Lantern Behind The Bars

The good days

*****

After 2 days off from college, I started to return to my usual activities.

At 6:30 in the morning.

After breakfast, I also say goodbye to mother and Alfin to go to college.

Arriving at the campus, as usual I also followed the course until the break time, 

At lunchtime, my friends and I went to the cafeteria together. 

As usual there are so many topics discussed by friends, they tell each other about their experiences during High School, some also tell about couples and many more.

While I just listen and respond as usual.

As I was enjoying the food on the table, I accidentally glanced to the side, I noticed that someone was secretly watching me, not far from the dinner table where I ate with friends.

He was sitting alone at the table, so I felt uncomfortable if someone was watching, what else was eating.

I quickly finished my meal. Then I went to the toilet for a while because I was uncomfortable with the man's gaze.

Shortly after I came out of the toilet, suddenly someone greeted me from behind.

"Hi .. Are you a new student?" her greeting.

I also reflexively turned my body to see who was speaking, it turned out that person who had been watching me while eating in the cafeteria.

I responded immediately too. "Yes, sorry who are you?" ask me.

"I know, my name is Juna. I'm a student here too, your upperclassman!" He replied, hand-picked to get me acquainted.

"Oh yes, my name is Sherin" I said, as I responded to her hand. "If so, I'll excuse you first, I'm sorry I'm in a hurry." I said.

"Wait a minute Sherin, I want to know you, let's add a friend." Juna held me. "Can I get a phone number or anything I can call?" her door.

"Emc ... Brother Juna please ask the same friends, I do not memorize the number, my phone is left in the bag." I said.

"Oh then, would I ask your friends Sher? Yes to make friends, if you will need help, it will be good for many friends, I happen to be in the same department as you," said Juna.

"Yes. Oh that's it! Yes, if so, sorry, Brother Juna I'm in a hurry, then just continue to talk?" concluded me.

"Okay, thank you!" said it.

I just nodded, then I immediately rushed to step foot in a hurry and returned to the cafeteria to approach my friends.

"Sher, go to the toilet really long?" ask Rita.

"Hihi, was I a long time?" my mouth, while grinning.

"Yes, we've finished eating waiting for you to know!" answer Rita.

"I'm sorry if so, I made you wait" I said.

"Well, are we going back to class?" bring Zaky.

Eventually, my friends and I agreed to go back to class.

While waiting for the next class, I opened my phone. I saw a notification of a WhatsApp message from Zena.

[Hi Sher, busy again huh?]

I immediately returned it. [Hi Zen, no, just finished eating,]

[Gm ... I'm not disturbing?] ask Zena.

[No Zen, I'm relaxed! You're in college?]

[Thankful already. Yes Sher, but I'm joining you again!]

[mm... Don't talk to your friends?]

[Not ah! Oh yeah, you got a car?]

[Why? Yes Zen I brought my own car to campus,]

[Nothing, mending chat with you, wk wk. Emm ..]

[You can do it! :why Zen?]

[Ck ck was okay I was going to pick you up, let's go home together,]

[Yeah ... tomorrow - tomorrow again Zen!]

[Yes, you will be told okay?]

While being engrossed in chatting with Zena, the Lecturer suddenly came, I immediately replied to Zena's message in a hurry. [OKay! Zen was already, yes, I went to class! Yea.]

[Okay, the spirit of learning? Bye Sherino!]

I put my phone back in my bag. Then as usual I also followed the course until the afternoon lecture.

At 15:30 p.m.

After college, I just went straight into the room and immediately cleaned up, then played with Alfin in the family room until the Maghrib.

After performing the Maghrib prayer service, I immediately did college tasks.

Finished with my tasks, I was finally able to lay myself on top of my bed while stretching my stiff hand and back muscles. But suddenly I heard a notification sound WhatsApp message from my phone, when I saw it turned out there were some chat messages from someone who was not registered in the contact.

[Hi ..]

[Hi Sherin, it's Juna.]

[Save yes my number!]

I just read her a quick glance at the message from Juna and keep her phone number in my cell phone contact, I did not have time to reply to Juna's message because my eyes were tired and heavy, after closing my eyes, I fell asleep.

*****

At 05:30 in the morning.

Kriing kriing my phone rings.

After I saw it, it was Zaky's call. 

I immediately got a call from him. [Hello ..]

[For Sher, you didn't miss today?] ask Zaki.

[For Zaky too,] I replied. [Yes Zak, I'll kill you, what's up Zak?] I also asked Zaky for the purpose of contacting me.

[Sorry yes Sher I disturbed you early in the morning, can you please not go to campus? This is Sher .. I forgot my assignment, so I wanted to borrow a material book, because at that time my notebook was gone! Want to borrow it to others he said his record is incomplete!] Zaky explained his purpose.

[Oh that, can Zak! But I'm leaving in 20 minutes, right? I am not ready yet.] I said.

[It's okay, Sher, thank you, Sher? Sorry I took you?] said Zaky.

[Yes Zak is okay, I don't bother! Yes, if so I get ready first huh Zak?] I told Zaky to get ready to go to college.

After the call ended, I immediately rushed to prepare myself, then breakfast first as usual and say goodbye to mother.

"Mother me say yes?" my spoken.

"Loh ... is it still early, darling, how early in the morning to go?" Ask mother, frowning her forehead and looking in wonder at me.

"Yes Mother, that's my friend said he wanted to borrow a book, forgot to do the job!" sahutku.

"Emm .. That's it, yeah but you're careful on the road? Don't speed!" mother's message to me.

"Okay Mother."

I saw Alfin still asleep, so I just rushed off after saying goodbye to mother.

Arriving at the campus, it turns out Zaky had already arrived and was waiting for me in front of the library.

The atmosphere of the campus was still quiet and quiet, there were only a few guards and canteen guards.

I went to Zaky who was waiting for me alone.

"Hi, Zak?" my broom.

"Eh .. O Sher, it's finally coming!" said Zaky, smiling warmly at me.

"You waited a long time, huh? Sorry yeah?"

"No, not too long ago! I'm all alone, quiet here anyway." he said, chuckling.

"Ah base, so coward! Oh yes Zak, this is the book you want to borrow, "I also put my notebook on Zaky.

Zaky immediately took it out of my hands. "Thanks very much, Sher? Sorry, I have troubled you! You're so early in the morning gini datengnya!" said Zaky.

"It's okay Zak, just relax again! Yes already, work first gih his task ntar hunt on coming again other friends!" I said, as I threw a warm smile at him.

"Okay, do you work there?" take Zaky, while pointing towards the General Mosque of the Faculty.

"Okay, yuk!" I also agreed to his invitation, because in the courtyard of the Mosque it seemed quite comfortable and more free.

Zaky and I moved to the Masjid courtyard. Zaky immediately did his job on the porch of the courtyard, while sharing ideas with me.

When it was finished, some of the friends had come, I saw the clock turned out to be 06.55.

"Sher?"  call Zaky who breaks the silence.

"Yes Zak, why? ask me.

"No the hell I'm just a keja, you're alone continue never in anterin his girlfriend?" cetus Zaky's.

"Emm ... boyfriend? There's no Zak!" my answer.

"Hmm ... So you're single dong? Hiya,"

"Yes, you could say that, hihi. No girlfriends in the dictionary I'm mah Zak!"

"Oh .. That's it, pantesan! Though you're beautiful, pinter, fine again, anyway perfect deh, not sure I have a friend like you Sher,"

"Ah can you Zak, have ah no need to praise like that, later my nose can be lost for a long time hihi!" I also chuckled at Zaky's chattering.

"That's a fact, Sher! If I could, I'd really like to be your guy, Sher?" cetus Zaky's.

I reflexively frowned. "You have failed Zak! It's still morning Zak!"

Zaky also chuckled. "Hihi joked Sher, his abis nih campus kok very quiet early in the morning? People still sleep at times huh?"

"Hmm .. You make a joke not funny deh .. ya barin Zak, on soy sauce times! Hihi," I finally chuckled at Zaky's joke.

Before long, Rita and the others came to say hello. Me, Zaky and the rest of my friends finally entered the classroom.

Until the break time, as usual me and my friends went to the cafeteria, but suddenly I got a message from Juna.

[Hi Sher?]

At first I ignored him, but Juna kept sending me messages.

[Sher, dong bales! I just want to learn with you!]

I finally got back to Juna's message. [Yes, what do you want to learn, Kak Juna?] my many.

[Yes ... learn about the course material, will you not finish the class we stopped by first to the perbus?] Juna invited me to go to the library after the last hour of the course.

If the business of studying, I do not mind Juna's invitation at all and finally I agree to his invitation. [Oh, yes, brother!] 

[Eh, seriously?] juna asked, seemingly hesitant with my answer.

[Yes, brother, if it's about studying I want to!] reply me.

[Truly yes? I'll wait for you later on the perpus okay?]

[Okay!]

After class, I went to the library with Kak Juna.

I ended up chatting a lot and started to get to know his nature and character.

I like it a little bit, because Juna is a person who likes to learn. 

After studying together, I felt good to be friends with Juna, because our friendship focused more on useful things, sharing insights and knowledge rather than discussing personal issues.

Juna is not the type of man who is always curious about how the personal life of others.

He gave me new knowledge about the materials of my major that he had studied before.

Juna also has a handsome and handsome face, although not as handsome and stylish as Zena. 

In comparison, Zena is almost perfect when it comes to physical and material, it seems like in my campus there is nothing that beats Zena about physical and material.

Besides being with Juna, I often learn a lot with Zaky every day.

Zaky is smart, good and no less handsome, although Zaky is standard only if in material matters. But if the physical problem, Zaky was not inferior to Juna.

Sometimes I even meet Zena and walk together or Zena comes to my house to play with Alfin during college holidays.

Zena has really been like my own family, she has always been kind, considerate, caring and always protected me. Not infrequently Zena gave me what I needed without me asking for it.

Besides mother, there is Zena who always meets my financial needs, even though as I said, I never asked for it, but Zena always forced me to accept the gift.

Actually, I don't want to rely much on mother, let alone Zena.

But right now I'm still in the process of starting from zero. 

I also dream, someday I want to be like mother and Zena, become a successful entrepreneur in the future.

*****

I don't feel like day after day, time passes so quickly. I'm doing well, no matter what happens to me at this point.