23. In The Sambi's Hamlet

I fell asleep the rest of the way and woke up when someone touched my shoulder. I immediately opened my eyes and realized that the bus had stopped in front of the sub-district office. I immediately turned to the side and saw the guy next to me was standing; subconsciously, I looked up and found his charming smile.

My face heated up when our gazes met for a moment; I immediately threw my gaze out the window and saw the children who had gotten off the bus. My chest felt tight, and my heart was beating fast. I didn't know what to do; I still sat frozen in my place.

"Come on, Zie!" asked Tia while carrying a bag containing her belongings when she saw me still dumbfounded on the chair I was sitting in.

"Okay," I replied after I came back to my senses, I didn't see Ali beside me and didn't know when the guy got off the bus. I quickly gathered my things and stood up.

"You go down first, Tia, I'll follow," I said to Tia.

I tried to take my carry-on bag from the trunk above my seat. Several people who passed by because they were about to get off the bus pushed me who was standing, so I had a bit of trouble picking it up. After a while, I finally managed to pick it up, and I walked out of the bus jostling with the others.

I saw Ali in the crowd with the others. He seemed to be talking to Arif. Ali just glanced at me without stopping his conversation with one of his close friends. Soon Arif looked at me. Arif came closer to me, helped me get off the bus, and carried some of my luggage while looking indifferent

We were welcomed by the head district, the head of the Public Head Center, and the village head, officials, and community leaders in the Karanganom village. We gathered in the sub-district hall, which is on the left-wing of the sub-district office.

The event was guided directly by the head of the third nursing study program, followed by remarks from the district head, the Public Health Center, and the village head. After that, the handover of students was carried out to the village head and group division. Karanganom village consists of seven hamlets, divided into seven groups.

After that we took the bus to Karanganom village, we arrived in front of a simple building. A part of the community consisted of community leaders and village cadres waiting for us enthusiastically. We entered the austere building, the Karanganom Village Hall, which was not very spacious, and sat there mingling and starting to talk with the people there.

The welcoming ceremony at the village level was brief, and the village head introduced the village apparatus and community leaders and their cadres to us after introducing ourselves and conveying the program we were going to do.

This village consists of seven hamlets. We were then divided into seven groups according to the number of hamlets. We were also introduced to the village heads, who were quite old but still energetic.

Then we were gathered into groups. According to each village, I happened to get the largest hamlet with the largest population. My group has nine members consisting of six women and three men, including Ali. At first, I wanted to change places when I found out I was in a group with Ali, but no one wanted to for fear of being caught by the lecturer.

Together with several village cadres, the nine of us were transported using a pickup belonging to the residents. The road that we passed through a reasonably large cornfield belonging to the residents to reach the hamlet, Sambi, it took us half an hour to get the hamlet through rocky roads connecting the hamlets in Karanganom village. In addition to having a large area, Sambi hamlet is located at the highest place; above the hamlet, there is a protected forest on the back of Mt.

In the back of the car, we sang and joked all the way. I sat while holding my knees, gazing at the beautiful panorama that stretched along the way. Ali sitting next to me made me feel uncomfortable because the pounding in my chest grew louder, especially when accidentally, every time our eyes met. I also feel my blood boil when our bodies accidentally touch because of the bumpy stone road or the turning road.

I hope no one notices the awkwardness between us; I hope we get to our destination soon to let go of the feelings that cling to my heart and brain.

The car stopped in front of a simple but quite spacious and beautiful house in the middle of the village, that is the house we will live in for two weeks in this village. The house belongs to mak Ijah, a widow who lives with a maid; her children are in the city and only come home during Eid. home page i

This is quite spacious, on the left and right of the house, a garden separates this house from other places.

We immediately got out of the car after saying goodbye to some cadres still on the open bed and saying hello before entering the house. We were greeted by Mak Ijah and his assistant in a friendly manner. After talking for a while, Mak Ijah ordered his maid to show us our room.

There are several rooms in this house, and we occupy different spaces. Ali is with Rendi and occupies a room next to the living room. Me, Ria, and Ani occupied the room to the right of the dining room while Atikah, Airin, and Seri were on the other side.

After arranging my clothes into the closet, I immediately lay down on a mattress filled with kapok to relieve fatigue during the trip. I looked around to see the room was quite neat and clean. Ani and Ria had left the room after putting their things away.

"I'm suspicious of Ali and Zie. Usually, they are always far apart, like the same two poles; today, I saw them getting along; I saw Zie sleeping well on Ali's shoulder," I almost fell asleep when I heard Seri say to someone.

What? My face turned red when I heard Seri's words. Did I sleep on Ali's shoulder? I felt very embarrassed and annoyed; I should have changed seats when Ali was beside me. I glanced at Ali, who just smiled coldly in response to Seri's words.

"Wow, I didn't realize that they were together," Airin's voice sounded envious.

"There's no need to be jealous, Rin. You know how much Ali hates Zie and vice versa," said Ani, calming Airin.

"Sometimes feelings of hate also turn into love," said Ria

"I can't imagine if they fell in love with each other," I don't know who said because I couldn't stand my sleep anymore.

I don't know how long I fell asleep when I opened my eyes; I no longer heard the girls' chatter. I immediately got up and wanted to wash my face.

"Still dizzy?" Ali asked as we passed each other as I headed to the bathroom.

I shook my head, looking at him. It feels strange to see him so gentle and caring

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