ALPENIA (The Cruel Small Town)

A Few Tales of Silu in a Halfway House

"What do you mean? Her name is not Annisa" Ikbal told Candra, who was seen curling her lip line down.

"Yes, my name is Olivia" Annisa said, corroborating Ikbal's lie. He was afraid, his disguise was revealed and the young man in front of him even complained to his father.

Candra shrugged her shoulders immediately. "Actually, I don't care whose real name you are. That's none of my business."

"Good, because her name is Olivia" Ikbal replied.

"Lo didn't realize, if you keep talking like that, which seems to keep looking for justification and recognition, it even makes me more sure that his name is Annisa," kekeh Candra increasingly believes his assumption.

Annisa and Ikbal throw each other a glance.

"Udahlah. He knows everything!" Annisa surrenders. He also removed the mask that covered his mouth and nose with a sharp.

"Gue's not wrong, is he?" Candra is seen mingling Annisa who twitches her eyes.

"Why do you know my name? We don't even know each other" asked Annisa a little curiously.

Candra smiled bitterly. "Gue was sure that most people in this city would know you, because your father's case was quite shocking. I also have a phone call, make a social media scroll and get the news. There, I also find a lot of photos, because you are the son of the corruptor. Let me quote the title of the article, 'Annisa Atmaja, a spoiled girl who likes to spend money with her father's illicit money.' That's about it, and there's a lot more news like that. So, I at least already know the shape of your eyes just now, so I can nebak," said Candra at length.

Ikbal raised a astonished eyebrow. "Lo's not shy about talking like that just now, while you yourself live in the house of the person you call corruptor?" He tried to defend Annisa who held her breath while bowing her head in embarrassment.

"Gue's not done talking. I don't care about the news out there. Importantly, I still have a place to live, because of the person they consider corrupt. So I'll be ordinary. No blame or defense if it happens," Candra explained casually voicing her heart voice honestly.

"Lo strange guy," said Ikbal while raising his eyebrows.

"Gue agrees! And I have no problem with that" said Candra, nodding her head.

Ikbal frowned. The figure of the young man in front of her reminded her of her frank twin sister.

"How long has he been living in this house?" ask Annisa who has overcome the pain in her heart, for listening to the words of the facts a little sharp from Candra.

"You want my interrogation now?" answer Candra with a question.

"No. I'm just nanya," explained Annisa a little emotional.

"Gue won't answer." Candra put her hands in front of her chest, and made the two people in front of her shake her head.

"Why?" tanya Ikbal who is a little more may be ignited emotions.

"Nothing is free in this world. If you want something from me, then there is an admin fee," Candra explained with a mischievous smile.

"Huh?"

"Come on. You guys can't be real pickpocketing, right? I know, you two are kids who have parents' possessions. You don't want to share with a kid like me?" sarkas Candra features a face with a pale look.

Annisa and Ikbal are more often of the view, because of Candra's annoying attitude.

"If you don't want to, please seek information from others. I doain hope you are lucky, because the residents of this house are all indifferent," explained Candra trying to suppress and convince the two people who had discussed by whispering in front of him for almost a full minute.

Annisa and Ikbal feel they have no other choice. They've been asking some people before at this shitty guy now. And the words of Candra are true, the people in this building are so difficult to socialize with.

"OK," Ikbal took out his wallet from his jeans pocket with a slight annoyance. He also took several pieces of money there, which if calculated quite a lot. He is sure, after this Candra will immediately open her annoying mouth for useful things.

"And don't call us both rich boys! You're the same age as we are, don't be an adult!" sahut Annisa on Candra.

Candra smiled, "whatever I am. I'll say whatever I want. You guys don't fuck around!" He put the squeeze money from Ikbal into his pocket with happiness.

Annisa patted her forehead. A young man like Candra is hard to argue with, let alone defeat. So, he chose not to prolong that unqualified squabble.

"So, since when do you live here?" Ikbal asked with a serious face.

"Since ... forever!" answer Candra accompanied by rarity.

"Seriously! Or I'll hit that bummer face right now!" answer Ikbal who did not consider Candra as a joke at all.

"Patience, bro! I said that, just to find awkwardness between the three of us," said Candra.

"Gue lived here for ten years. I came here at the age of seven, after escaping from my aunt's crazy family," explained Candra and immediately clenched her lips at the end of her sentence.

"Continue!" annisa Pinta.

"Lo want to hear the story of my life?" guyon Candra was accompanied by bitter laughter. He really can't tell the bitterness that happened in his past life. After both of his parents die in an accident, he must live with his aunt who does not love him at all.

They just want the old man's money from Candra. While the poor six-year-old boy, only get a very painful reply. Not only nagging, little Candra often get punched in the face if it is too late to wash dishes and clothes, or clean the house.

He also often felt hungry in living his past days. His body was thin because it was only fed once every two days. Candra can only prop her stomach with tap water at that time. Until, he was no longer in power. He who used to live in a different city, finally found his comfort in Belisia— exactly in this halfway house until now.

"Why do we know your life story? It's not important!" annisa.

Candra who had daydreamed, finally stunned and returned to the real world. He who had just been sad, now returned to his annoying character. He has to show that he is strong. "Lo told me himself 'continue!'"

Annisa shook her head. "Gue said that to Ikbal. Let him ask you the next question!" clearly straighten.

"Oh!" Candra nodded her head.

"During your stay here, you've been through some weird shit, haven't you?" ask Ikbal.

"For example? See that ghost?" ask Candra still huddled. He was happy to joke. He made it as his strengthening shield from his sorrowful life.

"No. Has there ever been an incident, like the occupants of this house are missing? I thought you were kidnapped?" obviously Ikbal.

"Who would want to kidnap the occupants of this house? There's no luck! Because we don't all have rich parents who are going to take out the ransom" Candra said.

"Yes too!"

"Gue is always right" said Candra.

"What are you two looking for? Why is that all of a sudden?" cerocos Candra. "And Annisa, didn't you move to the Alps? What the hell was it all the way here?"

Annisa and Ikbal did not answer. They think the answer that came out of Ikbal's mouth earlier explained their confusion. Maybe Annisa's father is not that bad, who is willing to do vile things like human trafficking. It was just their paranoid sense of being too exaggerated.

"Hey!" A small figure had just appeared and suddenly pulled the t-shirt that Candra was wearing.

"Hey, bro!" candra replied excitedly and smiled cheerfully, and immediately pulled the figure into her lap.

"Lo's sister?" tanya Ikbal who is back focused on Candra.

"No. But he is like my brother" replied Candra.

"Huh? Brother?" Annisa widened her eyes in surprise.

"Yes, I know. My body is small and short. I was no more than a toddler. But I am twenty years old" the little guy replied with a smile. He is very accepting with sincerity in the physical.

"Be aware that you're mocking him! You will deal with me," said Candra with a serious face. That little boy named Eksa was his best friend from a long time ago. Their arrival to this halfway house was almost the same.

"No! I can't be that cruel right now" Annisa explained. "Btw, what's your name?" ask her on the figure on Candra's lap while reviewing the smile.

"Eksa!"

"Hi Eksa! I'm Annisa!" The girl reached out her hand, and shook hands with Eksa.

"Gue knows your name!" answer Exa exactly like Candra.

Annisa smiled, "gue just wanted to say, I salute you."

"Why?" ask Eksa while raising an eyebrow.

"It seems you are at peace with yourself. I hope, you always display a sincere smile on your face," explained Annisa.

Eksa felt overwhelmed. Annisa is one of the few people who makes her feel happy and calm. He knows, with his physical condition like a toddler, people will not easily accept it. Sometimes, some of them even hurt his heart. However, Annisa's words just now really made her very confident.