Only I Love
Chapter 5

Ala tried to re-read the incoming message trying to examine it properly. "Ah, I didn't ask permission when I was leaving for college. Is it sinful? But, he himself is not alone with me?"

Ala tried to string the words to reply to the message from her husband, but he deleted the contents of the message. In the end, Ala only replied with one word.

[I'm sorry ]

A few seconds later, his phone rang again. Ala pulled the green button and put the phone in her ear.

"Assalamualaikum warrahmatullah wabarakatuh .." said the man at the end of the call.

"Walaikumsalam," answered Ala briefly.

"So, I called you, but my call didn't answer. Didn't you learn how to be a good wife?"

Ala was stunned to hear the words of this man who was her husband. The shoulder that had been still firmly received the call despite being expelled from the class, was now down and withered. "Yes, sorry."

"I called your Umi. Umi said you have now left for campus. So, you went to college without saying anything?"

"Sorry" said Ala.

From across the call, a long breath was heard. "Yes, I'm working again. Assalamualaikum."

"But—?"

The unfinished call was simply closed by the man opposite. Ala put on a look of wonder and confusion. "Walaikumsalam warrahmatullah wabarakatuh." He stared at the phone.

Some time preoccupied with his own thoughts, he again let out a long sigh. "Is the husband and wife like this? But, I saw Abi and Umi so close. Abi always said softly to Umi. However, why wasn't Uda Uqi like that?"

Ala rose from her position. Finally he chose to go to the reading room of the department which was not far from where he sat.

"Well?"

Rafatar walked closer to Ala. However, his instinct as a wife made Ala walk back a few steps. His upperclassmen realized that and stopped the move trying to continue approaching the girl who was still dancing in his heart.

"Are you okay?" ask Rafatar.

Ala nodded her head quickly. "Sorry, yesterday I couldn't talk to Uda much."

"Yes, don't worry. I understand how you are in position. May Abi husnul khotimah, and be set forth in the realm of his waiting."

"Amin Allahuma Amin. Thanks for the prayer, Da." Ala still bowed her head.

"Can you hold your head up when you talk to me?" ask Rafatar a little bit of a fuss.

"Sorry, Da. What was? If there is no one important thing, we should not talk too closely. I'm afraid there will be slander inflicted on both of us. Uda knows it for herself, right? I just had the status of a wife?"

Rafatar exhaled a rough breath. "I know you just had to go through this marriage. However, if you don't love her, maybe the late Abi will understand and let you choose the man you love."

Ala was silent for some time, she still bowed her head. "Uda, it seems like I can't talk too long with Uda. I have to get in there." Ala left Rafatar who was silent staring at the girl's departure and disappeared behind the door that read THE READING ROOM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING.

Rafatar's hands were clasped tightly. The sad face was clearly drawn even though he did not say. Rafatar finally left the place.

Meanwhile, inside the reading room, Ala reopened the lecture material this morning. He did not want to miss the lecture material, trying to learn it himself.

A touch from someone who had just come shocked Ala. He looked at the girl next to him.

"Astagfirullah, Wawa? You just surprised me?" muttered Ala shaking her head.

"How was your first night?" tanya Salwa who is usually called Wawa, Ala's friend who is in a different class.