The Fall of the Star
Chapter 18 Halal Bihalal

On the day of Lebaran, Ayudia deliberately came to the house of Elvira first so that his friend did not have to go to his house. He was afraid that Elvira until the arrival along with many relatives or neighbors who knew Ayudia was a factory employee and not a student. The chances of being caught are so great. He didn't want to take that risk.

Once at Elvira's house, he was greeted with great kindness by his family. Mama Elvira even accompanied them for a long chat because she apparently heard a lot about Ayudia from the princess. And he expressed his great admiration for Ayudia with great expressiveness.

"Oh, here comes Ayudia Nak finally playing here too, yes. I'm amazed at your struggle for college. That's great, kid. By Allah!" said mama Elvira with eyes sparkling with admiration.

Women with a simple look but look luxurious with its simplicity it continues to mention the various advantages possessed by Ayudia. Geez, Ayudia to wonder why until she knew so much about his lies? It means Elvira always praises herself in front of her mother. It also meant that Elvira was so proud to have a friend like Ayudia.

In contrast to Ayudia herself who rarely praised the advantages of Elvira in front of Pak Anwar and Bu Nani. What he listened to his parents was just about the luck of Elvira who became the child of a wealthy family whose wishes must be very easy to get.

Ayudia did not realize that the kindness Elvira had been to her was innumerable. In fact, he also did not realize that every time he regretted the state of himself that was not like Elvira, he was, both parents also felt the heart that they were not as good as Elvira's parents just because they were lacking aka not rich.

If only he had realized early.

“Tante too praised, I am ordinary, kok.” That was all he could say to Elvira's mother. And back again his expression even got excessive praise that he felt absolutely not worth it. Finally, unable to bear her own discomfort, Ayudia quickly withdrew. He was afraid that he would have to lie to more and more kind and friendly parents.

According to him, the sin of lying to Elvira and the sin of lying to her parents are two different things. He thought that one day if he knew the truth, Elvira would still easily forgive him. Yeah, just like always whenever Ayudia makes a mistake.

But, different again by lying to others, in this case parents too. The consequences would be far greater than he could have imagined.

“Loh, what a hurry, anyway. Just until I was ready to leave. Kan mumpung returned home his main village rather long, dong,” protests Elvira did not accept.

“Sorry, El. But I also have not been to another family home, friends also do not know whether this will have time, tomorrow I have to go back,” replied Ayudia expressed another lie again.

“Yes, the holiday is very short, but far away. Basic super busy man!” gerutu Elvira half sneered at Ayudia jokingly.

He finally came home feeling bad. On the road he had also crossed paths with friends and only greeted at a glance as if not so familiar and not welcome to stop by his house or he who came to visit their home. It is still a mood of Lebaran. Well, thanks to her lies and pretenses of being a fake student, her steps are limited if you want to go anywhere. Going here scared to meet that. Going there scared to meet this. What a great anxiety the ill effects of the lie itself.

After the second day, Ayudia who had re-entered work because of her leave of absence was only two days it had begun to work again as usual. Early in the morning he had set off in a uniform hidden behind his hoodie jacket. Yes, he deliberately wears a makeshift jacket with the aim of covering his employee's uniform.

Anyway there should be no disinterested friends who know that he is just a lowly factory employee. It covered him half to death, as if he were not grateful for the favor God gave through the work. In fact, from that job he got a lot of sustenance, if he realized. If Ayudia knew that being a factory worker was not a lowly job, but something of value to worship for those who were the backbone of the family. Dear Ayudiah did not know that the glory of a servant in the eyes of God on this earth was not of a working status. But clean heart.

No he knew that out there, a lot of High School graduates who want to be able to work in the factory but are hindered by a fate that apparently has not allowed. Ayudia forgot that the life she cursed every day, might just be the life that is coveted and prayed for by many others under her. He was too busy looking up at the direction above him than looking down and pitying at the one below.

If Ayudia could accept her fate, make peace with her prestige and high expectations of course she would be able to thank every favor that God has given. A family that is so loving and never demands it, halal work that can begin to improve the standard of life and also family, he said, as well as the many good friends who still continue to consider him a smart and good child and that it is still covered with all his bad dishonors by God.

The next day when Elvira held a halal bihalal event with their High School friends, she was engrossed in telling stories about Ayudia who could not come because she had to return to campus.

Many friends were amazed to hear the words of Elvira. Unwittingly by Ayudia, his lie has been passed perfectly by Elvira to a dozen of her friends who were also present at the event.

“Wah, but I think I often see him at home, deh.” One of their friends who used to work as an expedition courier said refute.

“Hah? You saw that wrong! Wkwkwk, ciyyeee .. You have a crush, huh? To the shadow of Ayudia's face?” Elvira denied while continuing to tease her friend who was the hilarious.

“Loh, that's not it, El. Masa’ I saw wrong? I didn't send the package to his house, anyway. Only fitting through the area so I've never seen him in front of the house.” The friend was a little insistent on his argument.

“Not possible, lah. The guy he studied in Bandung, far away. It was difficult to go home for a long time because there he also worked part time to add pocket money, too,” said Elvira still insisted that others were silent because there was not enough evidence to argue.

But since then, some friends who feel that Ayudia is still in the city also began to want to know the truth. Although not intentionally, but they unconsciously so always pay attention to the house of Ayudia when it happens to be passing by.