Azka And Rasha

Episode 23

Getting vs Losing

Since Rasya's arrival at school for the first time, rumors and rumors about the closeness of Azka and Rasya continue to resonate. All eyes were always on them as they walked. And it was as if their mouths were never satisfied discussing the closeness of Azka and Rasya which was now a public secret. This bothers Azka a little. Sometimes he stares cynically at people who start to stumble as he walks. But it didn't last long. After a few weeks Rasya entered school, the whispers of neighbors carried out by children of State High School 45 had begun to subside.

A few days ago Rasya started going to school with a cane. False legs covered in pants alone feet make it like a high school kid in general. It's just that the road still looks lame. The right leg which is a prosthetic leg is still often he shifted instead of raised stepping.

---

Azka saw Rasya walking on his own as he began to enter the school gate. He tried to forget the events of yesterday that often made him sad and disappointed. How not? Since the accident, Rasya has often felt inferior. The sense of inferiority was then expressed by doubting the sincerity of Azka, even Rasya became more often angry and did not want to be helped by Azka. Azka ran a little, trying to align her steps while accompanying Rasya to walk.

“How does it feel to use a new leg?” azka asked enthusiastically when she caught up with Rasya's steps.

“Any, I forgot how to walk” Rasya said after seeing Azka who was already beside him

“Iya yeah? How many days did you use a fake leg?” ask Azka again

“Three, but at home you don't often use fake legs. It's good to ride a wheelchair at home mah” he replied while trying to walk normally, but still the movement looks stiff.

“Oooo, it's okay, you're new, you'll also get used to it again. Jalan” often said Azka

“Iya, later often take a walk around break”

“Kak, if the prayer is released?” tanya Azka pointed at the fake foot on Rasya's right foot

“Yes, I pray while sitting. Not balanced I stand with one foot” he replied

Azka mangosteen. They continued walking regardless of the eyes that were still staring at the two. Without Azka noticing between those eyes, there was one pair of eyes staring with a different look.

Arriving Azka in class XI IPA 2, Azka escorted Rasya to sit in his chair. Help him sit down and hold his cane. Azka placed Rasya's wand beside the table, leaning against the wall next to it.  “I go to class first ya” said Azka

“Iya. oh yes. You have free time when?”

“A blank time make?”

“Ke home” answer is short

“To your home? Why?”

“Mau took to mausoleum” Azka surprised, but quickly he turned his surprise away with a smile.

“When you can, just say later I'll go to your home”

“But don't invite anyone”

“Eh?—iya, I myself there”

“Yaudah, later I will tell you when I want to go to mausoleum” he said.

Azka moved from her place and walked towards the classroom. Classes have begun to crowded, children have gathered with their respective gangs. Azka spread her gaze throughout the class. In the right corner there are Ncy, Pita, Melisa, Wede, Ana, and Wira. On the side of the classroom near the window were the genius gangs of Tika, Gita, Sulis, Ira, Ekka, and Wati.  In the middle there is a religious gang whose contents are ukhti-ukhti jilbaber: Berta, Eka, and Ega. Azka looked at them, passing her glance at the group of boys containing Grace, Salim, Doni, and Adit. Then He found the group of people He loved the most.

“Hei” said he was sitting among his friends

“Yang again take care of lukewarmness is very different. Classes are passed so aja” said Iren giggling

“Enak. Help doang” replied Azka while grinning. Azka scratched her temple even though it was not itchy.

“Aren't you able to sit down and study in class?” ledek Fables

“Kok you guys so sensi anyway?” ask Azka while laughing. 'It's funny how they do this'

“Entah nih Ka's. They all have a partner. Should be my shingle!” said Ocha annoyed. He folded his bills in front of his chest.

“Eh, jerk. Do you have any pairs?” Azka asked while remembering.

“Risa equals Miko already official nih??” ask Azka

They nodded. Azka smiled happily then hugged Risa “Happy yaa” he said. From the edge of Azka's eyes, Fabel also laughed as she placed her arm behind Ita who was sitting leaning back.

“Bel, Ta?" Azka looked at them cynically, "What the hell?" This time Azka was already smiling mischievously

“Means don't be busy yourself” says Ocha. “They otw soan” whispered Ocha which only heard by the seven of them

“Whaaatttt???? Seriously?” azka's screams make the class turn their head, “Eh, sorry. Continuein. Sorry to bother yaaak” he said to the whole class

“Totally? You guys? Iiiih” Fabel and Ita just shy smile. Azka became amused herself seeing the change in their attitude.

“Quiet Cha, there is Mas Alfan. So not single yourself” said Azka giggled

“Don't be wrong Lo Nur! Alfan again deket same chick” Fabel whispered between them

“I deket same everyone elaaah” replied Alfan indifferently

“Seriously? Who is Alfan Deket? How do I not know?” asked Azka while pouting

“We also do not know Ka, tuh the Fabel who gossip” said Iren again

“Alfan mah incerannya dede dede emesh” Fabel chuckled pronounce the name for the girl who was being approached by Alfan.

“Dede emesh where the hell is it? A tenth grader? Kasih taulaaah” said Risa increasingly curious. Azka who just came was curious. Moreover, those who are daritadi only hear gossip from the babble that seemed convincing Fabel.

“Hmmmh” Alfan grunts slowly “Yaudah later I know if it's time” he said cuek

“Cie cie.. Mas, so not the same Harisa?” asked Azka slightly whispering while giggling

“He still has a girlfriend, don't want to be” said Alfan

They laugh too. Throughout the day they continued to tease Alfan who said he was close to a girl from the tenth grade. ‘can also tuh people ngedeketinan babi’ inner Azka. But knowing this, there was a sudden sense of sadness.

“Yaaah, later I can be joined by Mas Alfan again dong” said Azka memelas in the middle of their chat

“Who said? You guys have to keep decking the same with me. You guys get to pick it up first. If I do not become the same him, I turn it to you again” said Alfan seriously. They smile.

---

As promised, Rasya contacted Azka at the end of the week. Ask him to come home early in the morning before the sun goes up too much.

"Sir, can I come home tomorrow?” ask her when Azka accompanied her waiting for an invitation after school.

“Can. What time tomorrow?”

“Jam 9 well, let it not be too hot. I can't use the motor yet. So we have to jalan” obviously

“Oke” reply Azka briefly

And, here comes Azka. At the door of Rasya's house. Azka knocked on the door with three taps. Waiting for the door to open, he glanced towards the clock that was coiled around his wrist. “It's been nine hours over ten minutes” murmured. Before long, the door opened. Mba Eva who was behind the door smiled, then let Azka in.

“Log Ka” he said while continuing to smile kindly.

“Makasih mbak” said Azka while going inside. Azka grabbed Mba Eva's hand and kissed the back of her hand before Mba Eva darted inside calling Rasya. Shortly after that Rasya appeared, with a white T-shirt attached to his body and long jeans covering his legs. The smell of soap came out, how obvious Rasya just finished bathing.

“Kok not sitting?” rasha asked, Azka who was just staring at Rasya who had just come

“Yeah, Mba Eva nih emang” said as he clucked.

“Judah sit down first. What do you want to drink?” ask Rasya again.

“Gausah deh Kak, I brought a drink. Nih” Azka shows her tosca-colored drinking bottle

“So afraid of not being given to drink until you bring your own drink Dek”

“Eh?—not that Kak. Hehe, it was mama” she replied with a smile showing a row of white teeth behind her lips.

“Kak, going to the tomb now?” ask Azka

“Bentar, want to take flowers first” the answer is relaxed

Rasya has been more common to walk using a stick even though it still looks stiff. Sometimes he had to stop because he could not walk too far. They ended up picking some kind of flower from Rasya's courtyard, putting it in the plastic that the white-tailed young man had prepared. They pick flowers while walking from one side to the other. Walking this close, Rasya looked tired.

“Kak, did we ask for anther?” tanya Azka hesitated

“So, I want to walk with you to his grave”

“But it's getting hot. From there to here you look out for trouble” replied Azka with a worried face that was not made up.

“What do you not want to heat up to his tomb?” he asked while glancing towards Azka

“No, I'm a long way off, run away. You forgot first Junior High I was almost a running athlete?”

“Kan just almost, not yet so” he said while laughing.

“Yes but still, I'm more used to walking away from her mammoth son Aunt Atik this” Azka mocked him.

“Enak! Udah ah, it took the water bottle to be taken to the tomb” point Rasya on a clear bottle of water on the side of the terrace.

Azka took it, put it into a finger that also contained the flowers they had picked up. The two started walking, came out of the fence beside Rasya's house and walked straight. Until the first intersection Rasya moves to the right. They walked quite far from there.

“This is the home of Ustadz Efendi, surely you know Dek” he said pointing to one of the houses with white paint on the side of the road.

“Wah? Gawat dong if you look like Mr. Ustadz” replied Azka

“Hehehe, why? Scared huh?”

“No, the people of his house just cover it. Surely again out his family” replied Azka a little faster to leave the house that was appointed as the home of Ustadz Efendi, his teacher when he was a child.

“Dek, slowly. I have not been able to walk cepet kayak you tau” Rasya slightly grimaced because trying to walk faster balancing the speed of Azka road.  Azka turned her head towards Rasya, smiled then started to walk backwards in front of Rasya.

“The path is slow aja kak, I will not run” he said.

Rasya just smiled looking at the girl's behavior. Azka was still slowly walking backwards. His two hands carrying a finger of flowers and water He put it behind his back. The small pebbles on the road then made the balance slightly shaky until he finally fell with the buttocks that first touched the ground.

“Aduh”

“You're the real way why?” instead of helping Rasya just glanced and walked through Azka.

“Help kak?” he said those who were still on the streets. Azka got up and cleaned her dirty skirt.

“Lagian take a step back try. Udah know the road is not paved” said Rasya still memapah his body with a stick. Azka lined up, walking beside Rasya while holding the other end of the youth's shirt.

“I want to see you again the way, so the way back” Azka gave an excuse while giggling, amused himself to hear the reason He made.

“Emang if from the side can not? Kan both looked at” he said while looking at the girl next to him

“Neither ah, take it from the front of his snack. From the side mah gaksatis” replied Azka with a smile

“Try dong Kak Rasya way back there like I was, while practicing jalan” pinta Azka

Rasya shook his head, “Ogah ah, the road ahead is not yet true. Take a step back. Ntar instead of being able to walk normally, I became a retreat-back” said Rasya who made Azka laugh.

After a long walk, they came to a gate. On the left right side of the road behind the gate was full of large trees. Wild grass also thrives to prevent other plants from living in the land. They're entering. Slender. That's the picture for this place. Azka shuddered, then turned her head towards Rasya. This land is terrible enough for the size of a cemetery during the day.

“Kak, where's the tomb?” tanya Azka began to rile, because there was no funeral area there

“Later at the intersection to the left” Rasya replied

“You scared?” ask Rasya again.

“Fear. I was afraid there was a stray dog. I gabisa run away, because gakuat gendong Kak Rasya” Azka gave an excuse.

“Hahahaha, no stray dogs here. So just calm down, strained gitu” ledek Rasya who saw Azka's face began to tighten. The two turned at the intersection, entering the cemetery area which is quite quiet. There are only a few tombs there.

“This is Kak's family funeral?”

“Not, but this is a new funeral. So just a little bit of his tomb” Rasya kept walking and stopped at one tomb.

Rasya bent his left leg, while the right leg was left to drift on the ground. Putting his body in a position like someone was squatting. She turned her head, then waved her hand to get Azka closer. Azka walked up to her and stopped on the other side of the tomb. Azka was pensive, seeing a mound of earth with gravestones at both ends. On the head of the head of the head of the tomb is written a name “Naraya Adi Saputra”.

Rasya looked down deeply, as if he were praying. Azka prayed, begged forgiveness for the deceased and also asked that Rasya always be given strength after his brother. At least Azka thought that this was the tomb of her brother, who died three years ago, when they were eighth grade in high school.

“This is Your Brother Brother?” Azka asked as Rasya finished praying and touched the head of the tombstone.

Instead of answering her question, Rasya spoke for himself, as if Kak Naraya was there.

“Kak, this is Azka. The one that Rasya once told. Finally Rasya can meet with Brother. Sorry a little long, hard also turned out to snedeketinnya” Rasya chuckled at his last sentence “Now he is here, nemenin Rasya. Gatau if there is no him how Rasya school yesterday. Sorry Rasya has disappointed you with this accident. Because Rasya too, the motorcycle relics of Brother finally auctioned the same Mama. The quiet brother there. Rasya has been guarding, although Rasya gatau until when can be guarded and keep him. At least until Rasya strong ngadepin life itself” one tear slid hit his palm that holds the headstone.

Azka just fell silent, listening to every word Rasya said. One thing Azka thought was that the gossip was true, Rasya had harbored feelings for her even before she knew Rasya well. Because Azka's friendship with Rasya can be this close starting when the moment of Kak Naraya's death three years ago.

***

Several children in blue white uniforms flocked to visit. The body has just been buried. There are still tents and yellow flags in the courtyard of Rasya's house. Rasya just fell silent in the corner of the house. Seeing the arrival of the children in blue white uniforms, the welcoming family invited them to come in and gather with Rasya who just sat alone. He looked so sad, chaotic, and lost so much. No one asked him to speak but a stale greeting at the beginning of their arrival. Finally Azka took the initiative, asking him to speak even though he did not get a good response. But at least, he tried to drain the sense of comfort and eliminate the sense of loneliness for Rasya.

“Don't grieve for long, I know it feels like losing” Azka said it just like that. Rasya looked over, then looked back down.

“Kalo you want a story, can kok sms me” Azka offer him space to tell a story just to get rid of his loneliness after leaving Naraya

“Makasih” finally Rasya opens his voice.

They came home after saying goodbye. Until the end of their meeting at Rasya's house, he spoke to none of them, except one word of thanks to Azka. Even Agil, his friend he did not talk to. For some reason, since that day Rasya became a little open to Azka. He began by telling his memories with Kak Naraya. The two of them also so often sent a short message chatting chatter ngidul unclear, but nevertheless they did not show in front of their friends. No one knew about the closeness of the two of them, except Ocha and Suci, Azka's companions. As long as they were close by then, more Azka was asked to tell a story. Until finally Azka ventured to tell a story about someone who became his first love, Agil, although he did not mention his name.

***

Rasya grabbed a flower and water to the side of Azka, making her aware of her daydream three years ago.

“Sini, let me help Kak” bargain while taking a water bottle and opening it Rasya sowing flowers, watering on the surface of the soil that began to dry out exposed to sunlight. Without speaking, Rasya got up with great difficulty. Azka moved closer to Rasya, and helped him stand up. Rasya moved towards another mound of varnished ground. Azka knitted the ends of her eyebrows. Watching Rasya who again sat down in front of the red earth mound that looks newer than eating Kak Naraya.

‘Who else is it?’ inner Azka.

Azka approached, sitting beside the tomb. That's when he knew who was there. “Ragil Putra” murmured to read the name on the gravestone. It turned out to be the tomb of Agil, Rasya's little friend who was the victim of death in an accident that also took Rasya's right leg. Azka noticed Rasya's expression was completely different from when he was in front of Kak Naraya's tomb. This time his expression was so disappointed, sad, and guilty. The sound of sobbing resuscitated Azka. It turned out that the sobbing was Rasya's sobbing, He could not hide the guilt and loss that became one. Azka approached, patting Rasya on the shoulder slowly, pouring warmth and positive energy on her. Slowly the stuffing subsided. Rasya did the same thing as in the tomb of Kak Naraya. Sowing flowers and watering on the surface of the soil. Then pray.

“Don't dissolve your guilt sister. This is all the destiny of Allah” Azka said when they had risen to go home

Rasya nodded, clasped Azka's hand and led her out of the burial area.