THE BEST BROTHERS

S4 Chapter 54 "Hiding Love" The Best Brother

Dio accompanies Rania who is still sitting in the living room after her mother's funeral. Rania was crying incessantly. He didn't know, his life would be this ruined. I just want to die rather than live alone. Everyone he loves and loves is gone. His mother and father went to heaven first. Dio, her loving husband, is also gone, because he wants a divorce.

"Ran, eat ya?" Evan brought a plate of rice to Rania. Dio just saw it. But, his heart was so sick because Rania immediately wanted to be offered Evan to eat. Though he had persuaded her, but Rania did not want to eat.

"Ran, don't torture yourself. You see, a lot of people love you." Evan said while painstakingly feeding Rania.

"I'm alone, Van," said Rania softly.

"You're not alone, Rania." Evan rubbed Rania's shoulder.

"Van, I'm full." Rania asks Evan to stop feeding himself.

Evan put back the dishes that still have the rest of Rania's rice. Dio still hasn't budged. He was still glued to sit on the same chair beside Rania who was a bit far away. He just kept quiet and looked at Evan who was so close to Rania. Dio finally leaves Rania. As he was about to step his foot, a soft voice sounded to call out to him.

"Dio's." Rania called out to him softly.

"Yes, Rania," Dio replied without seeing Rania.

"Ran, sorry tonight I can't keep you company, I have business. Later mother and brother who will be here" said Dio, and still without seeing Rania.

"Yes Dio, it's okay" replied Rania.

"I'm coming home, Ran." Dio steps up to return home from Rania.

Dio actually still wants to be at Rania's house. But, by seeing the closeness of Evan, it feels like Dio's heart is getting sicker. He got into the car, and went home without saying goodbye to his family who were still gathered at Rania's house. According to him, it's useless alone, everyone still blames himself in the problems that hit Rania and befall his family.

"I'm of no use there. The better I get home, the sicker I get to see Evan and Rania close like that. Moreover, Abah who still inhabited me since coming home from the hospital," muttered Dio as he drove his car towards his home.

°°°°°

Habibi invites Ainun to dinner. After this afternoon, he took Ainun to the hospital and found her opinion. Now he invites Ainun to a romantic dinner. Yes, according to Habibi is a romantic dinner tonight. Because this time also Habibi invited Ainun to dinner.

Habibi waited for Ainun who was getting ready with Nuri in the living room.

"Ehem ... Keep moving .... Just apply Ainun, do not be long, will be hunted down by people. He likes a lot of you," ledek Nuri when Habibi has arrived at his house to pick up Ainun.

"Patience, it takes time. I also waited for Ainun to completely ready his heart, Nuy. I know, even though he was always smiling and laughing, but in his heart there was still fear, trauma, and pain. She is not the type of woman like you, when breaking up with someone, quickly got a replacement," explained Habibi.

"Yes as I said too. It took you years to forget about Yas ...." Nuri's speech was cut off because Habibi swooped it up.

"Don't talk about that again. I already love Ainun, there is no other woman in my heart but him. Until whenever I'll wait he's ready to make his heart, Nuy." Habibi cuts off Nuri's words and explains his present heart.

"Yes, thank God you forgot about it. Open a new page. Ainun was still a complete woman. I always told Ainun that he could get a good man and accept him. Only the frame's been broken by the lack of love for Dio." Nuri told him what Ainun had experienced.

"I also did not expect that Ainun would be blinded by love, Nuy" Habibi said.

"Yes, just like you used to be" Nuri said.

"Don't talk about it, Nuy. I love Ainun. Loved her.. You know, at that time two months Ainun did not contact me, I think I want to go back to Indonesia to see him, Nuy." Habibi recounted how he felt when Ainun did not contact him for two months because Dio forbade him.

"If you love Ainun. Please don't play with his feelings. If he is not ready, be patient. He also opened his heart to you little by little. If one day I hear you hurt Ainun, I'll be the first to punish you for hurting Ainun" Nuri said.

"Yes, I promise, I will be patient waiting for Ainun to be ready. I love her, Nuy. Love him very much" Habibi said seriously and with confidence.

"I keep your promise, Ki." Nuri patted Habibi's shoulder.

"Yes, if I refuse, please punish me. If you need to kill me, Nuy" Habibi said.

"Jiah .. This is very serious, Bang," said Nuri.

"I never joke, Nuy" Habibi said with confidence.

Habibi continued chatting with Nuri until the woman he was waiting for came out of his room. Who else if not Ainun. The woman he loves, and tonight, he'll declare his love after dinner. Ainun approached Habibi who was sitting with Nuri. He sat next to Nuri.

Ainun wears a mint-colored robe, with the hijab matching her robe. Yes, Ainun's appearance changed to Syar'i. He wants to change for the better, after Habibi told him yesterday to stay excited and never be afraid to step towards better things.

"Aren't you wearing the wrong?" asked Nuri by showing her the clothes Ainun was wearing.

"Yes, I was right to wear this" Ainun replied.

"Anything you want to wear is beautiful, let's go" Habibi lerai and take Ainun to dinner.

^^^

In the car, they were constantly telling stories. They are not out of words to tell stories. There is always material for the story without bringing up their past.

"Ainun," called Habibi as Ainun grew silent, perhaps she was tired of laughing because Habibi had been making jokes.

"What?" Answer Ainun.

"Do you remember the first time we met?" ask Habibi

"Yes remember," replied Ainun.

"Whose name is mbak? We haven't met." Habibi repeated those words as he asked Ainun's name.

"Ainun, my name," Ainun said with a smile.

"I'm Habibi" Habibi said with a sweet smile.

"I didn't ask." Najwa laughed even more considering it all.

"Eh, our names match, huh? Habibi - Ainun, our soul mate, mba," said Habibi who made Ainun laugh more.

"Stupid? Your dream" Najwa joked by punching Habibi's arm and chuckling.

"Already, already. If you think funny also our meeting. You're so jutek, that's why I like it," said Habibi.

"Like how?" ask Ainun.

"Until I tell you I'm your future wife?"

"Yes, I deliberately, let you get angry, you're out of whack once you are," Habibi said.

"Now?" ask Ainun.

"Now, it's also hilarious" Habibi said.

They did not feel like they had arrived in front of a luxurious restaurant. Ainun walked beside Habibi into the rastauran.

^^^

After dinner, Habibi took Ainun for a walk on the Chain Bridge. The suspension bridge on the Danube River connects Buda with Pest, or the western and eastern parts of Budapest, the capital of Hungary. The bridge was designed by British engineer William Terney Clark in 1839 at the initiative of Stephen Szechenyi in the same year, while the construction of the bridge was overseen by Scottish engineer Adam Clark. Opened in 1849, it was the first bridge in the Hungarian capital and the first permanent bridge on the Danube River. At that time, with span /span 202 m, this bridge is one of the largest bridges in the world. A pair of lions on the bridge's boundary were erected in 1852.

Habibi took Ainun by the hand and walked while enjoying the coffee he bought. They walk enjoying the silence of the night on the bridge that runs over the Danube River. Chain Bridge/Chain Bridge is decorated with yellow lights that make it look sparkling in the middle of the dark Danube river. The beauty of this Budapest icon does make people who cross it just feel like they are in a romantic movie.

"I was still holding Ainun's hand while walking under the brightly shining garden lights towards the Pest side of Buda's side. It was truly an unforgettable experience. If only Ainun and I were lovers. It will make me happier" Habibi murmured.

"Ainun, stop for a moment" Habibi said

"You what?"

"Ainun, may I ask you a question?"

"Yes please,"

"I ... Emm .. I want this relationship, to take it more seriously" Habibi said.

"Sorry Habibi. I'm not resisting, I'm just not ready right now, and you know for yourself, right?" answer Ainun.

"I see, well, I'll wait until you're ready, Ainun." Habibi rubbed Ainun's head.

Ainun's heart was pounding, only the first time he felt a heartbeat this fast. And Ainun thought a little, when with Dio, he just felt like being close and wanted to enjoy Dio's body. It was not this kind of feeling that Ainun was feeling right now.

"Ainun, how are you quiet?" ask Habibi.

"Reg ... It's okay," Ainun replied nervously and face met in red.

"Ainun," call Habibi.

"Yes" replied Ainun.

"Ainun, I ... I-I love you, I really can't help feeling this anymore. I'm sorry I said this too soon" Habibi said nervously. This time Habibi looks more serious, compared to when Habibi just met Ainun.

There was a nervousness in Habibi when she said love to Ainun. Unlike before, when he often said Ainun was his future wife.

Ainun's face grew red, hearing Habibi's declaration of love. He could not deny, there was a sense of comfort when with Habibi, and that Ainun felt since long ago, before Habibi left Indonesia to serve in Budapest.

Ainun did not know what to answer. An empty heart, it feels a little filled again by the hue of love from Habibi. Since getting close to Habibi again, Ainun did not feel empty anymore in his life. His life is colored, because Habibi can compensate for Ainun's heart which sometimes quickly changes his mood. And, according to Ainun, Habibi was the one who best understood the current condition of his heart after Nuri.

"I know, you're still worried. I don't need that answer right now, Ainun. I will wait until your heart is completely set again, Ainun. Don't think about my talk. I just want you to know that my heart is unable to hold this love" Habibi said.

"Give me Habibi time. Honestly, it was the first time I was this comfortable with men. I feel like my life is not a burden to be with you. Yes, perhaps my burden is my bitter past. I am a foolish woman and easily consumed by the blinds of love" Ainun explained.

"Not to remember anything painful, Ainun. Open a new page. Although it is difficult to step, I will always hold you, guide you, so that you can get a comfortable love in your life" Habibi said.

"Thank you, Habibi." Ainun stared fixedly at Habibi's face. They stared at each other until they laughed together.

They continued to tell me again, not knowing what they were talking about. Until they forget the time is getting night.

"Go home, yuk" asked Ainun.

"Okay" Habibi replied.

Ainun put his hand on Habibi's arm. They are like lovers to anyone who sees them. But, they are two people who both want to change their fate because of the bitter past, which once plagued his life.

°°°°°

At night, Dio doesn't know where to drive his car. The night is getting late. The cold got more and more pierced in his skin pores.

Dio's eyes widened, when he saw a female figure walking in the middle of the night alone down the deserted streets. The woman he knew very well. A shabby face and wearing dark blue pajamas.

Dio's car stopped in front of the woman. Dio pulled the woman into his car.

"What are you doing on this side of the road? Don't you realize, it's midnight." Dio's baritone voice rang out loud in the car.

"For what I live. I don't have anyone anymore. Why are you helping me, aren't you glad I'm missing?" The woman's voice sounded hoarse and weakened.

Dio hugged the woman tightly. She rubbed her head wrapped in a mocca-colored hijab.

"Don't talk like that. You are a strong woman. You're a great woman, you can definitely get through this, Rania." Dio tightly hugged Rania's weak body.

Yes, that woman is Rania. Rania gets out of the house and no one knows if Rania is out of the house.

"Dio, what am I living for? No one loves me anymore, Dio." Rania sobbed in Dio's arms.

"Don't talk like that. Who says no one loves you, mom, Abah, opa, and Evan. Everyone loves you, Rania. Don't say that again." Dio held onto Rania's cheek and kissed her forehead.

"Dio ... Where have you been, why didn't you attend the lecture?" ask Rania.

"I have business" he answered.

"Let me take you home." Dio drives his car to Rania's house.

Rania was silent. It was like finding strength back when Dio grabbed him earlier. Rania felt comfortable when she was next to Dio. Although Rania knows, Dio never loved her.