Short Story (Cerpen)

Tuesday 20.13

Category: Ghost Horror Short story

Title: Tuesday 20.13

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Around nine o'clock at night with the atmosphere so quiet on the highway accompanied by a small drizzle. I was sitting in a fairly quiet cafe because there were only a few customers and servants who were busy chatting next to the cashier room. I've been stopping by this cafe every Tuesday night. At first it was because of the rain that often came down unexpectedly when I came home from college. My Tuesday school schedule starts from four to eight. It is quite heavy indeed considering the rainy season in these months. This cafe is not so special or luxurious, and not so interesting just from the outside. Although the servants were so friendly when welcoming guests, maybe that made me feel at home here for a long time. I don't know what else I don't know that makes me feel comfortable.

A cup of coffee was just delivered by one of his servants. Her name is Sari, that's what I found out after a few days of getting to know her. His face is sweet and certainly attractive, friendly and also has a distinctive smile. Although not many have spoken to him here. The owner of the cafe also sometimes goes down directly to serve customers, Mr. Santoso. He also looks so friendly because he had a long conversation with me last week. He talks a lot about his own life and rarely listens to me. It's kind of weird, but I take it for granted that old people don't want to hear younger people.

At ten in the night, the cigarette in my hand was almost gone. And I intend to go straight out and go home before suddenly Sari sits in front of me and looks at me with her trademark smile.

' why ?' much

' mas, this year I want to go to college in the college mas loh.'

' oh yeah ?'

That was the beginning of my old conversation with him, I broke my intention to go home and was even stranded in that chair until almost late. It was just a simple conversation and most of my words were just what I wanted to think about that night. But it turns out Sari was so cool to be invited to chat, even she first started it. A few minutes before I went home even Mr. Santoso joined the roar there while joking with us because the remaining customers were only me. The cafe closed in the middle of the night and I went home even though I got a little creepy because the streets were so quiet.

The next Tuesday, I stopped by the cafe after college. As usual Sari sat beside me after serving other customers, talking and giving her a distinctive smile. A cup of coffee, a pack of cigarettes and until almost late at night I was there almost every Tuesday night. It felt so comfortable and made me continuously undo my intention to go out before the cafe closed.

Saturday night I was with Sari. Although it was not a typical Tuesday night, nor was it in the cafe of two-three but instead was in the city park like a couple on a date. Not because it really is, but last Tuesday Sari asked me to accompany her in search of supplies for a short lecture three days before the new school year. He also said for work permits overnight has been allowed by Mr. Santoso. Almost all equipment has been obtained such as black white clothes, ties, and other attributes.

We sat in a chair in the west corner talking and joking like we always do in a cafe. The warm and comfortable atmosphere was also felt in that place. I may slowly start falling in love with her. Because as if lifting the legs to get from that place alone becomes so heavy. Suddenly from behind, someone slapped my shoulder. It was Ivan and Dina who were smiling and then standing next to me. They were both my classmates at college.

' what else are you doing here ? alone like a man.' Speech of Ivan

' you think I'm sitting with a ghost again ?'

' hahaha, could you. Yes, I am afraid of disturbing. Come Din.'

They then moved from that place. There was no visible reaction from Sari when there were them, she did not even care and continued to look at me with a smile.

Half-twelve o'clock at night, and I was already standing in front of a modest house not far from the two-three cafe. Silent and dark only the porch lights are lit. Sari immediately opened the unlocked door and forced me to go inside. I was sitting on a chair in the living room that had a white light on. A cup of coffee was then placed by him on a glass table.

' kayak in the cafe yah.' I said while trying to make her smile again.

' you're alone in this house ?' say again. Sari just shook her head while smiling.

' my parents slept first.'

I heard that speech that still felt so thick remembered by me. The clock in my room showed me nine o'clock in a few minutes. I was still sitting on my bed and wringing my hair thinking about what happened to me. As I recall I sat at Sari's house and picked up a cup filled with coffee last night. After that I immediately looked at the wall clock in my room in confusion like waking up from sleep. Then what happened last night ? was last night just a dream ? but to me it feels so real.

' you don't follow the new student Din ? usually active.' I said while holding his shoulder and advancing a bit of my chair.

' will end this lecture, my job is just ngabsen they doang kok.'

' uh coincidentally, where's the list of absences ?'

' yes still in the lecturer's room, have not taken.'

The lecture was over, Dina indeed immediately left after leaving the classroom. And Ivan then walked downstairs with me to the lobby talking last night when I met him in the park. He confirmed it, only that I still haven't mentioned Sari to him. And arriving in front of the lecturer room I saw Dina who was carrying several sheets of attendance paper together with two other students. I went to him and grabbed the paper.

' why elo Vin ?'

' the girl who was that late she was also following psu today. He said he's in room 2.3. I just want to see.' I said while noticing that Sari's name was indeed in the absence of that class. Sari Hayuningsih's. The paper was immediately retaken by Dina and arranged in a map.

' ah ah, I'm late again.' He said as he passed with the two students up the stairs.

' who did you find out ?' ivan was a little confused

' that's the girl who was sitting with me in the park. All of a sudden there was a nongol elonya.'

' girls ?'

' yes, look into his class yuk. I pointed it out.' My speech

We stood in front of room 2.3 peeking out of the glass door while noticing that almost all the female students looked the same as the black white outfit. It's just that I can't see Sari's whereabouts between them. I don't think he's leaving, or why ? last night he was fine. But his name is right in this class.

' he didn't come in like.'

' why don't you text or call ?'

I was immediately shocked and realized that even all this time I had never asked her for her mobile number. Because almost every Tuesday night I just lulled in front of him.

' he works in a cafe two and three on brigjen street if malem. Every Tuesday we go home malem, I keep going this two months. She is not very pretty. But I'm comfortable with him Van. Don't know any.'

Ivan immediately grabbed my shoulders and pulled away from the front of the class. I was still confused as to what he was doing, he didn't say much and kept pulling me down the stairs. I don't know what he wants to show, until his motorcycle stops at a location that is almost familiar to me. Brigadier General Encung Road.

' I don't know what Vin is talking about, but I've also been here a few times with Dina. Last time was my second semester. But as I recall, this cafe was a fire and there were some customers who died with their employees.'

I can't say anything more. In front of me was just a building that was empty along with some grass began to cover it. What do I experience every Tuesday night ? I remember it clearly and it doesn't feel like a dream. I immediately rushed Ivan to take me to Sari's house last night. The house is still there, and it almost looks the same as what I had in mind. It's just that no one looks there, the porch lights are still dimly lit. I was so confused and kept trembling from earlier.

Tuesday, November 20, two years ago at about eight o'clock in the evening, two-three cafes were burned.4 people died and one visitor, 9 people suffered serious burns. That's what I got from the information in the paper that Ivan gave me this afternoon. Sari, Mr. Santoso, and the customer sat another table with me inside the cafe. Comfortable feeling in it. To this day I still question it.