You're My Antidote
Haikal 2

Rani felt dazed as she entered Haikal's ward. How long have they not met?

The last time he met Haikal was on the day of his engagement. Even since that day Haikal was very difficult to contact. The number is often inactive and disappears. The last message the man sent was the day he married the King. The message contains congratulations and prayers.

And now even he hardly recognizes the friend who always accompanied him at any time.

Haikal was so thin and looked messy. Unkempt face with unshaved fine hairs. There are eye bags and dark circles around there.

"Haikal." he murmured softly still in disbelief.

The middle-aged woman with her eyes approached him. Hugged and apologized to her. The woman who used to strongly oppose Haikal to meet and play with him.

"Mom doesn't know if you mean so much to Haikal." cried Haikal's foster mother. "If you knew it would be like this. I'm not going to ban her when she asked for permission to apply for you two years ago."

Rani sighed heavily. Why did Haikal so foolishly expect it when even his best friend knew that he admired the King so much.

He knew Haikal liked him. But he never thought Haikal would propose to him someday. He thought Haikal would hold his feelings until the end. Until the man finds a replacement who also reciprocates the feelings of his best friend.

Marrying Haikal was never on her wish list. Rani wants to marry an absentee from her past. The new person who was able to make his heart shake changed his vibration for the King. Even though destiny says something else.

"Haikal's fever is still high. He had not been conscious since yesterday." Haikal's mother gave him information as he approached and clasped the hand that used to always help him stand up when he fell.

"Why did it get like this, stupid?!" meaning with eyes warming. Haikal was pretty close to him. The one who always worried about him. And now it worries him.

"There's still a lot of good women out there, Kal. Why is it like this?" his whisper was already sitting on the bench next to the cage where Haikal was lying.

The hand that used to be sturdy and looks strong, now even feels very weak when he holds.

Until the King came to pick him up, Haikal was still unconscious. But at least the man's fever had already slightly reduced. Haikal is also no longer delirious and calmer. Makes Rani not so heavy leaving her best friend home.

"He'll be fine." The gentle strokes on the head and the King's speech made Rani realize she was daydreaming.

"Has the King ever been like Haikal? Drunk to unconsciousness?"

The man who had refocused on the steering wheel nodded casually. "But not that bad. Most just hangover and fainting at night and being sober in the morning."

The King's reply made Rani even more sad. Making him imagine how many alcoholic drinks Haikal drank that could make his best friend unconscious for so long.

Rani felt guilty. Why didn't he assert his feelings for Haikal and let Haikal's feelings for him grow as big as he is today.

If only since he realized Haikal liked him, he confirmed that they were only friends and would never be more. Rani believes she can shake off Haikal's hopes before the man's feelings grow.

"Why do you keep thinking about other men even in front of your husband?" The king again rebuked him when Rani went back to silence and contemplated.

"Ma-af sis." rani regretted. It is not good to think of another man after his status changed to a wife.

But Rani can't help but think about Haikal, however Haikal can be like that, not directly because of him.

"Haikal will be fine. Trust me."

Rani smiled in response to the King's attempt to convince him.

***

Seeing his wife who looks restless and unfocused since they came home from the hospital, the King decided to again forbid the wife to work.

"You rest again. Later in the day, you can go to the hospital again." last night his wife could barely sleep even after they had done their favorite activities in bed. His wife's eyes closed. But the woman moved restlessly looking for the right position.

King nodded. "But you go to sleep first. Last night you were sleep deprived." he stroked the wife's cheek and rubbed the dark circles under the eyes. "I don't want you to get sick. Or mama's gonna suspect I'm torturing you."

Finally, after a night of gloomy look Rani, the woman could laugh again.

"I'm leaving first. Don't forget to rest."

After peeping the top of his wife's head. The king came out of the room and hoped that Rani could rest well.

***

After lunch, Rani leaves for the hospital just like yesterday. Of course the driver was always prepared to take him as per the instructions of the King.

Rani's smile expands to find Haikal has opened his eyes and is sitting leaning on the cage. Contrary to the king's adoptive mother who still looks sad.

"Hi.." greeted Rani cheerfully as always. The face of the story turned sad, not expecting Haikal to turn his face and ignore it. Makes his chest feel squeezed.

Trying to maintain her smile, Rani put the fruit she bought on the street before coming to the hospital on the table and sitting in the place she was sitting here.

"How are you doing, Kal?"

Haikal still did not want to look at him. Turning her face to the other side Rani sat down. "What are you doing here?"

Haikal's question made Rani smile bitterly. Does this have to be the end of their relationship? is it not possible if they are still friends like before?

"It is not good for a wife to meet another man. Even if I had a wife, I wouldn't let her meet another man without me."

Rani gulped down her throat. "Sir King gave me permission to come here."

Rani can hear Haikal's snort sounding mocking. Makes Rani even sadder to see her best friend now hate her.

"Your husband must be laughing at me. Allowing you to come just to ridicule me who lost to him."

Rani tried to calm herself down. Trying not to cry over Haikal's changing attitude towards him. A friend who loved and cared about him.

"Nobody wins or loses, Kal. You've been my sister ever since we lived together in a parlour. It's not our destiny to unite."

Haikal laughed sarcastically. "If you had not so much admiration for the handsome and rich King. You can open your heart to me a little. You can look at me a little. It doesn't always make the King the center of the world you see."

Rani silently let Haikal take out all the grunts in her heart. But Haikal just shut up and lay down himself. Sleep on Rani's back.

"You better go home. I want a break."

"You can rest. I'll stay here." Until the King picks up. Imbuh Rani in the heart.

Haikal was so good that he kicked him out. Asking for help and threatening to call security if Rani does not leave.

"Son Rani, sorry. You better go home first. Let Haikal calm down and accept what happened."

Once again Rani stared at Haikal's back sadly. Today he will yield to Haikal's request. But tomorrow he promised to come again.

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