The Substitute Bride of my Best Friend
Standby Husband

A long night has been passed by a couple. Shaka became more attentive since knowing his wife was now three-bodied. Yes, three bodies! Not two-bodied because in Zahira's stomach there are two healthy growing fetuses in there.

To avoid something that is not desirable, Shaka agreed to keep the news of the pregnancy of the wife of everyone. Only his two families and Hanna-Zahira's co-workers accompanied his wife to the gynaecology. He did it all for the common good because he was worried that there would be an illness 'ain who quietly came and then had a bad impact on the content of his beloved wife.

"How, what's so good?" shaka asked as he moved closer to his wife who had just come out of the bathroom. This morning Zahira again experienced morning sickness and it made her feel tormented.

Zahira's body felt weak, powerless. The woman helped Shaka sit on the edge of the bed. "Udah meningan anyway, but still a little nauseous," he replied softly. The woman's stomach was torn apart by invisible hands. The woman's face looked pale, cold sweat began to appear on her forehead.

Shaka who could not bear to see the suffering of his wife immediately pulled Zahira's shoulder, then held her tightly. "I'm sorry for making you suffer. If only the pain could be transferred, I would be willing to replace you." Her heart ached when she witnessed how Zahira suffered when she was pregnant with their first child.

In her frail state Zahira said, "Don't say that, this is my role as a woman! I have no problem with nausea and vomiting every morning. Anyways, conditions like this won't last long. After entering the second teimester, it will usually subside on its own. So you don't have to worry about me, do you?" Zahira tries to comfort Shaka from constantly blaming himself.

To be honest Zahira does feel tormented every time you experience nausea and vomiting in the morning, but realize that what happened to him at this time is a stage that must be passed during pregnancy. After all, all Eve who have been married and have children must have felt it.

"But still I can't bear to see you tormented." Shaka said with regret. Shaka's eyes glazed over when he imagined how Rini had conceived him for nine months, must have suffered as much as Zahira felt today.

Now Shaka understands why God commands His people to honor a mother and says that heaven is under the soles of the mother's feet because conceiving, giving birth and raising her sons and daughters is not easy. Many sacrifices and great struggles were made for the sake of the beloved child.

Still in a weakened state and haggard face, Zahira forced herself to smile before Shaka. "Udah ah, don't discuss it again. I'm fine." Zahira breaks down the embrace, then looks up at her husband. "I sleep and want to sleep. Can you help me put my body down there?" The beautiful twenty-four-year-old woman looked back at the right side of the bed.

In times like this lying on a soft mattress and closing your eyes, it must taste good. After being satisfied to spit out his stomach, a whack of drowsiness made the woman want to close her eyes again.

"okay!"

Shaka helped his wife lay her body on the bed, not forgetting to pull a blanket to cover her lower limbs.

His burly hand rubbed the long strands of black hair down very gently. "Sleep well. I'll have Budhe Erna prepare the porridge so that when you wake up you can have breakfast. If your body is still weak, do not force yourself to go to work. Ask the wards chief for permission, I'm sure he'll understand."

***

"Are you sure you're going to meet Shaka at Om Rio's firm? Not afraid to cross paths with Aunt Rini over there?" enya asked Ziva who was watching her appearance in front of the dressing table.

"Why afraid? Did I do anything wrong to make myself avoid Aunt Rini?" Ziva asked back while looking at his assistant from the glass. "I know you're worried about me a lot, but trust me this time I won't cause any trouble. I just want to solve all the problems I've done so far."

Anya knitted her eyebrows. "Solving problems how? Don't fuck around, Va! I don't want you to deal with Shaka's exit. Especially with the Wijaya Kusuma family. You know, right, how's Zahira's father's killer?" Suddenly, Anya's feathers goosebumps as Rayyan's handsome face flashed through her mind.

In the past, when Anya was still sitting in High School (SMA) had once met Rayyan at school when a man of Chinese descent attended the farewell event of his three twins. Just looking at the sharp look of his eyes like an eagle, he can judge how the personality of the famous hospital leader in Jakarta.

I heard the breath of Ziva. He knew exactly how cold, ugly and dangerous a Muhammad Rayyan Firdaus was. Although the man did not talk much, but was able to do anything without the need to dirty his hands which are often used to help others.

"Without you remind me, I already know what Mr. Rayyan's personality is." Ziva sprayed perfume on the neck and wrists as a last ritual then turned back and stepped closer to his friend and assistant. "Trust me, this time it won't make any fuss in Om Rio's office. I just want to clean up all the mess I could do."

"Do you want anterin?" haggar Anya who still shows eyes full of worry. Although it was not uncommon for a fight between the two women, but Anya felt unable to let Ziva go alone. For Anya, Ziva is not only a friend, an employer but also a family because they have been together since graduating high school.

Ziva shook his head. "No need. I just want to talk to Shaka face-to-face without anyone bothering me. We will meet later in the afternoon at the shooting location. After meeting Shaka, I'll come to the location."

"Be careful on the road. If you need anything, don't forget to call me!" anya said just before Ziva walked out of their apartment. The woman's heart beats irregularly when Ziva says he wants to meet Shaka at the office. Somehow he became anxious, afraid something happened to his best friend. However, he tried to get rid of the negative thoughts and believed that everything would go well. Believing that Ziva would make no mistake in seizing Shaka from Zahira.

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