6. MY WIFE

              Radit chose to pull over the car he was driving right in the rest area on the right side of the toll road. Not wanting the situation to turn even more heated. Evidently, at this time the two women who stared at each other fiercely quickly broke their eye contact.

"Take a break for a while. I want to have coffee. Maybe you and Manda want to go to the toilet too."

Her mother nodded quickly. "I'll give you some tea at the same time, Radit."

"Yes, mom."

              After saying that, the middle-aged woman quickly left the car. She didn't care about Amanda who was still silent. Radit took the initiative to get out and open the door for a woman who hadn't even been his wife for 24 hours.

"I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize. My ears get hot listening to you say the same thing over and over again," Amanda snorted with a sour face.

"Yes, yes. Just be patient, Manda. Mom does like to be snappy. She's nice. The proof is that she can melt with Dinda."

              Amanda just rolled her eyes lazily. She didn't want to respond to what her husband said. Meanwhile, Radit himself began to move to choose the coffee and tea ordered by Ningsih. Only then did he return to his seat with two cups of drink still puffing smoke.

"I can get it myself," Amanda muttered, cutting off Radit's lips as he was about to say something.

              The handsome man smiled wryly and then nodded briefly. Letting Amanda then get up and move to grab a bottle of mineral water on the supermarket shelf there.

"What did you expect from her anyway?"

              Her mother appeared out of nowhere, but it was clear that her fingers were now clutching a cup of tea that Radit had bought for her. She looked sarcastically at her son-in-law who was standing in front of the counter.

"Manda is Dinda's sister, mom. Please be nice to her," Radit pleaded with a pleading face. "You still don't know each other. I understand."

"As you wish, but I have a feeling that she's not a good woman. It's different from Dinda who is more calm," said his mother at length.

              Their conversation was paused because Amanda had reappeared. Radit quickly finished his drink after feeling that his condition was quite manageable again.

"Can we continue our journey?" he asked the two women.

His mother nodded, while Amanda agreed in a soft voice.

              Again. The situation became awkward again. However, this time Bu Ningsih no longer said much. Instead, she stole glances through her cynical glance at the mirror hanging above the dashboard.

              Amanda knew that she was being noticed. So she acted indifferent. Preferring to close her eyes until she reached her destination.

              The large yard and green plants dominated Amanda's view as soon as the car driven by Radit pulled over at the end of the alley intersection. The house whose building materials blend with nature seemed to greet the arrival of the three of them.

              "We've arrived," said Radit, who had turned his head in the back cabin. He smiled at Amanda, who was stunned by the beauty of her parents' house.

              However, a loud deafening sound quickly snatched away the girl's admiration. Only then did she realize she was being stared at in horror by the resident master?

"What's wrong?"

"No," Amanda replied in a choked voice.

              Avoiding a conversation that might create another cold war, Radit quickly took over the attention of the two.

"Let's go inside. I miss this house too."

              I don't know who he was talking to. The important thing was that the two women were now busy getting out of the car.

"Welcome to the house, Manda. I hope you feel at home," Radit said with a smile.

              Amanda nodded hesitantly. Inevitably she followed Radit's steps who was already in front of her. Meanwhile, her mother-in-law hurriedly went to the kitchen.

"There are no maids here. So everything must be provided by yourself. Cook also use a stove, make chili sauce don't use a blender. Bathing uses a bucket." Ningsih placed a small teapot on the guest table.

"Yes," Amanda replied soberly.

"It's already lunchtime."

"Let's just eat pecel, Mom. I bought it for you. You can say hello to the neighbors too."

"Why would you introduce a new wife?" his mother grinned. "Do you want to be called nonsense? My wife hasn't been dead for long and I've already found a replacement. Got into bed anyway. Shame on you!"

              Instead of responding in the same tone, Radit chuckled softly. He even dared to hold Amanda's hand without hesitation. Making his wife gasp in surprise.

"There's nothing wrong. I'm a man. I don't have more time if want to marry a woman. You can even marry up to four times too. So everything is still following religious law," he said as if he was carefree. "We'll leave first, ma'am."

              Ningsih's shrug did not make Radit think twice. The lanky yellow-skinned man then sighed softly as Amanda pulled her arm roughly from his grasp.

"I can walk by myself."

"Yes, yes. Turn right, Manda." Radit first pushed her shoulder gently in the intended direction.

              As for Amanda? The woman immediately stopped walking after hearing her name being called without any frills.

"What did you call me?"

"Manda. So what else?" Radit asked back. "We're already husband and wife."

Amanda ignored his words again. Until they arrived at the pecel stall. Everyone there looked surprised at Amanda and Radit.

"Oh My God! Radit. Welcome back to this village. We're sorry about the death of your wife."

"Yes," Radit replied with a nod. Inevitably the neighbors looked at Amanda who seemed to be standing uncomfortably beside him.

"Who is she?" asked one of them.

Everyone widened their eyes in surprise when Radit grasped Amanda's hand again.

"My wife," Radit replied while wearing a thin smile. "I mean ...she is my new wife exactly."

"WHAT?!"