HALAL LOVER (Already Published )

Section 2

The next day, Azizah does not go to campus because there are no tuition hours. Azizah went to the kitchen to get some drinking water, while Umy Fatimah was sitting in the middle room embroidery and saw Azizah's presence in the kitchen.

"You didn't go to college, son?" tanya Umy Fatimah still while embroidery.

Azizah turned her head, then said, "no Umy, today Azizah is in the afternoon," he said, pouring water into a glass, then sipped it.

"Azizah," call Umy Fatimah

"Yes, Umy."

"Let's love, someone wants to talk to you about umy."

Azizah immediately approached her Umyya and sat down beside the umy.

"What do you want to talk about with Zizah?" ask Azizah curiously.

"honey, do you remember Mr Haryo?"

"Yes Umy, Zizah remembers. If it's not wrong, Mr. Haryo is his best friend Aby, not My. Why is it My?"

"Look, baby, umy the same late Aby and Mr. Haryo used to have agreed, if our children are of different sex we will match,"

"I mean Umy?" Azizah looked at Uminya curiously.

"I mean umy, we're all grown up and umy think it's time you built a house. And anyway umy and the late Abymu have already betrothed you to Mr. Haryo's son."

Azizah was surprised to hear him, then said, "but Umy, Zizakkan did not know the son of Pak Haryo and Zizah also did not love him. Can you build a home without love?"

"The feeling of love will gradually come by itself. Umy and Aby also used to not love each other but, you see now we both love each other very much. After all this is the last will of Aby you dear." Umy Fatimah looked at Azizah.

"But My, Zizah." Azizah's speech stopped because umy Fatimah cut off Azizah's speech.

"Darling, let's just say this is a sign of your devotion to umy and Aby." Umy Fatimah held Azizah's cheek with both hands.

"Okay Umy, Zizah is ready" he said softly and Azizah smiled, and Umy Fatimah embraced Azizah.

"If only, Aby you'd still be there. He will definitely feel very happy with all this," said Umy Fatimah happily, while still embracing Azizah.

Azizah was just silent in her Umy embrace, her mind was talking.

O Allah, if this will make Umy happy, I am sincere O Allah.

At around 13:30 Azizah went to the campus. Before he left did not forget Azizah said goodbye to her Umynya.

Azizah sat outside the mosque contemplating the thought. Aisyah came to Azizah who was pensive on her own.

"Zah, what's wrong with you? I noticed from earlier, what do you look moody about? same story with me." Aisha looked at Azizah who was still pensive.

"Dad, I'd like to ask you. Can we build a home with people we don't know and don't love at all?" Azizah turned her head, then looked straight ahead again.

Aisyah was amazed at the question posed by her best friend, why suddenly Azizah asked her about it.

"If God had wanted anything to happen even if we didn't love that person. Most importantly, we must be sincere and confident that it is the best soul mate that God has given us. Uh, but how do you suddenly ask about that, why? does it have anything to do with you being moody right now?"

Azizah got up and stepped down the stairs. He stood there staring, staring straight ahead. Aisyah who saw him was increasingly astonished at Azizah's unusual attitude towards acting like that afternoon. Aisha approached Azizah and stood beside Azizah.

"Well, if you don't want to tell the same story, I'm fine. But, if you want a story, I'm ready to listen to it."

Azizah turned her head, Aisha smiled Azizah also smiled.

Around 14:00 the campus youth activities began. Azizah was still thinking about it and she did not pay much attention to the material that the source was conveying while Aisyah, smiling mangosteen while listening to what was being conveyed by the source.

Around 16:30 the activity was completed, all students/i came out including Azizah. Azizah was still moody, Azizah left but Fahmi approached Azizah who was stepping out of Mushola.

"Aziziah."

Azizah stopped in her steps, then turned her head. And Fahmi approached him.

"Alhamdulilah, you have now joined here. Welcome to join me." Fahmi throws a smile and Azizah also smiles.

"I noticed that you were silent from now on. Why, are you having a problem?" fahmi asked, looking at Azizah who was downcast. Azizah did not immediately answer Fahmi's question, she sighed for a moment.

"I'm fine, I'm late in the afternoon."

Azizah smiled and left Fahmi alone. Fahmi was only speechless at the loss of Azizah. Aisyah came out of Mushola and outside met with Fahmi. They both throw smiles at each other.

"Aisha," call Fahmi.

"Yes." Yeah." Aisha stopped and looked over.

"Azizah why yeah? Is he in trouble?"

"I don't know Mi either. But it looks like Azizah is having a problem, so why?"

"It's okay, I'm just surprised to see Azizah's attitude today."

"Mmm, yes. I was also astonished at his attitude, not usually Azizah behaved like that. Yasudah, I'm Mi first."

Aisyah smiled and left Fahmi. While Fahmi was still overwhelmed with curiosity in his mind towards Azizah.

Later that night, at the Ghibran house. Ghibran has finished praying, Pak Haryo and Umy Aminah approached Ghibran his son who had finished praying was folding prayer.

"Any, Umy." Ghibran turned his head and saw the presence of his parents.

Pak Haryo and Umy Aminah sat on the edge of the Ghibran bed, Ghibran also sat right in the middle of Aby and Umynya.

"It's time, Aby says it's the same you son," said Mr. Haryo began a conversation between them. Pak Haryo smiled as well as Umy Aminah, Ghibran still did not understand the words of his Aby.

"Say what By, My??" Staring at Aby and his Umy took turns.

"Do you remember the same Mr. Joseph? aby's best friend from childhood."

"Dad, Ghibran remembers By. Why?" ghibran asked, growing curious.

"You know son, aby same Mr. Joseph used to be very close at all and without his help aby would not be what it is today. Ye know? even we got married on the same day, and we had agreed that if we had children and different sexes we would match them" said Mr. Haryo explained.

Ghibran was shocked when he heard it and he got up from his seat, then stood a few steps forward away from his Aby and Umy. While Mr. Haryo is still sitting.

"You, understand son? what did your Aby mean?" Umy Aminah approached Ghibran, and slapped Ghibran's shoulder gently.

"So, what do Aby and Umy Ghibran mean by being betrothed to Aby's best friend's son?"

"I think it's time for you to get married. Will college be over soon? and anyway aby's never seen you introduce a woman who's close to you, so what's wrong?"

"But Aby, the male Ghibran. Ghibran can find Ghibran's own companion. Aby didn't bother to set me up."

"Ghibran, Abymu just wants the best for you son. Believe me, every parent wants the best for their children" said Umy Aminah.

Ghibran could only be silent to the words of his Abynya, Ghibran turned to step toward Abynya who was still sitting on the edge of the bed. He sat down before his Aby.

"Well, if this is including my consecration to Aby and Umy Ghibran is ready,"

"Really son?"

Ghibran nodded slowly, Pak Haryo immediately hugged Ghibran happily and umy Aminah also smiled happily to see him.

* * *

In the midst of the silence of the night, Azizah offered her prayers with great devotion and resignation on the prayer mat after she finished performing the evening prayer in her room.

"O Lord, the great and the all-powerful, if this is the destiny of You sincere servants, God accept all of this. And if this will make Umy happy, sincere servant, if this is Your way of giving a soul mate to the servant then give this heart to be able to receive it with sincerity. Give confidence to this heart, to this self, that he is the best soul mate for the servant. I give it all to You, O God.. Rabbana atina fiddunya hasanah wakinah adza bannar Aamiin aamiin yarabalalamin." Azizah rubbed her palms on her face and then she prostrated herself.

\*\*\*

Azizah stepped into the mosque full of daydreams, heard the sound of someone praying and disperse the daydream of Azizah. Azizah approached the source of the voice and she stood up to see the man who was behind her in a chat. Azizah was stunned to hear the prayer, making her heart feel more calm.In her heart she praised the melodious voice that was so soft and anyone who heard it would feel the calmness in her soul. Subhanallah was so sweet, Azizah continued to praise the melodious voice in her heart until she was surprised by the sound of Aisha greeting her.

"Well, what's wrong with you?"

Azizah did not answer she just smiled while continuing to look at the man, Aisyah was astonished and also looked in the same direction and Aisyah smiled.

"Mmmm, I know, you must be amazed by the voice of the Ghibran? I never told you that his voice was so sweet."

Aisyah smiled faintly, Azizah turned her head and looked back at Ghibran. Whaaat! so the owner of that melodious voice was Ghibran, the one who made him always feel annoyed. The face that had looked like a blooming flower turned furious like a tiger that was not fed.

"Where did you come from? the sound of a rombeng can is said to be melodious," elak Azizah.

Aisyah just smiled, then Azizah went and sat in the mosque followed by Aisha who then sat beside Azizah.

"But you were amazed to hear it. Aye right?" Staring at Azizah beside.

"Who said? my people are shocked! How could well, Fahmi told him. There was nothing good about it, other than the voice of the freak."

"It can be, because the voice of a strange person is nice and melodious." Aisyah smiled then continued to tease Azizah until Azizah's cheeks turned red and until finally they laughed together, no matter what they laughed.

Ghibran was thinking about a conversation between himself and his parents. In his heart, though, he did not want to accept the arranged marriage but on the other hand he did not want to make his parents disappointed and as a child who always obeyed would not want him to be able to and he had to obey the request of his parents. Now he must be able to throw away his feelings for Aisyah whom he had admired for a long time. From a distance, unbeknownst to Aisyah Ghibran continued to watch her laughing with Azizah.

I had to bury deep in this feeling, even though it was very difficult.

Azizah who realized that she and Aisha were watching. He was astonished and told his friend, Aisha.

"Dad, this is just a feeling I doang or really well. You don't feel like that weird guy is watching us?" Azizah glanced at Ghibran. Aisyah turned her head towards Ghibran, Ghibran who realized it was pretending and being misbehaved and shifted her eyes.

"What time, Zah? but he seems to be thinking of something."

"Hey, don't mind that weird guy."

Azizah got up, and went into the Mushola. While Aisyah was still sitting and observing Ghibran, Aisyah threw a smile at Ghibran to return her smile and now they looked at each other. It turned out that Azizah saw him from behind and she felt astonished, Aisyah who noticed it immediately turned her eyes away.

Astagfirallahaladzim what I did, forgive me, O Allah, for my actions.

When Aisha rose up Azizah hurriedly entered the mosque again, Aisha entered the mosque.

Fahmi approaches the dreamy Ghibran, sitting next to Ghibran.

"Why Ran? are you having any problems?" fahmi asked confusedly.

The ghibran turned towards the fahmi.

"I don't know if I should take this as a problem or not, but for sure it makes me uneasy" Ghibran said.

"What's that?"

"Aby and umy have betrothed me to her best friend's son. And on the other hand I love other women, I have to behave how Mi?"

"I know, this choice is very heavy for you. Fay, believe that whatever your parents do is the best for you. All parents expect the best for their children. No parent anywhere wants to plunge his child, and believe this is the destiny of God" Fahmi said. Ghibran could only remain silent.

"Convince your heart Ran, I go first." Fahmi patted Ghibran's shoulder. "Look, soon the activity will begin," continued Fami, then

Fahmipun.

Ghibran thought about Fahmi's words.

"Maybe, it's true what Fahmi said. I have to be sure and accept it." Ghibran was silent..

———

The activity began, and this time Fahmi took the lead.

"Good friends, because soon to enter the month of rajab then we will hold an activity where we have to find out about the israel mi'raj. And to make things easier, I'll get you guys in groups. The first group will be led by Ridwan, and the members are Aisyah, Maryam, and Rijal."

Fahmipun mentions the next group and this time is the last group to be mentioned.

"And as for the latter group, which will be led by the Ghibran, and whose members are Dawn, Syifa and Azizah, do you understand? if nothing is understood please raise your hand."

Azizah was surprised to hear his name one group with Ghibran and he did not accept Ghibran, Azizah immediately raised her hand

"Yes Azizah, what's wrong?" ask Fahmi.

"I object, if I'm in a group with him." Azizah pointed at Ghibran, Ghibran spoke up.

"You think I want a group with you? later instead of helping, you crumble."

"What did you say? I didn't hear wrong, back and forth. You're the one who's gonna ruin it, you're not the weird guy."

"What did you say?"

"You're deaf, huh? oh, it turns out that besides being weird and weird, you're deaf too."

"How dare you say that."

"What's? huh!"

They were fighting each other, the people who were there just looked and laughed at their behavior and Fahmi tried to pass it.

"It's been, you guys what the hell. Just like a child. Already, everything has been agreed. After all, this is just a group, not a matchmaking. Azizah, Ghibran, you're sitting."

Azizah and Ghibran saw each other with furious and upset faces, Fahmipun ended the activity.

Inwardly, Azizah continued to grumble and was upset, Oh God, why should I be in a group with that strange guy?

Ghibranpun felt the same way as Azizah.