Giving Birth to My Brother
57. Room with Ariel

"Don't be pretentious to care about me! I only care about this baby, right? I'm worried that the baby's why!"

Ariel took a deep breath. "I'm worried about you too. Very!" Ariel grabbed Elin's hand and pulled it. "No need to talk carelessly, I was really anxious when you left. We're going to your room now. I really don't want you to get sick."

Elin was still pouting, but she complied because she was already very cold. While walking next to Ariel, she glanced at the man who was her husband. Ariel looks so messy. The white shirt just sticks out from the trousers on the back. Even Ariel's hair didn't look neatly combed.

"So far away from the motel, you walk on the beach alone or you make a deal with Galang?" ask Ariel.

"I didn't make a deal. Galang suddenly appeared. He's got a job, again" replied Elin. "I'm so scared, so I'm out but I don't realize I've come all the way to the beach."

"You should have brought a jacket, it's really cold here" Ariel said as they entered the motel lobby.

Elin pulled Ariel's arm now. He pushed the button up in the elevator and waited for the box to open the door. Elin pressed the 7th button there and with Ariel, she was in the same elevator for a few seconds. Elin thumped hard when the elevator door opened, she was going to her room with Ariel. Will Ariel spend the night there? Will they sleep 1 bed?

"Aren't you going to rent another room?" ask Elin. He looked at Ariel as they arrived at the door. Nervously, Elin opened the door.

"I can sleep on the sofa," Ariel said after noticing the contents of the room.

Elin simply raised her eyebrows. Well, it's not what he just imagined! And he regretted imagining the dirty things in his mind.

"You actually live here for 5 nights and 5 days?" ariel asked while sitting in the chair that Elin had used to work.

"Yes. I rented it for 7 days. I'm leaving after this" replied Elin.

"Where?"

"I don't know. Unthought. But I don't want to go home." Elin sat on the edge of the bed until she could face Ariel.

"You have to go home, you know that. We have per ...."

"I know we have a deal!" cut Elin. He shook slowly. "But it feels like I can't stay with Brother and Sister Sinta anymore. I. .. don't worry, I'll love this baby after he's born."

Ariel looked at Elin with an erratic feeling. Her lips twitched softly, but she did not know what to say to persuade Elin or to make her feel better.

"Baby girl. I went to the doctor this afternoon" Elin said. He took out a picture of the USG and stretched it out to Ariel. "13 centimeters, 155 grams. He's healthy."

Ariel stared at the photo of the fetus intently. His eyes condensed instantly as he remembered the face of his dead baby. He could not forget the lifeless little baby that he could only hug for a few times. The baby was not breathing, so pale and cold. He had not even agreed to give the baby a name. However, when buried, Ariel immediately called him Arinta.

"Alhamdulillah, I'm glad that he's okay and so healthy" said Ariel. He put the picture on the table and looked back at Elin. "How are you? Are you okay too? Have you eaten?"

Elin nodded though now her stomach felt empty again after getting tired of walking around.

"I'm hungry" said Ariel. "I haven't had a shower yet and I don't have a change of clothes."

"So I can order room service. But this is so bad."

"Warm as possible" replied Elin.

"OKAY. You wait here. Don't forget, you have to open the door if I knock. And, activate your phone." Elin did not respond to Ariel's words. "Click, you don't want to make Mama and Papa worried, right if you can't be contacted?"

"Okay" replied Elin.

Ariel nodded then he rubbed the top of Elin's head and grabbed Elin who was still sitting on the edge of the bed. "We're not done talking, we have to eat something first so we can talk calmly. Okay?"

Elin nodded with her heart pounding uncomfortably. He looked at Ariel who soon vanished behind the door. Ariel will come again to this room. To him. Inevitably, Elin smiled faintly. Somehow, he still likes it.

***

Ariel came back with a lot of food. There is grilled chicken plus warm white rice, ginger wedang and some snacks purchased at the minimarket. Ariel also bought some clothes for her. I don't know where Ariel bought it, thought Elin.

"I'm glad you can eat like this" said Ariel. He saw Elin squeezing the rice wrapping paper and the clean chicken was left unnoticed.

"I'm laper now. It was real eating, '" replied Elin. He's even gained weight. The doctor said that he could experience a weight spike after the first 3 months he lost weight.

"Not what, it's important that you're healthy. Our baby too" said Ariel.

Elin widened her eyes when Ariel called the baby our baby. Did he hear wrong again? Or did Ariel say that?

"I want to take a shower, I don't shower all day. It's midnight" said Ariel.

"Yes, I throw out the same garbage wash my hands first" Elin said as she collected the trash into a plastic bag.

"You wash your hands. Let me throw it away. You're so sleepy, aren't you?"

Elin nodded. He was very sleepy and wanted to go to sleep soon. He washed his hands, brushed his teeth and washed his face, then returned to the room. There he was made pounding because Ariel had just removed his shirt and singlet to show his field chest and wide back. Elin's face heated up instantly.

Elin laid herself on the bed with Ariel on her back. He was already pounding uncomfortably because of the sight of those few seconds. Before long, he heard the sound of water colliding with Ariel's body. Well, Ariel must be in the shower. Elin's imagination was working.

"What do I think?" Elin turned to look at the bathroom door that was not tightly closed. Ah, he didn't know if Ariel was intentional or not, but this bothered him. Not wanting to imagine the wild, Elin also put a headset on her phone. He tuned his favorite songs to dampen the crazy thoughts in his head. Besides, Ariel's gonna sleep on the couch. Why would he think of such absurd things!

Elin tries to sleep, but she can't. His sleepiness seemed to evaporate even though he had listened to songs. He even more pounding when smelling the fresh aroma of Ariel shampoo. The man must have finished his bath, thought Elin.

Inevitably Elin also opened his eyes even though he did not dare to look. It's not safe to be in 1 room with Ariel. Elin was pounding even more as she felt the fresh scent growing sharper on her nose. Is Ariel approaching or combing her hair?

The question was answered when Elin felt the side of her mattress slipping on the back of her back. Elin's heart seemed to be about to explode right now, when Ariel's cold hand landed on her stomach from behind. Before long, Elin felt her back was already plastered by Ariel's hard chest. Oh, this is crazy!

"The atmosphere is narrow, I sleep here."