The Substitute Bride

Chapter 2 (A Secret)

Concerns surround Tami. Whether or not to believe in the reality, but his encounter with a girl named Karina that happened accidentally had given birth to points of doubt in his heart. The point of doubt is getting bigger and bigger until it raises a variety of questions that almost make it frustrating. Moreover, suddenly surprisingly, a woman named Rahma thought of her as her dead daughter.

A week ago.

"Son, Mama. Where have you been, baby?" the woman named Rahma sobbed loudly in Tami's arms. "Why did you come to see me so long ago, Mama?" Tami was surprised to hear it.

What exactly is going on?

Why is it that after nearly twenty-three years of living in peace with his mother, he suddenly meets someone whose face is very similar to his? Now a woman he just met considers him to be his son. Although trying hard to find answers to his confusion, but all seemed deadlocked. Tami chose silence, letting Rahma's mother hold her for a few minutes.

"You're so big now, son," Rahma let go of her arms, but her hands still held Tami's shoulders, leaving the girl stiff. "Your face is also more and more like your sister Karina."

Tami's eyes were right looking at Rahma's bead, she tried to find answers to her confusion there, but in that glare she just flashed a longing wrapped in wounds.

"Thank God, O Allah. Thank you for listening to the servant's prayer all this time," Ms. Rahma wiped the tears on her cheek and looked at Karina who was standing on the left side of the treatment bed. "Your sister, Rin, is still alive."

Karina could only smile bitterly hearing it. His heart drizzled to hear the woman he loved most saying so. It turns out that for a dozen years the wounds of losing a child constantly scratched the heart of his mother.

"Mama sleeps again. We'll see you tomorrow with Kirana."

Karina led Rahma's mother back to lie down after seeing a confused expression on Tami's face. He knew very well that the various questions raging in the mind of the girl were waiting for answers and explanations from her.

"May you hold your hand, baby. Mama still misses you." Ms. Rahma's voice sounded soft.

Tami, who did not know what to do, looked at Karina, asking what she should do. Kirana was seen nodding, as if begging Tami to obey her mother's wishes through the look in her eyes. Tami breathed out softly, then put on a warm smile before sitting on the chair beside the treatment bed while holding Rahma's hands back. Occasionally the woman's hand stopped on Tami's cheek gently.

Oh my God, what exactly is all this? Why did everything suddenly become so complicated?

Until a soft snore sounded, then Tami released his hand. He rubbed the back of Rahma's hand and brought it to her lips and kissed her with a taxi, as if saying goodbye to her own mother.

Tami steps her legs slowly leaving the treatment bed and then closes the door carefully, afraid to make Rahma's mother wake up from her sleep. When he turned around, he found Karina who had quietly come out of the middle room standing up uneasily. The girl turned her head immediately upon hearing Tami's footsteps approaching her.

"You must be confused, huh?" Karina looked at Tami's face which was still filled with confusion. "Can we talk for a second? But not here."

Tami agreed without asking much. He followed Karina's footsteps towards the hospital park that was visited by many patients for a short break. They were already sitting on one of the benches in the corner of the park. No one started the conversation, only the occasional whirling of the afternoon wind smashed into the faces of the two.

Karina inhaled air to fill her lung cavity and then she exhaled calmly. When he started talking his gaze straight ahead, it was as if his past was being replayed.

"Twenty-six years ago my mother gave birth to me and three years later my brother was born in the same hospital. Karina Princess Adhyastha my name and Kirana Princess Adhyastha my sister's name. Because our faces are so similar, people often think we're twins."

Karina took a breath before continuing her story. Tami listened carefully.

"We lived happily as brothers. Never once did we feel a lack of affection because the people around us poured out their abundant love sincerely. Although our faces are the same but our nature is different. Because she was young Kirana was very spoiled and often shed tears, so sometimes everyone paid more attention to her than I did. Honestly, I'm often jealous of her and wish I didn't have a sister. But all my jealousy ended when I was seven and Kirana was four."

Karina held a sobbing on the tip of her lips. Telling about his childhood is the same as opening a book of the past that he so regretted that he hated himself for feeling so selfish.

"On my birthday is the height of my jealousy. She broke my dad's dress and I was so angry that I pushed her into a long mirror behind her.You know, I used to want to be a model, so my father gave me a gift of a dress and a long mirror on my birthday so I could wander in front of the long mirror."

Karina smiled bitterly as she wiped her tears. "It's ridiculous indeed. Just because of a dress and a mirror, I was so mad at him."

"Kirana apologized to me repeatedly but I yelled at her and told her I wouldn't forgive her. He picked up a broken mirror scattered on the floor and intended to fix it. He, my brother is so innocent. While picking up the broken glass, accidentally his ring finger sliced and I panicked to see the blood pouring profusely and his crying broke. I shouted loudly to Mom. Everyone came to the room. Seeing Kirana's bloody finger mama immediately lifted her to the bed and treated her wound. I cried beside her and said that I didn't mean to make her wretch but Mama scolded me all out. I said that she broke Dad's mirror and broke the dress, but not the defense I got but they scolded me more. Who would not be discouraged if scolded by parents. Everyone was watching Kirana more and more while I felt like I was being made a stranger in my own home. I know Mama is punishing me. So Dad suggested we make up. I followed my father's advice even though my heart was still feeling covetous. Then the next day after school I took him to a park not far from the usual school so where we waited for Mr. Darmo who was the driver who always took us. He hugged me and smiled happily. Looking at our ice cream seller, his eyes immediately sparkled. While he was waiting in the seesaw I ran over to the ice cream vendor. When I got back he wasn't there."

Tami clasped Karina's cold hand. While the girl took a breath for a moment then continued her story.

"We lost him. After a week's search, his body was found on the riverbank not far from the park. We couldn't even recognize his face. My parents' hearts were so broken that Kirana lost. Even Mama immediately fired Mr. Darmo on the grounds that he should have come on time to pick us up from school. I thought I was happy then but I wasn't. No more whining and crying that used to fill our days. The house feels empty uninhabited. We lost the light of our happiness. Lonely, sad and sorry are the feelings I still feel today when I remember them. If only I had not taken her to the park, Kirana would still be alive today.hiks...hiks."

Tami hugged Karina who sobbed loudly. Her heart also felt pained to hear the story of Karina.His hand stroked Karina's shoulder to calm the girl.

"On Sundays I always meet him at the tomb and tell him everything in my heart but he is only a listener. He never and never will respond to me as he used to when he grumbled and muttered indistinctly when he heard my talk."

The firmer Karina made Tami's heart shake. Women can feel the pain of other women because they are connected through the feelings felt by the heart. Karina raised her face which she drowned in a Tami hijab. There was a stream of tears that soaked his father's face and smiled again continuing the story.

"But my meeting with you in front of the elevator a few weeks ago made my hopes soar. I don't know why, but I feel like I have a relationship that makes me interested in getting to know you."

"Sorry before. Not to guess, but maybe you think I'm the twin brother of Mbak."

"Your thoughts are right Tami."

Tami was surprised by Karina's statement.

"Isn't Kirana dead?"

"I know that, but from the first moment every time I remember Kirana my heart often screams that she's still in this world."

"Well, Ma'am. Kan Kirana in the grave on earth is still in the world, except she is in the grave on another planet other than on earth, in pluto for example" Tami tried to joke.

Karina laughed, forgetting her moment of sadness.

"I know that. But you must know what I mean."

Tami mangosteen just heard Karina.

"Mama overheard my conversation with my father about meeting you and became restless. Mama insisted on meeting you and ended up getting sick. Even when I was sick, my mother insisted that she wanted to see you. That's why I searched and took you to Mama's treatment room."

"Mama Mbak Karina also thought I was Kirana."

"Yes." Yeah."

"Hm, why can that be so. I'm so confused."

"Mama was too shocked by Kirana's departure. To this day, Mama still believes that Karina is still alive in whatever part of the earth." She's only gone for a while, surely if she's satisfied traveling she'll definitely be back" said Mama every time she looked at Kirana's photo."

"Then what can I help you with, Ma'am?"

"Don't call Mommy, I'm feeling really old."

Tami chuckled softly. "Then what should I call?"

"Just let's just do it."

"Yes Ma'am, uh wrong I mean Karina."

"Tami, can you help me?"

"Please what, Ma'am? wrong, I mean Karina. How can I help you, Karina?I can help anything just don't ask me to be a member of superhero avengers, I don't have their powers."

"Haha."

Karina laughed loudly at Tami's joke. Well, ayu tenan you mbak. Err, have a crush.

"You're funny guy. Take it easy I won't ask you to be a superhero in the avengers but you might want to be a superhero for me."

"Huh? How's it going?"

"You want to be on the DNA test."

"Dna test? Make what?" tami asked while shaking her head.

"You're shaking Tami's head, you don't want to help me"

"Eh, it's not like that. It's the effect of most watching Indian movies, hehehe. Take it easy, I want to help you."

"You want to be on the same DNA test as my mom. If the result turns out you're not Kirana at least Mama no longer has empty hopes that Kirana is still alive."

Tami thought for a moment and then she nodded for sure.

"Yes, I want a DNA test."

Maybe DNA testing is the best way to find out the truth.Tami don't want to live overshadowed by curiosity. Besides, he has nothing to lose in a DNA test.

"I'm sorry if this request of mine would hurt your heart, but to be more accurate would you like to have a DNA test with your mother as well?"

"That's the same as doubting my mother."

"I knew. But I hope you'll consider it."

...

"Well!"

"Allahu akbar, astaghfirullah."

Tami gently rubbed her chest many times as she was shocked by the arrival of Tasya and Clara, who surprised her by hitting her chin-backed table. Buyar already daydream because the actions of two humans suck it.

"Assalamu'alaikum, beautiful, do anything? Sorang? Can you please buddy? (again what? alone huh? can you please not?)" Clara seduces Tami then sits to the left of the poor girl who is still rubbing her khimar-covered chest and white shirt. Tasya then follows sitting to Tami's right.

"Wa'alaikumussalam Abang handsome, why here bang? make adek tekajut jak (ngagetin adek only). If my only heart is this dislodged how bang? want to replace it with a banana heart?"

"You know, from that moment I greet you not even answer. (You know, from earlier we also said greetings but not answered.)"

"Yes, your face from earlier why frown so?" Tasya chimed in on Clara's words.

"When do I think I'm going to get a bidadara from heaven?" tami said while putting on a face.

"Just dream there you are, Tami. Until lebaran monkey though you will not ketiban bidadara, ketiban bird droppings yes." said Clara.

"Yes, on Sunday we will go to the zoo, who knows the monkeys are really lebaran." Tami replied sarcastically.

"You are hiding something from us, right, not usually your face scowls this afternoon. Then the tumben rice you cuekin. You're a big guard when it comes to eating."

"Emang ye, you are indeed the most good at filling my heart, Sya."

"Oh..so you really have a problem, Ta?"

"Things that don't make me not good at eating, not good at sleeping until I forget to take a shower" Tami said dramatically.

"What's the problem, Ta, why aren't we the same story?" Clara looked at her best friend with a huff.

Tami breathed for a moment.

"I lied to Mom."

"liying?" Rara raised her two neat eyebrows then furrowed her down.

"What a lie, Tami, let her heart plong. Don't even dipendam yourself later become a burden, you can hang yourself if you can't bear it."

"I'm still sane, Tasya. I'm still young, after all, a wedding ballerina. Loss of age in a way that is clearly hated by God.

"Issh, that's a long time, Tami. Cepetan dong story, just a little more rest time runs out, you also have to be ready to replace Ners Mira."

"Yes, I didn't forget about the operation."

"Bismillah. So look, I lied to my mom about taking her blood for a medical checkup. If I wear my hair less. Actually the reason I took my mother's blood was to do a DNA test."

"Dna test? when?" ask Tasya with a fuss.

"Three days ago, Sya, I did a test at Karina's request. Not only with Mom, but I also did a test with Rahma's mother, Karina's mother. And this is the result." Tami took out two white envelopes and handed them to Tasya.

"Oh God, Tami. So you're really Karina's sister." cried Tasya as she read the DNA test.

"Husssha. Tasya do not be hard later others hear how." said Clara

Hearing Tasya's words, Tami picked up and read the paper. He opened another white envelope containing a paper reporting the results of his DNA tests with his mother. His eyes immediately rounded and his body might have been dazed if he was not sitting on a chair.

"Tami, what's wrong with you? you haven't read the DNA test results yet?" asked the panicked Clara to see Tami sitting limp in the chair. Fortunately, the cafeteria is no longer crowded. So their commotion no one noticed.

Tami just nodded. His tongue felt too hard to speak. His blood seemed to stop flowing in the veins. Questions crammed into his mind.

"Mother, is there a secret you have hidden from your daughter?"