Our Friendship

18

"What! Do you mean am mad.,?" Fatahurrahman exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Well, if that's what you think," Ayatullah replied with a playful laugh and darted away.

Fatahurrahman quickly got to his feet and pursued his friend. "Let's face this man to man. Why are you running away?"

Fatahurrahman had been Ayatullah's childhood friend and remained his best friend to this day. He studied Architecture and had convinced Ayatullah to pursue a diploma in the same field. Although their fields of study differed, their friendship was unparalleled.

Currently, Fatahurrahman served as a lecturer at ABU Zaria in the Faculty of Environmental Management, specifically in the Department of Architecture. In an ironic twist of fate, he had become Ayatullah's lecturer.

"I'm starting to doubt if you're really in Level 200. Yesterday was my third time in that class but never see you," Fatahurrahman commented, lying on Ayatullah's bed after catching up with him.

Ayatullah ruffled his hair before responding, "Come on, how can you spot me among hundreds of students?"

"Okay, what was my last topic of discussion?" Fatahurrahman, with narrowed eyes, quizzed Ayatullah.

"Look, this isn't school; we're friends here, not student and teacher," Ayatullah replied with a touch of weariness.

"But..." Fatahurrahman began, but Ayatullah interrupted him, pulling him up. "Please leave, I'm tired."

"So you have the guts to send me away? Is this your way of saying you don't miss me?" Fatahu asked.
Ayatullah teased, pointing at Fatahurrahman. "Just look at you - how could I miss a man? Are you mad?" he chuckled.

"Alright, I'll let you go," Fatahurrahman said, picking up Ayatullah's cap from the bedside drawer. "I like this."

"I just knew it; you never visit without taking something of mine," Ayatullah quipped, grinning.

Ayatullah decided to approach Ummi and Khadija again about the papers, hoping to catch another glimpse of her face.

As was the norm, students only filled half the lecture hall while the rest remained outside to avoid overcrowding, when lecturer is not around. Ummi and Khadija occupied their usual spots at the front. When Ummi saw Ayatullah approaching, her heart inexplicably raced. "Why does my heart flutter whenever I see him or hear his voice?" she wondered.

Announcing his arrival, Ayatullah approached, greeted them with a soft voice, and was met with Ummi's quiet reply and Khadija's more enthusiastic welcome. Khadija lightly tapped her forehead and exclaimed, "Oh my God! Seeing you reminds me about the papers. Maybe it's because you didn't call to remind us," disappointment in her voice.

Ayatullah smiled and replied, "I didn't call because you said you would call first, so I didn't want to be a burden."

Khadija Tapped her forehead "I'm sorry; I tend to forget important things all the time. But you can come back tomorrow, and I'll bring the papers," Khadija offered apologetically.

"Alright, thank you," Ayatullah said, his face brightening with a grin, and he turned to leave.

"I've got some for you," Ummi's voice stopped him. He accepted the papers with gratitude, and she added softly, "I think you can manage these before she brings the ones she has."

That unexpected sweetness from her left him beaming. What made his day even brighter was the realization that Ummi hadn't forgotten about the papers.

From there, he went directly to his Level 200 lecture room, determined to be a more diligent student. He didn't want his shortcomings to disappoint his father.