Loving You Through Do'A
8. Perpetrator

That morning Zahra came to school escorted by her aunt, as she walked towards the class all the students noticed her, seeing her as the photo spread. Zahra's feelings became unpleasant, she was afraid that it would happen again. Although the mastermind of the problem has not been revealed, Zahra has forgiven him. He was sincere and let his friends judge him as what he was.

One school is like it is hostile to him. It turns out that it is true that the expression of one who says that "one evil can wipe out all one's good." But unfortunately it's not Zahra's bad, it's just slander made by irresponsible people.

The first hour of Zahra class is Arabic, in this one year Zahra does not stand out in terms of conversations with his friends. But that day, he showed that he was very proficient in speaking Arabic, because for him Arabic is his daily language with his cousin.

All his friends were stunned when Zahra was able to answer all the words thrown by Zidah. Bu Zidah was not surprised to see it, because he knew that Zahra was only pretending all along. And this time, Zidah smiled proudly at Zahra for showing her ability and being an example to other friends.

"Zahra want a drink? I'm going to the cooperative." Say Bela, during the break.

Zahra sighed as she looked at her best friend, "no, thank you."

He continued to answer about the Arabic package.

Bela walked out feeling guilty because all this time he chose others over his own best friend. And he felt it natural that Zahra was angry with him.

As usual Zahra routine, he will go to the mosque to perform dhuha prayers. That morning the mosque looks quiet, there are usually only a few people who perform sunnah prayers, even Akbar was not seen since morning.

"Sir Akbar is the PKL himself. He refused to go with the others, even though the risk was great."

Zahra heard one of the students talking about Akbar. It is fitting that Akbar is invisible, it turns out that he is PKL (Field Work Training), and it looks like Zahra will not meet for 2 months with him. He just wondered where Akbar PKL was.

Before long Zahra's name was called by one of the underclassmen. He stopped his steps and followed his underclassman to the mading. There he read that the perpetrator of the photo spread himself has been handed over to the principal and teacher. And it turns out that according to the narrator, that the photo is not Zahra but himself, he changed his face to look like Zahra.

"That's Mika's sister." Saying a younger brother.

"Mika? Who's she?" Ask Zahra.

"Class XII Accounting. He's the one who took the picture." Answer Mika.

Zahra was interested in class XII of Accounting, that class was Akbar class. The reason why Mika did such a thing was only herself to know.

"Sorry, interrupt the time, brother." Said the underclassman again breaking Zahra's daydream.

"No, thank you."

"Sama-sama, I went to class first huh. Assalamu'alaikum."

"Wa'alaikumsalam warohmatullahi wabarokatu."

With curiosity Zahra walked into the office. There was the principal and guardian of XII Accounting class with a student wearing a black and white uniform.

"Zahrah!"

Zahra was shocked when Erina found her peering into the office.

"Assalamu'alaikum ma'am." Zahra eighth when caught eavesdropping on teacher talk.

"Wa'alaikumsalam, what are you doing?" Erina asked, looking into the office, and then looked at Zahra with a small smile.

"Do you know?" Ask Erina again.

Zahra nodded.

"Well, we're in then!" Take Erina's mom.

"Bec ... But ma'am."

Ms. Erina looked at Zahra again and obeyed her orders.

"Assalamu'alaikum."

"Wa'alaikumsalam."

All the teachers were surprised to see Erina with Zahra coming into the office.

"Zahra wants to know who Mika is, doesn't he?"

"Emmm... I.. Yes ma'am." Zahra answered nervously.

"You sit here!" Pinta the principal.

"Mika, this is Zahra, he said you'd like to see him." Said Miss Hindun as the principal and was responsible for the problems that were being faced by As-sobirin.

Mika looked at Zahra hatefully, she glared at Zahra's innocent looking face, because she did not know what was wrong with her. Moreover, Zahra is only a transfer student at the school.

"I hate you!!!" Mika's strangulation was slow yet imprinted on Zahra's mind.

All the teachers fell silent, they did not know the meaning of Mika's words. Because Mika and Zahra don't know each other.

Zahra was instantly an istigfar in his heart. He asks God for forgiveness for his mistakes and makes others hurt.

"You're a transfer student but you've doctrinated everything!!! School, teachers, and friends!!!" Mika said again full of anger.

What's wrong with Zahra's attitude during school? What's wrong with his habit of greeting fellow Muslims? It was all wrong in Mika's eyes. He was envious because the presence of Zahra one school only focused on Zahra, a great schoolgirl in Egypt.

"A... I didn't mean it like that Mika, it's just... That's my habit, at home, at boarding school, or at..."

"Egypt!!! That's what you've always been proud of Zahra! Everyone should know how life in Egypt, even to the extent that the best graduates of this school, are going to Egypt. I'm sick of you Zahra!!!" Mika cuts off Zahra's words and shouts loudly, so the students come to see Zahra's reaction and Mika's anger.

Zahra looked at Mika affectionately, she did not hate Mika with what she had done, instead there was something that made Mika to be disappointed with her. Mika seems to lose the affection of the family, to the point that she is socially jealous with the lives of others.

"Astagfirullah hal adzim. I'm not like that Mika. I never boast of Egypt in front of anyone including my own best friend, Bela. He often asked me, how is life in Egypt? How's people? Did I ever answer? No Mika. Because I know, there are many countries that you dream of with your religious achievements." Zahra denied Mika's bad thoughts to her.

"Is there anything else you want to say to me?" Zahra asked when she saw Mika lowered her head to hold back her tears.

"You took him from me!" Mika said softly and then shed her tears.

It seems like Mika is currently telling me about someone she loves, then Zahra asked Hindun and the other teachers for permission to take Mika to the school park without anyone eavesdropping on their conversation. Zahra was afraid that Mika would become a gossip if she said it in general.

After arriving at the back garden, Zahra stroked the kitten that was breastfeeding with its mother.

"Now you're free to talk to me about anything." Zahra said smiling.

Mika feels guilty for Zahra, because Zahra is not who she thinks she is.

"You snatched the man I've loved for more than three years!" Mika wiped her tears.

"Who is that man?" Ask Zahra.

"Accad." Answer Mika.

Zahra was immediately fixated and did not know what to say to Mika, because she did love Akbar. But he didn't take anyone into his life.

"What makes you think that I took Akbar away from you?" Ask Zahra.

"Before you were, Akbar was very close to me, everywhere always together. But... Once he knows you, everything changes, he moves away from me. Can you stay away from Akbar?" Mika's tears came back as her eyes looked at Zahra.

Zahra sighed, "Akbar knows about your feelings?"

Mika shook her head, "i'm afraid she doesn't love me."

"You tell him why you did all this. I've forgiven you, now I have to go to class." Zahra.

Just as Zahra was about to walk away, Mika immediately held onto Zahra's wrist and looked at her face.

"Tell me that you don't love Akbar!" Mika.

"Please let me go Mika." Said Zahra trying to release her hand from Mika's grasp.

"Quick say!!!"

Zahra tried hard to let go of her hand, and finally Mika let go of her own grasp and let Zahra go from before her.

"You love him, don't you?! But you are ashamed because Akbar is only a scholarship student!!! You hypocrite Zahra! You hypocritical chick!!! You take cover from your own clothes!!!" Shouted Mika.

Zahra held back the crying, she did not want to listen to the words thrown by Mika. Because what his upperclassman said to him was not true. He confirmed that he really loved Akbar since one year ago, but he chose to be quiet and pray to God without anyone knowing his heart.

Zahra wants to meet Mika but Syaiful refuses Zahra out of her study hours, because she is afraid Mika will curse and shout at Zahra like in the office. Mr. Syaiful did not want everything to be complicated, because it was Mika's actions that could not be tolerated by the school.

When the lesson time was over, Zahra took her phone and sent Akbar a message.

"Assalamu'alaikum Akbar, it's Zahra. I want to tell you that Mika was expelled from school because of the photo."

^^^"Wa'alaikumsalam Zahra. Mika deserves it."^^^

"I've forgiven him."

^^^"Yes, but there is no tolerance for students who spread slander to fellow students. Pray that Mika will be a better human being."^^^

"Aren't you sad to hear your friend got kicked out?"

^^^"For what is sorrow? Mika started it and she alone should take responsibility."^^^

"Yes, I went home first. Assalamu'alaikum."

^^^"Wa'alaikumsalam."^^^

As Zahra walked towards the parking lot, Bela's voice stopped her steps.

"I'm sorry Zahra." Bela hugged her best friend.

"Why you?" Zahra asked confusedly.

"Yesterday I was bad with you, I stayed away from you. But you keep telling the teacher that I'm your best friend." Answer Bela. Her tears were in her eyes.

Zahra smiled, "i know it's not you, but now Bela is done."

"You're so good." Bela hugged Zahra again.

"Ah ah, I went home first. Already picked. Assalamu'alaikum."

"Be careful Zahra, wa'alaikumsalam."

...***...

That afternoon Akbar came home from work early because he had to come to school for his osis duties. He came at about one o'clock in the afternoon, only a few students were in school because they were menstruating and did not perform congregational prayers. Bela who was in front of her class saw Akbar walking in the school corridor, the first time for Bela to see Akbar wearing ordinary clothes and amazed her.

No wonder almost all the students greeted Akbar and were friendly to him. Although Akbar only replied to her with a smile but it had already made their hearts flowery.

As Akbar walked into the sausage room he looked at Zahra's class, there was only Bela there. Akbar smiled then entered into the sausage room and immediately sat down while opening his notes. He had to draw up the election of a new chairwoman of the XI class and plan for anyone who deserved to replace her.

Akbar's fingers stopped when Zahra's voice came from the osis room, he heard the laughter of the woman he had longed for. Akbar smiled as he took a breath and then stood out of the room as Zahra had already passed through the osis room.

Somehow Zahra's steps stopped, she felt that something was telling her to look back. When he turned his head, Akbar was standing looking at him and smiling. Zahra immediately returned the smile, she was happy to see Akbar in school after almost a month they did not meet because Akbar was carrying out the PKL.

Zahra continued her steps towards class to clear up some of the books that were still under her desk.

"There's Akbar." Bela.

"I know." Zahra.

"Where do you know?" Ask Bela.

"So I saw him in front of the sausage room." Answer Zahra.

"Zahra." Said Bela hesitatingly.

"Yes?"

Zahra was still busy tidying up her textbooks.

"I love her." Said Bela.

The Math package book fell out of Zahra's hands. Bela took it straight away.

"Aren't you jealous?" Ask Bela again.

Zahra was silent, she did not know what answer she had to tell Bela. Because he was afraid to make Bela disappointed, he did not want Bela as disappointed as Mika because it did not get a response from Akbar.

"Zahrah!" Calling Bela surprised Zahra.

"Sorry Bela I daydreamed. I meani... Don't you love her?" Zahra tries not to misbehave in front of her best friend.

"Sister Akbar was my upperclassman since Junior High, and since then I've loved him." Answer Bela.

"Then?" Ask Zahra.

Bela lowered her head, "i feel tormented every time I see Zahra's face with the feelings I've been craving for years."

"Tell him that you love him, but if you don't dare, you carry his name in your prayers." Zahra gave a suggestion even though there was actually jealousy in her heart.

"Seriously?" Bela looked at Zahra's face with hope in her friend.

Zahra nodded steadily.

"I'll say it now! Thanks Zahra, you're my best friend." Bela hugged Zahra tightly before leaving.

"Oh my God, what's wrong with my heart? Why does my chest feel claustrophobic when Bela says such a thing? Do I really love him?" Saying Bela in the heart.

No tears fell down her cheeks. He wiped his tears and came out of the classroom where there was no one but him. Zahra also walked alone towards the parking lot while thinking about Bela with various feelings for Akbar.

...***...

The sound of the door being knocked, with a face that looked annoyed Akbar opened the door. He was surprised to see Mika standing before him while looking at her face seriously.

"May I go inside?" Ask Mika.

"I'm sorry you can't go inside, no one, afraid of slander." Akbar replied, rejecting it.

Mika puts her smile on Akbar and hits Akbar's arm.

"What's up Mika?" Akbar asked puzzled by Mika's attitude.

"Don't pretend you're a bar!" Answer Mika.

"I don't know why you came to see me." Akbar.

"You know I got kicked out of school?"

Akbar hush.

"You know, right?!"

"Yes Mika, what's the problem?"

"Do you know why I did that to him?"

Akbar knew what Mika meant was Zahra.

"Not knowing."

"Akbar, I love you. I loved you a long time ago, but why did you choose him." Said Mika.

"You love me? And that's why you're slandering Zahra?" Akbar is not surprised to hear Mika's expression of love, but he is upset as to why Mika would do that to Zahra.

"I edited the photo so you could stay away from him, but it turns out you're getting closer to him!" Mika.

"Istigfar Mica! I know you for who I am, I don't know who you are when you slander Zahra, you fool yourself for love of man." Akbar did not expect the friend he knew long ago to be willing to exchange everything just for love.

"I'm willing to do anything to keep you with me!" Mika shouted and ran down the stairs while wiping her tears.

Akbar let Mika go from before him. His brain tried to refocus after the incident, he began typing while drinking mineral water on the sausage table. Finished carrying out his duties, Akbar immediately returned home and calmed his mind.