The Decapitation of Wounds
Chapter 17

Five chocolate bars fell from Ayala's bag. I picked it up and put it on the study table. It's expensive chocolate. So it's impossible if Ayala buys it herself. But who gave this chocolate to her? If Mas Dudy was impossible. It's not customary for Mas Dudy to buy chocolate. And again Mas Dudy is still at Ika's house. Ah, definitely Oscar.

Suddenly Ayala entered and looked surprised to see the chocolate had moved. And as if to avoid me, he immediately stepped back out.

"Yes!" call quickly.

Ayala stopped her steps and turned her body facing me.

"Come, mommy wants to ask. Is this Aya's chocolate?"

Ayala nodded.

"Who gave it?"

Ayala shakes. "That can say."

"Loh, why? Who forbid Aya to say the same to mama?"

Once again Ayala shook her head to make me curious.

"Come on dong, Aya. I have to be honest with my mom. Mama's not mad," I asked.

"But aunt Ika will be angry," said Ayala plain.

"Oh, so who bought this chocolate Aunty Ika?"

Ayala nodded.

"When?"

"So early in the morning at school."

"Why didn't Aya tell my mom that Auntie Ika made chocolate for Aya? Why is Aya hiding from mama?"

"Once Ika Aunty messages you can say the same mama, later mama angry."

"Mama won't be angry, Aya. Aya was honest with mom. Well, now try Aya same story mom, does Aunt Ika often love chocolate like this same Aya?"

Ayala nodded again. "Yes, ma, but sometimes candy or bread. Auntie Ika is good, ma. Auntie Ika often comes to Aya's school. Bring a lot of souvenirs for Aya."

Hearing Ayala's story, I became increasingly curious to dig up information about Ika's lunge behind me. That one woman seemed to really invite me to war. I immediately invited Ayala to sit on her bed. My little girl also smoothly answered all my questions in her innocent style.

"If Aya is meeting Aunt Ika, what the hell is being talked about?"

"Tante Ika often asked if Aya wanted to stay at Aunt Ika's house? Auntie Ika said there's also a papa."

"Keep answering what?"

"Say, I want to stay with my mom."

"Is Aunt Ika angry at Aya's response?" my chase.

"Engga," Ayala's bell. "But tomorrow Aunt Ika asked so again the same Aya. Aya until bosen, deh, hear it."

Oh, so that's how she seduced Ayala? He lured my son with his food to be persuaded slowly. But this time Ika should know that I will not give up on losing because I will keep my children until the last blood.

"Mama is happy that Aya refused Aunt Ika's invitation to stay at her house. Because if Aya lives there, then mama misses Aya. Brother and sister will also miss Aya. We all must be sad. Aya is a mother's child. I'm sorry about Aya."

Ayala smiled sweetly at me. "So I love my mom, too" she said.

"Then Aya don't hide from mama anymore. Aya must be honest. If Aunt Ika brings Aya souvenirs, Aya don't want to, yes. Let mama buy Aya a lot of chocolate."

Ayala cheered happily. Then I let him run back out and play with his friends on the front porch.

I recalled another conversation with Wak Ipah when we were recreation the other day. It turns out Ika was not satisfied with just taking my husband. He's really outrageous!

***

When Mas Dudy came that afternoon, I told him all about it. But Mas Dudy's reaction this time was completely beyond my expectations. Mas Dudy looked coldly responded. Even impressed that he defended Ika a little.

"Yes, it is not wrong if Ika bought Ayala chocolate or candy, mas. But that's the way I don't like it. Why would he hide like that?" i said annoyed.

"Maybe I'm afraid to come here. You'll throw him out once, "again Mas Judy defends Ika.

"Of course I kicked him out. He came to take Ayala from me!"

"Ah, you're overreacting. Not just taking but just looking to babysit. No time if she wants to babysit my son?"

"Mas!" I was shocked to hear Mas Dudy's words. For God's sake he's changed.

"Have it, An, don't like to fuss over trivial things like this. I don't want you to continue to suspect Ika," said Mas Dudy pouting.

Emotion's hooked. How could he blame me? I obviously want to take all of mine. Can't I just be suspicious of him? Oh, my God, Wak Ipah is right. Ika has managed to take over my husband!

"Why do you blame me, man? Is there still less of my sacrifice for you and Ika? Should I leave my son to him? For God's sake I don't want my son to be taken care of by her. And I don't like it when he secretly approaches Ayala and teaches her to lie to me!"

Mas Dudy raised her head and with a sharp look looked at me. "Oh, huh? But don't forget that they are my children too! And I'd rather they be taken care of by Ika than by your dark boyfriend!" exclaimed Mas Dudy with overflowing emotions.

Once again, Dudy surprised me. I can hardly believe my hearing. But Mas Dudy's angry face made me believe that my husband's angry cry was real.

"Dark boyfriend? You're accusing me of having a dark boyfriend?" I screamed like I was suffocating.

"That's not an accusation! I know you're cheating!" yell again.

"What's? I cheated?" I said with wide eyes. "Mas, what the hell is this? You can accuse me like that! From whom do you hear this slander, mas? From Ika?"

"No longer do you accuse the non-no. It's not that bad! At least Ika never betrayed me by making love to other men while I was not home!"

I heard Mas Dudy's words. I never thought he would accuse me of that. Heart hurts. But I can still control myself.

"However, you accuse me of being that low, ma'am. For God's sake I never betrayed you. What else to bring a man into this house while you're not around. You must've heard some lies," I said, trying to cool off Mas Judy's heart.

"Oh, so? So that guy named Oscar never walked into this house while I wasn't around? So why do Tassa and Ayala know him so well? Answer, Ani, why?!"

Cry broke. So this is all about Oscar? Apparently, over the past few days, Mas Judy's been trying to find out about Oscar, and she misunderstood my friendship with Oscar all along. His jealousy made him no longer able to accept my explanation. His eyes glittering sharply at me. His face was cold and scary.

Ever since I married her I've never seen Mas Dudy this angry at me. Even at every quarrel we had, I could still see the gentleness on his face. But this time Mas Judy's anger made me tremble in fear. I also cried with my chest pounding.

"I think you're a loyal woman, Ani. I think I can trust you. But it turns out I was wrong. It turns out you're a traitorous woman who's good at theatrics!"

"But Oscar's just a friend, um. Nothing ever happened between me and him" I said trying to explain.

"Well!" Mas Dudy snapped furiously. "If it's just a friend why are you hiding him from me? Why should he come quietly to this house while I'm not around? He's a man and you're a married woman, Ani. You think it's worth bringing her in here like that? You put where your brain is, huh?!"

I immediately grabbed Mas Dudy's hand and kissed him respectfully. But rudely Mas Dudy shook my hand.

"I'm sorry, mas. I was wrong to have accepted her arrival here. But Oscar came here just to play with Tassa and Ayala."

"Oh yeah? It's good that he wants to take his time to play with my children" said Mas Dudy in a sharp tone.

"That's right, mas. Oscar didn't come for me."

"Why do you think he would approach Tassa and Ayala if not to captivate your heart? You must know that, right? I know you're not that stupid, Ani. You must know that the man has fallen for you and you are happy to respond to him. Or has he spoken those words of love to you?"

"For God's sake, you know, those accusations never happened. I never betrayed you. I've never loved anyone but you."

"Don't bring God's name to cover up your lies. You let him into this house and get close to my kids. You invite him to recreation and have fun with my children! What do you mean do all that if it wasn't for you loving her too? Don't you fool me like that, Ani, because I'm not as stupid as you think!"

"But I'm not fooling you. I also never invited Oscar to be creative with the kids. Oscar happened to come when we were leaving and the kids asked him to come along. I can't possibly throw him out, right? After all, we were recreation with Faisal and Wak Ipah. We're not just two-two, mas."

"But your actions are still wrong. Whatever your reason for defending yourself, you're still wrong. And one thing you must remember, I do not allow my children to see him again, what else in my house! You understand that?!"

"Yes, I'm sorry," I lamented. There's nothing more I can say to make Mas Dudy believe that I never betrayed him. Mas Dudy was so sure of the prejudice that there was no gap for me to defend myself. Maybe now I'm really bad in Mas Dudy's eyes.

At Oscar I told you everything. Maybe it's best for him to understand that he needs to stay away from me and my kids. Thank goodness Oscar understood. He never came or contacted me again. At first my children felt lost and kept asking about him. But eventually they can forget Oscar too. Our lives are going on again as before. Oscar is forgotten. His name was lost as time passed.