Secret Alit

Dancers in the Empty Sanggar - Part 3

Today, my school days are faster than usual. Friends cheered in excitement, while I was. I'm at home at school, so it makes no difference whether I want to come home early or not today.

The last class is Indonesian. My teacher gave the group the task of making short stories, so we were allowed to work on them outside of school. As usual, I'm in a group with Ara and Monet. We decided to do group work at my house.

After school, I, Ara, and Monet headed straight to my house in hopes of completing the task quickly. After that, we still have time to play.

We are very serious about discussing and writing short stories. Finally, two hours had passed since we started working on the task.

"FINISH!!!" Shouted Monet in excitement.

Me and Ara were no less happy. I also want to celebrate by eating ice chirping made by my grandmother to quench our thirst.

"Good day! Aliiiitt," suddenly there was the sound of people calling out to me from outside when I was about to pick up some ice chirp in the kitchen.

I know him, it's Arlo's voice. I opened the gate and let him in.

"Tumben you're home. I was looking for something in school not there" Arlo said.

"Why not chat first? I have group work, so go home quickly. There's the same Ara Monet inside. Come on, come in," I replied.

"I'm just for a minute but. At 3 o'clock there will be an exculpation. It's just stopping by" Arlo said as he followed me into the house.

"Grandma's making ice, will you?" I said.

"No, the water is cold" he replied.

Arlo sat in the living room. I walked to the kitchen to get some water for her. I passed by Grandma who was walking towards the living room. Apparently, he heard Arlo's voice from inside.

"Siang, Grandma," said Arlo who greeted grandma.

"Arlo, you happened to come. Let's have lunch together" said the grandmother.

"Alit, call your friends who are in the room. We eat first" said the grandmother slightly shouting.

"Okay, Neeek," I replied.

Today's lunch was crowded and fun because there was a grandmother and three people closest to me. At the dinner table, we chatted, laughed to the satisfaction, and ate grandma's cooking until full.

After the five of us finished lunch, Monet and Ara decided to go to my room while teasing. As if, they wanted to let Arlo and I chat together. Meanwhile, Grandma continued reading her book in the living room, and I with Arlo went to the living room.

"Alit, I was straying into another alley. It turns out that there are many alleys that make you confused in this complex?" Ask Arlo.

"Huh? You have been here a few times. Stray time," I said with a laugh.

"Yes, I went to another alley. After I noticed, it was not in the direction of this house. I even headed outside the complex and passed through a vast wasteland. Then, I turned back towards the highway and turned into the alley I used to pass through," he explained.

I was silent, thinking about the route Arlo was taking. It is true said Arlo, there are many alleys connected from the highway. However, I don't know the location of the vacant land that Arlo said. But it feels like the vacant land that Arlo tells us is no stranger. Where is it, huh? How I don't remember.

"Alit, oi, Alit," call Arlo to wake my reverie.

For some time, we were still discussing about the location of the vacant land. Not felt, the clock has shown at 14:35.

"Jam 3 I have an exculpation, so I say yes" said Arlo.

"Before, drink chirping make grandma first. It's good," I said.

"Ok, I want to go to grandma" said Arlo, following me inside.

I walked into the kitchen, while Arlo met Grandma in the living room. After drinking his love in a few sips, Arlo went to school. While I went back to the room to meet Ara and Monet.

***

Evening has arrived. Monet and Ara have gone home. I was alone with grandma at home. Mom and Dad went to their friend's house to marry their son. Meanwhile, Kak Luni was going to date with Aciel.

In a quiet moment like this, I was accompanied by Ireng sitting on the terrace. The streets of the grandma's house complex are indeed quiet, because the residents are more elderly people. There are only a few teenagers of my age in this complex, so there are almost no activities that usually involve young people.

It's quiet, sometimes Mr. Security guard even forget to turn on the garden lights! So, the streets of the houses around the park went dark. Like tonight, the new clock shows at 19:30, but the situation outside is quiet and silent.

Suddenly, the gamelan rang out again. Gamelan groove that time sounded from the empty sanggar. I haven't heard it in a long time. Tonight was the second time I heard the gamelan.

I don't know, it's possible that the sound is there every day, but I don't hear it. I rarely sit on the porch at night like this. Since entering High School, my time to relax has decreased as schoolwork has increased. Sister Luni is also busy, so my work at home helps grandmother more and more. Time sitting on the terrace with Ireng became increasingly rare.

Curiosity moved me back towards the empty house. I walked on this lonely night through the complex park near my grandmother's house. The garden light in front of the empty house was dead. The atmosphere is very gripping. Ireng followed me!

I also have to walk carefully so as not to fall tripped or mired in the street hole. Night guards have not started traveling, because usually they just start guarding at midnight. Actually, I was a little afraid of walking in this kind of atmosphere. But the curiosity of the empty house stuck in my mind.

I still remember the hole in the wall to peek at it. This time, I'll find it easier. My determination and curiosity are stronger than fear. I thought maybe I'd meet the next, more interesting thing.

Although the big roll single dancer is still a mystery, but the story has reminded grandmother of someone who looks like the dancer. When I saw the dancer, I had a rather long chance to pay attention to the details of her features. Grandma said that the figure of the empty sanggar dancer was similar to Maryam's mother, grandmother's friend in the past. Her characteristics were similar to Maryam's mother in her last moments before she died, which was when she was about 45 years old. At that time, her face still looked beautiful and graceful. The dance habit never goes away in his entire life.

I walked slowly while Ireng remained upright and somewhat tense. The cup stood up. Luckily, the garden lights weren't all dead. There was still one light on, but it was at the far end of this empty house.

My steps stopped in front of the empty house. As I stepped towards the iron door, I felt a force pulling me into the house. It was as if I was sucked inside...

Suddenly, I was in a large area, like a palace, complete with its kitchen. At that moment, the sky turned into daylight. I got carried away in the atmosphere of ancient times, not knowing when exactly.

That place is huge. I realized I was in another era. The people who passed by were dressed in old fashion. The men wear caping (a hat of woven bamboo) which is rarely found now. Some wear a cloth headband. Meanwhile, the women wear rails and kemben, while their hair is curled. The men and women I saw were middle-aged. Their hair is starting to bleach. No one was talking to each other, just keeping quiet.

Among the old men, I saw some teenage girls who were also wearing tinsel and kemben. Their hair is long and neatly tied. The teenage girls walked slowly and looked ahead. Then, one of the girls stopped and looked at me. I feel like I'm dealing with myself. It was as if there were two of me who were in different realms.

The girl remained silent, while the others continued to step forward without greeting each other. Apparently, they seemed to be filling a large jar with a jug of water that he was holding. The teenager also carried a jug using his left hand with a hugged position.

While he was still standing silently watching me, I stepped back and turned around leaving the girl. My steps were directed into the palace building on the side.

- connect -