ALPENIA (The Cruel Small Town)

Question Mark

Sandi was about to approach her friends who had waited long enough. He was completely confused by what had just happened. Because, their expected plan really went awry. There was no meeting between him and the mystery man. There was only a text message from the same unknown number that was still a question mark.

Several times, Sandi turned the body and made sure that she was not followed from behind. After all, he felt afraid that the mysterious person knew or suspected even a little that he had other plans with his friends.

As a result, Sandi also prefers to play safe by continuing to inform Naya through short messages only.

"Day! I have to kidnap a child within two weeks. How am I supposed to do now?" ask Sandi through her type.

Naya who from earlier bit her finger because she felt anxious, immediately invited her friends again to discuss for a moment the message from Sandi entered her phone.

That group of young people was now a confused. They didn't think their plan would go so far.

"This is what I'm afraid of" Ulfa said, feeling more guilty. What if there were other children who fared the same as Hilfa?

"What do I have to answer?" asked the same confused Naya.

"Jawab, we'll find a way later."

"Why did you react to this so calmly, Rey! What we're talking about here is a crime, you know!" iswanti protested while massaging her head which suddenly felt dizzy.

"Quiet, Is!" timbrung Salman tried to calm the girl next to him.

"In this situation, we can't panic too much. We must try to calm down, let our heads cool to find a solution" Renaldi said.

***

Naya was able to see her house from where she walked quite casually. Wanting to rest because of fatigue, his burden even increased when he saw the shocking scene that occurred.

With Renaldi, the girl ran in a hurry when she saw people with large bodies visiting her house. They are seen transporting goods from Naya's house. Move it into a pick-up car. There was a refrigerator, washing machine, even a butut chair from the small house was taken.

"What's going on? Why did you ruin this house?" cerocos Naya was furious. Moreover, when he saw the state of the mother who was very sad, made him want to run amok right now.

"I'm tired of waiting. At any time, your mother will never be able to pay off her debts. It's been the last three months your mother's been waiting. So I chose another alternative. By taking makeshift items from this butut house," explained Hermawan with a big smile.

If it wasn't for the morality that her mother had always instilled from long ago until now, Naya would have already hit the arrogant old man right in the face. However, Naya was helpless. He could only hide his fist behind his back.

"These items are still very much less than the total money your mother had to pay. So, just think of this as a warning so that you are more timely in paying down debt. And also, take this as a lesson for you, poor girl! Because of you, my son has denied all my words now" continued Hermawan who also keeps his emotions in the chest.

"But I'm not close to Faisal anymore" Naya said in self-defense.

Naya was stunned by the answer she had just heard from Hermawan's mouth. So busy, he didn't even notice Faisal anymore. He thought the man did not go to school because he felt unwell or had other needs. However, with the news just now, Naya suddenly felt worried. He wondered, where did the man go?

***

Salman had just arrived in his yard, along with his father who came out of the garage after storing the car after work.

Egi immediately grabbed the shoulders of the son. He also asked how his son's day had passed. He is a typical busy father, but still trying to care about the development of his son.

Salman also explained the good things he did today. Obviously, he did not mention that he had carried out a dangerous plan with his friends.

"By the way, regarding your question regarding the Black City Mystery book, I have information that may be helpful," said Egi still walking hand in hand with his son.

Salman's tired eyes suddenly returned refreshed after hearing his father's words just now. The spirit that had been withered, was now beginning to fill up again. "really?"

"Yes. Because you seem to be very curious about the book, especially for the sake of getting a girl, so I asked my friends" Egi explained while chuckling.

"What do they say, Dad?" ask Salman who is curious.

"They are just as forgetful as dad's. But, one of them remembered very well, if the book was first not found by father. But, the book was discovered by Agung, his father your friend—Renaldi," explained Egi.

Salman scrunched his forehead. "Who's dad's friend who said that?"

"Feri, she has a daughter your age, right? If not wrong name Ulfa, and the youngest daughter who is still missing until now. He is indeed the most intelligent person and probably the longest memory among the gathering of friends of the father," said Egi.

Salman also understood. "But, did Mr Feri tell dad about the specific incident the book was found in?"

"Feri said the book lay on the doorstep of the Great House, after the seventeenth birthday party. At that time, we thought that it was a gift from one of the Great's secret admirers," explained Egi, raising his shoulders. A sign, he was not so sure about the story he got from his friend. After all, it had happened in the past for quite a while. Twenty-two years ago.

"And, until now, the secret admirer of the Great Sir had never been identified?" ask Salman who is increasingly interested in this conversation.

Egi shook his head. "We as her friends don't know, son. But, who knew that Agung already knew? He was a little secretive about romance at the time."

"One more thing that made me curious, Dad! How could the book be in your hands, even for years now?" ask Salman one last time.

Egi laughed crisply. "That's, kid! My own father does not remember for sure. But, Feri also said, if the book was spread, because it was so good. Until, people who do not like to read like dad, curious to read. But, you know for yourself, I never want to read. As a result, maybe the father forgetfulness, when all the other friends have been read, and it was father's turn, the book was even left, not read. That's why I didn't want to know about the book!" concluded Egi long wide.

Salman laughed with his father. Now, he knew the next step to take. He had to hang out with Renaldi more often, to find out about the truth of the book. After all, the book still feels like it holds a very strange mystery, which will probably help unravel all the irregularities that occur in this city.