The Moon Among the Stars

19

Seeing Ayumi lowering her head and running towards her bedroom, Grandma Arsy immediately got up from her rocking chair and walked outside towards the terrace of her house.

It is clear that the face of Afnan also looks frustrated and tangled. Arsy's grandmother sat opposite Afnan. When the beginning came, Afnan had started talking with Grandma Arsy to become a close friend for Ayumi.

"Son Afnan made Grandma's favorite granddaughter cry?" ask Grandma Arsy slowly.

Afnan raised his head and looked at Grandma Arsy with a clear face.

"Not at all, Grandma. Ayumi cried because of her own choice. Ayumi wants to focus on her ideals" said Afnan.

"Grandmother told me from the beginning. Grandma does not interfere, even if Ayumi wants to accept Nak Afnan maybe now Ayumi needs someone who can be her role model," Grandma Arsy reminded.

"Afnan already loved Ayumi, all this time Afnan waited for Ayumi. Until Afnan postpones Afnan's departure to continue his study to Egypt" Afnan explained.

"Ayumi needs time. Ayumi is a hard woman if you have chosen then it will be fought for. Maybe fighting for Nak Afnan is not the time right now" Granny Arsy explained in a soft voice.

"Afnan understands and can understand Nek. But waiting a longer time with a long distance, is it possible? Whether Ayumi will still have the same feelings later," Afnan said slowly to Granny Arsy.

"The power of true love, the truly bestowed love of Allah SWT will surely defeat everything. Defeating lust, defeating good looks or beauty of a person, defeating property possessed by someone, defeating one's intelligence, because all that is judged is from the heart, mind and essence, said Grandma Arsy explained.

"Yes Nek. Afnan understood, all this grace including love for his servant also Allah SWT who governs," said Afnan softly.

"Pursue your studies, Son Afnan, do what Ayumi did. One day the way he looks and the way you think is different when you meet again. That is where the true power of love will be tested, whether you still love or no longer have feelings like the present. If indeed the taste is still there, maybe you are a match, but if the feeling becomes different, maybe your current feeling is not sincerity but because of a lust," Granny Arsy told Afnan.

"It turns out accepting sincerely a reality is difficult and not easy. Most people will lose their wits so that they become insane and take shortcuts to keep something that should belong to them" Afnan told Granny Arsy.

"It is a man who has no faith and is more concerned with his own ego. We must often examine ourselves, Son Afnan, do not let bad things poison our brains to further promote anger," explained Grandma Arsy advised.

"Afnan can only hope for Allah SWT. Afnan will follow Grandma's advice to continue Afnan's study and ideals are delayed because Afnan is too loving creatures created by Allah SWT, not love Allah SWT," said Afnan softly.

Afnan tried to accept everything with sincerity and legowo. Just as Zura had to accept the fact that Afnan never loved Zura, everything was done out of the wishes of Afnan's parents.

"Your father is a Kiyai, Nak Afnan, of course you understand this. Sure it is only to Allah SWT and reassure that we can, we are able to do positive things in the way of Allah SWT," said Grandma Arsy slowly.

"Father was too busy with her affairs, Grandma. Afnan and Kahfi are more seeking knowledge and experience from outside the home. By living in Pesantren or a modern integrated Islamic school" Afnan explained.

"It's been night, Nak Afnan. Not good when seen by neighbors," said Grandma or advising.

"Yes Nek. Afnan pamit go home, assalamu'alaikum," said Afnan slowly.

Afnan stepped up from his seat and approached Grandma Arsy to kiss the old man's back with respect.

"Be careful Nak Afnan, waalaikumsalam," replied Grandma Arsy slowly.

Afnan has gone home on his big bike. Arsy's grandmother made a glass to take to the kitchen and locked the door and went into her bedroom. Arsy's grandmother did allow Ayumi to be alone and take her own attitude and choices without any coercion or advice from others.

In her private room, Ayumi sat on a mattress and leaned her tiny body against the wall. His hands tightly hugged the pillow and occasionally his face was dipped in the direction of the pillow.

It hurts to lie to the feelings of love and affection that have grown for Afnan. Then at the wrong time, Afnan expresses his feelings that were kept for Ayumi a long time ago.

Ayumi assures herself that her choice is the best choice for her both now and for her future. Ayumi turned off her bedroom lights and laid her body on the bed.

Not long Ayumi fell asleep fast until the sound of an alarm disrupted her sleep. Time has shown at three in the morning.

Ayumi wakes up from her sleep to the bathroom to cleanse herself and ablution. Sajadah has been held, mukena has also been worn, Ayumi has been standing on a prayer mat to perform tahajud prayers.

This morning it felt very different, like something was missing but was relieved. Ayumi continued her dhikr and sholawat after that praying to Allah SWT to keep her love for Afnan until the time is later. However, if it is not a match, then everything will end well.

That was the only prayer Ayumi said. Ayumi tries to express everything including her feelings for Afnan who has grown since a long time. This is not a matter of want or not, but rather prioritizing a better future instead of putting forward a high sense of ego that can destroy ourselves someday.

Ayumi reads the Quran and waits for the time of the adhan shubuh.

After performing the prayer, Ayumi did the math task Afnan gave yesterday. This morning should be collected at the teacher's desk. After she finished, Ayumi got ready to take a shower and put on a uniform.

Starting today, Ayumi is already wearing her long uniform with a rectangular hijab that looks so sweet on Ayumi's face.

"Good morning dear Grandma," said Ayumi briefly as she kissed Grandma Arsy's cheeks affectionately.

"For Grandma's favorite granddaughter" Grandma Arsy said with a smile.

"Wah, fried rice with half-cooked eggplant. Thank you Ayumi's most beautiful grandmother," Ayumi praised as she chuckled.

Arsy's grandmother took water and placed it close to Ayumi's plate.

"You two fighting?" ask Grandma Arsy slowly to Ayumi.

"Who's Grandma?" ask Ayumi back.

"Ayumi and Nak Afnan?" said Grandma Arsy.

Ayumi laughed out loud.

"Ayumi and Kak Afnan have nothing to do. Why fight?" said Ayumi. Ayumi did not know that the answer could make Ayumi speechless.

"Lho said who you have a relationship with? Grandma just asked, do you guys fight?" grandma's laughter boomed after answering Ayumi's question.

Ayumi fell silent and realized her mistake. The answer does not match the question asked by Grandma Arsy.

"Ayumi really likes Afnan. But Ayumi's ideals are more important than Nek's love" Ayumi said slowly as she chewed fried rice.

"Absurely sure? Has it been a decision that Ayumi made? Won't you regret it? Won't blame anyone later?" ucal Granny Arsy slow.

"Very confident with unanimous determination. It is better to reach the goals of the first, the new hunt for love, than to hunt for love but fail to reach the ideals" Ayumi said.

"That's Grandma's new favorite granddaughter. Grandma did not want to interfere in Ayumi's decision-making. Make decisions according to conscience and wise attitude" said Granny Arsy explained.

Ayumi nodded her head in understanding, then finished her morning breakfast clean.

"Ayumi wants to take the angkot. Ayumi does not want to hang others, let Ayumi be independent," said Ayumi slowly.

Ayumi rushes to the dining table and wears her school bag and bids Grandma Arsy to go to school early.