Dusk At the End Please

Everything Is Not Easy

Liani's activities underwent quite drastic changes after the death of her best friend Shanum. Usually at sixty-thirty he was already at the school where he taught. His cooperation with Shanum gave him a positive effect, always coming earlier than the appointed time. Breakfast became their habit before starting new day activities if not fasting sunnah.

But since Shanum was no longer in the foundation, Liani again ignored his good habits. He rarely had breakfast, coming to school at the earliest ten minutes before the entrance bell rang. And be in school during working hours only. There were no more school activities that he participated in. Liani resigned from her duties as student coach, she spent more time at home by writing or just watching her favorite drama.

Unlike this morning, because last night she did not eat dinner Liani felt her stomach rumble longer. He immediately set off for school with his main goal being the foundation canteen. Hours like this are usually in the cafeteria have been provided various menus for breakfast.

The clock is still showing at six o'clock, Liani looks relaxed enjoying her breakfast. A plate of yellow rice with a sprinkling of iron and additional egg stews with cucumber as a vegetable has been eaten almost half.

"Assalamu'alaikum" the voice of someone who suddenly sat before him shocked Liani and stopped her breakfast activities.

"Wa'alaikumsalam" he replied with a mouth that was still full of mouthfuls of yellow rice complete with egg stew and vegetables.

"alone?" the man asked, he sipped Liani's warm tea.

"Eh uh..that's mine sir, I've been drinking earlier" he explained quickly after immediately he chewed and swallowed the food in his mouth.

"Why indeed? you're healthy, right? you don't have a contagious disease, do you?" asked the man who was none other than Ahsan.

"Mang, the same menu as this Mother Teacher huh!" ahsan shouted at one of the cafeteria servants he was familiar with.

"Okay, sir" replied the waiter.

"Ck..bener yes, heartbreak can make people become insane. Fortunately I chose not to have a boyfriend, for me maintaining the body's immunity is more important than keeping people's soulmates" Liani clucked and quipped Ahsan, saying, he dared to say that because they were both currently in the cafeteria.

"You never had a boyfriend?" ahsan asked in surprise, he stopped his activity from picking crackers from Liani's bowl.

"Why indeed? errwhat? don't you?" liani replied no less ketus, she was still upset because Ahsan drank the drink.

"Hahaha.." Ahsan's laughter finally broke out, his voice filling the canteen which still looked quiet.

"Didih, Mr. Ahsan why laugh so? is it wrong that I never had a boyfriend?" liani joked, she knew Ahsan was laughing at her who had never had a lover.

"No, it's funny that your age has never dated" replied Ahsan who was still laced with laughter because it felt funny.

"I don't actually have a boyfriend, sir, but I'm the type of person who does not want complicated the same thing that is less useful. Keep the soul mate of that person not tasty. I want it to be straight away, obviously a marriage of worship"

"Later if there is a man who proposes to me it is clear seeds, bebet and weights, faithful, knowledgeable, well-established and handsome bonuses I will immediately tancap gas"

"Not like Shanum who is still difficult to move on with the love of his monkey, but has come a man of faith, knowledgeable, well-established, handsome philanthropist, easy to forgive like you are still considered"

"Father also tried if it used to be fitting Mr. Nembak Shanum directly come to his parents and ask permission to marry Shanum maybe the story is not rich gini"

"The doctor hasn't come yet. If he comes to see Mr. Ahsan is married maybe he will think again if he wants to seize the Father, right? anyway sir yesterday her husband Shanum was not neko-neko, he was direct gaspol came to the house and said he wanted to be Shanum's future husband, directly Iyeslah Shanum"

"Bulshit with her first love who was with someone else. Mr. also yearsya still not the same past Shanum mah do not want to be aka anti so third person in the relationship of others" Liani cerocos without brakes, Liani, he did not realize that what he said made Ahsan's chest rumble, his regret mounting.

Ahsan really felt lost the start, but clearly Akhtar had given Shanum a chance to go with him. He should have come to Shanum's parents and married her immediately. He didn't think that Suraya would come that fast and mess things up.

His regret is even more stirring when he remembers the man who now married Shanum is his best friend. Ahsan knew him well enough, and he had only known lately that Haqi had admired Shanum since he was in college.

He was curious as Haqi whispered in his ear, apologizing if he cornered her in the third of the night. Honestly, it made Ahsan think, and he asked this to Rahman and Yusuf who were also friendly with Haqi. And it turns out he was shocked by the fact that Haqi had loved Shanum a long time ago and chose to be silent because he knew he was fighting for Shanum.

But what happened? he was wasting that opportunity. Ahsan was very sorry for his own indecisive stupidity.

Liani just gawked, looking at Ahsan's facial expression that changed instantly. He realized that he had been speaking, Liani was sure that what he said just now offended Ahsan.

"Sir, Mr. Ahsan, forgive me" said Liani pleading with a face full of regret.

"I didn't mean to open the wound Father, I.." his words stopped because Ahsan raised his hand asking that Liani stop talking.

"You're right, I'm a fool" Ahsan said, turning his face away from Liani's gaze as his eyes began to dew.

"Sir, stop. This is the best destiny for all, you should now focus on what is in front of you. Wouldn't you also soon follow Mr Akhtar, married to the doctor? I think she's a good girl. God willing, Mr. Ahsan will be able to guide him for the better"

"What's? Shanum is now in Jakarta?" tanya Ahsan made sure.

"Huh?" Liani realized again he was lost, even though he was wanted by Shanum to never discuss about himself if he met Ahsan or Akhtar.

Their conversation came to a halt when Ahsan's ordered food came, Liani pushed the plate containing the yellow rice closer to Ahsan. He felt really guilty and tried to divert the discussion.

"All right now we're eating" Ahsan finally made a sound, and Liani smiled back in relief seeing Ahsan was better, but I don't know with her heart.

Unlike Ahsan who was enjoying breakfast with Liani. This morning Akhtar was still at his official house. He still refused to come out of his room. After the dawn prayer he returned to the room and chose to re-engage with the blanket.

Last night he had just come from Garut, precisely Pameungpeuk picked up the mother because her wedding with Raina will be held tomorrow.

Tok.dok...

"Son, wake. It's noon, time for breakfast" Mother Fatimah knocked on Akhtar's room door many times.

It turned out that the door of Akhtar's room was unlocked, hesitantly Bu Fatimah opened the door and entered into Akhtar's room which looked messy.

Some of Akhtar's wedding invitations were strewn across his bedroom floor. Photos of Akhtar in a blue-white uniform with a girl his age lying on top of the king-size bed, there are also photos of Akhtar with a girl on a tea plantation who seems to have been taken secretly because their style in the photo looks natural, but the girl in the picture is definitely not Raina.

Akhtar's body rolled up the blanket until it was not visible in the slightest. Fatimah's mother shook her head to see the behavior of her only son who was far from her habit. Ms. Fatimah knew that her son was very respectful of cleanliness and neatness, not only herself but also the surrounding environment. But looking at the state of the son's room this time it seems like the son really experienced the heavy thing to make him change.

"Son, wake up it's noon" he said gently, he shook Akhtar's body slowly.

Akhtar wriggled hearing someone call his name and shook his body. He opened the blanket that wrapped around his head, his eyes twitching adjusted the light coming into his net.

"Mother" said Akhtar with a distinctive hoarse voice waking up.

He revealed the blanket that wrapped his body. On her chest Fatimah's mother could see a picture frame that seemed to keep her hugged throughout her sleep.

Akhtar realized the direction of the mother's gaze, he took the photo and kept it on the nightstand by his bedside.

"I'm sorry Akhtar, ma'am..Akhtar misfortune" he said slowly.

"That's okay, you must be tired" replied Ms. Fatimah, she grabbed some invitations scattered on the floor.

Akhtar circulated his gaze, he saw how messy the current state of his room was. Akhtar took the photos scattered over his bed and then put them in a nightstand drawer beside his bed.

Ms. Fatimah offered a missed photo for Akhtar to finish. Photos of her with Shanum were taken secretly by her with a selfie while they were together at the tea plantation. Shanum looked from the side smilingly at the expanse of tea plants in front of them.

Akhtar grabbed the photo, he looked down not daring to look at his mother's face when taking the photo from her hand. The photo he held tightly with his hands slightly shook.

"Marriage is fate, while love is destiny. We can plan to marry whom, but can not plan our love for whom" said Bu Fatimah trying to encourage Akhtar.

Ms. Fatimah knows these days have been difficult times for her son. Akhtar has told me everything he has experienced. Fatimah's mother was just trying to be a good listener, she knew the position of her son who would eat simalakama fruit. He must choose between devotion and love.

"Akhtar looked up, looking closely at the face of the mother who always set her heart. His suddenly dewy eyes were no longer able to withstand the urge of tears that finally came out just like that.

"Hiks....." Akhtar was no longer able to hide his sadness, he cried bitterly in the lap of the mother.

"The enemy does not always come from the opposite direction. Sometimes from here" Fatimah patted Akhtar on the shoulder.

"The nearest room, the distance between logic and the heart. His name is ego, expectation and emotion. You need to be able to control those three things, son. Do not let them control you" continued Ms. Fatimah.

"Surpassed, Son. If all this time you can love him sincerely, then you can definitely take it off with sincerity. Let destiny proceed according to His will. Be prejudiced at whatever happens, at whoever comes and goes. Do not hold grudges and be angry at circumstances, believe that every test that comes to strengthen. Starting today, be prepared for a better future. We don't know if in what we don't like maybe God saves so much good" concluded Ms Fatimah.

Akhtar heard his mother's advice well, it wasn't easy. But her mother was right, she could not dissolve in this situation.

"Oh Allah, from today let me wave to a feeling that can no longer be reciprocated. Today let me take care of the heart for the wounds that have just been scratched. Let me turn around from the endless longing journey. I know it's not easy, but please Lord, let me take a break from this grueling drama", Akhtar has a monologue in his heart.