The Substitute

After dark rise light

"Mas, I want to say something." said Ameera shortly after carrying out her duties as a wife.

"Hmmm..." The exhausted Ozan simply replied with deheman.

"Dengerin..." Ameera forced him to open his eyes. Ozan was forced to correct his position.

"Sin knows yank, gosipin people" said Ozan with his eyes still closed.

"Who would want to make you gossip?"

"Yes, I drink first." Ozan took a bottle of mineral water on the table and drank it. He then hugged Ameera again. "What?" tanyanya.

Actually Ameera was a bit doubtful whether she would talk about it or not. He was even confused where to start. After Ozan was ready to listen, even now Ameera was silent. They're in a face-to-face drama.

"He said something." said Ozan after waiting a while but Ameera did not start talking.

"Mas... Do you know who was the perpetrator of our attack at that time?" ask Ameera slowly.

"I knew... Indeed why?"

"Rangga has told me everything" said Ameera.

"Everything?"

Ameera replied with a nod, "Yes, everyone... The one who did that to us is Rangga's father."

"The stairs also told you about that?" ask Ozan. He did not expect that Rangga had told Ameera. Because all this time Rangga hid the reality from Ameera for fear Ameera would hate him.

"Mas knows?"

"I knew before we got married that Rangga was Hendri Agung Darmawan's son. I also know that he has a grudge against Dad, and wants revenge through you. But we didn't know at the time that he was planning the murder for me. Everything was revealed just a day before my father's death. Rangga collected evidence of his father's crimes and gave it to me."

"The ladder does that?"

"Yes, Yank... Rangga chose that path to protect us from the evil of his father. He feels guilty for the death of father."

Ameera cried as she recalled her father who was shot right in front of her. Ozan wiped his tears.

"Here you go, yank, it's all his destiny."

"Now I understand why you never took me to school and we never went out together. The first time after my mother's death that you took me away together was to go to this house."

Ameera recalled how hard Rudi had educated her, trained her, and made her a strong person. If he used to feel burdened with all that, then now he is grateful that his father did not make him a spoiled person. The presence of Rangga in his life is also a gift for him.

"But you don't hate Rangga after knowing everything right? Yankees... Rangga has sacrificed a lot for you, for me. And it's not something easy."

"I know, Mas and I don't hate Rangga. I feel guilty, because I, Rangga now have to sit in a wheelchair."

"The ladder can walk again, Yank. I've experienced it too. After the accident, I was paralyzed for almost 2 years. And I can walk again, right."

"Yes, Mum."

"You're lucky to have a friend like Rangga" Ozan said, hugging Ameera. For a while they were silent, until Ameera again raised her question.

"But why are we getting married? Why did papa set you up with the son of a security chief?"

Ameera's plain words invite laughter Ozan. Until now he still thought his father was just a head of security.

"Yank... did you know we were married on the day of your birth? Dad and Dad were best friends since childhood. Ah... One more thing, I'm not the head of security at papa's company."

"Dad is the director of HR, as well as one of the shareholders in the company papa. So, you're actually a child billionaire, owner of a 20 percent stake in Chandra Jaya Group."

Ameera frowned, indeed she did not understand the affairs of the stocks and did not care about the treasures. To him having Ozan was his greatest treasure.

Ameera gathered all her strength to ask her the last thing on her mind. Something she thought was a sensitive thing for her husband.

"Mas..you know that it was Naura.." Ameera was silent for a moment, not continuing her sentence.

"Rangga's brother?"

Ameera was stunned, feeling surprised because it turned out Ozan already knew. "Do you know that too?" ask Ameera.

"I just found out on the first day Rangga woke up from his coma. Ramon said he also knew from Rizal." Ozan looked at Ameera's sad face.

"I took you from him... I'm sorry, Mas..."

"Why should we talk about it again? Yank. You didn't take me from him. I broke up with her before we got married" Ozan peeked at Ameera's forehead, "anyways I don't feel love for her like I love you."

"Why? Didn't you say you didn't want to marry me because you have someone you love? That's Naura, right?"

"Because at that time I didn't know what love really meant. And I just felt it like you, "Ozan kissed Ameera's lips at a glance, "my dear, you know, I never even kissed Naura. You're the first woman I touched, I hugged, and I kissed. You are my halal woman, the woman I touch every time I get a reward" Ozan said gently.

Ameera's eyes were even teary to hear her husband's words.

"I love you, Mas..."

"Me too, baby... Now, you don't think about anything else, yeah... Just think about your health and that of our children." Ozan said, wiping Ameera's stomach. He could feel the baby's movements. "I can't wait for them." After that conversation, they fell asleep. Expect the birth of their only child counting a few weeks away.

****

After the dark comes the light, every human being can have a difficult time, but there will be happiness afterwards. Maybe that is the most suitable language for a Rangga. He was struggling to get something he deserved, a happiness.

If he could not have Ameera as his life companion, then he was still lucky to have Dina who always accompanied him. No matter how Rangga was, he was always present behind him.

Day after day continued to roll, Dina remained faithful to accompany Rangga through therapy. Gave him encouragement, reassuring him that he could get through it all.

Slowly but surely, without realizing it, Dina managed to break the solid wall in the heart of Rangga which had only been filled by Ameera.

"Come Rangga... Try it again." said Dina shortly after Rangga tried to move his legs.

"I can't, Din. I can't even feel my legs yet." said Rangga, he slightly raised his voice. Start getting frustrated with his condition now.

"Alright, you rest first, yes." said Dina with gentleness. He was so patient in dealing with Rangga's easy emotions lately, "it's a drink first," Dina gave a bottle of mineral water to Rangga.

"I'm sorry, Din. I often yell at you when I'm emotional. I didn't mean to hurt you." Rangga gulped down the mineral water, sipping a rough breath.

"I know it." Dina squatted down next to Rangga who was sitting in that wheelchair. "But you want to keep trying for me?" he said while smiling.

"I'll be a big deal to you."

"I did it not for you, but for myself, for my happiness. Because my happiness is with you. You can't give up."

"Thank you, Din. I'm sorry that this whole time has been unfair to you."

And the thing that touched Rangga the most was Dina's tenderness and patience. He was never angry when Rangga snapped if tired of undergoing therapy.

****