
"So, are our allegations so far correct, ma'am .. if you're actually a soldier?" asked Fina after hearing her mother's words.
Badiah could only massage his forehead due to Fina's insistence. He didn't know where to tell all the stories from in the past. In addition to having promised her late husband, Badiah did not want if his two daughters felt unsafe after this. However, hiding all those secrets was no longer possible because there were too many holes that made the secret leak from the container.
"Don't you remember, Fin, if we ever lived in Surabaya, in the army service house?" ask Badiah in a soft voice.
Fina simply shook her head after hearing the question. As hard as he tried to remember how his childhood was, it was still only the childhood memories in this village that he remembered.
"You were a kid when we lived in Surabaya." Her eyes were straight ahead, like she was collecting pieces of the past stored in her head.
"Your father was an intel man in the TNI. In fact, until now the mother's family no one knew about this. I just found out what your father's job is after he was brought to Surabaya. Previously married your father his job selling kale around. Turns out it was just a mask that your father wore while on a mission. I do not need to discuss what your Father has done, because it is a secret that can not be revealed to anyone," explained Badiah with a straight forward view.
"Then why did you become a tempe seller? If you're a soldier, why can't our lives be as good as people, Mom?" ask Fina because she still does not understand why her family life is not like the TNI family.
"Your father deliberately made a fatal mistake in order to be dishonorably discharged from the TNI. He teamed up with Wiratama to get out of that task and agency. Wiratama was appointed Commander because of the plan that has been prepared by your father. Maybe, your dad's tired of protecting Mom and you, Fin. Our lives are threatened because of your Father's duty. Life feels unsettled because it continues to worry because of fear of disguise uncovered. Being the wife of a generation is not easy and it becomes a heavy burden for Mom."
"After careful consideration and planning, your father began to thwart his mission with Wiratama. You might be two years old then, while Johan might be five or seven. Mom forgot. Until finally, the father was successfully fired and we were carried to the hometown of Mother," explained Badiah with tears that never stop flowing.
"That means Ardi or Johan is older than me, ma'am? Then what's next, Mom?" asked Fina because she was still curious about her mother's story.
"Maybe yes. I forgot what your age difference was with Johan. We used to be neighbors in the official house with Rahayu's mom. After moving to this city, the lives of the Father and Mother are much calmer despite the mediocre economic conditions. I have more time with my dad. Anyway Mom is happy to be a tempe seller than to be a wife of the army. Heavy, son," said Badiah while wiping tears that wet the cheeks.
The middle-aged woman turned to look at Nisa who was pensive. Badiah saw that there was such great disappointment from the look in his daughter's eyes. The beautiful blooming flower suddenly withered due to a reality. Perhaps, this is all that Badiah can do so that his daughter is free from the dangers and intentions of the enemies of intelligence. She just wanted her two children to live quietly.
"Mom really hopes you can accept this reality, Nis. Before your feelings get too deep for Johan, you better stay away. I'm sure Johan has a mission until he is around Surabaya and Mojokerto. You are not necessarily happy when you are paired with him. Do not let you feel what you feel first," said Badiah in a very soft voice. Gadiah gripped his negligent button tightly. The body gesture explained that there was a lot of pain that was already felt by him.
"There's still a lot of pain that you feel, but it can't be told. Don't ask me anything more about your father. I don't want anyone to know about this, because I'm afraid everything's gonna be runyam. Let your father rest easy on God's side. Forget if you ever had a soldier's father. You only need to remember one thing at any time, if you are the son of a tempe seller in the market."
Badiah made the request with hopeful eyes. Now, the middle-aged woman was like carrying a heavy burden on her back. He was very afraid that this secret would be known to others. Tears were unceasingly pouring from the eyes as memories of Hasanuddin filled the head.
The three women on the bed gasped when they heard the motor stop in front of the house. Badiah hurriedly got out of bed because he felt if there was something ahead. While his two daughters tailed behind him towards the living room. The lights were left to die so that their existence was unknown to the person outside.
"Mom don't know, last month I also saw this person in front of our house" replied Badiah in a very soft voice, "you wait here for a while, I'll be out," badiah.
"Don't, Mom!" and the two beautiful women, "if mother, how is it?" Fina pulled Badiah's hand.
"That's it. Let go of Mom." Badiah threw Fina's hand. If it had been like this, nothing would have been able to block the middle-aged woman's path.
"How is this, Ma'am?" Nisa started to panic when she saw Badiah walking quickly towards the shoulder of the road to meet the man.
"Do I call Mas Benny, yes" Fina muttered after observing her mother. However, he had not had time to swing his steps leaving the living room, Nisa gave an interruption.
"Stop, Mommy! No need to call Shazia's dad. That's mom back," pointed Nisa when she saw Badiah back home. The man who was there left on his bike.
Badiah did not pay attention to his two curious daughters. He kept walking until he got to his room. The middle-aged woman sat on the edge of the bed with a stern look ahead. It was like a heavy burden was being thought of.
"What's up, Mom?" nisa asked after sitting on the side of Badiah.
"The man turned out to be a member of the worm. He is being assigned Wiratama to stand guard around here for fear that someone might hurt Nisa" replied Badiah in a soft voice.
"Huh? Am I threatened, Mom?" Of course Nisa was surprised by this confession.
"Mom doesn't know. Maybe it's time you helped Johan someone find out. Let us all pray that no harm will befall our families" replied Badiah in a very soft voice.
Nisa only gulped after seeing her mother's facial expression. He was afraid that someone would mean something to him. While Fina herself, began to be unsettled by this condition. She was confused between telling her husband or being quiet.
"I'd better follow mother's advice by not saying this to Mas Benny first," Inner Fina after observing her mother and sister.
...🌹To Be Continued 🌹...