SERLIN HOME

It didn't feel like it was time for class to end. Aneska and Laras looked relaxed putting the textbooks into their bags one by one.

"So we don't have extra extracurriculars?" Asks Aneska.

"I forgot to tell you, the tutor is sick. So today is a day off."

Aneska looks at Laras. "On holiday?"

"Yes, why are you so surprised? Isn't that even good, it means we can go home quickly," said Laras.

"I already told Mother." Aneska put her book back into her bag.

"It's okay, it's the same. Will your mother be angry if you don't take part in extracurriculars?"

"No. Then let's just go home. You brought your bicycle, didn't you?" Ask Aneska.

"Yes, I was riding a bicycle," Laras answered.

But just got to the front door, and it seems that Damar has just passed. A glance at Aneska and Laras without expression.

Aneska furrowed her brows, her heart feeling strange with Damar's attitude that didn't greet her. In contrast to Laras who looks normal.

"Come on, hurry up Aneska! Why is the walk taking so long?" Laras said.

Aneska woke up from her reverie when Laras pulled her hand to walk quickly.

"Don't rush Laras, you'll fall!" Before Aneska had finished speaking, suddenly Laras tripped on a rock and almost fell if Aneska didn't grab him immediately.

"Why are there rocks here?!" Laras cursed at the silent rock.

Aneska just smiled. "You are wrong, why is the stone to blame?"

Laras didn't answer, his feet continued to walk to the bicycle parking area which was left only for him and Aneska. Not long after, they heard the sound of a motorbike passing by them.

Aneska can see clearly who owns the motorbike. "Damar," she muttered.

Damar, with a cold face, drove his motorcycle past Laras and Aneska without even greeting them.

"What's wrong with him?" Ask Laras.

"Maybe Damar offended you when he spoke at recess earlier which forbade him to approach us." Aneska reminds Laras that she is prohibited from approaching them.

"What I did was right. I don't want that just because of him, we get into trouble with other friends. Especially now that we are going to face the graduation exam. We have to be safe."

Aneska doesn't speak anymore, what Laras said is true, but she also feels bad for Damar because of Laras' ban.

Laras and Aneska pedaled their bicycles leisurely. A gentle breeze hit their faces as they passed through the rice fields to their left and right. Aneska and Laras pedaled their bicycles for almost half an hour.

"Careful barrel!" Aneska shouted when they had to part because Laras' house was still far away.

"Yes!" Answered Laras who kept pedaling his bicycle leaving Aneska who had entered the direction of her house.

Aneska pedaled her bicycle to her yard. The house looks deserted. "Are you not home from the market yet?" She muttered to himself.

After storing her bicycle in the usual place, Aneska immediately entered the kitchen through the back door. "Mom, are you home yet?" Aneska looked for her mother's whereabouts after being in the house.

"The vegetable basket is already there, meaning Mother is home." Aneska kept muttering to herself. She took the drinking water that was on the table and immediately drank it. "It tastes very fresh."

Aneska entered the house and went straight to her mother's room. "Mom, are you home yet?"

There is no answer from within. "Why is it quiet? Isn't Mother home?" Aneska slightly opened the door of her mother's room. It seemed to her that his mother was asleep.

"It turns out that Mother is sleeping, it's appropriate not to answer." Aneska then closed the door again and continued walking towards the room.

Aneska immediately lay down on the bed without taking off her shoes and uniform first. His mind drifted to remember Damar whose attitude was different from hers.

"Why is Damar acting differently towards me? I feel bad for her. Laras is too sharp to talk to him. I want to apologize for what Laras said."

Aneska stared at the ceiling where the paint had started to fade. The wind that came in through the small window with weathered wood on either side felt fresh mixed with the smell of earth that had just been hit by raindrops.

Aneska looked out the window, she saw that it was raining. "It was very hot earlier, now it's raining. Luckily I got home."

Aneska wakes up from her sleep and walks to see the rain from inside her small window. His eyes penetrated far through the pouring rain. I don't know what she was thinking.

....

Far from the fresh air of the countryside, in the capital city, one can see a black car trying to break through the traffic jams that have become the daily routine of people on the highway.

"I hate, really hate this jam!" Shouted Josh who was Ervin's best friend. "I can oversleep in the office at this rate."

He picked up the cell phone that had been lying on the chair beside him. "Damn the battery ran out!!" Josh threw his phone back on the chair after noticing that the battery was dead.

Not much different from what happened to his best friend, Ervin. Not far from Josh's presence which was only a few meters behind his car. Ervin was sitting relaxed in his car listening to his favorite song. His body slightly swayed to the rhythm of the music.

After a while, the cell phone in his coat pocket vibrated. "Hello," was the first word that came out after seeing the name on the phone screen. Ervin was silent for a few moments then hung up his phone again.

"My wife has come home. Sumi said she said my wife has come home? What news do you bring after her several days of travel? The longer I feel, the further away I am from Serlin"

Ervin looked back at his cellphone screen, hoping that it was Serlin who contacted him, not Sumi or other household members, but that was just wishful thinking for Ervin.

Ervin put his cell phone back and loosened the long tie that was now choking his neck. The extraordinary traffic jam was finally able to pass, and the car he was carrying finally drove easily towards the road to his house.

A towering carved iron fence opens by itself as the car driven by Ervin wants to enter. It appears that a European-style house stands firmly among the trees that are well cared for.

Ervin casually entered the house, Sumi, who first saw Ervin, immediately greeted him. "Mr. Ervin is back?"

"Yes. Accidentally went home early. Where is Serlin?" asked Ervin asking where his wife was.

"In Madam's room," Sumi answered.

"When is she coming home?" Ervin asked again.

"An hour ago. When I called, Mrs. was only a few minutes home. Maybe she's sleeping now because she looked tired earlier."

Ervin was silent for a few moments. "Bring coffee to my room in half an hour, I need to take a shower first."

"Yes, sir," replied Sumi.

Ervin then continued walking up the stairs to the main room.