The morning had come. Today, Lisa did not go to the office as usual, because she and her family would attend her parents’ divorce hearing tomorrow. Yesterday, she promised to tell her mother that she had found a lawyer to settle the divorce papers that her father had hung.

Lisa went to the kitchen looking for her mother. There she saw Kumala busy making breakfast for Lisa and her sister Bella. Lisa was surprised to see Bella sitting on a chair at the dining table. Her sister rarely came home in the past few weeks. Her college made Bella spend her time on campus and at her friend’s boarding house.

“It’s unusual for you to come home? Getting kicked out by the lecturer, right?” Lisa teased.

“Huh? Of course not, sis! I’ve run out of clothes so I decided to go home!” Bella replied a little annoyed, she stirred the teacup quickly.

“You’re crazy, Bel. You just came home to get your undies! Ha ha ha!” Lisa laughed crisply as she pulled a chair on the dining table and sat down.

“That’s enough, breakfast is ready!” Kumala brought a pot of chicken soup and placed it on the dining table. The aroma of chicken soup was so good that it could be smelled from the living room. Bella, who didn’t seem to have eaten for a day, stared at the chicken soup with lust.

“Ah, I miss your cooking!” Bella cried as she spooned the soup into her bowl.

“By the way mom, I’ve found a lawyer to settle your divorce papers!” Lisa said, breaking the silence.

Kumala looked at Lisa with sparkling eyes. After all this time, the divorce case finally was handled too!

“I just need to contact my father to come to court tomorrow.” Lisa said.

Kumala was silent to hear her daughter’s words. She didn’t even know how to contact her ex-husband who still hurt her so much. But this divorce issue must be resolved! Kumala had to dare to call her ex-husband, even if it broke her heart every time when she remembered the man’s name.

Kumala shed tears while covering her face with her hands. Her breath began to falter as she couldn’t bear the pain in her heart.

Lisa got up from her seat and tried to calm her crying mother. She knew that mentioning her father’s name in front of her mother was sure to open up old wounds, just like when Lisa passed her father on the busway and at the tax office a few days ago. But in order to end her mother’s suffering, she had to tell the truth.

“Mother, if you are unable to contact dad, let me contact him. You just rest enough for today, because we’ll go to the court tomorrow. You would be sick if you don’t rest now.”

“Sis, are you crazy? I already know that mom is easy to cry when she hears about dad, now you even tell her to call dad!” Bella interrupted from the dining table.

“Bell, if I don’t tell mom it’s certain that the divorce papers won’t be signed, they won’t be finished! Yes, I’m the one calling dad anyway!” Lisa replied curtly.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the house’s gate not long after the three women talked in the dining room. There’s someone out there. Bella got up from her chair and immediately opened the door.

As expected, the man who knocked on the door was Gatot Soewandi. The biological father of Lisa and Bella, Kumala’s ex-husband who held the divorce papers. Lisa looked at her father’s figure with an angry look. Why did that man come here without being asked? Nothing could mess up Lisa and her family more than seeing the ugly, thin middle-aged man standing in her house!

“Bella, why do you let him in?” Lisa asked in a high voice.

“Yes, of course not!? I’ll kick him out if I can!” Bella snorted in annoyance, still confused to see her father suddenly came to her house.

Lisa’s eyes were full of hatred and anger as she glanced at Gatot Soewandi. Out of the corner of her eye, seeing that man’s figure really made her furious. Firmly, Lisa said to her father, “What a shameless bastard! Why are you here huh!? Get out! You’re not welcome in this house, you bastard!”

Lisa really hated her father, her hatred for her father would not be consumed by time. That man was completely irresponsible of his own family. Leaving his wife and daughters just for the sake of a wealthy widow. If it weren’t for her father’s actions, Lisa wouldn’t have to work hard to support her mother and sister!

Gatot just smiled wickedly seeing his eldest daughter mock him. His eyes were now fixed on Lisa, “Is that how you talked to your father? Your mom really didn’t teach you manners huh!? No wonder she’s still a widow!”

“Don’t talk to us with that damned mouth of yours! When Mom needed help you left her! What kind of father could have the heart to leave his wife and children just because you’re unable to provide for them!?! Get out of this house you old bastard!” Lisa pointed towards the exit with a passionate anger.

Gatot crossed his arms and spoke with an arrogant tone, “Heh, where’s Kumala!? Is this how she educates her children? What a useless old woman!”

Lisa ran towards her father ready to smack the old man’s face. But her fist was stopped by Kumala who suddenly came from her room. The woman pulled Lisa back and held her, “Please don’t hurt each other!”

“Huh, finally you appeared! Do you still feel like hiding when I come to visit!?” Gatot snapped, pulling Kumala’s collar roughly. The woman then moaned in fear.

“What do you want dad!? Aren’t you satisfied enough to hurt my mother by abandoning her and her children!?” Lisa asked angrily. Her right hand was still clenched into a fist.

“Kid, I’m telling you. Your mother is a useless woman who should have left the world. Why do you think I remarried, huh!? Yes, obviously because your mother is an old woman who is unable to take care of children!”

“Hey bastard, shut up! You are useless! Remember when this family’s economic situation was not good? It’s not that you go to work and instead run away and leave us. Who is irresponsible now?!” Lisa shouted again, this time her voice rose and echoed throughout the room.

“That’s enough, you two! There is more important to talk about than fistfights like this!” Kumala got up from her curled place. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself before returning to speak to Gatot.

“Gatot! Just for today please, sit down and let’s talk about our divorce papers that haven’t been completed yet!” Kumala said firmly. This was the first time Lisa saw her mother standing firmly and with dignity. For an instant, Gatot obeyed Kumala’s orders.

Kumala turned her head and motioned for Bella to return to her room. Lisa was still silent in the living room, waiting for a signal from her mother. Kumala then invited Lisa to sit in the living room with her father.

“Lisa, please explain this to your father while the bridge of the nose is still visible!” Kumala ordered firmly.

Lisa cleared her throat, trying to sort out the words that would be spoken to her father. Her father sat with his arms crossed, his facial expression showing his dislike for Lisa.

“So, father, mother … I’ve found a lawyer. Tomorrow morning we have to go to court to settle the divorce. I beg you, father, to come to court tomorrow. We’ll solve this problem for good!”

Gatot laughed at Lisa’s explanation, “You? We? Hire a lawyer!? Hahaha seriously! You can’t even pay house tax! Let alone hiring a lawyer.” He sneered irritably.

If Lisa could choose, she would choose not to see Gatot again for the rest of her life. Dealing with a cowardly man like her father was mentally and physically consuming. Because of this man, Lisa must replace his position as breadwinner.

“I’m not kidding, dad! I’ve found a lawyer, his name is Thomas Manurung! Tomorrow we will meet in court! I hope you come, Gatot Soewandi!” Lisa said with a little scorn.

“Haha no! I will not come to court. I’m already happy with my life now. It’s just that your mother is still alive in this world. I just want to see your mother die of misery, Period!”

“Hey bastard watch your mouth or I’ll beat your ugly face!” Lisa shouted irritated, she was ready to throw her fist at Gatot.

“Hey listen, I just came here to see your miserable mother. Not discussing this useless trial! It’s a waste of my time!” Gatot sneered. He put his feet on the living room’s table.

“Dad has to go to court tomorrow! No other excuses!”

“No! I do not want to. My problem with your mom was over long before you became a delinquent like this, Lisa!”

Lisa held back her anger. It’s useless talking to this bastard in front of her. The man wouldn’t want to understand. After a few minutes, Gatot left her house. Kumala was speechless. She was too weak in front of Gatot.

“Never mind, dear, the divorce papers will not be signed by him. It will not be finished until I’m turning into ashes!” Kumala sobbed in the living room.

“Mother, don’t worry, I already have a solution.”