The class was quiet like pin-drop silence. Everyone kept their eyes locked onto her as she breathed softly. They had asked her who was her favourite and expected a short answer. However, her reaction was the total opposite to what they had in their minds. She stopped whatever she was doing and just stared at them all. Not saying a word.
Her mind wasn’t in the class anymore. It was back, far back to the past. It happened 23 years ago, but it was still fresh in her mind. How could she forget? He had changed her. Left a deep mark in her heart and changed her life forever.
Tears formed in her eyes as she thought of it. She looked at all her students in 5 Bestari, whom were eagerly staring back at her waiting for her answer to the undeniably easy question.
And so, Ms. Yusrina, the 52- year old teacher began. “This is a tale about one of my favourite students. Omar…. Omar bin Raffi,” she started as her mind drifted back to her old school in the village where she was on duty long, long ago.
It was a beautiful day at school. Ms. Yusrina who was only 29 years of age had just been shifted to a new school a month back. She wasn’t too happy though. The school she was in before had better facilities. But this school wasn’t too bad. At least, the students here were more obedient. She walked to her class. She was teaching Mathematics to the students of Standard 4 Arif and she was also the class teacher for that particular class.
As she walked in, the students stood up and greeted her sombrely. Some of them were only half-awake and some were still chatting away with their friends. She smiled and started taking the attendance. She looked around her class for a while, trying to take a glimpse of each student as she called their name. She was still getting to know all of them. She stopped when she came across the name Omar bin Raffi.
“Omar!” she called out. No response. She looked around the class. No sign of him. “Where is he?” she asked loudly. Everyone shook their heads.
“Maybe he’s late again,” one of her students answered.
Some of the students just looked up and shrugged at her. They had no idea where he was either.
“He’s always late!” another student added. This time, some of the students started giggling.
Ms. Yusrina thought to herself. “They’re right. He has been late for school more often lately.”
Omar was a peculiar student. He was very different from everyone else. He never actually mingled around with the rest. He was quiet and always does his own work. One of the rare things Ms.Yusrina managed to notice about him was that he likes to draw.
Once, when she was passing by his desk, she saw him drawing in his book. It was a drawing of a beautiful house and a few figures. It looked like a man, a woman and three little ones. Ms.Yusrina smiled to herself and wondered who they were and was about to take a closer look. Unfortunately, Omar quickly hid it away before she could see the whole picture.
Omar also loves Mathematics. He always managed to get an ‘A’ although he misses school a lot. She knew that from Omar’s previous teachers. His clothes were always messy and not ironed. She wondered what his mother must be doing at home.
Ms. Yusrina took out a chalk and was about to write on the board when she heard the door being knocked. All heads turned towards the door. It was a tiny kid with brown eyes, a big red lip and cute little nose. It was Omar.
“Good morning, teacher,” he greeted as he walked in. Ms. Yusrina crossed her arms and stared at him sternly. “Why are you late?” she asked.
Omar gulped and looked at her in the eye. Without hesitation, he answered “I was with my father.” Ms.Yusrina sighed. “Doing what?” she asked again.
