I'm Not an Old Virgin
Chapters 25.5
She really did not want to cry in front of Mother but her two eyes could not be controlled. The warm liquid just kept flowing nonstop. Makes it crowded as well as mixed with shame.
Safira did not answer but Mommy knew that she wanted to hear the next story.
"Mother and Dad thought that Ali was really serious about loving you. He secretly fights for you from afar, asking God to make your heart his. Then the big changes that Ali made in his life turned out to attract the attention of the kyai in the cottage. They were amazed by Ali. Then one by one they brought their daughters to be lured by Ali. But Ali rejected them all, even though the women were the daughters of a kyai or an ustad. In his heart was you and this continued until finally 1 year later, he came home carrying a lot of red roses. He said he wanted to give you his bouquet as a congratulation for your graduation."
Sapphira tightened her hand no longer in power. He was crying so much to spill how deep his regrets were at the moment.
Mother wiped the tears that came out of her eyes as fast as lightning while patting Safira's back. Not only Sapphira, but Mommy is also very sad to remember those times. A time when his son was fighting for someone so far away to reach.
"But he couldn't give it to you because on your graduation day, he saw a man come to propose to you in front of a lot of people. That day, it was the first time Mother saw Ali crying so hard. She was heartbroken and soon returned to the cottage to finish her education. But Sapphira, though she saw with her own two eyes many men who came near you but her hope for you never broke. He always said that when all he had given to God, he believed that one day God would grant all his prayers."
"Oh Allah, Mas Ali.." Safira could imagine how painful it would be to wish on someone who would never look up to her.
Safira has felt it.
"2 years later Ali graduated from the boarding school but did not return home. He chose to work in a boarding school to become a teacher. When Dad asked him to go home to study business Ali refused on the grounds of wanting to become an ustad in the boarding house. Son, do you know why he would rather be an ustad than go straight home to hold Dad's business?" Ask Mother again.
Safira once again did not answer Mother's question. He shook his head weakly, both of his hands working hard rubbing his tear-filled face nonstop.
"That's because.." Mother raised the head of Sapphira, rubbed the wet face of Sapphira with her maternal hands.
"You. He did it again because of you, Sapphira. When we asked him he replied that there used to be an old man named Aldo in the boarding house. You like the ustad so Ali is thinking of fulfilling what you like. He really became an oustad in the boarding school until Mother finally had the accident. When she found out that Mother was in the hospital she immediately took care of her resignation letter and at that time she met with Dinda. Son, Ali's struggle to get you isn't easy. He must force himself to be mature in order to stand beside you, he must set aside his spending money in the boarding school to buy you something, because you he is motivated to become a teacher in the boarding school. It's all to eliminate the drawbacks of approaching you. Son, even though Ali never said her grief yet Mother knows she is in trouble as she approaches you. She was scared because her younger age made you look at her inappropriate. He is afraid that you still see him as a child, which is why he continues to try to shape himself into a mature person. If indeed as you say Ali likes Dinda then surely he will give more attention to the woman. But no, son. He didn't do that because his heart was already yours. You also become a witness if after the meeting Ali no longer pay more attention to Dinda. Because he knows his trust is settled and he doesn't want to create misunderstandings with you. Son, do you still doubt Ali's love after you hear all this?"