WINTER GLOW'S

Masked Man Smiles

The night of the pension when Reca got word from mommy klo papa was in the hospital because of a gunshot wound. Mama did not know when it happened, which was clear when she would take him to dinner she actually found her husband covered in blood. When Reca arrived at the hospital, papa was covered in a white cloth. Mama who is not strong with the blow of this ordeal actually fell limp to be infused.

As Reca's vision blurred, his tears continued to roll even without a sound. And what Reca did not understand that night was, the hospital seemed to rush out the results of the visa. In addition, there was something strange that night when Reca wanted to see the face of papa last time, Reca ga deliberately stretched papa's chest just below his chin there was a red trail like a bruise. Although Reca did not think much about it that night, but when reading the results of the visa given there were no bruises that Reca saw. Then another strange thing

is, the payoff of the hospital administration even though Reca and mama do not make payments. But all the awkwardness was not so Reca thought.

Reca was too washed away in grief that made him not want to do anything, other than cry. Until one day there was a notification of incoming messages on his Whatsapp, and Reca difficult to believe it

voice message from papa. Reca smiled while crying, Whatsapp notification is very entertaining. And as soon as she clipped the play button, Miss Reca was a little treated. He heard papa's voice as if he had just come back to life.

“ Hi Re... What more? Papa just got home from work, papa wants you to eat out. Take time for papa huh?” then the next message…

“ Must be upset because papa sent a message using gini rich way huh Re? Hahahaha.but papa will always send messages like this dear. Let you still hear papa's voice even though papa ga is beside you.” Re sobbed as he nodded, he regretted ever saying upset about it to papa. Now he's dying to say thank you because his papa keeps doing that shitty thing.

It was as if you knew that she was leaving her daughter, and this voice message seemed to have been prepared in anticipation of that.

“ Re today papa kangen you, but said mama you again ngerayain your birthday. Don't go home late at night, papa wait for Re at home.”.

Clamps!

Reca stopped turning off the phone. There was a large hole that felt like it was giving empty space in his heart. Papa's voice treats the longing but also gives the wound simultaneously. But like magic, the message from papa is able to make Reca through the day.

Every day he would listen to that message either replay it old messages or ones that

just entered, until Reca can all day install the handset in his ear while doing a lot of things. It turns out that papa makes voice notes like his personal digital diary book, because he tells me anything about himself. Then came Reca on the voicemail sent by papa at the last seconds of his breath.

PRANGS!!!

Reca dropped the glass she was holding. He was surprised by the voice he had just heard, the voice indirectly told him that papa died from being killed with a group of people that Reca could not guess how many. Obviously they asked for something from papa, but he didn't give it to me and they killed him.

“ Re you why darling." Reca ain't fuckin' anything. He hurriedly took off his handset trembling and put it in the pocket of the hoodie he was wearing.

" Mama we have to go now." Reca pushed her mother towards the room and immediately picked up the suitcase and put all their clothes in.

" Where are you going Re, why are all your clothes in rowdy?"

" We have to get out of here ma. We have to hurry before it's too late."

" gone? Wh why? Where's Re?"

" Where to ma. Away from here and no one can find us." Reca was endlessly packing her clothes.

" Yes but why?" Reca ga ngejawab

" Mama Re answered..You really why?" Still no answer

" THE RE." Mama snapped and grabbed both of Reca's shoulders. Frinka finds her daughter's face teary-eyed. With a face hardened, Reca wiped her tears.

" Re don't want to stay here ma. Re ma get out of here, Re's afraid ma. Papa was killed. We don't know who and why. Can make them come back and kill us ma." Frinka hugged the princess tightly. Reca's words made him tremble.

" Don't tell me that, baby. We'll be all right hhmmm."

" Let's go ma. Please."

As Re had guessed that whoever papa's killer would not let himself live a quiet life. That day was the tenth day of papa's departure, Re intended to return to school. However life must continue, and Re's own path is still very long. But when Re got off at the bus stop, two men smothered his mouth and took him in the car. And upon waking up Re was in an old abandoned warehousing, with hands and feet tied.

Re studied around, saw the order in which the goods were placed or if he was lucky he could find the exit. There was no one here, not even a shadow of a person was visible. Reca was so scared, she cried without a sound but was still trying hard to find a way out of here. But then someone came, not more precisely some big tall men wearing a mask with a smile like a mask that is commonly used in regional dances or wayang dali and around Java.

“ Ka, who are you?” Reca ventured to ask, though she continued to move backwards to get away from those people.

“ Hahahaha.. Here only I can ask.” The man took out a photo from his jacket pocket. A photo of a flash made of diamond, has a typical carving that sees it will know that it bibuat with special or reservation.

“ Have you seen this?” Reca shook his head in a hurry. But the man pulled her hair.

“ Aaaaa..”.

“ Have a good look, has your father ever used this or has he seen where this thing is stored?”

“ Ga... papa ga never use rich objects gituh.” Even with a scared face Re sounded very confident.

“ Oh yaa... how can you be so sure.”

“ Tolol. You think he'll tell you the truth?” Other mask wearers talk.

“ Her mouth certainly isn't but her eyes say she never saw it.”

“ Heh, this snot child may not know anything.”

“ May mama tau.” Suddenly Reca interrupted their conversation.

“ Mama? Hahahah... dare to teach ya?”

“ Yes because mama likes antiques, the item that was an antique right?” I don't know what purpose Reca said that. But that was enough to amaze the group of criminals. Because it looks like Reca thinks they're looking for antiques. Is this girl really that stupid?

*****