GIFT FROM GOD

DON'T WANT TO MEET AGAIN

Malik was shocked to hear Isha's request with an angry face. Of course, he couldn't have if he hadn't brought Isha home. Who will she come home with later? What if something happens on the way? What if later, Aunty Rosminah asks?

"No!" Malik refused with a firm shake of his head.

Isha frowned.

"No? Why shouldn't they?" asked Isha angrily.

"Who do you want to go home with?" Malik is a little annoyed with Isha's stubbornness, which is starting to reappear.

"I have many friends. I can ask them to be delivered," Isha replied, annoyed.

"What if something gets in the way? What if Aunty Rosminah asks why you don't come home with me?" asked Malik worriedly.

"I will explain it to my mother. But from later on, you don't have to pick me up again. Unless you deliberately want to embarrass me in front of all the students of this school!" Isha insisted.

"But you know that wasn't intentional either. I'm not the one moving anyway, am I? Why did you happen to me as if this was my fault?" Malik is out of control because Isha's sentence implies that the cafeteria incident was his fault.

Hearing those words, Isha looked at Malik with a hurt look. Tears began to well up in her eyes, making Malik confused and feel guilty for saying that. But, in this case, he wasn't the beneficiary either.

"You're mean! You don't think about how embarrassed I am to be laughed at by a schoolmate, a classmate! I hate you! From now on, we don't have to be friends anymore! No need to pick up again!" Isha insisted, then rushed to leave Malik, shocked by Isha's words.

Malik realized that Isha had walked away when the class bell rang. Malik wants to chase after him, but he knows this will only make them a free spectacle. So, with languid steps, he returned to his class.

During the last class, Malik looked restless. The explanation given by the teacher did not stop at all in his head. Mrs. Anis reprimanded Malik several times because the man looked lost in thought and was not concentrating.

What made Malik even more agitated was when Mrs. Anis didn't end her lesson even though it was ten minutes past due. At the same time, he had planned to accompany Isha, who was still home and discuss today's case with a cool head.

Malik's first step when Mrs. Anis finally ended today's lesson was to grab his bag and rush to Isha's class with vast strides, half running. But his efforts were in vain because the room was already empty when Malik arrived at Isha's style. Nobody is still there. Malik looks around, looking for Isha's whereabouts, hoping the girl is joking with what she said earlier, and waits for him to go home together.

But after Malik ran towards the parking lot, which was getting quieter, he couldn't find Isha. Malik looked around frantically. Then he saw a female student that Isha had introduced him to a while ago.

"Risna!" Malik called the girl.

Isha's friend turned and smiled at Malik.

"Yes, Brother?" said Risna, who walked closer.

"Excuse me, do you know where Isha is?" asked Malik with a face of panic and panting breath.

"In the last hour, she was allowed to go home because she was sick. So she was accompanied by a pack of school drivers," Risna answered.

"She is sick? Wasn't it still okay?" Malik asked, not believing Risna's statement.

Risa just shook her head and smiled.

"Maybe she was shocked because the whole class was looking at her with an uncomfortable look," said Risna with a wry smile.

Malik chuckled.

"Even though she knew that it wasn't intentional. Why should you be bothered, anyway?" grumbled Malik, deploring Isha's attitude of caring too much about the gossip of the school's students.

"It's also a girl's name, Brother. This is also a new case. So, yes, it's only natural that it becomes warm and discussed," said Risna.

"Yes, she is also a sensitive child, right? All right, Ris. Thank you?" said Malik.

"You're welcome, Brother," Risna replied with a sweet, almost sour smile.

His eyes stared at Malik's back, who left her with languid steps. The school was getting quiet when Malik started to drive away from the parking area. He has only one thought: come to Isha's house and apologize if this problem makes Isha uncomfortable. Malik will not calm down until everything is well done.

***

Meanwhile, at Isha's house, Rosminah, who was preparing lunch, was surprised when she heard the sound of a car, not her husband's, entering her yard. As a parent, there crossed a lousy thought. So she rushed to the front to see who had come.

"Isha? What's going on, Sha?" Rosminah asked in a panic when she saw Isha coming home with someone driving a car.

"Isha is dizzy, Mom," Isha answered languidly.

"Sorry, Ma'am. I am Mr. Bon, your mother's child's school driver. Earlier, she felt dizzy, so I had to accompany her," a middle-aged man who accompanied Isha said.

"Oh, well, Sir. Thank you for accompanying my child, Sir," Rosminah said kindly.

"You're welcome, Madam," said Mr. Bon, then returned to the car and left Mr Ridwan's yard.

After Mr. Bon left, Isha walked languidly towards her room while Rosminah followed her with hasty steps.

"Are you sick, Sha? Wasn't it still fine this morning?" asked Rosminah when she followed Isha into her daughter's room.

"Suddenly dizzy, Mom," said Isha, putting the bag on the chair and stopping in casual clothes. The girl then lay down on the bed. Rosminah approached by sitting on the side of the bed. She touched Isha's forehead.

"But not too hot?" asked Rosminah.

"But Isha is dizzy, Mom," the girl dodged.

Rosmina smiled. "Okay. Would you like me to make some hot tea?" Rosminah offered.

Isha shook her head.

"Well, that's that, then. Mother went to the kitchen first to help Aunty prepare lunch for your father," said Rosminah, then walked out of Isha's room.

"Mom…" Isha called when Rosminah reached the door.

"Yes?" Rosminah turned to Isha.

"Later… later, when Malik comes, just say Isha is sick. Isha doesn't want to meet him," Isha said sullenly.

Rosmina smiled. Her suspicions were correct. She came home not because she was sick but because of a problem. But why didn't she want to meet Malik this time? Did they fight? Isn't Malik usually the best at dealing with Isha?

Feeling uncomfortable, Rosminah discouraged her from leaving. She returned to Isha's room and sat back down on the side of the bed.

"Do you have a problem with Malik? Why don't you want to meet him?" asked Rosminah in a low voice.

Isha was silent, not wanting to answer.

"Isha?" calls Rosminah patiently.

"Anyway, Isha doesn't want to meet him anymore. Starting tomorrow, Isha doesn't want to go to school with him. Isha wants to ride a motorbike to school," said Isha with a sullen face, annoyed by the incident earlier.

"What's going on here, Sha? Your father won't permit you to go to school on your motorcycle," said Rosminah.

"Anyway, Isha doesn't want to be with him anymore. Point!" Isha insisted.

"Okay, let your father pick you up at school tomorrow. Or if necessary, we will subscribe to a motorcycle taxi," Rosminah answered, making a decision.

Isha nodded.

"But your father will ask why. Then what answer should you give him?" Rosminah asked, looking at Isha, who was still frowning.

Isha fell silent, having no answer. Then they heard the sound of a motorbike stopping in front of their house. And both Rosminah and Isha knew that the motorcycle was ready. Then, accidentally, the two looked at each other.

"Malik?" asked Rosminah.

Isha nodded.

"There's no way you can't go out to see Malik, right? So what should you say?" asked Rosminah.

"It's up to you what to say; what's certain is that Isha doesn't want to meet," concluded Isha.

***