NIGHT BUTTERFLY
#186
The atmosphere is crowded at the construction site of the Liwa'il Kahfi Throne boarding school owned by Fahmi. Both men and women in royong trong put uruk soil into the foundation of ten local dormitories that have stood. Kasidah sound melodious accompanied the enthusiasm of people who were carrying royong.
Sulastri who occasionally mingled with female worshipers transporting the land with buckets was seen looking into the guard post. His eyes looked towards the wall clock hanging inside the guard post. It's 11 more. He then called Munawarah who had finished serving his perfunctory food as a cover gotong royong at night. He then took Munawarah to go to the terrace of the house.
Sulastri rubbed the sweat on his face with the tip of his veil shortly after sitting on the porch chair of the house.
"I said yes Ma'am," said Munawarah offering his services. Sulastri smiled and shook his head.
"No need Munawarah, there are incandescent therapy devices in the room" Sulastri said. Munawarah poured a glass of water and placed it on the table that separated his seat with Sulastri.
"Tomorrow I'll pick up his friend non Rianti. He'll stay with us here. The empty room next door please clean up, yes" Sulastri said.
"Kok the mother who picked me up? Does he have a family?" ask Munawarah. Sulastri smiled.
"He had no one, so Non Rianti told him to stay here. He will also be able to help Fahmi teach at the pesantren" Sulastri said.
Muawarah frowned. He looks astonished.
"Surely he can, ma'am," said Munawarah curiously. Sulastri smiled back.
"Not everyone who goes to jail is a criminal, Munawarah. Even if he used to be a bad person, it does not mean that he will be a bad person. We read a lot from history, great people in the Sufi world started from a dark life. Light does not exist if there is no darkness. Neither would penance exist if no mistakes were made," Sulastri grabbed a glass of drink beside him and drank it. Munawarah seemed to nod his head.
"He has memorized the Quran 30 juz loh," Sulastri continued after a pause of silence for a while. Back Munawarah scrunched his forehead.
"Well, then he's great, ma'am," said Munawarah amazed. Sulastri smiled. He looked towards Fahmi who was approaching towards him.
"Mom, the friends who gotong royong already want to go home. Mothers looking for mothers. They want to say goodbye" Fahmi said. Sulastri immediately got up from his seat and stepped followed by Fahmi and Munawarah.
* * * * *
The clock has shown at 11 p.m. The sound of the gate being opened, made Layla rise from her lying down. He slowly walked to his bedroom window. Slowly he pulled his window net. He smiled when he saw Nurasmin pushing the gate. He wondered what the results of his father's conversation with Mr. Guru Izzul Islam.
There were footsteps coming from outside her room. And not long after, there was a conversation between Sofia and Nurasmin in the living room. Layla's moving in. This time he opened a little door to his room so he could steal the second talk. But it's too far. No conversation could be caught by his ears.
"If your son has not slept, try to tell him to come here" said Mr. Nurasmin. Sofia smiled.
"How can your son sleep, sir. I'm sure he's waiting to be called" Sofia said. He then got up and stepped into Layla's room. Hearing the sound of footsteps approaching her room, Layla immediately ran towards her bed and slowly laid her body on her side against the door. He closed his eyes. Chest thumping.
"Son, are you asleep?" said Ms. Sofia. Layla's shoulder was held. Layla opened her eyes. He pretended to rub his eyes. Sofia smiled.
"What's up, Mom," asked Layla.
"Wait with your father outside" said Sofia.
"Mother comes out first, Layla follows" Layla said. Sofia smiled, nodding her head. He got up and left Layla. After Sofia's mom came out of her room, Layla raised her body slowly. His heart beat hard. I don't know what news Mr. Nurasmin brought from the house of Master Izzul Islam. What is clear, his curiosity now makes him stubborn.
Mr. Nurasmin and Ms. Sofia turned their heads when they saw Layla walking towards them. Bu Sofia who was sitting on the long sofa with Mr. Nurasmin immediately shifted her body and gave the empty space in the middle for Layla's seat. Sofia smiled and gestured for Layla to sit in the middle of them. Layla silently watched the faces of the two. There was no look of unease on the faces of the two. He believes what Mr. Nurasmin will say may be good news.
Bu Sofia tidied Layla's hair just after Layla sat down. Mr. Nurasmin tilted his body and faced Layla. He stared at Layla for a long time. It made Layla lower her face.
Mr. Nurasmin began his conversation with ****** length.
"Son, I have told all to your Master. Our conversation wasn't long. Your master's brother just said he'd come tomorrow night to see you." Layla's heart was pounding ever more. He had difficulty regulating his breath because of the various flavors that were now raging in his heart. The news of the coming Master Teacher Izzul Islam to meet him made his body shake. There was a sense of happiness he held in his chest and shame for him to appear in his smile. But the look on his face at this time made him unable to hide it from Sofia and Nurasmin.
"Yes, God, tonight I rediscover my son's joy. Help her realize her wish, Yes, Allah," Sofia's inner being when she sees the instantaneous change in Layla's face. She smiled and rubbed Layla's hair.
"The color of your Master's feet will come to you alone, so say what you now feel as you are not ashamed to say to your father and mother. That means you are fully grown with all your decisions" said Mr. Nurasmin after a while staring at Layla who lowered her head.
Mr. Nurasmin held Layla's shoulder and rested it on her shoulder.
Mr. Nurasmin fixed his sitting position. Two buttons of the top shirt he had removed were inserted back.
"Have you prayed?" ask Mr. Nurasmin. Layla nodded.
"Already, Sir. Layla prays with mom." Layla. He looked towards Sofia. Sofia smiled.
"Layla's sorry, sir, Mom. Layla apologizes for bothering mom and dad. Layla is afraid of going crazy if she is not frank with her mother and father. Once again forgive Layla, Mom, sir," Layla said in a hoarse voice along with her tears that came out with her sobs. Sofia came closer and immediately hugged her.
"It's all happened, son. At first my father and mother never imagined this would happen to you, but we both realized, the future is a journey that still holds a mystery. We plan, God determines it" Sofia said. One of her hands took a tissue on the table and wiped Layla's tears.
"Now sleep. It's 11 o'clock. Throw away overly burdening thoughts. If you want your Master's brother to be your companion, then ask Allah. Only He can grant your wish" said Mr. Nursmin.
"Come, Mom. Take your son to his room" Nurasmin told Sofia's mother. Sofia nodded and asked Layla to get up.
"Father wait for me for a moment, I will prepare food for you" Sofia said.
"Already, Mom. I ate at Nak Izzul's house. You are tired, want to rest immediately," said Mr. Nurasmin. He laid his body on the sofa. Bu Sofia escorted Layla to her doorstep.
* * * * *
The night is getting late. The atmosphere of silence and silence was felt once inside the long building of Lapas. Only the occasional gecko sound startling night.
Inside the narrow room located at the very end, Rianti was lying soundly on his bed. His shady face made Jamila who could not close her eyes not turn to look at him. Occasionally fix the blanket that covers Rianti's body. He was also still faithfully blocking the mosquito that was about to bite and stick in Rianti's body since two hours ago Rianti began to fall asleep.
Tonight is his last night he will be with Rianti. It was very hard to leave Rianti alone in the room when she was pregnant. Rianti activities that he has been limiting because of his condition that is pregnant certainly starting tonight and the next days he will do it himself. He felt, as luxurious as any place he would live later after being free, would not mean if in reality Rianti was still sleeping in a narrow and cold place. By ourselves. As he sees it today. And that makes him even sadder.
The bond between her and Rianti was already too deep. More than just friends. It even exceeds the sense of belonging between two brothers. He who has never thought of getting out of that prison since he went to jail because there were no relatives out there waiting for him, has found a brother like fate. Every night he circled the numbers by the numbers in the calendar for his freedom. At that time he wanted to be free soon because Rianti was free. But when fate returns Rianti to prison for the second time, his freedom turns grim. He doesn't want to go, but baby, he doesn't want to go.
Jamila's tears came out slowly wetting both of her cheeks. The tears she tried to hold back flowed so hard when she saw Rianti's face. Isak and his will awaken Rianti from her sleep.
Rianti rubbed his eyes. Slowly he saw Jamila sitting next to him. Crying while smiling.
Rianti raised his body slowly while holding his stomach. He then rested his body. Not too precise he leaned his back, Jamila had already hugged him. The sobs and bouts of Jamila grew louder. Rianti rubbed his back.
"Why haven't you slept Jamila? And why are you crying like this" said Rianti in a flat voice. Jamila kept crying.
"If you weep for our farewell tomorrow, you will torment me through my days in this place until the day of my freedom. I am so happy that you are finally free. Since your freedom will be of great benefit out there, especially for the boarding school at Fahmi, then it's more I want than to wait for me here. Your science is in great need. Three months is a long time. We will meet in April, God willing. I promise, we'll be together again like this. Even we can sleep one more room like when we're here" Rianti said. Smile expands.
"Don't joke, Rianti. So where does Master sleep?" jamila said in a stammering voice. He smiled because he felt funny with Rianti's last words.
"Yes in another room. Our house is huge. There are six large rooms and only two are used. That's when Nyai's mother was still around." Rianti let out a long sigh and let go of Jamila's embrace. Jamila's face was held by him and looked at for a long time.
"Stop that cry. I don't like it. If you are happy here because I am good, then at home you will meet someone better than me, Miss Lastri. He will love you as much as he loves me" Rianti said. Jamila nodded her head. Rianti wiped Jamila's tears.
"Now, sleep. Tomorrow I'll pick you up around 10. You have to promise not to look back. If you keep crying, I won't see you when I'm free" Rianti said. His face looks serious. Jamila was agitatedly staring at Rianti. Both of Rianti's hands were held tightly.
"Rianti, don't say that" said Jamila half-heartedly. Jamila smile.
"If you promise not to be sad anymore. Remember, I will definitely get out of this place. Wait for me and we'll be together again" Rianti said. Jamila smiled nodding her head. Rianti shifted his body and told Jamila to lie down beside him.
"Below alone, Rianti. You will not be free to move your body" said Jamila.
"Compense, later if I'm asleep, you can move to sleep down. Stay with me before I fall asleep" said Rianti. Jamila laid her body down quietly beside Rianti. Rianti immediately divided the blanket he wore on Jamila's body.
The night is getting late. Silence and silence are getting more and more enveloped.
After telling each other for a long time, the two fell asleep.