FIVE

"Akbar!" called Riri who saw Akbar's back. The sweet black man turned his head and found Riri who was struggling to hold Bintang, who had fallen asleep very soundly.

Akbar also approached Riri.

"Oh my gosh, Bintang bobonya really fast." Akbar exclaimed, smiling at his little brother. This little brother who was still under two years old did not understand anything. There was no way he could just watch his parents on the verge of separation. He couldn't bear it if his little brother grew up to have parents who were not intact.

"Bar, here, carry me. My hands are sore. You're just sitting there. You're so insensitive to women." Riri grumbled with her sore hands.

"Uh, yeah sorry Ri, if you look at Bintang again sleeping it feels really cool. Because his face is still innocent and has no sins." Akbar said while grabbing his sleeping sister.

Riri patted his arm.

"Thank you Ri, you already want to hold Bintang. I want to put Bintang next to his mother, so that Bintang can sleep comfortably." Akbar said and walked away from Riri.

Riri's eyes watched Akbar's back as he slowly walked away. She felt that being Akbar must not be easy. Being a big brother is a big responsibility.

Akbar put Bintang slowly beside his mother. Then he looked at the two sleeping women for a moment.

"Mah, Bintang. I will always take care of you. You are the women I love the most. I won't let you two get hurt. I will be the son and brother who is always by your side. Whenever you need me." Akbar said in his heart.

He immediately performed the isha prayer. He did not forget to pray for his family. To remain in harmony.

After praying, Akbar now looks for fresh air outside the building. There are still a few people outside the building. Like the guards and volunteers who were gathering. Maybe they were having a meeting. I don't know Akbar doesn't know.

Akbar looked at the sky for a moment. He saw no moon or stars. There was only a dark sky.

Akbar reached into his pants pocket. He opened Riri's paper and began to read what she had written.

"Mom, the touch of your warm hands makes me feel comfortable. Mom, where should I look for that touch. There is nothing more comfortable than your touch. Mom, your face gives me shade, like a shady tree. Mom, where should I look for shade other than looking at your face. Mom, I miss your embrace so much. I'm sick mom, having to look for you everywhere. I'm sick mom, if I don't see you. Mom, I miss you." Akbar read it while dripping warm water on his cheeks. He imagined not being able to see his mother. It must have hurt a lot, just like Riri felt.

Akbar looked at the writing for a moment and smiled.

"It turns out you can write too, Ri. Can make me cry again. Hem basic Riri." Akbar stood up and walked into the refugee building to sleep. Beside him. He could see his father who had fallen asleep.

The next day Riri and Cahaya were busy drying their clothes.

"So now you wear a headscarf, Cahaya?" teased Akbar who was watching Bintang playing on the grass.

Cahaya just smiled embarrassedly.

"Last night he started wearing a headscarf, you didn't see it? Eh feeling you see deh when eating dinner right?" asked Riri trying to remember what happened last night.

"Uh yes, I just didn't notice. Well, thank God if Light wears a veil. Hopefully, don't take it off." Akbar said to Cahaya.

"Just pray that I can remain istiqomah." Said Cahaya smiling while continuing to dry his clothes.

"Ciyee, who has repented, wears a headscarf." Iyan appeared while looking at Cahaya with gratitude.

"Alhamdulillah, I hope you can continue to be istiqomah like Riri." Iyan said to Cahaya.

"Amen." Cahaya agreed with Iyan's hope.

"Eh, haven't you left for work yet?" Akbar asked Iyan.

"This is also about to leave. I'll work first. Pray for me, Bar, that I will be strong." Iyan said smiling and then left.

"Where does Iyan work Bar? At your father's place?" asked Riri curiously.

"Yes, he's desperate to become a construction worker. He said, instead of having nothing to do in the evacuation center. Even when there is work, he doesn't get paid. So he tried working at my father's place." Akbar replied.

"Wow, I want to work too. Hem where?" she asked confused at the thought. He had now finished drying his clothes. Light had also finished drying his clothes.

"It's hard Ri, to find work in times like this. I think you should stay in the evacuation center first. Because everything is not stable yet. The shops in this area are still not finished building. Restaurants and supermarkets have not yet been built." Akbar explained while walking with Bintang in his arms. The three of them then sat on the side of the tiled floor.

Elsewhere, Iyan walked about 150 meters. At the end of the street he met a big road. There he stopped and waited for an angkot.

Not long after, he saw a yellow angkot and he stopped it. Then he got into the angkot.

Now he arrived at a housing estate. And

"Om!" called Iyan to Akbar's papa.

Papa Akbar turned around and smiled to see Iyan at his workplace.

"Come here Yan!" Papa Akbar waved his hand.

Iyan walked through the neatly organized gravel, sand and bricks.

"You can help stir the cement, can't you?" asked Papa Akbar, noticing Iyan's short body.

"I can, it's easy!" said Iyan enthusiastically. He had once helped his father repair a damaged wall. But he saw so much cement and sand.

"O God, give me the strength to stir this much cement," Iyan said with hope in his heart.

"Alright, you do it! When you're done, you'll install the tiles. You will be taught by that man." Akbar's father pointed to a man who was laying tiles.

"Okay, ready!" Iyan immediately did his job.

Elsewhere, Cahaya was helping with the cooking in the communal kitchen. Meanwhile, Riri and Akbar were still casually looking after Bintang.

"Where's my writing? Have you read it yet?" asked Riri curiously.

"I read it last night." Akbar said smiling to himself.

"Why are you funny reading my writing? Is my writing bad?" asked Riri sullenly.

"It turns out you can write too." Akbar said with admiration.

"Yes, it was you who told me to write."