Just a Substitute
Chapter 41's

Shanum had just arrived home, surprised by a foreign object in the form of a gift box on the porch. Shanum turned his head and walked quickly to the gate, hoping Raka was still there. Honey, her husband's car was already speeding up.

"What box is there?" Shanum turned around and looked at the box from near the gate. He photographed it and sent it to Raka's number.

Shanum glimmered in all directions looking around for neighbors who flashed around the house. Coincidentally, a neighbor passed by in front of his house.

"Eh, Mom! Sorry, I'd like to ask. You know who naro that box on my porch?" shanum asked as he pointed at the box on the porch of his house.

The neighbor gawked, but then shook his head. He did not know and did not see who put the object on the porch of Shanum's house.

"Maybe Mr. Raka, ma'am. Give Mom a surprise. Mr. Raka, isn't it, the guy's romantic, Mom." He poked Shanum on the shoulder, flirting with her flirtatiously.

Shanum blushed, his cheeks blushing red. Then, bowed and nodded his head as the neighbor bade him farewell. With a flowery heart, thinking the gift was indeed from Raka Shanum brought his steps towards the terrace.

However, not yet arrived both feet treading on the floor, a motor horn made him look back. He smiled as Lia waved from her motorbike. Shanum returned to the gate, opening the way for his friend. Both hugged, releasing the miss.

"Yeah!" Shanum invites Lia into the house.

"That's what, Sha?" Lia pointed at the gift on the terrace of Shanum's house.

"don't know. I came that thing already exists," Shanum replied as he shook his shoulders.

"Eh, wait, Sha!" Lia prevented Shanum from taking the gift. Recalling to Shila, he suspected the thing from her.

"Why?" Shanum re-enforced the body, urung took it.

He was looking for something to open the box cover. He picked up a twig, used it to lift the top off the cover.

"Let's see, what's in it?" the door after the lid of the box opens.

Shanum gawked into the gift box to see the contents.

"Astaghfirullah al-adhiim!" shanum exclaimed as he picked up a torn and bloody puppet.

"Who sent this to my house? There was no work at all" Shanum asked as he threw the object to the ground.

Lia who was already suspicious, let out a long sigh. Shila really can't be allowed to.

"I know who sent this to you, Sha," said Lia, flipping the gift box.

They were struck by a piece of paper that flew and fell onto the terrace. Shanum picked it up, reading the blood-red writing on its surface.

You'll never be happy, Shanum. You'll be ruined like that doll.

Shanum threw the paper, a sense of panic clearly visible on his face. He clutched his own body, went into the house and came back with a match in hand. Shanum was about to burn it, but again stopped Lia.

"Wait on! What do you want?" sergeant Lia while taking the match.

"I want to burn it, Lia!" pekik Shanum was desperate. His eyes were teary wanting to cry, anxiety was clearly visible there.

"You don't be stupid! I know who's doing this to you. My advice, you keep this evidence to sue him. If he continues to interfere, we can report him to the authorities," said Lia made Shanum stunned.

Lia picked up the puppet Shanum threw without touching it, flipped the box, stored the thing inside. Not to forget also a piece of paper with a threat. Then, close it again and ask Shanum to keep the evidence.

"Who sent it, Lia? You said you knew who it was?" shanum asked with a blank look at the window.

Lia sighed, feeling sorry for her best friend. Surely her soul was shaken, plus she was pregnant with that sometimes erratic emotion.

"Last afternoon I saw Shila following you. He was watching you, Sha, at the restaurant. I thought, she must have had a rotten plan with you. You better be careful. Maybe it was also him who sent," said Lia.

Shanum turned his gaze to him, looking at Lia with a hard-to-understand look.

"With him I met him. He should know what he's doing is wrong." Shanum.

"You sure? I'm worried about you, Sha." Lia glanced at her best friend's already slightly bloated stomach.

"It's okay. I don't want to fight with him either. I just want to talk to him," Shanum assured his best friend.

Lia sighed, indeed they should have spoken for Shila to understand not to disturb Shanum's life.

"Yes, but tomorrow. Now that I'm tired, I'll put you first, yeah. When Raka comes home, I just go home. I can't stay with you" he said, laying his head on the back of the sofa.

A tired roar was clearly visible on the face of the tough girl, Shanum smiled and went to the kitchen to make her a drink.

****

At the store, Raka slammed herself on the chair after tidying up the warehouse with her two employees. Sitting pensively, thinking of her meeting with Shila in the hospital.

"What do I think, why am I still tempted to meet him?" muttered Raka while clucking annoyed.

"What's shanum, huh? Has she come home yet?" Remembering the wife, Raka reached into his pocket to pick up a cell phone.

He frowned when he saw the message from Shanum. A picture of a gift he didn't know about.

"Cado? Who sent the gift home? Did Shanum think that was from me? But I never gave her a gift?" Raka is confused by herself.

He then called the woman to ask about the gift.

"Sha's? You all right? Lia come by?" Raka stormed with questions as soon as Shanum picked up his phone.

"He's here. Why anyway? I'm fine, all right." Shanum's voice sounded confused.

"Who's that from? I didn't send you a gift, you know." Raka felt a little anxious, worried if someone was bothering his wife. Oh, naw! The shila? What if it's from Shila.

"Oh, it's from Lia. He was here when I came. I don't know at first."

Raka smiled with relief at the wife's reply. I don't know what Shanum did to hide the fact about the threat.

"Oh, thank goodness. I guess from the prankster who fucked you up. Yes, be careful, yes. Don't ask Lia to come home before I go home. There are still several warehouses, many items have not entered," said Raka with a feeling of relief.

"Yes. Yes, be careful!"

The connection closed, Raka smiled after finding out his wife was fine. He moved back, helping his two employees transport goods.

What is Shanum planning?