Only Raised Children
17. Meet Brother Alina

One week later, Alina has to keep her promise to Rico to bring her brother to her boyfriend. She was currently with a man who was her brother was on his way to one of the restaurants that would be the place to meet them.

As usual, Alina's brother named Alfian was still seen with his mysterious appearance wearing a mask and also a hat. Despite being in the car, the two attributes on his face would never be removed, unless they were in a room that no one else but the two of them were in.

Arriving at the restaurant, Alina was just about to get out of the car, suddenly her cellphone in her hand rang. While getting out of the car, he presses the green button on his phone screen to answer a call that turns out to be from Rico.

"Hello, Co?" alina said first.

"Al, I'm at the restaurant. Where are you?" ask Rico.

"I'm up ahead. Wait there."

Rico agrees and they immediately close their calls to each other.

"He's coming, Al?"

Alina turned her head as her brother from the right side approached her.

"Already, Bang. Let's go in."

Alfian agreed and they immediately entered the restaurant together. After telling the name of their reservation, the waiter there immediately drove them to a private room next to the bar table. Before going inside, Alina held her brother's hand first.

"Don't talk about it. Simply introduce yourself as my brother."

"Yes the most beautiful brother." Alfian rubbed his sister's head in anxiety. "Because why use all the secrets. If you're sure of him, you have to be honest."

Alina pressed her lips to hear her brother's words.

"Yes, but later. I still want to see–"

"See what? Her sincerity?"

Alina let out a sigh hearing her brother's guess which was 90% correct.

"Alina, Brother's most beautiful sister, Brother Yes." Alfian placed his index finger under Alina's chin, for her little sister to look into her eyes. "You may be careful, but .. lest the past make you lose someone who truly loves you. Whatever the reason, lies are lies. It will not solve the problem at all. Do you understand?"

"Alina understood, Bang," Alina said in a dubious voice.

Alfian who heard the doubt could only faintly smile. He did not blame what his sister feared and the lies that Alina had made. He as the brother who was closest to his sister could only give a little advice so that Alina was not wrong in making a decision. Alfian loved Alina very much, he did not want Alina to get hurt because of a bad incident that was not his fault.

"Yes, don't be sad. Come on now let's meet your girlfriend. Poor thing he waited so long inside."

Alfian rubbed his sister's head slowly, then he grabbed Alina's shoulder while turning the door knob to enter the private room that had been ordered.

*

The door opened, Rico who saw the figures of men and women who entered the room with the hands of men who embrace the shoulders of a woman who is none other than her boyfriend, looks unhappy. He moved from his seat with a clear expression showing a look of dislike.

Still with his mask, Alfian smiled at Rico's expression, not even removing his embrace from Alina's shoulder and continuing his steps until he was in front of Rico.

Rico's eyes focused on Alfian's hand, making Alina who realized it instantly remove her brother's hand from his shoulder slowly.

"Co, knowin, this is my brother."

A thin smile back Alfian lay down even though he was not seen by Rico, then he stretched his hand before Rico to shake hands. It did not take long for Rico to receive a helping hand and they became acquainted with each other by mentioning each other's names.

"Come," said Alfian, pointing his hand at the chair, asking Rico to sit down again.

Rico nodded and immediately sat back down to his seat. Alfian and Alina sat next to Rico.

Alfian did not take off his mask until the waiter came and brought drinks for them, after which Alfian took off his hat and mask. His handsome face with tanned black hair made Rico frown in wonder.

Inwardly, Rico wondered if it was true that this man before him was Alina's biological brother. When viewed from their appearance, they were not similar at all. Even Alfian looks nothing like a native local.

"Co?"

Rico's focus is disturbed when he hears Alina's voice calling out to him. He looked at the woman questioningly.

"He's right your brother, Al?" ask Rico to the point.

"Do you think my brother is lying?" timpal Alfian with a question to Rico. Making him instantly stare towards Alfian.

"I'm sorry, but you guys…"

"Not similar?" guess Alfian and immediately allowed Rico.

"Rico, not all brothers have the physical resemblance you see. But if you can see properly and want to ensure more detail than our physical, try to pay close attention. There's one resemblance on our faces that you're not aware of."

Rico scrunched his forehead. Without thinking of Alfian's words before, he immediately entered the faces of the two brothers to find the resemblance Alfian meant. One by one from the face of the two of them were stared at by Rico with focus, until he saw the same eye shape with a slightly different eyeball color on the two brothers.

Yeah, he saw that. The eyes of Alina and Alfian are very similar.

Rico closed his eyes for a few seconds, and upon reopening it he could instantly notice the resemblance without having to stare at it intensely again.

"You seen him?" alfian asked as he noticed Rico's changed countenance.

Rico looked at him.

"Yes, your eyes are very similar. It's just that your eyes look more brown than Alina's."

"The shape of our eyes is identical. Even everyone could see that without having to be told first."

"How can I not realize the resemblance that even without having to look for it is clearly visible?" rico said in surprise.

Alfian re-published his faint smile. 

"You're too focused on your doubts. Suspecting something you should not have suspected. Maybe if we were a pair of twin brothers, you wouldn't realize that because your suspicion and jealousy are too great.

Rico looked at Alina who was smiling at him, then he turned his gaze back to Alfian.

"I'm sorry I was suspicious of you…"

"Call Bang Fian" said Alfian.

"I'm sorry, Bang Fian."

"It's okay," said Alfian.

"Al." Rico turned his face back to Aliana. "I'm sorry for being suspicious of you. I really didn't mean to not believe in you. I'm just–"

"Can I ask you something?" ask Rico then to Alina and Alfian.

"What?" ask Alina.

"Why does Bang Fian always wear a mask and a hat? Is Bang Fian avoiding someone?" asked Rico who had been very curious since.

If Alfian was indeed Alina's brother, then why did the man seem to be hiding, he thought. That question has always revolved around Rico's head and now he can finally say it too.

Before answering questions from Rico, Alfian and Alina looked at each other for a moment. Then Alina chose to answer Rico's question.

"Sorry, Co, I haven't been able to tell you much about my family. For now, you know enough that Bang Fian is my brother. You take it easy, I'm still with my promise. You'll be the first to know all the secrets I've kept all this time."

Rico sighed, it turned out that instead of the answer he got, he was actually again made curious by the words of Alina. Not only with Alina alone, even she was very curious about the woman's family.

Alina is full of mysteries for him.

Rico comes back suspicious of Alina. Moreover, Alina said that she was from the village, while Alfian's face did not reflect the face of the local people at all. Did the people in the village where Alina lived have faces like this? Or is Alina an inter descendant? Or maybe Alfian isn't Alina's brother?

All suspicions swirled back in Rico's brain. He doesn't know which truth to believe when all is still a puzzle to him. Until Alina's voice resuscitated her from her daydream and made her stare at the woman.

"Co, what's wrong with you? You don't believe me?"

"Em, sorry, Al. I'm just confused."

"Why?" ask Alina curiously.

Rico was about to say all his doubts to Alina, but after further consideration, Rico finally abandoned his intention to say it. She had to trust Alina, she was sure that if Alina were to be honest with her and would not let her down. He wants to believe in Alina and does not want to make Alina even disappointed with him who does not believe in her.

"Eh, no papa. I believe in you" Rico said with a faint smile.

"Rome." Rico looked towards Alfian who called out to him. "If you still have something to ask, just say it. As long as we can answer, we'll answer."

Rico smiled thinly. "I'll believe Alina, Bang. I'll wait until she's completely ready to tell me everything."

"Co, I promise," said Alina later.

"Don't promise, Al. I don't want you to owe me a promise. I'm sure everything you do has a reason and I choose to believe in you."

Hearing Rico's words, Alina immediately smiled happily. Although he was confident that Rico would believe him, he was still very happy when he heard the man's words. Rico's words really sounded mature in his ears. I hope what he did and said to her today will never change.

After feeling enough with the discussion that although it did not relieve Rico's heart, now they decided to eat dinner first before going home. While chatting casually, gradually Rico and Alfian had started to look familiar with each other. Even Rico felt if Alfian was a smart man, seen from the way he spoke and responded to his words. Exactly like the first impression he had when chatting with Alina first.

*

After his meeting with Alina and his brother, Rico decided to go home and he arrived at his house at almost ten p.m. Although he still left a sense of curiosity from his meeting tonight, but at least he could be a little relieved because the mysterious man who had been the question all along was Alina's biological brother. Honestly or lying Alina, Rico remains grateful because Alina has been willing to meet Alfian, her brother figure.

Just as Rico was climbing the stairs, suddenly the heavy voice of the father managed to stop his steps. He turned around and looked at the father walking towards him.

"Papa."

Rico came back down the stairs and approached Irfan.

"What's up, Pa?" ask Rico.

"Where are you from, Bang?"

"Rico just met Alina, Pa."

"How's Alina doing?"

Rico invited his father to sit at the dinner table not far from there.

"Good, Pa. Oh yeah, Rico met Alina's brother, Pa."

"Ang Alina?" asked Irfan in surprise.

"Yes. It turns out that the man who often comes to his contract is indeed his brother, Pa. His name is Alfian."

Irfan smiled for a moment. "Alhamdulillah then, Bang. Apologize Papa to Alina, son. Papa didn't mean to suspect him."

"It's Rico, Pa. Alina and her brother don't mind that, they're good people, Pa."

"Papa was relieved to hear it, Bang. Invite Alina and her brother to dinner together sometime, Bang. Papa wants to apologize directly to them," said Irfan.

At once the look on Rico's face was hesitant when he heard his papa's request. How could he invite Irfan to dinner with them, while for him to meet him is very difficult.

"Why, Bang?" asked Irfan when he saw Rico who was silent.

"Em, sorry, Pa. It's not that Rico doesn't want to, but Alina's brother hasn't been able to meet us."

Irfan frowned in surprise. 

"Why?"

Rico shook his head. "Rico doesn't know either, Pa. Em, maybe Alina's brother is very busy. They don't live here."

Rico tried not to lie to his papa, but he also could not say a clear reason. Actually Rico also did not know why Alina hid Alfian's identity, so he had to give the possibility that he himself did not believe in his father.

"Yes, not papa. You got to breakla, you have to get out of town tomorrow, don't you, Bang?"

"Yes, Pa. Then Rico goes upstairs first."

Irfan nodded his head and at once Rico moved from his seat, leaving Irfan alone sitting at the dinner table looking at his departure. There was not the slightest suspicion from her regarding Alina, even Irfan felt that Alina was a woman worthy of his son. Although the words of Alina's neighbors trash at that time still often bother him, but Irfan tried to trust his son. Indeed, at this time he was still curious about the rich men the mothers meant there, but there was no other choice for him but to trust his son. Yes, he had thought it through to trust Rico completely in his choice.

Rico was not his flesh and blood, but his affection for his son was probably greater than that.

***

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