The Substitute Bride of my Best Friend
Covering the Past

There was a knock on the door from the outside, before long the brown door opened wide and David stood in the doorway. "Excuse me, Sir. Outside is Miss Ziva. He said he wanted to see you."

Without looking at David, Shaka replied, "Essir only! Say, I don't want to be disturbed by anyone."

"I've asked him to leave, but he insists on meeting you. It matters!" David repeated every word Ziva said.

Shaka stopped his activities for a moment. The look in his eyes that had been staring at the monitor screen, he turned to the figure in front there. "What's so important that he wants to meet me in person?"

David's shoulders moved upwards. "Where do I know, sir. He did not know what needs. So, how, sir? Been told to come in or have the security guards kick him out?"

Shaka seemed to think for a moment, considering whether he should give Ziva permission or not.

Take a deep breath, then exhale slowly. "Send him in and you accompany us. I don't want to spread bad news among the workers, it can be dangerous if they gossip and say that I have a special relationship with another woman."

David understood very well how the current condition of Shaka's household. A little mistake will affect the relationship between Shaka and his wife.

"Good, Sir!"

David approached Ziva who was waiting on the sofa waiting for the guests. "Miss Ziva, please. Mr. Shaka is waiting inside. However, I need to tell you in advance that there will not only be you in the room, but also I will accompany Miss and Mr. Shaka. This is a condition Mr. Shaka has put forward."

David thought Ziva would show an expression of his dislike because their time was interrupted by the presence of a third person. However, the woman actually showed a sweet smile that David had never seen before.

"No problem" Ziva answered briefly. Then, he got up from the sofa then grabbed the sling bag next to him and attached it between his shoulders and armpits.

After everyone sat down, Shaka opened the conversation. "What do you need to see me? Isn't it obvious that I don't have enough time to discuss unimportant matters. My time is too precious just to listen to the words unfaithful from your lips."

Ziva's heart ached like being stabbed by a sharp knife that shot right through the heart. The present Shaka is different from the previous Shaka. There was no longer an implied loving look in her beautiful pair of eyes. He said that he was so jutek and impressed to keep his distance.

Udayah, Va, do not put into the heart all the words of Shaka! His attitude changed so because of your own fault. Ziva monologues while breathing in.

"Yes, I know how busy Mr. Shaka is. Just a second of time that you have so valuable," said Ziva formal. "Therefore, I apologize in advance if my presence interferes with your work. My arrival here just wanted to apologize for all the mess I've ever done. I regret that I once intended to take Mr. Shaka from Bu Zahira. Again I'm sorry."

"Huh?"

Reflexes, that sentence just said. Shakat was surprised to hear Ziva's words. He did not expect that his ex-wife would apologize in front of others. Though Ziva never once willing to apologize even though proven guilty, but the woman was indifferent as if not feeling guilty.

"I know Mr. Shaka must be surprised to hear that." Ziva paused his sentence, venturing into the brown bead of the man he had once let down. "Maybe you do not think if a selfish, evil and cunning woman like me is willing to apologize in front of others when in the past I never wanted to apologize to others despite being proven guilty. However, as long as Mr. Shaka knows, I sincerely apologize to you, these words come from the bottom of my heart."

"I realize that seizing what already belongs to people is not a commendable act that can even bring great disaster if it is not stopped immediately. Karma may be for some people who do not believe it, but for me everything we do will affect ourselves in the future. That's why I came here, to see Mr. Shaka hope you are willing to forgive all my mistakes in the past. I ... really regret." Unknowingly a drop of crystal circles slid in the corner of Ziva's eyes. The woman regretted all her actions in the past. Almost robbed people's husbands, making his image as a model destroyed by the determination of being an actor.

"You're not devising a strategy to destroy my household with Zahira, are you?" Shaka still doesn't believe 100% of Ziva's words. This could be just a trick to draw sympathy. We never know what others think, do we? Therefore, Shaka does not want to be fooled and instead cause new problems that actually harm him.

With his head still down and his hands clutching each other, Ziva replied, "No! I'm not making any plans at all. This apology is sincere from the deepest heart."

The mood suddenly quiet. Not a single person spoke, both Shaka, Ziva and David, dissolving in their minds.

"Then, what are you going to do after meeting and apologizing to me?" Shaka's baritone voice broke the silence that had occurred for a while.

Ziva bit his lower lip, holding back the sound of sobs that were about to explode. His chest felt tight as if the oxygen supply in the room was unable to supply the air in his lungs.

"I will focus on my career while trying to improve myself to become a better human being. Life in this world is short, we never know when death will come. Therefore, before this life apart from its body, I want to fix myself by increasing the good in the world so that later have provisions in the hereafter. I don't want to regret it later."

Shaka stared fixedly at the woman who seemed to show seriousness on her face. He knew very well that at this time Ziva was serious about his words.

Seeing Ziva's earnestness, Shaka nodded his head. "All right, I'm sorry. But remember, never try to disturb my household and Zahira again. Don't look for a way that I want to return the same to you because whenever, the woman I love is only Zahira."

Ziva nodded, then he wiped his tears slowly. "Sir Shaka don't worry, I promise this is our last meeting. In the future even if we accidentally meet I will not disturb Mr. Zahira."

Shaka just replied with deheman.

Ziva got up from his chair. "Sir Shaka, before I leave can I ask you something?"

"Ask what?" shaka asked with both eyebrows linked together.

"May I hold you one last time? Think of it as memories before I actually close the pages of our past."

Shaka took a long breath. He put his right hand in his pants pocket and looked at Ziva with a serious face looking carefully weighed before making a decision. After all, they had shared their joys and sorrows while still being lovers.

"I promise this is the last time" Ziva said as he watched Shaka flinch.

"alright. I'm willing to embrace you as a farewell for no other reason." Shaka stretched both hands to the right and left side.

"Thank you, Shaka. You are a good man and the dream of all women. Zahira must have been lucky to have you" Ziva said shortly after his hands were wrapped around his ex-girlfriend's waist.

Shaka did not answer, the man just looked straight ahead without any intention to return Ziva's embrace. Both of his hands were frozen in place.

...***...