Droplets of Night Creatures

21. Lurking Aruna

Denis returned to school with complete confidence. Although many friends asked him about the kidnapping, Denis never told him about his bitter experience. Denis thinks it's just a bad memory not worth telling.

Denis's relationship with Aruna became closer. The two were often seen together when they returned home from school. Denis deliberately accompanied Aruna until Iza the nanny came to pick her up like today.

“ Not yet home Run..?” ask Denis.

“ Not Den yet, still waiting Bi Iza..,” said Aruna with a smile.

“ So let me Temenin You until Bi Iza comes yes..,” Denis said while sitting next to Aruna.

“ Ntar if you miss the school bus how...?” ask aruna.

“ I didn't take the school bus again Run. I'm riding a bike now, there my bike..” said Denis while pointing to the blue bike parked in the school yard.

“ Oh that. Why the...?” ask Aruna.

“ Capek asked the same thing every day.” said Denis reluctantly.

“ Same thing what is Den..?” asked Aruna not understanding.

“ They always wonder what it feels like to be kidnapped as a ghost, continue for two days what I eat, if kebelet peed or pup how, how sleep. Anyway the same question is just different people who nanya..,” said Denis upset to make Aruna laugh.

“ But I am also curious and want the same name Den...,” said Aruna as she closed her eyes to make Denis smile.

“ If you have to answer Run. Free of charge..,” says Denis.

“ Oh yes. If so you tell dong what you did for two days disappeared..,” said Aruna.

“ I was just chatting with that Mom, eating, drinking and sleeping rich. But honestly the food that was served was delicious Run. There are foods that resemble fried noodles, goat satay, chicken soto and others. The drinks are good too, though,

there's mango juice, mixed ice, fruit soup. Wow, very satisfied eating Run. Though if at home I can not eat a rich drink every day there. I always say if We have to save because we have to spend money for other purposes.” said Denis enthusiastically.

“ Keep his house rich how, good yes..?” ask Aruna.

“ The house is nice but quiet Run. There was no one there except the mother. He just sang all day as if he was waiting for someone. From the story I know that she lost her son. He looks very sad. So if you care about a little child who is alone he feels compassion and invite the child to his home.

“ That's yes. Denis would not if I told you something but do not tell anyone yes.” said Aruna.

“ About what Run...?” ask Denis.

“ Actually for two days Denis not stay at home but on a tree. And the food Denis ate was also not good food but maggots and earthworms. The drink Denis drank was also not juice or mixed ice but sewer water. And those same mothers Denis are not humans but ghosts.” Aruna said as she looked at Denis pitya.

Aruna's words made Denis shocked and scared. Denis looked silent and lowered his face. His body trembled for a moment but when Aruna touched his shoulder Denis also looked calmer.

“ Denis gapapa right..?” ask Aruna carefully.

“ Gapapa Run, thanks you already know. Sometimes vaguely I want if I'm to squirm the same Father Mother from a high place. I yelled at them, but strangely they were not horrified. Before passing out I also see the ghost that stands behind Me, drag Run. Because of that I got scared to go to the bathroom for a few days.” Denis said while shuddering.

“ So when We visited, You have not taken a shower dong..,” said Aruna while glancing.

“ Yes...,” says Denis while grinning.

“ Iiihhh slovenly..,” said Aruna while covering her nose.

“ Why use nose cap all the Run. Now I've been diligent shower tau..!” sahut Denis loud to make Aruna laugh amusedly.

They were still laughing when Iza came over to the two. Denis and Aruna left school and waved to each other.

\=====

Now Aruna has been sitting in the second grade Junior High School. And now Aruna is busy with a class exam that lasts for a week.

That morning, Aruna grimaced out of the room and joined her parents at the dinner table.

“ You why Nak, sick..?” ask Diana.

“ Ga tau Ma. My stomach was wrapped around yesterday. I think kebelet pup, but fit in the toilet instead ga out anything.

“ Which part hurts, top or bottom..?” diana asked as she touched Aruna's stomach.

“ Here Ma, very rich pain cramps so...,” said Aruna while sticking Diana's palm on her stomach.

Diana smiled faintly and kissed Aruna's head fondly. Then he took the pain medication from the P3K box and thrust it towards Aruna.

“ Drink this, God willing quickly recover and you are not in pain again.” said Diana.

Aruna nodded and immediately took the medicine given by the mother. Afterwards Aruna stood up again to get ready for school.

“ That what medicine Ma ?. Do not carelessly love medicine Ma, danger.” said Arka reminded.

“ That's a painkiller if you again come in the month Ma. How do you give to Aruna anyway..?” ask Arka not understand.

“ If viewed from the symptoms, the stomach pain that Aruna feels is exactly the same as people who want to come Pa month. His words will soon Aruna will mengelewatin phase children to teenagers aka puberty you know Pa..,” said Diana while whispering.

Diana's reply made Arka stunned for a moment then smiled. Then Arka looked at Aruna who was wearing her shoes while kicking a little.

“ Aruna left for school Yes Ma, Pa..” farewell Aruna while kissing the back of Diana's hand and Arka alternately.

“ Yes, be careful Yes Son..,” said Diana and Arka together.

“ Ok Ma, Pa. Assalamualaikum..,” said Aruna then pedaled her favorite BMX bike.

“ Wa alaikumsalam..,” says both parents together.

Diana and Arka appear to release Aruna's departure with a smile. Diana remembered very well when she first entered Aruna Middle School refusing to be picked up by the family driver.  Aruna chose to go to school on her own without being escorted. Aruna asked for a new bicycle as a means of transportation and Arka supported him because of the location of the school that can indeed be reached by bicycle.

That day Aruna finished the exam questions quickly because she felt uncomfortable with the pain in her stomach. After that he rushed home because there were no other subjects.

Aruna paddled his bike quickly. Wanting to get home faster, Aruna took a shortcut through the plantation. The plantation looked very quiet even though it was noon.

Aruna stopped her bike when she heard a rustling sound in the trees. He raised his head to look at what was passing above. Aruna was surprised and rounded his eyes when he saw ‘Om Wowo’ (genderuwo housekeeper ustadz Zaid ) was perched on a tree while staring at him.

“ Yes Allah, make a surprise. Om Wowo what's there..?” aruna asked as she patted her chest to neutralize her surprise.

“ More nemenin You. Kasian kalo if alone in a quiet place rich in gini..,” sahut genderuwo it while smiling.

“ Aish Om Wowo really good. Thank you...,” said Aruna with a small laugh.

“ Together, already hunted home. Your skirt was wet..” said genderuwo while turning his face to another direction.

Aruna noticed the skirt she was wearing and was surprised to see that part of her skirt was wet. As Aruna touched the skirt, she saw the red liquid on her palm and was shocked.

“ Blood, why is there blood here.?” ask Aruna to panic.

“ Gapapa Aruna's. That's why you go home now. Come quickly...,” said genderuwo was half pushy.

Aruna nodded then spurred his bike at high speed. Sometimes Aruna grimaced because of the pain in her stomach that returned to attack. Five minutes later Aruna arrived at Ialu's house screaming for the mother to make Diana surprised not dumbass.

“ What's up Nak..?” ask Diana.

“ Mama, help me Ma...,” said Aruna while crying.

“ You why Dear..?” diana asked as she wiped Aruna's tears.

“ There's blood in my skirt Ma. I don't know where the blood is from, I'm afraid Ma..” said Aruna in between her tears.

Diana who understands if Aruna experiences coming the first month was just smiling while calming Aruna.

“ Gapapa, it's called menstrual blood. Aruna is a teenager and not a child anymore. Usually in religion is called puberty. It was natural and definitely experienced by all women of Aruna.” Diana said gently.

“ So this is called menstruationh Ma...?” aruna asked while wiping away the tears that were soaking her face.

“ Right. Now Aruna goes in yuk, clean the blood and wash it clean. Mama readyin pads for Aruna later.”, said Diana, who was embraced by Aruna.

Then Aruna cleaned herself and washed her clothes that were covered with blood. Afterwards Aruna sat on the bed, waiting for her mother to bring her medicine.

Suddenly Aruna gasped as she recalled something that had followed her earlier.

“ I'm sure it's not Om Wowo. There was something that followed me before Om Wowo came, but what yes..” muttered Aruna while biting her lips.

It was then that the rustling sound of leaves was heard again. Aruna turned to the source of the voice and was shocked when she saw a pair of eyes scouting her from behind a grove of trees beside her room.

Aruna stood up and prepared to chase after the pair of eyes that she loved but did not do because Diana went into her room while carrying a cup containing ginger wedang for Aruna.

“ You did there Aruna. Remember, you're big so you can't go out the window again. If you want to go in and out through the door dong do not go through the window. Bad habits kok diara anyway..” said Diana fierce.

“ Yes, sorry Ma. That's what's Ma...?” tanya Aruna tried to shift the conversation.

“ This is called wedang ginger. The benefits are many, son. Make warm up, make pain relief...” said Diana as she continued to talk.

Diana still explained the benefits of ginger for the body to Aruna. Unfortunately Aruna ignored all the explanation of the mother because both eyes focused on staring out the window where the owner of the pair of eyes that love him was located. Faintly Aruna heard the sound of the roar of wild animals as if to indicate the owner of the eyes was upset with him.

Aruna secretly clenched her hands because she felt that the owner of the middle eye was threatening her safety.

Seriate