"Sabila? Not leaving?" asked the mother.
Sabila glanced over.
"No. I'm sure later I'll be sentenced to run around the field and threatened to get another D," said Sabila and then went to get her backpack and just left.
The mother could only smile bitterly, she suddenly remembered again and again about her past. How did he get to know the first person he would love and hate the most. Yes! This is the story, enjoy!
Flash back!
Muhammad Ali Safar Alexis.
After being kicked out of the room, I didn't go straight home. I decided to go to the library.
"Eh, Kania? Didn't come into the room? Why?" I turned, I saw Mrs. Sri who asked, she is the librarian.
"Nia was told to go out with the new lecturer, Mom," I said remembering what had just happened.
"Mr. Ali?"
"Nia doesn't know his name, but what Nia knows is he's a new lecturer." Wait, since when did I call myself Nia? Oh well, I'm comfortable too.
"Then the name of the lecturer is Mr. Muhammad Alif Safar Alexis. He is great, you know, already a lecturer, doctor, professor too."
I was shocked, couldn't believe what Ibu Sri Mulyani said about her.
"But, honey."
"Honey? Honey why, Mom?"
"Unfortunately he doesn't have a wife yet. Even his parents are abroad."
I'm just 'oh ria, how can I not have a wife? People have that attitude, I'm sure that later the wife will be forced to have an arranged marriage or something, I thought to myself.
"Even so, he's still twenty-seven years old, Nia, it's fitting that his wife is the same age as you."
"Twenty-seven years is a big difference, Mom. Nia is only twenty years old, seven years is different, Mom," I explained to Mrs. Sri.
"Only seven years, mother and husband are ten years apart, it doesn't bother. Married, fell in love, had children, and was happy."
"Besides, ma'am, what was the new lecturer's name? Muhammad Ali Safar Alexis, already fierce, weird, annoying, bin flat as flat as well. If Nia meets the lecturer, Nia doesn't want to smile, when Nia smiles it's useless, if you reply with a flat, flat look," I said again. Ah! I hate it.
"Hahaha, don't be like that, Nia. What if you like Pak Ali then?"
"Huh? What, ma'am? Do you like that annoying, weird and flat lecturer?"
"Fate who knows, Nia? Maybe, right?"
I laughed, yes maybe.
"Kania Putri Ramadhani, come with me!"
I am surprised. Ah! That fierce, flat-out lecturer again? What else does he really want to do?
"What do you need, sir?" I asked spontaneously. Whatever, I'm already annoyed with his flat attitude, he's handsome, yes, but how come.
"You come with me or I'll make sure your score is D!"
A was surprised. How can he play with my grades? Never mind D, B alone I never get that value.
"What exactly is this man made of-"
"Follow me or your D."
I'm a top ten smart student! Is it just because I don't want to follow him that my grades will be low? Ah, I still really love my grades.
"All right, Mr. Ali."
I saw he was a little surprised, maybe surprised that I already knew his name. Haha maybe, I think I've gone crazy.
Mr. Ali stepped in, what else did I do? Apart from following behind. It's been ten minutes, I'm still trailing behind him.
"Enter!"
"What? Where are we going, sir? Don't mess with Nia! Nia can do karate." Ah stupid me, why am I suddenly thinking negatively about Mr. Lecturer is annoying, strange bin flat-level this. Fix! Valid No debate. Uh.
"Don't be naughty, you're in or you're a D!"
I want to scream in his ear, that I'm crazy if I continue to be with him like this. I started to open the back door of the car, you think I want to sit next to him? Hah? Sorry, but no! Don't forget to always insert istighfar. Ah, when I'm with him I really go crazy now.
"I'm not a driver, sit in the front!"
"That's enough, sir! I'm like a robot that you have been playing with. It's up to you if you want to say I am a woman who has no morals! But you need to know, I want to keep my distance from you because we are not mahrams!"
I feel relieved after I shouted, I no longer care about my grades later. I saw him looking down, I also couldn't bear it.
"Sorry, sir, Nia got emotional."
He lifted his face occasionally smiling.
"Let me make you lawful for me, so I can be close to you."
I rolled my eyes. I don't think I'm crazy, but Mr Muhammad Ali Safar Alexis is the crazy one. I'm still silent. I don't know, looks like I talked too much today, that's enough.
"Then you and Farhan are always close, how?"
"Farhan is my friend, sir."
"But Farhan is also a man, he also has lust."
"What do you mean?"
"Just as I always think of you, that means I have committed adultery by thinking of you. So what about Farhan? Don't you two often hold hands? Don't you guys often walk together? Ride a bike, ride a motorbike. Don't you think that Farhan also will often think about you? And you? Surely from twenty-four hours, at least only five minutes there are times when you think about Farhan, then?"
He stopped talking, I don't know why.
"Are you jealous?" I'm really crazy now.
"Pak Ali, someone wants to meet you in your room."
"I'll be right there."
He turned to me. Then just leave.
"You strange lecturer, annoying bin flat flat!"
*****
I entered the room, I saw Kahfa who was waiting for me.
"Assalamualaikum."
"Waalaikumsalam, finally, I've been waiting for you for about ten minutes. Where have you been?"
She is Kahfa, my friend.
"Have you met the son of Mr. Akbar?"
I answered by nodding.
"So? Any comments about him? Don't worry! You haven't talked to me in a long time."
"Her name is Kania Putri Ramadhani, called Nia. Simple, but very beautiful, cheerful, and honest. If she doesn't like someone, she will reveal it, she is a brave woman, she is very pious, very perfect in my opinion."
"What are you waiting for? Get married instead of being snatched by someone else."
"Kahfa-kahfa."
"Halah, your age is right for marriage, Ali, after all Nia is suitable for you."
"Who knows."
"Instead of you committing adultery constantly thinking about it, after all, you read the agreement in the letter yourself, right? That your father and Nia's father have agreed to marry you off. Ana guarantees that when Nia sees the letter and her father's signature, she will agree marry you."
"The problem is I'm not sure that I love him and him? Does he love me too?"
"Halah! You don't have to be like kids nowadays who are fussy, in the end they will be taken by someone who just knows the taste!"
I was still silent, digesting every word Kahfa said.
"Love can come at any time, Li, maybe you two will love each other after you get married, right? Think of it like dating children today, the difference is that you are halal, isn't it delicious? You can hold it together."
I nodded in understanding. Kahfa is right, even very true, it's just that I'm still confused.
"Let's just say this, don't be so formal with her, I'm afraid she won't feel comfortable. You yourself said that Nia is cheerful, met a cold, weird, annoying, and flat lecturer like you, who wouldn't be lazy to smile ? Luckily you are handsome, and fortunately you are my friend, if not I would be afraid if I met you, "Kahfa said again but this time she laughed a little.
"Kahfa!"
"In fact, Muhammad Ali Safar Alexis! It's okay, there's an operation schedule today, I'll say goodbye... Be careful not to lose your faith because of Nia. Always remember to istighfar, Li, I'll say goodbye. I'm sorry if it upset you. Assalamualaikum."
That's how Kahfa, very kind, and always reminds.
"Waalaikumsalam," I replied.