NINE

"Eat slowly. Must have forgotten to read the prayer before eating." Iyan's voice sounded teasing. Iyan immediately sat down next to Riri who was now smiling even though her mouth was full of food.

Riri chewed her food briefly, then said.

"Yes, I forgot to read the prayer." Riri then prayed immediately. Afterward, she thanked Iyan for reminding her.

"Next time don't forget to pray. You'll eat with the devil." Iyan said clearly.

"Ih astaghfirullah hal adzim. I don't want to eat with the devil." Riri said and drank some water.

"Let's finish eating again." said Iyan.

"It's all gone." Riri squeezed the rice wrapper and then pressed the rice wrapper on the trash can that was one meter in front of her.

"Yey, it's in!" Riri exclaimed as she saw the trash right in the bin.

"What a slacker." Iyan said with a grimace of laughter.

"Oh yeah, how was your work on the first day?" asked Riri curiously.

"I'm really tired Ri, I'm so dizzy I'm going to faint." Iyan said while shaking his head.

"Well then what do you do, are you still strong or not? If you're not strong, you better back off. What if you get sick?" Riri imagined a sick Iyan. Who would take care of Iyan later.

"Maybe I only had a little breakfast when I was going to work, so at work I got dizzy and fainted. But luckily lunchtime came. I immediately ate a hearty lunch," Iyan explained, imagining himself at work.

"Alright, tomorrow, don't be late for breakfast and eat a lot. So that you are strong at work. How do you work? You're serious, aren't you still strong?" asked Riri to ensure Iyan. Because she saw Iyan who was shorter than Akbar and had a small body like him. Riri felt unsure about Iyan's ability to work.

"He works as a construction worker. Lifting this and that. Cement here and there. Holding a nail with a saw. All sorts of things. But I've only been mixing cement and laying tiles. I'm still being taught that. If you say I'm strong or not, I have to be strong. Because work is an act of worship. Besides, if I don't work there. Where else would I work? All the files to register as a factory worker or employee are gone." Iyan explained with his eyes looking at the night atmosphere.

From the side, Riri could see how strong Iyan was. Iyan had a strong stand and Iyan was a very hardworking man.

"Keep up the good work, Yan. You can do it." Riri encouraged Iyan with admiration for the man beside her.

"When will I leave this refugee camp?" asked Iyan, looking up at the sky. He imagined a miracle would happen soon. He was very bored living in the refugee camp. He wasn't ungrateful, but he just wanted a more comfortable life.

"Huh? You want to leave, Yan?" asked Riri in shock. For some reason hearing Iyan's words made her feel like she was going to lose something.

"I was just asking. When can I leave this refugee camp. You asked me back." Iyan said, looking at Riri anxiously.

"Hehehe." Riri grinned in front of Iyan.

"I already want to live in a normal and comfortable atmosphere. Maybe when my salary is full. I'll look for a boarding house around my workplace." Iyan said seriously this time.

"Well, you've thought so far, I still don't know the path of my life." Riri was silent as she imagined her life without her mother. All this time she had been spoiled by her mother. Even washing clothes was done by her mother. Cooking was something she had never experienced.

"Earlier, when I spread my mother's data, I met my father." said Riri who began to tell the story.

"So what do you think?"

"He offered for me to live with him. But I said I still feel at home in the refugee camp." Riri explained with a flat face. She didn't know whether what she said was true or not to her father.

"How can you say that? Do you really want to live with your father?" asked Iyan as if interrogating the girl in front of him.

"Hem, yes. I really want to continue to be with my father. But I feel bad about having to live with your new wife." Riri said as if complaining.

"If you ask me. You should just stay with your father. Maybe later you can talk to each other and express what you feel all this time. You are also confused about where to go. Even if you want to work, you're still confused. It's better if you come with your father. Let's try it first. Don't think about your stepmother. I'm sure you'll miss your father too, Ri." Iyan advised Riri enthusiastically. It was as if Iyan understood how Riri should act.

"Um, is that so?" Riri was still hesitant.

"Yes, just try it first. Don't tell me that you're afraid of your stepmother." Iyan said bringing his face closer to Riri.

"Yeah, no. I'm not afraid at all. What kind of garlic am I. I'm afraid of my stepmother." Riri defended herself.

"Eh it's okay, garlic is good. Don't you want to be a good person?" Iyan asked boldly.

"If I want to be a good person, I will." Riri smiled at Iyan.

"Hem." Iyan looked away.

"Oh yeah Ri, do you know Akbar's family? Akbar's problem I mean." Iyan felt like telling her about Akbar's problems. He really felt sorry for Akbar's fate.

"What do you mean?" asked Riri pretending not to know. Because Akbar had said that Iyan could not tell her about Akbar's writing.

"Akbar's father is cheating on him." Iyan said widening his eyes at Riri.

"Oh that. Yes, I already knew. Poor Albar." Riri said casually. It turned out that Iyan already knew about it. That meant he didn't have to hide anything about Akbar anymore.

"Hem, you already know." Iyan sighed in annoyance.

"The important thing is that we just need to encourage Akbar." Riri said confidently.

"That's right Ri, it turns out Akbar's test is harder. I thought Akbar's life was perfect. With his handsome face, his achievements, a complete family. But underneath it all, he must be feeling very sad right now. Because of his father's behavior."

"Yes, everyone must have their own trials and not everyone is perfect. One more thing, Allah must give us a test according to the ability of his servants." Riri said clearly.

"That's right, ustadzah." Iyan joked.

"Amen Ya Allah." Riri grimaced at Iyan's words.

"Do you really want to be an ustadzah?" said Iyan with a curious smile.

"Well, I don't really want to. I still have a few skills. If you pray for me to become an ustadzah. Yes, I will pray for you. That's a good prayer." explained Riri.

"Okay."