GIFT FROM GOD

ISHA SHELFISHNESS

Hearing Rosminah’s question, Malik looked at the woman with a passive face, then shook his head.

“He won’t forgive me, Auntie,” Malik answered wearily.

“I’m sorry, Mal. This child is indeed a bit stubborn.” Rosminah apologizes to Malik.

“No need to apologize, Auntie. Maybe it’s me who is not good at keeping her feelings. So … I have to apologize to you and Uncle Ridwan because starting tomorrow, I won’t pick up Isha anymore. She doesn’t want me to pick her up, Aunt. I’m sorry,” Malik said, nodding awkwardly.

“Oh, my God, Mal. It’s not your fault. I should apologize for all this time that has troubled you by picking up Isha daily.” Rosminah felt bad.

“It’s okay, Auntie. I don’t feel bothered. Then I’ll excuse you, Auntie,” concluded Malik, then rushed out of Isha’s house, leaving Rosminah confused.

The woman then rushed to Isha’s room. When she arrived, she saw her daughter lying on her stomach. Her shoulders occasionally shook as if she’d been crying. Rosminah then sat down slowly on the side of the bed.

“Malik has said everything. And I think ... it’s not entirely his fault,” Rosminah said softly.

Rosminah knows how Isha behaves. So she had to speak slowly. Hearing her mother’s words, Isha spontaneously turned around and looked at her mother.

“Mom, but Isha is shy. Everyone in school taunts that Isha is dating him. I am shy, Mom,” dodged Isha.

Rosmina smiled.

“Why should you care what other people say? The important thing is you and Malik don’t have any relationship other than friends, right?” asked Rosminah.

“I am just a friend with him. But him?” asked Isha, who stopped her sentence with a red face.

Rosminah looks at Isha with great curiosity. Rosminah is sure that Isha is hiding something.

“What about him?” asked Rosminah.

“He ... he ... I’m afraid he has other feelings for me,” Isha answered, still annoyed when she remembered that Malik had betrayed their friendship by placing his heart on her.

Hearing Isha’s answer, Rosminah smiled.

“That, right, is just your guess? Malik has been your friend since you were in elementary school. He already thinks of you as his little sister because our families are close to them. What if it turns out that he doesn’t like you as much as you feared? You have hated him so much, but you were wrong.” Rosminah gives her advice.

“Anyway, I don’t want to be friends with him anymore. Point!” Isha was still, as usual, stubborn.

“This stubborn and selfish nature of yours makes it hard for you to find lasting friends, right? This is Malik, who has been friends with you for a long time. Finally, you don’t get along anymore. I reminded you that it would be nice if you started lowering your selfish nature, Sha. You’re starting to grow up now, right?” Rosminah said patiently.

“So you want me to stay friends with him? So, the laughingstock of friends at school because of that photo?” asked Isha stubbornly.

“Mother doesn’t want to make you a laughing stock, Sha. But you have to be a little objective when looking at the problem. It wasn’t Malik’s fault. Try to think with a clear mind. Don’t make the mistake of hating people,” Rosminah said firmly.

“But, Mom?” Isha protested.

“Okay, Isha. I don’t want this problem to be long. If you have decided to no longer be friends with Malik, at least from now on, you must learn to be independent here and there by yourself. You have to start studying by yourself because Malik won’t help you anymore,” said Rosminah.

“You were angry with me, Mom?” asked Isha, increasingly misunderstanding.

“I only tell you what to do when you decide to stay away from Malik, Sha. I’m not angry.” Rosminah then leaves Isha’s room.

Meanwhile, Isha is annoyed that everyone seems on Malik’s side. Earlier at Risna’s school, it was the same. It’s at her mother’s house, and she is doing the same thing. Don’t they know that Malik has already taken advantage of the accident? Don’t they know she is embarrassed because the accident made her feel like being kissed by Malik?

“Eurgh...” A furious Isha hit her pillow.

***

Arriving home, Malik looked tired. His mother, who had just finished praying, looked at Malik, who looked gloomy this afternoon. Malik was not usually like that. Even though he always said hello and kissed his mother’s hand, he went straight to his room and threw his body on the simple bed. Indeed, Malik’s parents, who are teachers, always live a simple lifestyle—a house with a simple model and also a simple life.

“Shouldn’t you eat first, Mal?” asked Aminah, Malik’s mother.

“Later, Ma’am. Still full. I already ate at school,” Malik answered.

“Don’t pray first?” asked Aminah again.

“Change my clothes first, Ma’am,” Malik replied again.

Malik lay down and grabbed the cell phone he had left behind. He is looking for a chat room with Isha. Even though he had already apologized and said what he was, and Isha clarified that she didn’t want to be friends anymore, Malik still opened her profile.

He hoped Isha would contact him and remain friends as usual, even though Malik knew that Isha wouldn’t change her mind that easily, considering her stubbornness and high self-esteem.

“Mal?” called Aminah from the front door of Malik’s room.

“Yes, Ma’am,” said Malik from inside.

“May I come in?” asked Aminah.

Malik frowned. He then got up and opened his bedroom door.

“What’s wrong, Mom?” asked Malik.

“You said change clothes before praying? Why are you still wearing the uniform?” asked Aminah.

Malik smiled, ignored his anxiety, and followed his mother’s advice to change clothes and pray quickly.

“Dad’s not home yet, Mom?” asked Malik as soon as he came out of the small prayer room in their house.

“Not yet. There may be tutoring for third graders. Yesterday, he said something like that,” answered Aminah, inviting Malik to the dining room.

“I’m full, Ma’am. Isha brought food again earlier,” Malik answered, a bit in pain when he said Isha’s name.

“Well, that’s that, then. Did you see that you were moody when you came home? Are you having a problem? With friends, with teachers, or with Isha, maybe?” asked Aminah. At the same time, she was spooning rice on her plate.

Gosh! Malik pounded. ‘Did her mother notice his face just now?’

“No problem, Ma’am. It’s just that the hot weather made me a little tired and lethargic. Oh, yes, Ma’am. I’m sleepy and want to sleep. You’re okay. Eat alone?” asked Malik, then exited the dining room, leaving Aminah alone.

“Mal? I am eating alone?" asked Aminah.

“Just call Anisa, Mom, to accompany you to eat,” Malik answered from inside the room.

Aminah just frowned.

“How can you eat with Anisa? She hasn’t even left school yet,” Aminah muttered, frowning in surprise.

***