The Journalist

Part 43: Repeated Destiny or Coincidence?

Like the rain that meets the earth after a long drought, that's how we were met. However, there are times when the encounter between rain and earth brings obstacles for some people.

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"Mina-chan!" I murmured in a barely audible voice.

One minute that passed made me like a statue. Only Khalila and Ameena could see each other tightly hugging each other, as if they were eroding the longing between them. Whether this is called destiny or maybe just a recurring coincidence, but in fact, he and I were reunited in unexpected places and situations.

"Ummi, look who I brought here!" Khalila pointed at me.

Ameena looked at me. We were both frozen when my eyes and eyes met each other. May I be sure that this shock is not only me, but also her?

The man in white approached Ameena and said, "This young man found our Khalila and brought her here. Apparently, he's a fine young man who has no purpose whatsoever."

Me and Ameena threw eyes at each other. Even after almost a year had passed, I still vividly remembered her soft voice, the detail of her face sculpting to the warmth of her unraveling smile. Yes, the woman before me right now is really her!

"Thank you for looking after him. May Allah repay your kindness" said Ameena in a flat tone.

I don't know what to say to get back to Ameena. My lips are locked tight. In the end, I could only lower my head in my respect. I don't like this situation. We became strangers to each other.

Khalila again said to Ameena, "Ummi, is this brother your friend? See, the older brother was blond, white, narrow-eyed and had a kind heart like a friend Ummi used to tell me about."

"Sttt!" Ameena put her finger on Khalila's lips.

I could see clearly the warm red tinge that was poking out on the woman's cheek. Waitaminute! What did Khalila just say? Has Ameena been telling Khalila about myself all this time?

The man asked, "Do you know this man? I offered him to stay here so he could meet Mr. Ali, but he refused!"

"I agree!" I said quickly, "if you allow me, I'll stay a day here."

I bowed full. Japanese culture is full of delusions to trouble others, which is why I refused their request. But now I decided to accept their offer to spend the night here. My decision was greeted cheerfully by Khalila who immediately ran over and hugged me.

The guy with the scab. He must have been surprised because I changed my mind. "Ah, don't bow before me. Wake up! Awake up!"

The man introduced himself as Ahmed. He became one of the caretakers in this orphanage. He then took me around telling stories. As long as we walked leisurely, my eyes were busy looking around for Ameena.

He told me about the origin of the orphanage. This place turned out to accommodate children who lost their parents during the war and also the fighters who entrusted their children to be managed properly.

"This place is awakened and well managed thanks to the kindness of Mr. Ali who became the head and main donor of this foundation" said Ahmed.

"Mr Ali?"

"Yes, he's the father of Ananda Khalila, the son you saved."

"Dad?" This time my eyes were wide. If a man named Ali is Khalila's father and Ameena is her mother, it doesn't mean ....

"Yes, Mr. Ali has only one son from his late wife."

"Then ... lady earlier, is she Mr. Ali's wife as well?" ask me carefully. For some reason, the heart seems to beat when expressing this question.

"You mean .. sister Ameena? Ah, not ... no! She was the wife of the late master Ali's sister, the late Khair. Before he died, Khair advised his brother and comrades to take care of his wife and ensure her safety. Mr. Ali then brought her here to help take care of the orphanage. Khalila, who was very small at the time, was very attached to her and considered her a real mother" the man said.

Somehow, Ahmed's explanation really relieved me. Like I just found new hope.

"Oh, yes, actually .. we have often wanted to match them both. They are widows and widows who are left by their respective spouses. Moreover, sister Khalila loved sister Ameena very much and did not want to be separated from her. But, it seems .. Mr. Ali is still considering that. I think because Ameena is the ex-wife of her late sister."

Hearing that, I could only shut up and not know what to respond to.

After speaking with Ahmed, I approached Khalila who was playing with her friends. I pulled him over just to ask me a few things that made me curious.

"Sister, you said your mother used to tell you a lot about a guy with blond hair, narrow eyes and white skin like me, right?"

Khalila nodded quickly with a smile. "So I'm taking you here to meet ummi to see if you're an ummi friend."

"How could you have guessed I was the one your mother meant? Aren't there a lot of foreign men in this country who have such traits?" I said as I rubbed my own neck.

"Because Brother Blonde is a Hero (hero). Ummi said his friend was like a hero who had saved his life and had always been a protector. So did Brother Blonde, who managed to save and protect me," replied Khalila with sparkling eyes.

Khalila nodded as she widened her lips. "But your answer is not ummi."

"That's because ...." I didn't continue my words.

Actually, I don't know what to answer myself. After that last meeting, I considered my acquaintance with her to be just a kind of interlude story during my time in the country. I'm glad to hear that he thinks of me as a friend. This is according to the last request I wrote on the bus window.

If, everything Khalila said just made me think, was this meeting the answer to the prayer she prayed to her Lord? Can I say it like that?

I then asked Khalila to accompany me to meet Ameena. We walked down the small alleys until we found a large back yard. From far away, I I could see Ameena was in the kitchen with some other women. It seems they are preparing dinner.

"It looks like your mother is busy. I don't want to bother him." I turned my body.

"Brother Blonde, look, ummi's out!"

I turned around quickly. From our hiding place, I could see Ameena standing in front of the unfruitful tin tree while looking at the sky.

"Born Brother, let's meet ummi!"

"Huh?" I gasp. Suddenly the body trembled. Even my legs can't move. I've never been this big!

"Sister, I'm just a guest here. It would be rude to approach your mother. Tell you what, can you bring me some paper.

"OK," he said as he ran away from me.

The little girl entered a room not far from our place. Shortly thereafter, he came with a sheet of note paper and a pen.

^^^Mina-chan, how are you doing now? Looks all right, huh?^^^

^^^Khai^^

I folded the letter until I formed a paper plane which I then flew to him. The cool night wind helped fly the paper to land right at the end of his shoes. Ameena took the paper plane while looking left and right.

"Open up! Please open!" I sat while cupping both hands.

From our hiding place, I could see Ameena starting to open the paper plane and read the contents of the message. A second later, his head turned back to the left and right. I'm sure he's looking for my whereabouts.

"Born brother, how ummi can reply to your message if he does not hold a pen!"

"Rubber too! Ah, I have an idea." I returned to writing a message on a new paper.

Ameena took the paper plane I just flew towards her. I saw him open it and was reading the writing on the paper.

^^^ Do you still know me? Please turn around if your answer is yes.^^^

^^^Khai^^

Just like earlier, his head turned back and forth after reading a message from me. I, who was still hiding, could not help but smile at her confused and curious face. Yes, just by watching him turn around and look in all directions, it has made me this happy.

I went back to writing a sentence on the blank paper, then hurriedly folded it up and flew the paper plane back towards him. Ah, I was too excited, to the point that the paper plane shot away from him. No problem, actually ... Ameena was willing to walk a few meters just to pick up the paper plane.

I took a deep breath as he started to open the paper. My heart suddenly pumped faster than usual as I saw the next message read by him.

^^^ Do you miss me? Please turn around if your answer is yes.^^^

^^^Khai^^

After reading the message, he was petrified. This was different from before where he instantly turned around in response to my letter reply. Even so, my eyes were still guarding him not even blinked a bit.

Khalila, who was standing quietly beside me, asked, "Is Brother Blonde praying?"

"Eh?" My eyeballs moved downwards looking at both of my cupped hands unconsciously.

At the same time, Ahmed's voice coming from behind shocked me and Khalila.

"You guys are here! We're looking for you! Dinner is ready. Let's go to the family room! In a moment Mr. Ali will arrive," he asked with hospitality.

"Thank you" I said. Before I left, I looked back. Unfortunately, Ameena was no longer there. I also did not have time to know the answer he gave me to the contents of the last letter.