I'm with you, Mr. Teacher

Thank You for Everything, Sir

Upon arrival in class, Cendana was greeted by a surprise from her friends. Ranum who was holding a tart cake decorated with candles number 18, surrounded by classmates who were very enthusiastic singing—but applaud—Happy Birthday song ever popularized by Jamrud.

🎵🎵🎵 👏👏👏

God's smoke, protect you

And achieved all your thoughts and ideals

Hopefully given a long life

Forever healthy ....

🎵🎵🎵 👏👏👏

For a moment, Sandalwood could only be glued to the door. A happy smile full of gratitude bloomed on his face. Before blowing the candle, Sandana suddenly remembered the Teak's words; from now on, he had to learn to design the future. So Cendana closed his eyes for a moment to say a request. Although the contents of the prayer Cendana expected warmth in his family, but the only shadow that bathed in his mind was the face of Teak.

After Sandalwood blew out the candle, they scrambled over the shaman and congratulated him once again in person. Jaka first, then hastily takes over the cake from Ranum's hand and runs it to the corner of the classroom. The other boys quickly joined the love expert there.

"Congratulations, yes! Get old, lo." Ranum embraces Cendana while going to their bench.

"Thanks, yes, Ra. Pake bothers everything."

"Eits, it's not free, yeah. I need to bribe them one-on-one to come early. Kantin Bu Dali we have booked for a break later. You pay!"

Cendana pretended to be in shock while patting the eel.

"Betewe, Mr. Jati has said congratulations, not yet?" ranum asked more seriously as they were already sitting side by side on their respective benches. As if understanding the situation, he deliberately lowered his voice.

Sandalwood nodded shyly.

"What is she giving you?" kepo again.

Confused sandalwood should answer what. It is impossible for him to tell the gift of Teak earlier, which was only a blank sheet of paper. He chose to shake later.

"Times, anyway?" Ranum frowned less sure. "You're done, aren't you?" his pedicab.

Sandalwood shook firmly.

"He hasn't shot either?"

"Udah, ah. Not good to hear from the others."

"This is impossible. I'm sure she loves you." Ranum deliberately emphasized his sentence. "Lo too, right?" coined.

Sandalwood did not respond. He pretended to be busy preparing his books for the first lesson. After Ranum chose silently and did not demand any more explanation, Cendana secretly thought the words of his compatriot. The first man he told in detail about Cakka's death. Even to invite him into the child's room, the thing that according to Sandana is very far away. If Jati does have the same feeling with him, it feels a bit strange if so far it has not been expressed. Even though Sandalwood has given a signal from all directions, it also captures well if it comes from the opposite.

Sandalwood suddenly upset. Is it possible that only he has that feeling?

***

The rest hour went on as Ranum had planned. All residents of class XII IPA 2 today eat free as much as possible in the Bu Dali cafeteria. For the sake of being able to get Jati to join without inviting the kasak-kusuk, who happens to be teaching in their class before the break, Ranum involves their homeroom. Jaka is most reliable for this kind of business. He managed to lobby well. Only one thing is really out of plan, Susi joined nyempil at the table Mr. Hasan and Jati. Out of nowhere the old virgin sniffed the celebration of the birthday of Sandalwood in this canteen. Intent to make Jati and Cendana semeja, failed miserably.

***

Jati knew Cendana's birthday from Jaka a few days ago. He designed a special surprise. Minimal dinner together in a romantic restaurant. But after conferring with Jaka, he was forced to forget about the plan. Jaka said, Cendana prefers to celebrate his birthday in a simple way. Therefore, this afternoon after school hours, Jati wanted to take Cendana to the orphanage. He had spoken with Fatimah and the children, to prepare a special kind of celebration for Sandalwood.

Jati should have come out. Cendana must have been waiting for him next to the security guard post. But, while tidying up his books, suddenly Mr. Usman—the head of school— came to his desk and asked him to enter his room. Other than once almost too late, Jati did not feel wrong. But still the feeling is not good.

Jati stepped slowly into Mr. Usman's room after knocking on the door and said hello.

Mr. Usman took off his glasses before speaking. "I got a report, he said, you're close, yes, to Sandalwood?"

The deg!

"We just often go and go to school together, sir. It just so happens that we both enjoy riding bikes, and are unidirectional." Jati tried to answer casually, even though her heartbeat started to be chaotic.

"Related?" Spotlight Mr. Usman's eyes sharpen.

"Surely, Sir!" answer Jati after having a chance to duck some jokes. From the gesture and the intonation of his voice read, Jati's mind was not in line with the answer just now.

"If you forget, I remind you again. Our school has won many times the title of the best high school. As the principal, it's my job to make sure no deviation of any kind can bring down the good name of this school."

From the very beginning, he would face these kinds of consequences. He really wanted a career at this school. But the issue of love .. its scope may be somewhat different.

"Remember, you are the teacher here, while Sandalwood is the student. I don't want to hear any more bad talk about you guys."

"Good, Sir!" firm Jati while bowing her head.

"Yes already. You can come out."

"Thank you, sir. Good afternoon!" Teak rose from his seat with the contents of his head was not hesitant. Regarding the plan to express his feelings, it seems to need reconsideration after this.

Susi, who had just put her ear on the door of the principal's room, quickly stepped aside after hearing the Teak retreat. He passed by with a triumphant smile.

***

When Jati took him to the orphanage, Cendana could already guess, the guy prepared something to celebrate his birthday there. However, Sandalwood did not expect this watermelon. A tent is already standing in the courtyard of the orphanage, complete with ornaments typical of birthday parties. On the chairs are neatly arranged, children sit sweetly while waiting for the owner of the day. Up ahead there, there was a small stage covered in red carpet. The novelty of Sandalwood instantly exploded while reading the writing on the banner that became his backdrop.



Jati invited Cendana forward, joining Bu Fatimah and other caretakers.

Fatimah stood up to welcome Sandalwood. After Sandana kissed her hand, Fatimah kissed the girl on both cheeks, then hugged her. Sandalwood has never felt treated this warm.

Different from all the surprises that Sandalwood has ever received, this time there is no candle blow event. There was only a common prayer led directly by Fatimah. Throughout the silence created in prayer, many things Sandalwood said. Again he did not forget to slip the name of Teak.

After the prayer, the race began. Fatimah, who was accompanied by two colleagues, acted as a jury. Although the gifts prepared were not much, the children looked antuias. The concentration of the participants was disrupted because Alif did not want to miss to go up on stage. It was fortunate that Jati had managed to tame it, before the boy had completely messed up the course of the race.

Sandalwood shed tears hearing the children chant the holy verses of the Quran so eloquently.

After all the participants showed their abilities, Jati got up from her seat and lifted her chair up on stage, then sat comfortably there. Sandalwood wondered in his heart, what would he do? Soon, a 14-year-old boy joins Jati on stage. Jati immediately took over the guitar that the boy was carrying. After deliberating for a while, the Moroccan boy took a position beside Jati. Until here the Sandalwoods are still wondering, about what they will do. Teak flashed a smile towards Cendana before starting strumming the guitar strings.

So all the questions in the mind of Sandalwood immediately changed, when the tones that were born then lifted it to the moment a year ago. Especially when the child chanted the first verse of the song "Greatest Brother" by Cakka. Teak plays its tone exactly the way Cakka does. The voice of the child was also quite good, making Cendana unable to hold back the crying.

Fatimah who knew very well the meaning behind this song after Jati explained it, immediately pulled the head of Sandalwood to be laid on her shoulder. Not wanting to spoil the children's cheer, Cendana smothered her mouth so that the sound of her crying could not be heard, even though her back had been shaken so violently. Fatimah patted slowly to calm him down.

Teak returned to the side of Sandalwood after finishing the action.

"Sorry, I secretly photographed the lyrics of the Cakka song when you showed it, then taught it to the child."

Sandalwood wiped his tears. He has no problem at all.

"Sakka is impossible to return, but in this place, God has many substitutes. Anyone can be family here." Teak spoke again after seeing Cendana quite calm.

"Thank you, sir, for everything." Sandalwood justifies in the heart.

***