Secretly Loving You's

Ch 65 - POV Armand

Memories from 10 years ago. I was 19 years old then. A freshman at one of the leading universities in Surabaya. Because of my love for buildings, I decided to major in architecture.

During the ospek period, there was actually nothing that stood out. Except for some kating behavior that bothers one of the new students. The student was skinny. Wearing glasses with thick lenses. Hair not combed. His body gestures looked nervous and awkward.

He's the type of student who can be bullied by kating or a classmate. No power, no confidence to fight. The type that is usually used as months.

At first I didn't really care. I never want to bother with other people's business, not least his business. But my mind changed when I accidentally saw the sketch of the building he made.

The man I knew later named Muhammad Arsyad Usman was a genius. The design he made was unthinkable to most of us. He designed a modern building with smarthome sophistication in detail. He seems to have a vision of the future.

Honestly, I'm interested in him. I want to learn more about building design. For that I began to approach him and we became friends.

He's called Arsyad. A student of achievement invitation path. She's from an underprivileged family and attended a scholarship.

We both benefited from this friendship. I got a lot of knowledge from her, while she was free from kating and her bullies. Not mean arrogant, my family background is enough to make them reluctant and not bother anymore.

My closeness to Arsyad made friends who were initially debilitating also come closer. Gradually his friends are getting more and more.

As long as he was friends with her, Arsyad was a simple figure. He has parents who support whatever his ideals and a sister who is still in 6th grade Elementary.

Arsyad lives in one of the slums near the campus. I often visit the boarding house to learn building design. Until one day I met his family who came to visit for the first time.

As I thought, the Arsyad family was very simple. Types of Javanese families are very polite and friendly. When I first met, I thought of myself as his own son.

Different from his brother. The boy looked very shy. Every time I saw him, he would hide behind his mother's body, but if I didn't notice, he would watch me silently. Maybe this boy actually wanted to play, but out of shame he always hid like that. They called her Nay.

If my first meeting with the Arsyad family was in a boarding house, then the second meeting was conducted in the hospital, more precisely in the morgue. The feeling of happiness and cheerfulness in the first meeting, turned into hysteria and full of tears in the second meeting. Arsyad died in an accident.

My condition at that time was not possible to come to Jember. Mama's condition is sick and there is a semester exam. Until finally I decided to go to Jember when Mama was cured and the exam was finished.

Stupidly, I don't have Arsyad's phone number. Relying on the address given by the campus, I searched Arsyad's house in Jember. Unfortunately, I never found the address.

And now, 10 years later, I met her family. Why is the world full of coincidences?

***

"I went to Jember to find an address, Father."

"For what, son?"

"Visiting the grave of the deceased. Sorry, I couldn't drive."

"It's okay, son. It's all over. We're trying to live a normal life now." Mr. Usman patted my shoulder. I can still see the clear puddles in his eye sockets. Not wanting to drag on in grief, I deliberately switched the conversation.

"If you can tell, what are you waiting for? Is there a problem with the banking transaction?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, coincidences. My son works here too. It's his first day at work. He said overtime, so we'll wait until it's over."

"Died's sister? Nay?"

"Yes, Arsyad's sister. You remember his name." After being covered in a cloud, the face finally returned cheerful.

"There are no new male employees here, sir. Maybe he works in the next building." I pointed at another row of buildings.

"Work here. He said he worked at the bank J****. Her name is Arsha Nayyara Usman. There's an employee in that name?"

My memory immediately compares two very opposite figures. One, a 6th grade SD boy with short, black, dirty, and skinny hair. The other was a 22-year-old woman, with clean yellow skin, a cute face, with round eyes.

Are they really the same person?!

***

Having managed to master myself, I explained to them that the employees on behalf of it did indeed work in our place. I also explained, that 'Nay' is under my responsibility directly.

Mr. Usman and his wife look very happy. They leave 'Nay' to me like they're sending a youngest child to their firstborn.

"Son, I'm sorry if you and Mom's request sounds rude and shameless. Nay doesn't have a sister. After losing Arsyad, we kept it tight. After work, he was far away from us. We hope and ask for help, so that you can take care of her like a sister. I'm sorry, son, if our request is too brazen."

Of course I accept that request. Without being asked, I would. Knowing 'Nay' is alm's sister. Arsyad, indirectly made her like my own sister.

To make 'Nay' not spoiled and to respect me, the family asked me not to tell Nay all these coincidences. In front of Nay, the family was very respectful towards me. Thought I was just a 'Nay' boss and used formal language. While behind 'Nay', they think of me like their own son.

***

I lay down and looked at the ceiling. It all makes sense now. The reason why Arsha's face is so familiar. Turns out I met him 10 years ago.

Muhammad Arsyad Usman and Arsha Nayyara Usman. From the name alone it is similar, why did I not realize before?

The memory of Arsyad flashes back. If he were alive, he might be a famous architect. He will shower his family with love and material sufficiency. Looking at his father's old pick-up car, it seems like their lives have not changed for the better.

At least their little daughter is currently already working here. Although it cannot change the economy drastically, at least for monthly needs can be met. My job is to keep Arsha at home working here and also keep her from the wrong men, like Haidar or other men.

***

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