The Substitute

Ameera

Ameera was staring at a picture of her childhood with her father and mother, which hung on the wall of her room. He drowned with memories of his past where at that time, he did not know the word loss.

The dim lights of the room made Ameera even more soluble in her sadness. He felt very bad about his situation.

He remembered with Rangga, during this time when he was sad, only Rangga was able to comfort him. But the truth is that now Rangga is not with him.

Ozan and his father and mother were sitting in the living room. They were talking about the night of revelations for Rudianto which will start tomorrow until the next seven days. As long as the tahlilan is not finished, they will all stay temporarily at Ameera's house to accompany her. They didn't want Ameera to be alone in her difficult times.

After that Ozan told Hasan about the evidence of Hendri's crime that had been handed over to the authorities. Hasan was relieved because after Hendri was arrested and in prison, Ozan and Ameera's life would run normally without the need to be guarded with a tight escort. Ozan did not tell his father that Rangga was Hendri's son, because he knew Rangga was a good son, and was not involved in his father's crimes.

The night is late. Hasan and Zarima occupy the guest room, while Ozan chooses to sleep in Rudianto's room.

When he went into the room, his mother called.

"Ozan, where are you going?" Zarima asked when he saw that Ozan was going to enter Rudianto's room

"You sleep, Mah. "a short answer.

"Why are you in that room? ameera's room is upstairs. You accompany ameera, pity her alone!"

Zarima pointed at the door of Ameera's room, which was located on the second floor but was visible from the direction of the living room.

"I don't want to bother Ameera Mah, maybe she needs some time alone." Ozan then went into Rudianto's room, laying his tired body on the bed.

After flipping through his sleeping position, Ozan was still unable to close his eyes. His mind kept on turning to Ameera. He came out of the room and went to Ameera's room. But before that, Ozan used to make warm milk for Ameera.

Tok tok tok tok

The sound of knocking on the door sounded. Ameera was still sitting on her bedside ignoring the sound of knocking on the door.

"Ameera, are you asleep yet? I came in." said Ozan from behind the door. With no answer, Ozan enters the room and finds Ameera still sitting there daydreaming. He approached her and sat next to her. Ozan put a glass of milk on the table.

Ozan embraces Ameera's shoulder and rests Ameera's head on his shoulder. Sometimes he stroked gently to Ameera.

"You go to sleep, yes, you will get sick. " Ameera nodded slowly. Ozan gave the warm milk he made to Ameera. With one gulp Ameera finished her milk. After that, Ozan helped her lie down and covered her body.

"I'll get out of here after you sleep" Ozan said softly. Shortly thereafter, Ameer fell asleep. Ozanpun returned to Rudianto's room to sleep.

***

One week later...

The tahlilan night for ameera's father is over. Hasan and Zarima had gone home first because they had been staying at Ameera's house for a week. Meanwhile, Ozan and Ramon go to the police station for reports that Hendri has been arrested.

During this week Ameera was quiet and just locked herself in the room. His life spirit is like a withering. Ameera went to her balcony, looking up at the sky filled with stars. Sadness still rules his heart.

That night Rangga came to visit Ameera. Because he knew Ameera would be staying at Ozan's house after her father's tahlilan night was over. While next week, Rangga will leave the country to take care of his college registration.

"Mom, where's Ameera?" Rangga asked Bu Yani as the door opened.

"Ameera again on the balcony." Answer Bu Yani

" Rangga, please comfort him. Poor Ameera. This week he looked moody and would not talk. Eat a little too. You know Ameera more than anyone. Maybe you can persuade him." Bu Yani said at length.

"Okay, ma'am, I'm upstairs first, yeah... I happened to bring Ameera's favorite martabak"

Then Rangga climbed the stairs to the top floor. Ameera was sitting on a swing chair on the balcony of the house.

Rangga came to disperse the reverie of Ameera.

"If sadness is crying, let the feeling be relieved, "

Amera chuckled, shocked by Rangga's sudden appearance. But then Ameera looked back at the sky.

"I brought your favorite martabak." while handing over the bag in his hand. Ameera only saw it without any intention of taking it.

Rangga then sat on the swing beside Ameera. Opening the cardboard wrapping martabak, then feeding it to Ameera.

"Now, I'm bribing ya."

"I'm not hungry" said Ameera flatly.

"What is a hunger strike to relieve sadness?" Ask Rangga.

Ameera answered with a shudder. Rangga looked at Ameera.

"If a hunger strike can't take away your sadness, why would you go on a hunger strike?" rangga.

Without waiting long Ameera ate her favorite martabak brought by Rangga.

"Why doesn't it taste good, huh?" Still chewing.

"Your feelings are not good anymore, not the food." Ameera then ate the hammer voraciously. Not long after, Bu Yani came to bring drinks for Rangga. He also makes juice for Ameera. After her, Bu Yani went back downstairs.

"I brought this too!" Rangga handed over the lollypop to Ameera. Looking at the lollypop in Rangga's hand, Ameera smiled slightly. He remembered his childhood, when sad, Rangga would give lollypop candy for him. That was the reason why Rangga often called her lolly.

"Lolly, you don't torture yourself. That's why I'm here so you can share your sorrows with me."

"I don't want to be weak, Rangga. Dad says I have to be strong" Ameera said in a weak voice.

"You know, sometimes crying takes away some of our suffering. Crying does not always make us look weak. You swallow all the wounds you feel alone. That's not Ameera's strong, that's her name's selfish"

Hearing Rangga's words, Ameera's eyes began to glaze over.

"Let your tears wipe away all the pain in your heart." Rangga embraced Ameera's shoulder and rested Ameera on her shoulder.

Ameera's tears broke for the first time since her father's death. The crying sounded so bitter. While Rangga continued to embrace his shoulder. Occasionally rubbing his back gave him strength.

"Cry until your tears dry up. You'd be better off crying."

Ameera continued to cry in a soft voice.

From a distance not too far away, Ozan was watching Ameera and Rangga. A jealous look on his face saw his wife with Rangga. There was a bit of disappointment, because Ameera was already his wife, but more comfortable spilling her sadness in front of Rangga.

Again, he had to forget his selfishness. He thinks Ameera is more comfortable with Rangga because they have been friends since childhood. He let Ameera cry and leaned on Rangga's shoulder, at least until Ameera felt better. Maybe at this time only Rangga is able to reduce the sorrow in Ameera's heart. He kept waiting behind the door.

After feeling Ameera was quite satisfied crying, Ozan approached them.

"Ameera.!"'s search...!" Ozan is behind Ameera

Ameera flinched in surprise, then turned around. Ozan is behind him. Rangga did not show any reaction.

Aware of his position, Rangga turned to stand in front of Ameera

"Let's go home." Ozan takes Ameera home

"I'm not ready, " said Ameera

"You don't have to bring anything. All your needs are ready at home."

Ameera then stood up, heading to her room.

"Gue wants to bring Ameera back to my house, if you want to nengokin Ameera, okay. You go to my house" Ozan told Rangga.

"Just take care of Ameera, don't leave her alone. Ameera is fragile. He's not as strong as we see." Rangga sighed

" Yes already, I'm first, yes" Rangga then left Ameera's house.

While in his room, Ameera was sitting on the edge of his bed.

He took a small picture framed, located on the nightstand in his room. A picture of him as a child with his father and mother.

He will just take the photo with him.

Ameera and Ozan returned to Chandra Jaya's residence after saying goodbye to Ms. Yani.