TWENTY
Of jealousy?

This afternoon we were waiting for a shower. The rules are simple, who can he get. If you want to take a shower first, you have to wait in line early. Because I was an acute level mager, I prefer to lie down in my room and watch some Korean dramas on my laptop while wearing my favorite chocolate that Randy bought this afternoon. My best friend is the best!

Suddenly I heard a rustling sound beside me. Ooh, it turns out Salma. He was looking for something in his wardrobe while picking up the phone from out of nowhere. So, every room here has one wardrobe. The size is quite large, just like the old wood cabinets.

“Iya, Aunt ... this is again searched .. yes sorry, Tan, the name is also forgotten.” I vaguely heard the conversation. “This has been met, this run out directly Salma kasih to Mas Alif.”

The deg! Why is Alif's name he's carrying around? And, wait .. wait! Salma called the caller to Aunty, and she called Alif by name. So, what he called Alif's mom?

Why is my chest clenching like this? I just realized that all this time Salma called Alif with Mas frills. I guess that's just the way he calls boys. And all this time I didn't realize that among those guys, only Alif he called Mas! But what does Salma have to do with Alif?

“From what's up, Sal?” My soul is starting to stir.

“This, you know .. I was looking for vitamin Mas Alif,” Salma said while showing a small bottle of white that may contain vitamins.

“Keep, the one who called you?”

“Ooh .. The Aunt Maryam, Mas Alif's mother. Yesterday, when Mas Alif left, he forgot to take his vitamins. So, Aunt Maryam entrusted it to me.”

That's right!!! But, when do I have to compete with Salma? It is, after all, like the heavens and the earth. Everyone must have known what Alif's answer was if told to choose between me and Salma. Hiks, what am I compared to Salma? Only the crumbs will not be glimpsed at all.

“Ooh ... so, yes,” I replied briefly.

“Ehem, I'm out first yes, Na. Hunting bath, then get ready to make Magrib prayers at musala.”

Such is. The plan, while in this village, we will pray congregation in musala, all to socialize with local residents of course. In addition, there is an intention to help teach children here to teach. This is not included in our work program, but the calculations to fill free time to make it worthwhile, can also be rewarded.

“Iya, yes .. Bu Nyai.” Very smart of you, Nala. All four smiled, but the heart was already sliced thin. I couldn't imagine Salma meeting Alif. Though he will only give vitamins, but his name is also jealous, no matter how trivial it is, yes still jealous.

I glanced at the clock in the corner of my laptop screen. It seems like four o'clock more. Immediately I turned off the laptop, cleaned up my snack litter, then went and took a towel to get ready to take a shower.

When Magrib came, we were all gathered in the musala, except for those who were hindered by M. Either M (red), or M (lazy).

Azan reverberated, echoing loudly through the loudspeakers in the musala tower. This time it feels different. My heart is cold. Smiles decorate my face. Don't ask me how my heart is, it works twice as hard as it normally does. It was as if he wanted to defeat the musala bedug. This is all thanks to the muezzin, Alif Muhammad.

It was not just me who admired Alif's voice. There were a lot of compliments coming from my right and left, even front and back. From the mother to the mother.

Our prayers were made ten minutes later. Not conducive indeed, because many small children who run around and are overwhelmed by the sound of baby crying that suddenly breaks the silence, making us try many times to be solemn. There was even one small child that suddenly stuck into my body, just like a koala to its mother. Patience, Na, patience! It's the son of a man not the son of a demon, not to be slammed carelessly.

After two greetings, the girl immediately ran towards her mother. Just make a head shake. Intentions want to scold, but see the cute face of the child it feels like the desire to nag was evaporated instantly.

It's okay, he's still a kid. I used to be even worse. Mother said, when I pray I like to go up to his back exactly when the prostration position to play horses.

The teaching and learning activities of the Quran are carried out after the wirid, while waiting for the time of Isha. I was amazed by some boys who were super patient teaching small children to teach, I did not think at all. But if Alif, anyway, it looks good. Ucup, which I thought could only play games turned out to be smart teaching. While Rendi .. well, he has been good at teaching since childhood. Why did I find out? Because we are always together when going to TPQ.

If Fahmi was smart to teach, I would not be too surprised, because he was, right, indeed smart in all fields; insightful, able to speak foreign languages fluently, and active in all kinds of organizations. All this was perfected by his eloquence in chanting the Qur'an. Anyway, aspiring hospital CEO who is soul-searching! Proud, same Fahmi. Although it was clear that the important position would fall in his hands, but he still tried hard. It shows that he deserves to be in that position, not just be his father's successor.

“Assalamualaikum, Big Brother!” greet a little girl who immediately grabbed the back of my palm to greet.

“Waalaikumussalam, Tiara!” I who couldn't stand his two chubby cheeks immediately pinched and kissed him fat.

“Wah, Tiara wants to learn to teach, yes?”

I watched her appearance; she wore a pink robe with a veil patterned with flowers in bloom. Hm ... What a coincidence, our clothes are similar. I also wore a similar color, only I wore a maroon veil.

“Iya, Tiara every day here,” replied the little girl enthusiastically. “Eh, Beautiful Brother also haven't come home?”

“Emmm .. guess why hayooo?” Once again I pinched his chubby cheeks. Without waiting for a long time, I saw her eyes sparkling with happiness.

“Beautiful sister also ngajar njai?!”

It was difficult to ascertain whether his words were questions or statements, because his tone sounded very happy. I also replied with a nod of my head. Unexpectedly, he threw himself into my arms. This gesture moved me, it felt like my existence was so awaited by others. In the midst of my novelty, Tiara had apparently broken her embrace and tugged at the end of the robe arm I was wearing, as if signaling for me to align myself with her.

“What's up?” my many.

He just smiled and.... The cup! She kissed my left cheek and ran after whispering, “Beautiful sister is more beautiful if you wear a veil like this.”

Either I have to be upset or thank Salma for forcing me to wear this robe and veil. Because Tiara is the umpteenth person who praises me. The joy and shame mixed into one in my heart.

“Woi, Na!” Suddenly someone called me.

“Eh, yes?” I looked at the source of the voice. “What's up, anyway, Ren?” It was Iren who was still wearing a mukena.

“You want to continue standing here, or want to teach the children?”

“Eh yes, he he he.” I grinned the horse to answer his question.

“Bu ustazah his eyes can not be glutting, yes! Use event tips all.”

Whoa caught! The shame.... Yes, I am standing next to the cloth separating the male and female parts. It must have seemed obvious that I was peeping.

“Ih, what the hell, Ren? Who is also interested? I just want to get some fresh air, my elak”. Then I passed to the place where my friends were gathered.

Come to think of it, my argument is very illogical. Looking for fresh air in the room? It seems like a lie, right? Tuh, I heard a little laughter and immediately my tail caught Iren who was giggling behind me. Ahh, shame!

It didn't feel like half an hour had passed. The children began to clean up their equipment and get ready to perform Isha prayers. As before, the muezzin is Alif Muhammad. It seems that from now on I have to get used to my heart beating fast when I hear the chant of the prayer.

Just as my heart was blossoming, Salma immediately flashed in front of me, filling the first saf. The shadow of her familiarity with Alif made my heart ache. Again. Of all the girls I know, why Salma? Why, anyway? Why not Tika? Or Puput? Or all of Gea? At least I can still compete with them. But what if you had to compete with Salma? Besides being so kind, she is also now my best friend. Is friendship ruined by a guy? Amit-amit, what a drama.

“Nala!”

“Eh? What's up, Sal?” I was surprised again. Errata. Maybe I was daydreaming to the point of being surprised when my shoulder was patted softly.

“Oh,” I said briefly while taking the prayer mat and moving to the front row.

***

When I got home I saw Tiara standing next to the fence, waiting for someone. So I approached him to ask.

“Wait for who?”

“Eh, Beautiful Sister. Tiara is waiting for Tiara's sister. Long time!”

Oh yes, so remember the story of Tiara this morning at school. He said he had a brother who was very smart, could speak English like me, and was also handsome.

“Emang sister Tiara not to musala?”

“Sister is always busy. So, his prayers at home.”

I nodded my head in a sign of understanding. Then I felt my fingers being pulled. Turns out Tiara showed me that her invitation had arrived. A black car stopped in front of us. Until you have a car like that, it means the family of Mr. Kades is really rich. In fact, as far as I'm concerned, people here are on average on motorcycles. That's not all either.

From the black car, came out a man wearing black material pants with a maroon shirt rolled up his arms to the elbows combined with a belt with a 'H' logo that is so prominent, like office bosses who just got home from work.

“Kakak!”

Ah, again I daydreamed and only realized when Tiara called her brother and hugged his feet. Well, Tiara, right, is still small so still limited to her thighs, considering the man in front of me is quite tall.

“Beautiful Sister! Introduce this sister Tiara,” the little boy pulled my arm and her brother's arm to get acquainted.

I looked towards the man, our gazes meeting each other for a moment. It turned out that she was very sweet, especially when smiling two dimples appeared on her cheeks. Although not as handsome as Alif, people will not get tired of looking at him. Eh? Why compare it to Alif, anyway? Is there no other guy? It sucks….

“Guide,” he shook my hand when he mentioned his name.

“Nala Ayu Kinanti. Just call Nala.” Then our hand link came off.

“Your name is beautiful.”

I immediately blushed in shame. Naturally, if a woman is praised, she will surely blush in shame. “Still,” I said. Duh, so shy goat gini, right.

“Tiara said back home first, yes! Assalamualaikum, Beautiful Brother!” He greeted me and ran into the car.

“Waalaikumussalam,” gumamku.

Pandu apparently already caught up with Tiara. When the car engine is turned on, the glass in the driver's window slowly drops, showing the smiling face of Pandu.

“I hope we meet again, Nala!” he said, then he plugged gas through the streets. His smile still lingers in my heart.

“Wuih, who is it, Na? Great new stay here for a while already get gebetan,” said Tika. Apparently my friends have come out of the musala.

“Apaan, anyway, Tik? New to know too, gebetan from Hongkong!”

“So, your crush was from Hong Kong? But how come his face is Indonesia?” chirps Iren who believes Tika's babble.

“No! Ah, let's go home!” Instead of his business not being finished, I better take him home. Quickly, I held Salma's hand.

“Na!” Someone called me from behind, but I didn't bully her.

“Hmm.”

“Nala!”

“Hmmm.” I look back, not at the person who called me.

“Nala Ayu Kinanti!”

“What, anyway, Dit?” Out of annoyance, I finally turned to make Radit want to keep his mouth shut.

“This.”

He handed me a beautiful red flower. Don't think it's a rose, 'cause this is a shoe flower. I wanted to reject the flower so that she wouldn't expect more from me. Because, Radit in my eyes is still a crocodile guy. But how to refuse it? There's no way I'm saying, “Sorry, Dit! I don't like flowers shoes. Loved real shoes.” Maybe later I will be considered a matre girl. How about I say, “This is, right, a shoe flower. As the name implies, this flower is also the place in the shoes,” then I stepped on the flower while laughing wickedly. But don't, ah .. I'd be cruel if that's all.

“Still,” finally that's all it says.

When I received the flower, my tail caught Alif's whereabouts. It turns out he saw me! But he just passed by, choosing to walk ahead of us. So, she just saw Radit give me flowers?! That expression, you know! Like I just caught her boyfriend cheating on me, and I became the antagonist.

Uh, why do you think this way, huh? After all, he was already with Salma. Why expect Alif to be jealous, but I am also not who?

I kept walking ignoring Radit who was chirping beside me. I better get home soon so I can fall in the room.