The Honorary Owner
3

The night was getting late, Ruby's room lights had died since. But not with the owner of the room, Ruby was still staring at the screen of her phone from behind her thick blanket. He was still rereading a short chat from Iqbal some time ago. He is happy and disappointed that he is enjoying at the moment.

"Why did he end this conversation so quickly? Can't she just treat my shady a little?" inner Ruby, he was wanting something more than an Iqbal.

"What do I have to do now to shorten the time I meet you?"

Ruby put down her phone and took off her blanket, the fresh air she could already enjoy. The more oxygen he breathes, the more blood circulation in his brain. He thought of an idea, what if he filled his time to work at the Animation company owned by Heru, Nara's husband.

**********

Morning sunlight has been present to replace the moon, the flickers of stars are eroded more and more swept away by the sun. The sound of santri-santri chanting the holy verse of the Qur'an echoes beautifully from the mosque loudspeakers into the house of Ruby.

Ruby had started her morning activities, sweeping the floor of her house. While Nyai Hannah was busy in the kitchen and Abinya was in the pesantren putra Mosque.

Santri princess who was in uniform began to be seen walking in front of her house to the school building. Ruby kindly gave a smile as some of them greeted.

Ruby leaned her shoulders on a wooden pillar that stood firmly in the house. The morning breeze brought his mind back to the last message from Iqbal last night.

//Patience a little more, so that we can let go of longing in a halal way. Good night Ruby, keep your time so you don't wait too long.//

He took a long breath. His gaze stared at the high wall on the right of his house, where Abinya was behind the wall.

His fiery spirit last night suddenly disappeared just by thinking of his face. Surely he could guess what answer would come out of the mouth of Abinya, but his determination that soared was able to maintain the fire of his spirit.

"Ommy?" Ruby put a broom next to the kitchen exit, and she saw that Umminya had just put food on the dining table.

"Yes, Son? what's up?" ask Nyai Hannah.

Ruby sat on the dining table chair. "Every night Ruby got a message from Iqbal, Ummi."

"Oh yeah? What say?" hyai asked Hannah enthusiastically, she stopped her activities and sat down in front of her daughter.

"He's sorry for having to make Ruby wait longer and also ...." He hesitated to continue his sentence.

"And what's my son?" ask Nyai Hannah.

"Mas Iqbal told me to keep busy so Ruby didn't wait too long for her to come back, Ummi"

"Then? What makes you doubt, dear? Won't you be busy after this?" ask Him again.

Ruby was silent, hesitating to say something.

"Speak, Ruby." Nyai Hannah urged.

"Ruby wants to work as an animator in Nara's husband's company, Ummi."

"In Jakarta?" Ummi was a little surprised.

Ruby nodded.

"Ummi doubts that Abi has agreed to your request, son."

Ummi's sentence makes Ruby become insecure again to say his wish to Abinya.

"Ruby just wanted to find the Ummi experience. Because later when Ruby is already a wife, Ruby only wants to focus on taking care of our household and children. Would Ummi want to help Ruby convince Abi?"

"Talk later with your Abu, Ummi will help as much as Ummi can."

Ruby's eyes sparkled happily, She stood up and hugged her umminya. " Thank you Ummi always supported me."

"Together, son." Nyai Hannah patted Ruby's back gently.

Ruby went back to her room, she was not calm in her room. The more he looked at the wall clock, the more his heart spurred as he would express his wish.

Ruby had peeked out her bedroom window several times. He hoped his brother would come soon. That way, his heart will soon return to normal.

Long ago Ruby waited, finally Kyai Abdullah seen across the front page of Ruby's room window. Soon Ruby ran out of the room and approached her Abinya.

Kyai Abdullah was just sitting in the living room chair when Ruby came.

"Girls, how's the road like that?"

Ruby slowed down her path then sat in a chair separate from Abinya.

"Why Nak?" kyai Abdullah asked, his hand reaching for a book on the table.

Ruby took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to regulate her heart rhythm.

"Mas Iqbal is still coming to Indonesia, Bi?" ask Ruby.

Kyai Abdullah was a little surprised to hear what her daughter was going to talk about. He put the book back in his hand.

"Yes, Kyai Marzuki says there's still something she needs to finish there. Can't wait for him to come back?"

"So you agree, son. You can teach in the princess' cottage."

Ruby hesitated to express her wishes.

"When do you want to start teaching, son? What plans do you want to teach them?" kyai Abdullah asked enthusiastically.

Ruby shook her head, "I'm sorry Ruby, Abi. Ruby's desire isn't to teach in the princess' cottage."

"Then?" Kyai Abdullah stared at Ruby.

"In the animation company owned by Nara's husband is in need of an Animator, Ruby intends to apply for a job there."

Kyai Abdullah was silent, his hand reaching for the book he had put down earlier. The smile on his lips disappeared and instantly made his friendly face turn cold.

"Only until Iqbal returns, Abi. Ruby promised, if Ruby wasn't accepted to work there Ruby would still be here to teach princess santri."

Ruby still convinced Abinya even though she knew the success rate was only very minimal.

Kyai Abdullah was still unaffected by Ruby's offer.

"Pig. Please let Ruby feel what it's like to work out there. Earn money from the abilities Ruby has. Ruby was eager to give something to Abi and Ummi. Also, Ruby doesn't want to regret not being able to do what Ruby wanted to do."

"Your request is too much for Abi to grant. Your marriage is soon and you want to work away from Abi's sight." Kyai Abdullah looked at his daughter, "Abi and Ummi don't want money from you son, Abi just want you to be a submissive child."

Ruby was silent for a moment.

"Ruby can stay in Nur paklek pesantren, Abi." Ruby mentioned the name of one of her sisters.

Kyai Abdullah still shook his head, "Go back to your room and think again of your will."

"No matter how much Ruby thinks about it, Ruby's will won't change, Abi."

"So does Abi." Kyai Abdullah closed the book and left Ruby.

Despite knowing this was going to happen, the layer of confidence he had placed in his heart still made him feel sad and disappointed. He only hoped that Nyai Hannah could change Kyai Abdullah's decision.

**********

Nyai Hannah gave a cup of coffee to her Husband who had just sat on the dining table chair, from the face of Kyai Abdullah can be guessed immediately if Ruby had talked about her wishes.

"I don't want you to defend your daughter this time, Ummi." Kyai Abdullah first guessed the intention of his wife.

Nyai Hannah just put the coffee then busied herself by wiping the dining table that was actually clean.

"Ommi's parents used to say, getting married will not keep our dreams buried. We can still run the dream even though it is already in a marriage bond. But Abi knew for himself, Ummi could never run it. Even if Ummi can't. Because Ummi knows, who should ummi first above his own ummi desire."

"Ummi knows, Abi is selfish for Ruby's good."

"As long as it's positive, let her do whatever she wants before marriage. When she became a wife, it was no longer about 'me' but about 'we'. It would be difficult for a Ruby to think for herself, she would definitely put her family first. Our son is not a selfish man, even though his husband told him to achieve his dream, it's not that easy that Ruby would agree."

Nyai Hannah pulled out a chair and sat down beside Kyai Abdullah.

"Ruby has grown up Abi, he knows what is good and what is bad. If we as parents can't protect her up close, we have God who will protect her, Abi."

"Why does Abi always have to give up when talking to Ummi?" Kyai Abdullah was astonished.

"Because we should avoid debate. Isn't that right, Abi?" Ummi smiles. "Let her do what she wants, Abi."

Kyai Abdullah sipped coffee in front of him. "Let Abi think again."

- Connected

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