The Seventh Secretary (Secretary to Seven)
A Gift for Dad

POV AUTHORS

"You.."

"Thank you." said Stella, looking down. Next to his hand he used to touch the uniform that had been gripped and then tidied it.

Stella rushed into the room to catch her breath. Luckily the uniform wasn't broken. Miracles can't come twice. That became his mind.

Stella immediately finished her wish because the entrance bell had been heard.

"Stella.." call the student who helped her when Stella just came out of the toilet and was about to run.

"Yes?"

"Do you want to be friends with me?" his tanyanya arrived to make Stella's legs riveted.

"What. t.. friends?" lirih.

"Don't want to. Yeah already"

"I want to be your friend" Stella said excitedly and then ran to her class while occasionally looking back with a fluffy smile.

"My name's Lusi. I'm waiting here at school" Lusi shouted as Stella began to move away.

"Okay" Stella shouted back.

'Friends? I have friends?' batin Stella during the hallway to class. Luckily the teacher hasn't arrived.

During his heart lesson flowers blossom. He is more excited to remember after 1 new semester to get friends despite different classes. His heart pounded, he who never had friends arrived someone invited him to make friends. True said the father, 'be patient, then good things will come to you'.

"Both children, who are finished can go home" exclaimed the teacher in the rest of the class who was still busy cheating each other.

Stella hurried to tidy up the table and gave the answer sheet to the question that the teacher gave. Without lingering for long he immediately shot towards the place where he made a pact with his new friend.

But he hasn't been seen there.

Stella forgets she's always done 30 minutes before the bell goes off.

But he was determined to wait for her.

30 Minutes have passed since the bell went off. However, a student named Lusi was not seen.

"Hhhh... Oh my, dad.." Stella sighed then remembered having to immediately prepare a meal for the father who might have gone home.

"Assalamu'alaikum"

"Wa'alaikumsalam, just got home?" ask the father after returning the greeting from Stella while turning back the newly cooked rice.

"Dad, forgive Stella" said Stella, who felt guilty about coming home late.

"What's wrong, baby. Clean first gih, we eat together" said father as usual never angry at Stella.

Stella cleaned herself behind her cardboard house covered in zinc as high as an adult's chest. They hold rainwater in a drum can covered with cloth so that dust does not mix. It also prevents mosquitoes from multiplying.

As usual, Stella will immediately wash her uniform to lose the smell of sweat and tomorrow can be used again.

"You changed your glasses?" ask the father who sprinkled salt on the steaming rice. For them, being able to eat rice was more than enough even if the side dish was just a sprinkling of salt.

"No" replied Stella steadily. He did not feel like changing his glasses. Where's the money to buy glasses?

But for a moment he was silent.

Remembering if he felt his glasses had broken due to the impact of a basketball before falling unconscious.

Also his white uniform.

He remembered very well the last color he saw on his uniform that turned deep pink.

"What the hell, yeah?" Stella opened her glasses. Because of his troubled gaze he was less able to discern. It's just that the size is a little more oval.

Not wanting to go further, Stella took out a white envelope from her bag and a thick sheet of paper she had just obtained this morning during the announcement after the ceremony.

"Dad, thanks for the do'a. Stella won the national champion. And this, a gift for dad" Stella gave the following certificate an envelope containing 200 thousand rupiah. Of course the money he got from collecting his allowance for 3 months. But he didn't tell his father who was always worried about him.

He wanted to give something to his father because he had worked hard and was patient in taking care of it.

"Masha god, son. you are great. proud father.." the father was innocent. He was deeply moved by the nature of the child who loved him even though he could not please him with a treasure trove.

Although father knew that it was not the prize money of the race, but he accepted it to appreciate the intention of the child. This is what makes him more excited.

Dad hugged her while sobbing.

"I'm sorry, son. Father has not been able to make you happy" he said on the sidelines.

"What does father mean? Stella is happy to have a father who loves Stella very much. Stella hopes you continue to accompany Stella until Stella succeeds one day" Pinta Stella said.

"Yes, kid. I'll be with you until you get married"

Stella remained silent.

Marrying.

That word never crossed his list of future plans.

Considering the painful separation of his parents and making the child a victim, that is not the end goal.

He just wants to make his father happy. That's the only goal.

The next morning

Stella prepares to leave school after warming up the rice last night. He wanted to make sure the father went to work in a filled stomach.

"Assalamu'alaikum" said someone from the front door of his cardboard house.

"Waalaikum-greetings" replied Stella who had been interrupted to find some teachers came to the house very simply.

"Sir, mother...What's wrong?" stella asked with the arrival of 3 teachers. Stella kisses the reverence of every teacher whose eyes are glazed with glass.

"Stella, is your father here, son?" ask Bu Fani.

"Who's up, son?" ask the father who is ready with his cool clothes.

"Dad, this is teacher Stella, Dad"

"Assalamu'alaikum, sir. Can you interrupt the time for a second?"

"Vaalaikumsalam. Yes please. But.. Here we go, I'm afraid that my father and mother are not comfortable with our simple house"

"It's okay sir. Let's just talk inside"

Finally one of the teachers decided to come in and take Stella to sit down. While the other 2 teachers seemed to wipe away the falling tears fertilized several times.

"Look, sir. We are representatives of Harapan High School, very proud and grateful for the achievement of Stella's grades who got the general champion representing the school. For that, we want to express our gratitude to represent the school, as a form of appreciation for the school in Stella's effort to honor the name of the school. Please thank us for thanking you. Please do not look at the nominal, but our sincere intention to appreciate Stella's efforts" the teacher thrust a brown envelope containing about 5 million rupiah.

"Masha Allah, but I received yesterday from my son" the father replied innocently.

The teacher glanced at Stella who was shaking her head then nodded.

The teacher understands.

"That's just changing the fare sir. This one please be accepted as well. For Stella, I hope you continue the spirit of learning yes son. Maintain your grades and achievements. We all believe that you will be a successful person with your own efforts"