The Substitute Bride of my Best Friend
"Good Night, Ra."

"Darling, I daydreamed. That's you see, Aunty Rini has been asking you this question ever since, but she's been quiet." Fingers gently rub the shoulders of beloved children. In that instant, Zahira's consciousness returned when the soft touch of her mother's hand touched the sleeveless dress she was wearing.

The narrowed eyeballs blink repeatedly. Zahira seemed dazed to hear the soft voice sourced from the middle-aged woman who had given birth to him to this earth.

"Ehm .. sorry." Zahira tried hard to open her mouth but only that sentence was able to slide from her soft lips. The girl's mind was empty of leaping because she did not expect that fate would bring her to Shaka so soon.

Everyone who was there chuckled softly watching the beautiful doctor with a mixture of oriental Dutch looks unfocused with the question that Rini said. But not for Shaka. The man was still loyal, silencing his mouth tightly without saying a word.

Next to Zahira, Shakeela sneered and rolled her eyes lazily. "Daddy! Just don't listen" muttered the nineteen-year-old girl.

Rini chuckled softly. He rubbed the back of his beloved nephew's hand gently and said, "Aunty just asked, how are you. It's been a long time since we've met."

Zahira forced herself to smile even though she desperately wanted to run away from the restaurant and hide her face under the pillow. Really, he couldn't have met Shaka again. Especially after knowing the news that the man of love is about to hold a marriage in the near future increasingly makes the girl reluctant to meet her childhood friends.

"My news is healthy, Aunty. Right, haven't seen each other in a long time. I'm sorry if I never asked Aunty and the rest of the family."

"When I first arrived in Japan, I was immediately preoccupied with various activities on campus until I forgot to fill a pulse. Then, my phone number was blocked and all the numbers in the phone book were gone because I didn't have time to back it up" Zahira explained why she couldn't call Rini. Although the girl could have asked for Rini's phone number to Ghani, she was reluctant to communicate with Shaka's family again for the common good.

"No problem, honey. Aunty can tell me why you never called us." Rini smiled broadly.

After being satisfied with greeting with Rini, Arumi invited Zahira to meet Rio who was standing facing them. "Ra, do you still remember Uncle Rio-your father's best friend?" The question was answered by a nod to Zahira's head. "Whoa she is!"

With a gontai move, Zahira approached the position Rio was standing in. The girl's heart was beating a thousand times faster than before. Similarly, the chest feels tight due to the depleted oxygen supply.

Three meters away, Netra Zahira caught the figure of a man sitting behind her. Although he could not see the face of the man, but the instinct of the girl said that the man in front of him was someone who meant a lot in his life.

The longer the footsteps the more careless when his high heels approached a long table complete with seven chairs on the left right. Instantly the body feels weak, the legs cannot support the weight of the girl's body. However, he must remain standing firmly for the sake of carrying out the orders of the mother.

"Hello, Uncle Rio, how are you? It's been a long time since we've seen each other" Zahira said politely. Although the girl's heart kept pumping very fast, she managed to hide the beating from everyone.

"Uncle's news, very good. After a long time of not meeting, you are getting more beautiful and look mature. Too bad, Uncle has no more boys to betroth with you. Try if there is, Uncle has asked to marry you right now," said Rio chuckled half-jokingly. I don't know what the middle-aged man said but the words of Rayyan's best friend succeeded in making Zahira's heart almost out of place.

Next to Rio's hand was embracing the shoulder of the best friend of his life. Although Rayyan's attitude was cold and seemed indifferent but only the man was the only person who understood her besides Rini. It is proven that until now the rope of their friendship is maintained even though the age of the two men is no longer young.

"Yes, you're right, Ray. Later, it is our generation that will carry on this fraternal rope." Rio's gaze sidetracked on his youngest child who was still sitting sweetly on the chair. "Shaka, you don't want to say hello to Zahira? Haven't you guys seen each other for a long time."

Zahira felt weak. The ground on which it rests is no longer solid but vibrates slowly. Make his feet can not stand firm. Luckily next to her was Shakeela so she could touch the end of the dress that her beloved sister wore as a handle.

Feeling the side of her dress squeezed so tightly, Shakeela's head turned to the side and found her sister's face turning pale instantly. Eyes squeaking, trying to find out why the tears of his beloved brother changed instantly. However, he could not guess what happened to Zahira.

The tall man with a sharp nose with the face of the Middle East Asian blaster rose slowly. Take a deep deep breath, then exhale slowly to break down the nervousness that had been sitting for a while in the chest.

After feeling calm, then Shaka turned his body and smiled warmly while staring at Zahira. "Good night, Ra. Nice to see you again" said the man in a heavy voice that always felt soft.

Zahira believes that the girl's heart is now out of place. If only the organ in man was not a creation of God, it is possible that at this time one of the most important organs for man has been lying just on the ground. Wildeyed. Lips closed, tightly locked. His throat was dry and he had difficulty swallowing his own saliva.

Shaka shifted the chair then he stepped slowly towards Zahira until now the position of the two facing each other. A small smile that always successfully presents shade. Makes Zahira always feel calm when she sees the corner of the man's lips pulled upwards.

Brown iris looked back at Zahira's bright and clear bead. Highlight eyes that bring peace, Shaka can look back after six years of not meeting. Tucked longing for the figure of his childhood friend.

"Hello, Ra. How you doing?" shaka's reset breaks the silence. However, Zahira remained unmoved. The girl's tongue was mute, unable to say.

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