The Beginning of a Dream

Proposing

“Safira, he proposed to you?” the words of his mother still filled his brain making the nerves in his body weakened so that he could not support his body.

“How can? Last morning Reffan was still here. Ah, this morning Reffan proposed to her instead. And now he's actually proposing to my parents? This fast? Is he really serious about me? Me...me...” Sapphira was confused in her heart digesting what was happening today.

“Darling you heard mom son? Sapphira... Safira...”.

Safira realized she was still holding the phone in her hand and her mother was still talking across the street.

“Iya Bu Safira listen.” Speak as soon as you are conscious

“Darling, mommy want to ask? What say?”

“What?”

“Safira, answer with other words, from earlier you continue to answer with what words!”

Sapphira could feel her mother smiling even though she did not see her face. Safira was so embarrassed to sound stupid in front of her mother.

“Sorry Mom, Safira surprised.”

“So what do you think?”

“Safira doesn't know Mom, can mom and dad decide?” Safira's face was flushed red now, the pounding on her chest was out of control, it felt like her heart had wanted to jump out of place. Had anyone seen him, Sapphira would have been even more embarrassed.

“You sure nak?” her mother's voice sounded very soft trying to dive into what her son was feeling. “You like it?”

“Ehm... do not know Bu.” Safira slowly answered her mother's question but it still sounded quite clear in her mother's ears.

“Is there any reason for you to reject his proposal?” mother asked again

“No Bu.”

“Alright.. but even though father and mother who give the answer still you who will get married. Come here this weekend. I'm gonna ask Reffan to come back this weekend. Can Safira? Monday is also a national holiday so you can come here for a long time without leave.”

“Iya Bu, Safira will be returning to Yogya this weekend.”

“Yes already, I want to go ahead first yes meet son Reffan. Take good care of yourself, baby. Assalamu’alaikum.”

“Wa’alaikumsalam.” The phone connection has been cut off. Safira gripped her phone tightly. His face was clearly visibly anxious mixed in shame.

“Why are you so soon coming to my parents Mr. Reffan, Aaahhhh!” Safira ruffled the hijab that covered the top of her head.

While in a house in Yogyakarta, Reffan and Safira's father were still talking in the living room while occasionally sipping warm tea and enjoying the bakpia served by Safira's mother earlier.

Reffan spoke politely to Sapphira's parents, not seeming at all a hint of arrogance in his tone even though he had everything he could be proud of. Reffan clearly knew how Sapphira's parents would not be interested when she wore her wealth robe because Sapphira actually ran away when she found out who she was and it was clearly the result of her parents' upbringing. So Reffan came to Sapphira's parents as a man who seriously wanted to make Sapphira his companion in life with all his shortcomings and advantages he would keep Sapphira beside him.

Safira's mother returned to the living room after contacting Safira. Mother sat next to the father who was busy chatting with Reffan.

“How's Mom, I talked to Safira? Father asked looking fixedly at the mother trying to catch the expedition that emanated from his wife's face.

“Already well.” Mom answered with a smile.

“Safira handed it to us?”

He smiled at his wife's answer,

“Typically he will refuse if he does not like. Right Bu?”

“Iya. Does that mean....?”

Father glanced at Reffan who was anxious to hear the conversation of the two people in front of him.

“Mother asked Safira to come home this weekend well.”

“Iya right it should be so Mom. So we can directly see our daughter talking.”

“Nak Reffan not keratan right if back weekend? God willing we will give you the answer at that time.”

“Of course not Mom. I'll be back this weekend.”

Night has come to blanket the earth preparing to deliver its inhabitants asleep forgetting the exhausting activities of the day. However, in an air-conditioned room a girl was still awake and had since squeezed her cold hands. He was pacing in front of his bed after his leg ached he ended the pacing scene and then climbed into his bed and hugged his knee. Cold, very cold that he felt when there was nothing to lower the temperature of the AC, outside it did not rain.

"How I hid from him when he came here. Ah, what should I do? Why did he propose to my parents so quickly. How do I hide my face that must be blushing in front of her." Safira's upset by herself tonight. The drowsiness he missed did not greet him since.

"Am I okay. My heart has been pounding ever since. My body calm down! Don't make me look nervous in front of him. God, I hope he doesn't come here tonight."

*cr*ek

Unfortunately, Sapphira prayed too late. Reffan was already at the door and holding the door handle.

Safira hurriedly pulled her blanket almost covering her entire body even her entire face. But it was too late that his movement was already seen by Reffan who opened the door.

"Assalamu'alaikum." Reffan said his greetings while smilingly staring at Safira's perfectly covered back.

"Wa'alaikumsalam." Sapphira answered, of course, in her heart.

Reffan knew Sapphira had not slept and in fact he was eager to see Safira's face. But late at night he did not want Sapphira to feel uncomfortable for his presence. Reffanpun went to the bathroom for a while then dropped his body on the sofa, he also wanted to rest. His eagle eyes were still staring at Safira's body covered in blankets in the same position as when he entered earlier. Smiles adorn the lips of Reffan.

"Sleep Safira. I'll sleep too." His flat voice made Safira squeeze the blanket even stronger.

"Ah, he knows I haven't slept. But it's good if he sleeps. At least I can hide from him tonight under the covers. I can't wait for tomorrow. Regardless of his view." Safira muttered in his heart.

Reffan was already looking for his most comfortable position on the sofa, slowly his eyes closed but his smile still continued to expand from the corner of his lips. There was a sense of relief in his heart because today he had met Safira's parents and proposed to her. She was glad that Safira's parents were warm to her. The words of Sapphira's father still cling strongly to his memory.

"Actually I had wanted Sapphira to marry soon. Fathers and mothers are sometimes confused about what to answer if someone comes to propose. But Safira refused. And Safira said to leave the answer to us. This is the first time he has said that. Sapphira's father was ashamed to say yes. Father and mother do not mind who will be our son's husband as long as he believes and obeys Allah we will welcome him with open arms. For if there is faith in his breast and obedient in his daily life, God willing he will be faithful to God and faithful to our son, will not hurt him for fear of Allah wrathing him. Son Reffan, if later Safira really accepts your application there are conditions that I submit to you. First, promise to be a good priest to him, guiding him gently. Second, be loyal to him and don't hurt him if he warns me wrongly. A wife is like a glass glass, when her heart breaks it never returns to how it was. Is Reffan willing to accept father's terms?"

"God willing I'm ready dad."

Reffan smiled in light of his conversation with his father-in-law. Wasn't that the same as they sanctioned Reffan as his son-in-law's candidate. This is the best night for Reffan.