ALPENIA (The Cruel Small Town)

Ambiguity

Before leaving for work, Renaldi took Salman to his home. Because, he was curious about what his friend wanted to talk about since a few days ago. Iswanti also visited, in order to find out the clarity about the mysterious book.

"Your father isn't home?" salman asked after sitting for a while in the small living room seat of the house.

"I think again out, maybe buy some food, again" Renaldi replied. "What do you need to talk about?"

"Gue needs to ask about this book to your father" Salman said after removing the Black City Mystery book from his bag. For days the book was in it, and only this time it came out.

"Isn't that a book you've read many times, Iswanti? Why go to my dad?" ask Renaldi a little surprised. Immediately, he took the book into his grasp, to take a closer and closer look.

Iswanti nodded her head. "We just found out that this book belongs to your father, Rey!"

Renaldi knitted his brows, "yeah? Okay, let's wait for Dad to come home. Maybe soon—,"

Renaldi hung up his sentence after hearing the creaking of the open wooden door of his house. He looked there, and saw the person he was waiting for and his friends had arrived. "That's dad!" he said with a small smile.

"There was a guest as it turned out," the Great greeting to the three young people was kindly. He is indeed an easy person to be friendly to everyone.

"Where's the father?" ask Renaldi.

"Having helped Vienna justify the leaking roof of his house" replied Agung.

"Oh," Renaldi y-oh ria while nodding his head.

Grand Smile faded slightly when she saw her son holding a book that looked familiar in his eyes. After observing a little longer, he believed that the book was his. Because, there will be no one else who has the book but him.

"Where did you get that book?" tanya Agung while embracing the shoulder of her son who was sitting on the chair. As he remembered, he had already lost the book several tens of years ago.

"This book is in Salman's house. But he said, this is dad's?" Renaldi gave the book to his father.

Great nodding his head. He rubbed the book that had long disappeared from his sight that was a little serious. Before finally, he threw the thick enough object onto the table in front of him. "You can have it!"

Salman scrunched his forehead. "Thank you, om. But, we want to ask you something about this book."

"What kind of question?" tanya Agung who lost her hospitality. His tone was cold and flat right now.

"Who gave the book to you?" ask Iswanti.

Grandma refused to answer. He only cleared his throat a few times, as an exorcist of his nervousness. He was uncomfortable with the question that had just come out of the young girl's mouth.

"Well?" Renaldi held his father's shoulder, raising his head. He caught the awkwardness arising from the tense face of his idol man.

"I don't know" replied Agung briefly. His tone was a little shaky, signifying disbelief in his sentence.

"Areally om?" ask Salman who does not trust his friend's father at all.

"Om sure knows something" Iswanti accused.

Unlike usual, Renaldi is not defending his father at the moment. Because, he was also the first time to doubt the words of his father.

"We beg you, om! The slightest information that you provide will help us solve everything" Iswanti asked very highly.

"The abduction in this Alpine town. We believe this book has a close relationship with everything that happens. Because, this book seems to implement the exact same thing with the current events," explained Iswanti.

"I suggest to you. Stop interfering with that pettiness. You will be in great danger if you continue to push yourself" Agung said seriously.

"What kind of danger, um?" ask Salman.

Grandpa could not say further. "I can't say it."

"Even for my sake, you can't say it?" sela Renaldi is now siding with her friends.

Great was just a bite, his son's request this time was indeed a dangerous thing. He doesn't want to take any chances. "Not this time, Rey!" he answered, taking a step towards his room.

Iswanti and Salman finally feel empty again. Though, they thought, his kind-hearted father Renaldi would help voluntarily. However, the man's attitude just now made the ambiguity very difficult to determine. Is Renaldi's father good? Or the opposite?

"Lo's gotta know something, Rey!" Salman said.

Renaldi nodded his head in agreement. "I'll ask again. I hope he tells everything. Because, he usually does."

"Good luck with that" said Iswanti. Then, his hand crept up and picked up the mysterious book that was lying on the table. "Can this do me?" ask him to Renaldi to ask permission. However, Renaldi is the son of the owner of the book, who may be more entitled to have it.

However, Renaldi directly gave the book to Iswanti without any requirements. "Take it!" After all, he was not the type of person who enjoyed reading.

***

Elsewhere, Ikbal had just arrived at his home. He was greeted with warm hugs from his mother and twin sister.

Cantika was very happy with her son's return after two days of longing and worry. Now, his heart was relieved.

"Where is your friend? The operation went well?" ask Cantika.

Ikbal did give a reason that would not make his mother wonder. He said his departure was to visit his friend who wanted appendectomy. "He's fine, ma."

Different from Intan. He only smiled slanted, because it was funny to see his mother successfully lied to by his twin brother. He himself had learned of Ikbal's plans with Annisa who had gone to Belisia.

"Come, sis! There is something I want to talk about," asked Intan while glancing at his mother. He still has the anger and annoyance that increases every day in the woman.

"Wait first! Have you eaten yet?" Cantika prevented her son from leaving. Before he knew if his son's stomach was filled.

Ikbal had not eaten, but he did not want to. So, he would answer his mother's question with a small lie. "Yes! I've eaten."

"Don't lie!" cetus Cantika who knew his son when he lied. "You need to eat first!"

"But ma, I ate!" kekeh Ikbal defended his lie.

"You know, if you're lying, Ikbal!" cantika said that still forced. Now, with eyes that seem angry, but in fact it is an expression of affection.

"Ask what other lies useless children tell you!" Andi who had just come, suddenly piled up with an unpleasant facial expression.

And at that moment, Ikbal felt that there would be another great quarrel going on in this house.