Look At Me Once

Surprise

Lathifa tidied up her books and put them in her bag. He left the classroom and rushed to the parking lot. Lathifa had promised Anisa to accompany her to buy something.

With wide strides, Lathifa passed through the crowded corridor by the students who seemed busy with their respective affairs.

Brucks.

“Sorry, Ma'am. I was not accidentally.” Lathifa crouched down to clean up the book that was strewn across the floor, belonging to the person she had just accidentally hit.

“Then wear your eyes do not use snoring!” hardik the girl standing in front of Lathifa.

“Iya sorry, I hurried accidentally earlier.” Lathifa stood up and gave the stack of books she had tidied up.

“Sorry? Hello ... Rich women Lo do not deserve to be forgiven. My books are expensive to know! Because of my book so dirty!” the girl's shout made all the eyes that were in the corridor stare towards them.

“Cha, I'm sorry, don't be angry dong. We are Cha's friends,” said Lathifa.

“Who wants to be your best friend. Ihh, shit tau. I'm poor, ugly, oh yeah, you can still go to college where do you get money from? Do not-don't you sell your body ya!”

“Cha!” Lathifa raised her voice from being insulted in public.

“Oh! Don't-don't you stash om-om huh! Or maybe office savings ... ups! Duh, sorry I slipped!” Chaca pretended to cover her mouth with both hands and deliberately raised her voice to be heard by those around them.

“Sorry, I have to go! Lazy long close together lo, let's guys we go. Disgust me!” Chaca passed past Lathifa and nudging Lathifa's shoulder violently made her stagger back a few steps.

Lathifa stared at the departure of Chaca and her two friends, once Lathifa and Chaca were friends. However, after Lathifa's family fell into poverty, Chaca shunned her and incited other friends to stay away from her. In fact, Chaca seems to hate Lathifa so much and always makes trouble for Lathifa.

Lathifa passed away from the passageway, ignoring the gaze of those who were staring at her as if to demean her. With all his might he held back his tears from coming out.

Arriving at the parking lot, Anisa was already waiting for him. Lathifa rushed into Anisa's car before anyone saw her.

“Where are we going, Ma'am?” lathifa asked because Anisa had not previously said their destination.

“We go to the boutique first, yes. There's something we should buy.”

Lathifa according to him, however, he could not refuse the honey desire.

Anisa drove her car slowly splitting the city's traffic crowd.

During the trip there were many discussions that they talked about, ranging from activities on campus, what their husbands liked and disliked, even Anisa told in detail the small things that Alwi did. Makes Lathifa feel a little uncomfortable.

After the boutique, Anisa invites Lathifa to go to the salon for treatment. In fact, before Anisa never set foot for treatment to the salon.

“Mbak, why are we here? Who wants treatment?” tanya Lathifa followed the path of Anisa who entered the Spa place.

“You, Fa!”

“Hah! Don't want to, Ma'am. My unusual body care,” reject Lathifa.

“Sama, I also first came here. We try together!” Anisa chuckles in amusement with the behavior of the two of them.

Lathifa held back the arm of Anisa who was making a room reservation. “Mbak, I don't need to come ya.” Lathifa shuddered in horror looking at her surroundings.

“We tried both, Fa. So you can also feel it, later from here we buy a makeup tool for you! Try to wear powder or lipstick, Fa! Let mas Al more klepek with you.”

“Iih ogah!” spontaneous Lathifa.

“Hust you are, not good like that, Fa. Decorating or dressing up for the husband is worship. And it would be sinful if a wife did not want to dress up for her husband.”

Lathifa was silent, she was at a loss to respond to Anisa's remark. And decided to follow Anisa's desire for the care of their body.

The two of them spent the night together, having dinner at a nearby restaurant. As she was about to put food in her mouth, Lathifa got a call from Maya, her employee.

“Halo, Assalamu’alaikum ..”

‘Mbak! Ma'am Hana, Ma'am!’

“But why Mbak Maya?”

 Tut's. Tut's. Tut's.

Lathifa tried to contact Maya again. However, no answer made Lathifa feel worried.

“What's up, Fa?” anisa asked looking at the panicked Lathifa.

“No idea, Ma'am. His call was interrupted, and he could not be contacted again.” Lathifa bit her lower lip, her eyes already glazed over just waiting for time to shed her tears.

“Quiet, Fa. Hope everything's okay. Try you call the restaurant phone.” Anisa calmed Lathifa down so as not to worry too much.

Lathifa tried calling the restaurant number, but nil. He tried to call Maya's number, remained disconnected. Not giving up, Lathifa tried to call several employee numbers of the restaurant, but all of them did not answer her call.

As Lathifa grew anxious, she was afraid that something might happen to her mother, her mother was the only one she still had in the world.

“Duh! Why is no one to contact? Ibuuk!” Lathifa cried, the food in front of her no longer ignored.

“Quiet, Fa! Pray that everything is okay. Let's go home.”

Anisa took out a few pieces of money and put them on the table. Anisa led Lathifa and walked towards the exit.

Anisa's car is speeding towards the Hafa Resto. During the trip there was only the sound of sobbing from Lathifa's mouth that had not stopped while occasionally trying to contact her employee's number.

Arriving in front of Hafa Resto, Lathifa rushed down without waiting for Anisa to park her car properly.

Lathifa entered the restaurant followed by Anisa who chased after her with a slight run. However, the room was very quiet. Not even a single light was lit making the entire room pitch-black.

Lathifa was getting scared, various bad thoughts were haunting her. She was afraid something would happen to her mother.

“Buk! Mother Maya! Ibuk where?” Lathifa raised her voice slightly.

“Fa, why is it dark like this? Where are the people?” asked Anisa who was standing behind Lathifa.

“Not knowing, Ma'am. Where is ibuk?” Lathifa grew sobbing, her legs trembling.

Mabruuk alfa mabruuk ‘alaika

Mabruuk alfa mabruuk ‘alaika

Mabruuk alfa mabruuk yawm miiladik

“Barakallah fii umrik!!! Happy milad Lathifa!!”

The lights lit up along with the prayers from the people in the room, as Lathifa's body froze. He swept his gaze across the corner of the room, a room that had been decorated in such a way as to celebrate his birthday. Everyone she loved was in it. Her mother, Maya, Zidan, Andre, her employees, and also her husband and assistant.

Lathifa tightened her tears, she felt annoyed because they had managed to work. Lathifa glanced at Anisa and found Anisa grinningly flaunting her white teeth while raising her hand showing the two fingers that make up the letter v.

Hana approached Lathifa with a cake in her hand, a candle with the number 20 standing on it. “Barakallah fii umrik, Lathifa. You're getting older, Thif. May she be a godly wife, yes. Always respect and follow the words of your husband.”

“Iya, Buk. Thank you Ibuk for giving birth and raising Lathif with affection.” Lathifa hugged her mother, and Anisa took over the cake in Hana's hands and placed it on the table.

“You don't need to thank me, because It's already the obligation of mother.” Hana returned Lathifa's embrace.

The next event was cake cutting, they were all standing around a round table that was in the middle of the room. There are also some food and snacks that are neatly arranged on the table.

Lathifa cut the cake, and placed the piece on the plate, as she lifted her face, Lathifa saw her father and brother standing next to each other behind the people, in their all-white clothes. They smiled towards Lathifa, then the two of them slowly retreated away and disappeared behind the door.

“The first cut for a special person in your life,” said Hana beside Lathifa.

Lathifa looked at her mother, asking for permission to give the first piece of the cake to her husband. Hana nodded too.

“The first piece of this cake is for you, Mas.” Lathifa put a spoonful of cake into her husband's mouth. “Thank you for being a husband to me, Mas.”

Alwi smiled and held onto both of Lathifa's shoulders. “Thank you, you are willing to be my wife. Ana uhibopen fillah, Lathifatunnisa.” Alwi kissed Lathifa's forehead.

Everyone applauded and felt moved by the sight before them.