STEADFASTNESS OF LOVE
O Makmumku...

The news of Rafa's arrival keeps the pesantren manager busy. Not to glorify the arrival of Rafa, but the kindness that Rafa will do. Make the administrators enthusiastic, there are even some alumni who will come. Just to meet and help Rafa. They are very enthusiastic to hear the news of the arrival of one of the successful pesantren santri in business.

All administrators have their respective duties to welcome the arrival of Rafa and the team that will carry out the construction of the boarding school project. Almost all residents of the ponpes know the news of the arrival of the donor. News spread quickly, but there was one person who felt the arrival of Rafa as a good sign. Rizal feels Rafa's arrival as a gesture to his good relationship with Kiara.

"Assalammualaikum!" greet Rizal in class 2 IPA 1. All the students were surprised to see the arrival of the idol ustad into his class. All eyes stared fixedly at the idol. But there were a pair of eyes that were reluctant to look at the idol. Don't stare, just look at it. Rizal with his eagle eyes looking for the knocker of the heart door. Both of his eyeballs locked onto Kiara's figure who kept his head down.

"Glamma!" greet the santriwati in unison. Rizal smiled as sweetly as possible. Only this time he entered the class of students. Seen some santriwati propping up his chin on the table. Staring at Rizal's face without blinking.

"It's morning, don't daydream. I just filled the first and second hours. I replaced the still busy ustadzah Mila. So focus back on the lesson!" said Rizal lirih, the disciples simultaneously nodded. Rizal picked up the sheet of paper that Mila had deliberately prepared. Because today Mila got the task of helping in the kitchen. He was asked directly to help prepare the welcome for Rafa and his team.

"This is a paper from Mila's ustadza. You guys do it noisily, I'll keep an eye on you. Who finished first? Gather it forward, then you're free. With the record you get good grades!" said Rizal firmly, immediately Rizal's good looks turned into a wise attitude.all students saw a different figure.

"Ustad Rizal, once taught us. Why do I have to repeat?" as one of the disciples said, Rizal shrugged his shoulders. Smiling, he handed out the test paper. Upon arriving at Kiara and Salwa's bench, Rizal sees Kiara ignoring him. Instead Salwa continued to look with a smile as sweet as possible towards Rizal.

"Ustadzah Mila deliberately gave you a retrial. In order for the next two hours, you guys aren't busy looking at me. You have to remember, this time it will be included in the report card!" rizal said firmly, they nodded in unison. After you have finished distributing the paper. Rizal sat in front of the class, watching the students.

They seem to be working quietly. Rizal watches from the front of the class, while working on the same thing. After a few minutes, Rizal finished working on it. Then suddenly he remembered the incident last night. Talk about plans to kill Kiara. A discussion occurred that ended on condition. Kiara's meeting with her father. Abi Malik wants to see Kiara in person. He wanted to ask Kiara personally.

FLASHBACKS

"What is Rizal, why is your face nervous? As if there's something you want to say. Speak abi will listen!" abi Malik said, Rizal nodded weakly. With a little nervous Rizal started talking. Mila saw her brother's attitude was different, there was no calm attitude in sight. Rizal is not afraid to tell his father about his plans. But he fears his parents are against and bringing up Kiara's past.

"Rizal wants to express an intention. Rizal wants to preach one of the santriwati. Rizal wants permission from abi!" rizal said softly and politely, abi Malik saw the look on Rizal's serious face. Umi Fatimah approached with a tray of snacks and drinks for her husband and son, as well as her niece Mila. Rizal is the only son of Dalem's family.

"Who is santriwati you mean? Do abi and Umi know him? You cannot marry someone else. Before you can find the daughter of a friend of Umi who was once betrothed to you!" umi's speech is soft and friendly, her voice is soft and soothing. At once Rizal's face was sad, hearing his mother's words. She never expected that her parents would oppose her wishes. The first time he liked someone, but he had to swallow bitterness and not be condoned.

"Umi, the matchmaking is not binding. We don't have to force something that doesn't necessarily happen. We have lost contact with them for years. We never know if their daughter is single and unmarried. Let Rizal express his intentions. The first time I saw the seriousness of our son. I'm sure Rizal really craved him to be his aunt. We as parents are just reminding, not meddling. Rizal is an adult, abi is sure he can sort out the right and wrong!" abi Malik said wisely, umi Fatimah looked down feeling guilty. Rizal's face was cheerful again, at least there was a little hope for him to be with Kiara.

"Before Rizal apologized, if Rizal's choice was not in accordance with the wishes and expectations of abi or umi. Rizal wants to menghitbah Kiara Putri Prawira, my brother continued my best friend Rafa Akbar Prawira!" said Rizal Lirih while looking down, abi Malik smiled. In contrast, Umi Fatimah was surprised, her facial features clearly showed dislike. All pesantren managers know the ins and outs of Kiara. Rafa doesn't offer them anything. Not wanting to expose mother's disgrace. But Rafa doesn't want anyone to regret accepting Kiara.

"Rizal, you're losing your mind. Kiara you want to preach, there is no santriwati better than her. Why should he? Does Rafa want it?" said umi Fatimah cynically, abi Malik shook his head. He was overstating his wife's attitude. Rizal bowed down, he couldn't possibly oppose his parents.

"Fatimah, watch your talk. A person who understands religion will not be that easy to demean others. Don't insult others, you're not necessarily better than him. Even against the infidels, we must not reproach. One day we are afraid to become infidels. Everything on earth happens according to His decree. Did you forget about that?" abi Malik said, umi Fatimah lowered her head. Rizal and Mila fell silent at the anger of Abi Malik. Belaiu has always been famous for aifat. He has a lot of respect for others. That's why he is very respected among the leaders of the cottage. All around the neighborhood.

"Rizal, forget all Umi's words. Abi wanted to ask you something. Preaching is not a game. Once you have the intention, it means that you are sure to marry her!" abi Malik said, Rizal nodded slowly. Abi Malik's thoughtful attitude which has always been a role model of Rizal until now.

"Do you know who Kiara is? Background of the Kiara family. She's not just the sister of your best friend, her mother's past will have a little impact on your life!" abi Malik said, Rizal nodded with great confidence. Abi Malik smiled at Rizal's assertiveness and confidence.

"Kiara is not a sholeha woman who is on par with you. He has a complicated past. Maybe Rafa helped us a lot, but we shouldn't have to reciprocate with your marriage to Kiara!"

"Every Sholeh youth yearns for a sholeha wife. Good men want good women. If all the perfect wants to be with the perfect. Who will resist the imperfect? Kiara may not be sholeha, for I am the one who will guide her. With me Kiara will not only know the religion, I will take her to Jannah. Kiara does not need to be perfect, because perfect never exists. I wish Kiara's perfection if she's with me. Indeed, the makmum is there to follow the steps of the priest. If you are able to walk first from the priest. Where the priest can be honoured. Kiara's mother's past isn't the reason I refuse to connect with her. A child is born without being able to choose, who are the parents who will raise him? A child cannot choose, who is heaven to give birth to? In her whole heart is a woman, and at her feet is heaven for a boy. Kiara could not change, if she was born from the womb of a mother like that. But with me I will make Kiara honorable in morality and religion!"

"Rizal, did you know Kiara is too young to get married? He came here, because he wanted to study and become a better person!" abi Malik said again, Rizal nodded slowly.

"Let me love her in every bow. I don't think I have it by destroying its happiness. It's wrong if I want to have it right away. I preached it, so that no one would take my heart's pearls. Kiara answers in my prayers. Everything about Kiara, her past or her future will not be the reason we are apart. But it is the reason we understand and complement each other. I don't want to lose Kiara. He's the mum I crave. A girl who hopes to be a blanket for her husband. A girl who considers her husband her paradise. If he can make me his paradise. He would never step in without my permission and blessing!" said Rizal steady, abi nodded slowly. Mila and Umi Fatimah were just listening. There is no right for them to interfere.

"Tell abi, Kiara's message that makes you sure of her!" abi Malik said, Rizal shook his head weakly.

"Say!" abi said, Rizal nodded slowly.

"O my priest of the hereafter, will I deserve to be your makmu! Where is heaven for a wife loyal to you? O young man of my sholeh, do I deserve to kiss your ever-wet hands of ablution. Is it worth me to look at the face that is always radiant when I finish prostrating. Can my ears hear the chanting of the holy verse with your sweet voice. O priest of the Hereafter, the longing of every day. I may not be holy, but I will one day keep my heart sacred for you. My hands may have been stained, but I'll make sure one day only your hands hold them. O beautiful twilight, be a witness to the wait of a servant. The priest of the Hereafter. My heavenly husband!"

"Abi will meet Kiara personally. Tomorrow night take him to see Abi. We'll hear his opinion of you. You crave him so much. Will you be the paradise he expects!" said the final abi, Rizal nodded with a smile. Mila gave a thumbs up, she was proud of her older sister Rizal who dared to express her intentions to her parents.

FLASH BACK OFF

"Ustad Rizal, I'm done!" kiara said while giving a paper. Rizal looked up in surprise to see Kiara who was already in front of him. Rizal smiled looking at Kiara who was looking down.

"Alright, wait a minute I'll check your replicas. If you're right, please come out first!" rizal said firmly, Kiara nodded slowly. Deftly Rizal checked the number by number of questions. Rizal smiled knots looking at Kiara's repeat results.

"It turns out you are the dream of husbands. Besides being beautiful, you are also good at lessons. Your repetition is almost perfect, even if the repetition is held suddenly!"

"Thank you, can I get out of class!" sahut Kiara, Rizal shook his head weakly. He gave me a piece of paper.

"Read, that's a special invitation from Abi for you. Makmumku's candidate!" rizal said briefly, Kiara received the paper without looking at Rizal. Just as Kiara was about to move away, Kiara suddenly turned her head towards Rizal.

"I may be good at lessons, but I'm stupid about religion. Don't ever think I deserve to be a mum to you. There's a much more perfect formula for you!" kiara said softly, Rizal smiled knotfully.

"I don't need a clever master, for I will guide him myself. Her perfection is with me and my happiness with her. So there's no reason for you to keep resisting. If it is about faith, for we will both learn to understand faith and Islam!" sahut Rizal lirih's

"As far as you!"

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