It was getting late, and dusk was fast approaching. The guests had begun to leave. Aunt Lena and Puri had no shame, constantly trying to get the Haziq family's attention.
Puri forced her mother to approach Haziq just to say hello. Aunt Lena and Puri were distant relatives of Mom Maria. Puri, Aunt Lena's daughter, had adored Haziq since she was little. Aunt Lena was always trying to set them up and forcing Haziq to become Puri's boyfriend, even though Haziq didn't like her.
Puri was extremely spoiled. She never made friends with anyone except her mother. Every day, she dressed as if she were going to a formal wedding. Today, Puri was wearing a kebaya with her hair in a bun. You could say her appearance was a little tacky.
Anyone who saw Puri would say she seemed a little mentally unstable. She stammered when she spoke, was stubborn, and strangely, Haziq was the only person she could talk to fluently. As they approached Haziq, his younger sister, Zizi, pulled him away.
Zizi was fifteen years old. She was a beautiful and graceful girl with fair skin, narrow eyes, and long hair. She was still in high school. Haziq loved his younger sister, Zizi, very much.
Aunt Lena and Puri were extremely annoyed. “Mom, why did Haziq run away?” Puri asked irritably.
“Maybe Haziq is tired. Come on, let’s go home first. It’s almost nighttime,” her mother suggested. They left Haziq’s house.
“Good thing you were here, Zi. Otherwise, I might’ve…” Haziq gestured toward his neck as if he were slaughtering a goat.
“Kak Puri has been waiting ten years, and you still won’t marry her,” Zizi pointed out.
“Huh?” Haziq was startled. “You’re something else.” Haziq shook his head.
Haziq looked utterly exhausted. The event was over. “I’m so tired…” He collapsed onto the bed.
Mom Maria knocked on Haziq’s bedroom door.
“Come in,” Haziq said, looking toward the door.
“It’s Mom,” Mom Maria called.
“Yeah, Mom.” Haziq sat up.
Mom Maria opened the door and walked toward him. “Did I wake you?”
“No, Mom. Haz is just tired. You suddenly came to see me—is there something you want to talk about?” Haziq asked, pretending there was another reason for her visit.
“Not really. Mom just wanted to ask how you’re doing. Are you okay? Are you healthy? Do you miss Mom or not?!” Mom Maria asked sarcastically as she sat beside him.
Haziq smiled and exhaled through his nose. “Haziq misses you very much, Mom,” he replied, hugging Mom Maria.
“Liar,” Mom Maria shot back.
“I’m serious, Mom,” Haziq replied, releasing her.
“That’s always how you are when you’ve done something wrong. You came home only five days before Ramadan. Do you ever think about Mom? You stayed there for so long, and you always turned me down whenever I asked you to come home,” Mom Maria complained.
“I already told you, Mom. I can’t just come home like that. You know what Uncle Ardi is like,” Haziq explained.
“I know what he’s like. But Mom wants you here too. I feel sorry for Dad. So many enemies are secretly attacking him,” Mom Maria explained.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll help Dad no matter what. Okay?” Haziq reassured his worried mother.
Mom Maria nodded, trusting that Haziq would do his best for his family.
Mom Maria was friendly and nagged her children constantly, but she loved both of them dearly. She was tall and heavyset, a classy middle-aged woman thanks to their immense wealth.
Mom Maria was overjoyed to have Haziq back in her arms. She was grateful and relieved that Haziq had returned. He could take over for his father as the leader of the company—the country’s largest clothing design company, “Malandre,” whose market had even become well known overseas.