Alvian took his mobile phone out of his trouser pocket. As soon as he opened it, he saw dozens of missed calls and dozens of messages. Alvian ignored them. He could guess that they were from his mother, grandmother or Riana because he had left the engagement party without saying goodbye.
"Oh my God, Al. Where have you been? Auntie and Grandma are furious because you ruined tonight and embarrassed us!" Galih's long rant was an annoying welcome when the call connected. But Alvian wasn't the type to care.
"Please hurry over here, bring me some clean clothes and my wallet that I left in the room!" Instead of responding to Galih's scolding, Alvian gave orders as he pleased.
"Where are you now?"
"I'm at Cipta Harapan Hospital," he replied. "Oh yeah, don't tell anyone I'm here. Including mum, grandma, especially Riana!"
"Why not? What are you doing there anyway? Why didn't you hurry back to the hotel earlier? Do you realise what kind of mess you've made?"
Alvian's breathing sounded heavy. "It's a long story, I'll explain later. Just bring what I asked for now!"
Actually, Galih's heart was still filled with irritation. Alvian had really caused him trouble tonight. However, hearing Alvian's flat tone, he chose not to ask too many questions.
"Alright, alright, wait! Which hospital was it again?"
"Cipta Harapan. The maternity ward."
"I'll be right there."
"But remember, don't let Mum or anyone else find out I'm here."
The call ended. Alvian leaned back in the waiting room chair. He felt confused about himself. Actually, Alvian felt he didn't need to care that much about Aylin. But his heart couldn't ignore her. After all, he was the first man to touch Aylin, even though the child she gave birth to wasn't his.
***
Alvian was still sitting in the waiting room when he saw Galih coming from a distance, carrying a paper bag in his hand. The man was surprised to see his boss's shirt covered in blood stains.
"What happened?" Galih's voice broke the silence of the night.
"It's nothing. I was just helping someone."
What? Helping someone? Galih's jaw dropped. It was amazing that the honourable Mr Alvian cared about other people. Alvian had always been known as a somewhat arrogant person who didn't care about other people's business.
"So you left your engagement party just to help someone? Wasn't there anyone else at the hotel?" Galih's sarcastic question made Alvian snort in annoyance.
"Never mind! Where are the clean clothes?"
"Here! The wallet is in there too!" Holding back his irritation, Galih handed the paper bag in his hand to Alvian. Without a word, the man headed straight for the toilet not far from the waiting room.
After changing his blood-stained clothes, Alvian returned to the waiting room. Galih was still waiting there faithfully.
"Why are you still here?" Alvian asked. He thought Galih had gone home after handing over the clothes earlier.
Galih looked up at his boss and cousin. He still looked angry. "Do you think I'm a ghost who comes without being picked up and goes without being taken home?"
"That's not funny!"
Alvian sat down next to Galih. He stared blankly at the operating room door, which had not yet opened.
Until 30 minutes later...
"The patient's husband?" A doctor's call broke Alvian's reverie.
"Yes." Alvian immediately stood up and approached the doctor. This made Galih stare in surprise. How could Alvian claim to be the husband of the woman he had just helped?
"How is Aylin, Doctor?"
The woman seemed a little hesitant. She took a breath before speaking. "For now, the patient is still under the influence of anaesthesia. The baby was born safely, a boy. But I'm sorry to say that your child is in a weak condition. His weight is also low and he needs immediate treatment."
For the umpteenth time, Alvian felt as if a needle had pierced his chest. His baby was underweight. Alvian could guess that during her pregnancy, Aylin had lived in poverty and was unable to provide adequate nutrition for the baby in her womb.
"All right, Doctor. Please do your best for him."
The doctor asked Alvian to accompany him into the operating room. Upon arriving inside, Alvian glanced at Aylin, who was still lying weakly on the patient bed. Her body was covered only by a green cloth. In the corner of the room was a baby box. A nurse had just laid the little baby inside.
Slowly, Alvian approached the baby box. He mustered the courage to look at the tiny baby lying there.
And time seemed to stand still as Alvian gazed at the baby's face. How could it not? The little baby born from Aylin's womb had a face that resembled Alvian's. They were like two peas in a pod. The shape of the face, nose, and lips.
With his heart racing, Alvian reached for the small, weak body. He held it close to his chest. He felt a warmth when he hugged it. The tears he had been holding back finally fell.
The baby's weak cries managed to soften the hard heart of Alvian Setyo Darmawan.
***
"Your child's condition is quite worrying. His weight is low and he is very weak physically. While waiting for preparations to be made in the NICU, perhaps we can try the skin-to-skin method first."
"What method?" Alvian looked at the doctor, not understanding what he meant by skin-to-skin. The doctor slowly explained the great benefits of this method.
"This method is commonly called the kangaroo method. It involves holding the baby against the mother's or father's chest with skin-to-skin contact. Besides helping premature babies warm their bodies, it can also help stabilise their heart rate and increase their weight."
Alvian paused for a moment, not rejecting the doctor's suggestion. For now, he would do anything to save the baby.
"Alright, Doctor."
Now she sits leaning back in a chair wearing special clothing. Her shirt is unbuttoned so that the baby can rest on her chest without any obstruction. Skin-to-skin contact.
It is said that every parent has a strong emotional bond with their child. Alvian is truly proving that now. As he holds the tiny baby, his tears flow unceasingly. There is a pain that pierces him ever deeper.
The weak cries, the cold body, and the baby's blue skin in some areas were truly tormenting his heart. The innocent baby had to experience the harshness of life even before being born. If only he could, Alvian would like to apologise for letting the baby grow up without attention and protection.
For nearly 30 minutes, he pondered, absorbing the warmth created by every touch. Alvian also recited the call to prayer. Like a miracle, the handsome little baby showed a lot of progress. He began to cry loudly, and his movements were not as weak as before.
Finally, a doctor came back.
"That's enough for now. The baby needs to be taken to the NICU for treatment."
Alvian slowly let go of the baby, even though he really didn't want to. Being together had made him feel all kinds of emotions. He felt like he had something precious that he had to protect.
The doctor laid the baby in the box, then quickly checked its heart rate and physical condition. He smiled afterwards. "Thank God, the heart rate is starting to normalise and the skin is no longer blue."
When the baby's heart rate gradually normalised, it was Alvian's heart rate that suddenly became abnormal. Since touching the baby's skin, he had felt really strange. His heart was beating fast and he felt a warmth spreading through his chest. Besides that, he felt an incredible sense of relief.
"Thank you, Doctor. Please give him the best treatment. No matter how much it costs, it's fine."
"We will try our best," said the woman. "Oh yes, where are the baby's supplies? I looked for them earlier but couldn't find them."
Alvian only then realised that. Baby supplies? Could it be that Aylin didn't have any? Considering how difficult her life had been lately. Let alone buying baby supplies. Just being able to eat was already a blessing.
"It seems there aren't any yet, Doctor."
"In that case, perhaps they can be prepared. Baby clothes, blankets, and nappies."
"Alright, Doctor."
When a nurse pushed the baby box out of the operating room, Alvian just stared at it blankly. His attention then shifted to Aylin, who would soon be transferred to the VVIP ward as she had requested.
He approached her and looked at her pale face. One of his hands reached out to stroke the top of her head.
"I'm sorry, Aylin. You have to be strong."
Galih's reverie was interrupted by the ringing of his mobile phone. He immediately took the flat object out of his blazer pocket. The name on the screen made his whole body tense up.
"Oh no, Aunt Veny. What should I do?" He scratched his head in frustration. It was clear that Mama Veny was calling to ask about Alvian's whereabouts.
Galih ignored the first call. However, Aunt Veny did not give up. The phone rang several times, causing its owner to give in and press the green button on the screen to answer the call.
"Yes, Auntie," he replied in a slightly weak voice.
"Galih, have you found Alvian yet?"
Galih paused for a moment. For Alvian's sake, this time he would lie to Mama Veny. "No, Auntie. Alvian hasn't answered the phone or replied to my messages."
"Oh my goodness, where on earth is that boy? Which hospital did he take the woman he helped to?" Auntie's tone sounded annoyed.
"I don't know yet, Auntie. I'm still looking for him."
"Alright, if you hear anything, please let me know right away, okay?"
"Alright."
Galih finally breathed a sigh of relief after the call ended. Immediately after that, the operating room door opened, revealing Alvian. Galih could see the worried expression on his cousin's face.
"Al, who was the woman you helped earlier?" Galih asked after Alvian sat down beside him.
Alvian didn't answer the question right away. He looked hesitant. Galih, who knew his cousin's character well, patted him on the shoulder.
"Just be honest, who knows, maybe I can help. I promise I'll keep it a secret."
Alvian sighed heavily. He leaned back and stared at the ceiling. Actually, he was a little hesitant to tell Galih, considering his closeness to his mother and grandmother. However, this time he tried to trust his cousin.
"Do you remember the night of PT. Axc's anniversary?"
Galih's mind immediately turned to a company that had a partnership with their company. Yes, that night Alvian had attended the company's anniversary party with Riana.
"I remember. That night you suddenly disappeared and made Riana upset."
"Yes, it all started that night. I'm not sure, but it seems like someone put a stimulant in my drink."
Galih's eyes widened in disbelief. "A stimulant?"
"Yes."
Galih still looked sceptical, even quite shocked. "But who would dare to do that?"
Alvian massaged his head, which suddenly felt like it was throbbing. "I don't know. There were many guests that night and I talked to a lot of new people."
"You don't intend to investigate it? What if someone is trying to frame you?"
"I haven't had time. I don't know what happened that night. So I contacted Bara and asked him to find me a woman." Alvian paused to take a breath. The guilt over what happened that night came back.
"This is crazy! But what does the woman you brought to the hospital have to do with that night?" He looked at him suspiciously. "Could it be...."
Alvian nodded slowly. "Yes, that woman was Aylin, the one I took to the hospital earlier."
For a moment, Galih felt like he had lost his mind. He knew very well what Alvian was like, always very careful in his relationships with women. It was highly unlikely that he would spend a night with a call girl.
"You mean, you spent the night with a call girl?"
"I'm not that crazy to be with just any woman!"
"Okay, okay, I understand." Galih was still digesting every word Alvian had said and forming his own conclusions in his mind. "So you mean that woman gave birth to a child from that night?"
Alvian nodded slowly. Although Aylin had previously claimed to be pregnant by another man, Alvian was convinced that the baby boy was his.
"Are you sure it's your child? It's possible that the woman is pregnant by another man, right?" Galih wanted to be sure. No matter what, he had to be wary of the people around Alvian. He could be set up for someone else's gain.
"Come on, follow me to the nursery." Alvian stood up from his seat. He walked ahead towards the special room for babies. Galih followed behind him until they arrived at a room with glass walls.
Both of them could only look through the window, as the room was off-limits to anyone except medical staff and the baby's parents. Fortunately, Aylin's baby was in the row closest to the window. Alvian could recognise her from the bracelet with Aylin's name on it, wrapped around her right wrist.
As if crushed by a large boulder, Alvian felt his chest tighten unbearably. The little baby was lying there with medical equipment attached to her body, fighting for her life with her weak body.
"That's the baby." Alvian pointed to one of the babies in the incubator.
Galih's gaze followed Alvian's pointing finger. He looked at the baby intently and carefully. He was surprised and amazed. The baby was indeed a miniature reflection of Alvian. Anyone would assume that they were father and son. No wonder Alvian was so sure.
"Oh my goodness, no wonder. Even without a DNA test, that baby can prove whose child he is. He's just like you," said Galih.
Again, Alvian nodded. He wanted so badly to hug his baby like he had before. To kiss his soft, smooth cheek.
"He was born prematurely and his body is still very weak."
For the first time, Galih saw a sad look in Alvian's eyes.
"So, if that baby is really yours, what about the mother? Will you take responsibility and marry her, or just take the child?"
Galih's question left Alvian speechless.
"I will take responsibility for the child. No matter what, he is still my child and I cannot let him live abandoned," Alvian said after a moment of silence.
"What about the mother?"
"I will give her a very large amount of compensation. So Aylin doesn't have to worry about her future and she can move on with her life after this."
Shaking his head, Galih sighed softly. He had expected that kind of answer from Alvian. Sometimes men can be so selfish and only think of themselves. Alvian was a prime example.
"It's easy for you to take someone else's child. Aylin isn't that stupid to just give up her child. Even though you're the father."
Yes, of course. Alvian was aware of that. Aylin had even denied it and said that the child in her womb was not Alvian's. However, after feeling a strong emotional bond with the baby, there was no reason for Alvian to doubt it. In fact, he didn't even need to do a DNA test to prove who the baby's biological father was.
"But I don't think Aylin would mind. Besides, she wouldn't be able to raise the child alone with her difficult life."
"The proof is that she was able to keep your child in her womb until birth." Galih patted his shoulder. "Bro, you do have a lot of money. But a child still needs both parents."
"But Aylin and I can't be together."
"If you can have a child together, why can't you raise it together?"
The taunting words made Alvian snort in annoyance. His heart was still filled with disappointment when Riana told him that Aylin was just a call girl. Not to mention the testimony of Aylin's neighbours some time ago, who clearly stated that Aylin had left with a foreign man. Even though Alvian was the first man to touch her, Aylin was still a former lover of another man, and it was taboo for Alvian to eat leftovers.
"I don't want a wife who is a former call girl!" Alvian snapped angrily.
"How do you know she's a prostitute when you were the one who deflowered her? Besides, think about it, Al, who would sell themselves while pregnant?" Once again, Galih's blunt words silenced Alvian. Unavoidably, Galih's words opened his mind a little.
Alvian took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Everything Galih said was true. But now it wasn't just a matter of responsibility. There were many things Alvian had to consider. Including the honour of the Darmawan family.
"You're right. But what about Grandma and Mum? They'll be furious if they find out about this. They might even reject the child."
Galih understood Alvian's concerns. Galih also knew Mama Veny and Grandma's characters very well. The presence of a child born out of wedlock would certainly tarnish the Darmawan family's good name.
***