I Knock on Your Heart in the Third of the Night

In the third part of the night when the world is asleep and lulled by its dreams. He grabbed a prayer mat and a rosary. Standing facing the Qibla makes tahajjud. Her tears spilled as her lips moved. He fell on his prayer mat and hugged his Koran tightly. Saying thousands of dhikrs with very sad feelings. He raised his hands praying to the powers that be for the safe return of his loved ones. Even the universe knows that the young man never knew him, let alone loved him. They never greeted or met each other, but she never stopped loving the young man.

He knew that the young man had loved someone who was better in every way than him. However, his heart could never be reconciled. He was repeatedly hurt, repeatedly hurt, but he still persisted with complete sincerity. Since the young man was sent by the task force to the country's borders, he has never left his tahajud. The young man was a soldier, he was a civil servant. Just like before, the girl read the Koran with sobs that sounded very sad. He hoped that God would answer his prayer even though the young man would never be his.

Right at the border, a young man was seen struggling against death. A bullet ripped through his left stomach, he collapsed in front of his colleagues.

“Sergeant faris!” shouted the senior.
“ANDRU!!!” shouted another.

The young man controlled his breathing, hoping that the pain would lessen. Fresh blood continued to drip down his camouflage shirt. Suddenly everything turned dark and he heard the sound of a woman doing dhikr while sobbing bitterly. Suddenly his heart fluttered even though he knew it wasn't his lover's voice. He was confused about what was going on and who the girl was. He put down his weapon and got up. He just realized he didn't feel any pain anymore. He felt his left stomach and there were no blood stains. Then he heard the sound again. The sound became louder as his feet moved as if he was getting closer to the sound.

"What are you looking for?" He was shocked and turned back and saw a boy who looked very much like him.
"Who are you?" asked the young man.
"Follow me." said the boy while pulling the young man's hand.

The young man walked after the boy. The voice seemed to be getting closer and he felt like he had heard that voice before. The boy stopped and pointed at a girl who was sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat. Suddenly his memory flashed back to the month of Ramadan last year. Now he remembered that the girl was the girl he met every afternoon in the month of Ramadan.

"The tears were for you," the young man gasped at the boy's words.
"What do you mean?" asked the young man again.
"When you come back, remember that because of the girl's tears, God saved you from death. "The sincerity of his love saved your life," said the boy. The young man looked at the girl again and in his heart there was a very deep feeling of sadness.

“And look over there.” pointed at the boy. The young man looked at another corner and saw a woman relaxing on her bed while playing with her cell phone. That woman was the person he loved. The young man looked back at the girl. His sobbing seemed to be getting worse, it even sounded painful.
"Now you know who truly loves you, right?" Before he had time to answer, the boy had disappeared and everything disappeared too. The pain started to hurt again. However, the voice of the girl chanting was still clearly heard in his ears. He opened his eyes and saw he was in a medical camp. He looked around him and there was only one senior.

"Bang Arif," he called the young man who had the rank of second lieutenant.
"Faris," said the young man.
“Does it hurt?” asked the young man and Faris shook his head in return.
"Take a break," said the young man named Arif.

"Can I ask you something, bro?" Faris asked.
"Sure,"
"Do you still remember the girl we often met during the fasting month last year who we bought for breaking the fast?" Faris asked.
"Girl? Wait, I remember,”
“Why?” Arif asked again.
"Suddenly I remembered her,"
"Yes, I remember that teenage girl, right?"
"Yeah, do you know his name?"
“No, but I think I know where to find out.” Arif reached into his trouser pocket and took out his cell phone. And finally he found what he was looking for.
"This girl you mean?" Arif asked.
"Yes, she is,"
"I think her name is Khalisa," said Arif and it was clear that a happy smile appeared on Faris' face.

Several months later...
It seemed that all the task force soldiers were packing up and they were going to return to their respective battalions. Faris looked at her cellphone and smiled to herself then she called her boyfriend.

"Hello, assalamualaikum sir," he said.
"Waalaikumsalam, what's wrong, bro?" asked the woman on the other end.
"Brother just wants to say that tomorrow you don't have to pick me up, but when we get there, I also want to talk about something," said Faris.
“Why is that like that, bro? "Brother, you can also talk directly here, why do you have to try tomorrow," said the woman as if she didn't accept it.
"Brother wants to talk about something important, so you have to look at him face to face," explained Faris.

Faris is one hundred percent sure to end it all. He hoped that this was the best decision, he clutched the small velvet heart-shaped box tightly. The contents of the box were originally intended for his girlfriend. However, now the contents of the box will be given to the girl who saved his life.

"You haven't come home yet, just call a girl, you're risky," said one of his letting friends.
"I want to end it," answered Faris.
"Seriously, you are such a beautiful and kind girl,"
"Yes, she is indeed kind and beautiful, but there is someone who is sincere and is risking her heart between being happy or being destroyed again,"
"Who is she,"
"She is the one whose sincerity I never realized,"
"I don't know. you,"

Faris smiled then put the box into his bag. He slung his bag over his shoulder and marched out with the others. He looked at the army trucks that would take him and his colleagues to the port. Soon he would meet the girl before it was too late.

Finally, after several days of traveling, he arrived at the city where he served. He inhaled very deeply. He looked out and saw some differences. The eight months he had been away made him really miss this city. Reo stopped right in the battalion field, everyone was ready to go down to meet their respective families.

'Khalisa wait for me to come.” he said to himself as he planted his feet on the ground.

YOU

There, in the middle of the hot sun, a girl stopped her activities. His chest felt tight and his heart was beating twice as fast. Suddenly he remembered Faris, he thought Faris was in danger. Fear began to invade his heart and mind. He stopped all his activities and walked to a shady place. He didn't know that Faris had returned. His heart became anxious and he hoped that Faris would be fine.

A week later...
Exactly at 18.00 WIT, Khalisa ended all her activities. Today was the day he took his final brown belt karate exam. After carrying out the closing ceremony, they all said goodbye because they would return to their respective areas.

BRUAK
OW...
Khalisa winced at the pain in her shins. His shins immediately turned blue and swollen. Accidentally, his colleague kicked Khalisa's leg very hard. The coach immediately instructed his students to calm down. He tried to examine Khalisa's feet and his face looked very surprised.

"Broken," he said, making everyone look at the perpetrator.
“Hurry up and take him to the hospital.” the coach ordered one of his adult students.
"What is it?" Suddenly Faris came over to them. He had just arrived at the Kodim and saw everyone gathered and looking panicked.
"Her leg is broken," answered one of Khalisa's seniors, making Faris' attention shift to Khalisa.
"Let me take you to the hospital and pick up the mother." said Faris while lifting Khalisa's body.

Everything was like a dream, his heart was beating twice as fast. Currently she is in the arms of the young man she loves. The fragrance can be smelled very clearly, even the heartbeat can be heard very clearly. The pain seemed to have disappeared from his leg, he no longer felt the pain. Without realizing it, a drop of tear fell, he didn't know what he was feeling.

"Very ill?" Faris asked gently.
"Hmmm..." Khalisa answered, honestly she couldn't open her mouth. He was afraid that his trembling lips would let out a sob.
"Calm down until five minutes." he said, pulling Khalisa's head into his warm embrace.

The girl's defenses collapsed and she fell into silence. It was not happiness that he felt but very deep pain. Faris held Khalisa's hand tightly as if she would never let go again.

After waiting some time, Faris was finally allowed to accompany Khalisa. He saw that the girl looked very peaceful. He sat beside Khalisa's gurney and touched the girl's black surau. Khalisa opened her eyes and felt a hand touch the top of her head. Faris smiled warmly looking at Khalisa's beautiful eyes.

"What's your name?" Faris asked.
"Khalisa," answered Khalisa.
"How old are you?"
“20 years old,”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
"Not yet,"
"Why not yet when you are so beautiful,"
"I'm waiting for someone,"

“The young man you saved that third night?”
"What do you mean, brother?"
"I see that your age is suitable for marriage. Would you like to be my baby mother?"

"You're joking, right?"
"I am serious." Faris took the velvet box out of his trouser pocket and opened it in front of Khalisa.
"Will you marry me?" Khalisa was silent when she heard the question that came from Faris' lips.

"What did you see in me that you asked me to be your wife, even though I'm a poor child and don't have a higher education, I don't have any advantages," Faris held Khalisa's hand tightly, conveying warmth to her.
"I love you like this, not you who has thousands of advantages," answered Faris, making Khalisa's tears fall uncontrollably.

"Sir, continue to love your brother as before and be your wife without having to change anything about you,"
"Are you sure, brother?"
"Yes, of course I don't want to lose you,"
"I promise that I will continue to be with you and will continue to support you even though I am not always by your side,"

"Get well soon after that we propose and get married." Faris put the gold ring on Khalisa's ring finger which indicated that the girl would be his.

Khalisa looked at her ring finger where there was a gold ring wrapped around it. His struggle and hope produced very sweet results. Someone he couldn't have had now put a ring on his ring finger. One third of the night witnessed his struggle in fighting for his love.

Faris kissed the back of Khalisa's hand briefly. His heart felt at peace as if this was the best decision he had ever made. Until the time came when the two of them legally became husband and wife. The porapun sword is carried out with wisdom. The girl has won his love. Now, in the third part of the night, he no longer asks that the young man be his. However, he asked that the young man be looked after wherever he served. Currently he is no longer in the phase of letting go but, he is in the phase of having he has become a true winner.

ENDED

Short Stories Written by: Khalisa