MOON IN PESANTREN

One Truth

I complained of pain after some of the thick novel books I was carrying fell on my feet. Everything was on the floor. I lazily picked up the novels. I intend to put it in a suitcase that is already at the end of the corridor, ready to be taken home.

Finished picking everything up and about to stand up, I saw a man walking towards me. I looked up and saw Andra standing there, looking at me with an uncharacteristic look. There was sadness in his narrowed eyes. Also a look of disappointment, anger, annoyance, or what? His facial expression was hard to guess.

“Andra? Why?” I was friendly, trying as usual.

Andra looked at me for a few seconds then smiled wryly. I don't know what he wants to say to me. My feelings became unpleasant.

“Today we go home, Seli. There's something you need to hear from me.”

Both of my eyebrows clutched together, then looked around. “Let's go, yeah. I want to take my things to the main gate, have been awaited by the cement-men also because.” Without waiting for Andra's reply, I immediately walked away from her face.

Upon arrival at the end of the corridor, I saw several suitcases and bags had begun to be lifted onto the trolley of goods that were quite large in size. Able to hold 10 suitcases and other bags. There are also some beds. Syilla and Dilla deliberately rented this trolley from the laundry place to bring our goods to the gazebo which is located not far from the main gate of the pesantren.

“Ayok, Cell. Cepetan.” Aidha told me to hurry. Because a father who will help us push this trolley a lot of work in the laundry place, so we can not linger. The main gate is also quite far from the dormitory.

I stuffed all the novels into a suitcase and then closed them in a hurry until the hangers in the Hello Kitty-shaped suitcase zipper bounced away. Andra's gift was lost in the grass in the garden dormitory.

I snorted in annoyance and tried to search the grass before my friends yelled at me. Turns out I didn't find him. I also did not want to slow down the affairs of these nine friends, I finally left with them.

We're pushing this big trolley on a roll. Until the younger siblings looked at us because our voices were quite rowdy. It's Sunday, naturally they are scattered all over. There are busy drying mattresses on the balcony of the room, pickets sweeping the dormitory yard, sitting on the sidewalk while eating canteen snacks with friends, sports in the field, and so on, cycling and other activities on Sundays. Santri's most popular day. Maybe the students at other schools are the same.

“I'm sad, Cell. We want to go home and not santri anymore,” said Aidha limp.

I looked at him warmly while walking. “All times are. Can't we stay here forever?” My eyes look around. “But, the atmosphere here we will never meet anywhere else.”

“Hopefully we can get better at the same university, deh.”

“Aamiin.”

Syilla walked ahead of us a bit, then lifted her phone up to take a selfie and recorded our trip to the gazebo at the main gate.

...***

...

The streets around the main gate were already crowded by the twelfth class who were going home. Downstream-mudik preparing for repatriation. My friends and I dropped off our stuff at the gazebo. After that, we will return to the dormitory because we have not taken care of the permit book and some items are still there. Understandably the last return, then no items are left again, except those that want to be granted or that have been unused.

Not far from the gazebo, I saw Harsa coming on her bike. He had a black shirt and milk-brown pants. The man was chatting with his friend while continuing to pedal the bike towards the parking lot. His shady face was able to make anyone who spoke to him comfortable. Not infrequently the santri nisa talk about it, the man became a figure of dreams. In retrospect, it turns out that Harsa has something in common with Andra. We admire a lot of women.

“SELI!”

I gasped and turned to the source of the voice. All my friends are far from my position now. They were on the streets to return to the dormitory. At the speed I could, I chased him.

We captured the moment all the way to the dormitory. Maybe today will be our last day together in this pesantren as santri. Many times my phone vibrates, the name ‘Andra’ appears on the phone screen. I didn't pick it up because surely Andra wanted to talk about it again.

“Seli, lift it. I don't know what your problem is with Andra, but it's our last day here. I'm afraid you'll retire,” said Aidha reminded.

I sighed then stared at the screen that displayed that name. I picked up a phone call from Andra. There was a greeting across.

“Wa’allaikumsalam,” I replied while distancing myself from my friends. It just so happened that we would arrive at the dormitory soon.

“You threw that hanger out of your suitcase?”

I thought for a moment and immediately replied. “Oh, no. I was in a hurry to get the hangers off and gone. You found that hanger? I'll take ya. This is coming to dorm.”

“Iya was accidentally passing time in the park. But I'm not in your dorm, Sel. Mom's coming soon so now I'm going to the main gate.”

I widen my eyes. “Hah? But not going home right now, right?”

There's a little ruckus across there. “Class twelve can go home now, right?”

“By the hell, but ..”

“But why? Do you want to talk to me?” ask Andra in a soft tone and end with a small laugh.

“Yes, may you also always be given protection. Success yes. Assalamualaikum.”

“Wa’allaikumsalam.” The phone was shut down from across the street.

I set foot through the dorm. Trying to figure out Andra, maybe he was lying. Maybe he's still here. I can't lie that I still like it but I'm too afraid of being let down for the umpteenth time.

“It turns out true hope in humans is the place to be disappointed.”

***

After I made sure that none of my belongings were left behind, I picked up the clearance book at the management office. I said goodbye to all my roommates. Thank you to those who have been amazingly kind to me. They are like family. Very valuable.

Three of my roommates came home a few minutes ago and I was fourth. Maybe now there are six people left in the room and soon the room will be quiet. Not as many as usual. Every night we talked and laughed together until late at night. Mr. Satpam might miss the noise from our room that he usually always gets angry at.

“So, later do not forget to send me food often. Just be careful if you forget.” Faaz showed a pouting face.

I ruffled her hair. “Iya. Brother will send on time. Ah, I want to go home. You don't cry right left Sister graduated?” tanyaku.

“Ngaklah. Ngapain. I'm not a crybaby Brother. Back there home.”

“Salim first dong.” I extended a hand. “You don't be recalcitrant, yes.”

“Iya! Very chatty anyway have a sister girl.”

I pinched his arm. “Assalamualaikum.”

“Ih, sick. Back there home.”

“Hail not answered?”

“Wa’allaikumsalam!” faaz replied with a vexed face.

I arrived at the main gate after walking for about twenty minutes. I walked quite leisurely while enjoying the fresh air of the pesantren. Many times I checked my phone, waiting for news of Abi and Umi arriving at the boarding school. I sat in the gazebo chair and opened social media.

“Seli.”

I raised my head to see who was in front of me. “Andra? You still here?”

Andra nodded while smiling from her lips.

“Aren't your mom from an hour ago? I thought you were home.”

“Iya, I happen to want to meet her first tuh.” Andra pointed at some of the mothers who were chatting. “I want to tell you if ...”

Suddenly the phone in Andra's pocket rang. Andra asked permission to pick up the phone to me. After I nodded, Andra walked away and received the call.

While Andra was talking to someone on the phone, I saw that my parents had arrived at the parking lot. I decided to approach Andra, intending to tell her that I wanted to approach my parents first.

“Iya, Adelia. Tomorrow we meet" Andra told someone on the phone.

I immediately stopped my steps and turned around after finding out that the person talking to Andra on the phone was Adelia. I should have told Andra through chat instead of coming to her.

“Seli.” Andra's voice called out to me from behind.

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly and then turned to him. “Iya, Dra. Emm, that's my parents came, I went there first, yes.” I turned back to leave.

“Shortly, Cell,” he said and instantly made me stop. “You should hear if the person who talked to me on the phone was Adelia? But, Sel, the woman I admired for two years was not Adelia, but you.”

...***

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