The Love Story of Children Santri

Chapter 24 - Meet Gio

The atmosphere of the funeral home looks lonely, the servants have left as well as the body of Mr. Marwan has been buried to the final resting place. 

Kiyai and his family still accompany Joseph in his house, which is now conducting a study to pray for the deceased. 

Joseph was so strong, he was patient and strong. Marwah has also declared her husband's departure. But what about Eve? 

The girl sat in her room. His face was so pale as if there was no more spirit to live on. The death of his father took him by storm. 

Still dressed the same, still in the same place, his body did not move at all from his sleeping bed. The back rests against the wall of the bed, with both hands hugging the portrait of the father.

The door of the room opened, and Joseph stood in the doorway, looking at the younger brother who had not turned to him at all. 

At the close of the door, Joseph approached his sister and sat down beside Eve. 

"My sister is daydreaming." Joseph said, gently rubbing Eve's head. 

"Mama calls, we eat together. You haven't eaten in the morning." 

Eve simply shook her head, signifying rejecting her invitation. 

"I don't understand you love me, my brother too. But God loved him more than he called him first." 

Eve turned to Joseph who was sitting beside her. 

"If God loves you, why take it first. Does God not love us? We are very sad family to be left behind." 

"What makes you sad? Say?" 

Eve was silent, confused to answer. Because he did not know to be sad because of loss or because of regret. 

"There are two reasons why people cry when they leave their families, let alone the people we care about the most. First, I was sad because I was not ready to lose. Second, I am saddened by regret. Regretting for hurting her or for not being able to make her happy." 

Joseph rested his body on the wall of the bed, his hands folded behind his head as a cushion. His gaze looked far away. 

"Still Brother remembered the debate with papa not too long ago. Just because you didn't obey her will. But after today, that regret came. If Big Brother finds out it's his last request maybe Big Brother won't refuse and obey his will." 

"What did papa say?" 

Joseph turned to Eve beside him, then smiled and said, "Papa wants Big Brother to lead the company, while Brother instead chooses to teach," explained Joseph. 

Eve breathed her rough. Throw his eyes in any direction. 

"Then what about you? What makes you sad?" Joseph asked.

"It's sad, because I haven't had time to apologize to papa, brother." A second his crying broke. Joseph hugged his sister.

"Eve was always defiant, always snapping, and Eve never made her happy. Eve made papa sick." 

Joseph rubbed the back gently, letting Eve cry in his arms. 

Not only Eve, actually Joseph also felt sorry because he had not had time to apologize to his father. Then how to apologize when the papa is no longer there. 

The only way to give, pray, and be a better person is to do what they ask. 

Maybe Joseph will take care of his papa company and give up his profession as a teacher. For Joseph, he is now the backbone and responsible for his family. For his mother and sister. 

"Related always comes last, we can't turn back time. All we have to do now is be a better person, be what he wants to be. We're living papa's delayed dream. Make you happy by being a useful child. Papa really wants you to be a santri and stay mondok so .. do it for papa." 

Eve was silent, actually coming home was the most desirable thing. But the strong desire of the papa made him have to return to the cottage.

"But, Brother? For now Eve wants to be home with Mom and Brother." 

"I don't understand, you can go back to the boarding school after 40 days of papa's death. For now you stay with us, Mama must also be lonely if there is no you." 

"Thank you, brother." Hugged Eve to Joseph. 

*****

Days passed, Eve was still in her house. And Joseph focused on his company. 

The state of the company that had been shaken and bankrupt is not that easy to develop it. Yusuf who does not know about the business must work hard to rebuild his company from scratch. 

So Joseph was busy and there was never time for his mother and sister. Marwah went to her parents' house to calm down. With the intention of forgetting the memories with her husband that are difficult to forget. 

While Eve was always alone in her house, which was only accompanied by a housekeeper. 

The sound of the bell rang, not waking Eve who was busy laying down her body while watching her favorite drama. 

For a long time Eve had never done the things she liked, all she did was memorize, teach, and continue to learn. So that Eve made this opportunity to do what she wanted.

"Non, there are guests" said a woman who served as ART at her home. 

"Say the word Non." 

"Yes, thank you Bi." 

Eve got up and stepped into the main room. Two girls sat on the couch before standing up at the sight of Eve. 

"Laughter!" they immediately ran and hugged Eve. 

They are not his female friends, their clothes are not covered that only use a mini skirt and shirt as a cover. They are none other than Sherly and Mira. 

"Into which we mourn the death of your father. The patient one?" 

"Thank you" Eve replied, and took them back to their seats. 

"Why did you come here?" 

"We want to take you on the road, let you be sad again." 

"I'm sorry Mir, Sher, I can't. I have to ask Joseph's permission, he's not home." 

"Oh my goodness, we're playing nowhere. Just to the cafe, or to the mall when your sister is not allowed to." 

"Where are you?" 

"Come on, please!" please Sherly. "A long time ago, we didn't walk together." 

Eve thought, then said, "I called Joseph first." 

"Okay, it's up to you." Mira and Sherly are a little upset that Eve is not as fun as she used to be. 

"Where's Wa?" ask Sherly after Eve turns off her phone.

"Not in the lift." 

"Maybe your brother is busy again, let's just go. You can just send whatsapp, right?" 

"I'll change my clothes first." 

"That's dong. We wait for ya." 

Ten minutes later Eve came down in different clothes. However, in the eyes of Sherly and Mira the clothes of Eve made no difference at all.

They're a little uncomfortable. For her the dress of Eve was very embarrassing. 

"Even we're not going to the cottage. Why wear that shirt." Appoint Mira on the Shar'i clothes that Eve used.

"I'm used to dressing like this. We're just going to the cafe and the mall, aren't we?" 

"Yes, let's go." 

Mira and Sherly are forced to allow Eve to dress as she pleases. They arrived at a mall. Eve thought they would just play and hang out. 

But Sherly meets Eve with a man. That man was Gio the man he liked in school. But this time Eve's feelings were different, her love for Gio was gone. 

"Gio?" 

The man called Gio smiled, then approached, extending his hand to shake each other. But Eve only cupped her palms in her lift up to the chest. 

Gio looked at her hand that Eve did not touch at all. Sherly and Mira are astonished by Eve's current treatment. 

Gio was embarrassed to be ignored, but not with Eve, because she knew the laws of women and men who were not mahrom. Little by little Eve learned it. 

"We immediately order food, yes" said Mira break the awkwardness. 

Sherly whispers something to Mira, then suddenly they leave Eve and Gio together. 

"Take me to the toilet first" Sherly and Mira said. 

"I'm coming along." 

"Don't! You're only here for a minute." Sherly and Mira immediately run as if they were deliberately leaving Eve and Gio. 

Eve does not stay still, she wakes up and wants to chase her friend, but Gio holds her back by touching her hand. 

For a second Eve turned to stare intently at a hand that held her. 

Cracks, ccr, 

Someone from far away had taken their portrait.