AUTHOR: INDONESIA HERO
Collaboration: ARRIVING
Red buses with speeds above 100Km/Hour are even faster than the tolls that connect the island of Sumatra. The first experience for Kahar set foot in Andalas. With such speed, Kahar's ass seemed to cry because it just sat quietly on the bus. Moreover, Kahar slept brutally along the way which resulted in his eyes swelling this afternoon.
It took thirty-six thousand seconds for Kahar to reach the terminal of Alang-alang Lebar, Palembang City. A completely foreign place, as alien as Jakarta six months ago.
“Now what?” kahar said while looking at the afternoon sky of Palembang.
If he followed the plan he had laid out earlier, from this terminal, he would look for a bus that was headed for Bailangu Village, he said, the last village he could step on his land before having to trace the banks of the Musi River to get to the coordinates.
Kahar must immediately find a ride, the afternoon will soon be finished. From this terminal, he went out, a gate that marked the boundary of Palembang City with Musi Banyuasin Regency is a place for city buses and travel.
“True this ‘kan?” Blank. Silent, the noise is only the sound of exhaust and truck smoke along the Sumatra cross. Kahar was confused, in Palembang he had no place to hide.
The place that goes into Kahar's plan does not show any sign of a vehicle that will depart. By holding back the anger that came out of nowhere, Kahar tried to calm himself. Without Clara here, it's hard to do that.
“Please recollect Kahar, if Clara were here, what would she do? Imagine the advice of Zico, what is the advice of Zico?” ask Kahar to yourself.
From the empty corner of his mind, came a voice calling out the name of Kahar. A voice so familiar, a voice that sounded out loud, yet could also be heard as soft as tofu.
“Kahar!” The sound hardened and approached from behind. Kahar turns around and finds Clara calling him from inside the black car. Clara pulled out her head and smiled in satisfaction.
Kahar forgets how to express, there is no face that describes what is in his heart. Gratitude is peppered with anger and also longing is healed when you hear and see the girl for one more time. The car approached and stopped next to Kahar.
Clara came out in black and brown pants. Clara smiled who could tell Kahar: Don't be angry.
“You're fucking.” Kahar turned his gaze away from Clara.
“Come, Bang. I spent nine hours in a car filled with room fragrances. And this is what I got.”
“I told you to stay in Jakarta ‘kan?”
Clara recalled the day yesterday when she was arguing. And, the day Kahar went alone. Clara was an unstoppable person, as hard as the two heads of that person. That same day, Clara booked a trip and lied to Isma and Zico that she would return home to Padang.
“I'm here to help you, Bang. That's all that matters.” Clara holds Kahar's cheek. Slowly, Clara turned her friend's face.
“I'm not as weak as you think, I can take care of myself, you don't have to worry.”
“I don't want to lose you,” reply Kahar who once again threw away his face.
Clara has not given up, she has a very good offer to win the debate this time.
“you sure can continue the journey?” ask Clara to try and defeat Kahar's ego. “Still stretched a distance of how many tens of kilometers, and I here have a vehicle ready between us.”
Kahar is certainly still angry, but he weighs all the possibilities that will happen. From the worst to the worst. A slow dead afternoon was swallowed by the horizon, like whispering and seducing Kahar's feet to get into a car.
“Good.” Kahar pulled his face towards Clara. Get the equipment and get ready to enter the car.
“Please don't be angry with me, Bang.”
The journey continues to Bailangu Village. The driver said the trip would last for three hours, but until the fourth, the trip had not shown the end. They're stuck in traffic, road repair on every stretch.
“Calls you to Jakarta?” ask Clara who tried to open the conversation after being quiet for four hours.
“When you see, the smell of Jakarta has been smelled.” Kahar enjoys a causeway filled with huge trucks.
The night really fell. The streets are lit by incandescent lights. Although, the night is quite late, the road is still crowded.
“Where, Non, want to be taken down?” continue the old driver.
“Non?” kahar asked in a whisper.
“Later I explain.”
The car kept coming into the dark village. The Musi River can be seen on the left side and an elementary school is perched on the right side. Clara checked her cell phone, confirmed a note she had.
“Right turn, Sir.” Clara pointed at a crossroads. Darkened. Really dark.
“Here?”
“Here.” Clara looked at Kahar and gave a signal to go down immediately. Because of fatigue, Kahar just obey the girl's eyes. Actually Kahar is still not aware of what happened.
“This house is creepy.” The old house looks scary from the outside. However, it turned out that the interior of the wooden house was very decent. The entrance is made of thick, well-maintained wood, looking like it has just been painted. The floor of the house is made of well-maintained wood, there are no defects or cracks on it.
The walls of the house are made of wood which is also well maintained, there are no cracks or defects in the walls. The windows in the house are made of clear glass, so that sunlight can enter well into the house.
The furniture in the house is made of high-quality wood, looks very elegant and luxurious. The sofa and chairs in the living room are made of real leather that is well maintained, looks very comfortable to sit on. It was almost very luxurious for a house at the end of the village.
In the kitchen, there are cookware made from high-quality and well-maintained ingredients. The dining table in the dining room is made of glittering and well-maintained wood, as if it had just been polished. Although it looks creepy from the outside, it turns out the interior in this old house is very decent and comfortable to live in.
The car finally left after the driver had a brief chat with Clara. Kahar who waited inside was too tired to care. Now after a long, unrelenting journey, Kahar was able to rest his body on the floor comfortably.
Clara came in, the wooden door guessed it she closed slowly. Kahar who was lying on the floor got up from his sleep. Clara initially ignores Clara and heads for the kitchen. However, Kahar called him.
“You keep a lot of secrets, don't you?” kahar asked to stop Clara's steps.
“I'll tell you later,” reply Clara.
“I have time all night.” Clara looked at Kahar for a moment. “I was born in a well-off Minangkabau family. It's even enough to buy gold in Monas if my father wants to. Born as a child surrounded by treasure, makes me unhappy. You know, attention issues.” Clara wiped away her tears for a moment.
“You can stop if you feel bad.”
“It's okay. I decided since Junior High to move around. There are many places I have visited. Although not fully independent. But I'm so happy to meet you. Your hard work, your passion, your mystery. Make me find the meaning of life.”
"Don't you leave me like my parents always did. I'm not weak!" This time weeping fell.
"I've hugged you a lot, want me to hug you?" ask Kahar.
"No, I don't want us in trouble here."
Clara ended her sad story. Kahar is actually about to fall asleep in the living room, but his sleep is stopped by Clara, who provides information about a local legend. ANTU BANYU'S.
"You know, I've done some research on Antu Banyu, who lives on the banks of the Musi River" Clara said, after sleeping next to Kahar. At first, Kahar did not care about the conversation, his fatigue did not allow his eyes to wake up. However, Clara who continues to babble makes Kahar interested.
"What do you know?" kahar asked with his eyes closed.
Clara tells that Antu Banyu is a monster or evil spirit that will appear in the Musi River in an unexpected situation. The figure was said to have a body that was as pure white as a fish with long, unraveled hair. Antu banyu is said to have the power to drag people passing in front of him to the bottom of the river until finally drowned to death.
Kahar who initially did not believe in the legend began to feel intimidated. "Well, that sounds really creepy" said Kahar, shivering. "But I'm sure it's just a myth that citizens create to scare people. After all, my power is enough to destroy all the evil creatures that threaten."
Clara smiled wryly. "Maybe, but we don't know for sure. What is clear is that we must be careful when we are at the Musi river tomorrow."