Will Not Be Substituted

Chapter 38: The Pain

The time had already shown at eight o'clock the night Caca went inside her in-laws' house. Dahaga who had been approaching since, brought Caca's steps into the kitchen. The girl poured water after taking the glass from the shelf. Then, slowly swallow it. Enjoying every drop of water with gratitude.

When the clear liquid was toilet, Nabila the mother-in-law entered the kitchen. Greet Caca a glance before opening the refrigerator door.

“New home, Ca?” ask Nabila.

“Iya, Bun.” Caca saw what her mother-in-law was doing, then asked her something she rarely asked. “Abi hasn't come home yet, Bun?”

Nabila closed the refrigerator door. “Abi has come home from the afternoon,” replied Nabila before drinking the mango juice he saved since noon.

“Nak work?” ask Caca again. His forehead wailed in wonder.

Nabila's head shook his head. “No, like another ketapean.” The woman moved from her seat. Wash the glass he just used. Before coming out of the kitchen Nabila said, “Abi had not had dinner. From earlier mother knocked on the door did not respond, like your husband slept. Please prepare food for Abi, yes?”

Caca was surprised by Abhimanyu today. It is not usual for the young man to not work. Abhimanyu does not usually sleep in the afternoon. Caca is trying to think positively. She prepared dinner for her husband, just as the mother-in-law ordered.

Caca opened the door of her room with a slight difficulty. When she succeeded, Caca pushed the door with her body. After closing the door Caca saw Abhimanyu lying on his side, hugging himself with a blanket wrapped all over him.

“Bi,” Caca put a tray containing food and drinks for Abhimanyu to the table. He approached the young man who was still in his place.

“Bi, said your mother has not eaten. Eat first, yuk!” Caca shook Abhimanyu's arm, intending to wake her husband up.

Caca frowned looking at Abhimanyu's dead red face. Within this close distance, Caca could feel that Abhimanyu was trembling like he was in the cold. Caca touched Abhimanyu's cheek to confirm something. How surprised Caca when it turns out that Abhimanyu's body temperature is very high.

“Jeez, Abi!” peekik Caca was worried. “Since when have you been like gini?” his question certainly did not get any answer from Abhimanyu.

“Kok can hot gini, anyway?” muttered Caca while putting a small towel that he had squeezed over Abhimanyu's forehead.

Abhimanyu slightly opened his eyes which felt very heavy. The young man muttered softly calling out Caca's name.

“I'm looking for a temporary remedy, yes,” Caca's permission on her husband. The young man nodded and closed his eyes again.

Caca his own confusion when looking for a medicine box. The girl always forgets a lot of things when she panics like this. She even forgot to ask her mother-in-law where the medicine box was located and what medicine her husband used to take at this time. Ten minutes had almost passed, but Caca still had not found the medicine box. Luckily, as she was about to climb back up to her room, Caca noticed the medicine box was at the end of the living room table. Caca could not find it anywhere.

“Drink first, yes.” Caca helped Abhimanyu drink water before and after ingesting the heat-lowering medication. At the moment he can breathe a little. He only waited a few moments until Abhimanyu's body temperature dropped.

Caca was about to stand up when suddenly Abhimanyu blocked his wrist. The girl smiled and asked what happened to her husband.

“Don't go,” said Abhimanyu shrieked, but it can still be heard by Caca.

“Yes, I'll be sure. I turned the plate first, yes.” Caca let go of Abhimanyu's hand slowly. Then, take a step to return the plate containing the food he brought earlier.

After returning to the room, Caca decided to take a shower. His body felt very sticky at this moment. After she finished, the girl again checked Abhimanyu's body temperature with the back of her hand. However, it turned out that Abhimanyu's body temperature was still the same as before only dropped slightly.

“I slept here, huh? nemenin you,” permission Caca without caring whether Abhimanyu heard it or not.

Caca fell down beside Abhimanyu. He rubbed the young man's arm and soon fell asleep, falling into a dream.