I'm a Qualified Old Virgin
Past story

They were in front of the room at the very end near the greenhouse. Iqbal knocked on the door and opened it.

"Bal, you guys come here!" said Maryam's grandmother smilingly welcomed the arrival of Iqbal and Syifa.

"Yes Nek. I want to introduce Syifa to Om Andreas!" Iqbal answered as he pulled out a chair and gave it to Syifa.

"Why rush. Syifa must be tired. Isn't that right, Syifa?" ask grandma Maryam.

"No, Grandma. It was a break, now I feel better," Syifa said while sitting on a folding chair given by Iqbal.

Syifa noticed an empty bowl in Maryam's grandmother's hand, then turned to look at someone lying on the bed. Looks like Maryam's grandmother just finished feeding her. However, Syifa could not see the face of the person because it was blocked by the grandmother who was sitting looking back at him.

"Have you eaten, Om?" ask that person Iqbal.

There was no answer, but there was a move from that person.

"Yes .., Grandma came out first, yeah. You guys just keep talking!" said Grandma Maryam then slowly stood up.

Syifa gave space for Maryam's grandmother to be more free when passing through.

When Maryam's grandmother had disappeared behind the door, Syifa turned back to her original position. His gaze was immediately fixed on the figure of the man lying before him. It was clearly seen the figure Iqbal wanted to introduce to him.

Syifa was paying more intense attention towards the figure. At the same time the poor man was also staring at Syifa. How shocked Syifa was when she felt that she recognized that face. The sinless face that once traumatized him faced the character of a similar person. Syifa was about to jump outwards if Iqbal hadn't prevented it.

"You remember?" ask Iqbal.

Syifa looked alternately between Iqbal and the lying figure. From his face he looked confused looking at Syifa who looked pale.

"Sit. Om Andreas won't hurt you. He was also already extremely weak with his current condition!" Iqbal said pulling Syifa's fingers slowly to get back to sitting.

Syifa finally complied. He shifted his chair back to provide a safe distance and closer to Iqbal who was sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Om, her name is Syifa. Om remember not when we went to the shophouse and granny was angry with Om for chasing a girl who looked like Aqila?" ask Iqbal.

The man shook his head as the manyun looked towards Syifa.

"A-aqila beautiful. A-aqila her hair is long!" andreas answered with a heavy voice.

"Yes, Om. That was twenty years ago. Aqila should have been as big as she was by now!" Iqbal.

Iqbal seemed to turn towards Syifa for a moment, then continued to tell the story.

"At that time Om said Iqbal had to take care of him, right? Iqbal has been trying to keep him. Devan can't be naughty with him either. And now she's Iqbal's wife. Until whenever Iqbal will try to take care of him," said Iqbal.

Syifa was amazed to hear Iqbal's words. He felt a lot was hidden from Iqbal which was unexpected. How could Iqbal have known about his meeting twenty years ago with a man Syifa thought was an ODGJ. And it turns out that the man is Iqbal's uncle.

Syifa was ten years old and did not wear a hijab. Syifa did not see any boys of her age at that time. And never involved friendship with boys of the same age except brother Ilham.

"Why is his face closed?" asked Andreas stammeredly. The man is old, but his behavior and way of thinking never mature because of mental retardation since childhood.

"Because she's so pretty. That face cover to protect her beauty!" answer Iqbal.

Hearing those words coming out of Iqbal's mouth, made Syifa even more amazed by his figure. The man who had always been cold and no sweetness, could suddenly say so when judging his appearance.

Even when I remember the day of the wedding yesterday. The way to give flowers there is no romantic side at all. But this time, just hearing Iqbal say that she was so beautiful could make her heart instantly tremble. At this moment he felt that there were many flowers blooming in his heart.

"Really? prettier than Aqila?" ask Andrew again.

"Really, Om. Very pretty!" Iqbal.

Syifa was getting more wrong after hearing it. He turned his face to hide his shame. And it makes the corners of Iqbal's lips pulled back. Smilingly.

"alright. Om break yes. Maghrib soon. We must prepare to perform prayer. You should go to sleep soon too!" Iqbal said, confirming a thick blanket that covered part of Andreas' body.

Iqbal and Syifa then left the room.

Syifa was actually very curious to ask Iqbal to know about the incident he experienced twenty years ago. However, adzan maghrib was already reverberating. That means they have to be quiet for a moment while praying.

After that they performed congregational prayers with grandmother, Aminah, as well as household assistants and housekeepers. The distance of Iqbal's house is far from the settlement so far from the mosque.

Syifa was more amazed with her husband because even though he was rich but not arrogant and willing to mingle with the workers in his home. The atmosphere of the house also looks comfortable because it turns out that in the house Iqbal is friendly to all residents of the house.

After the prayers and dinner with my grandmother. Iqbal invited Syifa to sit in one of the gazebos near the park. There the air is very cool because there are many trees and there is a fish pond in the middle.

"Is there anything you want to ask?" ask Iqbal as if he knows if there are many questions Syifa wants to ask.

"certain. How do you know I met Om Andreas that time?" ask Syifa.

"Because I was there!" Iqbal.

"Oh yeah? but I don't think I saw you ..," Syifa asked, growing more curious.

"I hid in fear of being scolded by grandma!" Iqbal. "Grandma told me to look after Om Andreas while grandma was shopping. But I left him for a while to buy a drink. I think it's safe to leave Om alone for a moment. Don't know he's acting on you!" Iqbal.

"Om'you think I'm Aqila so? but Aqila didn't come?" ask Syifa.

"Aqila is gone. Previously Om was very close to Aqila They often spent time playing together. And ever since the accident that took my family back then, I've been living with my grandmother. I moved in with my uncle. Devan's Papa. All that I do for the sake of living expenses and school fees. Because after my father died, the temporary company was held by my uncle as long as I was immature as the rightful heir of a legitimate descent. My uncle was just an adopted son raised by my grandfather's first wife who had no children."

"Died his first wife Grandpa married his grandmother and was born papa and also Om Andreas. That's why my uncle wasn't close to my grandmother. And I'm staying with my uncle to keep our rights granted after my father's death."

Syifa was sad to hear that. It turns out that Iqbal's childhood was not much better than his. No one knows if Devan and Iqbal are brothers. Their family background is not so good.

"Let's go in. It's cold outside. Tomorrow we have to leave early in the morning so as not to be late when we arrive!" Iqbal said as he stood up.

"Where?" asked Syifa who was back made curious.

"Tomorrow you'll know too!" said Iqbal and left with his long steps. This time he did not hold Syifa's hand. Syifa had to rush to follow him.

"Huh ..., her cold nature is back again!" gerutu Syifa.

Suddenly Iqbal stopped his steps. It made Syifa accidentally hit her back.

"You said something?" ask Iqbal while turning around.

"Emm, no!" kilah Syifa's.

Iqbal suddenly leaned over and held a bridal style Syifa without saying anything.

"Akhh .., put me down. I can walk by myself!" syifa said.

But Iqbal did not bully him and continued to take Syifa to his room.

..._____Ney-nna____...