Chapter 2 Our Hope

In the afternoon, Lisa brought lunch to the hospital to make sure her husband had something to eat at lunchtime. When she arrived at her husband's office, Lisa was asked to wait.

Arka didn't want his concentration to be disturbed to analyze a patient's medical report.

"So I was told to just wait, huh?" complained Lisa.

"Hold on, it's already done."

After taking off his glasses, Arka got up from his seat with some files. Lisa was annoyed that her husband really couldn't get away from work.

"Eat first! I don't want you to keep working!"

Arka didn't want to argue and just nodded in agreement for Lisa to start preparing the lunch that should be eaten that afternoon.

"I have a lot to do."

Lisa had to feed her husband directly from her hands. She didn't mind.

She is very happy to be able to serve a husband who is still faithful beside her with all the shortcomings that exist.

"More later."

Only a few mouthfuls were given.

Lisa leaned her head against the back of the sofa. Throughout, she only saw Arka busy again with the file in her hand.

A mischievous smile appeared on Lisa's lips. Her fingers gave Arka's neck a small pinch.

"Baby!"

Arka raises his shoulders slightly, an amused gesture. She couldn't be bothered. Lisa wanted to get Arka's attention by taking the file in her husband's hand.

"I'm more important than that file?"

Arka made a serious face. He bent down slightly to reach the file on the sofa beside Lisa.

"Of course, the file is more important."

Lisa was surprised to hear Arka's serious answer. Her husband returned to opening the file while glancing at Lisa.

"Because this will help us to give Farrel a sibling."

Arka opened the file and placed it on the table. He took the small body into his arms. His eyes gestured to each medical report in front of him.

"Tomorrow morning when you wake up, you will do the test right away! Or do you want to take the test now to Dr. Grace?" Arka asked.

"It will be negative again. Even if I'm not sick, I'm getting old. I don't even expect to be a mom anymore."

Arka tried to smile despite his heartbreak. After brushing Lisa's wet cheeks, his lips gently kissed the narrow forehead. He wanted to reassure Lisa that everything would be fine.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't be a good husband. My father has been a burden to you, huh?"

"No, your father is right. Don't blame him. He's just a lonely grandfather in his old age. He wants to hold his grandchildren. But I ..."

"If the result is negative too, we'll have to do IVF again, or maybe surrogacy," said Arka.

Arka took the file and showed it to Lisa. He skimmed it and didn't fully understand.

"The IVF process can be done again. But now the problem is with your uterus. If in fact, you can get pregnant later, you will be inconvenienced by all the medicines and all the treatments. Are you willing?"

"I'll do whatever it takes. I'll take good care of my pregnancy. Do it quickly, dear."

"Alright, read through this file first. I'm going to the toilet for a while."

While Arka was in the toilet, Lisa was still studying the files and stages of the IVF process. She was grateful that Arka was still patient and loyal until this moment.

Bruk!

Lisa was surprised to hear a noise coming from the toilet. She rushed over and banged on the door.

"Honey, what's wrong?" worried Lisa.

"Nope, just slipped!!!"

Not long after, Arka appeared while rubbing his forehead, which was slightly red from hitting something.

"Aih, so be careful. Where's your eyes, anyway, until you slipped like that?" complained Lisa.

"Even after falling, I still get nagged. Wicked!"

Lisa smiled and pulled Arka's arm so she could quickly treat him. Arka sat on the sofa as Lisa took ice for the compress.

"That's why, be careful!"

"What a nag! It hurts."

Lisa chuckled slightly. She treated the bruise on Arka's forehead with a smile. When she was done, she left the room to go to the cafeteria.

*

"So when are you going to give me a biological grandchild?"

That afternoon, a commotion broke out as Frans talked to Arka about the demands of having children.

"Dad, please."

"Until I get some good news, don't expect me to be nice and accept that obscure boy!"

Arka went over and held his father's hand. He loved him, but he couldn't ignore Farrel's tears that fell because of his father.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I just couldn't watch you do that to Farrel. He's my son, Dad. I raised him. I'm sorry if this has hurt you. What do you want now? Please understand my position. I am a father," Arka pleaded.

Frans sat back on the sofa when he could control Arka's anger. His son pleaded hopefully.

"What do you want?" Arka asked.

"This is the last year of the tempo I've given, right? I won't be so kind this time. Arka, you're a doctor. Of course, you can do anything for your wife. Within this year, I received news of Lisa's pregnancy. If not, please leave this house. I won't even think of you as a child anymore. Understand?"

Arka was surprised to hear his father's criticism.

Silence. Frans left followed by his wife. Lisa was confused by this situation. Getting offspring, apart from effort, but it is God who wills. What can they do?

"Honey, what's going to happen?" Lisa asked.

Arka didn't respond, stumbling away from Lisa to go to her room.

*

Arka deliberately went home early to calm Lisa down. A few days since the ultimatum given by Frans, his wife had looked moody. Arka hasn't even dared to mention the IVF program for fear of disappointing Lisa.

"Ehm!"

Arka's voice woke Lisa up. As Arka walked into the room, the woman got up carrying a pile of folds that she was about to put in the closet.

"Back yet? It's still eleven," Lisa said without turning around.

"I don't have anything to do. I was planning to have lunch with you."

Arka sat on the bed and didn't force Lisa to sit beside her. His wife looked busy with her task, then took a glass of water to give to her husband.

"Can we talk for a minute?" Arka asked.

Lisa nodded and sat next to Arka.

"You still don't want to see a doctor, you don't want to use a test pack either," Arka said.

Lisa looked down. Her hands tightened and rubbed the tips of her nails together to kill her nerves.

"We have to do something. This is all for Farrel's sake. If we succeed, Dad will surely be able to accept Farrel," Arka said seriously.

Lisa came closer and leaned against her husband's warm arm. Her biggest fear right now was that the people beside her might get tired one day.

"I'm not ready yet. Sorry, I'm scared of all that."

"Scared of what? IVF is still possible, right? The success rate is also high and there's no doubt about it. We'll try one more time."

"What if my womb isn't strong enough to carry a baby after that time?"

Lisa released her embrace and looked at Arka. Her husband's face was stern.

"There's too much you're afraid of. You haven't even tried it yet, you're already thinking about this and that. This isn't the first time you've said that to me. I'm also tired, Lisa, like I'm struggling alone. Why are you so pessimistic?"

Lisa was stunned to hear Arka's assertiveness. Her husband left the room and went to the toilet.

What Arka said was true. Ten years had passed and Lisa was beginning to fear losing everything while she had nothing to give. She reached for the small figurine on the nightstand and looked at her small family photo. Farrel's smile was so sweet. Tears fell from her eyes at the happiness embedded there.

"Your papa brought you here, and I have been taking care of you since you were a baby, Farrel. But apparently, your presence wasn't enough for your papa and grandfather. They wanted real Wijaya blood, and I couldn't make that happen. I'm sorry if you're being difficult, Farrel."

Lisa lay back on the bed and closed her eyes. The pain brought back memories of when Farrel had first come between them.