The Pending Wait
A name and a smile
Bap. 3
Pending Wait* “I should be able to!!”,
the long-haired girl shouted startling her friends. All eyes that were in the room that was not so wide were fixed on him with question marks. But he just smiled.
The snippet on her tiny lips only adds to the curiosity by all who hope for answers, especially Karti who is always curious.
Karti raised his right eyebrow upwards and swept his lips. The girl who shouted earlier ignored the curiosity of her friends. Let it.
Thought the girl inwardly, then stepped foot away from the others. He walked slowly towards the open space in front of his room.
His eyes lurked around where he was.
“Alhamdulillah deserted..”, he said cheerfully. He always sought peace in his life.
Full of mystery in his day. That's what the housemates thought of him. Yep. They are school children who live far from their parents to learn.
Perhaps it is also what sometimes becomes a burden in the days of the girl. Always silent in his mind, he never told the problem to others except to a man he had an elder, a housekeeper who was so wise to him.
He did not immediately answer until the sound was clearly heard again next to him.
“Eh, yes... What is it?”, replied the girl in a flat tone without guilt.
“Hmm…. You are!!! Called many times do not answer, why did you earlier, Pi?”
Not to answer Piah's question straight away,
but the face of the girl who was always curious looked so gloomy, her words were a bit loud unlike usual, both hands she clasped firmly.
Piah was a bit surprised and grimaced to see this unnatural roommate of his. “Sorry Kar... What's the matter…?
”, asked Piah carefully by slowing down her tone when looking into her roommates' eyes. Karti. His breathing was still irregularly tight. Like someone who just finished running a marathon. Piah was a bit curious and tried to calm his friend's feelings.
“Sit...”, pinta Piah while pleading with Karti. Karti immediately followed his good friend's request to sit down. He leaned his head on Piah's shoulder. His tears slowly dripped, soaking Piah's sleeves. His breathing is still irregular. For a moment the atmosphere became silent like in a tomb that did not sound the slightest. Only birds fill the silence. Seeing Karti like that, Piah could not bear, he began to break the atmosphere, he carefully asked. It turns out Karti's parents called him so he got married right away after school. “It's exciting once”, thought Piah who wants to meet her mate soon then get married. It even makes Karti sad because he feels not ready. “Thank you, Pi. I don't know who else to tell besides you, I trust you, don't tell this to anyone yes.”, said Karti Memelas. “God willing...”, Piah replied casually as he brushed a smile on his lips. As the sun began to move towards his quarrel, the sky began to turn dark. The two friends who were sitting in the open space immediately moved from their place to a space full of memories for almost three years. Piah sat in his study, reached out, spread out book after book in his planned collection of Islamic books that would later be used as books for a private library. What a wish so unimaginable to a friend of his age. He also picked up a book about love and fisheries that he had not finished reading earlier this morning. Only three sheets he read, the sound of muezzin from the next mosque shocked seriously when reading. He closed the book and immediately went out to get water. He and his housemates were in line at the time. The house, which was inhabited by 21 people including the owner, was seen crowded when Maghrib time arrived. Congregates. That is the custom at home or pesantren built by Mr. Kiai from Pati. Those who live in the house are very happy and comfortable because of the patience of Mr. Kiai and the care of Ibuk to them like biological parents who care for their children. After the congregation all the inhabitants of the house remained in the small Mushala in front of the house to chant a poem of love to Him.
