Dying While Dreaming

The Arrival of Small Guests

Erik's house number 6, at 18:30 WIB

A rowdy voice rang out from Claire's neighbor's house, Erik. The quiet night in the compound became noisy as Erik's parents quarreled from inside the house. Erik sat on his bed while covering both ears with his hands.

“Explain the same mom, who is this woman pa!” yelled Nuri, Erik's mother.

“You how many times papa explained to mama if it was papa employee in the office. So she's not papa's cheating!” anton said, Erik's father.

“Papa lie!” shouted Nuri.

“If mom doesn't believe you already. We fight for the same problem. All mama suspects. Gista, Revelyn yesterday, now Poppy. All one office mama suspected,” shouted Anton in front of Nuri.

“Papa don't kelit ya! There is proof pa!” said Nuri loudly.

“What proof does ma? Papa just got home from work. Cape papa!” said Anton who threw his body on the sofa in the room.

Nuri opens her phone and shows some photos of Anton laughing and eating with Poppy

in a restaurant.

“This is what!” nuri said with an angry face.

“This photo was this afternoon. Papa had lunch with Poppy but that doesn't mean papa cheated. Papa is waiting for a client. Because the client was late coming, papa ordered food first because he was hungry,” obviously Anton tried to believe Nuri.

“Thus why laugh like this?” asked Nuri in a loud voice.

“So mama wants papa silent kayak statue? You can't laugh?” said Anton.

“The laugh is like a person who is kasmaran. Lookie! How happy you are with this woman!” said Nuri while showing again a photo of his phone.

“Mama where did the photo come from? Who sent to mama?” anton was trying to be patient.

“Papa don't need to know. But surely papa never laughs off like that if again the same mom,” said Anton.

“How to laugh if mama suspects mulu mulu equally papa. Papa is not cheating, papa is loyal to mom. Please trust papa,” said Anton trying to believe Nuri again.

“There are thieves who want to confess. I've obviously caught wet still just say!” said Nuri.

“Stop ma, stop! Papa is tired yes suspected of continuing the same mama,” Anton said then went out of the room.

“You where you pa!” asked Nuri while shouting.

“You find the wind. Sumpek at home,” Anton said as he continued walking.

“You want to meet that woman right!” yelled Nuri from the front door of the room.

“Serah!” said Anton.

Nuri slammed the door hard and cried from behind the door. Two housemaids in the yard opened the door for Anton, who left the house in his car.

“Mbok Friday, Erik tipped yes. I don't know what I'm going home tonight. Please accompany him,”, Anton said before going to mbok Jum, his maid.

“Iya sir,” answer mbok Jum.

Anton drove away in the middle of the silence last night that he had disturbed.

“Tika, you see Erik. She's all right?” mbok Jum's orders to the second maid, Tika.

“Iya mbok,” said Tika who wants to help mbok Jum close the fence.

“Udah let me close the fence. You go see Erik aja,” pinta mbok Jum.

“Ya already mbok,” said Tika who is only 19 years old.

Tika goes to Erik's room and knocks on the door of his locked room.

“Erik. You're inside right?” ask Tika.

There is no lawfulness. Tika knocked on Erik's door.

“Erik reply dong!” tika shouted cheerfully from behind the door.

Erik who was looking out the window finally answered.

“Iya,” says Erik briefly.

“You're okay, right?” taya Tika's.

“Iya,” said Erik in a lazy tone.

“You don't want company?” ask Tika.

“Now!” Erik.

“Totally?” tanya Tika believes in Erik.

“Iya,” said Erik in an increasingly lazy tone.

“You want to eat ?”ask Tika.

“Now!” said Erik.

“Udah night loh. It's dinner time,” said Tika.

“Enggaaaak!” erik said the increasingly upset was asked continuously.

“The answer is yes, no, yes, no. But at least he still has a loud voice, so he must still be fine,” Tika said slowly to herself.

Tika approached Mbok Jum in the kitchen.

“Mbok, Erik does not want to be disturbed. But he said he was fine,” Tika reported to mbok Jum.

“Yes already important he replied you call,” said mbok Jum.

“Iya answer anyway. But the answer is only yes, no, yes no,” explained Tika.

“She doesn't want to eat?” ask mbok Jum.

“No mbok,” says Tika.

“Ya. Later layain a fried chicken the same as a bowl of vegetables on the table. Cover with sangi. Mana knows he's starving at midnight,” said mbok Jum.

“Iya. Poor Erik. Mama papa fight continues,” said Tika.

“Udah, don't think about it. You eat there!” mbok Jum told Tika.

“Iya mbok,” said Tika.

Claire's house number 8, at 20:00 WIB.

Claire's car enters the dark courtyard of the house. Claire always turns off all the lights when she goes to work. Only car lights illuminate the surroundings. Adam's eyes catch a boy sitting at Claire's door. The boy looked dazed.

“Claire you see that!” adam said that shut off the car engine.

Claire looked towards the boy. His face hinted at confusion.

“Who is Dam?” claire asked confused.

Adam's cell phone rang. Adam picked him up immediately.

“Halo,” replied Adam from behind his phone.

“Oh already in front of home?” adam said while chirping.

An online taxi driver stopped in front of Claire's house. He turned off his motorcycle engine. Adam turned off his phone.

“Pizza we've come Claire. For a moment I take it first yes,” said Adam approached the driver of the online motorcycle taxi.

“iya,” Claire replied briefly.

Claire took her groceries from the car. Then try to get to the boy and put groceries and laptop bags on the floor.

“Erik?” ask Claire to herself.

Claire tried to squat down and touch the boy.

“Erik, Erik, hey,” call Claire slowly while shaking the child's body.

Yes, that child was indeed Erik who had fallen asleep earlier. Adam, who had finished trading with the driver of the online motorcycle taxi, approached Claire and Erik with pizza and pasta.

“Why you? You sleep sitting?” ask Claire.

“Who is Claire?” ask Adam.

Claire stood up and brought her lips closer to Adam's ears.

“This is the erik I told you about. Neighbor's son next door to my house,” explained Claire.

“Oh yes, I remember. Keep on saying him here?” adam asked slowly, who had just met Erik this time.

“I don't know. He fell asleep earlier apparently,” Claire said.

“Sleep while sitting?” adam said in a surprised tone.

“Iya,” Claire said half a whisper.

“Yeah,” said Adam slowly.

Claire squatted down next to Erik.

“Erik, are you hungry? I have a pizza loh, tuh,” asked Claire while pointing at the pizza Adam brought.

Erik nodded slowly.

“Ya already, come in yuk,” take Claire.

Erik stood up and Claire opened the door. Then he turned on the lights of the house. He picked up his things on the floor.

“Come in,” take Claire to Erik.

Eric entered the house and was followed by Adam.

“Come sit in the kitchen,” take Claire again to Erik.

“Honey I went to the room first yes,” Claire said.

Claire put her things in the room and returned to the kitchen. There Erik and Adam sat sweetly. The two of them secretly glanced at each other.

“We ate the pizza. Oh yeah, I'll grab a plate first,” Claire said.

Three plates are on the table.

Adam and Erik gobbled up their pizzas. Suddenly Adam extended his hand to Erik.

“Adam,” said Adam to Erik trying to introduce himself.

Erik looked at Adam and then looked at Claire, and looked back at Adam. He put a piece of pizza on a plate that almost went into his mouth.

“Erik,” shakes Adam's hand.

“Enak pizza?” ask Adam kindly.

“Enak,” Erik said as he nodded his head.

“Well now we eat pasta. You want?” haggle Claire with Erik.

“Neg. I'm a pizza,” said Erik.

“Ya. It's good if you don't want to. This pasta is my favorite food. Because you don't want to, I can be satisfied to eat it,” said Claire.

Adam looks at Claire trying to give the code asking what happened to Erik. Claire put her index finger to her mouth, signaling Adam to be quiet and calm. Adam also obeyed him. They too

I finished enjoying the Italian food. There's still a slice of pizza left.

“Erik, mommy same papa you fight again huh?” ask Claire slowly who already understands the condition of Erik's family.

Erik looked at Claire with a sad face.

“You are patient. Sometimes that is how adults communicate. When you grow up, you will understand. Now your job is to learn well in school and try to be a better person. Polite and respectful to the older ones,” Claire said.

“But I'm bored aunt. They keep fighting. What can not talk well,” said Erik annoyed.

Claire took a breath.

“Can. They can talk well. But there are times when they have to speak in such a way. Usually after that they will get to know each other more deeply. Even if you have been together for a long time, there must be one or two things they do not know about each other. But this is specifically for adults. Kids your age are forbidden from communicating like that,” Claire told the newspaper

Erik.

“But this has been aunty too often,” said Erik with a foresight.

“ Earlier, you heard what they were questioning?” ask Claire.

“Say mama, papa cheated. But papa says he's not cheating,” said Erik.

“The problem is still the same as yesterday-yesterday's problem,” Claire said.

Erik nodded. Adam was trying to be a good listener.

“How do you want?” ask Claire.

“I want papa with mama I get along. Not fighting constantly. I'm tired of hearing it. I also have a problem with my friends. But at home no one can hear my story. Mama just as papa keep on cuekin me. I have no friends at home. I'm alone aunt,” said Erik with your voice like to cry.

“Do they know I'm in the same mute my friend during sports hours, do they know start to like painting, do they know now I'm again shunned the same girl I like in class. Don't know why,” beber

Erik who suddenly came to a realization with his last words.

Claire and Adam glanced at each other.

“Oh so someone is in love,” Claire's tease on Erik.

“Kecelosan deh,” said Erik slowly.

“Ya is nothing. Falling in love is human. But if counseling about love to girls, like Adam deh who is good. Yes no om,” Claire told Adam.

“Yoy. Because men's affairs can only be solved in a male way. Anyway later we settle that sola,” said Adam excitedly to Erik who misbehaved.

The smiling Claire then moved to sit next to Erik. He rubbed Erik's back.

“You've already expressed your wish earlier with your parents?” ask Caire.

Erik shook his head.

“Tante suggests you convey your heart to them. It could be during a meal together or you come to their room early in the morning, before everything is busy on the move. Auntie was sure they'd realize that

all this time they have forgotten your existence indirectly,” Claire suggested.

“If papa is accused of cheating constantly, free aunt!” said Erik.

“Okay, gini. Aunty will try to help you to improve your mama and papa relationship.  But

after the aunt finished her aunt's work from out of town. How?” said Claire.

“True aunt Claire want to help me?” asked Erik with sparkling eyes.

“Iya. Aunt promise,” says Claire.

“Where is aunt going? When went? When to go home?” asked Erik long.

“That's a lot of questions!” said Claire.

“Hehehehehe, let's hurry aunt. I'm sleepy,” said Erik.

“Huh, you snot boy! I'm just full to quickly go,” Claire said while smirking Erik's hair.

“Tante to Medan the day after tomorrow. I don't know when, maybe in 10 days. But it could be longer or faster,” explains Claire.

“Yes I have been waiting for. Hopefully within 10 days mama papa will not fight again,” said Erik.

“I'm home yes. Oh yes..” said Erik take wide open both hands.

“What is it?” ask Claire.

Erik hugged Claire. He thanked me for being his friend.

“Thank you auntie already wanted to be my confiding friend all this time and thank you for helping me,” said Erik and let go of his embrace.

“Iya. The strong yes,” said Claire smiling.

“Yes, I'm home first. Da om, da daughter,” Erik said to Adam and Claire as he waved his hand.

Just three steps he walked, Erik returned to the dining table

and take the rest of the pizza.

“Mubazir stay one,” said Erik laughed and went home.

Adam and Claire shake their heads at Erik's behavior.

“So you are in addition to being a public consultant also open counseling practice for Junior High School children yes,” said Adam.

“Hahaha..But practice once in a while and do not get paid,” said Claire smiled.

　

"What class is he?" ask Adam.

　

"Class 2 Junior High" replied Claire.

　

"Against puberty" said Adam

　

"Yes" Claire smiled.

　

Suddenly Claire remembered something.

“Oh yes. I just remembered. Why did you in the office cafeteria forbid me to go to Medan? I wanted to ask that but forgetfulness. Why?” ask Claire seriously.

Adam's face turned flat.

“Claire you rest yes. Tomorrow we obrolin about this. Tomorrow we have a longer time. You can pack up tonight 'cause tomorrow I'm going on a date all day with you. So there's no reason to do this

lah, pack it up. Tomorrow we watch, there is a good movie,” said Adam while holding Claire's cheek.

“Ya. After this I took a shower and immediately packed,” said Claire.

“OK. I ordered an ojek online first,” said Adam while opening his ponsle.

“Make what?” ask Claire.

“Ya make it home. Time yes I must walk,” said Adam.

“car me Dam time,” Claire advised.

“Engga ah! It's an office car. Later if I take it home, there are still your office people who see, you are abusing the office facilities again,” said Adam while continuing to look at his phone.

“No way. Just last night too,” Claire said as she stood tidying her dining table.

“Udah is nothing. I took an online taxi. Book a motor so be quick nyampek,” said Adam.

“Yes,” said Claire from the kitchen.

“OK already got the driver,” said Adam.

Adam's phone rang.

“Halo. Aye right. Close to?” said Adam.

“Oh already in the complex. Okay-okay I'm out yeah. House number 8. Okay I wait,” said Adam from behind his phone.

“Claire, I've got a driver. I was at the complex he said,” Adam told Claire who was in the kitchen.

“OK, okay. I anter ahead yes,” Claire said while washing her hands and immediately approached Adam.

“Yuk!” take Claire.

“Yuk,” Adam said.

Both of them walked towards the front yard. The online project arrived. Adam said goodbye to Claire and approached the online motorcycle, then left.

“Daaaa, see you,” said Adam as he waved.

“Daaaa Adam,” said Claire who also waved.

***connected***