“Mil, get your feet down. That’s rude,” Mayra scolded, earning only a pout from Mila.
“Dad doesn’t even complain. Why do you have to be so controlling? It’s okay, right, Dad? My feet hurt if I don’t put them up on the chair,” she whined.
“Yeah,” Hutomo replied, not wanting to drag out the conversation. If he forbade her, Mila would only do whatever she wanted even more. As long as she didn’t do anything dangerous, Hutomo wouldn’t stop his youngest daughter.
Being spoiled since childhood and never scolded even once had made Mila a somewhat arrogant girl. Mila felt that anything she wanted would become hers, so sometimes she treated Mayra however she pleased. Even though Mayra was her big sister, someone she should have respected.
Santi and Hutomo considered Mila’s attitude perfectly normal. They believed that she would change with time.
Mayra tried to suppress the uneasiness in her heart. More than once or twice, Mayra had tried to remind Mila whenever she felt her behavior was inappropriate. But instead of thanking her and listening, Mila always reacted the opposite way.
“Dad’s full. I’m going to rest in my room for a while, okay? You two get along. Dad doesn’t want you fighting.”
“Okay, Dad,” the two girls answered together.
“Hey, do you have a boyfriend yet?” Mila asked suddenly after several moments of silence.
“A boyfriend?” Mayra’s brow furrowed. Mila rarely asked her such trivial questions. They hardly ever had a warm conversation like sisters; the number of times could be counted on one hand.
“Yeah, at least a crush or something. Don’t tell me you don’t have anyone.”
Mayra slowly shook her head.
“I’ve never thought about that. Right now, I only want one thing: to graduate from college soon so I won’t be a burden on Dad and Mom,” Mayra answered diplomatically.
“Whatever. You’re the type who doesn’t want to date. You want to get married right away.”
“You know that’s my principle. What’s the point of dating if we can’t be together in the end? It won’t make us happy; it’ll only add to our sins.”
Mila pursed her lips.
“Ugh, don’t act so damn pious. You could just be saying you don’t have a crush while secretly liking some guy. Or maybe there’s something wrong with you.”
“Mila! Stop accusing me of ridiculous things. I’m a perfectly normal woman. I just don’t want to prioritize romance right now. College is more important than thinking about guys. Be careful. Don’t let your desire to date make you neglect your studies. Dad and Mom have been paying for both of us all this time.”
Mila was angry at being lectured by Mayra. Even Hutomo and Santi had never stopped her.
“It’s up to me whether I want a boyfriend or not. It’s my life, so why are you meddling? Dad and Mom never complain whenever I bring male friends here.”
Mayra slowly shook her head. She hadn’t meant to interfere in Mila’s life. Mayra loved Mila and didn’t want her to fall into a life of promiscuity.
“Mil, I’m just reminding you. I don’t want anything to happen that neither of us wants. Dating only brings harm. It has no benefit at all. I’m doing this because I love you, Mil. You’re my little sister, even if you don’t feel the same way about me.”
“Yeah, right. Don’t pretend to care or tell me you love me. You’re this perfect person who’s nothing like me. Who doesn’t know Mayra Alinsa? Polite, religious, smart, beautiful, and famous all over campus. A perfect girl with tons of secret admirers. You’re nothing like your wild little sister, whose grades are below average.”
“Mil, what are you talking about? I don’t see myself that way. I’m just a scholarship student. I’m different from you and your popular friends. They’re right not to believe I’m your sister. We’re worlds apart.”
“Yeah, completely different. Like earth and sky. I’m the earth. You’re the sky everyone worships.”
Mila stomped her foot and walked away from Mayra.
“Assalamualaikum, May,” greeted a woman wearing a wide hijab.
Mayra, who had been sweeping the dry leaves from her front yard, immediately set her twig broom aside. She shook the woman’s right hand, then kissed the back of it as the woman smiled gently.
“Waalaikumussalam, Ustadzah,” she said respectfully.
“I came to deliver a message from my husband. He wants you to come to our house.”
Mayra fell silent for a moment.
“When should I come, Ustadzah?” the girl asked.
“Can you come by this afternoon after Asr, before you teach the children their Quran lessons?”
“Insyaallah, Ustadzah. I’ll come to your house first this afternoon.”
“All right, then. I’ll be going home now. Assalamualaikum,” the woman said as she took her leave.
“Waalaikumussalam,” Mayra replied, lowering her head.
Mila stood in front of the door with both hands full. One held her phone, while the other carried some snacks. She had planned to relax on the terrace and enjoy the morning. But she stopped when she saw Mayra talking with Ustadzah Hana, who had taught them Quran since they were children.
“What was Ustadzah Hana doing here, Sis?” Mila asked when she saw Mayra staring after the ustadzah’s departure.
Mayra turned toward her little sister with a smile.
“She asked me to come to her house this afternoon. I don’t know what it’s about.”
“Why didn’t you ask her?” Mila asked curiously.
“That wouldn’t be polite, Mil, asking our teacher all sorts of questions. I’ll find out when I go there.”
“Wow, maybe Sis is getting set up for an arranged marriage. Careful.”
“It’s okay. Ustadz knows what’s best.”
Mila pursed her lips at Mayra’s seemingly passive attitude.
“If it were me, I wouldn’t want to be pushed into an arranged marriage like that. Can’t I find my own match? I’m beautiful, so I’m sure plenty of men would want me.”
“Yeah, I believe you.”
“You’d better believe it. I’m way prettier than you, Sis.”
“Yes, Mil, I know.”