I'm Not a Wild Grass

Mark Go (POV Laila)

On the third day Nila disappeared..

I'm still waiting for news from anywhere about Nila's whereabouts. Unfortunately, the time I spent waiting didn't get the results I expected.

Nila is still missing. And my mind grew more anxious with the more days passed.

Arline I've been telling you about Nila's disappearance since yesterday. And he was just as anxious and panicked as I was. But I asked Arline to keep this news a secret from her parents (aka my in-laws).

I wish Nila could go home before Mama Ilmaya and Papa Gilberth find out the news of her disappearance.

Mark's fever is down. Along with his appetite also decreased. Several times I caught Mark's delusion about Nila while he was asleep.

And my heart became sad to see my son miss his twin sister, Nila.

'Where are you, son?' my mind is stirring alone.

On the third day, I decided to stay home with Mark. My son looked moody from noon. He just received a call from his Papa Azki.

It seems that his longing for Nila makes him not excited even though his favorite Papa was comforting him on the phone.

"There's still no word from the police station, ma'am?" Tanya Azki by phone.

"Yet, Az. I'm getting worried. Especially when there was some scary news on television. About the discovery of a child who became a victim of violence unknown people. His body was found in the trash. I'm afraid that Nila.."

Azki hurriedly cut my words.

"Don't think badly first, Ma'am. Rest assured, if Nila is with a good person right now," Azki comforted me.

"But it's already day three, Az?! Good people will certainly report to the police if they find Nila!" I said a little hysterical.

"Sir La.."

"..hhhh. sorry. I'm just fucked up again," I said originally.

"You're working, Az?" Ask me in passing.

"Yes. It's a little relaxing again. Maybe tomorrow I can take a leave of absence to help find Nila, Ma'am." said Azki again.

"Is that? Hm.. Nunik nawarin, to put a photo of Nila in medsos. There are netizens who see where he is. Who knows. But I think it's a bit overdone anyway huh. Then later Nila's face to massive exposure. Poor thing.. Nila is still a child." I said worriedly.

"Yes. That seems like a bad idea, too. Worried that Nila will be found, even so the talk of friends in his school," added Azki.

"Yes, yeah, hh.."

"Sorry Ma'am La. I'll hang up on the phone!"

Clik.

I'm stunned. Feeling surprised because Azki is in a hurry to hang up her phone call. But maybe he's in his business hours again. So I turned my attention to something else.

Right now, I'm accompanying Mark drawing in the living room.

While Mark was drawing, I decided to call back the number of the police station I kept.

I meant to ask you about Nila.

"Good day, sir! I'm Laila, who yesterday made a report of the loss of a child," I started.

I purposely distanced myself from Mark, so that he wouldn't listen to my conversation. Now I stand facing out the window.

My gaze stared at the backyard of my house that looks beautiful by the interwoven flower garden of my Papa.

While looking at the back yard, I continued talking.

"Whose name is the victim?" Ask the police across the phone.

"Lanila Ishtar, sir!"

"Please wait a minute. The Madam's call will be diverted to the division that handles the Madam case" the police officer said.

"Good, Sir.."

About a minute later, a different man's voice came from the speaker hole of my phone.

"Good afternoon. Can I help you?"

"Look, Sir. I'm Laila. Want to ask the progress of the case of the disappearance of my daughter," I repeated.

"Do you know what the name of the Madam's missing daughter is?"

And I repeated my answer.

"Lanila Ishtar, sir!"

"Yes, Sir!"

"Sorry, Madam. To this day, we are still searching. Please be patient waiting for further news from us" said the police officer patiently.

My hope is back. My name is still not found.

"How long, sir, shall I wait? I mean, I'm afraid if my son is out there alone," I said in a huff.

"Calm down first, madam. The only action she can take right now is to be patient waiting for news from us. And if there will be a party who calls the Madam to ask for ransom, report it to us immediately. Don't act rashly!"

"That's it, sir. okay. Thank you sir."

"Sama-sama Mistress. Anything else I can help you with?" Ask the police officer kindly.

"No, sir. Good afternoon!"

Clik. The phone connection was also cut off.

My gaze blankly stared at my phone screen for some time. My mind was too anxious thinking about Nila's current whereabouts.

So I didn't realize Mark was no longer in the same room as me.

I blinked my eyes many times. Thought Mark might go to the kitchen to get some drinking water.

My son is already quite independent and also sensitive. Maybe he saw I was busy calling, so Mark decided to take his own drinking water to the kitchen.

I followed Mark into the kitchen.

Once I was near the kitchen, I called my son's name once.

"Mark!"

Mark did not answer.

When I entered the kitchen, I was surprised because Mark was not in the kitchen.

"Mrs looking for Aden Mark?" Ask Bik Inem who is cooking porridge for Mark.

"Yes Bi."

"So I saw Aden in front. He said he wanted to take a walk for a while" said Bik Inem.

"Walk? This afternoon, Bi? Same who? Where to?" Ask me in succession.

"Say the hell into the backyard, ma'am. Look at the insects. He was alone." said Bik Inem again.

"Thank you, Bi.."

Confused, I stepped into the backyard to meet Mark. But again, my search ended for free. Mark's not in the backyard either.

"March! Mark's! Where are you, son?" Call me many times.

I went back into the house and called my son's name. But my call didn't get any word from Mark.

I also began to feel a new sense of anxiety.

In a hurry, I looked into every room in the house while calling my son over and over again.

"March! Mark's! Where are you, baby?!"

"Laila?! Why are you screaming that? Wasn't Mark in his room the same as you?" Ask Mama who just woke up from her nap.

Behind Mama, Papa was just as confused as he was staring at me.

"Mark where, La?" Ask Papa too.

"So Mark was in Lail's same room. Laila just called the police station for a little info on Nila. But, finish the call, know Mark doesn't exist, Ma! Pa! Mark's missing too!" I said in a panic tone.

Mama and Papa were immediately shocked after hearing my story.

"Mark disappeared?! Don't worry ah, La! Let's go find one more time!" Take Papa with a worried look.

In the end, me, Mama, Papa and everyone in my house were busy looking for Mark everywhere. It's a shame we didn't find Mark.

It was only after we checked the cctv that we finally found out where Mark was.

Because from the television screen that displays the cctv recording this afternoon, it is clear that Mark walked alone out, through the gate of the house. Heading down a big road out there.

"Where did Mark go?!" It was the only question that was lodged in our hearts all at that time.

***