The Temptation of the Desire of the Stepchild
CHAPTER 67: The Arrival of Jefri

The creaking sound of the open door made Nita who took out Rama's trousers from the closet and turned to the door. Put those trousers on the bed. “Assalamualaikum, Mas Rama?”

“Walaikumsalam, Dik.” Rama approached the wife and was gazed at by clear golden eyes and set. He smiled with anxiety amid his limp body.

“Mas, her body is hot once!” He said, after kissing the back of Rama's hand that was so stinging forehead. Just standing near Rama he could feel the hot temperature of Rama's body

“Iya is so jolly, yes. So, I ask you to please the officer cover esto alone, Mas run out is not strong.” Rama pulls the tiny waist until their hips stick together and Nita hugs him for a while. “You want eucalyptus oil balurin to Mas back?”

Nita nodded while looking at Rama's pale face. He took a step back, his hand raising Rama's black t-shirt. “What body would Mas want to wipe warm water first?”

“No need, I can do it myself. You hunt make ginger honey first and Mas want to wash your face. Mas incandescent later, yes?” Rama took off the buttons of deep blue jeans.

“Iya, Mas.“ Nita crouched down and pulled out her jeans and put them on her own shoulders. “Not eat first?”

“No, we ate at resto.”

Rama waited for Nita to come out of the room, and then his foot stepped into the bathroom. Slowly Rama washed his face and bangs in the sink, his head was poured with warm water. Looking up, Rama examined the face on the mirror reflection. A pointed nose, a wide forehead that all looks like Sergey.

Rama so pensive why his evil thoughts always judge themselves every time, what is wrong with papah. His heart became vulnerable, maybe because the dream of a small to make Papah happy was realized by the opposite, which is to hurt papah.

Forgive Rama, Pah. Pardon me! Rama has not been devoted to Papah. Rama has not had time to continue Papa's business at NASA, as Papa's wishes first, but NASA and Starlight have changed hands on behalf of Jefri.

If Papa says happiness is when all the families get together. Now then? He as the head of the family, as a husband and also a filial son, he had to be strong on the outside. Let not Moses see him as weak. Don't let Nita, Mama and her sister lose happiness from thinking too much about it. He should be an encouragement to them.

Muscled hands gripped the edges of the sink until the knuckles turned white. “Why does destiny have to separate us in this way, Pah? Papah loves Nita and tries to protect Nita. Can I love Nita like Papa loves her?”

Rama took a deep breath and his eyelids closed bitterly. Warm clear dew falls over the cheek. He remembers every night still waiting and hoping that the late papa came to accompany Rama to watch a horror movie, which actually papah did not like the genre. Like a fool, Rama kept waiting for his late father until late at night, because he thought his papa always came home at 2am, like he used to. But until the morning papa did not return, papa did not call or right indeed .. will not return again. RIGHT YEAH. The funeral was right. Papa's death is true. Being an orphan is true. He was the cause of his father's death was right.

“BUT WHY SHOULD IT BE LIKE THAT, PAH! IF PAPAH IS A MODEL OF RAMAH ONLY PAPAH IS NOT STRONG, THEN HOW IS RAMA?

Papah can choose to keep Nita away from Rama, separate us! Rama is disappointed in Papa! Papa coward! Cowardly Papa is not Rama!”

Rama grabbed anything and smashed the mirror until it cracked. He hit again the mirror that still displays the pieces of his face, he was careless to see his own face that looks like papah. The ceramic soap bar broke and managed to make some of the mirrors fall apart. Rama's breathing was stingy and his heart was beating faster.

Rama fell helplessly, to sit down without strength. His back had decayed and fallen flat on the cold, wet floor. It does not matter if the glass fragments stick to the back and legs that are not covered with cloth. The bathroom ceiling felt twisted because of dizziness, and blurred by the clear dew that pooled in his eyes. The sound of the water faucet was still burning and it began to fill the sink.

⚓

Nita took the pot and filled the water to one-third of the part, then placed it on an electric stove. He poked the ginger and then burned it until it smelled spicy. The blackened ginger skin is then cleaned, rubbed and plugged into boiling water.

Cinnamon, cardamom, cloves are also coveted to ginger stew. Hopefully with this, her husband will be cut off. Seeing Rama was sad, Nita was confused, especially if Rama was sick like this

“What are you doing, Tha?” mama Intan's voice distracts Nita. “Rama don't eat?”

“Mas Rama is not feeling well, Mah. Face pale. Nita has bargained for food but does not want.” Nita with a voice full of worry.

“Ya already, Mama try to see.” Intania's face turned frantic, then went up to the third floor through the elevator.

Tapped the door three times, but there was no answer from inside. “Rama, this is Mamah, Son. Mom's in, huh?” Intania opened the door slowly, then looked up and did not find Rama in bed. He heard the sound of water faucets lit up, so he entered, but the bathroom door opened.

Intan's eyes bulged as soon as Rama only wore core pants while curling with a slightly bloody back. The glass cracks around Rama's body and the water coming from the sink spilled everywhere. Intan squealed and jumped to turn off the water faucet, the sink hole has been clogged with broken glass, until the water was swaddled.

“What are you doing with this, why don't you tell Mamah your problem?” tangis Intania's. His hands pushed the broken glass aside, then crouched down and rubbed Rama's drenched hair. The eyes of his son who was closed then opened a little, and Rama immediately dropped his face to the chest with a whim while Intan hugged his son's head in his lap, as a result, Intan's clothes got wet because the bathroom floor flooded.

“Papah, Mah? Didn't Papah think of Rama's feelings?”rama's voice choked in tears.

Dada Intania. “Our family has been destroyed, so we have to get out of that destruction," he said softly. "Papah must have loved Rama. Obviously right? Then what can we do now? Blaming the situation will make us more tired and depressed.”

Intania breathed fast with the melt of tears that fell on Rama's forehead. He was closed as Rama's two hands hugged him more and more trembling. “Saba, Ramah. We can continue papah's ideals to feel his presence. Mama sure Papa always accompany us where and whenever we are.”

“Rama is tired, Mah,” isak Rama and try to stare at the face of the mama who I love on it.

“You know, Honey. But we can choose to do positive rather than damaging and hurting. Mamah will accompany you, you are not alone. There's Mamah, Nita, Dhita, Grandpa Axel, Moses ….We will be there for you-” Intan frowned as Rama tried to sit down and the son kissed his legs.

Intan's heart trembled, she shook her head and pulled Rama's shoulder away from her feet. He felt warm teardrops on his feet and a hot kiss on the soles of his feet. “From, Nak ...”

“Please Forgive Rama, Mah. During this time Rama was always childish and never cared about the feelings of others. Rama is very selfish and naughty.” Rama whined in annoyance.

Intania pulled the melted snot, she slightly bent her knees and stroked Rama's head. “All it's process, son. Papajh, Mamah was also like you when you were young, not wanting to know the feelings of others. Everyone will have time to understand it all. Come, Nak.”

“Sorry Rama, Mah.” Rama kissed Mamah's legs and peeked at Mamah's face which looked even sadder. She approached as mom extended both hands and hugged mom tightly.

“Mamah has forgiven you. Papah will forgive you, too. We always hope that you can live happily and do whatever you want. Thank you for helping people around you who need help. Mamah and Papah have always been proud to have you, you are our greatest son."

“Thanks, Mah. Rama doesn't know anymore when there's no Mamah.” Rama was tightly closed when Mamah held his cheeks and kissed his cheeks and forehead.

“Come, wake. Later your sister and wife see you like this, then they are sad.” Intan memapah Rama sitting on the edge of the bathtube and flushed Rama with the water Shower then soaped Rama's back hit the bathroom floor by trying to hold back his tears. He rinsed Rama with a shower to clean from the soap foam, then gave the son a towel. “Mama call aunty to clean broken glass, you put on a shirt before your wife comes.”

“Good, Mah. Sorry Rama.” Rama stood up in guilt as his mother came out and closed the door.

His body was dried using a towel, then he stepped onto the walking in closet. After wearing clothes, Rama lay down and closed. Not long after, he felt the kiss of the mother as the male servant was heard entering the room and began to clean the bathroom. Perhaps too tired, Rama was lulled by the affection of Mamah's hands that massaged his head until he was so sleepy.

⚓

Rama wakes up to hear a stranger's voice and finds a man pressing a stethoscope against his chest. She looked to the side there was Mama and Nita looked so panicked. The doctor asked what symptoms he felt on his body.

“How about my son, Doc?” asked Intania when she was outside the room, and continued to follow every step of the doctor.

“Mom's son is just exhausted. Reduce strenuous activity and reduce stress. The liquid intake please continue to be maintained. I will prescribe some vitamins for Rama.” The doctor sat on the sofa next to Rama's room and wrote a prescription. “Finely, Rama met a psychiatrist. Faster, better.”

Intania nodded obediently. He did not expect Rama who usually looks fine precisely this was the hardest hit with the departure of Sergey.

In the room, Nita holds a cup and feeds a ginger drink into Rama's mouth. He stared fixedly at Rama's face remembering everything his mother-in-law told him about Rama breaking the bathroom mirror because of pent-up anger. “Mas, tomorrow the restaurant is off or call a backup chef.”

“Short breaks also healed,” the voice of raucous Rama. He smiled at the wife who looked more awkward and worried.

“But, Mas fever, loh! Just rest.” Nita exhaled in annoyance as Rama underestimated the pain suffered.

“Iya, Darling. Later Mas also healed anyway, you do not worry, yes.” Rama touched Nita's pointy chin and the clear skin was flushed red with a frown. “Where is Moses?”

“Musa again play with Aunty.” Nita takes off Rama's hand and waits for Rama to finish a cup of ginger. Her husband is still trying to smile at her making Nita feel guilty for being able to yell at Rama.

Moreover, Rama is getting thinner and looks older than his age should be. Nita also does not understand why Rama refused help from Grandpa Axel to add employees. Though every 3 am Rama has come at the restaurant preparing all the ingredients of his own cuisine. One clerk for the cashier, one waitress who doubles up as a desk cleaner. The washer comes from a freelancer.

Moreover, every day Rama came home at 9 pm and could not sleep before one hour. Her husband had trouble sleeping even though the body looked tired. Rama continued to smoke and daydream in the workspace. There was no figure of Rama who was as energetic as before as if the soul was shackled in something. Nita thinks this is all because of it. “Mas, Nita follow help Mas in resto yes, please?”

“Do not, Dik. It can be alone. After all you take care of your art gallery?”

“Do not, Dik. The same mas. Pity Moses if you are busy. Play it may. Cannot go to.” Rama sucked the ginger wedang to the end, then gave an empty cup to Nita.

“But, Mas. I have to follow Grandpa Axel's offer. If Mas is too busy, Mas sacrificed the childhood of Moses only briefly.”

“Yaudah, later Mas thoughtin again.”

“Don't be long, ich! There is no harm in Mas hiring a chef, or minimal additional energy twoalah.”

Rama nodded, he lay down again. “Mas sleep first, yes. His head hurts.”

“Iya, Nita also want to ask for medicine first.” Nita kissed her forehead, then Rama's lips were hot.

Confused, Nita exits the room and lets Rama close his eyes. He took his cell phone out of the room and called his father. Then sit on the sofa next to the room and ask the father how to comfort a man. Nita is honest with her papa about Rama's changed attitude.

The sound of the eruption echoed followed the cries of Intania and Dhita from the lower floor. Nita ran and peered down from the third-floor fence, but there was nothing to see. He put his ears on when the faint sound of Moses' cries made Nita run towards the elevator.

The elevator door opened, Nita's eyes glared at Jefri and the phone still connected to the papah fell out of her hand. How can Jefri enter the house, even though there are two security from a famous company equipped with firearms. His legs retreated when two men, possibly Jefri's men, stepped out of the elevator and immediately blocked his arm.

“Aaaaahhhhhh! Please do not hurt us!” Nita shouted with anger. He glared at the black-coated Jefri as his tiny hand was cuffed with a cold iron arch behind him.

“Atha, Atha. You're doing too much!” Jefri pulls Nita's arm roughly towards the elevator, then swings his head to have his men inspect all the rooms. “See your escape attempt that led Sergey to suicide!”

“Ta-but I didn't mean it that way. What are you here for. We have no business. Hasn't NASA taken over, is it still lacking?”

Jefri laughed in a sinister manner. “No business said you? Think about! I gave Sergey a lot of capital with the record that he continued to work with me. However, because of you, everything became a mess. Are you competent to replace Sergey? Far! You're nothing! You lost my money machine!"

“I don't want to! I don't want to sell illegal drugs!”

“Drugs off limits?” Jefri frowned and laughed out loud. “So, you thought that Sergey had been like that all along, so you turned him down? Stupid!”

Jefri pressed the letter L on the elevator button. He stood facing Nita with one hand in his trousers, holding a fixed firearm in his pocket. He spoke with great emphasis and anxiety. “You don't know Sergey yet, but you smelly son already claimed he's bad?” Jefri took a deep breath.

“You don't know if Sergey has funded four cancer hospitals? You know he's collecting donations from colleagues without the knowledge of the public and his family? Where can you conclude he's selling drugs?” Jefri gripped the weapon in his hand and smiled evilly. “You misjudged Sergey. So, it's also good that he died, better to die than to live with a fool like you.”

Nita blinked softly and her heart was slapped when she found out Sergey was not illegal. Suddenly guilt enveloped his heart again. “Then what is your purpose here?”

“Devano Wijaya's. ” Jefri observes ayu Nita's face with a sly grin. How could Sergey eat beauty from the outside like this.

“Fap?”

“Devan has exhausted my patience. I should've had a family for years.” Jefri kept the voice down.

“Family?” Nita glanced at the open elevator door, but Jefri did not seem to be coming out immediately.

“You know Nathan? He's my son and Devan is so presumptuous. Not just keeping Nathan a secret that's my son. Devan has been hiding Stef for years. Stefanie Ailiy, Nathan's mother.”

“Papah hid Nathan from you for what? If you know like that why don't you ask Papah?”

Jefri laughed and was so hurt. Wanted to cry bitterly but held him. “I've been asking Devan! But your Papah's mouth is always tightly closed! If Sergey hadn't told me about Nathan's adoption papers, I thought I'd never know under me that I had a big boy. Shit!"

Nita saw Jefri's wrinkled face where there was an incision scar and the cheek had now turned red. Jefri's eyes were creepy and there was no light from there. He did not understand why his papa kept the existence of a son from his father a secret. Is his papa so willing to do that?

“Sister Nathan? I don't know where he is now.” Nita lied and stared fearfully at Jefri “I don't know where Brother Nathan is.”

“Liar!” Jefri smiled obliquely with a hot heart. “I won't listen to your babble again. Because of you .... Sergey so …. “

Jefri let out a rough breath, unable to continue his words. With a demon-like gaze, Jefri stamped Nita's chin with his right hand. “All your family should catch up with him!”

“Why do you plan to do that to my family? are you a devil!” Nita felt her knees tremble.

“Bring me to your father! Tell me where Nathan is!” jefri snapped while dragging Nita's arm out of the first-floor elevator.

“Musa …. “ Nita grimaces as Moses cries in the arms of a burly man, while Mama Intan and Dhita sit on their knees with their hands tied.

His eyes twitched when he saw that the doctor had been sprawled with blood behind Mamah Nita.

“Mama …. Dhita.” Nita sighed violently and was about to approach Moses, but his arm was pulled by Jefri until Nita lost her balance and fell. Nita sat down and suddenly felt a cold iron on the back of the head, slowly creeping down the neck.

“Shift just a little, you won't be able to see tomorrow.” Jefri threatened everyone.

“Mr Jefri, don't be like this. Isn't Sergey your closest friend? She will definitely be sad to see you like this.” Intania with a voice and trembling body. He looked at Nita who was already deathly pale and was still closed due to the pressure of the gun.

"Friends?"Jefri laughed amusedly, he groped Nita's head with the tip of the weapon. “Yes he's my friend. Friend's life. You're not even worth Sergey's life. You have to pay!"

“Stop!” Rama moved his hand which was clutched by two burly men. He got out of the elevator and stared hard at Jefri. His eyes twitched towards the weapon directed at Nita, as Rama's guts shrieked. “What do you want until far after here?”

“Where is Devan?” Jefri shoots a weapon at Rama and Rama's body is jolted, following Intan, Dita and Nita who screech while looking all over Rama's body. Moses became hysterical as if he had realized something.

“I'm fine.” Rama with a pounding heart palpated his chest and face as his knees trembled. His whole body was whole and there was no blood. Rama could feel the hands of Jefri's men trembling the same as he did. "Don't hurt us.I'll obey all you want .... "

“Tell me where Devan is, son!” weeping Intania with despair.

“Do not, Mas!” Nita shook her head quickly.

“You want to kill us all, Nit!” Intania frowned and glared at Nita who started to tear up.

“I'll tell you where Papa Devan is.” Rama with his throat choked and Jefri grinned.

“Mas, he'll hurt Papah!” Nita I with a red face. I can't believe Rama would do that to him.

“Smart!” Jefri grinned and pulled Nita's arm rough until Nita woke up and stepped in a drag. “Bring them all!”

“Let Moses be with me.” Rama looked at Jefri with a nano look as all the sisters and mama were drawn big tall man. He thought of the safest path for now. Rama carried Moses after Jefri gave his permission. The son was caught. Rama hugged Moses in the car and tried to calm the cries of the son.

The W3BE necklace that has been planted with the chip has an emergency button. While in the room and hearing Nita's screams, she pressed the button. Axel's grandfather who modified the necklace not long ago, because he was suspicious of Jefri's gelagat when Sergey died. For sure now grandfather will catch this emergency signal.

⚓

“You .. prepare your last words, for I will make you see them die one by one. It's in your own hands.” Jefri laughed out loud like a madman on the way. Nita sat beside him and the driver in front was driving fast following the car in front of Rama.

“Please, we can talk carefully, right?” Nita shuddered, her lips were weak and her heart was pounding so hard that she felt tight.

“You think I'm Sergey? No bargaining in my dictionary.” Jefri glanced sideways with a psychopathic aura.

He's been so careless to let Devan and his family live for years on top of his suffering and loneliness because of Stefanie.