(Not) The Substitute

Eps 22 - First Counseling

In the morning, Elnaz and Arfan work together to clean the house. The two sometimes joked while doing homework, like now. The sweeping Arfan had to endure his annoyance when Elnaz instead ate the beans while sitting cross-legged right in the middle of the room and Elnaz threw away the pea skin carelessly, deliberately pranking Arfan.

"El.." rebuked Arfan. Elnaz only giggled, then he continued wiping the furniture of the house. And this time it was Arfan who pranked her, by spilling the juice deliberately onto the table.

"Ih, Brother Arfan.." grumbled Elnaz while Arfan instead ignored him and he swept back.

After all the work was done, Arfan took Elnaz to breakfast the bread he had ordered. Since they had no time to cook, what else after this they had to see Dr. Claire. A marriage counselor who is also Liam's friend.

"What is marriage counseling, sister?" asked Elnaz who was currently enjoying his sandwich.

"That's the same as BK in your school, Princess. It's just that because it's marriage counseling, the one who does it is married people and the usual people who are having problems in marriage like us. And we don't know what kind of steps to take"

"Hem El understood" replied Elnaz.

"Good girl's. You are smart, now spend your breakfast and we will go immediately" said Arfan and Elnaz nodded while smiling which of course makes Arfan's heart warm. Now that he could see the smile of Elnaz again after these few days he could only see the cry of Elnaz.

After breakfast and cleaning the kitchen, Arfan called a taxi to take them to see Dr. Claire.

"You nervous?" ask Arfan who is currently in the hospital where dr. Claire duty.

"A little bit" replied Elnaz honestly. Arfan held onto Elnaz's hand and they entered Dr. Claire.

Dr. Claire, who turns out to be a woman in her 40s, immediately greeted them warmly and invited them to sit on the sofa.

"Arfan and Elnaz." exclaimed Dr. Claire "Liam told me a little bit about you guys, but I want to hear about you from you" said Dr. Claire

"We... We got married without a plan" Arfan then began his confession. He tells how his marriage to Elsa failed and he later married Elnaz.

Just like everyone else, Dr. Claire thinks that Arfan made Elnaz Elsa's replacement and vents her disappointment at Elnaz.

"Maybe I subconsciously did that" replied Arfan softly. He looked at Elnaz with a sad look.

"Then, why don't you divorce Elnaz, she's a little girl and you love her as a little sister" Dr. Claire again.

"A girl, married just like that and then divorced too. It will definitely be very painful and will have an impact on her life. I don't want to risk it if one day my marriage and Elnaz have a bad impact on her. That's why I want to defend her, to keep her" dr. Claire smiled wryly listening to Arfan's outpouring of heart. From this, he already knew that Arfan was a good man in charge.

"What about Elsa? don't you love her as well as her? isn't maintaining your marriage to Elnaz going to make the hearts of the three of you sick because Elnaz doesn't love you? and that must have been a lot more painful because her husband loved her sister. What do you think, El?"

Before replying, Elnaz fell silent and he looked at Arfan "Jawab honestly, El. How do you feel?" ask Dr. Claire.

"I don't know" replied Elnaz.

"You know your answer, El. At least be honest with yourself" stressed dr. Claire

"I was angry at Brother Arfan because he vented his anger on me, making me the substitute bride for Kak Elsa. I'm disappointed with Brother Arfan for doing that while I love him so much as my brother, I consider him my super hero but... But I think Brother Arfan ruined my life by marrying me" Elnaz said softly at the end of the sentence.

Dr. Claire can see Arfan now more tightened his hand grip on Elnaz. As if to tell her that Arfan is there for Elnaz and all will be well.

"But the truth is, now you're together, as husband and wife. And Arfan didn't ruin your life, El. She just changed the story of your life, from sister to wife. What I see, you support each other. Leaning back and needing each other, it can be seen from how you hold each other and look at each other" said Dr. Claire and Arfan and Elnaz stared at their hands.

"Where are your marriage problems? I don't think there is"

"But Brother Arfan is my brother's fiancee, Doc. He's my cousin's brother too" exclaimed Ellaz rejecting the doctor's statement.

"There are so many people who marry their own cousin, El. It's not a disgrace, and as for who your ex-husband is, it's his past. And to be able to step forward, never look at those who have been left behind. And not a few also married his former brother or cousin. As long as you can accept each other, be open, be honest, then everything will go well. And you know what your real problem is? it's your mindset, which keeps feeling that you're brother and sister, it's impossible to live a married life. What are the facts of Arfan's past relationship that greatly influenced your steps, especially your steps, Elnaz"

"The feeling of your sister Elsa, is Elsa's private property, maybe you are indeed brothers but the heart is each other's business. And your husband's past belongs to your own husband, and that past is over. Don't get stuck on thinking about the past or it will be as long as it hinders your steps"

Arfan and Elnaz listened carefully, Arfan who is much more mature would agree with what Dr. Claire, but Elnaz who still nurtures his emotions not to mention he is still a unstable teenager, not fully able to accept what Dr. Claire.

"My advice, try to do what lovers do, slowly and gradually.Small examples such as Romantic dinner, walking while holding hands, as now. Give kisses good morning when you wake up, and also kiss good night before going to bed. Her usual pair of lovers do just that, little thing, but ramantis, elicits a warm and comfortable feeling"