Assalamu'Alaikum Love

Vim

Gibran

I had just laid out the fourth paper and was about to examine the fifth paper of my students, when my eyes were fixed on an envelope tucked between the cover and the first page of the paper. It made me frown and pay attention to the envelope for a while.

“What is this?” I'm a weirdo I'm sure makes me look like a dumb guy. I believe last week I only asked my students to conduct an analysis of sharia-based business activities to then make a paper on the subject of fiqih muamalah. And I'm also pretty sure that I didn't add the word ‘letter in envelope’ when I gave the order to my students.

“Oh, maybe this letter is not for me and accidentally tucked.” And that silly thought only lasted a few seconds before I flipped the envelope in my hand and found my name written there.

For Mr. Gibran Wibisana

Geez, just reading the sentence written outside the envelope has made me raise my eyebrows. This is not an official letter that a student would normally write to their lecturer. Really, students who write formal letters to their lecturers will not use the word ‘terfor’. Between the curiosity of anger as well as the sense of not understanding that mixed into an unyielding one made me smile strangely and opened the contents.

“Duh Gusti,” again I just smiled strangely reading this letter in my hand. If only there were currently many lecturers in this room and my desk was not in the corner of the room, it was certain that I would be judged as a lewd lecturer who was excited to get a love letter from his students. Or at the very least, the other lecturers would think me crazy for smiling like a man doesn't know himself just because of a letter.

If Mr. Gibran already has a lover, I have no problem being an affair.

And if Mr. Gibran already has a wife, then I do not mind being second to Mr. Gibran.

“Yes Allah, what the fuck with today's student?”

This time I even chose to put the paper in my hand without intending to read it to completion. Shudder in horror and examine from which class the student benama Siska Ramadhani who gave me a love letter containing these terrible sentences.

“Love letter from a female student, sir?” tanya ma Maya, a lecturer in research operations who had been standing next to my desk since when and observing a letter from Siska that was still open and lying on the table. It made me laugh lightly and put down a paper I just checked to cover the letter.

“Only college students are fad, bu.”

And if Siska Ramadhani is just a fad of slipping a letter in her paper for me, then I admit that the child has a very big guts by playing with his own lecturer. Didn't he realize that his actions made his reputation as a student bad?

“Risk of being a young lecturer for a sixth semester student, sir.” There is no judgmental or dismissive highlight that I catch from Maya's words. Of course, this woman was too manly to give her own co-worker such a shitty look. “Sometimes children think they can go that far just because their lecturer is someone who is one or two years above them.” a year or two above them? Really, this year I'm even going to be 29.

“Maybe I am still less authoritative to be their lecturer, bu.” But I just smiled bitterly in response to Maya's words. That's right, actually Maya wasn't the first person to say something like that to me. Even Professor Himawan gave me advice when I told him that I was going to start my career as a lecturer a few months ago.

“Being a teacher is not just about entering a class, standing in front of the class and reading the slides you prepared the night before to then give your students a task, Gibran.”

Professor Himawan's voice was hoarse and firm even suddenly twisted in my head without command. “There is a huge responsibility on your shoulders. Because what kind of students are formed, all depends on their lecturer.”

It's true, that's why there's such a heavy burden that I've been carrying even since I was in Jakarta to take care of the files on my old campus. Thinking about how I would become a good lecturer for my students. About how I would deal with my students in the right way.

“Also, being a lecturer at the age of 28 is not an easy matter, Gibran. There will be some students who do not like you because they think you do not have enough knowledge that you deserve on them.” continued Himawan professor at that time. “And I think you should also be wary of the female students.”

“Why prof?”

“Yes of course because college students can be very active when they are taught by young lecturers who have the face of a model like you.”

Either I have to respond to Professor Himawan's sentence as a joke or as advice that a professor gives to his protege. On the one hand I feel that what Siska Ramadhani is doing is the way the girl expresses her feelings towards the opposite sex. But on the other hand, I actually felt that the child did not have the slightest respect for me like a student respecting his lecturer.

Just as Maya's mom returned to her shirt next to my desk, someone walked into the room and walked up to me. A sweet-looking girl with her pink robe and blue headscarf.

“Good day sir Gibran, bu Maya.” And this girl felt the need to say hello to both of us even though I was sure that she only needed to meet me, and not to Maya's mom.

“Siang, what's up, Za?” Faza Aulia, for some reason whenever I meet or just see her, this girl can always make me raise my judgment against her. Like now, the way she greeted me and Maya made me instantly forget about the love letter I received from Siska. Gosh, for a few seconds I even hoped that the love letter was from Faza, not from Siska. The impossible happens.

“About the proposal that last week I asked.”

Since my brief chat with Faza in the LPM meeting room a week ago about us having met in Blora four years ago, I thought Faza would behave like a friend towards me. Or at least reduce our stiffness as lecturers and students. But in fact such a thing did not happen at all. Faza is still talking to me like a student who respects his lecturer so much.

“Pak?” and I didn't realize that I had just been silent like a foolish man watching Faza explain the contents of the proposal I had asked for.

“Ya?”

“There should I fix from the proposal?”

“Oh, no. Later I check again to then adjust to the request of the editor. I'll let you or Aruna know after the proposal is finished I correct.” It's not just my feeling, but I'm sure that mom Maya had a strange smile to see my behavior.

“Good sir. And here are some data from the results of the interview that the team did last month, as well as examples of articles that we had sent to the editor.” This time it was Faza who took a deep breath and smiled wryly while putting another pile of paper on my desk.

“Maybe Mr. Gibran can at once give a correction to the writing. Which part does not fit between the writing we made and the results of our interview with the source.” His welcome was accompanied by a deep sigh as if the girl was suppressing her own sense of regret.

“Well, I will correct your writing and maybe we can discuss it at the LPM meeting next week.”

“Iya, sir. Maybe just like that, my second lecture hour started five minutes ago.” He said after a short nod and glanced at his black watch. Once again smile at Maya's mom and nod briefly at me before it completely passes from the room.

“Bu Maya looks familiar with Faza?” I asked unconsciously. And I don't know why the woman's ignorant smile was back on her face.

“All lecturers are familiar with Faza, sir. LPM campus activists and typical exemplary students who never make a tantrum and wara-wiri make the campus name plastered on the national newspaper.” Answer Maya with pride as if Faza Aulia is the golden child on this campus.

“Teladan? Meaning Faza always get a perfect GPA every semester?”

“Not so. Faza was mediocre in his class, not stupid but also not genius. But yes it is like that, because Faza is easily familiar with possible lecturers, sir.”

“Mother ever taught her class?”

“I am able to attend the Faza class three semesters in a row, sir. And every time I head to Faza class, I always like that kid”

It is true what Maya said about the boy, about Faza who was easily familiar with the lecturer to make the lecturers feel comfortable with him. I also felt that way even though I was reluctant to admit that I felt comfortable being near Faza just because the child was not much tantrums and easily familiar with the lecturers.

Like there was something else I felt about the boy. Something I don't know what to call.

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