My Brother's Bed Rattles
Talk to Mommy

"All right, I want to talk to him." Mommy Tiya exhaled heavily.

"Ok, wait here" said Oma Hana with enthusiasm.

The middle-aged woman rushed towards the main hall then approached Risa.

"Risa, Mommy Ayden wants to talk to you. Meet" said Oma Hana.

"But, Oma—" Risa tried to resist because she was still afraid and hesitant to meet face to face with the woman who had given birth to Ayden.

"It's okay, Ris. Meet and talk to him. I'm sure, after hearing your explanation, Mommy will understand" said Ayden as he cheered the woman on.

Risa let out a heavy breath then nodded her head. "alright. I'll see him soon" he replied despite still seeming hesitant.

"So, dong!" Oma Hana smiled.

Slowly Risa left the room then walked towards the room where Mommy Tiya was already waiting for her. Upon arriving in the room, Risa also tried to smile at Mommy Tiya even though the woman was again not willing to return her smile.

"Tante," said Risa.

"Sit. I want to talk to you." Mommy Tiya pointed at the empty space on the sofa that had been occupied by Oma Hana.

"Thank you, Auntie," said Risa while dropping herself on the sofa.

"Riss."

"Yes, Auntie?"

"I have some questions for you and hope you answer them honestly. Nothing is hidden in the least. I knew that someone was lying to me" Mommy Tiya said very seriously to Risa.

Risa nodded her head.

"Is it true that you still love Ayden?" mommy Tiya asked with a sharp gaze looking at Risa.

With hesitation, Risa nodded her head again. "Yes, Auntie."

There was a rough gasp of Mommy Tiya's breath at that moment. "What is the basis of what do you love him? His success? The establishment? Or what?" ketus Mommy Tiya's.

"No, Auntie! For God's sake, not because of that," Risa replied as she shook her head quickly.

The woman laughed cynically. "Heh, keep going because of what?"

"For God's sake, I love Mas Ayden sincerely regardless of anything from him, Auntie. Although I admit, I once tried to forget Ayden mas after marrying Arga mas. It was also in honor of the man who was then my husband," said Risa.

Risa shook her head again. "Mas Arga still works in the same place and now his salary is much greater. However, it is not property that triggers our divorce. It was the affair that made me decide to step back and choose to be divorced by her."

"Can you tell me?" Mommy Tiya started to get curious.

Risa raised her head and returned the sharp gaze of the woman seriously.

"It's actually my secret, Auntie. Only me and my family know this story. Even Ayden and Oma Hana did not know about it" explained Risa.

Mommy Tiya was still silent while putting her ears on nicely.

"After giving birth to Lily, Arga's attitude changed. He told me that he was still not ready to be a father and that he could not accept Lily's presence. In our lives. Mas Arga considers Lily as a burden enhancer in his life. However, that's not what made me give up on him." Risa was silent for a moment while remembering her dark time when Arga cheated on her.

"Continue?" Mommy Tiya was curious.

"Mas Arga is having an affair with my own sister, Auntie. Almost every night they played hot behind me. My sister got pregnant and married him. Now I'm asking Auntie as a fellow woman. Is it wrong for me to choose to divorce her and take my son away with me?" lirih Risa with teary eyes.

"I married Mas Arga at the insistence of my father and mother. I was forced to bury my feelings deeply into Mas Ayden for the sake of those who turned out to be only my adoptive parents. Well, they're just foster parents and I just found out after this embarrassing incident."

Risa sobbed, but hurriedly she seka the clear circles of both cheeks. He did not want to look weak in Mommy Tiya's eyes.

The look on Mommy Tiya's face, which had been hot, was now melting. "So .. Abdi sir and Lydia's mom were just your foster parents?"

"Yes, Aunt. I found out about it after they asked me to grant Arga mas in order to marry Mona who was pregnant at the time. At least to repay them for taking care of me since the baby," Risa replied with a wry smile.

"From your divorce, did you get any money from your husband? Yeah, at least 'right for your baby, '" asked Mommy Tiya again.

Risa shook her head. "I haven't taken care of my divorce papers, Auntie. Mas Arga would never be willing to spend some money to take care of such things. And as for the gono-gini treasure, I never thought about it at all. As long as I am still breathing, I will continue to struggle to meet all the needs of my daughter," Risa replied steadily.

Risa tried to smile at Mommy Tiya. "Tante, everything about my life I've been telling you about has nothing to hide. Now, all the decisions are in Aunt's hands and I promise to accept them with great courage. I knew Auntie would want the best for Mas Ayden, just like I did for Lily" said Risa, who now looked resigned.

Mommy Tiya let out a heavy sigh. "Can I see your son?"

"Of course, Auntie." Risa immediately got up and then walked to the main room to pick up Lily who is currently still in Ayden's arms.

"How, Ris?" asked Ayden with a look of dismay.

"Mommy wants to meet Lily," Risa replied as she extended her hand before Ayden.

"Let Lily be with me. Now we meet Mommy together" Ayden said, grabbing Risa's hand and leading her to the room where Mommy Tiya was still waiting for them.

...***...