The Halal Love
26
That day the sun was still shy. But no matter morning, day or night, Jakarta is not the name if the streets are not crowded.
Samuel was on the sidewalk in front of the campus. He sat on a wooden chair, holding a plastic package that contained somay. A little guard came, his name was Sangiang. He had long been a busker in the region, even sellers and buyers had recognized him. He began singing, tick-tock songs that again hits, but performed with different arrangements.
“Sangi Sangi, bosen I see your face continues to be easy here.” Fathur pulled a wooden chair beside Samuel, and ordered a serving of mpek-mpek to the salesmen.
“Gue more bosen, Bang. Where visitors stay here brother-abang continues. Once in a while cake clear college girls.”
Fathur almost choked on his mpek-mpek. He coughed, but quickly mamang mpek-mpek seller thrust a drink at him.
“Anjir, tau limp girl also lo, brat.” Fathur's laughter boomed.
Next to him Samuel just smiled. “Where are the same fillers? You have contacted the author?”
Fathur nodded then gave his thumb. “Beres.” He scoops back his mpek-mpek.
“Who is it? What book author?”
“He didn't use his real name, just a pen name. His name is young writer. He said his books are famous. His work is like a novel. There are already 3 that he published, I forgot what all the titles are.”
Samuel wiped his mouth with a tissue. “Lo know where he is from?”
“My add. You know, Syifa did not read the novel. He said there are novel writers in Jakarta whose work is quite famous. He is also a regular speaker at authorship events.”
Samuel nodded. “It is not?”
“Ada.” Fathur pulled the phone out of his pants pocket. He was seen fiddling with his screen and handed his cell phone to Samuel. “User name @young author.”
Samuel received the phone, then scrooled the screen. He was trying to find the identity of the author. “Lumayan also followers. Ignya only contains books the same fragments of quotes that, no personal photos.” Samuel muttered to himself.
Fathur turned his head towards Samuel. “It looks like he was deliberately making his readers curious.”
“Lo contact him via where?”
“Lewat dm ig.” Answer Fathur briefly.
*****
The girl with the brown iris walked out of the classroom. His fingers were busy tidying his hair, tying it to a ponytail. The impromptu quiz that had just finished made the girl's brain smoky.
Vika was really doomed in the heart, she really needed ice the canteen, and maybe a bowl of chicken noodles could make her think again. However, Vika again abandoned her intentions. Imagining the crowd of Canteen in the break hours like today, made him shudder.
Maybe a packet of bread and mineral water is enough, he thought.
Just a few steps away, Vika's legs came to a halt due to a voice shouting her name.
“Vika. Where to?”
Iris chocolate Vika twisted mediocre. If Samuel had been waiting for him like this, there would have been work to be done.
“Gue wants to fill the stomach first, Sam.” Said.
Samuel chuckles. “Gue wants a new event rundown. But writhing your face that is not very tasty like that, yaudah I permit you to have lunch first.”
“Lo want to nemenin me?”
Samuel nodded. “Of course.”
They stepped together, down the corridor to the canteen.
“Lo know the author invited by Fathur?”
“Lear author?” Vika asked back.
Samuel nodded. “There is no complete profile? Because I brought the event, yakali I do not know the same source.” Samuel laughing.
“It looks like later ajaain it, fitting he already on location.”
They stopped their steps as they arrived at the door of the canteen. Vika's eyes tried to find a gap to walk, but all she saw was density.
“Sam, I'm not. Very rame.”
Samuel shook his head. “No, no.” Preventably. “Lo can't skip lunch.”
“We can hang out on the front sidewalk of campus.”
“Bags, Vik. It's here too. They are just college kids. Not a cannibal monster who wants to kill lo.”
Vika laughs. “Apaan anyway, lo. I'm just males in line.”
“Yaelah gitu doang. Let me line up for food. Lu sat in..” Samuel's eyes surrounded every corner of the canteen, until his gaze fell on the empty table that was still left in the corner. “Available aja.”
Vika nodded. “Gue chicken noodles equal ice the sweet.”
Samuel lifted his two thumbs up into the air and walked towards the queue.
It wasn't hard for Samuel to get the first line. Some students who knew him offered Samuel to book in advance, though Samuel refused, but they insisted.
It didn't take long, Samuel was already standing in the first line. Alya's mother the owner of the cafeteria shop smiled kindly.
“Two chicken noodles equal iced tea, Bu.” Samuel also showed a face that was no less friendly than Bu Alya.
While waiting for his order Samuel walked to the table he had chosen earlier with Vika. Inadvertently Samuel's gaze fell on the figure standing in front of the Lab. The figure seemed to be talking seriously with someone. From a distance he recognized the two men.
Samuel decided to meet them. More precisely the figure of a maroon-covered girl holding a drinking bottle, while occasionally her hand swings the bottle, but her face looks serious talking to her interlocutor. Samuel smiled to see it.
“Yes how you want, honestly I'm really embarrassed. Not used to perform on Campus.”
“Hai.”
The conversation halted as Samuel greeted.
“Wa’alaikumussalam.” Sarah said as if to insinuate Samuel who came without saying hello.
Samuel scratched his non-itchy head, then chuckled in shame. He is not used to saying greetings when meeting someone. He more often say hello to “Hai” or other absurd greetings.
“Ngapain here?”
“Nemenin Nisa confide in her, aww.” Sarah's sentence came to a halt as a small pinch landed on her arm. The girl washed her face while muttering softly.
“What's kalo?” Samuel who was waiting for the continuation of Sarah's words asked the girl.
“Ngak papa's. It's nothing.” This time Nisa answered.
“Where are you going now?” Samuel shifted the subject when he saw Nisa starting to look clumsy.
“Cantine.”
“Kalo gitu join aja.”
Sarah nodded enthusiastically, “Bby.”
Again Nisa pinched his arm, making Sarah complain. Sarah thought she was having pinch syndrome today.
“We're going to Perpus, Rah.” Nisa is trying to give up.
“Not that we are here because we want to go to the canteen.”
Samuel hid his laughter. Seeing the face of Nisa who momentarily looks reddened feeling funny. The girl always looks cute when she's shy.
“There Vika is also there.” Samuel turned his head towards Vika. The girl also seemed to be staring at him. But as soon as Samuel turned his head, Vika hurriedly turned her gaze to another direction.
“Vika secretary BEM?” Sarah asked because she had never been involved in closeness with Vika.
Samuel nodded. “Iya. Nisa also knows Vika. Come.”
As soon as Nisa nodded, Samuel moved back towards the canteen.
As soon as they arrived, they were greeted by Vika's tense face. Even so tense, Samuel to think Vika is holding BAB. “Why Vik?”
“Eh, not papa.” The girl pulled out two chairs next to her and let Nisa and Sarah sit down.
“How are you, Vika?” This time it was Nisa who was making small talk.
Vika smiled awkwardly. “Good. You how are you? Long time no see hehe even though one campus.”
“Good. You are busy, so there is never time to meet me.” Nisa smiled
Sarah watched Vika. The girl was a keen observer. He can even read the situation he is experiencing or others. Since her arrival in the cafeteria, Vika had not made pleasantries with her at all. The woman just threw an awkward smile.
“Eh I pesen first, yes?” Sarah stood up to order food, considering she and Nisa had not ordered at all.
Nisa nodded, letting Sarah leave the table. Without telling, his best friend had understood what food he wanted to serve for himself.
Vika had stopped her movement scooping her chicken noodles hearing Samuel throw the question to Nisa. As Vika knew, Samuel was the most lazy person to talk about college with new people. New guy? Ah remind Vika, that Nisa is no longer new to Samuel. It's more than that.
Nisa pulled both corners of her lips up to curl her smile plus her two faint dimples. “Alhamdulillah, good.”
“This semester is an internship, yes?”
Nisa nodded. “Iya, InsyaAllah.”
“Internship where?” Samuel was still fiercely questioning Nisa, even though the girl only answered the potluck.
“InsyaAllah at RSJ Sudirohusodo.”
Samuel nodded. Aware of her hostile response, Nisa finally asked back. “How about you? This semester KKN?”
Samuel grinned the horse. “Nknow. I still don't want KKN.” Her speech.
Nisa frowned both her eyebrows in wonder. Seeing that, Vika who had been silent since then spoke up. “Fyi Nis, college is not important for Samuel.”
“Why?”
“He said college is not a benchmark for success not someone.”
Samuel bowed, occasionally chuckling.
Nisa was silent for a moment. “Then why college?”
Samuel raised his head, focusing all his attention on Nisa. “So not to be unemployed.” Samuel again nodded.
“Then you are a waste of time.” Nisa.
Samuel shook. “Ngak dong. Lecture is not only about sitting in class face to face with the lecturer and then learning.”
“Oh yes? Then what is your main purpose of college?”
Vika silently watched the interaction of the two.
“Add experience.” Answer Samuel.
“Either consciously or not, but you have already misled your own mind. And you are also preparing a disappointment gift for your loved ones.”
Samuel fell silent. He tried to digest Nisa's words. The girl managed to make him doubt her decision all along.
Vika glanced at Samuel. He had never seen Samuel lose an argument before. The man is the most stubborn creature. Even when the Dean of the Faculty advised him, he had dozens of arguments to drop the arguments directed at him. But when Nisa gave the argument, Samuel chirped before the girl. Even Nisa doesn't talk much. He just said a few words.
The conversation halts when Sarah comes to take her order and Nisa to the table. His gaze was immediately directed at Vika who was looking down eating her chicken noodles. Since then, he had seen Vika watching Samuel.
*****
After the discussion about Orientation activities, also checking the preparation of the implementation of the committee with Fathur, plus consulting the vice rector for smooth activities, so that the activities are smooth, Samuel immediately took the bike and intended to visit the Pesantren to return to study with Ustadz Agam. He had even contacted Nisa to accompany him, but as usual, with her cold style the girl instead suggested that Samuel get used to visiting the Pesantren without having to be accompanied again.
Samuel laughed. There were always things that tickled his heart when he remembered Nisa. The girl has a fickle attitude, like a chameleon. Sometimes funny, sometimes friendly, sometimes adorable, sometimes sarcastic, sometimes also be an excellent advisor.
He remembered his conversation with Nisa that afternoon, about the lecture. The girl did not seem to like it when Samuel claimed that college was not important. Samuel understood that a girl like Nisa must have a straight life, no neko-neko. He definitely did not have an anomalous thoughts like Samuel's.
Nisa's words continued to ring in Samuel's ears. The girl said Samuel had misled his own mind? A part of his heart was pinched. Honestly, even though college was not important, but there were times when Samuel felt that what he did was wrong. But the other side of him seems to force to justify it.
And also earlier Nisa said that currently she is preparing a gift of disappointment for the person she loves? For one, Samuel did not understand. Who will intentionally disappoint a loved one? The feeling does not exist. Unless that guy's crazy.
Samuel spurred his vehicle when he saw the sky had darkened. Looks like he'll arrive just in time for Maghrib again.
When he arrived at Pesantren, Samuel parked his bike in front of the Mulaqot room. The echoing sound of the loudspeaker made the man rush to pick up the holster in the trunk of his motorbike, then run towards the mosque.
*****
“Lil, come.”
Alila stopped her daydreaming activity as her roommate rebuked to invite the congregational maghrib prayer. The girl was not used to prayer time. In fact, he still often ignores the call of the Adhan if no one asks him to pray.
It's been more than a week since he was in Pesantren. But he still could not adapt. Luckily, Nisa always visits him. The girl always greeted him warmly. Even he offered to guide Alila directly. Kahfi also almost every day came to ensure the condition of Alila. At least that way, Alila felt not alone.
After taking the ablution water and wearing the mukenah, Alila moved towards the mosque to pray congregation. He walked through the side door that connects the corridor to the entrance of the Pesantren Putri. The girl did not usually pass through the street. Usually he follows the public road, the back door. But today for some reason, his heart wants to pass through the streets.
When he arrived next to Mulaqot's room, his eyes accidentally saw a figure he recognized. Very familiar with him. It's standing there. Next to his bike, it was like he was looking for something in the trunk. After getting what he was looking for, the figure rushed towards Mushola? What the hell is being done here?
Alila was silent, in her place, even when the figure was already out of sight. His heart suddenly ached. He turned towards the back door, avoiding the meeting with the figure earlier.
*****
“Samuel, how are you? I told you to come two days ago, why only now appears?” Ustadz Agam looked as if he was scolding Samuel, but the chanting was obvious.
Since knowing Ustadz Agam, Samuel became aware of the man's temperament. Ustadz Agam likes to joke, but he will be serious at certain times. Especially if his mood is good, he will keep smiling all day.
“Sorry Ustadz, there is busyness on Campus.”
Ustadz Agam smiled again. “Hah, that's the world, Sam. Man when preoccupied with worldly things must have forgotten about the achherat. The more man pursues the world, the more the world moves away from him. Precisely when it comes closer to the achherat, by itself the world will approach it.”
Samuel felt overwhelmed. All this time he never thought about it. And now he just realized it. How the world has busied him until he has forgotten his worship.
“Man is child. Depending on them, they choose to be a child of the world or a child of the achherat. If he chooses to be the son of the achherat, he will get both. But if he chooses to be a child of the world, then wretched, he will surely regret it.”
Samuel fell silent. There was no argument he could make to refute the words of Ustadz Agam.
“You see, Sam. How crowded the road to the Campus, to the Office, but at least that runs in the way of the assemblies of achreatic science. They flocked walking in the wrong direction.”
Ustadz Agam again curled a smile on his lips looking at Samuel who was speechless and seemed to be thinking. However, Ustadz Agam mahfum. There are not many young people like Samuel. Although the busyness of the world still mastered it, but the young man still took the time to study religion.
Ustadz Agam patted Samuel on the shoulder. “Already, don't think too long. We pray maghrib first.”
Samuel nodded. Out of the way of his own mind. Feeling stupid because all this time has been spent on futile things. Leaving worship for a job that is even still very delayed. Even when his work was done, his heart was never moved to give him time to worship. In the past, the reverberating Adhan never caught his attention. The sound of the chanting of the holy verses of the Qur'an’an never once touched his heart. Samuel cursed in his heart how he had been all this time. How arrogant he was, arrogantly distancing God from his life.
*****
“Nisa!”
The voice that mentioned her name made Nisa stop her steps. He was just about to head to the Hall to see the santriwati who were practicing rabbana.
“Assalamu’alaikum.” This time Samuel greeted with the right greeting considering that this afternoon he had been quipped by Sarah.
“Wa’alaikumussalam warohmatullah. What was? Have you met Ustadz Agam?” Nisa immediately threw a question to the man before her.
Samuel nodded. “Already.”
Silence covered the two for a few minutes before Samuel finally reopened his voice. “Nis, I want to ask you something?”
Nisa raised her eyebrows next door, “What?”
Samuel seemed to be composing the sentences in his head. “Commitment in Islam that how it forms.”
Nisa frowned. “Commitment?”
“Iya. Like you said before. Islam does not allow courtship. Because Islam only talks about commitment.”
Nisa yoh ria. “You don't understand the meaning of the word ‘commitment’ there what?”
Samuel nodded innocently. “Ambigu. Because dating also includes commitment. Commitment to a relationship.”
Nisa smiled and shook her head. “Clearned. The relationship is just pretending to build commitment, not actual commitment. The main purpose of Islam is marriage. There is no most potent remedy for a man in love except marriage.”
Samuel was silent for a moment. “What is illegal when someone falls in love but has not been able to bring a loved one to the wedding road?”
Nisa shakes. “Same as no. Falling in love is a fitrah. It is impossible for God to leave a feeling of love to his being if He does not allow that feeling to be felt. What is wrong if humans misuse the use of this nature. If you have not been able to bring the person you love to the road of marriage, then increase fasting. Because fasting can master the lust that can arise from the feeling of love.”
“Nis?”
“Ya?”
“What if I like you but I have not been able to offer commitment?”
It was as if there were a thousand fires in Nisa's heart. He had no idea that Samuel was expressing his feelings at the moment. He tried to neutralize his feelings, but nil, instead thousands of butterflies were dancing freely tickling his stomach at this time.
“Ma..you mean what?” Nisa answered Samuel's words.
“Sorry. I'm in love with you, Nis.”
Nisa was trying to wet her dry throat. His heart is still ungodly. “Since when?” Eventually the words escaped his lips.
“Since the first time we met. Skirt incident in motor gear.” Samuel smiled to himself remembering his first meeting with Nisa.
Nisa speechless. Confused what to respond. While his heart kept jumping around mischievously in there. This was the first time someone had expressed a feeling of love before him. He thought no one would ever do that except his future priest. But right now, the man in front of him is doing just that.
“Sorry I have to teach soon. Assalamu’alaikum.” Nisa passed by without responding to Samuel. He did not want to linger with the man in such a situation. Maybe his heart switched places because it was so hard to beat. He walked quickly, with hasty steps like meeting a demon. He didn't even care how Samuel's reaction to seeing himself blur like that.
