He's Not A Bad Boy
Chapter 27 - He Looks Like Khaira

The atmosphere of the afternoon at the post increasingly looks lonely, almost all students are now gathered on the beach, except for Khaira and Dito who are still in the post. Both of them seemed silent and did not speak.

Dito patiently waited for an answer from Khaira. According to him, Khaira is very unique because it is different from other girls who are so easily obtained only through a few approaches.

While Khaira is still confused about what to give an answer so as not to hurt Dito.

"I'm sorry, brother," said Khaira, beginning to break the silence between them.

"I'm sorry I couldn't accept your request, brother. It's not that I don't like you, I respect you as a senior brother, and I thank you for all your kindness during this time. It's just to be in a relationship like Big Brother said I can't" Khaira continued.

"Why can't you, Ra? I want your table, and with you being my lover I can freely take care of you." Dito now approached Khaira, but she retreated slowly.

"Yes. You are free to take care of me, and the devil is free to tempt you, "the inner Khaira.

"Because I only want to be in a relationship once in a lifetime, sister. I want to establish a relationship through that relationship, my price is increasing, both my parents are happy and happy. And that relationship is marriage, not courtship" Khaira replied.

"I could've married you, Ra. But I need to get to know you first, and vice versa. You don't want to buy a cat in a sack, do you?"

Khaira smiled wryly at the parable thrown by Dito, somehow he did not like to hear it so much.

"I can't know me without dating, Allah makes it easy for someone to get to know their future partner through ta'arruf if needed," Khaira explained and this time did not get a reply from Dito. He did not know how the man's face looked right now, he really could not look at him.

"Sorry, Brother. I have to go." Khaira was about to set foot to leave.

The lingering together with Dito made him feel anxious. After all, Khaira felt that the answer she gave was enough and she hoped that Dito could understand. However, what he expected at this moment was very much different from the reality. Dito suddenly held his hand, making Khaira reflexively want to pull the hand, but Dito's grip was much stronger.

"Ra, I can't accept rejection," said Dito, making Khaira's heart pound again, especially when she accidentally looked into the man's eyes which were now turning sharp. A flash of memory about the kidnapping that time that made Khaira had experienced fear suddenly returned to his memory like a broken cassette.

"Sir Khaira!" call the newly arrived Umar, making Khaira instantly breathe a sigh of relief, although Dito was still reluctant to take his hand off.

Using his power, Umar took off Dito's hand. "Please don't bother my brother anymore" he said, then immediately pulled Khaira's hand away from the post where Dito was standing.

.

.

.

Along the way, Khaira embraced the waist of the younger brother whose body was slightly taller than her. "Still, Deck. You've come, I don't know what happens to me if you don't come back."

"This is why I want to come with you, brother. I know that Brother Dito really wants Big Brother, and I'm worried that he could hurt Big Brother if he refused," said Umar, making Khaira momentarily silent looking at the sister with a look of amazement but also a little suspicious.

"Why is my sister looking at me like that?"

"I'm amazed by your sensitivity, Dek, but where do you know all that? Have you ever done it as a man?" search Khaira.

"Ish, what the hell, brother. Yes, it is not. Let's go to the beach and go home. Mama said tomorrow we will go to Grandpa Abah Rahman's house, he will hold a meal together for the opening ceremony of his special tahfizh Koran pesantren."

"really? Well I haven't been to his house in a long time, come on." Khaira now walked first with a smile as if she was fine.

Umar who saw Khaira so excitedly just smiled pushyly, he knew it was just an expression to cover up how scared the older brother was, especially if he was reminded of his kidnapping two years ago.

***

The next day in Cairo.

Boy and Ali were having breakfast together before leaving for college this morning. However, when he was about to leave, Boy actually sat on the sofa while removing his cellphone from his pants pocket.

"You're not leaving, boy?" tanya Ali who just finished wearing shoes.

"You go first, Bang. I want to make a video call with Abah first, like today he will hold the opening ceremony of his Tahfizh Qur'an boarding school" replied Boy and approved by Ali.

Video calls were made by Boy. There was a distinctive sound of a connection that sounded several times, until the face of Abah Rahman was seen there.

"Assalamu 'alaikum, Abah, '" said Boy, revealing a genuine smile.

"Wa'alaikum greetings, son," replied Abah Rahman with a smile that was no less sincere.

The two now ask each other the news to release their longing. During the call, Abah Rahman unceasingly commented on the smile in front of Boy.

It seems clear that the elderly man is very happy to be able to talk with Boy like a father with his biological children. Clearly, Abah Rahman did not have a son, so the presence of Boy was like a gift that he was very grateful for.

While being cool to talk, Boy accidentally saw a girl passing right behind Rahman's brother whose face was exactly the same as Khaira, even he heard the same voice as the voice of the girl he always wanted to meet was talking with Ummi Lina.

He wanted to ask Abah Rahman who the girl was, but he was afraid that what he did would make Abah Rahman uncomfortable.

"What's wrong with you, Boy?" asked Abah Rahman who saw Boy instantly silent and looked dreamy.

"Eh, it's okay, Abah, oh yes congratulations on opening his Tahfizh Qur'an boarding school, may be a blessing, Abah," said Boy trying to divert his mind that began not to focus because he thought about the girl.

After talking for a while, Boy finally said goodbye.

"That's why, then it's already, well, Boy wants to go to campus, later it's late again," said Boy accompanied by a slow laugh. The two men ended their video call with a greeting.

Boy is now silent for a moment while remembering the face of the girl who is very similar to Khaira. "It seems like I really have missed the girl until her face popped up everywhere. Astaghfirullah, forgive me, O Allah's servant" Boy monologue and then immediately went to campus.

***

In the kitchen of Abah Rahman's house, Ainun and Aisyah were busy preparing food while telling stories. Unlike the previous stories that are sometimes still accompanied by laughter, this time the faces of the two women looked serious.

"Ai, there is actually something I want to say to you, I have long wanted to say it but only this time I was able to meet you in person," Aisyah said with a serious face.

"What is it, yes? Seriously, your face" asked Ainun.

"Because this is a serious conversation." Aisyah paused for a moment her words while looking at the silent friend.

"I have a friend who wants to match her son to Khaira, what do you think?"

- Connected