The Substitute

Rainbow after the rain

A middle-aged woman seemed to be busy tidying up her things. Put some things in the suitcase, there are some cute baby clothes and shoes, he looks so excited about going back to the country he had lived in for a long time. A country full of memories.

And, the activity should stop when looking at a photo album. He took the album, and then he sat on the edge of his soft bed, putting the photo album on his lap.

Zarima began to open the photo albums one by one. Until finally his eyes capture photos of his togetherness with some of his friends in the past. No tears back down.

Hasan went into the room and found a crying Zarima looking at a photo. He's coming closer.

"Already. don't look at it. Can you bring it all back by crying?" asked Hasan who sat there.

"Of course not. It's just that what's happened lately makes me feel sad" Zarima said.

"Because you think too much about it. That's why you're so sad."

Zarima rubbed the photos with his fingertips. Look at the faces in the photo.

"Mas wouldn't it be better if we told Hendri the truth about Ameera?"

Hasan was stunned to hear Zarima say, "No! Until I die I won't tell him. I don't want to hurt Ameera's feelings either."

Zarima then closed the album and put it back in the bottom drawer.

"I was worried that Naura would do something further. He almost killed Ameera by hitting her. What if Naura gets well and gets out of the hospital, she's going to attack Ameera again, Mas?"

"Zar, your fear is too much."

Zarima then wiped away her endless tears.

"It's not my excessive fear, Mom. I'm just a mother. I've lost Deniz enough. I don't want to lose Ameera or Ozan anymore."

Hasan let out a rough sigh, his mind was currently fixed on Rudi. How Rudi sacrificed his life to protect Ozan.

"We're going to keep Ameera like Rudi's looking after Ozan."

"How do we take care of Ameera, Mas? We take care of the one and then the other victim. Rudi was the victim for protecting Ozan, and now, Rangga is sacrificing to protect Ameera. Only Hendri himself can end all this." said Zarima sobbing. "I love Ameera very much, Mas." said Zarima slowly.

"I know, Zar. I love Ameera as much as I love Ozan. Better now think ahead of him what he's like."

"All right..."

***

In the morning Zarima was ready with some suitcases to be carried.

"Nobody's left behind, right?" hasan asked when he saw all the luggage of his wife had gone up to the car.

"It looks like there are already all of them." he replied as he counted the number of suitcases in the trunk of the car.

"Passport, Visa, ID...?" asked Hasan while mentioning all the needs of the woman. Because Zarima is someone who is often careless and forgets his important items.

"There, Mas.." she replied.

"All right, let's go."

They also headed to the airport. There was a gurat of happiness on Zarima's face. In addition to missing her son and daughter-in-law, she can't wait for the presence of her twin grandchildren who will be born in a few weeks.

***

Rangga sat pensively in his room holding a thick black book. Sometimes he set his sights on a garden located behind the house.

He then opened the book, a faint smile adorning his face as he stared at a photo tucked inside the book.

And not long after that Aliyah came to disperse the daydream of her son.

"Strong... Dina has arrived. You have a therapy schedule today, right?" ask Aliyah.

Dina who was already in the doorway of the room immediately approached Rangga. Realizing that there was Dina there, Rangga immediately closed the thick book, then put it in the drawer.

"Yes, there seems to be a guest in front" Aliyah said shortly after hearing the bell ringing.

"Come, Rangga. I accompany therapy today" said Dina.

Rangga sighed, even he did not turn his head at all when Dina approached him.

"I don't want any more therapy, Din."

"But why?"

"Go home, please!" pinta Ranges. However, Dina did not give up, she still tried to persuade Rangga.

"Rangga.. come on. We haven't even tried it out yet."

"Already, Dina. What do you expect from me? You wish I could easily forget about Ameera and change her place with you? Is that what you expected?" Said Rangga in a slightly shouting tone, "I tell you... I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO LOVE YOU. SO GET OUT OF HERE!" yell Rangga.

As the sky collapsed on him, perhaps that was the picture of Dina's feelings. How the painful sentence was easily said Rangga.

The girl could not even say anything. Only the details of the tears represented the pain of his heart. Thinking about whether his wait for 4 years ended in vain. He tried as hard as possible to hold back from crying, but his defense was crushed by the spicy words of Rangga that seemed to slice his heart.

"I know, Rangga... I'm sorry I expected too much. All right, I'll go." said Dina with a soft sigh.

Because he could not stand it, he was about to run away from Rangga. But when going out, it turns out there is Ameera in the doorway who has since listened to their conversation.

Even her cheeks had been soaked by tears. Guilt rested in Ameera. Feeling he is the cause of all this. And, Dina seemed to not care anymore. With tears she left the house.

Rangga who noticed Ameera's presence there became uneasy himself. He turned his back to Ameera and chose to hide his sadness.

I'm sorry, Din. I will be your burden. I will trouble you with my deformed body.

Aliyah approached Ameera who was leaning against the wall with tears constantly falling. He patted Ameera's shoulder gently.

"It's not your fault, son... It's not your fault at all. You are just victims of this situation. So, don't blame yourself." said Aliyah.

Ameera fell in Aliyah's arms, "I'm sorry, auntie." said Ameera in a sobbing.

"All will be well. Believe that! Maybe now Rangga needs some time alone. You, go home first, yes. later aunty talk to Rangga and Dina." persuaded Aliyah while rubbing Ameera's back.

After feeling a little calm, Ameera said goodbye to the woman. He immediately went out to the front yard of the house. A driver opened the car door when he saw Ameera coming out of the house.

Aliyah then approached Rangga and sat in a chair opposite her son. He gently stroked her hair and kissed her forehead.

As hard as Rangga, if it is faced with the woman who raised him, his ego will instantly collapse. All his life, he only showed his fragile side in front of his mother.

"I'm sorry, Mah.." said Rangga. His eyes were even glazed.

"Mom knows, Son. You have to do all this." he said while hugging Rangga.

Rangga was crying in the arms of his greatest woman. "Why, Mah... Why did all this have to happen to me? When I started to open my heart to Dina, why did I have to be this sad? Am I to be punished for all my sins?"

Aliyah cupped Rangga's face, looking at her sad face. He nodded with a smile as if to say, Don't worry.

"My son, every test must have some wisdom behind it. Rest assured, you can get out of this difficult time of yours. Like a rainbow after rain, it is a natural promise that after there is rain, then the rainbow will present bring beauty. Every rain has a rainbow, only our eyes cannot see it. And, Dina is your customer. Don't waste it." said Aliyah later.

"Dina will definitely hate me after what I said earlier, Mah..."

"You know what Dina is like, Rangga. You've got to try harder for her."

***

**To be continuous