The Substitute

Regrets are always behind

If some children in the world make his father a hero in his life, then another case with Rangga. He considered his father only as a hunk of revenge that is getting bigger and bigger. Even that grudge had destroyed many people including his own family.

This was where Rangga was now, sitting waiting for his father's arrival with a blank look. After a year in prison, Rangga visited his father for the first time. There was a huge sense of disappointment in the man who was supposed to be his role model. And when Hendri came, how surprised he saw his favorite son sitting in a wheelchair. Rangga looked at Hendri's arrival with a cold gaze.

"Rangga, my son.. What happened to you?" asked Hendri with a trembling voice.

"How are you, Papa?" Instead of answering the father's question, Rangga said something else, "I'm sorry, I've never visited Papa. I must have let Papa down." he said later.

"Who did this to you, Rangga?"

"What would you do if you knew who did this to me? Is papa gonna order Jack to take out that guy?" A thin grin is present at the corner of Rangga's lips. "This is the result of Papa's actions." said Rangga lightly.

Hendri who still did not understand Rangga's words looked at Rizal who was standing behind Rangga, like he was looking for answers from the man who had been his bodyguard.

"Rizal, explain to me what happened to my son." Hendri told Rizal. However, Rizal was only speechless hearing the question.

"This is the result of Papa's actions." Rangga repeated his words, "Papa has already destroyed things. Including me, brother, mother, and Papa's own best friend. Shall I congratulate Papa on this success?"

Hendri was speechless to hear every word Rangga that like raining his heart.

"Papa managed to poison sister with grudge and hatred. My sister, who was once just a girl, now has to take away Papa's sins. Papa knows he wants to kill a pregnant Ameera by hitting her. Look, Dad, this is what Papa did, I'm in a wheelchair now and my brother has to be depressed, and now he's in a mental hospital. Papa's satisfied?"

The instant the middle-aged man's face turned pias, he was at a loss for words. Only clear liquid filled his eyelids.

"Papa knows, first... Om Rudi and Om Hasan could have killed me easily, they could have even attacked Kak Naura, like what papa did to Ameera and Ozan. But they didn't, they chose not to fill his life with grudges. Even Ameera forgave papa easily, after Papa killed both of her parents. Then I. bore the guilt of my entire life to Ameera. Even if I protect her at the cost of my life, it won't be enough to pay for what you did to her."

Like being struck by lightning in broad daylight, Hendri can only lament his actions in the past.

"I'm sorry papa Rangga." said Hendri with a trembling voice, his eyes were filled with clear liquid. Only an apology can be said by the man.

"Rizal.." call Rangga while raising his hand like asking for something. Rizal immediately handed an envelope to Rangga.

"Why, Pah... What's wrong with Papa? Do you know, when another kid would be proud to tell me anything about his dad, but, what about me?" Rangga's voice had begun to change, like holding back his cry, "there is nothing in me that I can be proud of. All my life, I've only seen the ambition of revenge and hatred in Papa. Just once, if Papa can show me something I can be proud of, maybe my life will be better, I'll have an easier time forgiving Papa."

Rangga placed the envelope Rizal gave him on the table in front of Hendri.

"I hope this place can help Papa reflect on all Papa's mistakes. I'm sorry, for sending Papa to this place" said Rangga while wiping his tears. "Come, Zal.." take her later.

Rizal also pushed the wheelchair that Rangga was sitting in leaving Hendri who was still crying, looking at the departure of his now helpless son in a wheelchair. He then stared at an envelope that Rangga left on the table. With a trembling hand, he grabbed the envelope.

Several officers then came and drove him back to his cell. He sat in the corner of the narrow room, venturing to open the envelope in his hand. And, the tears fell back reading a letter from his old friend.

Hendri... If my letter has reached your hands one day, it means that I am no longer in the world. I'm sorry I broke my promise to you. I'm the one who betrayed our friendship by marrying Ratna. I did it to protect her from your parents and Maya who wanted to harm her. Sorry, I never got a chance to explain it to you. I know, you and Ratna have loved each other for a long time. But, I had no other choice to protect her other than to marry her and take her with me. You know, Ratna and I have been best friends since childhood, just like Rangga and Ameera. And one thing you should know, I've never hated you, for me you're my best friend...

***

Rangga just arrived at his house when it was getting dark. After visiting his father in prison, he visited Naura in a mental hospital.

Arriving at home, he was greeted with a pleasant surprise. How not, the most meaningful people in his life were gathered waiting for him. His mother and Dina, plus the presence of Ameera, Ozan and Ramon. The sorrow that had once ruled his heart instantly faded with their presence.

Dinner with a barbeque menu in the garden behind the house was filled with laughter. Ameera, whose stomach is getting bigger, must resist the frustration of being the material of the rubbing of all of them. Instantly the aura of his bar-bars came out, he had just thrown Rangga with the bearing of the seat that became his backrest.

"Well. right? This is just a pillow loh. I was full on beat with various kinds of objects." said Rangga while laughing. "Where are you going to jinakin this bar-bar, Bang?" ask Ozan.

"Gue kasih yang-elak." said Ozan with his meal while burning meat. He seemed to be not thinking about Ameera's feelings whose face was already blushing embarrassed by her answer.

"Alaahh.. kayak is not used to getting stuck at you." ledek Ramon, "Lu right..." Ramon hangs his words because he immediately got a plot from Ozan.

"Gue soin barbeque is also you..." Ozan threatened Ramon who was about to let out his ridicule sentence again, making Rangga laugh out loud.

"Yank... not me who ledekin you, they tuh.." said Ozan while pointing one by one three men who were sitting there.

"Gue didn't talk about it... Ameera, I didn't say loh, if you ever mukulin me when you think I copet in the mall." said Rizal who even more burning Ameera emotions.

he recalled one time Ameera and Rangga were going to the mall. As Rizal continues to follow Ameera, the girl thinks Rizal is a copet. He then beat Rizal to a pulp.

"Well, that was just talking. Thank goodness!" Ameera.

"Gue remember, I went to the toilet, right? I came back from the toilet, Rizal is already bonyok, haha..." Rangga held onto her stomach which was painful from continuing to laugh.

For the first time, Dina saw the other side of Rangga who was laughing loosely like without any burden. Rangga who had known him all along was someone who was cold and serious. And that night, Rangga transformed into someone who was very nosy.

Rangga who noticed Dina's gaze grabbed Dina's hand and held her under the table.

Their little party went by with fun.

Ameera and Ozan are home. While Dina was brought home by Ramon. Stay Rangga alone in a small room where often spend his time. He smiled faintly at the blackboard in the room, where Ameera's handwriting was there.

You are the most annoying creature of God in the world.

"Ameera, you really have seen the rest of my room." murmured Rangga.

****