I'm Not a Wild Grass

Scavenging (POV Laila)

After seeing the cctv footage, I rushed to find Mark out of the house. Unfortunately my son's figure is no longer visible anywhere.

I'm desperate. I didn't understand what my son was really thinking when he left the house alone. It is also impossible if he wants to find Nila, alone?

Mama, Papa and Darman who just came home from college in the afternoon helped me find Mark.

Unfortunately, the position of my house is in a residential area that is still fairly quiet from the existence of neighbors. So I can't see any further cctv footage showing which way Mark actually went.

Towards Maghrib, I returned home in shaky steps. Mama and Papa look as sad as I am.

Nila has not been found yet, now Mark even disappeared anyway.

I am sorry for my negligence in being a mother to my two children. I can't take good care of them. So far, I have lost both of my children.

After Maghrib, I told Nunik about Mark's disappearance. And my friend was very surprised by this news.

"Where's Mark going, il? Nun finds it hard to believe that Mark dared to go out alone without telling you first. Or.. did anyone ask Mark to leave like that? If so, that person must be someone who is very close to Mark, il," Nunik argued.

I was stunned when I understood the meaning of Nunik's sentence earlier.

"Nearby people? Who do you mean, Nun?"

"Don't know either, il. But psychologically, Mark's actions can not be explained by other reasons except by the reason that he was asked by people close to him, il," said Nunik strengthen his argument.

Then my netra caught something at the end of my vision. With the phone still attached to the ear, I listened to Nunik who spoke again. While I'm approaching Mark's desk. Book various books and crayons scattered on his study table.

Then, in the picture book that was drawn by Mark, I saw the image of my son.

The picture made by Mark is still shaped like a rough string. Even so I feel interested in the results of my son's picture.

Mark drew four men. Two of them are small, while the other two are large.

Each of the big lidis took one small lidi.

What caught my attention was that I immediately remembered my Nila when I saw the image of one small-sized lidi who was like hiding behind a large lidi. Because there are two pigtails on the head of the little lidi. Just like my Nila hairstyle in her everyday life.

The big lidi who takes her little lidi like her is also a woman. And I immediately suspected that it was a picture of me, with a triangular shape surrounding the head. Maybe it's like a hijab covering my hair.

On the paper, I looked sad with the dots extending under my eyes. I also suspect the figure of the little guy I'm working with is Mark.

Because of that, I wonder. About who exactly is the figure of the big lidi who hid Nila behind her?

I don't know why I feel so sure that there's something Mark wants to tell me through this picture.

I also suspect that Mark might know where Nila really is. But I'm not too sure either, because I asked my son about Nila's whereabouts. And Mark replied that he didn't know.

Mark is not a liar's son. I know the character of my son. He is a quiet boy, but Mark is not a liar.

Mark loved Nila very much. It can be seen from his daily attitude that often acts to keep his twin sister from various dangers.

Dear Mark can't keep Nila on the day of my daughter's disappearance. Because of my own negligence in guarding my Nila.

As I pondered who the other lidis were, whom Mark described as hiding Nila, I received a phone call. The caller is Kiyano.

While staring at Kiyano's name on my phone screen, I suddenly remembered Azki's words about Kiyano.

How very coincidental Kiyano appeared when I was experiencing the loss of Nila. Even with this moment, when I was confused thinking where Mark went.

Kiyano called me again. And I can't think of a reason that man would suddenly contact me at a time like this.

Various thoughts raged in my mind.

I was thinking about the conjectures that might have happened. Until the call from Kiyano was then stopped.

Even though my phone no longer rings, I still stare blankly at my phone screen. Think about the possibilities that could actually happen.

'But Mark is not close to Kiyano. They had also only met once when Kiyano picked up Lala, back then. So how could Kiyano tell Mark to go out of the house without telling me? yesterday Kiyano did not see Mark. Only Lala had come upstairs to Mark's room with me, ' My mind was still so tangled by the guesses that it was hard for me to believe on my own.

Then, a message came into my phone. While thinking about Mark, I opened the messaging app that was on my phone. And I was surprised to read the contents of the message that Kiyano had sent me.

From Kiyano: Sorry, La. Just wanna ask. Are you the same Mark is out of the house? You see, Lala said that she saw Mark standing alone on the side of the road.

Deg. Deg.

Without thinking about anything else, I just pressed the Dial button on Kiyano's name on my phone screen. Shortly thereafter, a phone call was connected.

"Hello, La?"

"Kiy! You said Lala saw Mark on the side of the road? Which path? Same who? Is he really alone?" Ask me consecutively with a clear panic tone heard even by myself.

"Yes. I just walked down the street near your house. Lala keeps saying that she saw Mark alone on the side of the road. Not that Mark's still sick huh, you said yesterday, La?" Ask Kiyano.

"Yes.no. ahh!" I was confused to string words. And just as Kiyano was aware of the panic I was feeling right now.

"What the hell are you, La? Is there anything I can help you with?" Ask Kiyano again.

I was just about to tell Kiyano about Mark's wordless departure. But again I remembered Azki's sentence, related to the appearance of Kiyano in the moment of nervousness that befell me many times.

'Wait first! What if Azki's words were true. Is it Kiyano who kidnapped Nila? And now.. Mark was kidnapped?! But. I can't think of how Kiyano persuaded Mark to leave the house without telling me!' my mind went back to being confused.

"La? Laila's? Are you still there?" Kiyano asked from across the phone.

After hesitating for a moment, I finally followed my heart to tell Kiyano the truth. I wonder what that man will say later.

"Actually.."

'Allahu akbar! Allahu akbar!'

The sound of the adhan near the house rang through the air. I stopped talking and fell silent while listening to Adhan for a while.

"Maghrib. We'd better pray first, yeah, La. We'll call her back later. It's okay, right?" Kiyano said later.

I'm stunned. Feeling indecisive between the choice to continue our conversation or prayer first. After thinking for a few seconds, I finally agreed to Kiyano's invitation.

"Yes. I prayed first Kiy. God willing, we will connect later. Assalamu'alaikum!"

"Wa'alaikum salam warohmatullah.."

Clik. And the phone connection was cut off.

Hearing what Kiyano said about Mark earlier. I was made mad again.

While listening to the roar of the Adhan near the house, I drew my prayer to ascend to the sky.

"Yes Rabb. Please take care of Mark and Nila, wherever they are. Aamiin's.."

***