The Winter Promise

Chapter 108: Changing for Good or Bad?

My current affair with Akbar is done, that is my hope. But somehow I have a possibility that says that this problem will not be solved until here. There will be something big waiting for me. I'm a little curious about what's going to happen with that.

I tried to think about the possibilities that his father Akbar would do when Akbar and his uncle did not give him any more money, but all I thought was that his father Akbar was violent if not to Akbar, or to his sister.

I'm not so worried about his uncle Akbar because it looks like he can handle his father Akbar. The proof alone when his father Akbar came home to ask for money, he dared to bicker with him.

But what I know for sure is that what his father Akbar will do is not just that. If that was all he did, I definitely would not have been so concerned about it or thought about it.

“Oi Mar!”

Riki rebuked me who was staring out the bus window.

“What's up?”

“You must be thinking about something, right? I know once when you stare at something blankly, there must be something you're thinking.”

“I'm just thinking about what I just said to Akbar is true or not.”

“It turns out you're still thinking about it, I don't think there's any harm in what you said earlier.”

Really it? I'm still not sure what Riki said. Riki should have said something else so I could be completely sure.

“Do I interfere too much in other people's business? I just realized that I'm not like the usual me.”

“But I'd rather see you care like that. I think it's better than you being quiet not wanting to get involved in anything.”

“Hopefully what I said is not wrong.”

Because at that time it was a holiday, the state of Jakarta's roads was crowded due to a lot of people who want to go outside the house.

I also played my phone to distract me, it turns out that I have got a message from Misaki who invites me to play the game together. Even though at school earlier he had played a long time with me, was he not bored to play with me continue.

“I didn't expect that Akbar had such a problem.”

Said Riki who seemed to be thinking about the matter as well.

“I didn't expect it either, but I wasn't that surprised because I've heard similar things from Natasha.”

It seems like when I heard of Natasha's past, I wasn't so surprised either.

“His father Akbar is very bad at his nature.”

I agree with you.

“What would you do if you had a father like that Rik?”

“I would probably fight with him if my father had hurt my mother.”

The answer that really describes Riki once, I think he will be more gentle in treating his father like Akbar.

“If you are alone Mar?”

“If I would make my father ashamed that he never showed face in front of me again.”

“Sadly what are you doing Mar.”

Did ya? I don't think it's too sadistic compared to fighting.

“That's the fastest way and not too tiring. I am not a suitable person if fighting one-on-one with others.”

“Is it really like that? Whereas back in the days of SD you used to fight with me.”

Riki glanced in disbelief at my words just now.

“That's the past, if now it seems like I have no such energy anymore.”

“Do you have a backup plan for this Mar?”

Riki realized that this problem would not be solved in a familial way.

“What kind of backup plan?”

“If his father Akbar acts not as you think. Because I also think that this problem will definitely not be solved easily given the nature of his father Akbar like that.”

“Until now I have no other plans, because I prefer to think of a plan if the problem is already visible in plain sight so that I do not need to second-guess.”

Guessing something crucial will only cause a problem.

“What are your plans for the holidays?”

Riki immediately changed the subject, it seemed that he also did not want to talk about this any longer.

“I will be at home only to rest.”

“Actually I would love to climb the mountain, but since you didn't go, I'm so lazy to do it.”

“Why don't you do it with your friends?”

“Not exciting if I don't go together with you and also Maul.”

Oh yes, all day I have not met Maul even though the location of our class is not so far away.

“If you really want to climb the mountain, do not forget to invite Rian. At that time I promised to take him if we want to climb the mountain.”

“Rian also talked about it to me when I just got home from Makassar.”

“What did he say?”

“Say when second grade later, he wants to hold many events go to enjoy nature to attract new students to enter rohis.”

The goal is still the same as before.

“He also said that to me while you were still in Makassar.”

“Do you also plan something similar to attract new students later Mar?”

“To develop the rohis in order to gain a lot of interest, I leave everything to Rian. I'll just help him as much as I can.”

I also did not know what to do under such circumstances, as I had no organizational experience at all. I did follow the mosque teenager in my house but I was not an active member there, I only came when Mr. Ustadz asked for my help to help with the event being held by the mosque.

“But the important thing is that we already have a place for the new year. I thought Miyuki would go to Japan for the new year, because it would be great to celebrate the new year there. I've seen on the internet that the fireworks there are very beautiful.”

What is so beautiful about fireworks? It was just a momentary beauty.

“Thank God then.”

“I want to feel how the new year in Japan is there, especially if I go there together with Kirana and we watch the fireworks together. It would be very romantic.”

He started again.

“Do you want to go to Japan?”

“I don't really want to go there, I have a rating of any country I want to go to. First is Saudi Arabia, second is Switzerland, and third may be new Japan.”

“Why should Switzerland?”

“You don't know Mar?”

Riki looked surprised to hear that.

I just shook my head at him.

“The beauty of nature there is not inferior to in Indonesia, you will feel like entering a fairyland when going there.”

Did ya? Maybe I'll check it out on the internet as beautiful as Switzerland. What Riki said was either true or he was just exaggerating. But I have also heard the occasional talk of my father that Switzerland is a country that is quite beautiful scenery.

If you ask which country I want to go to, I just want to go to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj and Umrah. The rest I just want to be in Indonesia, because I still have not explored all of Indonesia. And there are still many natural beauties that I have never seen.

“Why don't you use your money to go abroad Mar?”

“My money is enough to do that, but I don't know where to go.”

There's no way I'm going to Saudi Arabia without doing Umrah. Besides that it is also impossible for me to be alone, at least I have to invite my parents or Nadira to come with me.

“Do your parents still not know the money you have Mar?”

“No, my passbook was always held by me and my parents never checked it at all. They only give me monthly money at the beginning of the month.”

“Your parents turned out not to be too strict in checking what their child has ya.”

“I'm better like that.”

How else, I have never done anything strange that requires them to check what I am doing.

“When Nadira returns to Jakarta?”

“She's been home from a few days ago, now she's home.”

"Does Nadira have any goals for the next school?”

“He said at that time that he wanted to enter SMK Sawah Besar.”

I don't know if he's gonna change his mind or not, because he said that on holiday.

“Really?! Kirana is also eyeing recommendations to enter SMK Sawah Besar.”

Riki seemed happy to hear that.

“Why they are both so obsessed with getting into SMK Sawah Besar.”

“I don't know either, at that time I asked him what if he didn't get a recommendation. And he said that he would try to take the entrance exam. Well, I intend to invite you too when it accompanies me.”

“It looks like I will also come there because Nadira certainly took the entrance exam, it is very unlikely Nadira get a recommendation up to SMK Sawah Besar.”

Because he currently attends school outside Jakarta, at best if he gets a recommendation. The school obtained is a school that is in one city with its current school.

“Then we leave together, don't forget to contact me if you want to leave.”

“Good.”

“Oh yes Rik, have you seen Maul all day?”

“I had a chance to meet with Maul and her mother during rapot retrieval earlier.”

“Tumben once he went straight home.”

Usually he would wait for me and Riki to come home together.

“Says he has work to do.”

“He is indeed a hard working person, whereas the money he received was not much different from the one I received.”

“What kind of money do you have Mar? From yesterday you always complain that your money has been a lot.”

Riki looked curious.

“If you see it, maybe you'll get dizzy yourself with the numbers. I just when sent the money by Mr. Hari, I could not believe that the amount is so much.”

“Hehehe... I'll ask you sometime to buy me a nice meal.”

A sly smile was currently adorning his face.

“Just relax, you can ask me that occasionally.”

“Oh yes, I yesterday found a new angkringan near my house and the food there is delicious. The place we can use for a gathering place, the price of food there is not so expensive as well.”

I haven't been to Angkringan for a long time, I think that's a good idea.

“Alright, later after the situation is a little safe. I will try to come there, I also do not really like to gather at the cafe.”

“Why?”

“In addition to the price which is quite expensive, I do not really like to consume coffee continuously.”

That's why lately I always order drinks other than coffee when visiting cafes. While at the office, I also ordered the barista to make me tea or milk.

“Although you have a lot of money you still say that it is expensive. Said you wanted to spend your money.”

Riki was astonished at me.

“While I already have a lot of money, I don't want to spend it. I do want to spend it, but do not use wastefully like that.”

“If I were you, maybe now the money I have is up for me to use go with Kirana.”

“That's no good Rik, you should try to manage your own finances. You can't keep on being wasteful like that.”

“I'm thankful that Kirana used to nag me if I spent too much money.”

Is he grateful when he is scolded? Is he a masochist?

“By the way how is SMP Cibubur now?”

I changed the conversation to another topic.

“Kemarin Kirana said that there is a lot of talk about kidnapping cases that are crowded at this time.”

“Padahat East Jakarta does not include areas that are prone to kidnapping, why are there so many?”

“Stay Mar although East Jakarta is not included, surely everyone will be wary when hearing the kidnapping case on the news.”

Means the police plan to make the community into misgivings has succeeded.

“Rik, I want to ask you.”

“What is Mar?”

Riki's curiosity instantly increased and she looked at me very seriously.

“How about we get involved with the kidnapping case in a moment?”

“Why do you ask such a thing Mar?”

“There is no meaningful reason, my hunch is just saying something like earlier.”

“If your premonition says like that, it means soon we will indeed do it.”

Hearing him made Riki become excited. Riki is always excited when it comes to things like this. Maybe he thinks doing something troublesome is a fun thing.

Even though I myself hope that my hunch is only a hunch, I do not expect this to happen.

“I hope that doesn't happen.”

“Better for that to happen Mar, so that this kidnapping case is quickly completed and we can safely exit the night again.”

It sounds weird, but what Riki just said doesn't hurt.

“I agree with you, because I also miss going around looking at city lights at night.

“Justify.”

If only I could solve the kidnapping case on this holiday. Means, my vacation this time will not be a quiet and pleasant vacation. It could even be that when the new year comes I can't go to the burning event at Miyuki's house because there's something I have to do.

But as much as possible I will put safety above all else. When I have met with danger and there is no other way to go, I will immediately retreat and wait for another opportunity.

***

A week later...

Right now I am relaxing in the living room while playing the game with my phone. All of a sudden my phone got an incoming call coming from Akbar.

I'm a little worried about lifting it up but I hope I get some good news.

“Halo Assalamualaikum?”

I picked up a call from Akbar.

“Waalaikumsalam.. Mar, help me!”

The situation became quiet and my premonition got worse after hearing the panicked voice from Akbar. I knew something was wrong was happening to her.

the End Chapter 108