The Former
CALLUSES

Raphael bowed lethargicly with a troubled mind, many times Rafael rubbed his face violently and grabbed his own hair in annoyance. Rafael is so angry and disappointed in himself for feeling unable to look after and protect Nindy that he makes his wife disappear without news. Since then Rafael thought of several names that might have something to do with the incident that happened to Nindy, but of all those names none led there.

It was in Rafael's mind if this incident had something to do with his business rivals, but Rafael tried to deny it. He is unlikely to accuse his competitors if without concrete evidence because it will affect the good name of LJ Group.

When Rafael's mind was in a frenzy, the door of his room suddenly opened to surprise him. Rafael saw Aunt Yuni enter his room with a face that looked very panicked, at that time Rafael could guess if his stepmother must have heard the news about the disappearance of Nindy.

"Raphel!" Aunt Yuni walked over to Rafael.

"Is it true that Nindy disappeared? How did that happen Rafael? What's going on?" Aunt Yuni showered Rafael with a few questions.

Rafael did not immediately reply, he was seen taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly.

"Please sit aunty" Finally the word that came out of Rafael's mouth.

"Jawab aunty question first, Rafael. How can you be this calm?" Aunt Yuni's.

"My feeling is not calm aunt, I just try to be calm so I can think clearly" said Rafael.

"How can I possibly calm down, aunt. To this day, I don't know where my wife is".

Rafael and Aunt Yuni stared at each other for a while. I want to feel Aunt Yuni approaching and giving a hug to the son so that Rafael can be a little calmer, but he did not dare to do it because their relationship is not that close. Aunt Yuni did not want to be a self-informed person, she was already very grateful that Rafael allowed her into his study.

"Please sit aunty" said Rafael again.

Aunt Yuni sat on the sofa which was also followed by Rafael.

"What happened to Rafael? How did Nindy disappear?" Ask aunt Yuni again.

"Where did auntie hear this news?" Ask Rafael.

"From Yuda" replied Aunt Yuni.

"Yuda says if he hears Ardi's conversation and his men are talking that Nindy is missing" said Aunt Yuni.

Rafael rubbed his face. It seems like soon everyone will know about this matter.

"So right if Nindy disappears?" Ask aunt Yuni.

Rafael nodded slowly.

"Yes aunt. Nindy is missing".

"Well!"

Aunt Yuni closed her mouth as if she could not believe what she heard. Since getting news from Yuda, Aunt Yuni tried to deny the news and considered if it was fake news. But at this time he can not deny it anymore because Rafael himself said if the news is true.

"I don't know what to say, but I'm definitely worried about Nindy right now and hope that my wife can be found soon" Rafael said.

Rafael and Aunt Yuni are bowed, both busy with their thoughts until the door to Rafael's room opens again.

"Raphel!" Linda's new entry was directly scattered in Rafael's arms.

"Mama" Lirih Rafael welcomed the embrace of the mother.

"What happened, baby? What happened to your mother's daughter-in-law? How can Nindy disappear when she promised to go home to mama's house" Ms. Linda sobbed in Rafael's arms.

"Ma, calm down ma" Rafael tries to calm his mother.

Madam Linda let go of her embrace, then looked at Rafael sharply.

"How can you tell me to calm down, and I don't know where my daughter-in-law is right now" Linda said angrily.

"If you're worried, you shouldn't just stay here without doing anything Rafael. You should have been looking for Nindy, Rafael. You should be looking for your mother's daughter-in-law" Linda said.

"I'm trying to find Nindy, Ma. I'm not just sitting here" said Rafael.

"Lied" Denied Linda.

"If you're looking for Nindy, why are you still here? Why don't you go find Nindy yourself but instead tell someone else to find your wife" Ms. Linda was so angry at the son.

"Mbak" Aunt Yuni got up and approached Linda and rubbed her arm slowly.

"So calm down, don't judge Rafael like that. Poor Rafael. His mind was also in a state of turmoil maybe even feeling Rafael is more upset than what we feel".

Ms. Linda sighed slowly following Aunt Yuni's advice, for a while Linda was unaware if the person who was calming her was her honey, for some time, until gradually he finally realized and immediately threw aunty Yuni's hand from his body.

"When have you been here?" Linda asked with unfriendly eyes.

"What did you come here for? Do you want to insult me or do you want to laugh at my son?" Accuse Linda ma'am.

"No mbak, I never meant it that way" Aunt Yuni argued.

"I came here because I was worried. I'm worried about Nindy and I'm worried about Rafael" said Aunt Yuni.

"Oh, your excuse".

"Worry! You think I believe. You must be happy to see the feelings of my son who is upset like this. You must be happy to see our worries and troubles, right!" Accuse Linda's mom again.

"No mbak. Ma'am don't get me wrong" Refuse Aunt Yuni again.

"I am concerned about this disaster. Even though we are still a family, regardless of whether we want to admit it or not" said Aunt Yuni.

"Curtain, family. I've never had a family like you" said Ms. Linda.

Ms. Linda turned her face away because she did not want to see the face of the woman who had destroyed her household. Although time has long passed, but the heartache he once felt will never be erased. Until whenever Ms. Linda will still hate the woman who became her honey.

Meanwhile Aunt Yuni looked sad to see the treatment of Linda who still hated her, she was sad because until now Linda did not want to accept her presence.

"Here you go, mom, calm down. Rafael ask not to provoke a fuss here. Right now Rafael's mind is dizzy ma, please don't make Rafael's mind more dizzy because of the debate mama and aunt Yuni" Pinta Rafael.

"I'm sorry, dear. Mama is just carried away by emotions" Linda said.

"Are you going to keep that woman here?" Linda asked the son.

Of course Rafael knew what she meant, Linda was protesting because she allowed Aunt Yuni to enter her room. Rafael looked at Aunt Yuni and it was aunt Yuni who was also looking at him, the gaze of the two met for a while until then Rafael said :

"If aunt Yuni wants to, auntie can stay here. This place will always receive the presence of aunty" said Rafael.

"But Rafa,,,,,!" Miss Linda protest.

"It's okay ma. I'm just glad I got so much support from you guys, because right now that's all I need".

"Thank you, Rafael" said Aunt Yuni sincerely.

Rafael nodded slowly with a small smile, he knew that Aunt Yuni was a good person so he did not blame her for giving his stepmother a chance.

Aunt Yuni was so moved by Rafael's remarks that she was pleased that Rafael allowed her to remain there to support him. At least, this is the first step to establish a relationship with the Mahendra family.

☆