Between Us 8

The next day, Katie was waiting in front of a Yahya's house, but… the red holiday was over. Today I'm getting ready to go back to Bandung.

"Sorry, Katie. I can't go out with you anymore. Tomorrow I have school. My vacation is over."

"Then we will continue our plan, in Bandung alone, in the village . How?"

"Very good idea, I agree."

"I will also be ready, if you arrive first call me, if I arrive first, I will call you."

"Okay…" I smiled, closing the gate with Katie who had walked quite a distance.

Towards noon, I took the bus to Bandung myself with money provided by a Yahya.

"Ana, you go home alone , can you?" Said a Yahya. I nodded, "yes."

Then, at 09.00 I was escorted by Yahya by motorbike only to the terminal, and got on the bus myself.

When on the bus, I sat in seat no 17. Beside my seat sat a boy who seemed to be my age.

The boy offered the chocolate cake that he brought with the misting of me, "Want? If you want, take it."

I shook my head, "no thanks."

"So dense, huh? To the extent that I have to sit next to my non-mahram." said the boy.

I just stood there, looking out the window.

The boy reached out his hand, "My name is Arsen , you?"

I smiled a little, "Ana." I answered briefly, without returning the outstretched hand.

Arsen mumbled "oops, I forgot. Astaghfirullah…. And Annabelle, scary too, huh?" He chuckled.

I sighed, "not Annabelle, Ana Hasannudin."

"Why is there the name Hasanudin in the behind your name? Are your parents' names Hasan? Or are you a descendant of a hero from Goa, Sulawesi ?"

"No, my parents are not Hasan. And I'm not a descendant of heroes. It's just that my father and mother gave the name of a hero after my name, because they really like Sultan Hasanudin."

"What about your brother? Was it given the name Hasanudin too?"

"No, it's just me."

"Then what is your brother's name?"

"Why are you asking? We just met right ? Don't you think I'm the same as another girl you just met. Can be asked, then…" I stopped talking.

"So what? What do you think ? I don't think anything of it. I just want to know, about your name only. Because it's unique, that's what I think."

This time I did not answer his words.

Arsen looked at me for a moment, then he smirked. Smile widely. Then play the gadget .

I ignored it.

Two hours later, Arsen is still busy with his gadgets . As for me, I'm still cool by looking out the window.

One hour later, I arrived in Bandung.

After Arsen got off the bus, I got off too.

I stepped to the right, while Arsen to the left. From here we never met again.

Until the next day, when I first entered high school, when I entered class, I saw someone familiar.

When I sat at the very front of the second row, someone scolded me.

"Assalamu'alaikum, Ana Hasannudin…!"

"Wa'alaikumsalam, Arsenic." I replied casually.

Arsen just said that, then he left the class.

My seatmate, Deswi, whispered to me, " Saha eta? Hang it ...? You already know?"

I nodded slowly, unsure.

When the lesson had started, Arsen, as if on purpose, entered the class after a physics teacher had explained the laws of physics.

But the teacher was not angry, he just lightly hit Arsen's shoulder. Then reprimand him. And Arsenic, he just laughed. Seeing that, all of their friends laughed because of Arsen 's behavior which they thought was funny.

But I think Arsen's behavior is disgraceful.

During the break, Arsen sent me a message via a letter that his friend gave me.

When I opened the letter,

Sorry if my behavior was not pleasant to you, I just wanted to make you laugh. Because as long as we met, I never saw you laugh, only smiled a little. I'm sorry…

Arsenic

I smiled, then folded the paper back and walked over to Arsenic.

"What 's so special about laughing at someone like me?" I asked curtly.

"Very special to me," Arsen replied with a smile that the other girls thought was full of charisma.

"What … ? We just met, Arsen. There's no way my laugh is so special, important, to you."

"I can't explain why , not the time. But… the time will come, when we have graduated from this school, then go to college and work. New, I'll tell you the reason."

"Your answer doesn't make any sense, Arsenic." I tried to dodge and hold back the shame. Because after all, the other friends would already know what was going on Arsenic mean.

"Sorry, Ana… I can't talk to you anymore. You are not my mahram, it is a sin if there is a man and woman face to face if not with the mahram."

" Yes, I know ." Immediately I went outside the classroom and put the letter in my uniform pocket.

Arsen looked at me when he left the classroom, he looked somber.

Class is over, time to go home. When in front of the class, from a distance someone I know is waiting for me at the gate. She is, Katie. I approached him.

" Catherine ?" I said.

Katie turned around, then returned my joke, " Annabelle ?" we laughed out loud.

Arsen who saw I was familiar with a stranger approached me quickly .

"Ana. Who's he?" he asked slowly.

"Katie, my friend. So what?" I asked, surprised.

Then before Arsen was beside me, Katie left for a while to buy some food.

"Don't get too close to strangers." He said quietly, luckily Katie was buying food so he didn't hear her.

"What do you mean ? Ah never mind. Do not bother me."

After finishing buying food, Katie asked Arsen directly, " Who are you ? Who are you?"

's new classmate ."

"Oh, okay, I'm Katie. Then Arsen, Ana and I go first , bye ..."

"Assalamu'alaikum..." whispered Arsen , looking up at the sky .

I answered shyly , "wa'alaikumsallam."

Arsene smiled.

Katie and I went to my aunt's house. I went straight into the house, took Katie. Katie sat inside, chatting with bi Ai and playing with Khoi.

Meanwhile, I changed clothes and prayed dzuhur in my room . After all that, I ate and immediately went out for a walk with Katie.

" Your auntie is kind, and the babies, he's so cute . They're good, I like it." Says Katie.

"Yeah… anyway, where are we going?"

"I want to go to the square, the Great Mosque?"

"Alright, come on …!"

We immediately departed by taking a car rented by Katie, to the Great Mosque of Bandung.

While at the grand mosque, "I often come here. Before and after renovation. Not often, just, well… a few times." I said.

"Looking at the buildings in the world, I think the mosque is the most beautiful building I have ever seen. Not only one, but indeed the most beautiful." I continued then.

"Sure, Ana. How about we travel the world, and explore mosques in every country?"

"I can't, Katie. I'm not a rich person, I have money from Yahya yesterday, I'm very grateful. Because if not from him, then from who. My aunt's economy, not very convincing. Debt… that's the reason."

"Your aunt is in debt?"

I nodded slowly, "I feel sorry for him. Due to economic problems, hah~ I can't talk anymore."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you… sad."

"A lot of things always bring me down , and it turns out, without someone I can confide in, a human being, I'm even more down . But I believe, Allah is always there for me, so I don't feel lonely…"

"Then, mmm… how about traveling around the world all the costs involved need by you, let me bear it?"

"Thank you, Kate, thank you very much. But no… I really respect your decision, but I still can't force myself to participate."

"Alright, I understand ... sorry, yeah… I just wanted to have fun with my new best friend from Indonesia."

"Yes I know. Thanks before."

After being satisfied walking around the big mosque, Katie and I stopped at a Muslim clothing store on Jalan Alun-alun Timur.

"Who do you want to buy Muslim clothes for?" I asked, confused.

Katie answered spontaneously and honestly, "for you. I like it when other people are happy."

"No need, Kate. I… honestly I don't like… sorry, sorry."

"I don't feel sorry for you, last week was your birthday right? So I'm giving her a present now. Let's just say last week I forgot."

"But right, we've only known for four days, how do you know my birthday? Alright. Kate, may Allah repay your kindness."

"Yeah...let's choose which one you want, choose which one you like, I'll buy it for you all."

I thought he was joking talking like that, but from the look on his face, there was no sign of joking at all . "You don't need a lot, just one is enough, really."

Finally I chose a classic long blue robe, with a unique veil.

However, something unexpected happened, Katie tried to wear the hijab. I accidentally saw him wearing a white hood. She looks so beautiful.

Katie mumbled "is it okay, someone like me… from a family that doesn't behave well, becomes a Muslim, like any other Muslim?"

Subhanallah, is it true what I just heard? Katie wants to become a convert? WL.

When Katie finished trying on her hood, she bought some clothes and a hood. I didn't ask what it was for , and Katie didn't explain what it was for either .

At noon, I finished the midday prayer at the great mosque. And when I was outside the mosque, suddenly someone from behind gave me a rose. But I didn't take it.