The Monster In Me

Only Lying?

“Does anyone turn on their phone again? Any other news from outside?” danita asked curiously while staring at the students one by one. “It's been a day since you contacted your parents, right?”

“My mother is just an old woman living alone,” Trisha replied with a gloomy face. “Mom may be confused thinking about how she can help me. Mother did not dare to talk or contact strangers, let alone travel alone. So, I guess until now, I could only cry and wait for news from me.”

“Alright, it's okay, Tris.” In a hurry Danita reached out to calm Trisha, even though the girl did not look like she was going to cry.

It is precisely Danita who is currently starting to feel desperate after facing the fact that their expectations are diminishing one by one. Plus, his own phone has been lost, probably dropped somewhere. “How about you, Evan?”

“My phone battery is completely dying, Bu.” Evan answered while snorting. “It looks like it can only be turned on one more time. So, I save it for emergencies.”

“Not just drinking water, it turns out you are also stingy HP battery, yes,” chirped Trisha while sticking out her tongue.

Evan just shook his head without responding to the girl and chose to continue talking to Danita. “Last time I called, my parents didn't pick it up. Looks like they're really busy.”

Danita closed her lips while frowning. Instead of accusing Evan of lying, the young teacher simply could not believe that there were parents who ignored his child's phone when the child was trapped in a dangerous place. Or maybe Evan's parents don't know their current situation yet? Not likely. The news about the number of Playground visitors who contacted family members in a panic must have spread widely, however.

At the beginning of all this chaos, Danita saw clearly the number of visitors who still have their phones to ask for help. But why is there no help to this day?

“Let me try to contact my mom one more time!” With the spirit of Abian volunteered, automatically makes Danita no longer silent contemplate and instead look at him expectantly.

Danita, Trisha, Evan, and Gunawan then close their positions with Abian. The five of them listened to the conjunct tones together, fully having been able to ignore the voice of Karsa who kept moving tirelessly. No one dared to make a sound until Mother Abian's voice sounded from across the phone.

“Mother!” exclaim the happy young man. “Mother! I'm still at the Playground. But don't worry, I'm safe. There are teachers who accompany me.”

For a moment, Danita and Gunawan exchanged glances. Gunawan thought, Danita is asking for help to talk to represent the two of them. Therefore, he stretched out his hand, about to take over the call. Suddenly, Danita opened her voice.

“Halo, Mom. I am Danita, Abian's teacher. As much as possible I will—“

“Bian, son! Sorry Mom!” Abian's mother's shout across the phone made Danita stop her speech. “Since yesterday you called Mom, Mom and Dad went straight there. But there are a lot of distractions on the road. And ... and now we are stuck in traffic so we have to rest at the nearest gas station.”

Abian widened his eyes to hear his mother's trembling voice. Many times he called his mother, asking her to calm down. However, it seemed like his voice was drowned out by the crowd that was happening around where his mother was. From her phone, Abian could hear the sound of many car horns as well as people shouting.

It felt like Abian wanted to cry hearing how hard his mother fought for his safety. However, he persisted to be able to talk to his mother longer. “Is Mom okay? Mom and Dad need to stay healthy so we can regroup.”

Danita's eyes began to tear up to hold haru. He was so touched to see how much Abian loved his parents. Unable to bear it, the young teacher finally turned his face away and let tears run down his cheeks. Just a minute, because he was afraid to end up dehydrated if crying for too long.

Gunawan patted Danita's shoulder slowly. Gives strength without saying a single word.

“Mother ... Mother is fine. If Dad, maybe a little unwell, but not severe,” replied Abian's biological mother after being silent for a while. “What is your phone battery still a lot? You should save it more. Don't worry about anything, everything is fine here. After Father and Mother get there, we will contact you directly.”

“So, outside absolutely no zombie attack?” Unknowingly Gunawan voiced his curiosity.

“Mother, so besides here, there are absolutely no zombies anywhere else?” repeat Abian when his mother does not answer.

They grimaced while closing their ears as a loud horn sounded from Abian's phone. After that, the call was cut off just like that, and Abian could no longer contact her parents. No matter how many times he tried to call again.

“It's okay. I think it's enough. The important thing is that we know that the people out there are also trying their best for us,” Danita said while leaning in. Clapping Abian's hands a few times before returning to circulate his gaze. He then again met with Gunawan's eyes. “How about Father? Have you contacted your son and wife again?”

Gunawan shook his head. “My phone battery ran out because yesterday my son did not want to end the video call. But it's okay. They know I'm strong as a superhero.”

Danita, Abian, and Trisha chuckle at that. Their mood has really improved with just one phone call that Abian made earlier. Especially Trisha, who now looks more radiant than before.

For a moment they can put aside the mystery that had made them both frightened and confused. Although still, the presence of Karsa who still groaned and thrashed not far from them continues to be a reminder that they cannot just sit back and relax. If they want to get out of the Cakrabuana Playground safely, they must understand exactly what kind of virus they are dealing with.

However, there was still one person who had maintained his serious expression. Who else if not Evan, who is now staring in disbelief in the other direction. “Hearing news like that only you are happy like this? Hey, realize! We're still stuck here! Moving was not brave because we have lost all the weapons and tools that can be used to protect ourselves!”

“Evan!” This time Gunawan did not stay silent. “Jaga talk!”

“Alright! Let me say this one thing very politely.” One corner of Evan's lips lifted as Gunawan looked at him dislikefully. “Most likely, the parents as well as others out there are just saying nice things to keep us calm. Though the reality may be much more terrible than we thought.”

***