GITA HONESTY

Barra heard a message on his cell phone and he opened the message. He saw a photo of Gita being carried by a young man Barra didn't know. The photos were also sent along with slanderous sentences underneath.

'I already told you, didn't I? One day while you are working, the girl of your choice goes with another man! Your choice was wrong, Barra!'

Barra couldn't believe it, his uncle had the heart to say things like that about the Gita to him.

'Gita is not that kind of woman, Uncle. I believe in Gita,' Barra muttered to himself.

Barra wants the bad thoughts about the Gita to end. So after some time, Barra called Gita to ask what happened.

***

"Hmm, so how was your first day at the new school?" Barra asked Gita after Barra had cleaned up first after coming home from work.

"As usual, nothing special. Today I only listened to seniors' remarks. Not much difference like on the first day of junior high school," Gita answered honestly.

"There must be a lot of seniors who ask you to get acquainted, right?" Barra teased.

"So you're teasing me, hmm? You're making fun of me but when I tell you the truth you'll be jealous too!" Gita quipped not wanting to lose.

"Is it true? Does anyone dare to approach you, Sis? You are, aren't you, fierce like a tiger, roaring! Hahaha!" sneered Galih who heard Gita and Barra's conversation on video-call.

"If Gita is a tiger, why are you the younger brother of a cat, huh?" added Ganesha who even mocked Galih.

"Hahaha, accept that! That's the answer if a brother is disobedient to his sister!" Gita mocked adding while Hi-five with Ganesha.

"Oh, is that so? You guys worked together to tease me, didn't you! Just watch out, Bro Ganesha. If you want to pee at night, I'll pretend not to hear when you wake me up! Bye!" Galih said curtly as he left and pretended to be angry.

"Isn't that you? Hahaha. Look at him. Who wakes up who later!" replied Ganesha while laughing heartily.

Meanwhile, Barra also laughed watching their jokes from the cellphone screen and listening to the three brothers talk.

"Is Ganesha on leave? No wonder it's crowded," said Barra.

"Yes, Bro Ganesha is on leave and at the moment we are all gathered on the front porch with dad!" said Gita, pointing the cellphone camera towards Mr. Hasan.

Barra saw that Mr. Hasan was busy with his plants. So, he just waved goodbye to his future son-in-law and Gita continued her conversation with Barra.

"Did you start studying earlier?" Barra asked.

"Not yet, Bro. After walking around the field, I immediately went home. Maybe we will start studying on Wednesday," said Gita.

"Run around the field? For what?" asked Barra repeatedly.

"As usual, Bro. Sis Gita must be punished again!" Galih again interrupted Gita and Barra's conversation when he came back with a piece of papaya.

"You are like a train that likes to grab, huh! Give me your papaya here!" replied Gita annoyed.

"You're being punished again?" Barra asked.

Gita just nodded with a smile in response to Barra's question. And then Gita told the details of what happened this morning at her new school.

"Didn't I tell you not to be too flashy, Gita? Then why did you become the center of attention of the crowd like that?" Barra smacked his forehead.

"If I'm not mistaken, why should I stay silent? After all, my punishment is only one round. That's too light, Bro!" Gita replied jokingly.

"Yes, I did. I trust you. Then what did you come home with?" he asked Gita intending to test the honesty of his future wife.

"Take this papaya again, Galih! It's delicious!" Gita said arranging for Galih to bring more papaya from the kitchen.

"You just want to eat it without peeling the papaya!" Galih complained to his sister as he got up from his seat, but he did it anyway because he didn't dare to fight his sister.

"I was brought home by Adimas, Bro! Have you seen him?" Gita answered Barra's question about going home from school earlier.

"Which Adimas? I've never met or seen him," answered Barra while thinking and smiling because Gita didn't lie about her being with her male friend.

Then Gita told him every incident that she experienced today. With nothing to hide and her expression when she spoke did look innocent and honest.

Finally, Barra calmed down because he had heard the real Gita story. Barra is no longer worried about the message sent by his uncle and understands that from the start it was difficult for him to accept Gita as his future wife.

***

"Dian, I'll sit here first, okay! While waiting for the bell. Your teacher hasn't come yet, has he?" said Gita to Dian. Gita sat in front of Dian.

"Is it true that the one at the same table as you is mute? Can't you get acquainted and talk?" asked Dian casually while opening the textbook.

"My deskmate is Adimas. We've been friends since elementary school. I guess I'm a bit lazy to get to know the others!" Gita replied.

"Watch out, you don't get too close to other men! Remember the ring on your ring finger!" said Dian reminded Gita.

"Adimas was a close friend of mine in elementary school. When he was in junior high school he asked me out on a date and I turned him down. I'm more comfortable being friends like before and forever with him. And he accepted. Don't you know that his class is next to ours? And at this school, we're even classmates again. Oh well, I have friends that I know here beside you!" Gita replied.

"Aren't you afraid your determination will be tempted, Gita? He's a man, and there's no way he'd easily accept it if you told him to just be friends with you. After all, you're a girl and he's a guy who can do things you don't expect!" once again Dian reminded.

"Nothing like that will happen, Dian. I've known him for a long time. Adimas is polite and has never disappointed me in his friendship with him. Besides, I will teach him a lesson when he messes with me!" replied Gita confidently.

Maybe her friends and family wonder why Gita is not afraid of other people at all, even the man she just met.

Dian understands and accepts Gita's belief and feels that the friend she has known for more than three years is indeed brave.

In addition to Gita's attitude which has not been afraid of anything since the beginning, the courage and determination grew when Barra left her when she was already very fond of Barra.

Besides Dian, who understands her best friend, there is Ganesha, Gita's older brother, who understands Gita's strong attitude and character.

Ganesha, who loves his sister very much, feels very sad when he sees his sister crying silently and looking dreamy and silent on the tree in front of their house.

Not one-two-three days, even weeks. Ganesha's heartaches too. He knew that Gita was very angry, but Gita couldn't express that anger.

Finally, Ganesha decided to take Gita to the martial arts training where he used to study. Ganesha hopes that with martial arts, his sister can vent her sadness and divert her chaotic thoughts. It also means that Gita can take care of herself when he and Barra are not near Gita.

And sure enough. Gita began to accept every step that was taught by her teacher. Even Gita is faster in carrying out the rules and challenges given in terms of advancing to the next level.

Gita is a brave girl, even when faced with the challenge of looking for objects in dark and lonely places, she is not afraid even though it feels very uncomfortable.

It's been almost a year. With such a short time, she is diligent in everything. Now Gita has become a Young Teacher at the martial arts place.

And only Ganesha knows that, while their parents, not even Barra should know to reduce anxiety. Because Gita is known to be a tomboy, coupled with the martial arts she has learned, you can imagine how worried their parents and Barra were about Gita's behavior.

The doorbell rang at the same time as Anita, who had just arrived, seemed to drive Gita out of two of her best friend's classes. Gita had to go back to her class.

While in the hallway in front of the class, Gita runs into Sean.

"Gita, where have you been? I was looking for you in class but you weren't there!" said Sean who looked happy to see Gita.

Gita took a deep breath while rolling her eyes lazily. Of course, she did it without Sean knowing.

"I'm from my friend's class, Senior! What's the need to look for me?" Gita answered without further ado.

"It's not important. It's just that I wanted to take you to the cafeteria during recess. You're coming with me, aren't you?" take Sean.

"Thanks for your invitation, Senior. But I brought my lunch from home. We're not close anyway and we're not friends!" said Gita casually innocently.