Ustad Or Alkash?
Fawnia Grizelle Alexsa

Previous day...

Morning in the dorm. Looks like usual. Some santri look full of excitement with his busyness. And some santri anyway, looks cool chatting with his leisure. At the corner of the public road where all the female students passed through the place, Zulfia intercepted Meta who was busy.

"What's up, Ma'am?"

Meta is very funny. He remembered all the words of Andin. Everything was. Nothing was left in his memory. He judged all the facts that Youin said, indeed it looks much more reasonable. Ummi and Zulfia are in a conspiracy. Aspirinium.

"You still mad at me?"

"No."

"Oh my goodness, Meta. You shouldn't be mad at me. You have to trust me, please."

"I told you, I'm not mad, mbak."

Zulfia was wasting her breath a little rough.

"You should come with me."

Zulfia forcibly pulled Meta's arm.

"Where's mbak?"

Zulfia did not respond to Meta.

"Where are you taking me, mbak?"

"I haven't finished my picket..."

"Mr, release..."

Zulfia still did not heed Meta's refusal. He had already ventured to determine something inside him this early.

For some time, the two of them had arrived at a village that was completely far from the crowd. Zulfia gave Meta the code to follow him from behind. Without rebelling like before, this time he followed Zulfia even with a question mark on his head. Wherever Zulfia took him, Zulfia could not have tried to kidnap him. So thought Meta who ultimately decided to follow Zulfia.

Sister Zulfia brought me to whose house is this? Looks simple. Even very simple.

Meta stopped his steps next to that simple house. Zulfia.

"Why stop?"

"Who are we going to, mbak?"

"Later you'll know. Come on."

Zulfia still did not tell the answer Meta wanted to hear. But this time Meta disapproved of Zulfia's invitation by shaking his head. That's a sign of rejection.

"Come on, Meta. Please." (zulfia ink)

"I'll just wait here, ma'am."

Zulfia seems to think. Until finally he agreed to Meta's request this time, on the condition that Meta asked to promise not to leave the place. Meta also promised.

Zulfiah set his foot back toward the front door of his destination. He knocked on the door and heard someone say their name several times.

"Diana..."

Not waiting for a long time, a woman of her age opened the door. Zulfia commented her smile.

"Zulfia, are you here? What's up?"

"I can come in? There's something important I need to talk to you about."

......................

Open your eyes, close your eyes, open your eyes, close your eyes. That's what Meta did from then until early morning today. Meta's attempts at sleep were apparently in vain. It seemed, something was making his heart fall apart this time. Messed up. Not because. He was still trying to close his eyes.

......................

"Met.." (call Zulfia)

"Let's go in..."

Meta stood up from his seat on the rocks attached to the ground. He saw another female figure standing beside Zulfia who was commenting on a smile. It seems he was a friend of Zulfia. So guess this time.

"Meta, come on in.." (take Zulfia again).

"But mbak," (say Meta)

"Let's go in my hut. Zulfia was my old schoolmate. If you're Zulfia's friend, you're my friend." (say Zulfia's friend)

Oh yeah, this time your assumptions are right, Met!

Meta entered the house with a bit of hesitation. He followed Zulfia and his friend who were walking ahead.

Suddenly he was shocked by the little girl who suddenly ran towards them. The little girl hugged Zulfia. He just kept silent to watch everything.

"Ante..."

"Hello Elle dear. How are you doing?" (serve warm Zulfia)

"Elle, let the ante sit down first, will you?" (say friend of Zulfia)

The little girl in white with chubby cheeks and neat bangs was obeying the orders of Zulfia's friend. Meta was fascinated by that adorable little girl.

The little boy really complied. He obeyed his tant. Ah, really adorable. I want to have a nephew like him. Jesus Meta!

"Come sit down please..."

Meta, Zulfia, and his friend were sitting on a mat that looked worn. The little girl sat beside Zulfia.

Zulfia introduced her friend to Meta. Meta immediately shook Diana's hand.

"I'm Meta, sis." (say Meta)

Diana smiled at the smile.

"Elle, let's kiss Ante Meta's hand." (command Diana)

Elle was really saluting and kissing Meta's hand. Meta pinched squash cheek chubby Elle. Elle squealed a little in pain.

Ah, apparently Ms. Zulfia invited me here just to accompany her to meet her old friend. Substantial.

"Mother. said we eat soy sauce. Elle's hungry, ma'am."

Deg.

Mammy?

He is not his nephew, but his daughter?

Diana smiled shyly at Elle's disrespectful behavior in front of her two guests.

"Give Elle breakfast first, Di. It seems like Elle is very excited for breakfast." (say Zulfia chuckles)

This time Diana nodded. While Meta still does not believe what he just heard.

"alright. I'll go inside for a second, and get you drinking water. Just water is okay, right?"

"Ehehe, it doesn't matter brother. We used to drink only water when in the dorm." (say Meta)

Diana smiled. She is grateful that her guests understand her living conditions. He went inside and followed Elle of course.

......................

Meta opened her eyes again.

Ahh, my God. I want to sleep. Everything this morning really makes me so nervous like this.

The clock shows at 01.40 WIB. Meta got down from his bed and looked at Violla who was falling asleep with her slumber. Since graduating from school yesterday, it was the two of them who still remained in the dormitory between the twins and Andin. Of course, both of them live in room C12. Meta took his drinking water bottle at the table. He sipped the water very slowly.

"Sister Diana. You're very strong. And Andin..."

Meta was unable to continue his sentence. There's something stuck hard in his throat. Something that has never been in him. A deep sympathy that had never existed in his life. Just this time. Just this time the feeling came from the bottom in his heart.

Friend, Andin...

Meta held his head down on the table using both of his hands.

Friend, Andin...

Please don't be sad...

He kept thinking about all the slashing expressions of Diana and the real evidence of Fawnia Grizelle Alexsa in Diana's life. Until Meta managed to sleep in the same sleeping position.

......................

"Good morning Brother Zulfia."

Zulfia reviewed the smile and lowered her head.

"Good morning, Ummi."

"You're busy? Please come with Ummi in a moment." (ask Ummi)

Zulfia nodded and followed Ummi into the main house where Ummi was staying and monitored all who were in the dormitory.

"Sit down..."

As usual, Ummi sat in a chair while Zulfia sat on the bottom carpet. It was a form of homage to his nanny. This time Ummi did not force her to sit on top alone. However, Zulfia will certainly feel very uncomfortable if treated more special than others. Therefore, Ummi let however Zulfia comfort him.

"Mak Zulfia,"

"Yes, Ummi."

"I'm sorry Ummi, huh?"

"Sorry for what, Ummi?"

"Ummi can't keep Ummi's promise to you. Ummi's been trying to match you up to Ustad Zidan, but fate says something else."

"Promise?" (Zulfia confusion)

"Actually Ummi once promised himself, to match you with the best man. And Ummi feels Ustad Zidan is perfect for you. But..."

Zulfia smiled bitterly, only that Ummi did not notice.

"Maybe Ustad Zidan is good. That's right what you said, Ummi. But I'm not good for him."

"You are always patient and sincere. Later Ummi will find a more appropriate man for you, huh?"

"Thank you before and after, Ummi. I'm sorry, but Ummi didn't have to bother thinking about such a thing for me. I believe there will be someone right, and at the right time."

"God, please,"

"Ummi can hug you, Ma'am?" (say Ummi)

"If Ummi asks if he can't hold me, then I will be very guilty and sinful if I dare to shake my head."

SERIATE...