*****
That night, Almira and Zora cooked dinner together. Even though she wasn't feeling well, Almira tried her best to comfort her new family member.
"Almira."
"Yes, Mom."
"Where did Aksa go?" Zora asked.
"Aksa didn't tell me where he was going. He said he had something to do," Almira replied.
Almira, busy with her vegetables, didn't realize that Zora was constantly watching her movements.
"Almira... I hope you can be more patient with Aksa. Aksa is different from Galang. He's quieter, more withdrawn. He seems less concerned about his surroundings. But he's actually a good kid."
"Yes, Mom. It's still hard to understand that Almira and Aksa are married now. Aksa has saved Almira and our family, Mom."
"I can't believe it either, Mir. Aksa wants to do it. He called yesterday and said he couldn't come home for your and Galang's wedding. But God made his steps easier. Aksa came home and saved us all."
"Please pray for Almira and Aksa, okay? So that we will always be patient in our marriage," Almira asked, looking at Zora.
Zora smiled at her daughter-in-law.
"Of course, dear. Mom and Dad will always pray for you. So that you can be together forever. Mom hopes you and Aksa can maintain your marriage. May love grow quickly between you and Aksa."
Almira nodded slowly. The vegetables were cooked and she placed them in a bowl.
"And about Galang..."
"Mom, let's not talk about Galang anymore. Almira is now Aksa's wife. She will try to forget her feelings for him little by little."
"Are you angry with Galang?" Zora asked hesitantly.
"Maybe more like disappointment, Mom. All this time, Almira has been too dependent and hopeful on Galang. She's even blind to what he's hiding from her. She can't even tell the difference between honest words and lies. Everything sounded sweet when we were together. We had so many dreams we wanted to make come true together," Almira replied, sitting down on the kitchen chair.
A few seconds later, she smiled at Zora.
"Don't worry, Mom. God willing... Almira won't disappoint you and Dad. Mas Aksa will be Almira's husband until they separate us. Pray for the best for us, Mom," Almira said again.
"Of course, dear. Mom and Dad's prayers will always be with you," Zora replied, smiling back at her daughter-in-law.
"Then, you set the food on the table with Aunt Ijah. Mom wants to call Galang and his wife for dinner together." Zora said, leaving Almira in the kitchen.
*
*
*
In Galang's room, Hilda placed all her things on the dressing table in his room.
"Tomorrow, let's go to the dressing table, honey. I can't get dressed without a big mirror," Hilda whined coquettishly.
"Yes, honey. Tomorrow we'll buy what you need for our room. The main thing is that you have to feel comfortable here," Galang greeted.
"Oh yes, Lang."
Hilda stopped what she was doing when she remembered Galang's phone, which she had checked while they were in Japan.
"Hmmm." Galang just cleared his throat.
"Yesterday, I looked at your phone. Then I read some messages between you and Almira. You said she was just an adopted sister in your family. But I read that your messages to Almira used "darling" (sweetheart). Are you that affectionate every time you chat with Almira?" Hilda asked, a little jealous.
"She's already Mas Aksa's wife. So you're used to calling her 'miss'."
"Just answer my question first. Don't change the subject," Hilda said sharply.
"So you're jealous now?" Galang teased, smiling broadly.
"Should I be jealous of Almira? I'm your wife now."
"So? Why are you making a big deal out of it?"
"I just feel like you're hiding something from me. Earlier at the hotel, I heard that Mas Aksa saved your family name today. What does that mean? Shouldn't Almira have married Mas Aksa?"
Galang's eyes widened, shocked and extremely anxious. His entire body trembled with fear, imagining the secret he'd kept so tightly hidden being revealed by Hilda.
"Don't let her find out that the one Almira was supposed to marry wasn't Mas Aksa, but me," his heart whispered, swallowing the fear that had frozen in his throat.
"Honey..." Galang approached Hilda and stood in front of her.
"Don't think about anyone else anymore. Now focus on our household. You and me. We will be happy together with our future children," Galang said, touching Hilda's cheeks.
"But is it true that there's nothing going on between you and Almira?" Hilda asked again to confirm.
"Do I look like I'm lying?" Galang asked back.
"But I'd be angry if that happened, Lang. I wouldn't be able to stand it if you kept it from me all this time."
"Trust me, Hilda. There's no relationship between Almira and I. It's just an adopted brother and sister," Galang replied.
Hilda smiled in relief. Unbeknownst to her, Galang was keeping a big secret from her.
Hilda, her smile widening, rose from her seat and hugged Galang tightly.
"I have to keep this secret well. Hilda can't know about Almira and I'm together. I can't imagine how angry Hilda would be if she found out," Galang thought.
Knock
Knock
Knock
"Galang," Zora called from outside the room.
Galang released his embrace and opened the door.
CHECK
"Mom..."
"Dinner's ready. Take Hilda downstairs and we'll eat together," Zora suggested.
"Yes, Mom. Hilda and I will go downstairs," Galang replied.
*
*
*
Galang and Hilda came downstairs and joined them at the dining table.
Almira's heart pounded as she watched Galang and Hilda sitting side by side at the dining table. She tried hard to look away, struggling not to stare at them, but her eyes remained drawn to the figure who had once stolen her heart.
"Where's Aksa, Mir?" Galang asked.
Almira didn't answer. She just remained silent and filled her plate with rice.
Galang pretended as if everything was normal, as if nothing had ever happened between him and Almira.
"Aksa went out. He said he had something to do," Zora replied, understanding Almira's silence.
"When are you returning to Japan?" Bastian asked without looking at Galang.
"I'm not going back to Japan, Dad. Hilda and I have decided to stay in Jakarta. And I'm going back to work at the office," Galang replied.
"If you have your own business there, why don't you just come home? Dad can run the company here without you."
"Just leave Galang here. Dad needs to rest at home too, and let Galang help Dad at the office," Zora replied.
"I want Aksa to help at the office, not Galang. Aksa is much more competent at making decisions. Not like this kid. He dares to make decisions and then abandons big problems without thinking about solutions. He's irresponsible," Bastian quipped, ignoring Galang and Hilda's feelings.
Hilda, who didn't understand the situation, just glanced at her husband sitting beside her.
"I promise, Dad. The problems of the past won't happen again. I will be more responsible in making any decisions," Galang replied full of promises.
"Don't just make promises. Learn to fix everything. I've had enough." Bastian said, finishing his meal.
"Almira," Bastian called.
"Yes, Dad," Almira replied.
"When Aksa gets home, take him to eat. He's not used to outside food."
"Yes, Dad."
After saying that, Bastian left the dining table, leaving the others alone.