The River House

1. Letterhead

At the end of December, heavy rain poured into the district of T, in the southern coastal area of East Java. Morning that should bring the spirit to start the activity all day, in fact it feels more somber and dark at this time.

Bayu Khairil, sitting on the sofa with a glass of warm arabica coffee that reflects thin white smoke in front of him. The thirty-year-old man was reading an old book. Sometimes he rubbed his blue eyes. There was also a breath that felt heavy, as if giving an affirmation he was depressed this time.

The old book he read almost came to the last page. And the uneasiness was increasingly evident in the hue of his face. There were only a few more sheets left to finish reading the book he had obtained a few days ago.

Tok tok tok tok

There was a knock from the front door. Bayu squinted his eyes, asking inwardly, who is the one who is visiting in the rain like this?

Bayu put the old book in his hand. He walked slowly towards the front door. Bayu peeked out of the window beside the door, wondering who had knocked on his door.

A man, wearing an orange raincoat, was seen standing at the door. In his hand was an object wrapped in black plastic, held tightly.

Tok tok tok tok

"Excuse me, .pakett,"

A voice came from behind the door. Apparently the courier delivery package that came. Bayu immediately pulled the doorknob, and immediately a very cold wind broke in along with the teak door that opened.

"Package for Mr. Bayu Khairil," said the courier reading the text attached to the black package. The writing looks wet and slightly faded by the rain.

"Package?" Bayu scrunched his forehead. He felt he was ordering nothing.

"Yes, this is a package for Bayu Khairil in name" said the courier, holding a black plastic-wrapped object in his hand.

A little hesitant, Bayu finally received the package. With a fleeting smile, the courier immediately left Bayu who was still standing pensively watching the black object that was now in his hand.

A box-shaped package, a kind of cardboard box that feels light. There was a feeling of suspicion and curiosity mixed into one in Bayu's heart. As a police officer, Bayu has a sharp instinct that makes him more alert and careful. 

"Package on sunday? Oh, wait. . .," Bayu was aghast, as if he had just remembered something. He circulated his gaze, looking for the figure of the courier who was before him. But now, the courier has vanished, gone without a trace.

Bayu realized, in the area where he lived there were no expeditions or couriers who delivered packages on Sundays. Especially at an hour so early as this time.

Bayu finally decided to open the package in his hand. The curiosity is unbearable. With a slight roughness, he opened the black plastic wrapping of the mysterious object.

And sure enough, inside there is a cardboard box in dark brown. There's a hook at the end. Bayu pulled the hook and opened the box.

A letter and a photo. Photos that are familiar, small printed with improved image resolution. In the photo seen several children in white ash ash uniforms standing in line in front of the blackboard that reads XI IPA 5.

Bayu finds himself in the photo. Photos that make Bayu nostalgic, remembering his classmates when he was in High School.

Then Bayu turned to pay attention to a letter that was rolled and draped with a thread of gold. Bayu pulled the thread, until finally the scroll opened. 

It is getting weird to see the open letter. The letter is not handwritten or computer typed neatly. The writing in the letter looks like pieces of words and sentences in a cut newspaper then affixed to a piece of paper.

Bayu hurried to read the letter.

Hallo

How are you, my friend?

May you be healthy and happy.

Remember me yet?

I was the one who took the photo you were holding and looking at right now

Photo of our class, XI IPA 5.

Well, I wasn't in the picture, but I'm sure you didn't forget me

I am Zainul Rikhman, but now everyone calls me Zainul Rich man

Ha ha

The richest man in T County in 2021, who lives in his home located in the interior of the forest

Well, it was me

Why am I sending you these strange letters?

The answer is because I like something strange and unique

I intend to invite you all to my palace

To my house, a house located on the river bank in the middle of a very exotic and peaceful forest

I want to share with you, really

I can be what I am today thanks to you

If you are willing to come, leave the day after

There's a special banquet for you

I also want to share a little money with you

If you are willing to visit me I will transfer 300 million rupiahs to your account

Don't worry, I'm not bragging

Once you get to my house, 100 million will go straight into your accounts

The rest I'll give you in cash if we meet

See you at my house

I miss you guys, really

Bayu read carefully the letter. He shakes his chin, seems to think of something. His instincts as a police officer are like giving a warning to be careful.

Bayu grabbed HP on the table. He tried to call someone.

"Hallo," a soft-sounding voice greeted through a phone call.

"Hey, um I'd like to ask. Did you get an invitation from Zainul?" Bayu asked, his face was getting riled up.

"Yes. I just opened the invitation letter, too,"

"Alright, it looks like Zainul wants to gather his high school friends first," Bayu sighed.

"Why? You sound like we're reunion?"

"Well, getting together with them isn't a good idea in my opinion. The past is not good to remember, especially for Zainul," Bayu fell silent after saying his sentence. His face looks sad.

"Okay, we'll reconnect the chat next time. Bye," Bayu hung up.

Bayu again grabbed the old book he had just placed in the corner of the sofa. He continued reading the book that was delayed. He arrived at the last yard, and suddenly tears slowly dripped down the cheeks of the police officer who was still single.

Meanwhile, in other places, one by one alumni of the IPA 5 XI class get the same package as that obtained by Bayu. A box with a photo and a letter inside.

Everyone who got the invitation letter except Bayu, seemed happy and happy. The money promised in the letter was indeed tempting. 

No one suspected that the invitation letter would lead them to tragedy. Man often forgets the evil he has done. They often wrap up bad behavior under the pretext of joking. But they forget, a heart that has been wounded like a burning ember waiting for a lighter to burn everything that has hurt it.

Connect ___