CRY AND ANGRY

On a school park bench in the midst of a soft drizzle that occasionally drips on Gita and Zaki's faces. The two of them sat there together and still understood the words that Ms. Shifa had told them earlier.

'Please don't be angry, Gita, Zaki! Try to understand the feelings of parents who want to see their children's future be good! You can show them that your relationship is a healthy teenage relationship and nothing bad is going on!' Mrs. Shifa's words echoed in Gita's mind.

"Zaki… didn't I do anything wrong to you? I didn't offend your parents either, did I? Even if we're talking on the phone, we don't have anything weird to talk about, do we? Then why are your parents like this?"

"I was cornered by them. And their perception of them wanting your future to be better, makes me feel that I'm the one who is blocking your good future!" Gita said to Zaki who was still silent.

The atmosphere was quiet again when Zaki was unable to answer Gita's words. Zaki is also confused as to why an ordinary relationship like theirs can become a serious topic and bring the problem to school.

Gita looks like she is pulling and exhaling violently before saying a shocking sentence to Zaki.

"Zaki, let's end this relationship!" This short sentence from Gita immediately made Zaki turn to Gita.

"Gita… What did you just say?" Zaki asked for a moment.

"Parents are everything to us. God's blessing begins with a parental blessing. If your parents don't allow this simple relationship, that's fine! We don't need to force anything! For whatever reason, I'm fine with all these decisions!" said Gita calmly.

"I'm the one who's not okay! You have to understand my feelings and position, Gita! On the one hand, there are my parents and on the other there are you. We've only been in this relationship for two months and now you're saying that we should end this relationship?" said Zaki angry at Gita's suggestion.

"Then what do you want? We are still unstable teenagers, Zaki. We are still dependent on our parents. You or I can't deny the fact!"

"Despite the fact, I have started to love you, but in the end, we have to end this good and simple relationship of ours. Maybe this is the best way. We must focus on our education and continue to be filial to our parents!" while smiling Gita advised Zaki, even though Gita's heart was very sick.

"No! It's just a trivial matter, Gita. I can explain all this to my father. Please be patient, okay?" Zaki persuades the Gita. However, Gita's headshake means rejection and makes Zaki even sadder.

"You're right. Indeed what we are dealing with is a trivial matter but please start thinking from now on!"

"Even though we're not dating, but now we can be friends and we're getting closer to each other. We can be more comfortable talking, playing, or discussing anything. Isn't that all we've been doing for the past two months, hmm?"

"I don't rule out the possibility that one day we will be reunited by destiny to have a romantic relationship again. The moment where we are ready to live this good relationship with better conditions. Be it age, thoughts, and circumstances. If indeed we are destined to be together again, one day it will happen. And if not, can't we still be good friends?" asked Gita trying to encourage him.

"I refuse!" Zaki refused.

"I don't want this relationship to end! You don't know there are a lot of other guys who want you to be their girlfriend! You don't know, if I let you go you'll be the subject of all the boys in this school, and maybe outside! I will not let you go, Gita! Will never!" continued Zaki.

"Do you think refusing what I said would be good for you and for me? Think about what your parents thought of me! They don't like me around you!"

"Zaki, until this moment you live from your parents. You don't deserve to disappoint your parents because of me, the girl who has only been in a relationship with you for two months!"

"I also don't want to be a woman that your parents don't like. So I want to stop here!" Gita said once again.

"It turns out that from the start you really couldn't love me. Maybe this incident was what you expected and was the reason you stayed away from me so you could be with other people, right?"

"Yeah, well... From now on, let's just pretend we've never known each other. Thank you, Gita! This pain is excruciating!" Zaki replied as he walked away but was stopped by Gita.

"Why are you like this, Zaki? I never said love doesn't mean I don't love you and who told you that I would date someone else again?" Gita's anger overflows.

"You're wrong, Zaki! After this, I will not date anyone again, unless my soul mate is close I will get married immediately!" whether it was an oath or just a word of anger that came out of Gita's mouth, those words were immediately greeted with a cold wind passing through them.

"Okay. I'll remember your promise, Gita! And stick to what you said earlier. If I knew you were in a relationship with someone else, you'd see what I can do to the guy you're your partner with!" Zaki threatened Gita.

Cold winds, cloudy skies, light rain, and broken hearts have completed Gita's sad day.

Gita just felt the beauty of dating in her teens, and it was her first experience of being happy and sad at the same time with rejection, which Gita herself didn't know the exact reason for.

•••

Today school finished early. At eleven o'clock the end bell rang. Barra, who was caught on the night shift, immediately drove to pick up her beloved sister as usual.

"Bro, let's not go straight home, okay?" the Gita asked Barra.

"So what? Are you having a problem? Fighting again or getting scolded by your teacher again, hmm?" Barra asked casually.

Gita refused to answer and just shook her head.

Barra sensed something was wrong with his sister so Barra turned his motorbike to stop at a young coconut stall around the road near Gita's school.

"Why do we stop here, Bro Barra?" Gita asked confused.

"Let's have a drink first, I'm thirsty!" Barra gave an excuse even though Barra meant to chat and ask the reason for Gita's current moodiness.

"What are you doing? Is there nothing you want to tell me?" Barra started his questioning.

Gita took a deep breath and looked like she was about to start her story.

"I'm angry, upset, sad, confused. I feel like I want to beat someone up but I don't know who I'm going to beat up!" Gita started to talk.

Before Barra asked, Gita immediately continued her story, "I broke up with Zaki, Bro!"

Barra choked on the coconut water he drank when he heard the last sentence of the Gita.

"What are you doing, Bro? Why are you like a baby just learning to drink, huh?" Gita chirps in surprise.

"I'm surprised, Gita… Why did you break up?" Barra asked after calming down.

Then Gita told all the events that day which made Barra immediately make a conclusion for Gita.

"Believe in the path that Allah has made. What you are doing now is right. Maybe you were given instructions to focus more on studying first. Don't be discouraged, Allah knows better what we need than what we want because not everything we want will be good for us!" Barra gave long advice.

Hearing Barra's advice, Gita's heart, and mind were a little lighter. Barra seemed to know what was better for the Gita at this time.

A melodious call to prayer was heard, signaling the entry of prayer time. They stopped at a nearby mosque.

"Gita, pray to calm your heart!" Barra said to Gita.

Gita nodded briefly at Barra before entering the mosque.

"Oh God, please give peace to my heart and help me keep my words and promises to Zaki," Gita prayed sincerely. Gita didn't feel the burden in Gita's heart fell along with the tears that flowed. Her anger that had been unable to come out, is now gone. Carried by the tears that fell with sincerity.

On the other side of the mosque, there is Barra who also prays to God.

"If you really want my heart to be tied to Gita, please make things easy, O God... If not, then give me a hint to be more willing to see Gita happy. You, the all-knowing, really I don't want to see Gita cry for someone else..." Barra asked in his prayers.

Each of them offered sincere prayer to the Lord. They sincere their way of life in the prostration they do.

Love is a gift that no one can imagine. When and to whom love comes, no one knows that.