MY BOYFRIEND LECTURER
SN 69'S
Ismail and Atifa looked at each other when they saw Zalfa's attitude, which was suddenly riled up after receiving a phone call.
With trembling hands, Zalfa called back Mr. Ibrahim's number. He wanted to ascertain the truth of the middle-aged man's words. Truly, he wanted to hear once more so that his heart would be sure.
Phone connected. Mr. Ibrahim did not answer his phone.
Zalfa tapped the tips of her fingers at the table as she impatiently waited for the phone to be picked up. As soon as the phone was answered, Zalfa immediately asked, “Please speak properly, is Faisal really found?”
With a hoarse and trembling voice Mr. Ibrahim replied, “Faisal is back, Zalfa. Thas right. I've spoken to him over the phone. That's Faisal's voice. He claims to be going home.”
Across the street, behind Ms. Fatima was a rowdy voice busy discussing Faisal. Zalfa heard the voice of Fatima.
Then came the voice of Mr. Ibrahim calling, “Bu, who's calling?”
“Zalfa, I'm going to the airport to meet Faisal. You suck!” mr Ibrahim said then the phone was cut off. Mr. Ibrahim and Ms. Fatima sounded very rushed.
Zalfa did not know whether he should be happy or sad. The news was truly thrilling and made her feel very touched. His world suddenly changed in an instant. His feelings have changed too. But why was the news present when he was already on the brink of marriage? When he had gone through a hard time to forget Faisal? Why is he faced with such a difficult choice? But... Wasn't that the news he had been waiting for?
“Zalfa, what did you say? Has Faisal been found?” atifa asked as she approached Zalfa and grabbed her shoulder. “Where is it?”
Zalfa was stunned to hear the last question. A body?
“Faisal is still alive, Zalfa's brief” leaves Atifa and Ismail shocked and exchanged glances.
***
Zalfa ran into the airport. Get in touch with a lot of people who are busy with pick-up routines. In the lobby outside the arrival terminal area, Mr. Ibrahim and Ms. Fatima were waiting in the waiting chair with anxious faces.
Zalfa approached Ibrahim. Immediately Mr. Ibrahim stood up and looked at Zalfa. His agitated face was clearly waiting very much for the arrival of his son. While Ms. Fatima remained silent in her seat without regard for Zalfa's arrival.
“Zalfa, I don't know what to say. Faisal will be back. He will go home,”, said Mr. Ibrahim with his eyeballs swirling in an uncertain direction. Between happiness and anxiety blend into one.
Zalfa nodded happily. Happy that Faisal is safe, happy that Faisal's safety makes a father and mother show great joy. It feels like there is in a soap opera that tells the return of someone who has been considered dead, but this is reality. And Zalfa was in the midst of reality.
“What about Faisal's condition? Is she okay?” ask Zalfa.
“Bapak does not know the real conditions. But, Lord God answered my prayers in one third of the night. God restore Faisal,” said Mr. Ibrahim as he looked at Zalfa with his eyes full of tears. “Faisal calls by public phone. He said he was in South Tapanuli. He asked for money and we sent it. May he return safely.”
Zalfa glazed over to hear Mr. Ibrahim's testimony. Touched. Is Faisal really coming back? My God, the closer he got to Faisal, the more his heart was pounding.
TB