Giving Birth to My Brother
10. Making Plans

"Are you kidding me?"

Sinta. "I'm serious, Mom. It's the only way to keep up with your parents' requests."

Ariel looked at Sinta in disbelief. "Although it's the only way, but I can't, Sin. You don't be weird."

"You yourself have thought about it, haven't you. There's no harm in you doing that, for the sake of you being able to have offspring, Mas." Sinta rubbed her husband's veiled face. He has set his heart on agreeing to this. "I'm not papa, Mom. I know you didn't mean to betray me. Let's just say you did it for me. Hm?"

Ariel took a deep breath. He sat down as soon as he heard Sinta's words. "Do you want me to act?" ask her with a denouncing tone.

Sinta. He sat down next to Ariel. "No, Mas. You can marry siri. We can keep your marriage a secret. As long as you both agree, I don't have a problem."

"You're crazy, Sin. Don't be reckless" said Ariel. He lowered his legs and immediately got dressed. The sleepiness disappeared instantly because of that nonsensical chatter. With heavy steps, Ariel also walked to the balcony, it feels like she needs fresh air and time alone.

For a few minutes, Ariel remained silent. He thought about Sinta's words to him. That's totally crazy! Maybe Sinta has been very frustrated with his condition. Sinta was also very depressed by the request of her parents. Perhaps, if he was honest with them, they would not sue Sinta again. Sinta can be much calmer. He can talk well with his mother.

However, when Ariel opens her phone, she immediately undoes her intention. If her mother knew Sinta had such reproach, her mother would definitely not be able to accept Sinta as a daughter-in-law anymore. Ariel massaged her temple agitatedly.

Ariel had just lit a cigarette and took a sip when Sinta emerged from the balcony door. Sinta sat next to him with a folded look. Sinta looked like someone had just cried. Saying that must have also tormented his heart.

"Mas, I'm seriously the same as I said. If you don't want to do that, I want us to separate. You can find the perfect woman" Sinta said.

"What are you talking about? I will never divorce you" Ariel said.

"Eat him, do what I want" said Sinta in a persuasive tone. "We just need a baby from another woman."

Ariel put out her cigarette and looked at Sinta closely. "Then, where can I find a woman who will give us a baby? I don't want to sleep with a cheap woman who just wants money. If I want to have a child, I want my child to be born to a good woman."

Sinta was silent at Ariel's words. He took a deep breath, he didn't think about it. Finding a woman who can be paid to borrow her uterus may be easy as long as Ariel is willing to pay for it, but is there a good woman who would want to do that?

"This plan seems simple, dear. But it's not, actually" Ariel said.

"We can definitely find the guy, Mas."

"Udahlah. Don't talk about this anymore" Ariel said. "I'll be sure Mama, if we can't have children yet. We can say that the doctor hasn't allowed you to conceive again."

"Then, are we going to keep lying?" ask Sinta while standing up. "You can sleep with any woman, Mom. You can have children while I never can even if your parents demand."

Sinta left Ariel alone on the balcony. He returned to the room and laid himself down, sobbing. Ariel who was still pondering on the balcony thought again, is this really the best way? If that's the way he should choose, who should he choose for his seed?

***

Elin woke up in her room when the morning came down. He felt his head dizzy from the impact last night. He had been hit hard when the accident months ago, and last night he again experienced something terrible. Looks like he should check himself into the hospital again, he thought inwardly.

"Geez my head" he murmured.

Feeling so bad, Elin decides to call Ariel to get picked up. However, after twice calling Ariel's number, he gave up. Ariel was probably still asleep, he thought. Elin decided to send a message. Not to forget, he sent his location to Ariel.

Elin lay with both eyes staring at the ceiling. His mind floated in the years when he was still in school. If he was sick like this, Ariel was the first to panic. Ariel even once came all the way to camp when he was in High School because he fell in a game. Elin did not want much hope Ariel would come, but she would be very happy if her brother was to pick her up.

The next day, Elin woke up to a knock on the door. He had just returned to sleep after the dawn prayer. And now he's starving. Perhaps, Mirna was knocking, he thought. So he just casually opened the door wearing a nightgown.

"Sir Galang," said Elin shocked.

"Hey, good sleep?" ask Galang.

"Lumayan." Elin just popped her head. "I'm not dad, sir."

"I brought you breakfast, let's eat first. Can I come in?" ask Galang.

Elin looked at her room for a moment, then she nodded slowly. "That's not welcome, sir?"

"Call me," said Galang reminded. He sat in a small chair at the edge of the room and put food on the table. "So Mirna called if she's been picked up by her boyfriend, she kept asking me to check and you're picked up by your sister really not."

"How come Mirna hasn't heard from you?" muttered Elin while looking at her phone. He just realized there were some incoming messages from Mirna. The message for Ariel had already been read, but Ariel did not reply to it. He's getting more and more convinced, Ariel's not coming here.

"You just read?"

"Yes, Mas. I slept again at dawn. My phone is still silent, so I don't know" replied Elin. He glanced at the food brought by Galang. Instantly he wet his lips.

"You report?" asked Galang while laughing. "It's just the same fried cat rice, you want it?"

Elin nodded. Because he was in the countryside, he would not want to eat whatever there is. He also enjoyed a simple breakfast brought by Galang while occasionally telling about the gripping events of last night. "I'm kapok deh nulis horror, tomorrow I'm given a romance ration, Mas."

"Remain calm, this is also a long time project. Later we choose again which is good," said Galang. "Ehm, is there a glass? This is me buying tea but plastik gini."

"Just like it was there." Elin walked quickly to the corner of the room and then picked up the two plastic cups in her bag. He always carries his own glass when traveling out of town. "This, Mas. Let me just stay here."

Elin opened the plastic warm tea carefully, then poured the liquid into the glass, but when he filled the second glass, the contents spilled everywhere. Elin gasped, and so did Galang.

"Okay, sorry!" peekik Elin who saw the pants and shirt wet because of the tea water.

Elin ran to her bag and took the original cloth to wipe Galang's wet chest. The action made Galang feel nervous half to death, he looked at the beautiful face of Elin who was so close to him. Elin did not realize that she was watching him with a faint smile.

"This is not papa, just wet," said Galang while holding Elin's hand.

Elin gasps. "But it's wet."

"No problem." Galang almost tidied up his clothes when suddenly heard the scream of a cell phone. He reached into his cell phone from the bag, lucky his phone is safe from the splash of tea. "Hello ... what? Trance again? Early-morning gini? Uh! Okay fine! I'm going there now." Not saving his phone. "Sorry, El. I have to go to the location again. I think something is important. You ... can be here until you feel better. If no one has picked me up, call me."

Galang left Elin's room and quickly walked down the corridor. He had just buttoned his shirt that was open because of Elin's actions just now, he immediately put on a jacket while walking because the air there was quite cold. Because he walked quickly while looking down he did not realize that he had crossed paths with Ariel. Both of Ariel's eyes had been staring at Galang. He wanted to greet Galang and ask about Elin's condition, but he only clucked in annoyance.

"Why did you get out of Elin's room?"