AMEERA'S LOVE STORY

PART 28'S

It has not been a week since I have lived here. I'm starting to get bored. Just sitting quietly doing nothing. I won't stay here forever. I have to think about what I will do next.

“Why Ra, why daydream?” ask Heru.

“I want to find another job, brother,” I replied.

“It's good that you start getting excited again. What do you want to work for?” tanyanya.

“I don't have any special skills. Maybe apply to factory again.”

“Yaudah you ready just ajaannya, later Monday I anter.”

“Sister didn't go to the office? How to get a long leave.”

“Thou shalt not think of it. I can just work quietly when I make sure you're okay.”

Suddenly there was a noise outside the cottage. “What's up, brother?”

Heru and I stood up and peeked out from the window. A group of people were walking closer to our cottage. They look very angry. Some of them were even seen carrying sharp weapons. They faintly heard what they were shouting.

“Egypt!”

“Community garbage!”

“Zina!”

“Pair collect kebo!”

“Bring to the police station!”

Heru immediately turned his head towards me in a panic, “Ra, you better get out of here. Now!”

“Ta-but what happened sis?” many fear.

“Surely someone reported us to the local administrator. Maybe they're upset because they think we're a couple getting together kebo.”

“Hah? Whahuh? But that's not true, brother. We can explain our situation well to them.”

“You didn't see their faces? There we will be stripped naked and paraded around the village. Now you go! Just go through the back door. You just run north, there's a big road. And remember, no matter what happens, you should never look back. I'll try to hold them here.”

According to Heru's instructions, I went out through the back door. As I looked around, I turned to the right and to the left. Once it felt safe, I immediately ran away from the cottage. I just wish I was running in the right direction.

I don't know how long I've been running, it feels like my energy has run out. Sweat pours out from all directions, breath sniffs, and feet that feel detached from joints. But I have not found any sign of the great road that Heru said. Maybe I'm going the wrong way?

Because I was so tired, I decided to continue walking. I thought I had run far enough. It can't be overtaken anymore. Right now I just hope Heru is okay and can handle everything there.

I don't know how long I've been walking. I saw the sun moving. Now it's shining in front of me, which means it's late afternoon. I stopped remembering things. If I am walking towards the setting of the sun, it means that I am walking towards the west right? Doesn't the sun go from east to west? So I'm really lost?

I was sitting limp on the ground. I don't know what else to do. I don't know since when I changed direction? Or maybe I ran in the wrong direction from the start? Or am I just going back to the cottage? Maybe it is safe now. Ah I even just remembered that I didn't bring anything with me when I left other than the clothes I was wearing.

I feel a sense of regret. Should have been when I got kicked out of the boarding house I just went home. At least there I am safe with people who love me. Not as abandoned as it is today.

“Mamaaaaahhhh I want pulaaaaaang ..” I screamed as loud as I could, hoping you'd hear my screams and like a super hero, came here dramatically.

I got up and walked back. Now my goal is no longer to search north for the great road. I just wanted to meet someone I could ask or ask for help, a good person.

I kept walking while chanting the prayers I memorized, the short letters, and anything else to make my heart feel calm. Honestly, I am really scared right now. Whether it's ghosts, wild animals, or bad people, I don't want to meet them.

After a few minutes of walking, I faintly heard the sound of Adhan. That's right adzan, right? Not just my hallucinations? If this sounds like an Adzan, it means there is a mosque around here. Maybe it's my hope, or maybe the answer to my prayers. In my spirit I continued on my way closer towards the source of the sound.

And sure enough, from where I stood, I could see the huge dome of the mosque. I quickened my pace a little.

“Allohu akbar Allohu akbar .. laa ilaha illalloh ...” Adhan is finished.

Several worshippers were seen entering the mosque. Looks like it will follow the congregational prayer. I decided to sit on a bench near the gate of the mosque while waiting for the worshipers who finished their congregational prayers.

“Assalamualaikum neng.” A mother greeted me from behind.

I turned to him and immediately answered his greetings, “waalaikum salam.”

“Don't attend congregational prayers? Looks like soon iqamah,” said the mother back.

“Mmmhh .. no bu, just later.” I had to refuse because I saw my mess.

The mother seems to understand my situation, “well then I first yah.” I just nodded my head in response.

A few minutes passed, one by one people came out of the mosque. I waited until they all came home, and then I would go in there. I want to cleanse myself all to fulfill the obligation of prayer there.

The sun has completely set. The pilgrims who had been doing the prayer isya congregation have all returned home. I'm still here from about four hours ago. My stomach is ringing, I am very hungry. Right now I just hope that everything I've been through is just a dream. And I will soon wake up from this dream with the sound of Nita waking me up to go to work in the factory.

Nita, I miss her so much. How is he doing now. I can't even call anyone here, because when I left I didn't have a cell phone. Ah stupid me. Oh, God, this is a dream, right?

As I was lamenting my fate, I was suddenly struck with a gentle pat on my shoulder. “Neng, don't go home?” A mother smiled kindly at me.

“Be-yet bu, maybe in a moment.” Of course I don't dare to be honest with him.

Instead of leaving, the mother sat beside me. “Neng why there is a problem?” tanyanya friendly.

I hesitated towards him. It turned out that the person sitting next to me was the mother who had invited me to pray together. Looking at his shady eyes, I was no longer able to stem the tears that had been urged to come out. I sobbed in front of him. My mother held me in her arms.

“If you have no destination tonight you can spend the night at mom's house. Home moms close from here.”

Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, I decided to go with this good person, because after all, I did not have any purpose at the moment. I'm desperate enough to just be ashamed right now.

***