(Not) The Substitute

Eps 34 - The Belief in Love

"Sister, tonight El slept with Grandma ya.." whine Elnaz when Arfan invited her home Arfan "El still miss grandma.." he again whined spoiled.

"Okey" answered Arfan then who made Elnaz feel happy, along with that both of Elnaz's parents came and Elnaz certainly immediately welcomed him warmly.

"Pa, Ma.." exclaimed Elnaz stiffly, he kissed the back of his parents' hands "Papa Mama how are you?" elnaz asked as he looked at his parents full of longing.

While Arfan watched Bu Isna's movements carefully, he remembered that his mother-in-law had physically hurt Elnaz and he did not want this to happen again.

"We're good, El. What about you?" asked Ms. Isna while smiling and even rubbing Elnaz's head, making Elnaz smile.

"El well, Alhamdulillah" replied Elnaz with a smile.

"Thank God, then, we were worried that you might feel depressed about being forced to marry your sister's fiancee, because Elsa herself was still very bad but she always covered her up" said Miss Isna then who immediately made a smile Elnaz perished and he bowed his head.

"Elnaz need not fall" exclaimed Arfan interjecting "Elnaz only needs to accept his destiny as my wife regardless of who my ex was before her and she is not given other than to accept. while Elsa, the, it's her choice, her decision, and nothing to blame for her slump" Arfan replied at length and of course Bu Isna stared dislikefully at her.

"El still want to sleep with Grandma or want to come home?" asked Arfan then, Elnaz glanced at his grandmother, he missed her very much.

"You are the same grandmother" replied Elnaz lyrically, Arfan was a little disappointed by Elnaz's reply. Because Arfan was afraid that if Elnaz stayed there, his parents could have cornered Elnaz again.

"Yes, it's okay. Tomorrow wake up early, be ready for your graduation" Arfan said later and Elnaz nodded enthusiastically.

....... ...

At night, Elnaz actually slept with her grandmother in her grandmother's room. Elnaz returned to tell a lot of things and he also said he wanted to bring his grandmother to Jakarta so that Elnaz was not alone when Arfan worked.

"That's a good idea actually" exclaimed the grandmother then with her hoarse voice "Grandmother also can not be far from the favorite granddaughter of this grandmother, her sense of longing every day" continuing while hugging Elnaz with anxiety makes Elnaz laugh amusedly.

"Oh yeah, El. Ye... How are you and Arfan? I mean, grandma, how's your relationship?" the grandmother hesitated. Because actually he wanted to ask questions and wanted to know the extent of the development of their marriage relationship.

"Our relationship is fine, Grandma. We do marriage counseling" replied Elnaz lirih.

"Are you happy, son?" the grandmother asked again and Elnaz nodded.

"Didn't you since childhood, Brother Elnaz always pay attention to the happiness of El, Grandma?" ask her while laughing.

"Yes, but now it's different. Your relationship used to be just brothers who loved each other, while now your relationship is husband and wife. A very different relationship with the brotherhood" said the grandmother who made Elnaz speechless and he remembered how Arfan hugged her and kissed her the end of this, it feels very different from the old hugs and kisses.

While Arfan is currently busy cleaning his room, he takes out all the items Elsa had given him and puts them in the cardboard.

In addition, photos of his memories with Elsa also he torn and he dumped into the trash.

"Because now it's my partner, my wife" Arfan murmured as he placed a photo of Elnaz on the table beside his bed "I used to be so afraid of losing Elsa, she said, think what I would be without her. But as it turned out, Elnaz was so much more everything and she easily replaced Elsa in my heart" Arfan muttered as he revealed his happy smile.

"Fan.." call Bu Yuni while knocking on the door of Arfan's room which is in the key from the inside.

"Yes, Ma?" arfan exclaimed and he immediately rushed to open the door of his room.

"What are you doing again? It was a storm" asked the mother as she walked into her son's room.

"Bresin room, Ma. Stay here" replied Arfan. Bu Yuni saw that there were a lot of Arfan goods that were put into the cardboard.

"This isn't the jacket Elsa gave you?" asked Bu Yuni as she spread the jacket.

"Yes, I want to love people, Ma" replied Arfan casually.

"But.... Fan, is this all Elsa ever loved? This is expensive, Fan.." exclaimed Bu Yuni did not agree if Arfan gave the goods to others.

"Yes, but I won't wear it again, Ma. That's why I want to love people" replied Arfan again that makes mother can only sigh long.

"Hate that, are you Elsa?" lirih the mother who already likes Elsa and expects Elsa to be her daughter-in-law.

"It's not so, Ma. But I just want to keep the feeling of Elnaz, I don't want that until Elnaz continues to be imagined with my past" Arfan said.

"Why is it? Your past that can never be changed, yes should be able to accept dong. Until now, Elsa still loves you. Do you not love him anymore? It must still be love right" said the mother with the feeling of her head.

"Ma.." exclaimed Arfan and he held both of his mother's shoulders, looked right in her eyes and said "I don't love Elsa anymore, her selfishness has killed that love" arfan was so serious and sure "And now, I'm just focusing on Elnaz. Because she's my wife, I made her my wife. I have to take responsibility for her, ensure her happiness" she continued.

"You're just feeling sorry and guilty for Elnaz, Fan. There is no way you can love Elnaz like you love Elsa" said the mother again kekeh, making Arfan can only take a deep breath.

"Ma, I've loved Elnaz so much as my sister. And it's true, I feel sorry for and I feel so guilty for my beloved sister, that's why I decided so confidently, I'll love her as my partner, I'll make her my soul mate. And I'm sure, Elnaz will love me too and make me his soul mate"