They're Here

Chapter 2: Not Hallucinations

The past that had been hidden at the bottom of my memory was revealed again to the surface of memory. In fact, not one bit I remember missing my hometown first. Not that I forgot, but I was made not to look back.

My sleep that was not calm last night, now leaves a myriad of questions. Why do the memories of Hamid, Moses, and Rusman look massively at my head? Is it just a hallucination? Or is it a call for me to find their whereabouts?

After breakfast, I approached Umi who was sitting on the sofa of the family room. There's something I want to make sure of, and I'm sure Umi knows about it.

“Mi,” sapaku while setting the melody of the question I am about to ask.

“Iya, Son. Today you have a schedule to go to campus or activities outside, right? Otherwise, it will be nine hours anterin Umi to study yes,” pinta Umi.

I nodded in agreement. Then, I sat down next to Umi.

“Mi…. Umi inget not my little friend named Hamid, Moses, and Rusman? Well, they were declared to disappear mysteriously. Does Umi know they have been found or not until now?” my many. There is a real sense of doubt floating around inside. I was also so wary of Umi's response that it might be excessive in responding to my question.

Justright. Umi put both her hands on my cheeks. “Nak, why are you asking about them? What happened to them was part of the divine destiny. You do not need to remember it anymore and bring up guilt in you.” Umi's bright face turned cloudy.

Just one question had already made Umi so worried. What if I told you about last night's events that I went through? Umi could have taken me to see a psychiatrist again like I used to.

“Yana just want to know about them. After Yana moved to Jakarta, Yana never heard of their development again. Don't worry too much about Yana. Yana is now an adult. Yana has been able to control Yana's thoughts and emotions well,” said I expressed confidence in Umi.

Umi took both her hands off my cheeks. He looked straight at the empty wall.

“The story about your three friends is already considered like a legend. Unrevealed, but become a story of mystery by word of mouth for the community there.” Umi, then, got up from the sofa. “Udah yes, Son. Umi get ready first. You spout a shower gih.” It is very clear that Umi avoided discussing the topic of the disappearance of three of my friends.

I can't force Umi to share more stories. Let me lure him little by little.

I leaned on the couch. There is still an hour that can be used to connect disturbed sleep last night.

“Please, Yan! We're freezing here. Only you can find our whereabouts.” I immediately opened my eyes when I heard Hamid's voice request.

Then, I turned my gaze around and asked logic. Did they really come to me to dissect the facts related to the events that happened to them?

Praaaa!!! Suddenly there was the sound of plates falling from the direction of the kitchen, adding to the mystical impression that started my day.

Uh! But maybe it was a cat. My trump in heart.

I checked the location of the sound source to confirm the guess. Surprisingly, I didn't find any broken dishes or signs of chaos. In fact, the cat's tracks were not caught by my senses either.

Oho! I may have heard wrong. It is better to give positive suggestions to the mind than to present premises beyond reason.

While waiting for daylight, I choose to busy myself by watching television. Conscience says if I close my eyes, the voices of Hamid, Moses, and Rusman will be heard again.

The sun raised up the time. After delivering Umi, I called my best friend Robi. I was thinking about the various unreal stories I had with him. He's the only person I can trust.

Eventually, Robi and I met at a cafe near campus. Without further ado, I immediately told you about the events that tested my day since yesterday. The voice and shadow that so jolted my senses.

I explained in detail the tragedy of childhood that still left a piece of guilt in my heart. Although we are familiar, but we hardly ever discuss occult things. So, this conversation felt a little awkward at the beginning.

“Gue think they really call you, Yan,” said Robi confidently.

“Lu can feel their existence, Bi?” many guessed. It is possible that Robi is like Nana who is sensitive to invisible beings and other dimensions.

So why don't I share my story with my sister? The reason, Nana must have complained to Umi and Abi. He's very hard to compromise on something I want to keep a secret about.

“No," replied Robi. "Just, your story is exactly the same as the story that my father had experienced when he was a child. My bokap said, at that time, he bathed in the river with two friends in the afternoon. Suddenly someone pushed me to go ashore. I was surprised, and invited two friends to come home soon. But they don't want to. He said he wanted to shower until he was satisfied. After all, going home sooner or later will both be scolded by parents.”

“Keep your bokap home alone, leaving two of his friends?” I can't wait to hear Robi's story.

“Betul. Just like your story. Two of my friends were declared missing in the river. The difference is, on the search day 3, I get whispers and dreams about the whereabouts of two friends. He immediately informed the search team. Two of his friends were found, though in a lifeless state. So, I believe the incident that befell you this may be a true call from your childhood friends who want to be found its existence, for further buried properly,” said Robi.

God was right in leading my heart to tell Robi. Apparently, her father experienced a similar story with me. That is, I'm not "crazy".

However, I want to hear the full story from Robi's father. “Bi, your bokap is now home, isn't it? I once chatted directly with your bokap about your story earlier.”

“There. I'm at home, but in God's house. You want to catch up with him now?” Robi chuckles a little.

Huh! I forgot that Robi's father passed away a few years ago.

I made up my mind to go home. Just looking for a reason to be allowed by Abi and Umi.

***

“Umi, Abi, the day after Yana went to Citiis yes,” I said asking permission after dinner.

“What the hell is Nak doing there? What do you want to do there?” I had expected Umi's response to be peppered with anxiety.

“Yana…. Yana again needs research materials for Yana's thesis, Mi. At once Yana also wants to find calmness,” my light.

“Long tuh, Mi. Bang Yana to there to nyari te..” chirps Nana. Before he finished his sentence, I shut him up.

“There really is no other place for you to make your thesis research material, Yan?” abi asked in a soft voice.

“Em. We used to live there. Yana wants to be in touch with people there who have not met for a dozen years.” I hope my reasons are strong enough to get Abi's approval.

“Abi disagree.” Abi's attitude was beyond expectations, but a little beyond.

“Umi also does not allow you to set foot again to Citiis,” timpal Umi.

I kept revealing the various supporting reasons related to my lecture so that I could get the green light. However, Abi and Umi remained firm with their stance.

Did I just run away? Or I say go to another village, but to Citiis?

I went into the room. I contemplated good ways to get the word "Yes" from Abi and Umi.

“Nana knows how to convince Abi and Umi to have Abang approved to Citiis to find the whereabouts of Abang's childhood friends,” said Nana who still opened my room door without knocking it first.

It's lucky! Since her statement gave me an idea, I faded the urge to scold her. “How to do, Na?”

“Take a friend of Brother to go there,” he explained.

Is correct. I need a supporter so that Abi and Umi are sure my destination to Citiis does have something to do with my thesis. I immediately reached for my phone, which was lying near a sleeping light table.

When I was about to call Robi, I heard someone pointing his finger at the door of my room. “Who?” my many.

“Nana, Bang. Nana wants to pinjem charger hape Abang,” he said.

“Log in!” tell me. “You are each mallem borrow a hape charger. Tomorrow I will buy new.”

“Thank you my handsome brother,” promised.

A moment! I think there's something a little odd. “Na, manyin eat the same green vegetables berries. It is so young that it is easy to forget. In a flash go, keep turning again.”

“Mean Brother?” Nana looked astonished.

I also started to feel my hair standing up. “Should you be from Brother's room,” I said.

“When? This is Nana just entered the room Brother,”.

I turned my eyes around my room. Nana was indeed quite ignorant, but she was always telling the truth.

So, who was it if not Nana?