Substitute Woman
Empathy

All Ivanka's funeral processions were simple. Ryan looked so strong to see his mother's departure. She didn't cry at all. He was silent and silent, watching the adults take care of his mother's body. Until the last second Ivanka's body was put into a burrow. Ryan did not cry a bit. But his eyes looked empty and empty.

"Cry, don't hold back" Kanaya's warm and gentle hug on Ryan's tiny body.

"No, I'm a strong boy. Mama says I'm a great kid and I can't be a whiny. Don't lose to the ever cruel world. Mama said that Ryan would live happily. Unlike my mother whose life suffered" Ryan's words seemed to slap Adrian who listened to the honest speech of the little boy.

Adrian felt a part in making Ivanka's life suffer. If Ivanka wasn't too obsessed with having her, she probably wouldn't have made Ivanka's life miserable and tormented. After getting harassment from her stepfather, Ivanka turns into a wild and cunning girl.

Adrian can no longer turn back time to correct the mistakes he has made with Ivanka. Moreover, he sacrificed himself for the safety of Kanaya as well as the child in her womb. Adrian is determined and promises to himself, he will repay Ivanka's kindness by taking care of Ryan.

Niki, who hates Ivanka, also escorts Ivanka's departure. Niki could not help but feel her sadness as her eyes looked at Ryan who stood still to see her mother put in her final resting hole. Occasionally it was seen him sweeping his wet eyes by a clear circle. Niki's heart felt sliced considering that the little boy had already lost the figure of the person who had given birth to him and looked after him all this time. Unable to power, Niki steps her foot toward Ryan. Stand next to him and squat parallel to Ryan's height.

"Great boy, strong boy. Don't be ashamed, honey, if you want to cry. The boy was crying not because of the crybaby but signifying he was great" Niki gently rubbed Ryan's wet cheeks due to the tears that kept flowing. Niki grabbed Ryan's body and hugged him tightly.

"Cry, wash away all your sorrow. Don't be arrested, don't be ashamed. Everyone loves you yes" Niki cried can not bear to see the misfortune experienced by Ryan. She was so small as to see and accept the fact that her mother died from murder. Ryan finally cried in Niki's arms. Just now he saw his mother put in the ground. Now the feeling of longing and really losing he felt. Despite holding back from being sad, the truth was that he could not be as strong as what his mother had said.

***

"Dw, Dio. Ryan will stay with us. I'm the same Adrian has decided to adopt him" Dio just silently heard the narration from Kanaya. Although the heart wants to take care of his son, but he does not want to offend Ades. As for Ades, he felt restless. On the one hand he has not been able to accept the presence of Ryan. On the one hand he feels too selfish if separating a father and his son. He needs to think about deciding all that.

"Why are you quiet?" asked Kanaya who was slightly astonished by the awkwardness of the two of them.

"Oh no, brother, it's just. Can I see Ryan later?" ask Dio who gives the answer that Ryan will stay with Kanaya. Ades was a little happy her husband decided to prefer her over his son with Ivanka.

"Of course you can, you can go see him".

"Otherwise my children will also come to Jakarta. So Ryan's gonna have a playmate with his new brother" Kanaya's words seem to pierce Ades's heart. New brother, that word so greatly made his heart ache. He felt that he was being insinuated by Kanaya, even though Kanaya was just talking about telling the truth.

"Sister, we go home first. I feel a little dizzy" said Ades who immediately asked permission to leave home. His face turned slightly sour. It seems he is upset. Kanaya thought Ades was just feeling a little exhausted.

"I said I went home first brother" said Ades after hugging Kanaya. Ades' eyes looked at Ryan who was now sitting next to Adrian. Seen the gaze of the little boy so wanted to be invited home by Ades. His sad face was so bleak that he stared at Dio. But Ades did not budge and set foot to go home.

Along the way home, Ades and Dio remained silent. There was no warm and light talk that they often did. The atmosphere between them was both awkward and silent. It was as if the two of them had just had a big fight.

"Mas, the day after I checked the contents" Ades started to open the conversation.

"Is there a problem with your stomach, baby?" dio asked attention then ventured into holding Ades' hand. Ades smiled at Dio. Dio was sincerely worried and concerned for him.

"Sometimes I feel a little sour, it seems like the baby is starting to move actively" Ades said.

"Aren't you now?" said Dio.

"Just the day after. I want to rest, later if I feel better. We went to Kanaya's house. We look at Ryan" Dio's face immediately sparkled after the words thrown by Ades to visit Ryan. Ades can see, if Dio is very caring and affectionate to his son. Her heart now felt a little pain, finding the fact her husband was dear to Ryan. But that is a natural thing. But for Ades it was a pain that attacked him.

"Do you want to take care of Ryan?" Ades tried to dare himself to ask. Dio shook his head.

"You don't have to think anything. It's just that I feel how to live without parents" Ades once again felt slapped with words. She felt so selfish not giving Ryan the chance to stay with her.

Ades remembered where he had to fight for his own life when his mother died. His mother who always protected himself from the rage of his father when he was drunk. Facts that made him unable to forget the incident of his mother died. His father was the one who killed his mother. Hit him blindly until his mother's head vessel ruptured due to being hit against the wall.

"I want to be Ryan's mother, I want to take Ivanka's place to protect her" Ades said with eyes still glaring in light of her mother's departure.

"What's up, baby? Don't think too much. Let's talk about this another time. You better rest first. You look so tired" Dio rubbed Ades' head gently.

He loved her so much and cared about her. Especially the condition of the middle two bodies. It greatly affected her emotions and her psyche as a new mother. That's what always makes Dio so keep the feelings of Ades. His mother always told Dio to always be a standby husband like his late father. He did it with all his heart without feeling burdened.