(Not) The Substitute

Eps 7 - No Way Backward

"No need to bother Elsa, because I'm not your husband, I'm Elnaz's husband. There is no need to rush either, because I am not waiting for you, there is already Elnaz by my side, now she is my wife, my legal wife, religiously or by country. You're just my cousin's sister now, nothing more"

As in the lightning strike, Elsa was staring at Arfan's words. Even his heart stopped beating and his breathing felt heavy.

"What am I talking about, honey?" elsa asked exclaimed "You must be upset with me, so want to do me?"

"I'm not upset, Sa. And I'm not kidding, everything between us is over. Continue your life on your path, I'm on my path"

Right after saying that, Arfan immediately disconnected his phone.

"Hello, Fan... Arfan" cried Elsa and instantly tears flowed freely on her cheeks. Elsa keeps thinking and amusing herself that all this is not true, Arfan must be just kidding and pranking her. Maybe Arfan is very upset and Elsa understands that. Elsa will be home soon, persuading Arfan and making her forgive Elsa. Elsa had even prepared herself by buying some lingerie for her to wear on her wedding night. Earlier this morning he was busy going to the salon to beautify himself for Arfan.

Elsa wiped away her tears and exhaled slowly "I know you must be joking, Honey. How could you turn away after 8 years together"

..........

Arfan came home when it was late afternoon, just as Elnaz heard the whispers of the neighbors, he was not deaf and heard it. Arfan's heart also hurts to hear all the accusations but he does not know how to explain them. Even his friends asked what was really happening but Arfan was still not ready to open his poignant story.

Arriving at home, Arfan saw his mother who had just lifted a clothesline.

"Fan, you're taking Enaz to live with us?" yuni Dan Arfan asked, nodding "Why do you have so much, Fan? you don't think how Elsa feels when she comes?"

"What's wrong, Ma? isn't it Elsa who doesn't think how I and Elnaz feel? you're the same, supporting Elsa's decision and now blaming me. Try to think, what kind of woman leaves her wedding day just for a career that can be pursued at any time? What else makes his sister as a substitute doll in pelaminan" said Arfan emotions that immediately make his mother mute.

Arfan immediately rushed to his room and he found Elnaz who was still on the floor but his head was leaning on the edge of the bed. Arfan walked over and it turned out that Elnaz was now asleep and he was still in his school uniform.

Very slowly, Arfan's heart held Elnaz's body and put her to bed. He took off Elnaz's shoes and his socks. Then Arfan pulled out the blanket and covered half of Elnaz's body.

After that, Arfan closed the horden because it was late afternoon, he turned on the AC and turned on the lights so that when he woke up later Elnaz was not in his dark room. Then Arfan rushed to the bathroom, cleaning himself which continued to perform ashar prayers.

After the prayer, he prayed, asking his Lord for guidance.

"God, forgive me for all my selfishness. I've made a terrible mistake dragging Elnaz to this wedding, but it's all happened and there's no way to step back. Give your guidance, O God. Since I don't want to hurt Elnaz, I don't want to destroy his future. I plead with all my soul, give me your clue"

After finishing his prayer, Arfan immediately changed his clothes and he intended to go to the hospital. Although actually he had applied for leave because of his marriage but he was still not ready to face Elnaz. Arfan is too cowardly for that.

.........

Elsa had arrived at her house shortly after Arfan went to the hospital. The neighbors who saw the arrival of Elsa were shocked and gossiped again, what else to see Elsa with her hair blonde now.

Elsa did change her hair color for shooting purposes but the color was not permanent.

"Elsa, why are you on the phone? Papa can pick him up" said Malik who saw his son coming by taxi.

"I want to see Arfan" said Elsa but Malik prevented her when Elsa was about to go to Arfan's house next to her house.

"Where?"

"Come" Malik replied and as Elsa was about to ask again, she saw Arfan's car coming back.

Elsa quickly approached Arfan who parked his car in front of Arfan's house.

"Arfan.." exclaimed Elsa as Arfan got out of the car.

"What?" asked Arfan in a flat tone.

"I'm sorry I left last night." - Elsa said, and she hugged Arfan, but Arfan quickly stepped back.

"I'm sorry" said Arfan and he walked into his house. Arfan came back because his wallet was left behind.

Elsa follows Arfan to her house "Fan, you're not serious are you, honey? You're just angry, aren't you the same as me? You didn't really marry Elnaz, did you? Your fiancee is me, the one you love me too"

"That was it.." replied Arfan stopping his steps as he found his wallet on the sofa. He took it and put it in his pants pocket.

Then she looked at Elsa sharply "When you take off your bridal attire, that's when you've ended our relationship. And when I let Elnaz sit at the aisle with me, that's when I chose Elnaz to be my companion" Arfan said. He was so angry at Elsa, so disappointed.

"I'm sorry, dear.." - May Elsa said, she tried to reach Arfan's hand but Arfan threw her hand.

"There's nothing else to forgive, Sa. Our story is over" said Arfan again and Elsa shook her head with tears.

"Don't do this, Fan. I beg you, I'm sorry, you can be angry with me, I know I'm wrong" she said still in tears.

While Elnaz who heard the commotion outside made him wake up from his slumber, Elnaz saw his surroundings and he knew where he was at right now. In the room of her sister's ex-fiancee who is now her husband. Elnaz crept down from the bed and walked slowly out of the room.

"We've loved each other for 8 years, Fan. Our love won't just end, will it?" it's Elsa again.

Elnaz who heard it was silent, he could feel the heartache of his brother but his heart was much more hurt because of his brother.

"But the fact is over, and you chose to end it" said Arfan.

"I never want to end it, Fan. I'm just leaving for a while because there's a very important need" said Elsa, who did not want to be blamed.

"More important than our marriage, huh?" shouted Arfan angrily "You're selfish, Sa. Selfish to be a couple, and selfish to be a sister"

"Fan, you know this career was my dream long ago. So when there's a chance, how can I let go" Elsa replied again which makes Arfan laugh cynically.

"Have the chance to say? What's the 100% chance you'll be accepted, hm? While our marriage? From months ago we were preparing for our wedding, from years ago we were planning our wedding. And you?" Arfan pointed right in front of Elsa's face "You're selfish" hissed Arfan then he rushed away from his house and Elsa immediately chased after him.

While Elnaz returned to Arfan's room with increasingly chaotic feelings.