(Not) The Substitute

Eps 28 - Commitment

Dr. Claire looked at this young couple in turn, a faint smile expanding on her lips seeing a much better change in their gazes.

"How are you, Elnaz?" ask dr. Claire.

"Very good, Dr. Claire, thank you" replied Elnaz.

"I'm glad you decided to come back" said dr. Claire again "Are you two doing my advice?"

"Sister Arfan wants to do it but I don't"

"Why?" ask dr. Claire.

"I felt like it was forced, but I now understand that our relationship does need encouragement to move forward" Elnaz said, glancing at Arfan.

"What about you, dr. Arfan?" ask dr. Claire "What do you feel about your relationship?"

"I'm happy if Elnaz wants to change our relationship, and I don't care if Elnaz doesn't want to change it. Because I don't want Elnaz to feel uncomfortable in our relationship"

"Then, what do you want to do now?"

"Commitment" replied Elnaz and Arfan together, and of course the answer made dr. Claire was happy.

"That's great, the most important thing in a relationship is commitment, mutual understanding, mutual respect, and trust. You already know each other and even grew up together, you can even say, Elnaz grew up under the supervision of dr. Arfan, isn't that right? "

Elnaz nodded, agreeing to dr. Claire. But dr. Claire also saw a doubt in Elnaz's eyes.

"Tell me what you want to say, Elnaz. Here, we all need to be honest and open. That way, we can know what actions we should take" said dr. Claire.

"Tell me if you doubt me, El" Arfan's plea convinced Elnaz to express her feelings. Elnaz looked at Arfan doubtfully, as if he felt uncomfortable telling the truth.

"Look at my eyes and express your feelings to me, El" said dr. Claire "Suppose you are confiding in me as a fellow woman" continued her encouragement to Elnaz to be honest.

"If I can be honest, I can't trust Kak Arfan as a couple. Because after all before her she was Elsa's lover. They loved each other for 8 years, they always shared everything and always together. So it is very unlikely that Kak Arfan could forget Kak Elsa and open his heart to me. What if one day I can accept Brother Arfan and at that time Brother Arfan instead returns to Brother Elsa or Sister Elsa wants to take it from me? "

Arfan and dr. Claire was equally astonished to hear the narration of Elnaz, however, what Elnaz said could be understood. Every woman will be jealous of her husband's ex-spouse, what else here position Elnaz considered as a substitute and did not start his marriage with a bond of love.

"El..." Arfan clasped Elnaz's hand and kissed her "I no longer love Elsa, what she did to me has erased the love I had for her. I made a promise to you, to grandma and to myself. Your happiness is paramount, I've loved you long before Elsa, even though that love may have been just a little sister. And if I can be honest, I like our present bond. I don't want to lose you, and I really like it when you're jealous of Sister Jessy" Arfan said with a big smile on her lips.

"I'm not jealous" said Elnaz.

"You're jealous" Arfan and Elnaz said, "Well, it's okay if you're not jealous. But seriously, I want to commit to spending time with you. Old with you, and even I want to breathe my last breath in your arms.... "

"Shhttt.." Elnaz put his finger on Arfan's lips while shaking his head "Don't talk until it's too far there, Brother" said Elnaz.

"Do you still doubt Arfan, Elnaz?" ask dr. Claire also with a smile expands on her lips, seeing the seeds of love that seem to soon grow in the eyes of both. H

Elnaz shook his head weakly, but his eyes gave another answer. There are still doubts that Elnaz keeps "Honestly, El" pinta dr. Claire realized what Elnaz's gaze meant.

"Nothing" Elnaz's lips said firmly, but his eyes also confirmed that he was still harboring other doubts. But dr. Claire knows, Elnaz can't be forced right now.

Elnaz and Arfan had to go through everything slowly and gradually. Arfan understands that too.

.........

Elnaz waited for Arfan who said he would soon go home, after conducting Counseling with dr. Claire, Arfan needs to get back to the hospital. While Elnaz prefers to go home and wait for her husband at home while doing some homework.

The sound of a car roar from outside, Elnaz rushed to open the door for her husband.

"Assalamualaikum" said Arfan while smiling sumringah, the look on his face seemed radiant after doing the Second Counseling earlier. Likewise with Elnaz, he also could not hide his smile. It was as if a burden had been lifted off their shoulders, as if a light was illuminating their path.

"Waalaikum greetings" replied Elnaz then he kissed the back of Arfan's hand and brought him his briefcase.

"Have you had dinner, Dek?" arfan asked as he grabbed onto Elnaz's shoulder and stepped together into their room.

"Already" replied Elnaz "El prepare warm water yes, sister" he said.

"Yes, darling" replied Arfan.

Commitment, having decided that somehow Elnaz felt a different feeling. So is Arfan, like there is a sense of turbulence in his heart. A warm and enthusiastic feeling to go further.

After Arfan took a bath, he caught up with Elnaz who was in bed.

"It's so bad today, until big brother's headache.." complained Arfan, hearing that Elnaz immediately put down his book.

"Here, let El massage" she exclaimed as she patted her thigh. Arfan immediately put his head on the lap of Elnaz and with his finger lentik Elnaz immediately gave a gentle massage on the head of her husband. Arfan closed his eyes, enjoyed the gentle massage and the small thing was apparently enough to cause a warm feeling in his heart.

"Now we are asleep" Arfan said, lifting his head from Elnaz's lap. Elnaz nodded and pulled the blanket.

"El, can... Um... Can you kiss your forehead?" arfan asked softly and somehow now the question even made Elnaz blush and Arfan himself even seemed wrong.

"May" answered Elnaz ashamed of his shame.

Elnaz closed his eyes and Arfan cupped his wife's cheeks gently. Arfan landed his lips on Elnaz's forehead and kissed her gently.

Once again, such a small thing made her second feeling warm.

.........

Upon waking up, Arfan kissed Elnaz again, saying good morning. Again, it made Elnaz flounder.

Even when Arfan was about to go to work, Arfan again kissed Elnaz's forehead and Elnaz also drove him to the car.

"Later anterin brother lunch yes" pinta Arfan and Elnaz nodded with a faint smile.

"Yes already, brother go first. Heart at home" said Arfan then kissed Elnaz's forehead.

"Sister too, heart hearts on the way"

"Yes, Honey.