Chapter 8 [7]

"Dang, it's been so long since I've seen you, Ta." A woman dressed in pretty trendy fashion immediately approaches Tata. She hugs her tightly.

"You're exaggerating," Tata grumbles. "It's only been a month."

"A month is long, Bebs. Plus, you canceled last weekend, remember?" Jenni says with a laugh on her face. "How's life treating you?" She takes a seat in front of her friend.

"So far, so good," Tata replies while stirring her smoothie slowly.

"Thank goodness nothing magical has happened in your life again."

Jenni's words aren't without reason. Knowing her for almost fifteen years, her friend has coined many terms for her, especially for Ottis's 'peculiar' family. Nilam the Rat Chewer, her mother-in-law the Fake Witch, and Ottis the Man with the Rein.

At first, Tata didn't like these nicknames. After all, they're all part of her life. But Jenni had one sentence that couldn't be denied. "You consider them family, but they see you as a money printing machine, Ta. Realize why?"

"And what about you? Is your business going well?"

Jenni looks elated now.

"Thank God, everything's going smoothly, Ta. Amel and my husband, Rakha, are giving me a hundred percent support. Well... it's a new business after all. Must be really busy, right?"

"I'm glad to hear that, Jen."

Tata's words come from her heart. Jenni has dreamed of having her own boutique where she designs the clothes herself for a long time. So it's understandable that her friend is now eager to talk about every detail of her business. This includes the responses she's been getting, which have kept her quite busy lately.

"Now I feel like having my own business too," Tata jokes after listening to Jenni's rants about her boutique.

"Your job?" Jenni asks with an investigative look.

"Maybe... resigning," Tata says with a shrug.

"Ugh!" Jenni scoffs. "Don't resign if you don't know what you want to do, Ta."

"Pregnant," Tata blurts out without thinking.

"Oh my God, Ta!" Jenni's eyes widen. "Pregnancy isn't just a woman's issue. It's a man's too. Ottis still hasn't consulted, has he?"

Jenni actually feels a bit frustrated when it comes to the 'pregnancy' issue. She's brought up that suggestion years ago. She even talks about it openly in front of Ottis. For her, Tata isn't just a friend. She sees her as a sister. Especially since Tata is all alone in this world.

Tata just smiles.

Jenni scoffs again. "What's so hard about consulting? Like if it's negative, will the doctor shout it out throughout the hospital? They'll definitely find the best solution, Ta. Isn't it obvious Ottis doesn't understand that?"

"Maybe I'm the one with fertility issues, Jen," Tata says, trying to calm Jenni down. Shouldn't she be the one fired up to discuss this issue? "I'm thinking, Jen, should I just resign? So I can get pregnant?"

"Is there a guarantee that if you resign, you'll immediately get pregnant? Really?" Jenni falls silent.

"Plus, why suddenly talk about resigning and getting pregnant?"

Actually, Tata didn't want to talk about what happened last week, when they gathered together at Nilam's house. It's like an obligatory agenda in her life to visit there because her mother-in-law lives there.

"Your husband said you've been working overtime a lot lately, Ta?" Rieka asks while grabbing the cookies brought by her daughter-in-law. "Where did you buy these? They're not tasty?" She looks at the packaging. "Oh my, Ta. You must have a lot of money from working overtime, right? Why bring me these tasteless cookies?"

Tata sighs patiently. "I didn't go to the store, Mom. Ottis had some business at his office."

Rieka scoffs. "I don't like it."

"I'll buy some more later, okay, Mom?"

"Of course. With your plenty of money, don't be stingy with your mother-in-law. Buy some for Nilam and Kayyish too."

There's nothing Tata can do but nod obediently.

"But speaking of overtime, you must be busier, right? Hasn't the doctor said your pregnancy is taking long because of your weak uterus?"

Tata falls silent.

"So, why isn't Ottis asked to get checked too, Ta, Ta? You should be more selective with your job. Don't work overtime too much. It's time for you guys to think about having kids, Ta. Or are you not planning to have kids with your husband?"

"Not like that, Mom," Tata prepares to object. "I don't want to work overtime too much either, but what can I do. It's been a part of-"

"You always have a lot of excuses, Ta," Ottis interrupts quickly. His gaze also looks displeased at Tata. "I'm sure, even if we consult a doctor, I'm healthy. But it's you who have issues. Plus, your job is getting busier."

"Well," Rieka looks satisfied with her son's words. "That means you should take better care of yourself, Ta. No need to overwork. What's the point? I want a grandchild. I've been waiting for ten years, but you still haven't given one."

"It's not like I don't want to, Mom," Tata retorts. Her eyes glance at Ottis, who turns his face away. Her husband's expression also looks sour.

"Yeah, you should try harder, Ta."

The shoulder-length haired woman sighs softly. "So, should I just resign? Maybe if my condition at home isn't too exhausted and there's less activity, I can get pregnant?"

"Oh, so you want to depend on Ottis alone? Is that it? Your husband should also give me money, right? You know that. Many working wives can get pregnant without any issues as long as they take care of themselves. But you? You already know your uterus is weak, yet you keep working overtime. How do you expect to get pregnant?"

"God!" Jenni rubs her face in frustration. Since listening to Tata's story earlier, the anger in her heart has truly reached its limit. If she were near Tata's mother-in-law, she might have exploded. "That witch truly has a black heart, doesn't she! Mentally ill!"

"Don't say that. Why insult others? It just creates sins." Tata laughs awkwardly. She sips the remaining smoothie. "Aren't you ordering food, Jen? Come on. Don't tell me you're on a diet?"

Jenni snickers, but then laughs.

"Nah. Can't diet with Rakha."

"Order some food, let's talk about my mother-in-law really saps your energy."

This time, Jenni laughs freely, which makes Tata also get carried away with it. After that, they're busy ordering food that's quite appetizing. Their conversation is interspersed with random chatter about Amel, Jenni's only daughter. It doesn't take long for their orders to arrive. They devour the food eagerly.

"But... your mention of resigning to get pregnant wasn't serious, right, Ta?" Jenni asks while cutting her steak.

A spoonful of salad that she's about to eat is halted mid-air by Jenni's question. "Just bringing up the idea of resigning already makes it seem like I'm a burden to my husband, Jen. But they're forcing me to have a child. I'm confused," Tata says with a bitter smile. "What if I really resign?"

"Don't, Ta. My advice is don't resign. Even though, yeah... it'll be tough on you."

Jenni touches Tata's arm gently, rubbing it slowly as a sign of her empathy. Her eyes look at her friend with sadness, knowing that Tata's burden is much heavier than her tone of voice implies.

"I think... my mother-in-law is different. You know, about their acceptance before? Ottis too."

"People's hearts change the fastest, Ta."

Tata chuckles. "Except yours, Jen."

"Why does that sound annoying, huh?"

They laugh together.

"What am I lacking, Jen?" Tata asks softly after managing to calm her laughter. The laughter she creates is more about laughing at her own fate. "I'm financially independent. I also help my husband with the expenses. I never get angry at them for taking advantage because, well... I don't have parents and siblings, right? I never complain about my occasionally annoying husband. I accept everything, Jen. Complete with the shortcomings because I also feel inadequate, Jen."

Jenni doesn't know what to say.

"But why am I constantly being cornered?" Tata looks at Jenni with teary eyes. "I married a flawless prince, didn't I, Jen? That's why all the flaws and mistakes are only on me."

Since Tata's seat is directly facing the outside of the restaurant, she also clearly sees the comings and goings of the mall visitors. Including...

"Ottis?"