The Girl Next Door's

The Son named Ardi

"It doesn't feel good to tell, if we don't know each other," the man stretched out his hand while grinning, showing off his neat teeth. It was obvious on his face that he had felt victorious for successfully attracting Deril's attention.

"Deril," finally Deril welcomed the helping hand. It would be useless if he dodged it now. Deril was very curious about the missing boy, or the woman named Xiao Ying.

"Wood."

"If you tell a boring story, I'll pull it out immediately" Deril threatened with a menacing look.

"I'm not bored!" Bayu answered confidently. She hugged her knees facing Deril. "You want to know which one it was, huh?"

"Everything."

Bayu took a deep breath. He straightened his body, preparing to tell a story. "So, our village has two big secrets that are taboo to talk about" Bayu began. His curly hair moved when the night wind hit. "The first story, is about a little boy who disappeared, somewhere."

"Lo know?" ask Deril.

Bayu. "Not many people knew the boy. My brother is about the same age as him. If he is alive, he is twenty-five years old" Bayu replied. "According to a story from my brother, he's a kid who likes to be beaten as his father. His father liked to drink alcohol, kept beating him up so many times."

"I've read that his father doesn't work, huh?"

Bayu nodded with enthusiasm. "He's a bum here. Sometimes life from selling used bottles that he collected. If the citizens again have a constructive work, sometimes he is also invited to help. But, the basic person is not good, the result is also not good."

"Where does that mean?"

"Not infrequently he was forced to be the foreman of the building because it makes trouble. A little bit, just play smash! The man was quickly offended. Until his son is sansak."

"Can't you be separated from your child?"

Bayu bobbing head. "He insisted on the same his son. Anyway, if anyone comes close, he's on a rampage. Wear all the machetes. The police are overwhelmed by that crazy guy!"

Ringing Deril wrinkled. There were a lot of questions in his head, and he wanted to throw all those questions at Bayu.

"I know, I know," said Bayu suddenly. "There's definitely a lot you want to ask right now. Give me some time for a slow story, yeah!" her door. "So, the boy's name is Ardi. A child born of rape. Her father was asked to take responsibility when the citizens found out Ardi's mother was pregnant."

"It doesn't make sense!" Deril.

"Yes, right?" Bayu agrees with Deril. "If today, surely rape victims will be kept the same perpetrator. This is even being asked to marry! Surely the marriage will not work! Finally, Ardi's mother ran away. Where are there women who hold the same homeless people who do not think tomorrow want to eat what?"

"He didn't take his son away with him?" ask Deril.

Bayu breathed a heavy breath. "No. Ardi was left at the age of eight, my brother said. He's an abandoned child, but there's not much to do. Dad's crazy! He doesn't want to split up with Ardi. Residents around can only help with daily eating problems. Ardi is not in school either. That kid spends a lot of time scavenging garbage or helping people who need a handkerchief in their yard."

"Then, what happened?" ask Deril.

"When he was fifteen, his father was found dead in their home. In his mouth was a lot of blood and bottles of liquor were everywhere. His father had often vomited blood. My brother said he died of vomiting blood mostly drinking alcohol. But-" Bayu squinted his eyes, "- there is also speculation that Ardi poisoned his father."

"Why is that?"

"Ardi smiles when her father is found dead."

"Hhh..." Bayu sighed again. "Can you say what? No citizen wants to bother about the death of a madman. Mr. Ardi was buried as per custom here."

"After that?"

"Meeting is held to decide how the fate of Ardi next. At that time, Ardi was still fifteen years old, right? He can't live alone. All the residents are afraid that Ardi will be like his father. Ardi must have a role model for a better life. Even if you start elementary school, it's too late. But, if you send Ardi to an orphanage, he is afraid to be mistaken. No one knew of Ardi's character at that time. He's quieter, but, when he's grinning at his father's funeral, everyone's gonna be scared."

"At that point he disappeared?" terka Deril's.

"Yes. There is no definitive answer from the village officials here, Ardi suddenly disappeared. The search was carried out for months with the help of police. No leads or results after being searched for six months. Finally, no one cares anymore. The residents instead felt relieved because the troubled child finally disappeared from this village by itself."

Deril's feelings were mixed. There is fear and pity for a boy named Ardi. "No news yet?"

"Nothing at all. I think the people here have forgotten the same child," replied Bayu.

"Her father Ardi never came here either?"

"Never. Even if."

Deril was silent for a moment. The story was not that interesting to him anymore, but it was quite worth listening to, considering the amount of free time he had at the moment. Deril glanced towards the house that was used as a gathering place for arisan mothers. There was no sign that the show was going to end.

"They'll be done at about ten in the night" Bayu spoke, as if he could read Deril's mind. "There's still time. Want to continue the story at the stall near here? Good while coffee," he asked.

"Copy?"

"Nights like this, it's good to have a coffee while chatting, right? I'll buy it!"

"You're actually already fathers, aren't you?" deril syndicate.

Bayu crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Anybody can copy just the fathers? You've never had coffee before, have you?"

Deril did not answer. He is not a coffee lover. Once he tried Alex's coffee, but Deril realized it wasn't his taste at the moment. The coffee made his heart pound and he didn't like it. "I'd like to come if I buy tea" Deril bargained.

"OK, okay, there's no compulsion you have to drink coffee. And this is weird! Why the coffee problem, so all this time?" Bayu shook his head as he got up from his seat. Deril hurriedly got up. There's no point in him staying here alone.

"Your brother is twenty-five years old?" Deril was suddenly interested.

"First brother. I'm the fifth of seven children."

"Well!!!"

Bayu laughed a little. "Sometimes, you can play to my house to know how my family fusses."

'We haven't even been close friends, but have invited people home?' deril thought, astonished.

***