I Was the Second
Seventeen

Zia of course allowed Rayhan to go and take Khadijah back to the boarding house.

And after breakfast, Rayhan left Zia's house to take her eldest daughter back to study religion at the boarding school.

"I go first, in shaa Allah I go home immediately, I try before dhuhur, you are at home yes Zi," said Rayhan when exiting the door with Zia.

"Okay Mas" said Zia.

"Are you okay at home alone?" ask Rayhan.

'Obviously I would be lonely Mas, in a house this big there is no friend, ' inner Zia, but she might not say that, so Rayhan later did not go, instead, he also became unwell with his honeymoon brother, ntar said he was spoiled.

"Yes, in the Lord I am well, greetings to Mba Al, and the children" said Zia.

"That's Arman coming, I'm going first yes, assalamualaikum," Rayhan said after seeing his assistant come to drive his car.

"Waalaikumussalam," said Zia, then he kissed the back of Rayhan's hand and Rayhan replied with a kiss on his forehead.

Rayhan left, Zia closed the fence, and entered the house again.

In the car, Rayhan is sitting in the passenger seat, Arman is driving.

"Tumben really asked for anter boss," said Arman.

"I stayed up last night" said Rayhan.

"It's the newlyweds, how many rounds is the boss? How felt? The difference with the first one," asked Arman curiously.

"Shut up or your bonus this month is forfeited" said Rayhan, who began to close his eyes.

"Ah boss, no fun, have I kept quiet, this is to Ms Alfina's house?" ask Arman.

"Hmm" said Rayhan, who still brushed his eyes. Arman drove Rayhan's car to his first wife's house to pick up Khadijah.

Rayhan awakens upon entering Alfina's courtyard. There was already Khadijah sitting on a park bench accompanying his four younger siblings including Maryam.

"Assalamualaikum" said Rayhan.

"Goddessalam, Abiiiii!!!!" yelling those who poured into Rayhan's arms. Just last night not meeting did not reduce their excitement to meet loved ones.

"What are you doing again?" asked Rayhan who was holding the youngest Fatimah.

"Main Bi!" suleiman is his only son at the moment.

"Sama Maryam too? Maryam happy here?" ask Rayhan who is currently a father.

"Yes Abi, it's so nice, so many of his friends are here, which Umma?" ask Maryam who didn't see her mother come too.

"Umma at home dear, if it is approaching the day of school in Shaa Allah Abi will take Maryam to the house of Umma Zia," replied Rayhan.

"Yes Bi" said Maryam.

"Khadija is all ready, anything that would be taken to the boarding house?" ask Rayhan.

"Had Bi," replied Khadijah who was more quiet than his younger siblings.

"OK, siip," Rayhan gave his thumbs up.

"Where's ummi? Are you going again?" rayhan asked who did not see the whereabouts of his first wife.

"Inside Bi, it was to the bathroom he said," replied Aisyah.

Fatimah played with her brothers again.

Rayhan headed to his room, knowing full well that Alfina did not like to use other bathrooms besides the one in his room, except if it was outside his home environment.

"Al...Alfina," call Rayhan when entering his room. Alfina who had just finished from the bathroom was shocked, her husband was already in front of her again, she thought she would not see her husband for seven whole days.

"Mas," said Alfina then hugged Rayhan. Yes hug as hard as he can, with a smile that he always tried when with Rayhan.

"Aren't you pa pa pa?" rayhan asked who kissed Alfina's head.

"Ga pa pa, last night (with Zia)?" ask Alfina. Rayhan nodded.

"Mas happy?" alfina asked, smiling widely.

"Hmm, thanks to you" Rayhan said.

"Alhamdulillah" said Alfina.

"How do you smile?" ask Rayhan.

"Meet Mas Rayhan yes I have to smile so that Mas can be calm and happy, hehehe," replied Alfina.

"You're so excited that I don't exist" Rayhan said.

"Yes at least one week this night can rest beautiful booby comfortably without anyone being fiddly," replied Alfina.

"Hmm, there's-there's only you," Rayhan continued to hug Alfina, he also misses the woman who accompanied him for the past thirteen years.

"Udah Mas, later the bad luck nyampe pesantren," said Alfina released Rayhan's embrace.

"All right, I'll go first" said Rayhan.

"Oh yes Mas, I finished shopping for honey and dates, nitip for Zia's deck, I briefly picked it up in the kitchen," said Alfina who ran to the kitchen, after taking what was meant, the front yard where Rayhan came back to play with the kids.

"This is Mas, oh yes, I go first, take care of the children, take care of the house, if there is anything to call," said Rayhan, Alfina nods and smiles.

Rayhan and Khadijah got into the car, they were both sitting on the back bench, Arman was driving in front.

Rayhan noticed Khadijah who was much silent and looked outside during the trip.

"Dija, did anyone think?" rayhan asked his eldest daughter. Khadijah shook his head, but Rayhan knew there was something Khadijah was hiding.

"Dija, Abi's daughter, Abi apologized if Abi might be guilty to Dija, does Dija object to Abi's marriage to Umma Zia?" rayhan asked as he clasped Khadijah's tiny hand.

"Ndak Abi, not that, we are happy with Umma Zia and Maryam, but why did Abi go with Umma Zia so long, seven days yes, Kasian Ummi, sisters too," khadijah spilled what was in his heart.

"Ehm, look at Dija, Abi went with Umma Zia for seven days there was a reason, because we had never known each other before, so Abi asked for seven days for our process of getting to know each other, after which Abi would return to ummi and alternate to Umma Zia every three days, so three days at the ummi house, so three days at the ummi house, three days at Umma Zia's house" Rayhan said.

"Ah so, Abi is also still dear to Dija, Aisyah, Sulaiman and Fatimah?" ask Khadijah.

"Of course, you children of Abi, of course Abi will always be dear, and even if God will provide sustenance we have a sister again, until whenever you all will remain Abi dear as now," answer Rayhan.

"Yes Bi" said Khadijah.

"Dija, Abi hope Dija is not too much of a mind of sorts, Dija's current task is to learn, just focus on Dija's education in the boarding school, about Ummi, Umma Zia, and so on, and also the sisters, let Abi take care of them, Dija calm down, yes" said Rayhan.

"Both Abi" said Khadijah.