“So, whom are you taking here for? Kyai Salman’s children?” my next question.
“Yes,” he answers curtly.
“Who is she?”
“Amalia Jun, still remember her? Ning Lia, you must remember her. The third Kiai’s daughter,” by this time Hakim’s answer is not accompanied by laughter anymore. Maybe he feels his life path is too flat. From childhood, he served Kyai Salman even until old age.
“Oh, that is Ning Amalia. Many years ago, when I was still there, she was still a kid. Hmm, what major is her daughter studying in? The graduation is today too?” my curiosity about my Islamic boarding school family when I was in senior high school is increasingly spreading in my mind.
“Medical School, Jun,” Hakim answers.
“Doctor? Wow, that’s great. She is the grandson of Kyai Salman. She deserves it, “I say between salute and concern.
The next instant I say goodbye because I have to attend my son’s graduation in the hall. Previously we have exchanged cellphone numbers. While walking, I am still thinking about Hakim. He hasn’t changed much.
And I continued to move to the centre of the event. The building where the graduation ceremony is held is full of excitement. It is very festive. There are thousands of graduates, so we have to wait for hours.
“Dad, wake up, Dad,” my wife’s applause and loud voice at the tip of my ear immediately startle my sleepiness.
I stutter awake. My eyes still feel very heavy to open. “What is the hell, Mom?” I am asking with a bit annoyed.
“This is Haraz; he sends a WhatsApp message to me. He says that his shoes are broken. The soles of the shoes are loose!” my wife says in a panicked expression. My sleepiness immediately disappeared.
“How does it come?” I say spontaneously. “Then, what should I do?” I mutter in confusion.
“Buy glue, while it’s not time to go in front of the stage yet.”
I immediately contact Marwan. Damn! I don’t have enough credit. My wife’s credit is also absent. When I send him the message WhatsApp, it turns out to check. Everything feels chaotic. We are baffled.
Suddenly, I think of Hakim, my friend who is stupid, but has a kind heart. He will definitely help me. I am immediately looking for the number on my cellphone. I hurriedly send him a WA message.
A few minutes later, the cellphone in my pocket vibrates. I immediately open it, only to receive a piece of terrible news. Hakim couldn’t help me because the atmosphere was so crowded that he couldn’t get out. I stroke my chest accompanied by expletives and complaints. My wife looks increasingly panicked, blaming me for not being able to do anything to save her child’s special day.
“What if Haraz wears my shoes? Not so bad, right? “suddenly, I have the sense to get around the situation. Loafers, when I was a teacher, I thought it was still good. I used to be an Arabic teacher before resigning because I didn’t like the salary. Haraz will not lose his good looks just by wearing these shoes, I thought. The next instant, my wife asked Haraz to meet me. And it turns out to be true. His shoes are the size of my shoes. Finally, we exchanged shoes. And so, until the end of the event, I wear shoes whose soles are almost loose. It is a bit tragic and touching. But for the sake of children, this is something to be proud of and will be a memory that will never be forgotten.
Yes, until finally at the end of the event. We all gather to go home immediately, including Haraz. He has left his boarding house.