Giving Birth to My Brother
4. Galang

"What are you saying, Sinta?" ariel did not take it.

"That's best for you, Mom." Sinta cupped Ariel's face with her hands.

Ariel shook her head slowly, she took Sinta's hand and held it. "No, Sin. Won't do. You know I just love you. You are not replaceable."

"But I can't love you son, Mas," Sinta said again.

"Children's problems .. we can think about later. You just need to heal yourself, Sin. Look," Ariel said as Sinta reopened her lips, "we can adopt tomorrow's child if we really want to have children."

"What about your parents? They won't accept a daughter-in-law like me, Mas. They even opposed our marriage because I was just .. I'm a poor boy, Mas. Now, I'm .. I'm getting worthless, Mom."

Ariel took a deep breath. He straightened his hair while he straightened himself. "We don't need to tell them. For the moment."

"Then? They'll ask where our baby is? Their grandchildren should be born next month!"

"We can't lie about the accident, we can tell the truth, but the matter of removing your uterus, we can keep it a secret from them."

Sinta laughed bitterly. What does it mean to hide all that? Just like her, maybe they can let go of her dead baby. However, they also wanted a grandson, an heir. And at any moment, he would never be able to give it to them.

"I'd have said, someday we can adopt a baby or .. We can find another way," said Ariel reassured.

Both eyes of Sinta are in a pattern. "The other way? What do you mean?"

"We'll talk about it next time, honey. I want you to rest now. Child problem, I don't want you to think too hard right now. Plis, you're healthy, yes" said Ariel.

Sinta looked at her husband questioningly. Although Ariel said she was fine with her current condition, she still felt uneasy. He had hoped to give birth to a baby and could provide happiness in the Ariel family, he also hoped that both Ariel's parents could accept him more as a daughter-in-law.

He and Ariel may be able to keep her condition a secret from Ariel's parents. They can also adopt a baby someday, but can they accept it? They must have wanted Ariel's biological baby, someone who inherited her DNA, someone similar to Ariel's.

"Mas," called Sinta suddenly. He just remembered, he had an accident with Elin. "Where is Elin's condition? I had an accident with Elin, Mas."

"Elin is fine," Ariel replied coldly. He was still angry with Elin.

"You sure? Was he also seriously injured?" ask Sinta guessing.

"He's not papa, you don't have to think about Elin."

Sinta opened her lips, without Ariel talking, she knew something was making her husband look sour. "Why are you, Mas? Since last night you've been here? You don't look at your sister?"

"I told you he's fine, Sin. He's an adult so he can take care of himself. Maybe now, he's called his friend to come here."

Sinta turned her gaze to the table and nightstand. "Have you taken my phone? Are all my things the same as Elin's taken from the car?"

"Not yet, it seems like all the items were secured by the police. I haven't been there yet" said Ariel.

"Ehm, if that's for sure Elin hasn't got her phone yet, Mas. Try to take it first, you see Elin's condition. Don't you think he's alone, Mom."

Ariel took a deep breath. "Terror me, Sin," said Ariel, "yesterday why are you and Elin able to go that far from home? You're not just out for lunch, are you?"

"Yes. Elin needs a new laptop, so we want all to come out" replied Sinta. He looked at the face of Ariel. "Why? Are you angry with Elin?"

"All because of Elin. He should not carelessly take you away like that," said Ariel. He stood up and tidied up Sinta's blanket. "I'm out right away, I told the nurse to let you wait for ya."

Sinta pulled Ariel's hand when her husband said goodbye. "It was an accident, Mas. Don't be mad at Elin."

Ariel left Sinta's room after she made sure Sinta was comfortable and accompanied by a nurse.

***

Meanwhile, Elin was shocked by the arrival of Galang. The man actually came to his room. In fact, Galang brought some food for him.

"You alone? Not here you live with your brother, El," said Galang.

"Ehm, yes, sir. I had an accident with my sister-in-law. So, Brother Ariel must take care of Ms. Sinta."

"Ah, so you're not waiting?" Galang.

Elin smiled faintly. "No problem, sir. I am not very sick. I can go home tomorrow too."

"But you'll definitely need help if you want to go to the toilet or you want to eat." Galang looked at Elin's right arm wrapped in bandages. "You can't eat well with your bandaged hands."

"It can be, sir. Just calm down."

Galang clucked in annoyance. He had been back and forth reminding Elin to be relaxed when they were out of work. "You don't have to call me that, El. We are no longer working."

"It's not good, sir." Elin shook her head slowly. "By the way, Mr Galang just where can I go directly here?"

"It's not far from here" replied Galang. "Ehm, you're hungry, right? Let's eat first. I brought chicken soup. You like it, don't you?"

"Ah, just later, sir."

Galang seemed to not heed what Elin said. Because without excuse, the man started setting the dining table for Elin. He had seen the hospital food tray still intact, meaning Elin had not had lunch. So, he deliberately asked Elin to eat now.

"I'm sure you're hungry, El. Come on, eat first." Galang scooped a mouthful of broth and thrust it into the front of Elin's lips.

"I can eat alone, sir."

"Call mas, or Galang. We are only two years apart" said Galang with a demanding tone. Both of his eyes were fixated on a pair of Elin's brownish beads.

"It's not good that anyone is horrified, sir." Elin tried to grab the spoon in Galang's hand, but the man quickly pulled it. "I can eat by myself."

"Your right hand hurts. You must be in trouble if you eat with your hands. If you eat alone, I'm sure you will not run out much" said Galang. He raised his eyebrows, making Elin finally give up. Galang smiled in satisfaction as Elin accepted her first bribe. "Well, that's dong. No need to, El. Your hands rest a lot first. You have to write a lot of scripts in the future. We have many projects. So you focus on getting well, I'll bribe you."

Elin laughed at Galang's words. "There's no way I'm being bribed you keep, Mom."

Galang's smile widened hearing Elin had already changed the call for him. "Well, if you call me, it's good to be horrified. We're not in the office. So just relax. Eat again, aak!"

When he picked up the tissue, he stretched it out to Elin. Although Elin still felt somewhat uneasy with Galang's attention, she was also not at ease to refuse. Galang was always good to her, it made Elin remember all the attention given by Ariel before she married. He still remembered, when he was sick, Ariel would definitely panic and treat him with affection.

"It's a drink first" Galang said when Elin suddenly choked. "Slowly eat it, I'm not in a hurry to bribe it."

"Sorry, Mas. I'm a really laper." Elin chuckled as she placed her glass on the table.

He laughed at Elin's words. He had liked Elin for a long time, but approaching Elin was not easy. He put all his charms in front of Elin. This time, he hopes to take Elin's heart.

Without the two of them noticing, since just now, Ariel had already observed them from the doorway. He could not believe the sight before his eyes. He intended to deliver Elin's phone and bring food to his sister. But apparently someone came first.

"You can laugh like that, El. While Sinta and I are grieving!"