AT NIGHT ALMOST RAIN

The days are back to normal, so is Gita. However, the atmosphere was not as relaxed as before. News about Gita's breakup with Zaki creates a stir that disturbs Gita's life every day.

Gita finds another love letter. Some express their feelings directly and some deliberately mock and tease her to attract Gita's attention.

Hah! She's tired. Gita feels that her heart is not as strong as it used to be before knowing this teenage love. Gita always feels guilty towards Zaki who often finds Gita alone with different men every day.

Zaki's hateful gaze radiated when he saw Gita as if to say 'You must keep your promise!' which made Gita's heartache even more. Even though Gita's situation at that time was only to refuse an invitation to date from another man.

'Zaki, why aren't you as gentle as before. I feel pain too! Understand it's only a matter of time. If we are destined we will be together again when we grow up. Be patient, Zaki…' Gita whispered in her heart as she watched Zaki's figure leave.

Gita no longer fights often. She always ignores anyone who approaches her and ignores love letters by only looking at the sender's name and then throwing the letter in the trash.

Her calm is always disturbed, but Gita is aware and cannot be angry. Anyone can like anyone without being banned and forced.

'Bro, what are you doing?' Gita typed a chat message to someone and a second later, Gita immediately got a reply.

'Just finished eating. Are you home yet?' answered Barra turning the question around.

'Still in front of the mosque. I'm just coming home. Well, that's that then. See you at home tonight!' Gita typed.

'Well, that's that then. Be careful on the road and don't forget to rest!' replied Barra.

Gita took a deep breath as if to represent her disheveled feelings.

Gita went home and after changing into normal clothes Gita immediately looked for activities she could do to divert heavy thoughts.

The past few days the weather seems dim and at night, it rains heavily. Seeing the sapodilla fruit scattered in the yard made Gita want to harvest the sapodilla fruit before it was harvested by the wind or bats at night.

Gita remembers Dian's order asking for sapodilla fruit to be brought from the tree in Gita's yard, which tastes sweet.

The sadness in Gita's heart was slightly diverted by sorting the sapodilla fruit which was large enough to be picked. Gita also brought a large plastic bag to hold the fruit. The results obtained are quite a lot even in a short time.

"That's a lot for Dian and Anita. I can take it tonight, too!" Gita mumbled happily.

***

At night, a group of old people and some young people as well as some mothers seemed preoccupied to hear the chanting of the holy verses read by Barra.

Yes, Barra is good at the Al-Qur'an. Instead of singing, he prefers to recite the Al-Qur'an. Reading the Qur'an will make his heart calmer.

Gita also felt serenity who listened to the melodious chanting of the verse. Gita's decision to join her father tonight was not wrong. There, her mind and heart, which had been disturbed and distracted, even seemed to be refreshed until the recitation was over and it was time to say goodbye to go home.

Mr. Hasan went home with his office mate who happened to be taking part in the recitation they attended tonight. Meanwhile, Gita was brought home by Barra with his favorite motorbike.

"Bro, I'm confused. I'm tired. I don't know why I feel sorry for not listening to what you said that time. I shouldn't have tried dating and just focused on studying," Gita complained about her regret to Barra.

"Then what do you get after dating and ending your relationship with that boy?" Barra asked in response to Gita's words.

"Sad and angry, Bro!" Gita replied, "Okay, I did end my relationship with Zaki and I thought my sadness would end, but in fact, my sadness turned into anger."

"Zaki left but other boys always came with a request for a date. All of that exhausts me because I can't repay them with my anger."

"I want to be like I used to have a quiet day at school. No one bothers me when I need to be alone. But now that calm is gone when they come to me whenever I want to be alone."

"Not to mention when I saw Zaki's intimidating gaze. It's as if they keep demanding that I keep my promise that I won't date anyone until I'm old enough to have a serious relationship."

Gita kept pouring out her heart to make it lighter. And when she talked to Barra like this, it made her feel calmer and more comfortable.

"Maybe it's because you're beautiful that they're always looking for reasons to get your attention!" Barra replied that it was because Barra was also a little irritated by Gita's complaints.

Barra's heart ignited with jealousy again.

"Geez… I'm talking about serious things but you're even -responding to my words with jokes like this!" Gita grumbled while pursing her lips.

'Oh my, sweetie… what temptation is this, my God? Just seeing her whining already makes me happy like this, what if her smile is only for me?' Barra screamed happily.

"I'm serious, Gita. You are indeed beautiful!" Barra continued praising, "Whether you're angry or smiling, you're still beautiful and sweet. Especially if your smile is only for me…"

"Why do I only show my smile to you? Please, Bro Barra, don't keep making fun of me like this!" Gita complained while patting Barra's shoulder but this time it was a little tighter than made Barra gasp in surprise.

"Ouch, Gita. Your punches hurt, Gita! We're on the road and what if we fall off the bike, huh? Luckily my heart is healthy enough to keep this bike stable! Wouldn't it be funny if we fell without wind and rain, huh?" Barra whined pitifully. Even though Gita's blow was not as painful as Barra's words.

"I'm sorry, Bro! It's all because I'm annoyed that you keep joking!" said Gita with an innocent tone and facial expression.

Barra glanced at Gita's cute face when he complained from the rearview mirror of his motorcycle. Barra muttered to himself, 'This little girl of mine is so innocent,' smiling happily.

Barra stopped his motorcycle and lowered the base of the motorcycle so that it could support the weight of the two of them equally.

Barra seemed to sigh before answering Gita's words, and this time Barra spoke with a serious tone.

Barra turned to face Gita and surprised Gita until Gita asked again.

"Why are we stopping here, Bro? Did this motorbike run out of fuel? Oh dear, then what about us now? It's already too late and it looks like it's going to rain. What if we're already waiting for mom and dad at home?"

Barra smiled when he noticed the worried look on Gita's innocent face. Barra answered all of Gita's barrage of questions earlier.

"Shhh… try to calm your anxiety first, Gita…" Barra said softly.

"I wanted to ask you, what if I told you that I like you?"

Gita froze for a moment. How could Barra say such a ridiculous thing to her?

"I like you but I don't want to date you..." Barra looked serious as he spoke, "I want to be in a relationship that is more than just dating. I want to marry you, Gita, and that's only when you're old enough to start a serious relationship later!"

"Maybe this is too soon and seems rushed for me to say, but I can't hold back this confession any longer."

"You are a beautiful, intelligent, and shining teenage girl wherever you are. A man who has you and is in a relationship with you will be very happy, and I want that lucky man to be me."

"Maybe in your ears right now all my words sound ridiculous but this is what's in my heart as long as I know and are close to you. I love you, Gita. I love you not as my adopted sister but as the woman I love!"

Barra didn't blink or turn his face away from the Gita. And Barra's attitude like that made Gita sure that at this time Barra was serious even though all of Barra's words sounded ridiculous.

She doesn't know what made Barra reveal that serious statement so easily to Gita. How could Barra consciously ask for such an impossible and ridiculous thing? Things like marriage were also mentioned by Barra without hesitation even though the fact sounded strange to both of them.

But what can he do? Love is crazy. Anyone in love can be blind to reality and deaf to voices of rejection.

Roar!

The sound of lightning along with the sound of thunder from the sky signaled that the rain was getting closer, startling the two of them from the stiff situation.

"Bro looks like we have to go home before the raindrops and wets your insane head!" Gita said the funny one with a serious face.

"It's not the rain that will make me more insane, Gita. You are the cause of my insanity. Trust me, I do love you!" Barra replied with the same seriousness.