The Substitute Bride of my Best Friend
A Gift for the Twins

After leaving Allan and Mayumi, Zahira accompanied by Shaka climbed one by one stairs to the first floor. For three days now they have been living in a new house and the old apartment is planned to be rented.

Just down the third rung, Shaka snorted in annoyance. "You want what else is he? Didn't she ever say she wouldn't disturb our household again? Then why did he come to this house now? Just interrupt!"

"Hush, lower your voice! What if Ziva hears? He must have been heartbroken to hear your words just now," Zahira rebuked as Shaka spoke without thinking whether or not his words were heard by Ziva. "Udahlah, rather than guessing it's better we just meet him."

Just be careful if he makes a troublemaker, I pull and I throw it on the street! inner Shaka. The man will be firm if Ziva messes around in his house.

The couple stepped into the living room, where Ziva was. An aura of tension was created when the two beautiful female neutrals were staring at each other. How not tense, this is the first meeting of the two after Ziva asked Zahira to release Shaka in the moment between the two people were married. After that, Shaka did not give permission to the wife to meet her ex-lover.

Ziva got up from the sofa, then forced himself into a smile as Zahira and her ex-lover arrived in the living room.

"Hi, how are you? Um... I'm sorry, if I bother you." To be honest Ziva was a little awkward meeting back with Shaka and Ziva. Every time he saw them, he felt guilty for trying to damage Shaka and Zahira's household.

Zahira returned the smile with a friendly smile, while Shaka just froze on the spot. The man's gaze was sharp, as if he was stripping Ziva.

"Alhamdulillah, we have a healthy family. It just so happened that I just finished bathing Allan and Mayumi, so your presence did not bother us at all. Come, please sit."

Zahira sat on the long sofa next to Shaka. Ziva sat alone across from the couple.

"Would you come here? Not the last time you said you wouldn't disturb my household with Rara. Why did you come to my house today. You liar!" shaka looked coldly at Ziva.

With a quick movement Zahira nudged Shaka's arm and said, "Don't talk that way to Ziva. After all, he is a guest and we are obliged to serve him well." Then the woman turned her attention to Ziva. "Sorry, yes, Shaka didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

Zahira could not bear to see Ziva's eyelids begin to glaze over. Although he did not like Ziva because the woman had asked him to part with Shaka, but as a fellow woman, of course he did not have the heart to see his fellow people sad.

Ziva bit his lower lip, holding a rumble inside his chest. Come on, Va, why are you sad? Isn't this the consequence you have to accept when you decide to meet Zahira? he said in his heart.

The beautiful model took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. "It's okay, Ra, I can see why Shaka talks that way." Trying to smile in front of them, even though Ziva's heart actually hurt like a sharp knife. "Oh yeah, I heard from Irhan that you were just a born. That's why I came here to give your kids a little present."

Ziva handed over two large packages to Zahira. "I don't know if you'll like it or not. However, I hope that you match my gift."

Zahira's hand stretched out forward, accepting Ziva's gift gladly. "Okay, ngerepotin you. Though no need to bring a gift was not a problem loh. Ehm .. but thank you very much yes, Va. Whatever you give me, I'll love it. Thanks, yeah."

Ziva was stunned for a moment when he saw the sincere smile that Zahira gave him. Said, her gentle demeanor, sincere smile as well as shady gaze managed to make Ziva freeze on the spot.

Shaka deserves to be so crazy, apparently Zahira is indeed the criteria of the dream wife of all men, said Ziva. Secretly acknowledging the advantages Zahira did not have.

"Don't hesitate, Ra! I am so happy for the birth of the Twins. A few months without seeing each other, I finally heard the good news about the birth of your children. Congratulations, yes, finally you and Shaka officially become parents. May your two sons be sons of righteousness, useful to the nation and the nation."

"Aamiinu. Thank you very much, Va." Zahira reached out her hand forward, touching the back of her husband's ex-lover's hand. "Hopefully you can catch up with us soon. Let's fit my kids big, they have playmates. It must be exciting, we can huddle with their momong." Zahira chuckled softly as she stroked the back of Ziva's hand.

The couple looked at each other as if they were asking each other. What makes Ziva embarrassed like a teenage girl who is in the middle of a kasmaran.

Slowly, Ziva looked up at Zahira's brown iris and fixedly stared at her. "Ehm .. Actually, I'm in the approach stage with someone. She said .. she .. wants to be serious with me, Ra. However, I still doubt if I deserve to be loved while you know what my past is. I'm not a good woman, I don't deserve to be made a wife by anyone."

"I left my future husband to pursue my goals. Sleeping with another man to smooth my desire and when I was down, I actually returned to someone I had hurt. Seeing her happy, I just wanted to snatch her from the other woman's side. I ... It doesn't seem appropriate to be happy, Ra." Ziva's tears fell. He could not help but cry in front of Zahira and Shaka. The woman's body shook violently, both shoulders moved down and up.

With a quick movement, Zahira inched closer to Ziva. She sat down next to her husband's ex-lover and rubbed the woman's back gently.

"Don't talk like that. Ziva, every human being on this earth deserves to be happy. If I am happy living with Shaka and our children, then you deserve to be happy with someone who loves you. Even though your past is dark, but I'm sure happiness will come to you."

Zahira touched Ziva's shoulders and said, "Everyone has a past, but the most important thing is that you try to improve yourself not to stay in the same hole. Changing your bad habits that like sleeping with random men, burying your love for people's husbands that way, you can become a better person."

"So, do you think I deserve to be happy?" asked Ziva hesitatingly. Her tears still fell on her cheeks.

Zahira showed a big smile on the corner of her lips. "of course! Who says he has no right." The woman's fingers handed over the tissue Shaka had previously given her. "If there is a man who loves you, why don't you just accept him. Who knows, you guys are a fool. We never know if we don't try. Even if you're not a matchmaker, maybe he's not the best guy for you."

Ziva's heart trembled hearing that. He wiped his tears using a tissue and breathed a sigh of relief because he could find what had stuck in his heart all this time.

"Keep trying to improve yourself and be sure that everything will be beautiful in time."

Unexpectedly, Ziva immediately hugged Zahira's body tightly. "Thank you, Ra. You are a good woman. I'm lucky to be able to meet a woman as good as you."

A surprise attack left Zahira shocked. His body was jolted for a moment, but the incident did not last long.

"Together, Va. Yeah, don't think about it anymore."

Shaka who saw his future ex-wife and wife hugging was speechless. It can only take a deep breath and exhale slowly. However, deep down, he was quite proud of Zahira's attitude of not holding a grudge against someone who intended to destroy their household.

Hugs unravel. Ziva's condition is now much better after crying in Zahira's arms.

"Oh yes, Va. If you may know, who is the man you mean? Honestly, I've been told this after hearing your story."

Ziva twisted the tip of his blouse nervously. His face lowered, not daring to look towards Zahira and Shaka.

"The man was named ... Irhan. One of your husband's coworkers." Ziva's voice sounded soft, but was able to make Shaka's eyeballs wide open perfectly.

...***...