ROMANCE (Based On True Story)
CHAPTER 23
Although we rarely communicate directly, but I know the condition there, I often ask about it, I also sometimes see from some of his friends' stories, he there looks happy, and that's enough for me, enough to accompany the rest of this longing, and soon he will face the final exam, yes the graduation exam, the exam that will determine his graduation, but unfortunately the test cannot be done directly, he said, but online, because there is a virus outbreak that quickly spread and has spread to several countries, including our country, on the one hand I am happy with this news, because I can communicate with him again, but on the other hand I am sad about this situation, how not sad, this condition changes everything, from activity, from activity, socialization between communities and many more effects caused by this plague, hopefully this plague soon out of the world, that's all I can do berdo’a to the Almighty, for a few days he did the test, I didn't want to bother him, I knew he had to focus, even though I believed he could because I knew his ability.
Sure enough, he got through all the problems for the sake of it, and he said after this, he and the others had started preparing to hold graduation events, even though the place and day were still not decided.
One day I got a news that to me was worse than any news, she was weak in January, she was sick and had been bedridden for a few days, he said he had a fever, but still I could not hear the news, because I knew he had never been sick for weeks, I was very, very worried about his situation.
“Cin how are you? Still the same?” I was worried about him.
“Emhhh already lightened kok pik,” reply
“Yang bener Cin, no one closed yes if there is anything, I want to know cin”
“Ia Pik, for sure, I definitely ngabarin you,” reply again.
I knew very well that he was lying about his news and about what he had just said, but I could only say that, I also wanted him to feel calmer, the days that followed I never missed asking her the good news, and the answer remained the same, but strangely I felt it wasn't enough, I felt Cindy was still boasting and trying to cover something up, I have to act or even regret later, until a decision has been made, I have to see him, I do not care and will not ask him, I just want to see his condition.
About 8 pm before I set out to find his house that certainly will not be far with the maulid event the other day, I made sure first by berkaya to Nadia, and he said it was close to the event the other day, and he said, he said if it was there I could ask the people who were there, surely they knew very well where his house, I also did not forget his favorite is to read novels, not to mention, he could spend hours if he had met a book, so on the street I stopped by a bookstore, which I happened to pass by before, I knew he would feel so saturated with his condition that he could only stay at home, I did not want it to continue, which is why I took the initiative to buy a book, he said, before really steady with the book I chose, I again asked Nadia's opinion, whether later she would like this book I bought, some examples of books I took photos and I sent to Nadia, Nadia, and Nadia said that if it looks like Cindy would prefer the picture of the second book I sent, a book called “Muhasabah kinta” besides Nadia, I actually like this book hehe, too, after finishing at the store I went back to continue the journey, when I was accompanied by Rahman, my friend, we continued the journey around 20:30 or half nine, and we continued, there were some obstacles on the road, the motorcycle chain was almost broken, ran out of gas, and the worst we lost because at that time I forgot the road to get there, and Rahman didn't even come to Maulid's show, so he didn't know any more than I did, we asked everyone on the street at the time, and slowly followed the instructions of the people we met and we finally got there, yes even though we arrived quite late at night, around 22:30 and it was bad, plus there were none of the residents we met, I had to ask my friends who had been to his house, Ogont and Galih, yes, they had indeed been here during the cooking event, I hope they haven't slept and I hope Cindy does too, Ogont said if we were at the maulid event, we just walked into an alley and looked for a green mosque, and next to the mosque, it was Cindy's house, so she said, yes we had rushed to find the mosque until we actually found a green mosque, I immediately headed to the house right next to the mosque, which was right next to the mosque, because I was afraid to lure other residents at that time I pretended to be a courier delivery package yes even though I knew it was too late for a courier, but what can I do, what can I do, actually, I'm not sure if it's his house, but according to the instructions that Ogont gave it is the closest, before I actually knocked on the door first I went back to check whatsapp Cindy, before I actually knocked, she was afraid she was asleep, but luckily she was still online, I did not contact her, I just made sure, with a slow step and a mask covered face I ventured to medekati, I just made sure, and now I'm right in the mouth of the door.
“Assalamu’alaikum” in a soft voice while knocking on the door.
Still no answer, I repeated my greeting in a slightly louder tone than before.
“Assalamu’alaikum, pakeet” I said again with my right hand who again knocked on the door harder.
“Wa’alaikumsalam” sounds an answer from inside the house
“Sebitar” connect someone who was inside earlier.
Samar began to sound footsteps approaching, my heart was beating very fast at that time, sweat began to come out of the forehead that I had closed with a jacket, my hands that were hugging a book began to tremble, and my heart began to tremble, and shortly from behind the exit of a man, I thought he was about 25 years old, in my heart I began to ask, “Who is he?” because as far as I know Cindy has no older brother let alone a brother, and if she's her father I think she's too young, maybe her brother thinks I don't want to argue with myself.
“Iya mas, there is need to what” asked the man earlier while pulling the short jeans that he was wearing at that time.
“Emhh this mas there is a package for Cindy january” I replied while wiping the sweat that is increasingly pouring
“It's Cindy january, it's not real?” continued
“Aduuh, not Mas, if Cindy januarty goes into the alley next to the madrasah above the mas” he explained again while pointing towards the road.
“Later back to the road above, well not far there is a madrasah that many photos of heatabib, on the left there is a small alley again at the top, well, mas go up aja continue to meet the mosque green color, well next to it is the new home Cindy” continued again.
How to bear my shame at that time, I did not have to linger
“Ohh it yes mas”
“Ouh iyah mas thanks yah” said again.
Rahman who was waiting for me at the back couldn't help but laugh at that moment, we immediately left there with a shy laugh accompanying.
“Why pik, wrong well? Hahaha” asked rahman as he continued walking.
“Hahaha, iyah Man, wrong not this one alangnya but the one above the madrasah” said I.
“Haha, yes yes get ready” Rahman continued.
We got back on the road, 'cause it was getting late, and I was afraid Cindy was sleeping, coming back, I pulled the phone on my back and saw whats the app, I said, and the info has been 5 minutes last seen, I have to hurry, until at the madrasah it turns out there is a gang up there, there, and without much thought we rushed into an alley that I believed would never be wrong again because it was the only alley beside the madrasa, after going inside, because it was the only alley, Rahman waited behind me again and I began to approach one of the houses closest to the mosque, because the situation at that time was very quiet would provoke the attention of the surrounding residents if I said greetings like that, because I did not want to involve Rahman in the problem I finally told Cindy through a short message, so I could not help but, hoping he would read it, inevitably.
“Cin, I am in front of your house, can go out first not for a moment” I said.
The message was sent but he had not read, I was worried that by then he had fallen asleep.
“Cin please, come out for a while” connect me, again there is no answer from him, at that time I believe he was already asleep, and I am not good if Rahman had to wait too long, whereas since he was always called by his father, I decided that night not to meet him and just go home.
But after a few steps left the house, there was the sound of someone knocking on the window ......
