CORONAS
21. ANOTHER INCIDENT
Five o'clock in the afternoon three minutes I and my two friends arrived at Arfi's contract. The contract is north of the city. Arfi deliberately contracted in the city area because he worked here and his own home was very far away. It should be at this hour when he returns from his place of work.
I pushed down the doorbell while giving my regards. No answer was heard. I repeat it a few times. By making a sound anyway. But it doesn't show the results I want. With initiative, I asked the neighbor I saw. Some answered in a friendly tone, some with a snide and disgusted tone. Together, they all stated that they had not seen Arfi back home in a few days.
“Actually who do we want to meet? Your SD, SMP, or SMA friend?” ask Dawn to know.
“Friends who fared the same as me,” I answered briefly.
My burden just seems to increase. Like workers with a schedule to wear shifts in the company. This time it was the shift of the part of the brain that thought of Arfi on duty, after the shift that thought of Yuva resting first. This shift then thought about what kind of thing did that fool actually do? Why make others anxious? At least when very busy, give word, or leave the phone on to be easily contacted.
“Do you know the places he used to visit? Maybe we can find out there,” Krista suggested.
“He's the type of person whose legs can stretch out here and there. Can't be guessed where it's headed. All I know is he'll show up if we call.”
Yes, we. Me, Yuva, Arfi, Brother Alma, Bang Auron. We're always together. We have a special bond. Although there are many more friends of other caldier users, but the closest to me are only them. And right now, I don't know how to explain Arfi's absence.
“We'd better go to his place of work. You said he was working, right?” Dawn also tried to make suggestions.
My head nods like it's being bumped Dawn's advice. Just a step away I went to Arfi's workplace, my phone rang.
“Now also quickly see the evening news on the TXT channel!” exclaims Alma from across the phone.
Swipe my smartphone screen to activate the mobile tv application that is in it. A ten-inch hologram screen appeared. My eyes widened to see a very familiar figure appear on television with hands tied with brogol. The voice of the news reader I no longer hear. The words written on the bottom side of the screen to explain the news I couldn't even read. My blood sighed loudly, my body trembled, and I felt my muscles as if they were weakening. Eventually, both of my knees kissed the ground.
“Arfi!” I half screamed. Then my eyes started to blur. My head feels like it's falling. Then dark.
*
My eyes opened and saw a room dominated by white. The room is quite spacious. There is an AC set at room temperature. A low-volume, illuminated television hung almost to the ceiling. Also a small round table on which there is a package that I do not know what it contains.
“Why can I be here, Mom?”
“You fainted when you came out with Dawn last night,” she replied immediately.
Last night? Does that mean I've been staying here? From any angle, this room should be a room with a VIP label. On the back of my left palm was infiltrated by a small diameter white hose connected to a plastic bag hung on a thin iron pole. I think this is too much. If I had only fainted all night, there shouldn't have been any treatment this fancy. Suddenly I remembered something.
“Hitameong! The Hitameong package I bought yesterday where?”
Mother calmed me down, then moved towards the small closet. He took a plastic bag from inside. I gave my mother a signal to hand the package over to me. As soon as it was in my grasp, I quickly opened it. My smile paints relief when I find out the stuff I'm looking for is in it.
“Arfi! How's it going?”
“Tren easy first. I'll tell you. But how are you doing now? What do you feel, Hami?”
I was silent at Mom's question that seemed too worried about me. But I answered calmly, with an answer that could also make you feel calm. About Arfi, the mother said that she was arrested by the police for conspiring with a herd of bank robbers. As I matched my memories before I fainted, I saw him handcuffed in the presence of a policeman who was following him from behind.
I dropped my forehead on my palms while regretting what happened. Why did Arfi also follow the act? If remembered, his life point is not close to worry. Still plenty. Then the motive that dredged the life point in a way like Yuva was injecting a sense of dizziness into my head. Did the movement of Yuva I was telling you about the other day make her heart move too? Is he really that greedy?
Monday, 30 April 2046. I was in the hospital in a condition I did not know. Mother said, let me hear from the doctor. My mother said that the ones who brought me here were Dawn and Krista. While the maintenance costs in this VIP room are fully borne by Krista.
“Eldan, are you okay?” the melodious voice of a Krista suddenly shot into my ear. I saw that he had just emerged from behind the door of this room. Followed by Dawn. Seeing this scene, I somehow seemed to see Yuva and Arfi.
I nodded in response to Krista's question. This presumption only represents my ignorance of what is happening to me. I don't have a fever. It only felt a little weak and dizzy thinking about Arfi's condition. Other than that, I feel fine.
“A fool shouldn't pass out just like that. That's beyond logic,” god Dawn. I grabbed his hand but he managed to dodge.
They brought me a package. Presumably fruits. There is a famous brand label on the plastic bag. Of course, the price is expensive too. And this is definitely a gift from Krista. The package I didn't open immediately. What I open are the words to welcome the arrival of my two friends. To melt the atmosphere. So that no one else is worried. In the midst of the memory talk about Arfi came again. I'm mumbling. Silent for a few seconds.
“We should talk about this with Brother Alma and Bang Auron,” my proposal to mother.
The room that was still accompanied by laughter turned into silence. But I did not immediately agree. Her lips kept flooding me with advice so I wouldn't rush and focus more on my health. But I don't want to wait. And with my current situation I think I'm fine. I can't explain it to you either because the doctor hasn't given you the diagnosis.
