When Hamzah Met Alifa
Believed

Alifa looked pensively looking at her reflection in the mirror to correct her appearance before she set out to meet her mother.

Alifa kept pensive until a few minutes passed, not really a matter of appearance that she was worried about, but a meeting with Maria that made her nervous.

Alifa fears that she finds herself not the son of Steve as her father doubts.

Then, Hamzah who just came out of the bathroom saw Alifa who was daydreaming in front of the mirror. Hamzah walked over.

He placed both his hands on Alifa's shoulders. Alifa flinched in shock and looked at Hamzah through the mirror image.

"Why you?"

Alifa shook her head with a flat face. After that, he smiled even though his smile was clearly forced.

"I'm okay."

"We met your mom, right?" ask Hamzah to make sure once again.

"Yes so dong," replied Alifa while fixing the blazer she was flipping.

Then suddenly Alifa's hand movements stopped when she remembered something. Something he should have asked since.

"Za, if you don't accept the job offer from your friend. What do you want to do?"

A glimpse of Hamzah curling a thin smile. "I'm going to open a business, Fa."

"What business?" Alifa asked increasingly curious.

"There's. Yuk, go. It will be too late."

Hamzah pulled Alifa's hand gently. He led his wife to walk out of the room.

When they came out of the room, Joseph had gone to school. While Haida was sitting casually in the middle room.

Hamzah and Alifa deliberately went out of the room a little afternoon and did not take breakfast together. Because Hamzah was fasting while Alifa was lazy to eat. So he only ate a piece of bread that the waiter delivered to the room.

After saying goodbye, Alifa and Hamzah went to the Cafe which would be the place to meet with Maria. Fifteen minutes on the way, they had already arrived at the Cafe.

Hamzha got out of the car. Then he turned to look at Alifa who looked even more agitated than before.

Hamzah then grabbed Alifa's shoulder and rubbed her slowly.

"Are you okay?"

Alifa nodded slowly. He walked with Hamzah into the cafe.

A servant greeted Alifa and Hamzah very kindly and showed them a room that had been specially reserved for the meeting with Maria.

As soon as the door opened, both Alifa and Hamzah could see a beautiful woman wearing a white dress sitting alone by the window.

The woman who had entered the three heads was unmoved as Alifa and Hamzah walked into the room.

"Mama" Alifa said in a quiet voice.

The woman who was greeted by Alifa looked up but her mouth still chewed steik very gracefully.

Maria's eyeballs stared at Alfah and Hamzah in turn. His face did not show any expression. Only his mouth moved slowly chewing food.

There was no warm welcome for the child or his son-in-law. Maria simply pointed at the chair in front of her using the fork she was holding. He hinted for Alifa and Hamzah to sit down.

"Ma, this is Hamzah, the husband of Alifa," Alifa said after the brand both sat in front of Maria.

Then Mary's gaze moved towards Hamzah while thrusting a glass filled with wine.

"Would you like a drink, Hamzah? How about a toast to your wedding?"

Immediately Hamzah shook his head. He put on a thin smile and bowed his head.

"Sorry, Ma. We were encouraged by the Prophet not to drink such a drink."

Maria seemed to gasp with Hamzah's answer. He leaned his back but his eyeballs examined the appearance of his new son-in-law.

Then Mary snorted, turning her face away. He gulped down his drink with a gloomy feeling and was also annoyed.

"Your husband is very pious, Fa," said Mary without looking at Alifa or Hamzah. Looking at the view outside the window.

"Ma, I'm here to ask you something, Mama," Alifa said directly to the point and to change the subject.

"You ask me, are you Papa Steve's son or not?" Maria guess.

Sontak Alifa rounded her eyes perfectly. Then he turned to Hamzah who also looked a little surprised.

"How did Mama know?"

Maria grunts while displaying a grin. "Mama sure, sooner or later you will know the problem between Mama and your Papa. And Mama heard the news that yesterday you went to see your Papa."

Alifa took a deep breath to neutralize her feelings. Under the table, Alifa's hand squeezed the end of her blazer, preparing to hear an explanation from her mother.

"I want the real story, Ma? Is the accusation Papa said true, Ma? That must be a lie, right?" Alifa searched the question impatiently.

For a moment Maria stared at the dishes on the table with blank eyes. Then he said, "Mama cheated on you, Papa, Fa."

The next second, Alifa closed her slightly opened mouth in surprise. He was very surprised by the fact that his mother was having an affair with another man.

Alifa wanted to ask a lot of questions lodged in her mind. However, Alifa's tongue felt frozen and unable to move so she could only stare silently at the mother with a look of disbelief.

"Maybe you'll think of Mama as a cheap woman. Just like your Papa who also thinks of Mama like that. Aye right?" Maria smiled bitterly and both her eyes looked shiny.

It is obvious that Mary is trying her hardest not to cry.

No need to wait for an answer from Alifa, Maria continued, "But there is one thing you should know, Alifa. Mama cheated because your Papa cheated on you first from Mama."

Mary could no longer hold back her tears. Instantly, the memories of the past that he tried to close as much as possible are now revealed by themselves.

Even those bitter memories are now clearly visible in Mary's vision. The crying of the woman broke.

"You must know, if Mama and Papa were married because they were betrothed. Mama and Papa have no match at all. Papa you're being very cold towards Mama. Especially when Mama knows if Papa you play with fire behind Mama. At first, Mama was just acting normal and diverted Mama's sadness by becoming a career woman. Then Mama met Mama's ex-lover and we had a relationship that had run aground."

"But, Ma," interrupted Alifa with a hoarse voice. Both of Alfah's eyes had reddened as had his nose caused by crying. "Why do you take the path to cheating? Why don't you try to fix Papa's relationship?"

Maria is back. He took out a piece of tissue that he used to wipe his wet cheek.

"Yes, that's Mama's fault, Alifa. Mama was just a fragile ordinary human being back then."

Maria took a deep breath and straightened her back. He looked at Alifa while curling a smile.

"But even though Mama cheated on you from Papa, even though Mama never slept with another man. You and Joseph are the sons of Papa Steve. So, you do not believe the words of your Papa who accuses Mama who is not. Okay?"

Alifa. He looked at Mary with an unreadable expression.

Truly, Alifa was at a loss as to which one he should trust more.