No
"I don't know, Mom. We still live in the same area. Maybe we'll run into each other by accident someday."
"Irsha's also scared that someday I'll make some terrible mistake by getting close to them," I continued.
"Everyone makes mistakes, whether they're intentional or not. We just need to watch how we act."
"You're an adult now. You know what's good or bad, right or wrong. You can choose and sort out what you want to accept and what you don't. I'll be behind you, encouraging you and giving you somewhere to lean. When you're tired of everything that's happening or need someone to share your stories with," she continued.
I looked up at her and nodded slowly. "I'll do my best, Mom," I said.
She smiled and tightened her hug. "All right, come on inside. It's late, and it's not good to stay out."
I nodded, and we left the spot. We walked toward the stairs leading downstairs.
I went to my room. After closing the door, I lay down and stared at my bedroom ceiling.
I reached into my pocket and took out my phone. I opened the message waiting there.
It contained someone's contact information.
Just save it. You might change your mind later about getting to know him.
I let out a rough sigh. Taking off my jacket, I adjusted my sleeping position.
I closed my eyes, which felt like they were already exhausted. But I still couldn't fall asleep.
I imagined something, piecing it together into an event. It was almost like a dream that might come true—or might not.
Without realizing it, that string of thoughts drifted into a dream. I must have started falling asleep from exhaustion.
My alarm went off, waking me from the world of my dreams. I stretched lazily and felt around for the nightstand beside me. Once I found what I was looking for, I turned it off.
I closed my eyes again, trying to piece my dream back together.
A knock sounded in my ears. "Sha?"
I answered with a hum.
"Irsha?" she called again. Apparently, she hadn't heard me.
"Yeah, Mom."
I pushed off my blanket and sat on the edge of the bed.
"You're up? Take a shower and pray. Don't go back to sleep," she ordered.
"Yeah."
"When you're done, come with me to the market, okay? There's something I need to buy. I'll go upstairs first."
"Yes, ma'am."
After that, I heard her footsteps moving away from my room.
I left my room and opened the walk-in closet door, heading to the bathroom inside. When I finished, I laid out my prayer mat, put on my mukena, and performed the dawn prayer.
I looked at the mirror on my bedroom wardrobe. It hadn't been there before, but now it was, and I could say it was a gift and blessing from Allah—proof that I had been able to change from who I used to be into who I was now.
Actually, I wanted to go to college, especially since the new school year was only a few months away.
It felt like only yesterday that I was telling you how badly I'd fallen, and now I was able to get back up and start a new life.
Actually, we shouldn't be greedy about anything. But I felt like college wasn't necessary for me right now.
Still, both my parents supported me going to college. Thinking back, they used to say they couldn't afford to send me to school. Now they could.
Mom's online-shop admin and catering businesses were already up and running. Latifa and Masita handled them.
As it happened, neither of them had a job after graduating, so I tried working with them. Alhamdulillah, since they were both easygoing people, they managed to increase the profits from our businesses.
I stared at the vanity mirror. For several months, I'd wanted to do this, and now I finally could: visit my friends at their college.
Even if we come from a small town, that doesn't mean we should be ashamed to show our talents, right?
Honestly, I felt a little embarrassed facing them because they could go to college while I was the one working.
"Mom, I'm heading out now," I said goodbye.
"Okay. Drive carefully, and call me when you get there."
I nodded.
"Do you have all your documents? You didn't leave anything you need behind, did you?"
"No, Mom. All right, I'm leaving now. Peace be upon you."
"And peace be upon you."
I drove toward my original destination first: a meeting with a client. His office happened to be near my friends' campus, so I could visit them afterward.
When I first entered the café, I smelled coffee and chocolate blending together, along with the scent of vanilla.
I looked for a seat while waiting for him to arrive. As I waited, I contacted Mom to let her know I'd arrived.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Have you been here long?" he asked as he sat down.
"No, sir. I arrived only a few minutes before you, so it wasn't long."
He just nodded. I put my phone in my bag.
"Oh, right. I'm Malik Rahendra Gunnawan, the son of Mr. Rahardian Gunnawan. Oh, and one more thing—don't call me sir. It seems you're only two years younger than me."
He extended his hand, and I shook it.
"All right. I'm Irshanty Aysanna Putri. You can call me Irsha."
"Oh, okay, then, Miss Irsha. As my father's representative, I'd like to..."
He began discussing the partnership we would be forming.
Then he glanced at his watch.
"Ugh... I have class today, so I'll get going. It was a pleasure working with you, Miss Irsha."
"The pleasure was mine. Thank you, Mr. Dahendra."
After shaking hands, he left.
I waited for my friend to arrive.
Thinking about it, if you asked whether that guy was handsome, he definitely was. He wasn't aloof or cold, but he was firm.
A meeting suddenly snapped me out of my thoughts, and I looked toward the person who had arrived.
"Wait... Irsha?"