The Horizon Boundaries

Ch.1 Jakarta, I'm Back!

A black car rolled down a busy Jakarta highway. A black-haired young man was driving. The young man's face was flat, cold. He doesn't seem happy with his current situation.

Beside her was a sweet-faced girl with hair cut in a short bob style of high-layers. The girl smiled occasionally stealing glances towards the man beside her. The young man didn't seem to care.

Ting! A message came into his phone. The girl opened it immediately.

Hey my sweet girl Maisa, have you reached Jakarta or not? Be careful on the road. It's fine there. I miss you.

Maisa smiled, her thumb typing a reply message.

It has arrived in Jakarta, but not yet home. Miss you to.

Maisa opened the window glass, looked out. The tall building towering on the right left side of the highway is decorated with flickering lights. Large billboard boards along the way featuring promotional advertisements.

Fifteen years have passed, there were not many buildings standing. The view is still beautiful and green. Many trees and trees grow. The green landscape is rarely seen. Only one or two places still look green. Everything is replaced by tall buildings. On the river banked slum houses. A very contrasting sight was felt. Even so, this was his hometown that gave a million yearnings.

Jakarta, I'm back!

Maisa turned her gaze back towards the young man, looking fixedly at him down every curve of his face. His fingers tapped on the car's dashboard.

The man felt bad. "What?"

"Now Jakarta has changed a lot, yes! Not like before. I miss the atmosphere of the house. How much has changed, huh? Mango tree on the face of the house what is there? It's the season again. Young mangoes are delicious made grafting. I'm drooling, right."

Maisa is still nyerocos. Kio stopped his car suddenly on the side of the highway. Maisa's body was pushed to the face. His head almost hit the car dashboard. Fortunately, he was able to hold it. Otherwise there would be a small lump on his forehead. Kio looked at him coldly. Tired of driving a car all day plus his sister is super noisy, making his emotions explode.

“Can be silent no! Noisy knows! I am tired of driving from Jakarta to Yogyakarta and now back to Jakarta again. If you're still noisy, just get down there,” snapped Kio annoyed.

“Who told you not to rest first,” Maisa's grunts a little frown.

Kio turned towards Maisa. Maisa pretended to pay attention to the scenery outside. Sometimes he glanced at the man. Kio still looked at him sharply.

Maisa was shaking her lips. Kio's driving the car again. He noticed Kio driving, smiling to himself. His brother is handsome, but his judes attitude even adds to his charm. Maisa wants to prick him.

“Kak Kio so handsome huh now. Tall, white and athletic like the actors in Avenger. Hm... What's-her-name? Chris Hemsworth's. But more handsome Chris, huh! Brother is not less competitive with Chris, really. But I still idolize Chris,” said Maisa while smiling ignorantly.

Kio grew increasingly upset to hear him and stopped his car abruptly for the second time.

“Down now!” kio said annoyedly.

Maisa shook her head and put on a plain face. Kio sighed, it seemed like he needed to teach his sister a lesson. Kio stepped on the gas pedal running the car at high speed ahead of the car in front of him. The sound of a car tire whiz past a sharp bend.

Maisa's face instantly turned pale. He gripped onto Kio's arm, his hand trembling. Cold sweat drenched his clothes. His stomach was nauseous as it was stirred, his head felt dizzy.

Kio smiled enjoying his game. He increased the speed, the car speeding across the freeway. Maisa tightens her grip. Kio grimaced, his arm hurt. He stopped the car on the side of the highway. Maisa immediately got out of the car, squatting on the side of the road.

A flash of memory of the accident fifteen years ago comes back to the picture. Puddles of blood flowed down the street. The screams of people echoed. His hands trembled shut his ears, his eyes closed.

Kio also came out, leaning his back on the car watching Maisa. He had no intention of asking her anything, just leaving her alone.

Maisa tried to catch her breath. He got back into the car without caring about Kio. Maisa was now silent, not spouting a word. Along the way he only noticed the surrounding scenery. There was a hint of sadness implied on his face.

A two-story modern house, surrounded by a beautiful garden. Mr. Chandra is sitting at the desk. His hand holds a picture of a woman who is none other than his wife. Take that photo with feeling. Memories of the beautiful past loomed in his mind, running along with laughter adorning the face, hand in hand and cuddling.

Memory changed with a familiar figure lying coldly in a hospital bed. Unwanted events occur, taking away a cherished figure. He has not given up his wife's departure. He still did not want to meet the boy. A child who takes away those he loves.

The sound of cars entering the yard. Mr. Mamat a gardener opened the gate. Mr. Chandra put the photo back on the table, rushing his feet up to the living room.

Kio was already standing at the door with a tired face. After saying the greeting, Kio went inside with a gontai step and lunglai body, throwing himself onto the sofa. Closing his eyes enjoyed the comfort of the soft foam on his back.

“Where is the child?” ask Chandra reluctantly.

Kio did not answer, moved his chin, just looked at the door. Mr. Chandra turned his head, Maisa standing at the front door. Mr. Chandra's face turned cold when he saw Maisa. A very familiar face. The boy was very similar to his wife. The wound felt back.

Maisa still felt her father still could not accept it. His piercingly cold gaze, his uncaring attitude towards existence was enough of an answer. He understood why his father was like that. It was his fault, he regretted it. The girl hesitated to enter. He felt awkward in his own home. Almost fifteen years of age did not set foot there.

“Come in!” said Mr. Chandra after a long silence.

Maisa smiled stifledly, stepping her feet into her childhood home. Her feelings surrounded her heart.

"Maisa's coming home, Pa." His voice sounded soft.

The man immediately darted away leaving the two behind. Kio was still leaning on the sofa stepping his feet into the room, leaving Maisa who was still standing there. His body felt tired making him lazy to do anything. The shadow of Maisa trembling in fear flashed in her eyes. Kio covered his eyes with his right arm.

"Dad! Don't think of anything" he nodded slowly.

A middle-aged woman came over to Maisa. Bi Tari was a domestic assistant here since Maisa was a child. Bi Tari looks happy that the little lady he took care of was growing up.

"Well, Non. Just be more beautiful. Come on, Auntie, come to the room."

Maisa followed Bi Tari to the second floor, entering the empty room. His bedroom was when he was a kid. The decoration of the room is still as it used to be, nothing has changed. Family photos and photos of her childhood perched sweetly on the walls of her room. Maisa smiled haru, she missed this room. There are a lot of memories left here.

"Non, take a break. Let Mr. Mamat carry his suitcase upstairs. Aunt make lemon ice first.”

Maisa nodded. “Thank you yes, Bi.”

The girl threw her body on the bed. There was a faint smile implied on his face. He looked at the ceiling of his room and turned to the side looking at a photo.

Maisa grabbed the picture frame on her study table. A family photo where Maisa, Kio, her father and mother are smiling happily. He touched the photo, slowly. Tears pool in the eye without realizing it. Her chest feels tight. Maisa hugged the photo and started crying softly.

Kio leaned beside Maisa's slightly open room door. Intention to immediately sleep undo. He just wanted to know what the girl was doing in her room. His hand was put in his pants pocket. He heard his sister crying. Her chest is painful. Kio let out a long sigh, leaving the room, ignoring all the feelings that were stirring his heart.

Meanwhile, Chandra is facing his desk. His face looks brooding. Paras Maisa's smile was still lingering in her mind. His hand hit the table hard enough to make a jedug sound. His heart was angry, angry, and sad.

Why is that kid similar to Arini?

Maisa fell asleep hugging the family photo. The rest of the tears flowed in the corner of his eyes. The hour hand reads coloring the sunyinya of time. He drowned in his dream. Samar can be seen a woman lying on the street. A pool of blood that widens. The smell of rusty iron and gasoline becomes one through the smell.

Maisa tried to approach her, someone called her name and touched her shoulder. Maisa wakes up from her sleep. His eyes blinked, seeing Bi Tari shake his shoulders, waking him up.

"Non Maisa wake up, yuk. Eat first."

"Oh yes, Bi. I'll come downstairs." His voice sounded raucous. The tail of his eyes glanced at the wall clock that showed eight o'clock at night. The girl pulled her short hair. After washing his face, he rushed down. There are already Mr. Chandra and Kio.

Maisa scoops the rice and chews it slowly. The tail of his eyes stole a glance towards his father and Kio who was sitting opposite at the dining table. This is the first time in a long time apart. There was a bit of excitement in his heart but there was sadness.

He looked at his father and Kio. Both of them looked ice cold. Not a word came out of their mouths. Only the sound of the clink of a spoon clashing with a plate filled the silence.

Maisa felt that was enough for her at this moment, gathering with her family. Glad to remember his father would grant his wish to return to Jakarta. Several times I had to face rejection. Fortunately, his grandparents in Yogjakarta managed to soften his father's heart.