Greets Us During Separation

Three years passed, I moved up to Madrasah Tsanawiyah, while Kang Ali went to Madrasah Aliyah. As usual, Kang Ali and I ran across the fields behind the Islamic Boarding School. We rested in the hut that had always been our place to exchange stories.

But today, my spirit was weak, burdened by an immense weight. When Kang Ali spoke to me, he mentioned that he would be going to a new Islamic Boarding School.

"Kayla, soon I will be staying at a new Islamic Boarding School."

"Kang Ali, are you joking?" I said with teary eyes.

"No, Kayla, I'm serious," he replied, looking at me with a somewhat melancholic expression.

"Can't you stay here, Kang?"

"Kayla, knowledge is vast and limitless. You also need to explore the outside world to gain more experiences. Don't confine yourself within the walls of this Islamic Boarding School."

"But if Kang Ali leaves, who will I be with?"

"We have Mas Syarif, Mbak Azizah, Pakdhe, Budhe, Umi, Abah."

"But it won't be the same without Kang Ali," I said, holding Kang Ali's hand.

"Don't leave, Kang," I expressed my desire to always be with Kang Ali. Perhaps I had even become entangled in a puppy love situation between an abdi ndalem and his mistress.

Kang Ali looked at me with emotion in his eyes. I hugged him, and he embraced me back. No one could hold him like I did, except for his mother.

"Kayla, study diligently, okay? Kang Ali loves Kayla."

"Kayla loves Kang Ali."

It was a touching moment. The sky turned overcast, and the clouds seemed to cry along with us, understanding our feelings at that moment. I couldn't bear to see Kang Ali go.

But I couldn't stop him because his intentions were good for seeking knowledge. Unbeknownst to me, tears started to fall. I had to part ways with my playmate and the caring elder brother who had sometimes turned into more than just a brother in my eyes.

Suddenly, his hand held mine as I was about to leave the hut. His gaze was still fixed on me, and he smiled through teary eyes.

Could it be that he didn't want to leave me after all? But then, why did Kang Ali do it? Or perhaps Abah had ordered him to stay at a different Islamic Boarding School.

We headed back to the boarding house, and everyone saw us holding hands. It seemed that Abah understood I would not willingly part with Kang Ali. He approached me.

"Nduk, Kang Ali's departure is for the sake of seeking knowledge."

"But, Bah..."

"Kayla also wants Abah to place you at his friend's Islamic Boarding School."

"Huh? Isn't it the same as Kang Ali?"

"No, Kayla."

"Kayla doesn't want it, Bah!" I shouted and went inside, crying, lamenting my fate and destiny to be separated from someone very close to me.

Like flowers and butterflies,

This story's pages won't end,

Even as distance separates,

The feeling will remain in the heart.

Yes, I felt that Kang Ali wasn't just an abdi ndalem. He was more than that. Someone different from the other ikhwan out there. His patience in dealing with my chatter and his simple style made me feel comfortable.

His beautiful demeanor was a sight to behold. His faith radiated through his noble character, bringing peace to my heart.

I still stared at the crown of rice flowers he gave me. He was like rice, never feeling proud even when he possessed knowledge, and always showing humility in all his excellence.

Who knows what will happen if I walk without him by my side. He was a good friend, a very good one, and he was also funny.

"Kayla," Umi greeted me as she approached my room.

"Yes, Mi."

"Be patient, dear. Umi knows that Kayla is close to Kang Ali."

"Why, Mi? Why doesn't Abah allow Kayla to stay at the same Islamic Boarding School as Kang Ali?"

"Knowledge is limitless, dear. Every Islamic Boarding School has its own knowledge and blessings. Abah wants both of you to absorb the knowledge at your new Islamic Boarding Schools to help develop our own Abah's Islamic Boarding School."

I was just puzzled. What for? Abah had his own methods for teaching his students at Al-Fatah Islamic Boarding School. I could only follow Abah and Umi's wishes.

One week passed, and Kang Ali and I had to leave Al-Fatah Islamic Boarding School to go to new Islamic Boarding Schools. Kang Ali went to an Islamic Boarding School in Jombang, while I had to stay at an Islamic Boarding School in Gresik.

Yes, now we were far apart. Maybe I would finish my junior high school and senior high school at the Islamic Boarding School.

We left in the Islamic Board

ing School's vehicle, accompanied by Abah and Pakdhe Ishak. Kang Ali and I sat in the middle seats with a heavy heart.

Today, I had to part with someone I held dear. An abdi ndalem who had always been with me every day, now I would never see him in my line of sight.

My tears seemed to want to fall onto my scarf more and more as time passed. I saw that Kang Ali's eyes were teary too, but he managed to hold back his tears. I couldn't stop my own tears from flowing.

Kang Ali handed me his handkerchief, gently wiping my tears. I could only look at him.

"Dek, don't cry anymore," Lek Ali said to me.

"But, Kang..."

"Promise me, when you're at the Islamic Boarding School, you won't be naughty, study hard, excel, and stay humble," he said, patting my head.

"Kang Ali, don't forget Kayla," I said to him.

But Kang Ali just laughed. "Why are you laughing, Kang?" I pouted, and that made him laugh even more. Abah and Pakdhe just smiled at my antics beside Lek Ali.

"Ning Kayla is quite unique, Ning, Kang Ali will never forget Ning Kayla; Ning is the world's most talkative," Kang Ali said.

"Kang!!" I shouted; he was really annoying. At a sad moment like this, Kang Ali could still laugh, and I saw his laughter intensify. I could only stay silent and watch him.

"Oh, by the way, Kang Ali owes Ning Kayla something," he said, making me confused. What kind of debt was he talking about? I didn't think Kang Ali owed me anything.

"Huh, puzzled?" he continued, making me rack my brain to figure out what debt he meant.

"Lirr-Ilir," he hummed.

Hmm, now I understood what debt he was referring to. It turned out that he was referring to the meaning of the song "Lir-Ilir" by Mbah Sunan Kalijaga.

He continued to interpret the song, and I just listened.

"Dodotiro... dodotiro... Your clothing... Your clothing... 'Dodot' is a long piece of cloth used to cover the lower part of the body, whether it's a man or a woman, it's called 'aurat' or one's dignity as a human. If the 'aurat' is left exposed without a cover and displayed to every person, there will no longer be a difference between a human and an animal."