Why Different?

Blue Sweeps

“You're serious?” Abi Hamzah brought down the cup of coffee he was about to sip. His eyes looked at Juan seriously, trying to find some hesitation in the netra of his future mistress.

In contrast to Abi Hamzah who looked surprised and half in disbelief, Juan nodded his head so lightly. “Serious, Abi.” He said after sipping his warm tea.

Abi Hamzah still did not make a sound again after quite some time. The middle-aged man still stared intently at Juan until his wife, Umi Maryam, came and joined their chat.

“Why, Abi?” asked the purple-hooded woman gently. From a distance earlier, she saw her husband was talking seriously with their future daughter-in-law, and after being approached, her husband even looked shocked— like he had just received a very surprising news.

Abi Hamzah turned his head towards his wife, then let out a low sigh. “Juan asks to be taught the religion of Islam.” His speech.

Hearing that, the reaction that Umi Maryam gave was different from her husband. The tips of the woman's lips were drawn upwards, she smiled so gently with a twinkle of shade in her eyes that was staring at Juan.

“You're serious?” ask Umi Maryam.

Just like the answer he gave to Abi Hamzah, Juan nodded his head followed by “Serius.” With a very convincing face.

“Alhamdulillah.” Umi Maryam breathed a sigh of relief. However, when she turned to Abi Hamzah, she found her husband visibly upset. “Why? How come Abi doesn't look happy?” tanyakanya.

Abi Hamzah sighed again, “Not happy, Umi,” he said slowly. Then, he turned to look at Juan sitting to his left. “Abi just does not want if Juan asked to be taught about Islam solely because of Zahira.”

“Abi,” Umi Maryam touched her husband's soft shoulder, making the man turn his head back towards her. With a shady look, he resumed. “Hidayah it came from anywhere. If for Juan it must come through Zahira, yes why not?”

“Not that,” back, Abi Hamzah looked at Juan. “Abi is happy that you are finally interested in learning Islam. But, Ju, if the only reason for your intention is only because of Zahira, so that you can continue together, Abi is worried that you will be disappointed later.”

Abi Hamzah's speech made Juan's eyebrows tangled in confusion. “Why be disappointed?” tanyakanya.

“Begini,” Abi Hamzah shifts his sitting position to be closer to Juan. His gaze still did not change, still as serious as before. “If you have taken the time to learn, even until later willing to embrace Islam, but ultimately you are not paired with Zahira, how? Abi does not want you to be disappointed and then blame the Almighty for the destiny that you do not want, Ju.”

But unlike Abi Hamzah's worries that were felt to the point of strangling his throat, Juan still responded casually. The man even smiled before chiming in.

“I won't be disappointed.” He said, full of confidence. “Kayak who Umi said, hidayah it came from anywhere, Abi. For me, his guidance came through Zahira, so I consider it a blessing to be grateful for. If later in the end I'm the same Zahira is not a match, it's okay. After all, I have not lost anything. In fact, I fortunately dong, because I can learn more about knowing God Almighty?”

At that point, Abi Hamzah was completely silent. The earnestness that emanated from Juan's eyes could not be doubted at all. The boy was sincere. What he said was exactly the same as the determination that emanated strongly from the series on his face.

Seeing that earnestness, Abi Hamzah could no longer refuse. He only hoped that Juan would remain firm on his intentions, should the worst possible event ever happen.

“Yes already,” Abi Hamzah said at last. “Abi 'teach you slowly.”

Juan's smile grew wide. Unable to contain himself, he poured into the arms of his favorite would-be-in-law. It felt warm, warmer than his own father's arms—who knew when the last time he got.

That night, while waiting for the main character to return home, they were immersed in an inexplicable feeling. In each heart, they pray that all the good intentions they knit in the day are always given ease by God.

...🍁🍁🍁...

“No, Za, thanks. I'll just unplug it, there's still business.” Reno answered without thinking.

Zahira nodded small, “Yes already, you are careful on the road, yes. Thank you for anterin me to home.”

“No prob. And, well, like I said, I picked Juan up, yeah. Whatever the update you know, please share it to me, because the cave also wants to know about the situation of Juan.”

“Iya, definitely. Yes already, I went inside, yes.”

“Iya, greetings to nyokap bokap lo.”

Zahira just smiled as she nodded, then got off the Reno. The door closed slowly, and he stood beside the body of the car, waiting until Reno stepped on the accelerator.

The horn is sounded, a sign that Reno's journey will be resumed. Then shortly after, the wheels of the car turned again and the iron object began to drive away from the Zahira residential area which was quiet even though it was only 7 pm.

After making sure Reno's car drove far enough, then Zahira entered the house. The gate of his house that was not key made a faint frown appear on his forehead, yet he tried not to take a dizzy look and continued his steps.

At first glance, the atmosphere of the house looks ordinary. Just like the usual nights when he came home with the tired carry that he kept all day. However, when his steps reached the living room and he could hear the thunderous sounds of laughter blaring from the living room, Zahira was practically perplexed.

With high curiosity, Zahira swung her steps wider. Only to peg in the parlor area of the living room with the living room when the neutrals found Juan's existence there. The man was laughing so loosely, along with Abi who was sitting beside him in a short distance. Umi is not there, probably busy preparing dinner like the usual days.

Like a spectator from an exciting stage show, Zahira was silent for quite a while. The feeling that was creeping into his chest right now was too difficult to define. Pleased, sad, haru. Everything is mixed into one. Zahira wanted to cry, not knowing why.

Until suddenly, the laughter that was originally boisterous slowly disappeared. One of those Zahira was looking at from a distance turned his head, smiling so gently that he made Zahira's heartbeat stop for a while.

With a gentle look, Juan widened his smile. One hand raised, waving to Zahira as an invitation so that he immediately joined the fun show that he could only see from a distance.

“Sini.”

And, Zahira's legs dragged by themselves. The edges of his lips were attracted, but a clear mist suddenly appeared, shrouding his eyeballs to make his gaze blur.

Then, as if he was shameless, Zahira grabbed Juan's body that had stood up to welcome him. He entered Juan's arms, smelling his lover's distinctive body scent, for the first time in front of his father.

“Loh, hey, you why?” the smile on Juan's lips vanished without a trace, turning into a heightened worry as he felt Zahira's body tremble slowly.

Abi Hamzah was no less panicked. The middle-aged man immediately got up and rushed over.

“Za?” call Juan, for Zahira still does not answer the first question. “Why you?”

But again, Zahira gave no answer. So Juan stopped asking. Even with Abi Hamzah who chose to pull away, let his only daughter vent feelings without interference from himself—or anyone else.

Seriate