When Hamzah Met Alifa
Take after

It was a bad morning for Alifa. Already fallen down the stairs anyway, maybe it's the right metaphor to describe the fate of Alifa.

Already he was delivered to college by Hamzah, using a motorbike again.

This was the first time that Alifa had ever rode a motorcycle to campus. He's very unusual. Moreover, if riding a motorbike, Alifa's body will automatically be close to Hamzah.

"Bring the bike for cash! Don't be like a conch!" Alifa leaned in so that Hamzah could hear his words.

"Yes patient, Fa. It's stuck. So can't speed."

Hamzah knows that Alifa is not happy to be hugged by him. Therefore, Hamzah tried to balance the vehicle in front of him to accelerate time to the destination.

After that, Hamzah turned to a smaller street. He decided to take an alternative path, because otherwise Alifa could be late.

Hamzah increased his speed but suddenly a cat ran across the street. Making Hamzah brake suddenly and Alifa who was piggybacking behind slammed forward.

"Astagfirullahaladzim."

"Awh, Hamza!" peekkik Alifa was shocked. He fixed the helmet glass while he was singing his lips. "If you have the right bike, dong. You intentionally, right? Let me get on with you."

"Sorry, Fa. There was a cat passing by."

"Cats. The reason is you, ah."

Hamzah took a deep breath, trying to remain patient. Unwilling to clash with Alifa, Hamzah chose to shut up and continue running the bike.

Not until fifteen minutes, Hamzah had stopped in front of the gate of the campus Alifa. 

As soon as possible Alifa got off the motorbike to walk into the campus. He sped up the footsteps so that no one would see him with Hamzah.

"Alifa," call Hamzah.

Alfah turned his body back. Putting on a fierce face, he said, "What?"

"Aren't you taking off your helmet?"

Alifa clucked and cursed her stupidity in her heart. How could he forget to take off the helmet?

Quickly, Alifa took off and gave the helmet to Hamzah. Just then, Kevin came over.

"Morning, beautiful," greeted Kevin with a seductive look at Alifa.

Although Alifa did not respond to Kevin's greeting, it was enough to make Hamzah burn his heart.

"Alifa," said Kevin once again after he did not get a response from Alifa.

"What the hell?" ask Alifa fiercely.

"You owe me the same explanation."

"What explanation?"

Kevin glanced at Hamzah at a glance which was then understood by Alifa. Then Alifa suddenly turned tense.

This was what Alifa was worried about since leaving home. 

"This guy who was in the restaurant yesterday is the same as you, right?" Kevin asked. "Is he really your husband?"

"I.." Hamzah opened his mouth to justify. 

But Alifa hurriedly said quickly, "No. He's not my husband. He's just.. err…"

"What's free?" Kevin asked while narrowing his eyes suspiciously, because Kevin saw there was a speck of doubt in Alifa's heart.

"He's just my cousin, really. Already ah, just go in yuk," Alifa pulled Kevin's arm to stop talking about Hamzah.

He said the word istighfar. He realized that he had promised to keep his marriage with Alifa a secret.

Then Hamzah set off his motorbike to return home.

*

*

*

"Mas Hamzah, why? How come I've seen Mas Hamzah like so many minds?" Yusuf asked as he looked at the look on Hamzah's face sitting beside him.

The two of them were indeed sitting side by side amidst the crowd of people attending the school festival event.

Hamzah's lips curled a smile. Although very obvious if the smile seemed forced, but Hamzah said, "There is nothing, really."

Of course Hamzah would not reveal his heart to Joseph. Since then he was indeed disturbed by Alifa's attitude to Kevin.

Yusuf nodded too. Then he said, "Mas, I'll be reading poetry later. But I'm so tense, Mom. Afraid of a wrong word."

Hamza smiled back. One hand of Hamzah stretched out to rub the top of Joseph's head.

"Feeling tense is human. Especially if you want to do something important. Moses was afraid to face Pharaoh. But did Joseph know the prayer that Moses prayed?"

Yusuf nodded steadily. "Know you want, Mom. Rabbisyra ta isadri wa yassir li amri wa 'uqdatam mil lisandi yafqahipak qauli. O my Lord, spread out my bosom, and lighten all my affairs, and remove the rigidity of my tongue, that they may understand my words."

"Well, the prayer was that Joseph practiced when Joseph was about to come forward. Okay?"

"OK, Mum. My spirit will, will you?"

As he turned to recite the poem, Joseph got up from his seat and advanced onto the stage. The seat next to Hamzah was empty.

At that moment, Hamzah felt that someone was patting his shoulder. He also made her look to the side.

"Hamza? This is really you, right?" ask a tall woman and wear a floral dress. "My friend's time in the village."

Hamzah frowned for a moment. But the next second, Hamzah's eyes rounded when he recognized the woman who greeted him.

"Lho, Nindi? How are you here?"

The woman named Nindi laughed. Then he sat on the chair that Joseph had occupied.

"I came here because of my niece. Lah you?"

"I am also my sister" replied Hamzah. He pointed to Joseph who was in front of him reciting a poem. "That's my sister."

Nindi simply nodded and went back to asking questions. They talked a lot because Nindi was once a villager with Hamzah.

It's just that Nindi went to the city because she was carried by her husband and settled there Nindi for a long time.

Hamzah only responded to Nindi's chatter as necessary. He was well aware if his current status had become the husband of people. So did Nindi who became the wife of people.

"Oh yeah, where are you working here?" tanya Nindi is finally curious about Hamzah's current life.

"I'm still looking for vacancies, Nin."

"Do you want to work at my place?" ask Nindi to the point. "I'll give you an important job. Because I believe you're from the man who's honest, Za."

Hamzah seemed hesitant to accept Nindi's offer or not. And the doubt on Hamzah's face was clearly read by the young woman.

So Nindi took a business card and gave it to Hamzah.

"If you want to think about it, this is my business card. You can call me anytime."