Just a Substitute
Chapter 42's

Shanum secures the gift box so Raka never sees it. He sat with Lia on the porch of the house waiting for the man to arrive. A while chatting, the roar of Raka's car entered the courtyard.

Shanum greeted enthusiastically, as if nothing had happened. Afterwards, Lia said goodbye and promised to come tomorrow.

****

"I have an appointment with Lia today. So I didn't go to the store. It's okay, isn't it?" shanum said as soon as they had eaten breakfast.

"Yes, it's okay. What matters is that you are careful. Remember, there's a fetus in your womb. I don't want you to take anything," said Raka while rubbing his wife's head.

Shanum followed Raka to the terrace, taking her husband who was going to the store. He sat on the terrace waiting for Lia's arrival with all the preparations confirmed.

At exactly nine in the morning, Lia's motorbike arrived at Shanum's house. The girl asked her boss for permission not to enter work that day.

"Where? Are you all ready? Don't let anything go wrong." Lia reminded.

"You calm down, everything is done. We just have to go. Want some breakfast first? Not having breakfast yet?" tawar Shanum is worried that his best friend has not stuck his stomach.

"Udah. You know for yourself my mom is like that." Lia smiled bitterly, imagining how chatty the mother was about breakfast.

Shanum nodded knowing very well the love of his best friend's mother.

"What time do we leave?" asked Lia while sipping on the juice Shanum made.

"Just a little, I'm sorry. You know where he is?" Shanum asked the reason he did not know the whereabouts of Shila.

"She often hangs out at my office cafe in the afternoon. We'll try to get there" Lia replied.

Shanum mangosteen impatiently waited for the time to pass that felt so slow.

****

"Are you sure they'll be here?" shanum asked when they arrived at the cafe Lia meant.

"Yes, I often see them hanging out here. Shila likes guys, I'm sure she's her boyfriend." Lia's facial expression convinced Shanum.

They waited in the front stall, hidden and invisible. Can freely see the state of the cafe that is always visited by teenagers.

"Well that! But why didn't Shila come in?" Lia pointed at Shila who turned back when she was about to enter the cafe. He was seen calling someone, I don't know who? Maybe girlfriend.

"Maybe he's waiting for his girlfriend" Shanum replied guessing.

"Eh? He didn't really come in, he took a motorcycle. Wanna follow?" Lia shrieked and swiftly stood up.

Shanum stands up, pays for the iced tea they bought and goes on Lia's bike, trailing Shila. Where are the women going?

"Where is he going?" ask Lia.

"I think I'm going to the park, huh. Just try to keep following. This is the road to the city park," Shanum answered memorized very well by the road passed by Shila.

Sure enough, Shila's motorbike stopped at the edge of the park. The girl came down with a smile on her lips. Clearly happiness was on his face. Who will she meet with?

"Who would you like to meet, who is he?" Shanum muttered, his heart pounding suddenly. There was a sense of anxiety seeping into the recesses of the soul, making him instantly restless.

Shanum and Lia followed Shila within a safe distance. The two would hide as Shila realized their whereabouts and looked back. Shila went to approach a park bench away from the crowd. He sat alone, waiting for who.

"Maybe he's not waiting for anyone. We're going there now" Shanum asked impatiently.

"Let's go! Wait a few more minutes, if no one comes to us there," prevent Lia while holding Shanum's hand so as not to go to Shila's place.

"But there's no one here, Lia." Shanum pointed in all directions, there was indeed no one around the bench. It seems like the bench is rarely visited by people.

"Later first. I'm still wondering who he's meeting in a deserted place like this." Lia still refused, and her grip grew stronger on Shanum's arm.

Raka's wife snorted, folding both hands on her stomach until the circle poked clearly. Both are waiting for something unclear. Until someone arrives, make Shila rise.

A person hiding behind a mask is also a pair of sunglasses with a hoodie covered. Mysteriously.

"Who is he?" Lia muttered making Shanum turn his head.

His brows were intertwined with each other, trying to spy on the hidden figure. Both of Shanum's eyes widened, a sudden pain hit the chest. Disbelief if the figure is a person he knows.

Shanum pecked with bated breath, his face turning pale, the heated eyes slowly condensing. His lips trembled muttering one name that only plucked in the heart. Lia's rant was not heard, preoccupied with the disbelief that filled the mind.

He was aghast as Shila hugged the figure spoiled and flirtatious, but the strange figure immediately pushed Shila's body firmly and violently as if she wasn't happy that she was doing that.

"Astaghfirullah, that cheap woman is really shameless. It's in a public place, but he's playing nyosor aja," said Lia staring disdainfully at Shila, "uh, but the rich who came it's not like, deh." Lia continued her chatter even though Shanum did not respond.

"Shaa! You're not horrified?" Lia turned to Shanum's place, but the woman was already nowhere.

"Shaa! Shanum!" Lia's call made the two humans near the bench turn their heads.

The mysterious figure looked surprised, he stared at Lia. However, a slap hard enough to suddenly land on his cheek until the glasses he was wearing flew and fell.

"Raka?" Lia could not believe it and Shanum was already there.

The woman stood up with a hunting breath, without saying a word to the two of them, Shanum turned around and left the park. His hand rubbed the falling water even though it was as strong as it was held back. Still, Shanum's heart felt pain.

"Sha!" call Lia lirih.

"Shanon! Wait, Sha!" Raka calls, he teaches his wife, but Shanum steps away.

"Raka! The raka!" Shila did not accept Raka leaving him just like that. He wanted to chase, but Lia got in the way.

"Where are you going? You perjakor!"

Plaque!

One very hard slap was thrown by Lia into Shila's face. Afterwards, he left the woman chasing after Shanum.

"Shanon!" Raka still called his wife, the hand that was about to reach Shanum stopped when a check pulled him.

"You're bad, Ka. Don't go after Shanum, just go with the gatel woman. Shanum doesn't pantes for guys who don't know thank you like you!" fierce Lia while following Shanum.

Raka pecked, crying in regret. He promised never to see Shila again, but the truth ....

"I'm sorry, Sha. It's not what you see," he said slowly.

Shanum did not heed anyone's call, he kept going and riding an ojek. I don't know where he went. Lia turned towards Raka because she could not stop Shanum. The look in his eyes was sharp and threatening, adding to the regret in Raka's heart. Lia ran and went on her bike.

"Shanon!" Raka was stunned, quickly running away from the park. No matter Shila's call, she immediately got into the car speeding towards the house.

"Bad!" Shila cursed while holding her cheek.

****

Raka arrives at her house, she sees Lia who also just got off the bike. Not caring for his wife's best friend, Raka got ahead and opened the door. Locked, that means Shanum's not back home.

"Why are you back?" ask Lia ketus.

"He didn't come home." Raka replied with a breath of breath.

"It's all because of you. I hope you never see Shanum again. You're evil, Raka. You have betrayed my friend!" jerit Lia stopped Raka's steps.

The girl got on her bike and left quickly. Raka doesn't want to lose, gets into the car looking for Shanum to his parents' house. Honey, their house is also deserted. Where's Shanum?

Raka roared alone, regretting deeply.

"Raka! Ojek who brought Shanum in an accident!"

****

Was Shanum the victim of the accident?

Will Raka be reunited with Shanum?

Where exactly did Shanum go?

Why did Raka meet Shila?

Find the answer in Shanum season two.

\=Tamat\=