Kei And Layla

Chapter 6: The Faithful Promise

The school gossip about Layla and Kei was heard by Layla's parents. But Layla's parents still respond to it as usual and can be overcome.

"Layla, honey, is there really news that I heard about you and that young man at school?" anita asked softly one morning.

"True Mother, I love her" Layla replied sadly when she remembered Kei.

"Daddy's daughter's all grown up but Layla baby, you can still get another young man besides her." Surya spoke.

"No Dad, I don't want anything else but Kei."

Anita and Surya stared at each other for a moment. Then they fell silent not to continue the conversation because they saw the look on Layla's face that looked sad. Anita and Surya are very indulgent with Layla's wishes. But Layla is an independent child and not spoiled from childhood.

"Alright Layla, it's noon. I'm taking you to school." Surya got up from his seat and kissed Anita's head first before leaving the house. Layla got up from her seat and followed Surya from behind. Anita looked at her daughter's back while shaking her head.

"What should I do to make you cheer up again son" Anita murmured softly. Then he went back into the house. He thinks Layla was feeling the love of monkeys as a teenager. Someday it will be normal again. It is common among teenagers. Anita smiled remembering Layla's words earlier.

***

Arriving at the school gate as usual, Surya dropped Layla off and returned to his office. Layla hurriedly entered the school gate and searched for Kei in every corner of the school room. But Kei is nowhere.

"Key, where are you?" layla said with glassy eyes.

"Laila?" greet Valeri from behind.

Layla looked at her three friends who were already standing before her.

"Asha, Valeri, Stela, where's Kei?" ask her while shaking her friend's arms one by one.

"I don't know, Layla." Stela stared around the school grounds. Looking for Kei's whereabouts, but Kei is not around the courtyard. Even they waited for Kei at the school gate until the bell rang.

"If Kei doesn't go to school today, we'll go to his house later in the day, how?" asha.

"I agree, what about you Layla?" ask Valeri.

"Yes, I want to."

Asha, Valeri and Stela smiled nodding their heads. "So you don't have to worry?"

Layla nodded her head and smiled faintly, "thank you."

"Let's go to class, the bell rings." Asha pulls Layla's hand and takes her into the classroom.

During the lesson hours in the beginning Layla just daydreamed thinking of Kei. He did not pay attention to the lesson at all. He wrote more verses for Kei. He did not pay attention to the lesson Hana gave him. Hana as the class teacher, was aware of that. But he had not planned to reprimand Layla. But Hana will report it to the owner of this school, Surya.

Time continued to pass, the bell sign that the learning hours had run out began to sound. All the students left the class and went home. Layla is not going home yet. Because he and his friend are going to Kei's house.

Valeri, Asha, Stela and Layla rush towards the school grounds. They used Valeri's car to go to Kei's house.

And not long after, they finally reached the courtyard of Kei's house. Valeri, Stela and Asha came out the door. Layla had to wait in the car.

"Tok tok!"

Asha knocked on Kei's house many times. A few seconds later the sound of footsteps came from inside the house and opened the door.

"Who to find? hey y'all?" Sapa Alya so out of the door looked at Asha and the others.

"The Auntie." Say them in unison.

"Yes a child? what are you guys up with?" Alya asked as her eyes looked at the car parked in the courtyard of the house. Alya did not see Layla in the car at all.

"Have an aunt? we want to look into the existence of Kei" Stela said heartily so as not to be discovered.

Alya was silent. He tries to rethink both the good and the bad of allowing Kei's friends to meet. But it's also good that Kei meets his friend so that he doesn't feel sad anymore, Alya thought, "may, please come in."

"Thank you aunt" replied Valeri. Then Alya drove three of her friends into Kei's room. And make room for them to talk.

"Kei.." said Stela staring at Kei who looked glum.

"You guys?" Kei was surprised to see three of his friends already in his room, "where is Layla?"

"Hufffttt" Asha rolled her eyes when she heard Kei ask Layla's whereabouts rather than welcome them.

"Hihihi, you don't need to worry, Layla's coming with us. But we also need your cooperation."

"Can, what?" asked Kei enthusiastically.

"How about you persuade your mom to have a chat in the park?" Asha began to explain her plan to Kei.

"Sure, come on," said Kei, he immediately stood up and rushed out of the room at the follow-up to his three friends. Arriving in the living room they were packed with Alya who was about to leave the house.

"Eh, uh where are you going!" alya immediately pulled Kei's hand.

"Mom, I just want to talk in the park. I was bored in the room constantly" Kei said spoiledly making Alya's heart melt.

"Is that really all? no intention of escaping?" ask Alya to Kei.

"I promise." Kei raised his hand while smiling

"All right, I'll let you. But not for long."

"Good Mom." Kei was relaxed so as not to be suspected. Then Kei and the others rushed out of the house towards the garden beside the house. While Alya went out of the house because of business.

Once in safety, then Valeri, Asha and Stela call Layla and take her to the park. And they themselves stand guard beside the house.

"Laila?"

Layla immediately hugged Kei tightly. They said a word of longing because they had not met for several days.

"Layla promises to love that you will remain faithful and wait for me to die" Kei told Layla not to leave.

"I promise for the sake of love, I will not always be faithful until death picks me up." Layla repeats Kei's words. Then they embraced again as if they would not be separated again. No words were spoken from their lips. Only a heartbeat could be heard as no more words could represent how much love the two of them were. Love comes into the heart without being invited. Enthroned and captive to each other, love comes like an arrow shot from the sky like the inspiration of the almighty living and dwelling in the soul.

"Key, are you banned from school again?" ask Layla.

"Yes Layla, Mom and Dad also locked me in the room." Kei's eyes are glassy.

For a moment they were silent with their minds. "How about I miss you, Kei?" ask Layla.

"I don't know yet, Layla. I'll think of a way out, you don't have to worry." Kei hugged Layla back tightly.

Meanwhile, Valeri and her two waiting friends, look worried. They walked back and forth because they saw the maid at Kei's house, watching.

"We'd better get home, before Kei's mom comes." Stela looked at Kei and Layla who were hugging.

"You're right, you better go to Layla and take her home." Valeri asks Asha to meet Layla in the park.

Asha nodded her head, then she stepped her feet in haste.

"Layla, let's go home" Asha said softly.

"But Asha-? Layla let go of her embrace. He has not separated from Kei.

"Listen Layla, Kei, there's still tomorrow to meet. I promise I'll always help you." Asha her eyes glanced left and right.

Finally Layla obeyed the words of Asha even with a heavy heart. Layla must be willing to go back to parting with Kei.

"Layla, be patient." Kei clasped Layla's hand tightly. Layla nodded her head and turned back to follow Asha who had already stepped her feet.

"Layla.." muttered Kei sadly, he did not expect that his love would be in about to his two parents just because of business.

Kei put his foot up with a shunt, then went back inside. Kei's mind is cleared to escape and live with Layla. The desire grew stronger after meeting Layla.

"I'll figure out a way to get out of this house." Think Kei.

Meanwhile Layla, and the others had already gotten into the car. Along the way Asha and the three try to comfort Layla so as not to be sad and keep the spirit of fighting for her love for Kei.

And sure enough, a few minutes later, Alya and Abdul returned home together and went straight into the house.

Alya himself went straight into Kei's room to make sure Kei was inside. Alya was relieved to see Kei still in his room.

"Thank God Kei is ready. Maybe by allowing his girlfriend friend, Kei will change again like he used to be a submissive child" Alya muttered softly as she closed the door. Then he stepped his feet to meet Abdul who was sitting on the porch of the house.

"How's Kei?" Abdul turned his head towards the door looking at Alya who had just checked on Kei.

"In his room, he's fine." Alya sat next to Abdul.

"Limit his friends who come, don't be too late." Abdul took the newspaper on the table.

"I know, you should help me keep an eye on Kei, too." Alya glanced for a moment at Abdul who was reading the newspaper.

"That's your responsibility, I've been working all day. How could I possibly keep an eye on Kei." Abdul tilted his face to look at Alya.

Alya just silently looked at Abdul, without answering again. Then he got up and stood up, "I went to the kitchen first sir." Alya put her foot inside the house.

***

Meanwhile, at Layla's house. Anita and Surya look sad to see the condition of his daughter is not like before. Now his attitude shows incomparability. Now Layla is not as neat as she used to be, Layla looks messy and often speaks for herself. His body looked thinner and his appearance was a mess.

Anita and Surya try to persuade Layla to forget Kei and turn to another man. But Anita and Surya's efforts always fail. So that makes Surya and Anita hurt and a little disappointed with the daughter who was in his dream first.

Surya and Anita are still trying and insist that Layla will open her heart to other men. Though his efforts often fail. Especially at the end of this Layla often out of the house silent silence. That wasn't Layla's behavior all along. But Anita and Surya no longer know what to do with Layla's daughter.

"What should we do?" Ask Anita to Surya.

"Patience, may the Lord give us a way out" replied Surya, kneeling his temple, "keep praying, that the Almighty may open Layla's heart."

Anita was silent to her husband's words. He remembers a long time ago he wanted a child. How hard they fought and how they did it. Their efforts and prayers finally bear fruit. Maybe to face Layla now Anita should behave the same as before, Anita thought. Anita sighed deeply and then she exhaled softly, "Don't despair sir." said Anita. Brushed Surya's back.

"You're right." Surya smiled bitterly remembering Layla.

"You'd better take a break." Anita touched Surya's shoulder and smiled.

"Good Mom." Surya got up from his seat and went to his private room.

Anita gets up from the chair and steps into Layla's room. He opened the door and saw Layla lying on the bed, after confirming Layla had fallen asleep. Then she closed Layla's room door.

Layla didn't really sleep. He did not stop thinking about Kej. Layla was unable to close her eyes for a second. He was very sad to be separated from Kei. Why do adults not understand? why are they so selfish? have they never been in love? think Layla.

It was within his mind to leave home and live together in another city with Kei. But Layla can still think about how it is with her two parents. Surely they both will feel very heartbroken if Layla really leaves the house. But what about his love?

Layla got up and got out of bed and sat down at the table. He took a painting tool and closed his eyes for a moment before starting to paint. He imagined about Kei, his smile, his jokes and everything about Kei. Layla opened her eyes slowly and began to describe what she was feeling. Full of animating fingers that look skinny and flickering began to paint oil onto the canvas. With all his heart he expressed all his feelings through the painting without feeling every tear fell from the corner of his eye. Layla stopped her fingers and spoke.

"O Lord, is my love a sin?" he said, "If the agony of love can free my soul to fly into Your presence, Lord, then I will walk with all my soul." Layla closed her eyes for a moment. Then he returned to painting, accompanied by the silence of the night to add to the atmosphere of being romantic for Layla. The sound of an owl being heard through the open kamat window, the wind blowing over Layla's skin felt very cold penetrating to the bone.