The Substitute

Go home

Rangga was at a nightclub with a drink in front of him. He seems frustrated. He drank a few glasses of water until his head was heavy. Suddenly someone came and wrapped his hand on his arm.

"Rangga, drink it already, let us go home." invite Dina who came to Rangga.

"I'm going to have a drink, Din. You go home. I'm fine here." said Rangga in a heavy voice.

"But you're getting drunk, Rangga."

Rangga smiled faintly, raising his head.

"That's what I want. I was drinking to get drunk on purpose." Rangga again poured drinks in the glass.

"But when do you want this? ask Dina.

"Until I can forget everything," replied Rangga briefly.

Dina's face suddenly turned sad to see Rangga like this. Rangga is not a drinker.

"Yes, I'm sure you're here." Dina sat beside Rangga. He rested his head on Rangga's shoulder while shedding tears.

Rangga still down his drink. He glanced at Dina who was leaning on his shoulder. Rangga then tilted his head, so that his head was seen leaning on Dina's head.

"Din, I'm sorry. I'm mean to you" he said, clasping Dina's hand.

"You're not evil, Rangga. I want to stay by your side, so I have to take the risk." Tears are back to drip.

"I'm evil, Din. I've used you to forget Ameera."

They also dissolve in their own sadness.

***

Ameera and Ozan arrive at Chandra Jaya's residence. There were several servants in black and white uniforms welcoming them. Zarima and Hasan had been waiting for them since.

As soon as Ameera entered, Zarima immediately hugged her. Hasan rubbed Ameera's back. Ameera then kissed the back of her in-laws' hands.

"Ameera, welcome home. You do not hesitate, this house is your home too, son." said Zarima softly.

"Yes mah" said Ameera, smiling forcefully.

"We had dinner first, papa and mama have been waiting for you from last night to have dinner together" said Hasan later.

They also headed to the dining room. As usual, Ameera only ate her food. After his father's departure, he could not eat properly. Dinner passed without a word from Ameera. He dissolves in his daydream.

"Ozan, take Ameera to the room. Ameera needs rest." Hasan asked.

"Yes, Pah! Come on Ameera." take Ozan.

Ozan takes Ameera to the room. When I got to the top floor, Ameera wanted to go to the guest room. The first time he stayed in that house. Ozan who saw it immediately pulled Ameera's hand.

"Where are you going?" ask Ozan.

"I'm going to that room. " Ameera pointed to a room not far from Ozan's room.

"Our room is here. " Ozan pointed at the room in front of him,

"starting tonight you sleep in this room with me. "said Ozan makes Ameera jump.

Ozan then opened the door to his room. Upon entering the room, Ameera was amazed at how large and luxurious Ozan's room was.

"In the closet there are clothes for you. My mom prepared everything. The bathroom's there." Ozan showed me some parts of his room. "Mama also said all the items there for you. "while pointing at a dressing table that is full of cosmetics and body care.

"I want to take a shower" said Ameera later.

"Yes already, take a bath there. "said Ozan casually.

Ozan did not know if Ameera meant to take a bath, so that Ozan out of the room first.

Ameera was silent, not yet going to the bathroom. Ozan who saw it became a little confused.

"She said to take a shower. Why are you even hanging out there?" Ozan.

"Yes you get out of here!"

"Oh, I see.. said from earlier! All right, I'm out first."

Ozan leaves Ameera and comes out of the room. He went down into the kitchen and asked a waiter to make milk for Ameera.

"May shower, Mah."

Shortly after, Hasan arrived.

"Zan, if you're better, you can go back to work, right? Papa needs you in the office." Hasan asked. Since Rudi's death, he's had a hard time taking care of the company.

Hearing Hasan's words, Zarima interrupted immediately.

"Bah, Ozan just got married. He's gonna want to enjoy his new bride's time, right?"

"I can start work tomorrow, Pah."

"Eh, no. Kasian Ameera, he's new to this house. There must be a bad taste. You accompany Ameera for a few days, until she gets used to this house" Hasan said later.

Not long after, a waiter came along with a tray of warm milk that Ozan had ordered for Ameera. Ozan immediately took the tray.

"Well, Dad, I'll go to the room first. "

However, not yet Ozan stepped up, Zarima again said.

"Ozan, you don't force Ameera yes, pity!"

"Forced?" ozan muttered softly as he stared at the tray containing a glass of milk in his hand.

"It's just milk, Mah. Why force everything." said Ozan confused.

Hearing Ozan's plain reply, Zarima patted his head, while Hasan was fond of the coffee he had just drank, condemning his son's stupidity. Of course Zarima meant not milk, but something else.

"You don't mean milk, Ozan!" zarima's snapping made Ozan furrow his brows.

"You must not force your wife to ask for your rights as a husband" Zarima said at the heart of his speech.

Ozan chuckled at his mother's words, his face immediately blushing red, without answering, he immediately climbed up the stairs to his room.

Who would want to do that to a kid like Ameera? Inner Ozan.

"Your son is 25 years old but still does not understand the matter" said Hasan made Zarima laugh out loud.

Tok tok tok tok

There was a knocking on the door.

"Ameera, you're done bathing, can I come in?"

asked Ozan from behind the door.

Ameera who was sitting at the dressing table jumped to hear the knocking of the door. He opened the door immediately.

Ozan entered with a tray of milk and handed it to Ameera.

"Now, you drink the milk still warm."

Ameera drank it until the glass was empty. Ozan looked at Ameera drinking her milk, gulping a rough saliva.

Why did she look so seductive just by drinking milk? Inner Ozan.

He looked at Ameera without blinking, then grabbed the empty glass and placed it on the table.

"You must be tired. Sleep on!" Ozan.

Ameera nods and leaves for bed, but Ozan blocks her. Then pulled his hand and positioned Ameera right in front of him. Then giving a kiss on his forehead made Ameera's heart beat fast as if she was at war.

Ozan then goes into the bathroom. He wants to relieve fatigue in his body by soaking in warm water.

Ameera still could not close her eyes. Her forehead felt hot after getting a gentle kiss from her husband. He rubbed his forehead several times with a pillow roll in his arms to relieve the heat.

Why does that chewy thing feel stuck on my forehead?

As Ozan finished his warm bath ritual, he returned to the room. He found Ameera already sound asleep. Then walk towards the bed and sit beside Ameera. He looked at Ameera's face. Ozan sees the remaining tears in Ameera's tail.

You must have cried. You've lost a lot of things in your life, at your teenage age. I promised you I'd take care of you and try to be a good husband to you. I'm sorry that I haven't been able to open my heart to you. But I will always try to love you. Ozan.

****