In reply to her lovely post.

Bismillah.

I still remember the first time I saw her. 

We were sitting at the very back of Dewan Konvensyen because we can't perform our solat yet. But we were parted by a few chairs. I sat on a chair. She sat on the carpeted floor, wearing floral baju kurung. That's the image I won't forget. I am keeping it. Not in my brain (I know that memory is stored in the brain but this is a different case). But in my heart.  

I also remember how I first know her. I knew her though facebook. Specifically through Persatuan Alumni PERMATApintar Negara. During those times, it was just an occasional 'hi' and we talked about cryptology. 

Before the camp, I knew she was selected to join. I knew I wanted to meet her. I knew I wanted to find her. I knew I wanted to see her. But I give it all to Allah. I told myself, "If Allah wants us to meet, then we will".

Subhanallah, the moment I first saw her, the moment I saw her in her floral baju kurung, sitting so peacefully, correcting her hijab, the sudden thinking of "where is this girl I've been seeing on my news feed on facebook?" came to mind. Could it be this girl I'm looking at? This instinct inside me telling "this is the girl, this is the girl" is so strong that I have no doubt in. "Okay, when the students have done their prayer and when we are about to go down for dinner, I will walk beside this girl and see her name tag to see if it is the name I've been wanting to meet," I told myself a plan I always do to know the name of a person. (Thinking about it again, I could just ask what is your name and so but no. Remember I told you I am a ninja? Ninja do things silently)

And my plan failed. Miserably failed.

She, the girl in baju kurung, greeted me first. Before I could even see her name tag! "Alia, eh?"

That moment I knew, Alhamdulillah I am right. I straight away knew who she is. 

After dinner we talked like we are friends. We talked like we have known each other for so long. I knew, Allah sent her to me. Alhamdulillah. The bond is there. Instantly. 

How can I not forget the feeling I get after that particular Isyak prayer?

It was only the end of first week, I think. It is common after prayer, the jemaah shake hands and hug each other to tighten the silaturrahim. But among the same gender, of course. Don't get me wrong, haha.

I asked her, "Akak nak peluk boleh?". It wasn't happy that I felt. It was a sad feeling. Knowing that one day, after three weeks I have to be parted with her. No more seeing her ever cheerful face. But I kept that feeling inside.

Days passed by. We talk and share secrets, stories, problems, laughs, memories. 

Then, come a day when she had a tour to Pahang which took the whole day. That night, she is yet to come back, I went to her room twice and knocked to check if she is there. Only the next morning I saw her. And she gave me something. I attached it to my pencil case so I know, this person who gave me this, has played a big part in my life.

 

Three weeks. It seems too short. But I'm still grateful I get the chance to meet her.

She told me I learned nothing from her but I did learned many things. Sangat banyak, kak.

And now we share the same goal; to memorise the love letter :')

"Perpisahan itu mendekatkan hati-hati yang saling merindui"