Orang-orang to Aratha

Chapters. 04 - Empty Seat

”Haah, where might I wait for him very long there. It was dark and no one. There's no way I'm at home there.”

Sonya was sitting by the window of a bus on a flat road. Since it was already night, the atmosphere was quite quiet and many empty seats were available. It doesn't feel like morning. Sonya had to hold on to the iron pole of the bus because her seat was already full. Sometimes he often almost fell to the side because the bus braked suddenly.

”But, by the way, Fahruz can't ya find the address? At that time Aratha looked very frightened. I almost gave up when I asked her to talk.” thought Sonya while staring out the window. He did not expect, a grumpy Aratha had an over-fear of the darkness.

A middle-aged man was sitting next to him without excuse even though the empty seats were available quite a lot. The man wearing an all-black suit, continued to stare down with his strange smile that seemed creepy to Sonya who saw it. The man also moved his own fingers as if itching to touch something.

For a while, Sonya tried to ignore the man's whereabouts and continued to stare out the window even though she felt a little scared of him. Bad thoughts continue to be reflected in his head. Right now, he was trying to figure out a way to get away from his already uncomfortable seat.

Sure enough, it wasn't until a minute that he distracted her, the man's fingers touching her thighs gently. Now he was even more frightened to the point of being speechless. His lips trembled and his eyes opened wide in unexpected anticipation. Sonya tried to get rid of the man's hand however, she just kept holding it like this.

Scared, very scared. Can't look at him.

Yoke,... Yoke,...

Someone banged on the iron wall of the bus that Sonya occupied. Sonya's attention was immediately distracted by something outside the bus window and she felt quite surprised, seeing Fahruz chasing his bus with his big motorbike. As soon as she found out, Sonya immediately ran forward, ignoring the old man who had just harassed her and asking the bus driver to pull over for a while.

”Stop the bus!”

Sonya looks rushed like the one being chased by criminals. In fact, he immediately went out once the door was open even though the bus was still traveling very slowly. The bus driver tried to warn him to be careful. However, Sonya didn't bully him.

Moments later, the bus drove back leaving him there. Sonya stood on the sidewalk, looking at Fahruz who had pulled over his bike and was taking off his helmet.

”I told you, you stay there! Don't go anywhere.” said Fahruz while looking at him seriously.

Hearing her voice made Sonya feel relieved as well as safe. Both of Sonya's eyes slowly look teary even she to the point of shedding tears that could not be held back by her. I can't imagine the fear of what he just experienced. Fahruz began to look at her in surprise because he did not know what made Sonya cry like this.

When Fahruz was about to step up to him, Sonya had already run towards him first and directly hugged his neck. Fahruz slightly bowed because Sonya had already placed her chin on her shoulders. When that happened, Sonya immediately cried hysterically considering the incident on the bus.

”Sonya, why are you crying? Anyone done you any harm?” asked Fahruz who looked anxious even he did not dare to hug back Sonya.

”Don't leave me! Please don't leave me again!” sonya shouted with fear and anxiety. His tears even wet Fahruz's shoulders.

”Yes, I won't leave you again. Now you don't cry. I was right here. You are safe” said Fahruz slowly.

In the end Fahruz drove Sonya back home. The bad thing is, Sonya's father still hasn't come home from work. It seemed like he was so busy that he forgot about his own daughter. Her mother died five years ago because she was sick.

Fahruz lets Sonya sit on his couch while he turns on the room lights for her. Fahruz still doesn't know what Sonya just went through because she hasn't heard the story.

He took a towel for Sonya and said, "You better take a shower. I'll cook." after saying that, Fahruz walked away to the kitchen leaving Sonya. However, Sonya immediately held back her hand so as to make her steps stop.

”What do you need again?” Fahruz looked at Sonya's face which still looked terrified.

”Do not go far.” said Sonya slowly while lowering her head.

Fahruz understood, he was sitting next to Sonya with his hand still held by her. Fahruz watched Sonya's face for a while from a short distance away. He asked, "Sonya, tell me what happened.”

...~o0o~...

”Ah! How humiliating! Why should I experience such an event?! Anyway he has to take responsibility!”

At school, Aratha immediately looks for Sonya's class which should not be far from her class. He searched several corridors until he finally found her.

Aratha watched the class that looked crowded. And he didn't manage to find Sonya in any nook and cranny. He was so observant that he even checked behind the door and under the table. When a girl walks out of class, Aratha takes the time to ask, "Sonya is here?"

The girl looked at Aratha in confusion. She replied, "Sonya hasn't come since morning. He usually leaves with Fahruz. But, I just saw Fahruz off on his own."

Aratha lowered her gaze and replied, "That's it, yes. Thank you." she replied as she walked away from the class.

While walking into the corridor, Aratha thought so much about it and felt strange with her alone. Why would he do such a troublesome thing? Just futile! Sonya was still someone else to him. So, he didn't need to think much about it.

Czechoslovakia!

The camera sounds right in front of him. Aratha raised her head and saw Sonya turning on the camera. With his playful-looking smile, he said, ”Haha! Look at that face of yours! So ugly!” Sonya laughed, looking at Aratha's photo.

At once Aratha's face flushed with embarrassment. He immediately moved towards Sonya and tried to take the camera from her. However, Sonya moved so fast and agile that Aratha could not pick it up easily.

”Delete no?!” ketus Aratha looked cold and very angry.

”Nice do not delete! Let it be a memory.” said Sonya mockingly.

Aratha looks upset. He moved back towards Sonya and tried to grab her camera. Again Sonya instead hid it behind her back so that makes Aratha difficult when taking it.

”It looks like we'll be close. I just recorded your phone number. Mr. Zaki is very generous because he wants to share it.” Sonya pulled out her phone and showed Aratha's mobile number recorded in her note.

”You are a real stalker! Hurry along! Remove it all!”

Sonya quibble, ”See! Kinan is on his way here! This time he brought a broom!” he said, pointing to the back of Aratha.

Sure enough, the goosebumps of Aratha, immediately looked back to be sure. But there was no one there. Then, when Aratha faced back to the front and realized that she had been deceived, Sonya had run away leaving her.

”Sonya! Here!” aratha shouted as she ran after him.

...~o0o~...

”Fahruz! Watch out!”

A throw of the ball hit right in Fahruz's face to make him almost fall to the side if only he did not keep his balance. He forgot that he and his friend were playing football on the outside. Because he kept daydreaming, as a result he was hit by a ball until his nose was bleeding and his head was dizzy for a moment.

”Okay, Fahruz! From morning you keep daydreaming! You think of anything?” ask someone who approached him.

Fahruz rubs his nose that bleeds. He then turned around and replied, "No! It'sit's nothing. I'll go back for a minute." Fahruz walked away from the field.

As Fahruz was washing his face in the sink and in front of the mirror, he looked annoyed. He thought that washing his head would make his sense go away and the fire in his mind go out. However, it turns out that the annoyance cannot be removed before he finds someone who has already harassed Sonya while on the bus.

"If I had been there, I would have beaten up all those who had done it" Fahruz said resentfully as he smashed the mirror in front of him.