Chapter 90: Chapter 90

Trembling, Alef holds Laras' hand that he can reach now. After a bit of drama that he thinks he deserves, including Kenzo's rejection, he's allowed to sit near this woman labeled as his wife. Although there hasn't been any significant change in Laras, Alef is already so grateful for the chance to be close to her.

Even though he has very little time. Thirty minutes. He'll use it wholeheartedly if these thirty minutes of his time are the best he can value. Truly.

"You... still want to sleep, Ras?" He wants to ask so many things that now only linger at the back of his throat. Everything seems to vanish, and he can only look at Laras with a mournful gaze. "Forgive me, Ras. Forgive me." For the first time, Alef sheds tears. His regrets keep wrestling and piling up on the woman who never complains, no matter what he does to her.

All the memories of his time with Laras at home spin uncontrollably in his mind. The beginning of how they eventually got married. Insults and curses never failed to escape Alef's lips due to his fate. Marrying a woman chosen by his parents, where business interests were glaringly obvious. A woman he didn't love in the slightest.

A fleeting image of how her smile always greeted him when he returned from work, which he ignored, comes to his mind.

"Are you working late? I made chicken soup. So you won't be too tired."

Alef remains silent. He just glances briefly, uninterested, at the woman who's already beautiful in a yellow dress. His favorite color.

"Or do you want to take a shower first? Laras prepared the hot water, okay?"

"I'll take care of myself."

The smile that used to welcome Alef's return vanished only momentarily. Laras's heart is made of something he can't fathom. That smile returns. "Yeah. Sorry. I know you can take care of yourself."

Truly, that voice used to be so repulsive to hear and remember. Not to mention her way of smiling. As if there's no burden at all, no inner suffering. Regardless of how cold and indifferent Alef's attitude is towards her, Laras keeps smiling.

The smile that Alef now eagerly hopes will come back soon.

"I'll make amends, Ras." Alef is determined now. "No matter if later... my punishment gets longer." He closes his eyes again, feeling the cold air mixed with the scent of medicines and the antiseptic typical of the hospital room. "As long as you forgive me, Ras." He tightens his grip on her hand. It's sprinkled with a lot of short kisses from his wife's palm.

He had touched Laras. Only a few times, even then only if he truly needed the touch of a woman. Truly, remembering his past with Laras intensifies the gnawing of regret in his heart. Making his sobs even clearer. That kiss also tastes salty with the mixture of his tears.

He didn't care that he was weak now. He also ignored that there were several of Sebastian's henchmen in the room, as well as uniformed officers from the police station. He no longer had any power, especially in front of Laras. How he couldn't have expected that it would be someone close to him who would do this to him.

Ah... really, karma is real.

No one could have guessed how carefully he carried out the criminal act. He was a close person within Claire. He eliminated someone he should have considered a sibling. Separated a child from their parents' love. What's even more ruthless is that he even targeted his own life to fulfill all the pent-up vengeance he had.

And now?

Alan, his assistant, his right-hand man, his trusted person, pointed a weapon at him. Intending to end his life, which was saved by his wife. He was given a great opportunity to atone for what he had done before. If possible, he'd calculate Alan's fate on his own terms.

Now, he could only let out a long sigh. His regrets were sinking deeper, as he still held his wife's hand. Reciting a prayer that he didn't know if God would still answer or not. His lips hadn't begged or asked anything from his God for a long time, regarding the events in his life.

"Why are you protecting me, Ras? Why?" he asked, full of whisper. Ignoring the sobs that escaped his lips and the trembling in his shoulders.

Alef Walker cried. Lost.

"Because of love."

The middle-aged man froze. His eyes immediately locked onto Laras in disbelief. He even rubbed his eyes repeatedly just to make sure he wasn't mistaken in what he was seeing. His wife had regained consciousness. And she was smiling...

Oh God!

That smile. The smile that Laras always brought to him. Which never got the response it deserved throughout their marriage. Had his wife given up? Not at all. She always welcomed him warmly.

"I'll call a doctor. You shouldn't move too mu—"

"Wait, Alef. Stay here for a moment," she said softly. Very softly. And it was enough to make Alef abandon all his intentions. He sat right beside his wife again. He wouldn't move away. Then he asked one of those behind him to call a doctor.

"I'm glad you're here." Laras still smiled. Her words were so faint. Occasionally, she closed her eyes to normalize her vision. It was so dazzling here, but she had to adapt. She began to feel pain in certain parts of her body. "I thought I was in a coffin."

"Don't!" Alef protested uncontrollably. He moved closer and half-hugged Laras, although his head warned him to be careful of his wife's condition. "Don't talk about such gruesome things, Ras."

Slowly, very slowly, Laras tried to move her hand. She winced occasionally, but she controlled it to achieve her goal. The palm with the IV tube attached could reach her husband's face.

Quickly, Alef got closer so Laras's movements wouldn't be too much. He felt the coolness of her palm on his face. He soaked in how much he had missed that touch.

"Do I have to be like this before I get your attention, Alef?"

***

Kenzo glanced at the Fossil on his left wrist multiple times. His face grew more restless, and his sitting position was no longer calm. Even though his favorite coffee, an Americano with less sugar, was right in front of him. In a situation like this, a cup of coffee should have made him relax a bit.

But no. Not an exception for today.

There's been no relaxation happening in his life since earlier. He should be thankful for his mother's condition. Very thankful. But arguing with that weird girl had really been getting on Kenzo's nerves. He really wanted to shake Jess's head to make her talk normally. Not always contradicting him or talking nonsense.

And then there's his father's presence. The last person he wanted to meet, who knows until when. No matter what legal process Alef Walker would go through, Kenzo had made up his mind. Because to him, his father was the main cause of his mother experiencing such a terrible event.

True.

All because of his father, who's now allowed to meet Laras. Damn!

"It's time for us to go back," he interrupted without wanting to be stopped. He stood up, looking at each of his conversation partners who had been silent all this time. Whatever kind of thoughts they were engrossed in, Kenzo didn't want to disturb them.

"Wait, Kenzo. Sebastian hasn't informed us that Uncle has left the room yet."

Kenzo clicked his tongue. "You know, Fathia? I don't believe that Old Bangka at all. What if Mom gets hurt again? When I'm not there? Are you willing to take the consequences?!" Kenzo was really emotional. He couldn't wrap his head around Fathia's seemingly relaxed attitude.

Even though Fathia had experienced a similar situation. The fear of losing the person she loved the most; family. In Kenzo's case, it was his mother. Although clearly, Kenzo was luckier. His mother was safe, while Fathia wasn't.

"Oh my god, he's getting all aggressive again," Jess muttered disapprovingly.

"You shut up!" Kenzo snapped, not accepting it.

"Kenzo, calm down, okay? I'm worried about Aunt Laras too. But I believe Sebastian's people will definitely provide tight security."

Kenzo still wore an unaccepting expression. "I want to go there first."

Fathia simply nodded. Resigned. Letting her cousin leave the two of them in the café at this hospital.

"Ugh, having a relative like that means they'll keep fighting, right?" Jess remarked.

That clearly made Fathia smile a little. "Well... I understand Kenzo's condition, Jess. I'm still shocked about what happened myself. And him? Even more." Fathia directed her gaze towards Jess, who was still reluctant to lower her guard. Then her eyes returned to the back of her cousin, who disappeared behind the café door. The sound of the bell above the door chiming signaled that Kenzo was truly out of Fathia's sight.

"Just be patient with him, Jess."

Those words made Jess furrow her brow in confusion. Thinking. "What do you mean?"

Instead of answering, Fathia chose to tidy up her bag and check its contents, afraid of leaving something behind. "I'm going to catch up with Kenzo. It won't be fun if there's a war in the hospital room without me, right?"

Jess shrugged, mimicking Fathia's movements in the end. She postponed her departure even though fatigue was starting to catch up with her. Although her mind was starting to wonder, what did her friend's words mean?