8th Ramadan (1/1)

“Hey Chun!” I push through the crowd of students, calling after that girl who would usually approach first when either of us realizes each other. But today, although I hate to admit, again, she looks even more preoccupied. I hope it isn’t about the boys matter. Girl, have some time off of them please.A flip of good-smelled raspberry scent hair slaps my face, so dramatic that it almost destroys my eyesight. “Um excuse me!” I frantically reach over to push whoever the bitc-, sorry, I mean the girl out of my way. Things have just gotten even worse when the flock of them bump me to another group who fervently gossiping over something. I don’t quite catch what are they talking about but I do understand certain of the entire conversation.The girl with straight, shiny hair confides. “Do you know guys, I heard there’s a new boy enrolling into our school. I just saw him with his guardian or something and the principal in front of the office just now.” Her friends go all swooning and urging her to describe the newbie feature. “He’s tall, handsome with those jet-black hair and thick eyebrows and the aura that could kill every girls who look at him.” Another round of swoons mixes with their high-pitched squeals break again.Oh please, stop marvelling over some guy like he is the Adonis. Prophet Yusof A.S. was better and marvel-worthy, Mashaallah!“Minha!” Finally I’m free. Chun whom I plan to storm on is surprisingly acting faster and she catches up with me first. I run up to her.“Hey Chun, what’s up?” As fast I reach her, she grabs both of my cheeks and searches my eyes. I look at her confusedly. “Wha-”“Are you okay?” I clamp my lips with eyes wide and nod vigorously. Seeing my reaction, her mouth continues dashing off. “I heard your father is in the hospital. What’s going on? Why didn’t you call me? How can you keep something like this to yourself? I’m all ears, Minha!” She almost shouts at the last part. If she is merely looked distress just because of this, Ya Allah, I’m touched, so glad.“My Dad got into a car accident last Monday. He’s okay now, no worries. Thank you, by the way, for worrying over something like this. I’m sorry I didn’t call you to inform this news. I just...”“Here, let’s get into the class first.” She grasps my right hand securely in hers and drags me, leaving me trailing like a lost child. We settle in our seat and set the bags on their places.“Really, Chun, you don’t have any idea, it went so fast, so sudden and it struck me badly in here.” Stroking my chest, I resume. “I’ve cried enough tears last night, so don’t worry about me breaking again in here. Don’t even imagine that.” I clear my throat and she chuckles, slightly comforting my not-so easy heart with temporary squeezes on my hand.“Be strong okay, Minha? I’m here for you if you need me and there are still enough spaces for you to lean on. Always count on me, no matter what.” I contemplate into her eyes, popping through her soul and break into a smile that I rarely show off to. Thank you, just thanks.We break eye contacts and she starts to turn around to sit properly, leaving me with my own world to cope with.During lunch time, Chun goes to the canteen later than usual only to reassure if I’m okay sitting by myself or if I want her to accompany me and let her starve? No way. I just say the cliché word ton of times today, okay,okay, I’m okay. In return, I send her a look that means not to run into chair again if she meets Tao there. Definitely yes she’ll meet him there. Oh, just so how bad I want to help her to get over that raven-like guy, uhm Tao I mean.Minutes later, Xiumin enters. “Assalamualaykum.” He walks steadily and sits on one of his claimed seat; Chun’s seat. “How are you?”I gaze into the soul of his eyes, watching the spirit dances all around the cornea where a glint of pitch black and dark brown hue reflect on my own. His eyes are pushed deep inside and it makes them look not too big. It is just cute to stare at, yet so tempting to let the chance of staring falls.Astaghfirullahalazim. Did I just say it?I blink and mentally knock my block with a plushie hammer. It will be less pain. “Waalaykumsalam, and...I’m...fine!” I emphasize the last part, too cheery and obvious that I’m forcing.“No you’re not.” He wags his finger and points straight onto my nose. “What did I tell you earlier? You shouldn’t keep problem to yourself when someone wants to help you so bad here. The least I can do is share the hard time you’re facing at the time. That’s what Muslim fellowships are bound to be, to tie a strong and intense knot of ukhuwah amongst Muslim brothers and sisters.” He suddenly looks down, as if, is he shy?“Why do I sound like my father?” I can hear him perfectly mumbling to himself. Like he has never said something so good, ethical and mature beyond Islamic belief, he turns to look at me again and composes the contour of his, also cute to be stared at, face. His act simply stands out his baozi-like cheeks more. Mashaallah, how can it be looked so squishy?“So how’s your father?” I can see a bolt of shock strikes in front of my eyes.“How did you-”“Hey hey hey! What’s up guys?” Out of the blue, there comes a tune-off voice, hollering that screams that the owner is annoying to hell. I kind of figuring him out since I heard about the new-student-crap gossip. Feeling provoked, I turn my head at the door in the speed of light. And, the first thing that comes to my born curious mind is, why is this Persian dude doing here?I can’t control my eyes anymore but boring into his soul, shouting that his voice has just broken the glass of his own car’s window and everyone is literally getting stressed just by taking a glance at his presence. Dangerously, his lips break into a grin when we meet eyes. Please act we don’t know each other.“Salaam Minha!” Oh too late. Before I forget to mention, his smile is perilously suffocating everybody’s head with heavy, dark cloud, waited to be drenched by his spit.“Waassalam.” I mumble and shut my eyes tightly when his steps are heard nearing our spot. Oh my lovely haven-like place, don’t be polluted with this troll. I send a look at Xiumin who replies back with confused one, but keep smiling his precious smile at Ravi. They bumps fist like they are already known each other for years which is in fact, barely for hours. That’s the definition of years for guys, I guess- sounds so lame. Hence, women should be nominated as the world champion for the best definition description from now on.“Don’t tell me you’re in the same class with Xiumin, Ravi.” Listening to my hardly respond mouth, Ravi flips his head wondrously towards mine. A teasing grin creeps up his face.“What if I say yes?” I jerk an eyebrow at his fresh new question-answer.“I’ll tell Xiumin that you’re a plague so that he’ll avoid you because you’ve cooties.” As expected, he breaks out laughing, guffawing while facing Xiumin who is cupping his own mouth and muffling his laugh in a polite way.As the rude-awakening laugh comes to a halt, he slightly whines. “Aww, why’d you detest me so much? I’m a cute guy who should be loved by everyone!”“Well, that doesn’t make sense to me.”“Oh, come on.” He urges with tightly closed eyes, which reminds me of himself getting puffy eyes caused by a punch from me.“Minha, don’t take it seriously. Ravi might be rather loud and free-talking, but he’s very nice inside. Don’t you see? He’s trying to cheer you up.” Xiumin looks at me and speaks gently. I’ve been so into him lately.Did I just say that again?Back to the main point, Ravi is trying to cheer me up? But why? What for? Oh, wait! He knew too?! I mentally slap myself. Of course he knows about this, that’s one of the effects of Aunt Zheng. News spreads like an unhealed disease, making almost everyone suffers from acknowledgement.But really? The thought of him takes care something like this by lightening the mood almost for everyone; I bet he’s always boisterous at his class, is just so oblivious. Never. I never think it could happen. I never think he would. Yet, he does.Funny, isn’t it? For someone whom I knew two days ago, someone who I give a bad impression during first meet, someone to be highly assumed as annoying, someone so shiny when smiles; that is hurt, is totally covered with superficiality. If someone who can read through people with the power of hypnotization like Xiumin doesn’t reveal it, it’ll be forever less vague.“One for Ravi and zero for you, Minha!” He cackles and mouths out something like, thank you my defender, at Xiumin. I can’t believe him. As if the bell in my heart is being tinkled, an amused chuckle comes out of my mouth and vibrates through the air of the echoing, empty classroom.For real, the end of lunch time bell rings. Each student starts piling into their classrooms, flouncing and sauntering. The two boys abruptly stand up.“Oh Minha, before I forget, come with me after school ends. We’re visiting your father.” He sluggishly taps my shoulder. “Miss me okay?” He winks. If you’re wondering why, that’s the reason I say he is annoying. So, so annoying.“See you anytime, Minha.” Xiumin smiles and along with that annoying brat, they utter salaam. Oh Allah, may be peace upon them both too. Getting all light-headed, I begin fishing for Chun. Maybe this time, I’ll greet her with something like, oh, how’s eating? What’d you eat just now? Did you meet Tao?Oh, stop it.Sometimes, it takes forever for someone to realize what people true intentions are.