007 Father's request
Arriving at the hospital, Aruna immediately looked for the room where her stepfather was being treated. Since riding on an online motorbike taxi, Aruna kept trying to contact Gavin with her device, but couldn't connect.
''Stupid Gavin, what are you doing?!'' Aruna exclaimed while cursing, ''You haven't picked up your cellphone since earlier,'' said Aruna while venting her annoyance at the device in her hand. ''Gavin!... Pick it up, please!'' Aruna called to her device in a very annoyed whining tone.
Aruna continued to press the keypad on her smartphone, even to the point where she could hear the sound of her finger tapping on the smartphone screen.
''Gavin!!!'' shouted Aruna, screeching, calling out in annoyance, still expressing annoyance at her device, ''Why do you have a cell phone?!... Right now it can't even ring...'' said Aruna, even more annoyed, she then continued to vent her frustration at her device.
While climbing the elevator that took her up, Aruna continued to grumble, expressing her frustration at the device that had accompanied her for several years. Aruna didn't think about the views of the people around her who were starting to feel uncomfortable with her attitude. There was only worry about her stepfather now on her mind. She was very worried about the condition of her stepfather who was lying in one of the ICU rooms at this hospital.
**
''Assalamu alaikum...'' Aruna greeted him, after knocking on the ICU door and then opening it with the permission of the nurse on guard there. "Father, this is Runa..." said Runa after approaching her stepfather and immediately sitting beside him.
Aruna's heart ached at the sad sight of the weak, helpless middle-aged man in front of her. Mr Arga has only been Aruna's stepfather for four years, but for Aruna, he is the only father figure she knows. Aruna's biological father died when Aruna was only two years old. Apart from a few photos that Aruna's mother has, she doesn't have any memories of her biological father.
Even though their relationship is nothing more than stepfather and stepdaughter, the love between the two is very sincere. Arga never considered Aruna a stepdaughter. Her position was the same as Gavin, his biological child in Mr. Arga's eyes. Mr. Arga and Aisyah, Aruna's mother, are also very happy because Gavin and Aruna can get to know each other. The two are like siblings in general, sometimes getting along but sometimes also fighting, boisterous with their mischief.
"Runa, you've come, Girl..." said Mr. Arga in a low voice.
Mr. Arga's voice couldn't be heard clearly because it was covered by an oxygen mask, making Aruna have to be extra focused on hearing every word that Mr. Arga said to her.
''Yes, father. This is Runa..." said Runa in response, while holding her father's hand, which felt cold.
''Runa, I'm sorry. I couldn't take care of your mother, I failed to protect her..." said her father in a low voice, looking increasingly sad with all his regrets.
''Father... Father...'' called Aruna with a slightly trembling voice holding back the pain in her chest, ''That's it, Father... That's it... It's okay, my mother, God loves her more, that's why God called her first. We just have to let her go," Aruna continued, her eyes starting to fill with tears but she was still able to hold it in. "Father please, don't think about all kinds of things!... The important thing now is that you get better first, okay?" said Aruna while stroking her father's hand.
Aruna couldn't bear to see her father, who looked very concerned with the tubes and cables attached to his body connected directly to several machines that continued to monitor Mr. Arga's condition at all times.
"I'm sorry, Runa, but, apparently... I will also follow your mother..." said Mr. Arga in response to Aruna's words with a sad face.
''Yeah, I know...'' Aruna answered immediately, ''But, not now!... Later... Not now!'' Aruna continued, rebuking her father's words, which seemed like he was cursing himself for Aruna.
"Not now, but soon. If my wish has come true," said Mr. Arga, answering Aruna in a relaxed and calm manner while continuing to try to smile with all his remaining strength.
''Eum...'' nodded Aruna, answering her stepfather, ''That's why you'll just think about getting well first. Your wish will come true, don't worry... The important thing is that you get better now..." said Aruna, trying to please her stepfather who was struggling.
"Don't make your face want to cry like that, Run!... Your sweet face can't be seen," said her father, teasing Aruna.
"This is all because of what father said... Later, if Runa cries, I will look even more ugly... Please, never mind! Don't say bad things!" exclaimed Aruna in a firm and fierce voice, but her face looked sad, "The important thing now is, that Dad must focus on getting well. Okay!''
"Yes... But, right now, I want you to follow what I say!" Mr. Arga exclaimed again, he continued to urge Aruna, "Only you can make what I want to come true now..."'
''Yes. Runa will make it happen... Later, when you've recovered, we'll work together to do what you want," answered Aruna, still trying to calm her stepfather.
''I can't, girl, it has to be right now...'' answered Mr. Arga, shaking his head very weakly.
''What do you want, father? Let me look for it..." said Aruna, giving in.
"Runa, you don't need to look for it, the important thing is that you are already here," said Mr. Arga, answering while squeezing Aruna's hand, "Ardan is coming here, right?!?" Mr. Arga shouted, trying to convince her.
''Yes,'' answered Aruna, nodding, ''He said he was the one who told me to call someone... Mang Tatang too... He said he told me to call him...'' said Aruna, continuing to explain.
''Yes. I asked... Runa, listen to Dad!" replied Mr. Arga, then grabbed Aruna's hand.
"Yes father," answered Aruna obediently.
Aruna was actually annoyed and worried about Mr. Arga's condition, which was very worrying. However, Mr. Arga insisted on wanting something from Aruna.
"Runa... I asked you to become Ardan's wife. I want that...'' said Mr Arga seriously.
''Father?!'' exclaimed Aruna in surprise, with her eyes widening.
Aruna was extremely shocked by what her stepfather had just said, "Did she hear wrong just now?" she asked herself, trying to convince herself. Her eyes were wide and her face was shocked. She also stepped back in shock after hearing her stepfather's words, which shook her heart and mind.
''I'm sorry, Runa, I know that the impression is that I was forcing you. But, I can't calm down if there's no one to look after you, my child..." said Mr. Arga while holding Aruna's fingertips.
''Father...'' called Aruna as she approached her father again, ''What are you talking about?!... That's enough, now just rest...'' said Aruna, continuing her words.
Aruna tried to ignore her thoughts, she was still trying to convince herself that she had just misheard or misunderstood.
''Runa! Runa, listen to me, girl!" shouted Mr. Arga in a trembling voice but suppressing his intonation. This made him groan even though only his face was grimacing. Aruna was shocked and softened, seeing that she couldn't bear to see her father in pain.
''I asked you to seriously listen to me. Runa, I don't have much time anymore... this is my body... I know my current condition..." said Mr. Arga, continuing his words.
Aruna was frozen stiff, she was surprised and confused, and her body was also shaking. She was nervous about responding to her stepfather's words, which were in a serious condition.
"Father!" shouted Aruna, calling her father with a pitiful face, "That's enough... Don't talk like that! I wanna cry now..." Aruna continued with a face that was almost crying.
''Girl... Father's sweetheart. Listen!" shouted Mr. Arga firmly, "Father has promised to take care of you both. But, I have failed to do that... One of them, your mother, Runa... I failed to save her," said Mr Arga in a serious tone of voice.
''Father!'' exclaimed Aruna, immediately grabbing her stepfather's words, ''That's God's destiny... You don't have the power to do that at all. Don't blame yourself!... That's a sin, Father, you can't...'' shouted Aruna, rebuking her father firmly, even though she herself was shaking and holding back tears.
''Yes, I know...'' her father nodded with a smile, ''Thank you, girl... you would like to take your father's position,'' said her father while squeezing Aruna's hand, ''Now, I want one more... Runa, father really asks. Do you want to, please... To become Ardan's wife!... Ardan, my little brother...'' Mr. Arga asked Aruna.
"Father!" shouted Aruna with a panicked face.
''Please,'' nodded Mr. Arga, understanding Aruna's feelings, ''I know what you were thinking when you heard this. But, Runa... This is what parents think," said Mr. Arga, so that he would understand the meaning of Mr. Arga's actions. "Runa is an orphan now..." Mr. Arga continued, but before he finished, Aruna immediately grabbed him.
"No, father!" shouted Aruna, rejecting Mr. Arga's words. "I still have a father. Don't say that Runa is an orphan!... Hik..." shouted Aruna, denying Mr. Arga's words while shedding tears that had already fallen because Aruna couldn't hold them back.
Mr. Arga was silent for a moment, waiting for Aruna, who was sobbing, to calm down a little. Mr. Arga wanted Aruna to listen to his explanation carefully.
''Runa... I heard from Ardan, that your mother has indeed died, but the child in her womb is safe, now they are in critical condition in the incubator... Runa... God willing, there will be a long life for these two children. I can only trust you, who can look after and take care of the two babies. You know... Ardan and Gavin will definitely take care of those two children. But, it won't be the same as you taking care of them..." said Mr. Arga then continued his explanation which had been paused.
"But, father... Even if I don't become Mang Ardan's wife, Runa will definitely still take care of them. "They're Runa's little brothers too," answered Aruna very carefully, after calmly giving Mr. Arga the opportunity to speak calmly.
''Runa, sorry if I brought it up...'' said Mr. Arga, then took a breath to continue, ''But, do you remember that or not? What was you fate before you became my child?" Mr. Arga asked Aruna very carefully, "That time when Aisyah was still a widow..."
Aruna was stunned with teary eyes. She was shocked to hear her father's words.
''Runa... my girl... my beautiful daughter...'' Mr. Arga called, seducing her, ''Don't sulk like that, child!'' Mr. Arga exclaimed in a whining tone, ''Listen to my reasons...'' said Mr. Arga, trying to continue his explanation, "You remember what happened when you were about to graduate from middle school?" asked Mr. Arga, making Aruna even more surprised, why did her stepfather have to bring up an incident that she wanted to forget?