," subtly reject Erika. If people who understand the meaning of saying goodbye use greetings, it is a sign of any conversation or meeting has arrived in that second as well. Erika also does not want to get vile slander anymore.

"Italy...!" Answer Afnan slowly. It is very difficult to approach a woman who has a special personality like Erika. Indeed, Afnan is increasingly interested in having a woman who is smart to maintain her honor.

"Why is Aldo so stupid? He should know Erika's nature better than to believe her just as slanderously." Gumam Afnan regretted Aldo's attitude, while staring at the back of Erika and Icha who were currently walking towards the fence of his house. Afnan knew Erika's problem from her Mama's short story. He of course does not want to ask directly to the person, because he knows his own limitations that should not interfere in the affairs of others.

***

"Mother, is Dad coming home?"

Erika could not answer Icha's simple question. He pretended to care for his ears and continued to lead his son along in the complex area to his home. As a parent, he must be sad because it has made an impact on his son who was a victim.

"Bu-"

"Today what do you want to eat, honey. Chicken, eggs, fish or meat?" Erika immediately switched the conversation. Want to explain to Icha that his father and himself could not be together anymore, it seems, his son did not understand the meaning of divorce.

"Chicken dong, ma'am." Thank God, his son was hooked as well. He answered her with a cheerful manner.

"Then Icha should help you cook. Agree sweet boy?"

"Belsama-sama's cooking ?" tanya Icha makes sure. Because, he often got scolding from his grandmother if he cheated on his mother when she was in the kitchen.

"Eum, we cook together. Wanna?"

"Maikuu...!" Icha was impatiently holding the knife. Often saw his mother slicing seasoning slices with agility on the cutting board made him curious to try.

Arriving in the courtyard, Erika was stunned in front of her house. Aldo's motorbike was parked next to him and the door was open. Would her ex-husband come? And apparently, he had to ask for a spare key held by Aldo.

"Dad's bottle, Mom!"

"Guj__Ah." Erika snorted in annoyance. Intentions want to turn the direction to the office of Mr. Ridwan alone, because lazy to argue alot with Aldo, his son was playing run into the house. Maybe Icha misses Dad.

"I shouldn't be selfish either," Erika's inner pity on Icha. He decided to enter and also wanted to know what else the problem of Aldo coming to the house he made for him with Icha occupied.

"Icha, honey. If you go into the house you have to say hello, son. It's not good to just snuggle. Less etittude more precisely."

What the hell is this mother? Icha doesn't understand. But Aldo knew, was being insinuated by Erika.

"Dad's home, Mother. Holee...!" Icha was even enthusiastic on Aldo's sling. The boy was happy because Sinta was no more. Her dad's home, period!

Another case of Erika, he displays a sad face to Icha as well as a cold mimic to Aldo. Because of the tip of the tip, the child will be disappointed by circumstances. Apparently, he had to explain the easy version to his son if their marriage was not the same as before. Sooner or later, Icha must accept the bitterness of the divorce victim.

"Erika, I need to talk!" said Aldo. Erika did not answer. Opening the door wide so that slander is far from the name that has been negative before. Ah... Incidentally, the key that Aldo used to enter the house still hangs in the door hole. Immediately, he pulled her and secured her entry into his bag.

"Why taken?"

"Other people have no right to hold duplicate people's houses." Erika to press the beginning of her sentence so that Aldo is aware of his position that has changed status.

Aldo clucked in annoyance. "I__" Aldo's speech was interrupted by Erika.

"Icha come into the room, honey. I want to talk to Mom." Aldo chimed in.

Icha nodded and Aldo lowered the tiny figure.

After the shadow Icha vanished into the room. Erika went straight to the point, "What's up?" tanyanya flat. He did not even want to sit on the simple sofa that Aldo was sitting on right now.

"Don't say coffee at the ex-wife's house."

Jleeb... Aldo divorced, but it was his heart that was pierced by invisible daggers hearing their status was the former that was made from the tiny lips of his wife. If his heart had a mouth, he would have shouted at Aldo's folly and his heart would have spoken to Erika if she didn't like this divorce. But alas, Aldo is in control of it. The man clearly admitted it. Her ego is high but her jealous sense of fire from her mother's story has managed to force her feet to stand in Erika's house.

"Stay away from Afnan, Erika! The man is still flocking. And we're not officially divorced in the eyes of the law either."

Erika smiled ridiculously. "Don't tell me you're jealous, Mom?"

Aldo.

"Mas Mas's. Have you forgotten that my middle name that you created is an affair? So I'm free dong! Remember, Mas, the ex is no longer taking care of each other's personal matters. I deserve to be happy with Sinta. I'm fine fine. Why do you want to set my path? You're selfish, Mum!"

Fine fine only? Oh, C'mon. Only Erika and her God know what it's like to be divorced disrespectfully. Erika only trusts her Lord to listen to all her outpouring of heart rather than venting with friends, neighbors, or writing a bad status on the sosmed. At the top of the table, Erika was sulking to Him.

"Go, Mas. Our paths are different." pushed Erika in a soft tone, hoping Aldo would understand. He also has no intention of telling that Afnan is only his current student. Free, after all, Aldo is not his special person anymore.

"If you approach Afnan, then I will not hesitate to take Icha from you, Erika." Aldo threatened.

Erika clucked in annoyance. This guy doesn't seem to be able to be given a subtle satire. You may need to receive shock therapy immediately so that your eyes are wide open.

" Icha is underage. And I'm gonna file custody in court. And if you act out of reason, then believe me. A mother's fangs are sharper than even a beast." Erika's patience is disturbed when it comes to custody. Icha is the only treasure, how else the steps stand without any encouragement.

"Eat him, same with me, Erika. Stay away from Afnan!" Aldo still doesn't want to lose.

"Go!" Erika no longer knows how to give an ultimatum to a selfish person like Aldo whose brain may be placed in the right or left hoe.

"I won't leave until you promise."

Astagfirullah... Erika was eager to roar and scold Aldo, but she was afraid that their quarrels would go into Icha's ears. The child easily gets the word trauma.

"No! you've lost any right to rule my life. And if you dare to take Icha from me, then I will throw your adultery charges with Sinta to the court. You and Sinta will get into big trouble, Mas!" Erika put her index finger in front of Aldo's face. His stifled voice managed to make that smooth face flushed in anger.

" I'm also gonna charge you with your affair?" aldo's opponent was furious. He no longer recognized the woman who was full of strong words in front of him. The meek Erika never dared to point at him rudely.

"Do you have any evidence of my affair, Mom? Who is that man, huh?" ask Erika teasek. The corner of his lips lifted.

Checkmate...! Aldo. Yes also. Who is the man and what is the evidence? Didn't he just see Erika having lunch with another man out in the open? And here's the baseless gossip here and there. While Erika, has evidence of life that is RT sir, penghulu and other witnesses of sir's marriage. Erika could argue that she and Sinta married without the agreement that had not been registered at that time. Damn... It's hard for Aldo to take the law.

"I'm leaving!" And he feels defeated too.

"Wait!" exclaim Erika. Aldo's turned. "Prepare yourself if there is a subpoena from the court. Don't slow down the process." Erika thought that she should act first. Waiting for Aldo to legally divorce it may be long or it will not apply at all.

And Aldo went away with a raging feeling, without answering a single broken one.