Childhood Match
Roses on the Rim

The last day of meatball activities in Sekar Wangi Village.

The earth moves around the sun, making time go by so quickly. Like just yesterday Gala with twenty students set foot in this beautiful village. Like his heart that wanted to be always close to Gendhis, Gala was reluctant to leave the village full of memories. From the time that only ten days were charged to him for duty, he felt that this was the most difficult time. He wanted to stay there, to be close to Gendhis, but it was impossible. The task assigned to him has ended.

During these ten days Gala understood many things. During these ten days, so many life lessons that he can make provision in the course of his love. And during these ten days, he knew so much about Gendhis. The more days, the sense of being able to have his love gets bigger. Moreover, when he saw Gendhis injured and fragile when he had to let his fiancee marry another woman. That's when Gala promised herself that she would try to heal the wounds in Gendhis's heart.

"Sir Gala... Friends are ready, are we leaving now?" andri asked one of his students. Made Gala aware of her daydream that morning beside the village office, while breathing the fresh air of the rice field area that stretched as far as the eye could see.

"Oh. yes, Ndri.we are leaving now" Gala said as she walked closer to Andri and his friends.

The agenda today is to say goodbye to the Village Chief and his device, saying goodbye to some villagers who are present at the village office, he said, then continued the core social service event, namely the handover of social assistance in the form of basic necessities and stationery for villagers. The handover of aid was done symbolically to the Village Chief and then the village will hand over to its citizens.

After saying goodbye to the residents, the plan is Gala and all students will spend their time in the pride attractions of Kaliangkrik District, Silancur Highland as a closing agenda.

Arriving at Silancur, they were preoccupied with unrelenting eye views staring at the natural beauty presented by these attractions. They split up looking for what they wanted, except for Gendhis. Unlike other friends, he memorized everything there, so he preferred to sit back in a garden chair.

What could he have done? Everything he saw in that place seemed to reopen his past memories together with the Latitude. He looked far away from nowhere, until he did not realize there was a voice calling his name.

"Gendhis.." The voice had not yet responded.

"Gendhis.." call Gala back as if waking Gendhis from sleeping in his past dream.

Finally, Gendhis was realized when he saw a handsome lecturer who had stood beside his seat.

"Ehh... Did you call me?" gendhis asked like a student who was reprimanded for not paying attention when the lecturer delivered the course in the classroom.

"Yes. yes... lah.. call you! No one else is sitting here but you." replied Gala.

Gendhis smiled slightly at Gala's words, and it was obvious that seeing Gendhis smile that afternoon really made Gala feel relieved. After the incident three days ago, Gala was like a person who was losing his way, not knowing if he could still see the smile on the face of the beautiful girl. But today... Gala was really relieved.

"Eeemm. I'm sorry sir, I didn't hear you earlier. Has Mr Lecturer been here long?" ask Genthis.

"Not really. Just been around, just by chance I just saw you here again daydreaming, so I came. Watch out do not daydream alone, later can catch a handsome ghost you know...!" gala said while comforting Gendhis.

And it turns out that Gala's joke was quite successful, until it managed to make Gendhis smile loosely, a smile that expands on his tiny lips.

"Father can be.. There is also if the ghost is sherem....where is there a handsome ghost?" gendhis said with a smile and furrowed his long, thin eyebrows like a coconut leaf midrib.

"If... ghost.... How am I? How's it? Cute right?" entertain Gala next, and this time not only smile, Gendhis even laughs amusedly hearing Gala who turns out to be able to talk narcissistic as well. Gendhis did not know that to see that smile, Gala had to meditate last night at Pucuk Sumbing in order to find an idea, how to make the woman he admired smile again.

"real... This guy can be funny too? I just found out." said Gendhis a little surprised.

"That's because all this time you've closed your heart to others, Dis, but it can also make you happy" Gala said in her heart.

"You just found out that I have a sense of humor, too? What have you been thinking about me all this time?" gala suddenly asked, and made Gendhis feel awkward.

"Eeemmm, there's no, sir." replied Gendhis briefly while turning his gaze to the expanse of the peasant rice fields that seemed fertile.

"Oh, yes, sir please." replied Gendhis awkwardly while occasionally looking at his friends who were busy taking selfies.

Gala sat about a meter and a half from Gendhis seat.

"Dis... how? Are you feeling better now?" Gala started to seriously talk.

Gendhis only fell silent and immediately his countenance returned gloomy.

"I'm sorry.. I meddled too much in your problems, huh?" Gala asked back.

"No, sir... You are not wrong, why should you apologize? After all, it was common knowledge that I had failed to get married." replied Gendhis in a desperate tone, making Gala also feel concerned.

"All are coincidences. Even that night, I did not know that Mr. Kades turned out to invite me to the event at your wedding. But it's good now that I know what's been keeping you a little quiet. In fact.. sorry... the incident that night, when I almost hit you in the middle of the road with my car, is this the reason?" tanya Gala tickled.

Gendhis was simply speechless because what Gala said was true.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier that time you wanted to get married? I'm your lecturer, and as long as this is not done, you're still my responsibility." Gala continued.

"But getting married is not a matter of campus activities, sir... So why should I ask permission from you?" ask Genthis.

It is also true what Gendish said. Why should he ask Gala's permission to marry him. What Gala is Gendhis? Gala thought to herself.

"I'm sorry, because it's been too far along drifting in your personal problems. But trust me, I have no bad intentions. Just..." Gala had not finished speaking, Gendhis had already parried his words.

"No papa, I don't have to worry. And. It looks like the others are waiting, let's get down for the closing ceremony immediately" said Gendhis trying to divert the conversation. It seems he is still reluctant to be open to others about his personal problems. Especially for someone who is not the mahram. He is afraid of causing something that will later make himself entangled in a problem.

Gendhis got up from his seat and was about to walk away from Gala. Just as his feet were about to step, Gala stopped Gendhis with her words.

"Gendhis... wait!" exciting Gala.

Gendhis stopped without turning his face towards Gala. "I'm sorry... Sir, I know this is disrespectful. A student who does not tawadhu to his teacher, when called the teacher. I just don't want you to trouble yourself by getting into my personal problems" Gendhis said.

Gala continued his words even though Gendhis tried to avoid him.

"Dis.pardon me for talking too far. I just wanted to say... Don't drift too long into your grief! If Allah has granted your prayer, be happy, but if it is not, then be grateful. For the granted do'a is the choice of your heart, and the unfulfilled do'a is God's choice... His choice was certainly much better." said Gala made Gendhis shed tears.

Soon Gendhis wiped the tears with his hand so that Gala would not see him, saying, "Thank you for the advice, sir. Assalamu'alaikum." said Gendhis as he passed leaving Gala who was still sitting dumbstruck.

"Oh... If you only knew, you were too precious to shed tears just for the sake of a Latitude whose name you did not deserve to call. I know it's not easy to conquer your heart. You are like a rose that blooms on the brink. Smelling is also graceful. But it's not easy to pick you up. You are so charming with the principle that you always uphold in your attitude and language. But...for the sake of being able to get the rose, I will challenge all difficulties to be able to stand between the abyss, with all my do'a as well as my unanimous determination. Listen to my words, duhai.. rose beautiful thorny, My Little Gravity.." said Gala lirih when she found Gendhis who had passed away.

*****

...***Thank you brother... still faithfully waiting for a surprise from Genthis 🥰🥰...

...Don't forget like, comment also support yaaa... thanks 🥰🥰🙏***...