The River House

6. Mummified

"I'm sorry, my friend is hurt. So, he needed a place to rest" Galang told the housekeeper.

"Okay, take him to the guest room. For everyone, if you need anything, just call me. My name is Mak ijah," the servant named Mak Ijah walked ahead of the entrance into the house.

"For those who are injured please be taken to the room over there," said Mak Ijah while pointing to a room on the right of the living room.

The living room looks very spacious with four large pillars made of shiny marble. In the middle of the room there is a large circular staircase leading to the top floor. Not far from the bottom of the stairs, lined sofa of dark purple velvet. A super large LED TV is installed on the wall. Some jumbo size jars are also plastered as decorations that seem expensive.

"Please rest in this room first. If you want to walk, you can too. The important thing is not too far away, because the afternoon here is quite dark," said Mak Ijah with a flat expression and tone.

"I'm sorry to go to the kitchen, to prepare a meal for you all. Later 'Master' will meet you in the dining room," Mak Ijah walked away leaving the group still amazed by the charming home decor.

"Gilak! Edan! Gokill!" Denis is shaking his head. His eyes nyalang observe the living room is so magnificent even though the house building is on the banks of the river, in the middle of the forest as well. 

"Who would have thought that Zainul would be this rich. I thought the cuckoo turned out to be the temperature," Norita clucked in awe.

While Bayu and Galang did not care much about the state of the house, they preferred to bring Yodi to the room to rest. The guest room is of a fairly large size, and clean. Yodi lay on her bed that looked soft and comfortable.

"Where? Comfortable?" Bayu asked, Yodi nodded. A smile on his lips.

"Maybe you need something, food, or a drink?" This time he asked Yodi. 

"Let me rest first. The help from Mella was quite potent, my wounds were not too pronounced. It's just that my body is tired and tired," Yodi replied softly.

"All right then. If you need anything, just call," Bayu out of the room followed by Galang. They left Yodi alone to rest.

In the living room, the TV was turned on. Some people are seen relaxing on a long sofa that looks soft. Tia, Norita, Iva and Dipta were having a conversation, occasionally laughter rang out from their mouths. Denis and Mella don't see the trunk of her nose.

"Where is Mella Denis?" Bayu asked curiously.

"Denis said he wanted to smoke outside. Mella wanted to go to the toilet, tau tuh," Iva said.

"Where is Yodi?" Dipta asked while lying on the sofa with her legs resting on the table, as if she was in her own house. Maybe that's the definition of guests not knowing upload upload or manners.

"It's better. Maybe he's sleeping now" said Galang.

Bayu put down his backpack and then sat down at the end of the sofa. He massaged his own shoulders. Feeling stiff and muscle pain in his body.

"Need a Bay massage?" Norita smiled seductively. Bayu shook his head slowly.

He looked at Norita from a distance. Several times he swallowed. His dirty brain started thinking wild things. The dopamine hormone started to rise, making his heart beat faster.

From the front porch came footsteps approaching. Everyone thought it was Denis who came back after smoking. It turns out their estimates were wrong. A beautiful woman wearing a pink hodie stood in the doorway. Her ponytail hair added a sweet impression on her. Ellie, alumni of the XI IPA 5 class were the most accomplished art students of her time.

"Hallo, excuse me," Ellie waved her hand slowly.

Ellie walked slowly, greeting one by one the people in the living room. Then he took a seat next to Iva.

"I was quite surprised, it was not only me that Zainul invited," Ellie noticed one by one the friends she had not seen for a long time.

"You think Zainul just invited you? You're not that special Ellie," Norita smiled cynically.

"Maybe Zainul used to like you, but that was it. Zainul who is now a rich man of the sky, his taste must have changed," said Norita, said he pierced sharply. Iva glared at Norita while Ellie remained silent.

"How are you El?" Bayu diverted the conversation.

"Well as you can see, I'm fine," Ellie smiled at a glance.

GRAAKKKK

The door opened from upstairs. Everyone turned their heads, staring towards the huge staircase before them. Everyone was stunned to see the figure that was on the top floor. No one can make a sound, everyone is like seeing a ghost from the past.

The figure was sitting in a wheelchair. Wearing dark blue pajamas, just silently stared at the person below. His whole body was full of bandages. Even the face only shows two unblinking eyes.

Bayu somehow creeps in horror. There was fear in his mind. Not in the film, but right in front of him now, like a mummy looking at him sharply. 

"Hallo my guests. My old friend's friend" said the figure. His voice sounded foreign, hoarse and strange.

"Ah, sorry to surprise you. Or maybe you don't recognize me in these circumstances. I'm Zainul, your high school friend, the owner of this house. Actually, I'd like to see you guys at dinner tonight. However, I can't wait to see the face of my best friend's face that I missed," The figure seemed to sigh.

"Well, I just wanted to say hello. Welcome, I hope you feel at home in my house. For the money I promised I'd transfer tonight at the dinner table. For now, just relax. Enjoy the big reunion that I made, to treat the longing. Excuse me first," the figure moved his wheelchair. In an instant he disappeared among the darkness of the upper floors.

"That, Zainul?" He shut his mouth, looking in disbelief.

Everyone was stunned, unmoved, preoccupied with their own thoughts.

"I'm here to see what she's like now" Ellie opened her voice first.

"What do you mean?" Iva asked curiously.

"Aren't you guys buying Zainul's book?" Ellie asked back. Hearing Ellie's question almost everyone shook their heads.

"In all the novels he wrote, in his biography there are no pictures of him. It turned out like that," Ellie sighed.

"Why him? Does anyone know?" Norita asked this time. His face was pale with fear.

No one answered. No one knows why Zainul had wounds all over his body. Bayu rem*s r*mas his own hands. There was something he knew, but he couldn't possibly pass it on to the others.

Connect ___