“There’s no way Ceu Kokom’s husband is cheating!” Fadil’s Mom, who lived near Ceu Kokom, looked shocked to hear the news.
“Kang Jajang is the loyal, family-loving type. How could he cheat on her?” she added.
“People are people, Fadil’s Mom. He looks nice, but we don’t know what he’s really like on the inside,” said Mrs. Asri.
“Exactly, we don’t know what he’s really like on the inside. The only one who knows is Ceu Kokom,” Mrs. Astuti interjected.
Mrs. Asri pouted.
“That’s not what I meant...”
“But it’s true. Earlier, Kang Jajang brought his mistress home while Ceu Kokom was out. But of course he had to get caught. Not long after that, Ceu Kokom came home. So things got pretty wild over there.” Mrs. Asri looked extremely enthusiastic as she recounted what she’d heard.
“Oh, so that’s why Ceu Kokom’s house was so noisy earlier...” Fadil’s Mom murmured.
“See? You heard it too, didn’t you, Fadil’s Mom?” Mrs. Asri said, as if validating her story.
“I don’t know what happened, but when I passed in front of Ceu Kokom’s house earlier, there was a whole crowd making a big commotion,” said Fadil’s Mom.
“There you go! Poor Ceu Kokom!”
“If you feel sorry for her, take some rice over there. Don’t sit here talking about her!” Once again, Mrs. Astuti interjected without even looking at the person she was addressing. She remained busy with the detergent and cooking oil—the contest prizes for the moms’ balloon-dancing contest.
Mrs. Asri looked annoyed.
“I’m just looking out for my neighbors. I’m worried something might happen to them. If something really bad happened, especially if it went viral in the media, our neighborhood complex would be the one embarrassed.”
“Hey, watch what you’re saying!” Mrs. Ayu scolded.
“Well, you never know, Mrs. Ayu...”
“But it hasn’t been confirmed yet, has it?” Mrs. Ayu couldn’t help starting to worry a little.
“Well, no,” Mrs. Asri replied casually.
“If it hasn’t been confirmed, then it’s gossip! Be careful—it could turn into slander!” Mrs. Ayu warned.
“We’re thinking ahead, Mrs. Ayu. That way, we can anticipate every possibility!” Mrs. Asri declared firmly.
Mrs. Ayu rubbed her forehead.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted from Ceu Kokom’s house, located in the block across from Mrs. Ayu’s house.
Mrs. Asri’s eyes widened.
“See? What did I tell you? Ceu Kokom’s definitely going to look for Mr. Neighborhood Chair to report this!”
Mrs. Astuti shook her head.
“World War III has begun!” Mrs. Asri whispered with a serious expression.
“Sounds like Ceu Kokom is throwing a fit. Kang Jajang is probably trying to explain himself.”
“And then?” Fadil’s Mom was suddenly curious too.
“Why, the war I was talking about!”
“What war?”
“A war of words! Maybe after that, they’ll start throwing things at each other. Flower vases. Plates. Chairs...”
“Mrs. Asri!” Mrs. Ayu admonished.
“What? I’m just making a prediction,” Mrs. Asri said shamelessly.
Before long, the voices from Ceu Kokom’s house grew clearer.
“There! They’ve been caught!” Mrs. Asri said excitedly.
“But why isn’t anyone yelling?” Mrs. Ayu asked, craning her neck in hopes of seeing what was happening over there.
“Maybe they’ve switched to cold warfare.”
Mrs. Astuti burst out laughing.
“Oh my, Mrs. Asri...”
Mrs. Asri sat back down.
“Now we just have to wait for the next big move!”
A few minutes later, two people appeared from the direction of Ceu Kokom’s house.
Ceu Kokom walked in front. Behind her was a young woman who kept smiling.
The moment Mrs. Asri saw them, she jumped to her feet.
“There she is! The mistress!”
Mrs. Ayu nearly choked on her own spit when she heard Mrs. Asri say it so loudly.
Ceu Kokom and the young woman walked closer.
Ceu Kokom’s smile only grew wider.
“Peace be upon you!”
“And peace be upon you too,” Mrs. Ayu and the others replied in unison.
Ceu Kokom turned to Mrs. Asri.
“Mrs. Asri, have you been waiting here this whole time?”
Mrs. Asri rubbed the back of her neck, looking awkward.
“Hehe... I just happened to be here, Ceu Kokom,” she replied.
“Let me introduce you. This is Kang Jajang’s younger sister.”
Mrs. Asri fell silent.
“His sister?”
“Yes. My husband’s biological sister. They haven’t seen each other in over a decade.”
The young woman smiled warmly and nodded politely.
“Sorry for all the noise. I was just so happy to finally see Kang Jajang again. That’s why we got so excited earlier,” the young woman explained.
Ceu Kokom laughed.
“Of course we got excited! Kang Jajang even cried!”
Mrs. Asri blinked.
“So...”
“So what?” Ceu Kokom asked.
“There wasn’t a war?”
“A war?”
“World War III?”
Ceu Kokom furrowed her brow.
Mrs. Asri pointed toward Ceu Kokom’s house.
“I thought there was going to be a third world war.”
Mrs. Astuti immediately lowered her head to hide her laughter.
Fadil’s Mom was biting her lip.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Ayu could only shake her head.
Ceu Kokom suddenly narrowed her eyes.
“Wait a minute.”
She stared at Mrs. Asri.
“Don’t tell me you were imagining all kinds of things earlier.”
Mrs. Asri smiled stiffly.
“No, of course not.”
“I heard Kang Jajang brought a woman home?”
Mrs. Asri grew even paler.
“Who said that?”
Ceu Kokom pointed toward the neighboring house.
“My neighbor said Mrs. Asri was the one telling everyone that.”
Mrs. Ayu, Mrs. Astuti, and Fadil’s Mom immediately exchanged glances.
Meanwhile, several residents passing near Mrs. Ayu’s house began snickering.
Mrs. Astuti finally couldn’t resist commenting.
“Mrs. Asri, next time you hear a crowd making noise, don’t just make up a story!”
“Mrs. Asri, if you want to start another rumor tomorrow, let me know first. I’ll give you the correct material,” Ceu Kokom teased.
The residents burst out laughing.
Mrs. Asri covered her face with both hands and ran away.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Ayu, Mrs. Astuti, and Fadil’s Mom could only grin behind the table.
Suddenly, Mrs. Ayu’s phone rang.
“Hello!” Mrs. Ayu answered the call.
“Mrs. Neighborhood Chair, we’re all waiting for you! The rotating savings group drawing is about to start!” someone said from the other end.
“Uh, don’t draw yet! Wait for me!” Mrs. Ayu hurriedly searched for her favorite thin flip-flops.
“Hopefully I’m the winner this month!”
Wish Mrs. Ayu luck, everyone—hope she wins the rotating savings group payout!