Widow Next Door

Chapter 5

Since that night, Fiona had never seen Ardian again. Normally, she accidentally saw Adrian and even passed him. But lately, she rarely saw him around. Instead of met Adrian, Fiona often met Susi who came home drunk or came home with her hands full of the famous brands she bought.

To be honest, Fiona was wondering about her neighbor, but it was not her business to be curious about them. Fiona called Bela and told her about what happened recently to her and Ardian.

"WHAT!!" Bela startled when Fiona told her that Ardian kissed her last night. Fiona was shocked too when she heard Bela shout like that. She slightly moved the cellphone away from her ear.

“Ouch, you don't have to shout loudly too. It hurts my ears, you know. I can be deaf because you screamed so  loud." Fiona said as she rubbing her right ear.

“Sorry… Sorry… I was so shocked, you know. You're kidding, right?" Bela asked.

"It's not a joke. I'm serious, Bel. That night we kissed. Then he suddenly just disappeared. It makes me confused.”

"Why are you confused? It's good if he stays away from you, right? Anyway remember, don't let yourself become the third person between them. You understand."

Fiona nodded her head.

Then, there was a heavy sigh from Fiona. "Wait ... Don't tell me you enjoyed the kiss?" Bela asked.

Fiona stuttered. Bela said to her to avoid Ardian at all costs. She didn't want Fiona to have a conflict with her neighbor. And as a widow, in this country, Fiona would still be labeled as a man's seducer, especially for other people's husbands.

“Anyway, I don't want to hear anything more about Ardian. If you have started to feel affection and love for him, just immediately forget it. I love you and Reyhan. I don't want you to get hurt again, Fiona.”

"Yes, I know, Bela. Thanks for warning me about this. If you don't, who else can warn me about it?"

"That's what friends are for. I will be there when you are happy or sad. Don't be confused anymore, okay. Remember Reyhan needs you."

"All right, Boss." Both of them laughed. Then Fiona hung up on her. She glanced at the clock on the wall, it's almost late to pick Reyhan up from his school. She immediately changed clothes and then rushed out of the house to pick up her beloved son.

***

Reyhan's school and Fiona's house was not too far away, so Fiona decided to take public transportation to go there. The weather was quite hot. Picking Reyhan up on a motorbike was not a favorable thing.

By using public transportation, she could chat with her son along the way. Quality time with Reyhan meant a lot for her. Fiona got off in front of the Reyhan school. Some students had scattered out of the gate because their parents had picked them up.

"I almost late," Fiona said when she saw her son looking around for her. She immediately waved her hand while calling his son. Reyhan smiled broadly. He ran towards Fiona.

"Mom..." Reyhan hugging his mother tightly.

"Hi, Dear. How is the school? "

"It's really exciting. I made lots of friends," he said enthusiastically. Fiona smiled with relief. She was afraid that her son would find it difficult to adapt to his new school.

"That good. I am afraid that you won't be happy at school."

"But I am happy, Mom."

"Yes, honey. I can see that you are very happy. Let's go home. You must be starving already."

"Let's Go!" Reyhan exclaimed as he pulled Fiona's hand out of the school gate.

After a while, they were finally home. But, suddenly there was a noise from their neighbor. Fiona turned her head to look at her neighbor's house which was only bordered by a wall that was not too high.

Reyhan was curious too. "Mom, what's it? What happened to them?" Reyhan asked.

"I don't know, son. I will look over there, you can go first and change your clothes. And don't forget to eat lunch, okay. I cooked your favorite fried chicken."

"Okay, Mom."

Then, Reyhan ran into their house and closed the door. Fiona immediately went to Ardian's house. She saw Ardian's new maid looking confused. She even cried, not knowing what to do.

"Excuse me. What happened? May I help you?" Fiona said to the maid.

"It's ... It's Mr. Ardian ..."

What?

What happened to him? Fiona's heart was beating so fast. "What happened to doctor Ardian?" Fiona asked.

"He ... He's fainted. I just got a call from the hospital, they say Mr. Ardian needed surgery immediately. I was asked to contact Mrs. Susi to come immediately and sign the document. But she didn't pick up the phone. I am confused. I don't know what to do, Ma'am."

"Oh, my God. So you can't contact Susi? Let me go there. Can I get Mrs. Susi's number? I will try to call her on the way to the hospital."

"Oh, god, thank you, ma'am. I really don't know what to do before you come."

"Can you take care of my son while I go to the hospital?" Fiona asked.

The maid nodded.

Then Fiona hurried out of Ardian's house and went back into her house to tell his son that Ardian needed surgery immediately and no one could help him because the maid could not contact Susi.

Reyhan asked his mother to go to the hospital immediately and not worry too much about him being alone at home. Fiona told him to be careful and the maid would accompany him while Fiona in hospital.

***

[The number you are calling is busy.]

Again, it's the voice of the operator system who answered the phone. Fiona was restless. On the other side, she was uncomfortable being the one who signed the surgery approval for Ardian especially when they had had no relation whatsoever.

But if it's not, she was worried about Ardian's condition, who was sick because of his appendix. The situation went awry and made Fiona come to the hospital and sign the surgery approval for Ardian.

Now she was sitting in the long hallway in front of the operation room. She tried to contact Susi once again. After the umpteenth call, finally, Susi picked up the phone. From what she heard, Susi didn't seem like it when she contacted her.

Susi seemed didn't care of her husband's condition, who was currently in surgery. She just said, "Oh, really... He's not a kid anymore, Fiona. It's not a big deal. He's a doctor, why doesn't he have the initiative to taking care of himself. You are too over," Susi said and then hung up the phone.

"Geez, this woman, I really sorry for you, Ardian. You are in surgery but your wife seems doesn't care to you at all." Fiona regretting Susi's actions. Since no one was waiting, Fiona finally decided to stay in the hospital until Ardian regained consciousness.

***