(Not) The Substitute

Eps 19 - Not Just Big Brother, But Husband.

Arfan who had just finished his patient's handling straight back to his room, right after he closed the door of his room, the phone in his pocket rang.

After seeing the name Princess El on her phone screen, Arfan quickly answered the call for fear of Elnaz why.

"Generic, El... What's up, Deck?" ask her softly.

"Sister Arfan, hyx... Sis" Arfan's heart immediately gasped at the sound of his little sister's cry "El is afraid, hysteria... Brother Arfan..."

"El, what's wrong with you, Dek? Afraid what? Don't cry yes, brother's coming home now" said Arfan quickly and he snatched his car keys on his desk.

While Elnaz did not answer, he seemed to have trouble speaking as he continued to sob. Arfan is increasingly worried and confused, whether this is a problem coming his month or is it still the same problem as before?

Arfan drove at high speed towards his house, fifteen minutes later he arrived.

Arfan ran into his room and found Elnaz hugging his knees and hiding his face on his knees.

"El.." said Arfan and at once Elnaz looked up. Elnaz immediately rushed into the arms of Arfan who was walking towards him and Elnaz immediately hugged him very tightly, his cry broke again in the arms of the brother.

"Come on... Go.." - Elijah in the middle of his sobs. Arfan immediately hugged Elnaz, rubbing his head gently.

"What's up, Dek? somebody hurt you, hm?" arfan asked as he tried to step up and take Elnaz to the bed.

"All of them blame me, let's go" Elnaz said again and his voice muffled Arfan's chest.

"Elsa come again, hm? he hurt you again, didn't he?" asked Arfan and Elnaz.

"Did Mama scold you?" arfan asked again and Elnaz shook his head again. Arfan is confused because he doesn't know what happened to Elnaz.

"Dear, speak. Who hurt you?" lirih Arfan's.

"Mama.." replied Elnaz in a very soft voice, even he himself barely heard his voice.

"Mama? Aunt Isna?" asked Arfan and Elnaz nodded slowly.

"Oh my God." murmured Arfan and he further tightened his embrace on Elnaz's body.

"What did Auntie do, honey?" arfan asked, but Elnaz refused to answer. He just kept crying in Arfan's arms and now Arfan's chest was really wet because of Elnaz's tears.

Arfan tried not to ask again, he chose silence and rubbed Elnaz's trembling back.

"Big brother here, don't be afraid" whispered Arfan and he kept whispering soothing words while his hands did not stop rubbing against Elnaz's back.

Slowly, Elnaz's cries began to subside and his back was no longer shaking. However, Arfan still faithfully embraced his beloved Princess.

An hour or so they were still in the same position and tired of crying, Elnaz fell asleep in Arfan's comfortable arms.

Arfan kissed the head of Elnaz before the end he put Elnaz slowly in bed. Arfan saw Elnaz's face wet with tears. Arfan rubbed her gently, draining Elnaz's tears.

Seeing Elnaz who was so innocent but always tearful made Arfan's heart ache, and somehow the impulse from which Arfan peeked at Elnaz's forehead long enough. It was as if the kiss could slightly reduce the pain of Elnaz caused by him.

After enveloping Elnaz, Arfan goes out to find his parents to find out what really happened when he was not home. What else Elnaz looked so devastated, Arfan had never seen Elnaz so broken, that he could only cry and cry.

Arfan remembered the Elnaz who mentioned Mama. Arfan immediately rushed to the house of Elnaz and he found his Mama and his Mama Elnaz who were having a serious conversation.

"Fan, are you home?" bu Yuni asked and she looked scared as she looked at Arfan because Arfan's gaze looked different.

"What are you doing, Elnaz?" arfan asked sharply and he looked at the woman who was his in-law status.

"As usual, he always complained to his dear sister" said Ms Isna flat.

"Her husband" Arfan said firmly, hearing that Miss Isna looked irritated "What did Auntie do to my wife?"

"Do you know what he's done? He spread the matter of Elsa being unmarried, now all the neighbors are talking about Elsa, ugly Elsa for not getting married" said Bu Isna in flames. Hearing that, Arfan instead smiled cynically.

"So, they know the facts? Isn't that nice? All this time I and Elnaz were ugly and we just kept quiet, but apparently the truth still unfolded to the surface by itself" said Arfan satisfied.

After that he immediately left his aunt's house and went home to his own house.

There, Arfan saw his father who had come out of nowhere.

"You home, Fan?" ask Mr. Adi.

"Where's the papa from? Does Papa know what happened? Elnaz's like scared, Pa. He cried" said Arfan and suddenly his father looked sad.

"So Isna came, she was angry with Elnaz and accused Elnaz of spreading the news that Elsa went to the photo shoot on your wedding night. Keep going.."

"Keep what?" ask Arfan impatiently.

"So he slapped Elnaz" replied Adi who made Arfan wide in shock.

"Me...slap?" arfan asked between disbelief, surprise and anger. Mr. Adi nodded slowly.

"Like her she's so mad, Fan"

Arfan did not respond to his father's remarks, he immediately rushed to his room and approached Elnaz who was still asleep.

Arfan sat beside Elnaz, looking at that innocent face but people treated him as if he was a great sinner who was always in the law.

And this is Arfan's fault, Arfan's fault for having married her. One of Arfan who put Elnaz in a very difficult situation, in a situation that seems Elnaz is the worst and worst creature.

"Sorry brother, Dek. I'm sorry that big brother, you're in a position and situation like this. Sorry for getting you in big trouble and getting disliked by our family, sorry brother, dear" said Arfan with such sincerity. He rubbed Elnaz's cheek gently, and once kissed her forehead.

"We'll get out of here soon, no brother will let anyone hurt you again. Brother will make up for everything, brother I pay for every tear drop that drops on your cheek with happiness. Dear brother Elnaz"

.........

Elsa has heard rumors circulating about herself, because now the gossip is not only warm among mothers of the complex but also warm in her social media group. Especially Elsa's friends who are so cool and talk to each other. Making Elsa even more stressed, everyone thinks she's selfish.

And what makes Elsa even more stressful, she was not chosen to do a fashion show. All the efforts he made in vain, his sacrifice was also in vain. Elsa could only regret and cry.

And if everyone also knew he had failed again this time, then this would increasingly become a hot rumor that could burn Elsa with shame.