Marrying the Widow of the Neighbor
The Poor Princess

Fix... I know this woman's voice. This is the same voice as the voice of the Qur'an reader that I heard earlier today.

"Oh... This is Mom's son, Put... Name's Aditya. Dit... This princess is the wife of the late Satria. You remember Satria, don't you?"

I turned away in shock, hearing the name of my childhood friend coupled with the word "Deceased."

"Satria is dead, Mom?! When?!"

I held my body up to hear the news of Satria's death. Of course I know him, even know him well. From Elementary School to High School, we studied at the same school. In fact, Satria and I were always placed in the same class.

"Three years ago, Dit... A month after I fell down, you know. Last time I saw him was when Mom fell. Satria and Putri were the ones who helped bring Mom to the hospital in their car" she replied. Oh my...I really didn't think that the geeky Satria was dead.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Mother looked at me for a long time, then exhaled violently.

"It's been... Your wife answered the phone from Zidan back then," replied the mother a little annoyed. I exhaled violently. Rania didn't tell me anything about Zidan reporting Satria's death. Three years had passed, he never said. I don't know what news he kept from me all this time.

"I'm so sorry, Princess. I am one of Satria's best friends. We were always in the school days. From SD to SMA" I said, rising up and reaching out. The princess cupped her hands together in front of her chest, refusing to welcome my hand.

"Thank you, Mum... Sorry, I can't shake hands with Mas."

I took my hand back, knowing that this woman was fortifying herself. Although she did not wear the hijab, she did practice what became a must in her religion.

"Yes already... Let's just go straight to the kitchen, Put. Let you see the process of cooking yellow fish yesterday. Who knows it could be a mainstay menu in your restaurant," said the mother quickly. The princess nodded in agreement, then followed behind the mother again. She nodded her head before coming to the kitchen with her. I nodded in the same way.

*

"Where, Dan? Already got the white shirt and the black pants?"

I approached Zidan, his face pale like a frightened person. I glared at him, asking for an explanation as to why his face suddenly turned so pale.

"Mas... All here expensive! Cook a shirt for a million? Trousers too! We buy it in a regular store, Mom. I know where the shop is." Zidan answered my question in a whispering tone, my laughter breaking instantly. Is my sister suffering from amnesia? He forgot that he was a manager.

"Take what you want and match your body size!! Don't care about the price!! Take three shirts and three pants!! Huh!!"

I lift up three stels of clothing of my choice, I face Zidan. Both of his eyes were very large.

"If you knew how much clothes you bought, you would be nagging!! Wasting!!"

My laughter broke again hearing Zidan's words.

"For five years, Mas worked to make people happy who did not sincerely love Mas. For you and your mother, no. Just the five million a month money that Mas sent for the two of you, Mas sure as hell I must still ask you to save all this time, right? Where's enough money for your meal and college expenses, Dan."

Zidan laughed cynically like he was mocking me.

"Yeeee... More than enough of that, Mom. If Mas knew what I'd done to Mas's money for five years, I'm sure Mas would be amazed."

I was speechless at Zidan's reply, curious at what he meant.

"The surprise!! Let me just say it. Ntar I scolded Mom for leaking her secret."

Zidan pulled away, leaving me in confusion. Aghhh!! This boy just makes me curious!!

*

My sister immediately became the most dashing man in the row of hundreds of students who graduated today. No use I reached into the contents of the wallet up to eight million rupiah for him last night, plus the typical mother's nagging when she knew how much out fit her youngest son would wear today.

Although the mother departed with a pouting face earlier, this time she actually repeatedly wiped her tears because she was proud of Zidan's achievement. I was proud of my mother, because without my father, my mother was able to take me up to my bachelor and sister up to diploma three. Zidan himself who asked for college to take a diploma, that alone must be by force and threat first. He said he was tired of learning. Just three years of college, no need for five years. Finally, my mother and I gave up. Anyway he has a degree, whatever his choice.

"Thank you, Dit... Hicks."

Mother pressed her body against me, gently hugged her shoulder, and then smiled.

"Thank you for what, Mom? I am just doing my duty as the oldest son who is successful. All this precisely because of the incessant prayer Mother whispered to God "I said slowly. Mother smiled sweetly, wiping the tears on her face.

*

Coming home from graduation, I took my mother and Zidan to eat at the restaurant. We left early in the morning, of course, mom did not have time to cook it. After all, mother and Zidan must have not eaten in such an expensive and tasty restaurant for a long time.

After we finished paying for the food we had already enjoyed, we left the restaurant together. Mom never stopped smiling, a sign that she was very happy today.

When walking to the parking lot, suddenly the step of the mother stopped. Zidan and I stopped and looked at Mom for an explanation.

"Mom."

Mother silently did not answer my call, her gaze glistening sharply at a single point in front of us. I don't know what he was looking at, until his smile just vanished and his gaze flashed with anger.

"Tell me that Mom's looking wrong, Dit. That woman across the street isn't your wife, is she?"

I turned to look at my mother's gaze, trying to find the point I was looking at. A moment later, I found that spot. Apparently the mother was staring at a couple who were walking out of a hotel. They both look very happy and love each other. Even the man did not hesitate to kiss her cheek in public.

It was not what they were doing that made the mother stare in anger, but because the woman who received the warm kiss from her man was Rania... My wife's.

"Name**!!"

I was quick to take a step to go to the couple, but my steps stopped due to a very tight check in the arm. I turned my head and looked at my mother, the young one who was holding my steps at the moment.

"Your worth is much higher than that of that woman! Losing her can be replaced with another, but losing your self-esteem in public anger to a woman like her, can't be replaced!"

Both my eyes became hot, my face was already burning. Zidan took my arm, not agreeing with my decision to go to the couple.

"We're home, Dit!! NOW!!"

Like a ten-year-old boy caught stealing money from his mother's purse, my hand was forcibly pulled towards the car and I was just resigned.