The Smile of God for Marissa

Susulant Avalanche

Lina took me to the boarding house. Arriving at Kos's house, I immediately entered my room after having a stale conversation with my neighbor who happened to be busy weeding the grass in the gutter.

The house looks very quiet. This all happened because some of my friends were probably doing their lectures on campus. Two days I didn't go home, making the room very stuffy. The window never opened, the air didn't come in and the floor of my room felt so dirty that I couldn't be comfortable being here. I put my bag on the corner of the study table. My feet went to the window and I slowly opened the window. The previously dark room turned bright as light entered through the cracks of the open window. The air slowly but surely started to get a bit fresh. I took the broom that was lying in the middle carefree corner. Immediately I swept the roof of the room just to remove dust or maybe there are spiders that have started making nests. Finished with the roof, I immediately cleaned my desk and bed. I rolled up the sheets and replaced them with new ones. The shabby tablecloth, had changed with the fragrant one and the two dirty things I immediately put in the basket of clothes. My hands are still faithfully holding the broom. I swept my room and boarding house. Then I took the mop in the corner of the bathroom.

My body felt very tired after all my activities were over. I started to feel tired and finally I rushed to get my towel in the closet. I walked to the bathroom and not for long, I was clean. I put on a change of clothes and I rolled my hair in my towel and then I set foot into the room after I took the water.

I set up qobliyah ashar and then I set up ashar immediately because the Adhan had resided half an hour ago. After the prayer, I straightened my body on the little couch I had cleaned earlier. My body is so tired that I don't know how long I've been asleep. I woke up when the alarm that I set at half-six rang out loud.

I'll sit down soon. Kuraih hpku and I turned off the alarm. I opened the lock screen and then I opened it, maybe there was a new message in whatsapp. Justjust wonderful. There are two thousand and five hundred messages I have not yet read. There's whatsapp Sisy from two days ago and I don't know. Astarghfirullah's. Sisy said Mas Kinkan told me to go home because my family came from Jogja, and I don't know. “Yaa Rabb. I'm sorry for forgetting my family.” Mumbles. For a moment I was confused. Don't know what I'm gonna do now. It's getting dark and I haven't heard any of my friends at home. I wanted to try calling Sulis, but I said. I knew he wouldn't hear my phone because as long as we worked there, we never touched my phone.

Minutes later, I watched Adzan echo. I immediately got up and took ablution. While walking I looked at Maulida's room. I'm afraid for a moment maybe he's inside.

“Ya briefly.” Someone from inside the room. Not long after Maulida showed up.

“Masya Allah, you Risa ? When to go home ?” ask Maulida curiously.

“Tadi dua. “my reply was short.

“How busy you are, Ris. To the extent that your mother and father came to you called many times not appointed.” Maulida.

“I even just read Sisy's message earlier when sleeping in the room.”

I saw Maulida shake.

“You really don't want to go home ? “

“Where do you mean ?” manya curious.

“Ya go back to Jogja. Your brother came home from Makassar. Yesterday came with your mother and father. “

“Son Willy? Home ?” my question while surging into chaos.

“Yes, they came and left this for you. “ Maulida takes a parcel from inside the closet. “ Your brother has returned to fly to Makassar after failing to meet you here because he only stopped by for a moment after performing outside service.” Maulida explained. Risa grabbed her hair, she was very sorry because she did not care about her family. Actually only two pecan then he returned home, before the landslide hit the village.

I immediately picked up my post and contacted my mother, but after several unconnected calls, I immediately contacted my father. For a moment, I waited. My call came in, but after a few minutes, Dad didn't pick up my phone. I once again contacted Brother Willy, hopefully now it works.

“Halo,” sweep.

“Assalamualaikum, Kak”

“Waalaikum greetings, brat.” Sapanya upset.

“Kak Wily why yesterday did not go to the disaster location if the same miss Risa ?” godaku's.

“Hey, who misses a bad boy like you? There are missing mothers and fathers. I didn't” his objection.

“Ah, unfortunately Risa did not see the face of sister Willy directly. If Risa can see it is certainly very clear that my most handsome brother has a red face, “ I said.

“Hey, now you tell me what you did at the scene of the disaster. Don't tell me you're just sitting there sweet. Because Brother knows, this brother of mine can do nothing but cry,”goda Willy while laughing.

“Ihhh, sebel” once again I heard Brother Willy laugh. “Sister who usually only teases. “ my connection is upset.

“How are you my dear sister?”

“Well, so is sweet, my brother dear.”

Willy mndesah's.

“You don't want to meet Brother? “ ask him in a slow voice.

“Inch once, Brother. But, how could Risa to Makassar if Risa's lecture is not off?”

“hhh, yes already. Whenever you can come. “ sigh Willy disappointed.

“Kak,”

“What ?”

“Mother where ya? Called inactive.”

“Maybe still teaching in class. You will know for yourself that Mother is a teacher who teaches actively until the afternoon.”

“It's half-five, brother. Time still teaching.”

“ Never mind, you can call again later tonight. Brother is busy, today there is a meeting with the director. Yes, Brother, hang up on your phone. Assalamualaikum.”

“Waalaikum greetings warahmatullah.”

I hung up the phone and I looked at Maulida who was looking at me questioningly.

“Sister Willy is in a meeting, so can't speak for long.” I said to Maulida.

“He seems to love you very much, Ris.” Maulina.

“Hey, of course it's a pity because he's the oldest kid. What about your brother? Of course I love you so much, right?”

Maulida just took a deep breath.

“If he never shows his affection, it may be because he is not used to it. If you are in trouble later, your brother will definitely defend you.” My words calm MAulida.

“Times should show attention if I'm in trouble only.” Said pouting.

“Ya already, Da. Hopefully someday he can show you his affection. O yes, by the way, Sisy is not home yet ?”

“You don't know if he doesn't cost anymore?”

“Oh ? Start when ?” manya curious.

“ Yesterday. He said he would go back to the dorm, stay there because his girlfriend had come home from work.”

“Ya already then. Means we're just alone in kos ?”

“Yes, Mas Kinkan went home at night, because he had to complete office tasks he said.”

“We find food first yuk, Da. I'm hungry once.” Take me.

“I want to eat meatballs only, Ris. How ?”

I finally agreed to his proposal. And both of us walked down the small alley behind the cost to the baso stall that our subscription.

***

“ Yesterday your mother, father and brother came. They seemed to be in a hurry because they had to go to the airport. We called you, but you seem to be busy. Have you contacted them, Ris ? “ Said Mas Kinkan slowly. I breathed a sigh of relief. I guess he'll be angry because three days I don't come home.

“But mas. I was just able to talk to Brother Willy. Mom and dad didn't pick up my phone this afternoon. Hopefully tonight we can talk.” My solute.

“What are you doing in refugee camp “ ask full search.

“AKu in the soup kitchen helps prepare meals for refugees and volunteers. Sometimes also enter the health post to help doctor Wildan and the nurses when many refugees are sick. “, I replied excitedly.

“I guess you just teased SAR team and army, Ris.” Say it while laughing.

“Times yes, Risa so, Mas. “

“Yes who knows, yes Mas ?” maulida.

“You can come there tomorrow to Da.”

“really ?” sahut Maulida is full of enthusiasm.

“Of course. We still need a lot of energy. Even if I go home today, it's purely because I want you not to misunderstand my activities. “

“We didn't misunderstand either, Ris. It's just a wonder you don't feel tired. Three days do not go home and you sleep where ?” add Mas Kinkan.

“We sleep in the device room of the village, Mas. Some female volunteers were given a place in the device room of the village.”

“O’ is all they can say. Next we headed to our rooms for a rest tonight.

The new time shows eight o'clock at night when the power suddenly goes out. My heart is pounding incoherently. Anganku drifted far into the village of Kemanukan. They are there already accustomed to the dark because after the landslide, PLN has not fixed the electrical installation. But at the boarding house, I felt very tormented by it.

***

After setting up my dawn, I took the Quran mushaf neatly stored on his bookshelf. Read alkahfi letter 1 – 110. Continue reading a few days ago. I open the translation of the letter I just read, “ praise be to Allah who has sent down to His servant the Book and He has not made a crook in it.”

“Risaaaaaa”

I just read the first verse, I heard Maulida screaming hysterically. I immediately took off my face and ran to the middle room.

“Longsor again occurred in sub-district B, and the landslide point increased, from which initially only three points in Kemanukan, now spread to Nine points in Sembiring, Sembung and Kedawung. The victims were estimated to reach a hundred people and the evacuation point that had been in the village hall of Kemanukan was moved to a shelter school in B” sub-district

“Innalillahi wa innailaihi rojiuun” said while holding back tears. I don't know what happened last night. They must have been very panicked and I couldn't imagine what happened next.

“Ris, you still want to go to Germany today ?” ask Maulida curiously.

“I will try to go to the shelter school, maybe we can meet them there.”sahutku.

“We leave now, Ris?’ Maulida looks nervous. She immediately ran towards her room and I just shook my head in amazement.

It was still very early, and I felt hunger teasing me. I immediately headed to the kitchen, to cook rice and cook just for breakfast. I don't want to be in a refugee just hitchhiking to eat.

“Risaaaa” screams MAulida from my room direction.

“Iya, what's up Da? “ sahutku while running in a hurry.

“Astaghfirullah, I guess you've left me.” He said while taking a deep breath.

“Where might I leave.” My god.

“Can only. Yesterday you left Sisy too right?’ skink.

“ We eat first yuk ! There's no way we're just hitchhiking to eat there.” Take me. We both headed to the kitchen. The rice that I cooked in the rice cooker was ripe because it was boiling on the stove. The instant noodles I cooked were cooked and I put them in the bowl. Strange indeed, already cooked instant noodles, still cooked rice. But this is me who can't eat without rice. Whatever the food, if there is no rice, I feel I have not eaten. And finally my boarding friends imitate my habits.

“You've already taken a shower Da?” godaku's.

Maulida just looked at me and took the plate in front of her and filled it with rice and added noodles and crackers.

“I want to eat first.” Legally.

“Ohh”

“You must remember, do not leave me if I have not finished bathing.” His message.

“Insya Allah.”

“ hey, don't God willing. You should wait for me.” Stringency.

“Ida, darling. Who guarantees we can do something without God's permission ?Who are we, then ? who can make sure of all that we have planned? I say God willing not to play words and feelings because of what we do, if God does not want, will never happen”

“Yes, yes, I understand. Let's eat first, get some lunch later.”

We eat in silence. A quarter of an hour, we finished our breakfast. Ida, immediately cleaned her plate and passed to take her towel and then took a shower with lightning speed. I who had been bathing since before dawn had gone straight to the room after cleaning my dishes and boarding kitchen. I changed my clothes with black toad pants and a long-sleeved grey shirt. The wide motive veil covered my waist, the shrimps peeled, then I prepared my face and a change of clothes, because I was sure, there would be many activities that I would do in the refugee camp today.

I immediately exited the room, waiting for Maulida who was still busy with her preparations in the room. I opened my phone, maybe there was a message from volunteer friends.

“If you want to go to refugee camp today, wait for me at your kos.”

Lina's message just came in.

“I instantly typed my answer.

“Iya, it's ready to go’

“Hah ? Are you ready ? Wait for me!” I just woke up.”

I sent a sticker for lina and it was repaid with the same sticker. I smile.

“You smile-smile yourself, Ris ?” saya Maulida surprised me.

“ Lina asked me to wait for her. He just woke up he said.’

“What ? Just wake up?” maulida said, glaring her eyes.

“You are patient, are you waiting for him?”

“If you want to wait where maybe I will go alone." he said scowling.

"oh, Ida, you're so sweet when you're pouting. "my god pokes his cheeks.