
One unforgettable moment, when Safa and Rumi for the first time, sat together on the veranda of the house Fatkhul Qullum (Father Safa) with a round table bulkhead in the middle.
Today Safa did not expect, when the arrival of the Irshad Ustadz family was not just an ordinary friend. But for a good plan is to match their two children in the way of Ta'aruf.
It can be said, this fact is very surprising and encouraging for Safa, who has harbored a sense of admiration for men whose age range is only under her one year.
I don't know when the taste is present, I don't know exactly. What was clear, the feeling that should not exist was subtly settled in his heart. Even well-fertilized, with the treatment of Rumi that made him think that he was also the same as Safa.
"Fa!" Rumi opened her voice. Break the silence between the two.
The girl slightly raised her head, a voice like a calm and shady river flow, making her palpitating even though she immediately tepis with the phrase taawudz as a way of asking for protection to Allah SWT.
"Can I ask you one thing?" he asked a little doubt. Safa herself only replied with a small nod. Although in his heart he was curious, but nervous as well. "What's right, you admired me all this time?"
The deg!
The girl nodded. It looks panic and shame that makes both cheeks meet. Safa hurriedly lowered her head increasingly nervously.
"I–it. Me, me...."
"It's okay, don't feel embarrassed about this, Safa." Rumi tried to comfort the suddenly awkward Safa.
"I'm sorry..," she felt anxious.
"Since when?" soft voice Rumi asked back.
This made Safa want to cry. Abducting her fading memories of; since when has that illicit feeling bothered her over the past few years? because, during that time he was trying hard to throw it away for the things that would plunge him into sin.
"Se–since when? I don't know. Clearly, the feeling came suddenly without knocking first."
The shady face of Rumi Al-Fatih seemed calm. Soon there was a slow sigh that still sounded the long-hijab girl.
"Sorry, Rumi. I'm sorry I admired you." The clear thread is increasingly accommodated a lot in the two beautiful netra.
Rumi must be disappointed in me. I must be considered a bad woman for admiring men first. –batin Safa squealed loudly, wanting to feel like she just disappeared from before him at this time.
The man hurriedly refuted with his two hands in front of his chest.
"No, Safa! You are not wrong. You're not too lazy either, though."
Rumi tried to speak with polite words. He's even being very careful at the moment. Even though still, what he asked was something that might make a woman lose her confidence. And lead to excessive embarrassment.
"Safa.., admiring someone is no mistake. Because what speaks is the heart. Not your will," he added. While the girl in front was still bowed. He did not even dare to raise his head.
There was a hint of relief that began to linger in the twenty-eight year old girl's heart. It was as if his dark passageway was starting to glow.
There's a glimmer of hope, isn't there? Is Rumi ready to share her interests with him. Until they can get married, and not constantly add to sins.
"But sorry...." Rumi returned to voice and returned at the break. With a facial expression that Safa couldn't see right now. The girl waited without daring to raise her head even if it was just a peek. "We can't be rauf, Safa."
The eyes of Safa are similar to clear and shady lakes rippling. It was as if a small pebble was thrown into the middle to make a splash in the calm water of the face. The girl was silent, she was completely speechless. Is this a sign that he has rejected a Brotherhood?
"Fa, sorry I have to say this right now directly. Because, I'm scared. At the end of the day, I hurt you."
It seems Safa already knows the answer. Because this morning suddenly the nonis girl came with a surprise that made her stunned and happy.
Yes, Deborah who he knew in Bandung had decided to convert to Islam. She looks even more beautiful with the dress and hijab that she wears. And it seems that not only is she the one who is amazed to see Debby change, but Rumi as well. All he could guess from the frozen gaze of Rumi when he was about to enter this house.
Yeah, that must be the reason... Safa.
"Safa, are you angry?" Asked Rumi who was feeling even more unwell. The girl also tried to beristighfar in heart and then tried to develop a smile even though it feels bitter.
"Must– Shafa help you to say this, to our parents?" The question that actually made Rumi speechless. "Particularly Pakde Irsyad. If we're not together."
"I'm really sorry, Safa."
"No papa, Rumi...." With a bitter feeling, the girl gave a small laugh. "Love can not be forced," he added gently but quite pressing.
"Why am I angry with you? You're weird, Rumi." Laughing with eyes. The girl moved her eyes so that her tears would not come out. After a moment of silence, the girl sighed softly.
"I know– the woman you expected to be with you is not me" Safa said what she said at the moment.
Rumi flinching. Now it's her turn to be speechless. Because what Safa guessed was right.
"I know. Now he's converted. You guys are at faith. Isn't that good news?"
Hearing that, Rumi immediately wiped her wet eyes. How could Safa know his heart. If he wants Deborah to be his wife.
"Here, between us, no one wants to hurt each other, right? So did I, Rumi. I won't force you to be my priest."
Both were silent for a while. Inside, Ulum sighed softly. Then choose to move from there. Honestly, he was not very strong in hearing the conversation between the two of them.
"You're right, the feeling of awe is not something wrong. But after this, I will review and fix something wrong with me" he continued.
"Fa–" Rumi caught the vibrating voice from the lips of the girl nearby. Make the man raise his head.
Safa hurriedly cupped her hands in front of her chest. "I will reject this ta'aruf. And you can fight to get Akhwat your choice. Marry Him, guide Him well, Rumi. He deserves you more."
"Perhaps, I'm a bad man right now," Rumi said feeling guilty.
The girl with my eyes did not answer and was clenching her lips tightly, holding a rumble in her chest, occasionally trying to smile.
"If there's a higher word than sorry, I've said it, Fa."
The eyes that had actually been soaked, were really no longer able to accommodate more. Safa was eager to cry right then and there. And he prefers to hang on again by sharing his smile for this Man he admires.
"I'm sincerely not fooling you. Wallahi, Rumi," his voice turned hoarse and sounded very soft.
Klaaaaap, extinguish all the lights in the long hallway of his life at the same time. So that makes the inner girl empty.
The man cupped his hands. His face looked regretful for having hurt Safa indirectly.
"I think everything is clear. So, I'm saying yes now, yes" he said. The girl nodded slowly too.
Rumi replied, that smile is thin. "I hope there will be a kind Brotherhood whose faith is far above mine for you."
Shafa smiled again. "Aamiin..."
"Emmm.., I want to say goodbye to Uncle Ulum."
The girl looked inside for a moment. He did not see his father's body in the living room. Then it turned back to Rumi.
"Let's just say it. My dad's a lot more in the break room. If it's Mom, you saw for yourself that she went with Qonni."
"Then. Say hello, yes."
"Moskalamic. Yes, Rumi. I'll tell you later."
Rumi who became awkward had not dared to step her foot out of the porch of Safa's house.
"There again?" ask the girl with a heart that is no problem.
"No.." laughed a little. "Sorry, yeah."
"Yes, Rumi. Don't keep apologizing." Both laughed crisply. Rumi nodded once and said his greetings and left.
The girl walked a few steps as the car Rumi was driving began to drive, and stopped at a support pole on the roof of her porch. Clutching the pole with one hand. While his head leaned weakly to the side of the pole. His soft eyes began to slow down. Clear threads that have been accommodated since then have also fallen.
It is as easy as saying sincerely. But not with his heart. Of course it was very hard for him to practice the sincerity itself.
In her solitude outside the house, Safa begins to be as. Even with his efforts to not make a sound. Of course it can still be seen clearly from his shoulders that shook violently.