The Wasted Bride

Heartbeats

At a hotel restaurant in Calgary. Two men were sitting opposite. Their table was filled with food for breakfast, only that no one had been touched yet.

They are Aldair and Attalaric. After yesterday Attalaric ordered Aldair to stay at the hotel. The man obeyed him because he wanted to hear firsthand what his sister was about to say, even though he could guess.

Attalaric itself takes a morning flight from Soetta Airport to YYC Calgary Airport. Without being picked up by anyone, Attalaric immediately went to the hotel that Aldair had notified him once he reached YYC Calgary Airport.

"Eat first" said Attalaric, breaking the silence between them while sipping the coffee he ordered.

Aldair let out a long sigh before looking at Attalaric, "I lost my appetite," briefly. Aldair propped his back with his eyes closed.

There was a slight delay when Attalaric noticed his sister's face which seemed to hold so much weight.

"You haven't slept all night?"

Aldair chuckled at his brother's question. Isn't it obvious?! [Isn't it clear?!]

How can he sleep soundly when he finds out that Attalaric will propose to his sister's ex-wife.

"Talk straight to the point, brother. No need for pleasantries. I'm tired" Aldair opened his eyes and stared at the empty ceiling.

"I'm sorry. Not that I want to hurt you, I just want to achieve new happiness for Hanna and myself. And my wish to talk to you about this is because I still respect you as my sister, as well as the ex-husband of the girl I'm about to propose to."

Attalaric looked at his sister's eyes. There was sadness and disappointment emanating from Aldair's eyes, slightly disturbing his heart.

"Do you really want to marry Arwaa?" Ask Aldair to make sure it's all a dream.

Attalaric nodded making a drop of tears slip across Aldair's cheek. Attalaric himself was stunned, not expecting his sister to cry like this.

"I'm sorry... I'm just... Haa... I don't know."

Aldair rubbed his face and stroked his hair. His heart really hurt, felt like it was betrayed. No one betrayed him. Neither Arwaa nor her brother.

Seeing his sister's response, Attalaric smiled. Should he give up before trying to propose to the girl who occupies his heart. The circumstances of Aldair made him think of himself when left for dead by his beloved wife. Attalaric was afraid, Aldair would stress to the point of depression if he forced his desire, or maybe his selfishness.

"I'm sorry Brother. I can't help this feeling. Though yesterday I had a conversation with Arwaa," Aldair explained as soon as he felt a little calmer.

Attalaric looked at Aldair, "What are you talking about with Arwaa?"

"About a second chance," Aldair said, making Attalaric bitterly chuckle. His mind was already wandering, imagining if Arwaa received her sister back.

Now Aldair looked at Attalaric with sorrow. Sadness was on his sister's face. It is likely that Attalaric has drawn its own conclusions from the words of Aldair.

But then again. Aldair had promised himself not to be selfish, especially about Arwaa. Recalling how the girl responded when talking about her brother. Although it mingled with sadness, but there was also love emanating in his eyes.

He did not want to be a barrier to Arwaa's happiness after what he had done to the girl. Yes, Arwaa deserves to be happy with whoever it is, except Aldair. Because there is no place in the heart of his ex-wife for Aldair.

"Then, what did Arwaa say?" Attalaric asked nervously, agitated with the worst possibility.

"He gave me a chance..."

Attalaric stared in disbelief at his sister's words. His heart is like a pierced...

"The chance to be his sister-in-law."

"What?!"

Sontak Attalaric looked up at Aldair inside, making sure that what he had heard was not a mistake.

Seeing the look of his Brother made Aldair chuckle a little before leaning back on the chair while folding both his hands over his chest, and giving a sad smile to the Big Brother.

Although there was a greeting pain, but his mood slightly improved seeing a happy hue on Attalaric's face. Is it possible that he will be able to tell all about his past to become the future of the Big Brother?

***

Elsewhere, Arwaa with Hanna and Bu Hayya are taking a walk in the park near Arwaa's apartment building considering today is a holiday.

Sometimes Arwaa answered and waved with Bu Hayya from the park chair when she saw Hanna calling them from the sandbox. Arwaa tries not to show her feelings that are being hit by sadness since her meeting with Aldair yesterday.

Arwaa herself was confused by her heart. He felt like a bad person for having broken Aldair's expectations. Naive indeed, but still he can't lie to his own feelings. Moreover, Arwaa also slowly began to expect happiness with Attalaric.

I don't know Arwaa was so sure about Attalaric's feelings ever since the man told her.

"Goddessa..."

Arwaa turned to look at Bu Hayya who was watching Hanna in front of her.

"What's wrong, ma'am?"

"You... were you happy while you were Mom's daughter-in-law?" Lirih the middle-aged woman who had long since Arwaa considered like her own parents.

Arwaa held Ma Hayya's hand, "Why is Mom talking like that? Of course I'm happy, even for me Mom is like my own mother."

Arwaa's sweet smile fell as soon as she found Bu Hayya's tears dripping down. Gently Arwaa wiped it off Bu Hayya's cheek.

"I'm sorry Mom. I'm just sad to remember that tomorrow Mother and Hanna have to go back to Indonesia. I want to always be close to you, Hanna won't be coming home tomorrow either."

"Mother..." Lirih Arwaa gently stroked the back of her former mother-in-law.

Arwaa doesn't know what else to answer. She still wants Miss Hayya and Hanna to be here with her. But there is no way Arwaa asked for it because after all Bu Hayya must definitely return to take care of Mr. Ahmad. Hanna has entered school.

Arwaa's brows furrowed as Bu Hayya suddenly appeared agitated as he occasionally glanced at her.

"Arawaa..." Not yet did Bu Hayya finish his sentence shouting a man they recognized cut him off.

"MOTHER! HANNA! ARWAA!!"

Arwaa's body stiffened hearing a voice she knew so well, and missed since yesterday. Hayya's mother is seen moving from her seat, and Hanna who immediately runs over while shouting, "DADDY!!"

Slowly Arwaa began to stand up and turned to look at the man wearing a black t-shirt and jeans with matching colors that somehow made the man's figure more charismatic in the eyes of Arwaa.

Astarghfirullah...

Arwaa directly lowered her head. He could feel if his face was definitely red. A sudden nervousness made him unable to stop playing his fingers.

"Mother, look! Daddy dataang!"

Arwaa's head looked up as Hanna's voice called out to her. Her eyes immediately collided with the eyes of the man who was the older brother of her ex-husband.

Arwaa's heart leaflet could not be controlled anymore when Hanna and her father walked closer to her. Arwaa herself did not know why the arrival of Attalaric so suddenly had a tremendous impact, until it could make his blood rustle instantly, also with a warm surge in his heart.

Ma Hayya looked at the three people she loved. In contrast to a man who looked at the scene with a wounded heart from a considerable distance yet could still capture the painful scene clearly.

That man is Aldair.

***