BACKSTREET YUK, MR LECTURER!
Chapter 45 - Inner Pressure

Doesn't God feel bored to have a married couple who just escaped from the slanted gossip, now again under the same pressure?

Even after the success of Khoirul in getting public sentiment about the stocks he planted, the reality is not as smooth as he thought.

"A son of a conglomerate who has recently become a trending topic in all media, apparently got slanted news..," The sentence afterwards really made Khadijah sigh heavily. She saw the television show and was shocked when her husband's name was mentioned. Then ...

"...,about a marriage that is held secretly. The media are looking for evidence that leads to forced marriage on the part of the wife for economic reasons. For now, we are already connected with reporters who are on standby in front of the university. Sister Anis, please report."

The melodious voice disappeared, replaced by the voice of a reporter from the university that Khadijah had attended for almost seven years. She was worried in case her husband came out and suddenly they flocked her with a lot of questions.

Khadijah was looking for his cell phone that he had somehow put where because he was too focused on the television. He found it between the couch cushions. He pressed the smart thing quickly, looking for Khoirul's number. At the end of the day, the call was received.

"Where the hell, Mas? I called you from earlier," Khadijah recalled. He could not lie to himself that he was trembling at this moment. The shadow of the fear he once felt when his parents failed in the economy, made him unable to discern where it was happy and miserable.

"Sorry, Honey. I was from the bathroom. What's up?"

"Have you seen tv yet?"

"Not yet."

"Don't lie, Mas" sizzled Khadijah.

"I'm not lying. I was busy so I didn't get to watch TV. If you are streaming, the signal is not good. What the hell is it?"

"Don't go out, Mum!"

"Why is that?"

"Urgent. Anyway don't come out first. If you need to get to night. The media is highlighting our marriage and they are waiting ahead. I don't want you to do anything, Mom. So then? Hide away!"

"This is about you?" whispered Khoirul with a choked voice.

"Yes" said Khadijah.

"You should have thought of yourself before me, colonized. I'm sure they just want to harass our family. I'm sorry that my success has trapped us even more" Khoirul explained.

"No problem, Mom. All marriages have their ups and downs."

"I'll be home before seven. You stay home."

"Yes, Mum."

Click!

The call was interrupted. Khadijah exhaled heavily once again. How is this, God?

°°°

Ratna rushed out of the house to take out the trash, but her steps were surrounded by some people who were guarding outside the house. Khadijah's parents did not understand the situation because he did not know the news that was heating up.

"Is it true that Khadijah and Khoirul were married on the basis of female coercion? Is their marriage in return or something? Please give an explanation" said a woman with a hat and jacket from a media outlet.

The camera blitz that repeatedly reflected, making Ratna squinted her eyes. He's really not used to it. His anxious roar began to appear on the surface when he heard that sudden question.

His statement said that something was not right. Ratna covered her face with a garbage bag, then removed the men from her crowd. He ran inside, locked the gate, threw a litter bag carelessly and went inside the house.

"What's up, Ma?"

"Outside .. adah .. journalists, Pah."

"Journalist?" Burhan reflex opens the window curtain. That's right what Ratna said. There are still a lot of reporters out there pointing cameras at their homes. Burhan closed the door again, "why are they here?"

"Mama doesn't know either, Pa. Suddenly they came and asked my mother about the marriage of Khadija and Khoirul who said there was an element of coercion. They accuse our family of forcing the marriage. What do we do, Pa? What about being colonized? She's pregnant" Ratna said worriedly. His palms were interlocked because anxiety was no longer the main thing.

"Call Colored, Ma. Ask her condition" Burhan said. He pressed his chest which was suddenly painful. The news left his heart shocked and in pain.

Ratna did not see Burhan's condition as she hurriedly picked up the cell phone inside the room. He came out with it stuck to his ear.

"No, Pa?" ratna asked confusedly.

Burhan was already sitting on the family room couch to make sure Ratna contacted Khadijah. "Try it again, Ma."

Ratna repeated the call three times and was finally answered. "You okay, Colored? Where the hell have you been? Why didn't you take my mom's call from earlier?"

"Ma, how should I go?" isak Khadija's.

"Calm down, honey. Everything's gonna be fine, Colonized. Sorry that my mom couldn't come to you. In front of the house were many journalists. You're all right? Don't think about it? Mama's sure everything's gonna be okay. Take care of your pregnancy. Think of it as a test of your household," Ratna explained wisely. He could not bear to hear Khadija's cries. He was eager to approach Khadija and embrace her to calm her down. But his condition is also not possible.

"I'll try, Ma. Mom and Dad are okay, right?"

"good. We're always good. You don't think about us. Calm down with your husband" Ratna said.

"Yes, Ma."

The call was interrupted. Ratna approached her husband and said, "Papa don't think about the heavy ones either. I'm sure this is gonna be over soon."

"Yes, Ma."

°°°

"Don't cry, Colored. Forgive me for not being able to take good care of you" Khoirul said as he watched his wife cry. In front of her the woman was ordinary but behind her the cries came out. As a man, he felt stupid for not being able to keep his heart feeling well.

"No, Mas. It's not your fault. I'm not sorry but I just remember my parents. They were also affected" Khadijah said.

"I'll make sure they're okay" Khoirul promised.

°°°

Khadijah rubbed his stomach in pain from last night. He doesn't know why he feels it. He didn't eat anything wrong. He was silent when Khoirul asked about his condition this morning.

Cold sweat. The pain that is more like a cramp but exceeds its monthly cramp, cannot be underestimated. Khadijah took a deep breath, trying to neutralize his pain. But free. The woman walked into the bathroom to wipe her face. Who knows, by flushing his face with cold water, the pain can spread a little.

But ...

"Oh my God, what is this?" muttered Khadijah with a raucous voice. That clear-looking red patch made his heart slip.

°°°