GIFT FROM GOD

IN CAFETARIA

Entering the cafeteria door, Malik and Isha spontaneously became the center of attention because this was the first time Malik had come with a woman who seemed so familiar. What made the scene even stranger was when Malik brought a food box. Several pairs of eyes that saw them were most surprised to see Malik, who was known not to be very close to girls, now came to the canteen with a girl —a beautiful new student—and even brought lunch.

Even though this made Malik awkward, he had promised Rosminah to take care of Isha so she would be comfortable at school. What's certain is that Malik doesn't want anyone to bother Isha because rumors from yesterday's exam said that one of the new students had become the target of her schoolmates.

Even though they didn't mention that the name of the girl they were after was Isha, Malik felt uncomfortable. Several times, Malik heard Isha's name mentioned by them.

"Let's just sit on a bench near the window," said Malik while leading Isha's steps to a bench nearby.

Isha nods, and the two head there. Several benches are still empty because the canteen's capacity is large enough to accommodate students taking breaks simultaneously.

"What do you want to drink? Fruit juice?" asked Malik when they sat facing each other and opened their lunch.

"Just mineral water," Isha replied.

"Cold, what usual?" asked Malik as she stood up.

"A cold one," Isha replied.

"Okay, you wait here and don't go anywhere. Okay?" said Malik, giving a message to Isha, to which the girl nodded.

Malik immediately headed to the drinks counter and grabbed two bottles of mineral water for Isha and himself.

"Tomorrow, I will tell Aunt Ros, don't bother making food for me," said Malik when they both started eating.

"Mother who wants, not me," Isha replies casually.

"But I feel uncomfortable because this is quite troublesome, Sha," continued Malik.

"Yes, tomorrow I will tell my mother." Finally, Isha answered.

Malik smiles, seeing Isha relents. Tumen wants to give in. Usually, this girl would choose to continue to answer. But Malik didn't mind because that was Isha's character. Always living enough and being an only child made Isha feel she had to be the center of attention, as was how her family treated her, especially.

"Tomorrow again, if you want lunch, I'm not here to accompany you; you better bring a friend." Malik gave a message in between meals.

Isha stopped chewing and looked at Malik.

"So what?" asked Isha, not understanding why Malik ordered like that.

"Sometimes there are groups of students who are nosy towards new students. You'd better be careful. They sometimes bully them regardless of who is bullied," Malik answered.

Isha nods in understanding and goes back to eating.

"Are they troubling?" asked Isha.

"Several times, it did cause quite a big problem because they were on the wrong target. What they bullied turned out to be the son of a council member. At the same time, the bully is the son of the owner of this school foundation. So, yes, the resolution is a bit complicated," explained Malik, explaining the incident a few months ago.

Isha nodded in understanding.

"How was it in class? Have you made any new friends?" asked Malik, finishing his meal.

Isha looked at Malik with twinkling eyes. The girl nodded with a big smile. "Already. She asked to sit on the bench next to me, which happened to be empty earlier," Isha answered.

"What is the name? Is she okay?" asked Malik successively.

Isha chuckled.

"You've only known her name for a day, Guy. Yesterday at the prospect was still random, so I just met you, right? Who knows whether it's good, Brother?" answered Isha.

"Yes, at least what impression did you have when you first interacted with her?" Malik asked, almost like an interrogation.

"If you feel for a moment, anyway, she's good." Isha guessed how she felt when interacting with Risna for the first time.

"Wait a minute! Is it a boy or a girl from your seatmate?" asked Malik probingly.

Isha is annoyed and clucked.

"She's a girl, Brother. Her name is Risna." Isha answered while pouting, making Malik laugh, seeing Isha irritated with his overprotectiveness.

It is undeniable that Malik has always been very protective of Isha. He often protects Isha beyond usual. Malik always can't let Isha get hurt or cry, even though Isha sometimes cries because of her actions. But Malik always can't be angry with this little girl who is now starting to grow into a teenage girl.

"Yes, I asked you. Maybe it's a boyfriend, right?" joked Malik.

Isha, who had finished eating, then drank the mineral water that Malik had bought earlier. After that, she looked at Malik questioningly.

"So what if he's a man?" Isha asked, curious about Malik's answer.

Malik glared at Isha to remind the beautiful and adorable girl sitting before him.

"Aren't you and Aunt Rosminah not allowed to date?" asked Malik, reminding me.

Dug!! Isha kicked Malik's shin with the toe of her new shoe, making Malik wince in pain.

"Isha? What's the matter, anyway?" asked Malik, grimacing in pain.

"What's wrong with reminding me about that? If you and Mom are always like that, no one will want to be with me even when I'm old!" scolds Isha with a frown.

Once again, Malik laughed at Isha's funny face. In Malik's eyes, this is the most beautiful face Isha has because, with this expression, Isha looks very straightforward.

"Don't worry, you won't be an old maid," said Malik casually.

"If you and Mother are always like that, yes, of course, I will become an old maid," grumbled Isha.

"No way. Because I will marry you," Malik answered without a smile.

Hearing Malik's answer, Isha became furious again. So Isha kicked Malik again in the shins, and the man grinned again.

"It hurts, Isha!" Malik glared.

"Watch out if you say remarry!" Isha grumbled.

"Yeah, I won't say anymore. But how does my leg hurt because you kicked it twice?" asked Malik while rubbing his sore leg.

"There are those who are willing to treat. You want?" asked Isha with a knowing smile.

Even though Malik was annoyed, seeing Isha's smile, his pain suddenly disappeared somewhere.

"Who? You?" asked Malik enthusiastically.

"Yee ... who also wants to treat?" Isha grumbled.

"So who?" asked Malik.

"Risna," Isha answered in a low voice as if she worried someone would hear her.

Malik frowned.

"Risna? Risna, who?" asked Malik, not understanding.

"Tsk! You are old, senile! I just forgot." Isha grumbles.

"Not because you are old and senile, Sweet Sister. But because I don't have a friend whose name is Risna," Malik answered innocently.

"Risna is my deskmate, and I told you earlier, Brother. She has a crush on you," said Isha innocently.

Hearing Isha's words, Malik smiled wryly.

"Crush? How can you say you have a crush you've never met?" asked Malik.

"You were never met. But Risna has seen you several times," Isha replied.

"You're too young to talk about dating. Just study so that you graduate with good grades, enter college well, graduate with a degree, and work. Just talking about boyfriends so that I won't become an old maid," Malik grumbled, avoiding conversations about women.

If this were the case, Isha would no longer dare to make fun of Malik because Malik would get angry if he heard things like this. Because this is not the only time Isha's friends have sent greetings to Malik through Isha. Even many of Isha's school friends in junior high did it because Isha was Malik's only close friend.

When Isha was packing their lunch boxes because break time was almost over, suddenly, three male students approached them with an arrogant attitude and mocking looks.

"Oh, so this is the one named Syalaisha Ghazali who was the talk of the town yesterday among the student council?" one of the three men started the conversation.

Isha was surprised to be called out by the unfamiliar student. She looked up at the student who had spoken earlier. But Isha gasped when she saw who it was.

He is ….

***