(Not) The Substitute

Eps 60 - A Proud Child

Elsa goes to a nightclub after getting a call from Jimmy, and there she is greeted by Jimmy and some of her friends. Jimmy introduces Elsa to all of them and Elsa welcomes the introduction well, Elsa recalls Olga's suggestion that Elsa be more open to new people in this new city, in order to facilitate Elsa's life and so is her career.

Elsa also can not cast off the shadow of Elnaz with Arfan, what are they doing now? making fun again? Spending another long night? Unknowingly Elsa growled with restraint, her heart ached at the thought of Elnaz and Arfan wading through the household ark happily, as she swayed in solitude.

"More...." Jimmy handed Elsa a glass of alcohol.

"I don't drink alcohol" Elsa replied politely declining.

"I see you as if you're depressed, which is why, try this, it's going to drive away all the things that make your head dizzy" Jimmy said, chuckling, Elsa stared at the glass, there was a slight urge to taste the drink but he still did not dare.

"Alright, it's okay if you don't want to. Maybe this drink won't help you, but it's like I can. So tell me, miss Elsa, what makes you sad? if it's about work, you don't worry, I'll flood you with job offers" Elsa smiled at Jimmy's words, then she took the glass from Jimmy's hand and gulped it down, it made Jimmy dumbfounded but then laugh.

While Elsa was now just grimacing, she felt her throat like it was burning yet there was a sense that made her want to feel it again.

"My throat is burning, but I want to go again" Elsa and Jimmy happily returned to pour a drink that Elsa was not supposed to touch.

"Ugh, the taste is very fresh" said Elsa and again Jimmy filled his glass with alcohol, Elsa was back to drink in one gulp until it was not left.

"It's delicious, Jim. As if this could make me forget someone, I would drink this every day" Elsa said and she seemed to have lost half of her consciousness.

"You again." he whines at Jimmy, but Jimmy keeps the bottle out of Elsa's presence.

"No no, that's enough" Jimmy said, "Who do you want to forget? Your ex-fiancee? I thought you guys were better" Jimmy said.

"Hem no, that's not possible." said Elsa again "Unless my calm sister would be kind enough to return my lover...."

"Sister?" asked Jimmy and Elsa nodded sadly, even one tear managed to get out of the corner of his eyes that began to glare.

"Yes, my little brother, this small..." Elsa makes her rendition with her hands in the air "But she's married, married her sister's fiancee. Do you know how I feel? Hix... Hiks" Elsa cries and she drops her head on the table.

Jimmy who was sitting in front of Elsa is now moving to the side of Elsa, he gently rubbed the woman's back that vibrated because of her sobs.

"It hurts a lot, Jim... The one I love, married my sister, made love to my sister, and probably will have a child with my sister, hyks...."

"Sshhhtt, relax, Sa. You deserve better than your ex-fiancee. Don't cry anymore." persuaded Jimmy and Elsa to nod her head but still cry.

..........

"Assalamualaikum, Grandma..." Sapa Elnaz was overjoyed as her phone screen displayed the wrinkled face of her grandmother.

"Waalaikum salutations, El.." replied the grandmother in a raucous voice, Elnaz noticed the shriveled face that was getting more and more wrinkled, and Elnaz felt that now her grandmother looked pale.

"Grandma's sick?" ask Elnaz sadly.

"No, Son. Just a cough, already drinking like, alhamdulilah already meningan.. Uhuk uhuk" replied the grandmother in between her cough.

"Grandmother, in the care of her food yes, so as not to cough" said Elnaz again "In addition to coughing, Granny is sick again? Grandma was very pale" asked Elnaz who was increasingly worried about what else when he heard the grandmother's cough continuously.

"Grandma's okay, honey. His name is also old, yes. Oh yeah, where's your husband?"

"For a toothbrush" replied Elnaz "Where's your father, Grandma? Oh yeah, Elsa has called yet?"

"Your mother's father was in her room, grandma asked if Elsa was calling them or not because she was worried about your sister, but her word is not there and Elsa's number hasn't been active either"

"What?" elnaz asked in surprise, because Elsa had said she would contact her Mama Papa.

"Sir Elsa came home, El asked her to call Mama Papa. Grandma don't worry yes, Sister Elsa is fine" said Elnaz who made her grandmother sigh sluggish.

"Your brother was stubborn, he was angry with his Papa because he told him to stop working"

"Yes, if Elsa understands that" said the grandmother

"El call Papa first yes, Grandma. Want to let you know that Sister Elsa is fine" said Elnaz later

"Wait, let grandma go to their room, just use this phone. You must have missed seeing them too, right?" asked the grandmother and of course Elnaz nodded quickly, because Elnaz really missed them even sometimes Elnaz to look at their faces.

But all this time Elnaz did not dare to make a video call, because usually they always reasoned to be busy.

Now on her cell phone screen, her grandmother is seen walking to her child's room.

"Call grandma, honey?" ask Arfan who is now joining the bed with his wife.

"Yes" answered Elnaz and saw her grandmother knocking on the door and her father Elnaz opening the door, then the grandmother heard that said Elnaz wanted to talk and the face of the father who was missed by Elnaz was clearly displayed on the screen of Elnaz's phone.

"Assalamualaikum, Pa.." said Elnaz ceria.

"Greetings waalaikum, El. How you doing, son?" asked Mr. Malik who made Arfan immediately raise his eyebrows, not because of what but because they rarely ask the situation of Elnaz first.

"Alhamdulillah, El well, Pa. Papa Mama how are you? Where's mama?" ask Elnaz again

"We're also fine, and right now your mom is cleaning the kitchen like her, because you just finished dinner"

"Oh so, oh yeah, Pa.. Sister Elsa came home, Elsa is fine. Papa Mama do not worry yes." said Elnaz who made the look of Mr. Malik's face look sour.

"Papa doesn't care about him, El. He cannot respect Papa as his parents" said Mr. Malik and his tone of voice sounded so upset. Elnaz who heard it looked sad because the father was sad, Elnaz knew for sure, his father could not really really care not to Elsa, his father was just sad and disappointed.

"Pa, Brother Elsa isn't his disrespect to Papa. He's just upset maybe, El is sure, later Elsa will go home and apologize to Papa, following Papa's desire not to continue his desire to be a model"

"Where is it possible, El. Your brother's his head is as hard as a rock, so is his heart. Just let her be any model and anywhere, Papa doesn't care anymore"

"Father, Papa is our parents, we need Papa's support and handrails, and as children, we sometimes don't see what's right and what's wrong. If Papa takes his hands off us, then we will be lost forever, Papa" said Elnaz who made Arfan smile when he heard her. While Mr. Malik seemed to display his faint smile.

"After marriage you become more and more mature, Papa is proud of you, son" said Mr. Malik who made Elnaz smile widely at his father.

"Kan El Papa's son" said Elnaz again.

"Alright, El. Papa wants to make coffee first, you're good there huh. And if you ever see Elsa again, tell her that, we're so sorry about her and we're waiting for her"

"Yes, Pa. Inysa Allah, assalamualaikum, papa"

"Greetings waalaikum, Elnaz"

After disconnecting her phone, Elnaz put her phone on the table. While Arfan is now holding his chin with his hands while looking at Elnaz

"Why did Arfan see Elnaz? El is beautiful?" it was Elnaz's temptation that made Arfan laugh.

"Very beautiful.." replied Arfan "Em can you ask, dear?"

"Please." replied Elnaz while tidying up the pillow and Arfan immediately put his head on the pillow then he pulled Elnaz into his embrace.

"You don't hate so much as your Mom Papa? All this time, they've brightly chosen her"

"Hate no, just sometimes be sad. But whatever it is, for El they are still his wingless angel El, and said grandma, hate the same old man should not, later the quality" Arfan laughed at the answer of the wife. He dipped the sweet potato of his wife with love.

"Only a fool can't love you, Elnaz"