Arrival of Friends

Throughout the journey to Yogyakarta, Gus Azzam and Ning Azzahra were silent without making a sound. While driving the car, Gus Azzam played music to break the silence. Ning Azzahra pretended not to hear, and the girl leaned back and closed her eyes.

"Tut.. tut.. tut.." suddenly Ning Azzahra's cell phone rang. Suddenly the girl opened her eyes and took out the cell phone which was kept in her handbag.

Gus Azzam didn't speak, the young man just glanced at his wife then moved his left hand to reduce the volume of the music. After taking her cell phone, Ning Azzahra was surprised to see who was calling her. The girl suddenly became nervous and did not immediately accept the call. But when she realized her husband was indifferent, the girl slowly scrolled through her cell phone screen.

"Assalamu alaikum..." in a low voice, Ning Azzahra was heard receiving the call.

"Wa alaikum salam Zahra... It's me, Zaidan..." The tone of a man's voice reached Gus Azzam's ears. But the young man seemed to ignore him.

"Emmmpphh... yes Zaid, I heard it. Is there important information for me? Currently, I am on my way to Yogyakarta. In about two hours, I will arrive at the boarding house." Not paying attention to Gus Azzam, Ning Azzahra responded to Zaidan's call,

"Okay, Zahra, be careful. I'll come to your boarding house tonight. It's uncomfortable talking on the phone, especially when you're moving." Zaidan replied.

"Okay, Zaidan... I'll wait. Thank you in advance, assalamu alaikum." Not wanting to prolong the conversation, Ning Azzahra ended the call.

'Wa alaikum salam.."

Ning Azzahra put her cell phone in her bag, and feeling like she was about to reach her destination, the girl straightened the back of her chair. Without speaking, Gus Azzam just glanced at what he was doing for a few moments. But suddenly...

"If you don't tell me where I'm taking you, will I just drop you off at the northern ring road...?" Gus Azzam's voice was heard asking Azzahra.

"If you think I deserve to get off the side of the road, do it..." Instead of feeling anxious about Gus Azzam's words, Ning Azzahra bravely responded.

"You have big guts... But I don't know if Umi and Abi suddenly scold me because of your ridiculousness. Send shared location; I will take you there directly." Gus Azzam sighed but didn't want to argue with his wife.

Lazy to answer, Ning Azzahra took out her cell phone again. After a few moments, the sound of an incoming message was heard on Gus Azzam's cell phone. Because the young man put his cell phone on his front dashboard, while driving the car, one hand looked at the incoming message. After seeing the location point, without speaking Gus Azzam stepped on the gas pedal to increase the speed of his car.

**********

Astina Apartment

Ning Azzahra looks busy arranging clothes in the cupboard. Meanwhile, Gus Azzam was seen sleeping on the bed. The young man was allowed to rest for a while after driving from East Java. Ning Azzahra didn't have the heart to throw him out, because after all, the two of them were husband and wife.

"Ting..." suddenly heard the doorbell.

The girl put the clothes into a pile, then slowly stood up and walked towards the door. Through the small hole in the door, Ning Azzahra saw who the guests were.

"What...?? Zaidan... what if Gus Azzam knew I was receiving male guests..." Ning Azzahra looked confused for a moment. The girl hesitated to open the door.

But after sighing, and looking at her husband who was fast asleep, the girl finally comforted herself.

"Why should I be afraid... isn't my relationship with Gus Azzam just on a piece of white paper? Apart from that, Gus Azzam and I are strangers, and I also consider Zaidan."

After successfully controlling her feelings, the girl's hand slowly turned the door handle. A sweet smile greeted Ning Azzahra at the door.

"Afternoon Zahra... sorry I came early. Tonight, I will play futsal with my friends, so I came at this time." Zaidan greeted Azzahra and explained his arrival.

"No problem Zaid... sit down first. I'm just relaxing, just tidying up the clothes in the cupboard." To make her male college friends comfortable, Azzahra tries to relax.

The girl led Zaidan to the small living room in the apartment. After arriving at the sofa, the girl sat down first. Not long after, Zaidan followed the girl to sit down.

„By the way... where have you been Zahra. I tried to contact you, but your cell phone was always off. Even your social media doesn't seem active." To show concern, Zaidan confirmed Azzahra's absence.

The girl didn't answer immediately, just smiled bitterly. His face looked a little tired, but he didn't dare to tell what was happening in his life. Until finally..

„I miss Umi and Abi in the village... Zaid. That's why I came home suddenly, didn't tell anyone. And you probably know for yourself, don't you, what happens when you meet your family? We definitely won't have time to open the cell phone..." Azzahra made an excuse.

"You're right, Zahra... I was the same way when I returned to my hometown. It's just that my parents' house is far away in Kalimantan, so I can't go home all the time when I miss papa and mama." Not feeling that he was being lied to by Azzahra, Zaidan responded.

Azzahra smiled again, her face flat. There was pain when he lied to his college friend.

„Zaid... you came here, you must have important information about college, right? What, tell me please."

When Azzahra remembered that her husband was in the room, the girl asked Zaidan to the point. It seemed like he wanted to speed up the conversation.

"You're in such a hurry Zahra... It looks like you're pushing me away from going home..." Zaidan smiled and teased the girl.

"Earlier he said Zaid would play futsal. "So you have to prepare your equipment... Besides, I'm going to sleep quickly, because I'm quite tired from traveling from East Java." Azzahra defended herself.

"Ha.. ha.. ha.. yes Zahra is beautiful. I want to invite you to take part in the Student Exchange program abroad. All financing is borne by the government..." the man laughed broadly, but continued with the purpose of his arrival.

Hearing the words student exchange, Azzahra's heart started beating again. From a long time ago, the girl had a dream to take part in this activity, together with her friends. However, Azzahra remembered her current position. He is not like he used to be, because he is married, even though the marriage for him is fake.

"Why are you daydreaming Zahra... It's not like you were the one who kept inviting me and other friends to join. Why is your reaction so different now...?" Seeing Azzahra silent, Zaidan flicked the girl.

"Yes, Zaid... It's just that, for this period, I don't think I'm ready to join Zaid. It's too complicated, it's just that I'm not ready to tell you yet..." Azzahra gave a soft response, and Zaidah looked serious when she heard it.

Feeling that Azzahra seemed to object to telling him about his problem, Zaidan didn't force it and the man took a deep breath. Both of them were silent and stared ahead. Suddenly, without them realizing it, the door to Azzahra's room opened from the inside. Zaidan was surprised to see a young man come out of his friend's room...