Between Me and Brother

chapter 10

Memorization

Dinner, and other activities have finally been missed. Just starting to learn I've been comfortable in this boarding school. Tomorrow there will be a recitation of Surah Al-baqarah with a tone like a singing person.

No wonder, because reading the Qur'an like a person who is reading the newspaper is less beautiful if we listen. However, by reading like a person who is humming a song. Feels different.

Willy, Lela, Princess and Ara. They were memorizing in the room with me. Sitting in a circular shape like playing. We took turns reading Surah Al-baqarah starting with Lela.

Lela, who kept smiling, we decided that the first person to remember was her. Lela felt bad about our proposal. But he still agreed.

"La Ayok. You read it first" said Willy smiling.

"Yes briefly. I'm still a little nervous." He said while breathing. Mumbled to read the beginning of basmallah.

"Fii quluubihim marodhun fa zaadahumullohu marodhoo, wa lahum 'azaabun aliimum bimaa kaanuu yakzibuun. It means: In their hearts there is disease,,.." His salary stopped with the screams of Ara.

"Ehh.. Bentar, does it mean La? I know I don't." Said confused.

"Well yes, really. Should I use La?" Willy continued to investigate.

"I don't know either, hehe" replied Lela.

"Whoops!" Shouting simultaneously.

***

In the cottage unlike in school in general, here everything has been met with a schedule, ranging from study schedules, prayers, memorization, rest and so forth.

But the five of us never complained about it, because we did it with a sense of sincerity.

Today is the red date, all activities in school are slightly reduced. We left this time to talk to each other. But the thing is, they always talk about the brotherhood which he said he was smart, good at everything, and memorization was very clever.

I got curious about him, to the point of making my roommate crazy about him.

"Oh yes, Mer. How come you haven't told me about the guy you wanted?" Ask Willy.

Suddenly Willy opened his mouth and asked about me. Actually I am the most lazy woman to discuss soan, especially the man I first liked was Mas Indra.

They waited for my answer by looking at me. As if I'd told you about him. I try to avoid the question, so that I am not too caught up with the silly question.

We sat under a tree, sat curled up like rings. For a moment I looked up at the sky and closed my eyes.

When I opened my eyes, I felt glare and I frowned while looking at the moving clouds pushed by the wind.

"Are you in love, Mer?" The princess followed me looking up at the sky.

"Huh?"

"Try the story, with the story we can tell what you're feeling, Mer!" Ara continued smiling.

"No" I replied slowly.

"Don't lie! I know how you feel. You're heartbroken because the guy you like is gonna propose to your brother, right?" Clearly Lela glanced at me sharply.

Spontaneous I was surprised by the question, so exactly what I was feeling. Why is Lela so sensitive to me huh? I'm afraid that he has magic powers.

With the right answer because Lela said, they immediately looked at me so sharp, smelling like I wanted to reveal the truth.

Unfortunately, I'm ashamed to explain it. In his early days, a younger brother was jealous of his older brother who was about to marry a future girl. Iishh! Sounds ticklish.

My face suddenly changed and wanted to escape from them.

A little bit of feeling left behind, I miss Umi. Usually, when I was in Jogja, I always told Umi whatever the problem was.

 

\*

 

When the heart begins to fret over the presence of longing, what should I do? Tonight it was raining so hard, the sound of rain water whistling, made me remember there was a memory with Brother Tery while in Jogja.

I stood still on the bed, staring at the ceiling of the wall that was emitted by the light. There were one-two lizards on the wall, silently creeping. A mosquito came but failed to catch it.

Pensively I stared while winking repeatedly, with the sound of rain making me want to cry. Crying from remembering about Brother Tery who I miss so much.

My eyes began to glaze over so that these tears could not be contained anymore, I let out my crying voice. Very deep sobbing.

Lela woke up from her sleep. He went to my bed and looked at me with purpose.

I just stared at her for a while, then I cried again and again. This time, in front of Lela I was so embarrassed. Crying in the middle of the night and again accompanied by heavy rain.

"What are you crying about?" Lela asked, embracing my shoulder.

"I miss out on Mrs Tery, La!" I said while looking up.

"Why?"

I looked up straight away as I shed my tears. I want to hug Lela as a backrest and hug from a Big Brother.

This so jarring longing is like snatching at night.

As Lela held my head and placed it on her shoulder, she said, if that longing makes me cry, then call Him and tell him I miss him so much.

Lela understood my heart, tonight instantly made a very long night for me. It's so complicated to go home, but I'll stay strong.

My intention here is to learn and learn, because by learning I can forget the people I like.

***

I don't feel like I'm here for almost 1 week, the days I spent studying with my new friend. Today there is a tournament in Pondok, he said he would compete with Tunas Bangsa High School.

This tournament is held every year once a year, there are various types of competitions, namely football, badminton, volleyball, and long jump.

One of my classmates took part in a soccer activity and joined the next class.

Nah! From various stories there are many santri wati here, he said there is one of the football and volleyball champions in the next class.

I haven't met him, at this game maybe I'll see his face directly without listening to the santri story here and there.

Soon the match will begin. I sat on a long dark green bench close to the field. Here are Ara, Lela, Princess and Willy accompanying me to watch this match.

There were hysterical cheers from various circles of female students who shouted in support of their respective champions.

I just fell silent while staring at the empty field that was filled by the red and yellow flags.

The voice of the committee began to call the name of the child who participated in the volleyball competition. But from the shout Willy who supports the name "Indra" it can not come.

I just gawked because I couldn't see the man, because the volleyball game he said was good couldn't keep up. Each match can only take one race.

It could be that the man took a step in the hobby of the ball. Unfortunately, the football game was long enough, I could be bored if I waited too long.

Disappointment and curiosity. I could only smile while watching for free in front of my sight.