
Ayu was still silent, she was still shocked by what she heard. It felt like disbelief but his ears clearly heard word for word that was thrown from Jaka's mouth.
The expression of that feeling was still in his ears. Even when the wind blows strong the sentence is not carried away by him.
Jaka was the same, he was also silent waiting for an answer to what he asked. Breezy wind that blows as if adding nervousness in the taste of Jaka. Couldn't anyone help him to get away from such a gripping situation?
"Come, you still hear me?" Jaka ventured to make a sound.
"Ha, yes I still hear. I'm sorry I was so shocked by what you said." Ayu answered honestly. "I'm sorry, can I not answer now. My life is not just for me, you know that. If I decide to remarry, not just for me, but for my children as well. I'm sure you understand this. Allow me to discuss this with Alif. He understood the situation of his parents. It would be unfair for me to take such a big decision without talking to him. Before I wanted to ask you, have you assured me of the choices you made? Marrying a widow of three children is not easy, Mas. You have two kids too." Ayu asked once more.
"Very sure. I've been thinking about it for a long time, Yu. What if we bring our children to the wedding? I have never questioned what status you are a child's widow. If love had spoken, what would you do? I love you and what you have. Do you doubt that I can support you?"
"No, Mas. Not that," Ayu replied quickly. "I don't mind money either. We can find money together. Give me some time to talk to Alif. Just take this for a while. I'd ask for this if God would let us be together." Ayu closes the jewelry box and returns it to Jaka.
The man accepted heavily. But he must respect Ayu's decision to discuss this with his son. Anyway what Ayu said was right. Alif already understood enough about what was happening around him.
*
Anang lazily prepared for the hospital where his mother was being treated. He was lazy not because he would meet his mother or still angry with the woman who had given birth to him. He misses her too, he just doesn't like the way things are. He imagined surely his mother would be very hit and sad to see the condition of his son who was no longer healthy as before. Especially now that his body is getting thinner and thinner.
"Are you ready, Mom? Are you not complicated to go anywhere to use a stick like that? I'll buy you a fake leg if you want" Galuh said.
"No need. Just put this on, I don't know until when I can breathe fresh air."
"Kok say that, anyway Mas."
"It's true, right? We don't know when we're gonna be."
Anang was pessimistic about his own life. He does not know until when will survive with cancer cells that continue to breed and multiply. The doctor suggested for chemotherapy he did not do the goods though, not dear with the money, he could find money for his recovery if he wanted to. But, he prefers to let his pain alone, not without reason he is like that. He feels alive or not he is no longer meaningful to anyone. His presence is no longer needed by anyone, then he healed for whom?
Silent. That is what happened along the way Anang and Galuh. Only a swift step accompanied them on the way to their mother's room.
Chequelek
Door opens. Anang was still hiding behind that square thing. Looked at Galuh with doubt.
"I'm afraid to see Mom's reaction, it's not a good choice, Luh. I was worried that if Mom knew my condition would make things worse." Anang stepped a little away from the door.
"Mas, sorry I lied to you. Mom's high blood doesn't come back, but she's had a stroke, Mas. He's still unconscious, he's been treated here a few days."
Some more! For who knows how many times Anang's heart felt squeezed by an invisible hand. His life was taken by God forcibly. Yeah, that's Anang right now. God really punished them.
His life and family are a mess. Anang felt that he had become the trash that filled the world. Being at the lowest point of his life and now back in the aftermath of the collapse of his world.
"Stroke?" muttered Anang lirih while walking into the room.
His eyes warmed up as soon as he saw his unconscious mother with slightly wizened lips. His eyes scoured his entire body lying weakly on the bed, growing thinner and many wrinkles began to adorn his skin.
Anang buried his head on the edge of the bed, with his shoulders shaking he tried to suppress his sobbing voice. This time she was crying in front of her sister. Let his pride collapse instantly, he already had nothing at this moment not even a smile.
"I'm confused, Mas. Why the unrelenting trials befall us. I am confused by the condition of my household who also I don't know. My wife's been cranky ever since I came here and there to take care of Mom, too. You're the one with this condition, and now it's the mother I somehow call. Stroke in the age of the mother is a severe reality. There is no hope of returning as it was. I thought, what swearing Maak Ayu said so that our family is so adrift like this." Galuh spoke at length with a glaring look.
"On what basis is rigid thinking like that?" tanya Anang raised her head.
"All this happened after the departure of Mbak Ayu."
"Don't blame anyone. I know Ayu, no matter how much she hates someone, she won't pray badly to anyone else. Even though we were so mean to her. He was angry and disappointed but for a while, but God's anger was a disaster for us. I hurt Ayu so deeply, maybe until now the wound is still bleeding and festering. Still leaves traces that I don't know when the disappearance. Man can heal his wounds in his own way, but not with his marks. Scars that can either disappear or not, will definitely cause problems later on. As I am currently experiencing. It all started with me, I've failed to be a husband and son. If only time could I reset it, I'd like to fix everything."
"I'm also involved in everything that happens. If only I could be firm with my wife, I would be able to help Mom's economy. Ma'am Ayu is right, not all needs should be left to you, the root of this problem is actually nothing but, do not accept it or not, it all starts from money."
*
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Thank you for supporting me by reading Ayu's story from the beginning until now. I feel less than a thank you, but that's all I can give you. I hope you continue to support my next works, my great hope for success here so that I can give a small gift to all of you. Pray, yes hopefully I can. Sorry I can't reply to your comments one by one 🙏. But believe me, I always enjoy reading your comments, whether it's angry comments, support etc.
Oh, yes, I have a novel that is still an angel also in pf G. If you want to read the spill in the comments, yes. I'll spill the title of the novel.