(Not) The Substitute

Eps 72 - About Babies

"Beb, from now on you stay with me only yes" said Jimmy lightly to Elsa which certainly makes Elsa gaping.

"We're not married, Jim. Cook yes stay one house" denied Elsa did not approve the invitation of her lover.

"Oh, Elsa my dear. What's wrong with not getting married? You're not shy about hitching a ride with Olga?"

"He's my friend, Jim. Anyway I'm the same she's paying for her apartment joint venture"

"He's your friend, I'm your girlfriend." Jimmy said again with a big smile "You're the same he paid for the apartment, if the same I you don't have to pay anything. I just want to be close to you, Sa. Slowly your popularity is increasing, there will definitely be a lot of men chasing you too, I just don't want to lose you "jimmy said at length but Elsa certainly could not agree to Jimmy's invitation.

"Jim, I'll be loyal to you. I promise, I will stay with Olga until I can rent a place to live alone" said Elsa, who made Jimmy take a deep breath but then she kept smiling and relented.

"Okey, as long as you are comfortable and loyal to me" said Jimmy.

.........

Elnaz who returned to college directly greeted his two closest friends, who else if not Andy and Robin.

The two friends said Singkawa's defense for the death of Elnaz's grandmother.

Elnaz went through his college as usual and he enjoyed it.

As the class progressed, Elnaz's phone rang and he immediately got a reprimand from his lecturer. Elnaz immediately switched his phone to silent mode and he went back to listening to the material given by his lecturer.

After class, Elnaz checked his cell phone and it turned out that his mother-in-law was his. Elnaz called back and within seconds, his call was answered.

"Assalamualaikum, Ma" said Elnaz limp, because he knew what would be discussed in his in-laws. About the baby again, of course.

"You're on campus again, El?" ask the mother-in-law who did not even return the greeting of Elnaz.

"Yes, what's wrong?" ask Elnaz flat.

"That, El... Kamarin Mama met a friend Arisan Mama, she told me that her child was difficult to get pregnant. Keep him going to the shaman..."

" Astagfirullah, Mama.." cried Elnaz cut off the talk of his mother-in-law, he felt annoyed and really did not end up thinking with the mindset of the mother-in-law who had even brought shaman.

"Listen first to what Mama said, El.." upset his mother-in-law. Elnaz instantly recalls with Arfan saying, that he was also young, not even 20 years old, Arfan alone understood that and never pressured Elnaz about the baby.

"Ma, that Elnaz can get pregnant, El is healthy and doesn't have any problems. God has not given, Mama.." said Elnaz full of emphasis.

"And besides, Elnaz is still young, El hasn't even turned 20" Elnaz said later in a speech. And Elnaz could hear the breath of his mother-in-law.

"Mom knows, El. Mama is not her intention to force you, only if Mama can not descend from Arfan, from whom else? If your mother is lucky there is Elsa" said the mother-in-law who made Elnaz sigh heavily.

"El knows, El is also not her do not want to have a baby, El and Kak Arfan have tried. Mama just pray for us, and don't listen to Mama's friend who brought the shaman. Sin, Mama"

"Yes yes..."

.........

Arfan is trying hard to do his job as best he can because he knows this is indeed his responsibility.

After finishing all his work, Arfan rushed home.

It was dark, the lights on the road were on and the wind was so cold that it caressed Arfan's face because of the car glass he kept open.

Arriving home, Arfan greeted with a pouting face of Elnaz.

"What's up, honey?" asked Arfan trying to stay gentle.

"So Mama called" replied Elnaz while carrying Arfan's briefcase.

"Your mom or my mom?" asked Arfan while pulling the nape of Elnaz and peeking at his forehead, as their routine never missed anything that happened.

"Mama-in-law" replied Elnaz.

"What else is it? Ask the baby again?" arfan asked panted and Elnaz nodded.

"That's it, El. Don't listen to Mama ya" pinta Arfan lethargic.

"But Mama's gone too far, sister. Cook him until he brings a shaman.." said Elnaz who made Arfan gawk.

"Shaman? Meanin?" asked Arfan and Elnaz also told me what his mother-in-law was talking about.

Arfan did not know if he had to laugh amusedly at the story of Elnaz or should he be upset because over time he was fed up with the request of the baby.

"Darling, now I'm tired. We'll talk about it later, yes" said Arfan late and then he rushed to his room to clean up, leaving Elnaz who was silent in his place.

Elnaz felt like his Arfan was already very tired of the baby's topic and it managed to make Elnaz moody.

After Arfan took a bath, the two performed the prayer as usual and did other activities. But the difference, Arfan does not talk much, he just talk just makes Elnaz feel there is something different.

What else after that, Arfan even went to sleep first. Though usually Elnaz and Arfan still chat before going to bed, talking about their day and their different activities.

Usually they still pamper each other.

Elnaz was just busy playing mobile phone because he was not sleepy while Arfan was asleep very soundly at his side.

The next day, Arfan went to the hospital early in the morning and he asked Elnaz to take a taxi to the campus. Arfan also said he couldn't possibly pick up Elnaz later and like him he would also be overtime.

It made the spirit of Elnaz wither when it was not the first time Arfan was very busy and overtime.

"Is it because Arfan doesn't want to talk about babies anymore? Then he dodged" the inner Elnaz exclaimed languidly.

He went back to college and he was a little entertained with Andy who kept chattering about many things. Luckily, he had a good friend like Andy.