In the end, it was only toward dawn that he managed to fall asleep, and even then he couldn't sleep for long because he had to leave by seven and meet with his client. Bram's schedule was incredibly packed today. He had a meeting in the morning, and after lunch he had to inspect several supermarkets he managed. Then, from afternoon until evening, he had an appointment with a foreign investor.
That was how busy Bram was—a young businessman who owned numerous companies here and there. *** Laras was just as busy. Her day-to-day life as a nun also took up quite a bit of her time. As a humanitarian worker serving neglected children and street children, she fought every day to teach them for free.
That morning, she walked along the road toward the place where she taught. Laras and the children usually called the place the learning center. Laras had named it Tinta Emas. Almost every morning, she walked that same route, and the people along the road she passed knew exactly who Sister Laras was and where she was headed.
“Morning, Sister,” greeted one of the gudeg vendors.
“Morning, ma'am,” Laras replied with a smile.
“Sister, would you like some breakfast first? I can make you something.”
“Thank you, ma'am. I already had breakfast before I left this morning.”
“I'll be going now, ma'am. I'm in a hurry,” Laras said again.
“Go ahead, Sister,” replied the gudeg vendor.
The gudeg vendor wasn't the only one who greeted her warmly. In another spot, a becak driver also greeted her warmly. Almost everyone, especially those from the lower and middle classes, knew who Sister Laras was. Her kindness and warmth had made her well-known among them.
A beautiful, warm, and kind Sister—that was what defined Laras, who was known by so many people for her smile and friendliness. *** When she arrived at the learning center, the children were already waiting for her excitedly. Fortunately, her fellow nun and friend, Sister Regina, had arrived even earlier than Laras.
The learning center was divided into only two classes: the big class and the small class. Sister Regina taught the big class, while Sister Laras taught the small class.
Unlike a formal school, where students were divided into six grades, from grade one through grade six, Tinta Emas was different. It had only two classes: the big class and the small class.
Agatha taught the children how to read and write, along with their other lessons. After teaching there for several hours, she finally began to feel tired.
“Children, let's take a short break, okay?” Laras called out to them.
“All right, Sister,” they answered loudly and all at once.
At the same time, Sister Regina also gave her students a break.
Sister Regina came over to Laras's classroom.
“Good morning, Sister,” Sister Regina greeted her.
“Morning, Sister,” Laras replied, turning toward her.
Sister Regina approached Laras and walked into the classroom.
“A lot of them are absent today, aren't they, Sister?” Sister Regina asked.
“Yes, that's right. Usually, they even spill outside and the classroom is packed,” Laras replied.
“Why are so many of the children absent?”
“I don't know,” Laras said.
In the middle of their conversation, one of her students suddenly came over to them.
“Sister, my mother sent this for you,” the child said, holding out a black plastic bag.
“What is it, Syahrul?” Agatha replied, looking inside the black bag.
“Food for you, Sister,” Syahrul answered.
“Give my regards to your mother, okay? Thank her very much.”
“Yes, Sister,” Syahrul replied, nodding.
At the learning center, social status and religious beliefs didn't matter. Anyone who wanted to study there was welcomed by the foundation.
After Syahrul left Sister Laras, Laras immediately opened the black plastic bag while Sister Regina watched.