The Desired Substitute

WANT TO MEET

Juna stared at the lunchbox that was on his lap. There was a sense of regret in his heart because of his attitude towards Raya.

He was not insensitive to his wife's sad face. Indeed, he was disappointed with Raya's reply, but he was sure his wife was not fully aware of what he said. Perhaps, if the Kingdom said that before he met the Gods, his heart would be wiser to respond to the Kingdom's reply, However since the words of the Gods had provoked him, be like a teenager with a girlfriend.

"If you don't want to, make me a boss," said Vero broke Juna's daydream.

Juna looked at his best friend sharply. Without responding to Vero's words, Juna immediately opened the light blue lunchbox and took the contents.

Bite the toast with butter stuffing and the cow's eye eggs. Although simple but because the Kingdom that makes, so it feels so delicious.

One cup of bread he had finished. While biting the second loaf of bread, his left hand pulled the phone out of his pants pocket. Taken ah picture of the bread that had been bitten in half. Then in an instant the bread Raya had prepared for her had been exhausted without any rest.

After wiping his hands with a wet tissue, Juna then sent the photo he had taken to his wife.

[Thank you, breakfast. It's tasty. Take care of myself while I'm gone]

After the message is sent, he immediately gives his phone and saves it back.

"Vero, wake me up when I get there" he said before closing his eyes.

He needs rest, considering that last night he could not sleep because of Raya's speech. While until Jepara later, there are many agendas waiting. So he decided to take a break while on the way.

Arriving in Jepara, Juna immediately visited a shoe factory that received supplies of raw materials from his company in Jakarta. He must see the condition of the place and the performance of his employees. Given, the next week, there will be sadida buyers who will walk through at the factory.

Arrive at the hotel at ten o'clock after dinner with the officials who work at the factory. He had wanted to contact Raya, considering that he had not contacted his wife at all, but a sense of annoyance was still lodged in his heart. So he ignored the messages and phone calls from Raya and chose to take a shower after which he continued to sleep.

It has been five days in Jepara, Juna is very busy with walk through. In addition to the visit, they also conducted an audit. All companies must often conduct audits for the betterment of their companies. Even he got to the hotel late at night, because so crowded schedule in Jepara. He also had to visit the outsole supplier who was there. Not to mention visits to chemical suppliers, because the chemical used in shoes must also be researched. Because it is one of the several elements that affect the strength and durability of shoes.

For five days also the communication with Raya is not smooth. Only a few times sent the message was Raya first who started. If Raya makes a phone call or video call, Raya just says she is busy and can not be disturbed. But, that was indeed true, even his meal hour was now very messy.

On the sixth night in Jepara, he missed his wife. He misses the sweet smile of his wife. Raya is a cheerful girl, she always smiles even though her heart is sad. Even when Juna left here with his cold attitude, Raya still tried to smile, although Juna knew, his smile was a smile between a sincere smile, confused, sad, and worried.

Tonight Juna really couldn't hold back her longing. He wanted to hear the melodious voice of his wife even though only the sound of his breath was very melodious in Juna's ears. However, to call him at this time feels less appropriate. His wife must have fallen asleep, because it was two in the morning.

To treat his longing, Juna wanted to see the beautiful face of Raya who was asleep, but he could not possibly disturb his sleeping wife.

Finally he called his sister. Well, fortunately Jani was at home, so he made a video call with Jani and asked her to go into her room and point her camera at Raya.

Although upset and full of ravings, but his sister still granted his wishes. Unbeknownst to Raya, Jani went into her room and placed her phone in front of Raya with the aim that Juna could look at Raya's face. He did this for two nights.

***

Raya squirms when the alarm on the phone sounds. He picked up the phone in front of him that was placed near the pillow. His forehead wrinkled when he saw the phone in his hand was not his cellphone. He saw his phone on the nightstand. Suddenly the door of his room opened and a front-pony girl in her pajamas entered while yawning.

"For Sister-in-law," said Jani while grinning the horse.

"Morning," answered Raya while looking at the astonishment of her sister-in-law who had fallen into her room so early.

"What's the matter Jan?" tanya Raya then when she saw her sister go up on the mattress and then lay down and wear a blanket covering her body.

"Sir papa Mbak. I woke up and I forgot the phone was here."

"This is your phone?" tanya Raya showed the phone in her hand.

Jani nodded and took the phone from Raya's hand and placed it under the pillow, and she closed her eyes again. Raya can only shake her head because of the behavior of her sister-in-law.

Six days passed without a husband by her side making her not excited in doing daily activities. Especially as long as they are far apart, the communication is only through messages, it is very rare. Maybe when Juna comes home later he will ask her, maybe he has a wrong but not realized. However, regardless of having anything wrong or not, he should apologize first, because unlike usual Juna behaved like that. Even when newly married, Juna always treated her warmly.

"Who's Ma'am?"

"The name is Bimasena."

"Send me to come in. Ma'am."

Before long, there was a knock on the door of his study.

"Come in" said Raya.

Bima pushed the door and sat down on the sofa in the room.

"What's the Bang? tumens. No problem, is it?"

"Alhamdulillah, the same father Mother healthy. If it's April, she wants to see you."

Stop the activity. He looked up at Bima with sparkling eyes.

"Really Bang?" tanyanya could not believe it.

Not waiting until afternoon or tomorrow, Raya immediately followed Bima to meet with April. It turned out that it was neither the home of his parents nor the house of Mpok Hana they were headed to.

They are now in the hospital.

"Mother April is sick?" tanya Raya when she realized they were visiting people's places for treatment.

"We should just go straight inside," Bima asked.

Raya follows Bima into the treatment room. Inside there, Mira was sitting while talking to April who was lying down.

"Assalamu'alaikum" said Raya and Bima simultaneously.

"Wa'alaikumsalam," Mira and April answered their greetings and turned towards the door.

Mira smiled to see her daughter coming. He grabbed his daughter's body and hugged her tightly.

"Healthy, Son?" mira asked Raya who was kissing the back of her hand.

"Alhamdulillah, Mother's health."

Raya then turned to look at April who was looking at her while smiling warmly. Really misses the warm smile of her sister. His eyes are dewy. She tried hard not to cry in front of her mother and sister.

April hinted to Raya to approach. Raya immediately approached but remained quietly standing beside April.

"Aren't you the same Ma'am? Don't want a hug?" april asked while stretching out both of her hands.

The crying Kingdom instantly broke. He then hit the skinny body of his brother. They cried together and expressed longing and unfortunately.

Mira who saw her two daughters hugging while crying also cried. Bima could only rub Mira's shoulders to calm down.

"We should give time to them Mother," said Bima.

Mira agreed. They came out of the room, leaving the two brothers in April's ward.

TB