Shadow 3 Old Stories

"Didn't you hear about the missing person news?" I asked Mahesa who was sitting beside me enjoying the breeze in the field.

Mahesa's dark eyes continued to stare at the buffaloes not far from where we were. I glanced at him waiting for an answer. Mahesa shook his head. "Not a single one. Usually, when someone goes missing, the village gets crowded, right? Why? Did any of your acquaintances not return from the pedestal?"

"No! I was just asking." 

He's not my acquaintance. He's just a stranger whose presence I've been feeling lately. That person gives me a headache because he likes to come and go suddenly. The last time I saw him was at dusk two days ago. 

Since the day I told him to return to his inn immediately, I haven't seen him at all. It's not normal that I'm afraid of that stranger suddenly disappearing for ignoring my warning not to wander around at night.

My last thought sounded vague and I didn't want to think that negatively either. I was just worried.

"I'm just afraid that someone might go missing again."

"That's right. But since the disappearance ten years ago no one dares to go out anymore, right? People are getting scared," added someone from behind. She had a lower voice than Mahesa, but not as soft as Danastri.

We-me and Mahesa-turned around. Behind us stood a short-haired woman with tanned skin. Looking at the leaves and seeds stuck to the end of her jarik*, indicated that she had just stopped by the garden. There was a small basket filled with reddish-colored water guavas that looked fresh and wet and food wrapped in banana leaves.

"Hello, Kartika!" I greeted her.

"Where's Danastri? You didn't come alone," Mahesa asked. He looked busy looking for the woman he loved.

Kartika sat right next to Mahesa and handed him the water guava basket. "Sorry, I didn't come with her. She'll be here soon. By the way, I brought this from the garden. There's lemper* too. Let's eat together."

"Wait, don't eat yet!" The smooth voice made the three of us quickly turn our heads and smile. Even Mahesa, who rarely smiles, did so.

"Danastri!" we called together.

Danastri's arrival always gave us happiness. Just hearing her voice, people would definitely feel happy. She was like cool air after the rain. Everyone must have envied Hamlet Chief who could have a child as sweet and attractive as Danastri.

There was never anyone who felt annoyed by Danastri's arrival. She was sweet, beautiful and gentle. Her laugh was graceful and small. She never spoke badly. Every child would want Danastri as a sibling. Every parent wanted Danastri as their child. And every young man would want Danastri as his life companion.

Not a few young men from outside the village and the chairman's son tried to propose to her. If Danastri wanted, she could have appointed a handsome young man and had a throne. In fact, I'm sure the royal prince would have also accepted Danastri as his concubine. However, Danastri's eyes were only on one person.

"Sorry for the long wait," Danastri said and sat down in front of us, more precisely in front of Mahesa.

We ate the sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves. It was savory and even better when my tongue and teeth felt the soft fibers of shredded chicken. This was delicious, although not as good as Mother's. Mother's cooking is better than all kinds of food. No wonder Mother is often asked to cook when there is a celebration.

Thinking of my mother makes me want to see her soon.

***

"I'm sorry I can't take you home, Danastri," Mahesa said with a sad look at Danastri.

The girl smiled understandingly and did not look sad at all as if she did not want to worry Mahesa. "It's okay, Mahesa. Our houses are opposite, if you drive me, you can definitely get home late."

Mahesa didn't answer for a few seconds. Although his face was flat, but I-and maybe Danastri-could see the aura of sadness that radiated there. Mahesa, although always showing a flat face, is a figure that is easy to read his expression. And I'm sure all the rang knew that.

"Don't be sad, there is Chandra who is in the same direction as Danastri, right?" Kartika comforted by patting Mahesa's arm.

"Yes, Kartika is right! I will make sure Danastri gets home," I added.

Mahesa's eyes rolled from Kartika, towards me, until finally stopping at Danastri. The sweet girl smiled and nodded as if signaling Mahesa to believe.

"We can still meet tomorrow. Don't be sad that we have to part ways early. I don't want anything to happen to you just because you take me home and spend the night on the road."

I was stunned, apparently, that was the reason why Mahesa wanted to take Danastri. He wanted to spend more time with Danastri. I tried to hold back my laughter at Mahesa's attitude. However, I managed to hold it back by taking a deep breath.

"In exchange, I leave Kartika!" Danastri added in a cheerful voice, saying that everything would be fine. Mahesa magically nodded.

"Okay, let's go home and hurry back before nightfall." I turned around and tried to break up the conversation. If no one starts, no one will return.

Danastri swiftly followed my lead. We would occasionally turn around to wave goodbye to each other. Mahesa looked so worried that he repeatedly looked back. Even though I could not possibly leave Danastri in danger.

Wait, is it possible that Mahesa is afraid of Danastri cheating on me? No, no way. Mahesa should know that I will not do that. I only consider Danastri as a friend, just like I see Kartika and Mahesa. As a good friend, I also don't want my friend to get hurt, and will do my best to take care of her wholeheartedly.

"Thank you for taking me home, Chandra," Danastri said when we were in front of her yard.

I nodded. "No problem. Good friends will always take care of each other."

In the middle of our slightly awkward conversation, our eyes fell on a sparrow perched on the wooden fence of Danastri's house. For some reason, I remembered a few days ago, when a bird landed in the same place.

"There have been a lot of sparrows coming lately, it looks like there will be guests.*"

Danastri's words made me remember that people often say that birds that land on the fence of a house are a sign that there will be guests coming.

"I hope those who come are not bad people or people who try to propose to me. I'm tired," Danastri complained. I looked at her with pity for her life. "Being a woman is not fun. Even though I live like everyone else, what I do must be in accordance with the wishes of my father and mother."

I was silent and didn't know what to answer. I'm not good at answering other people's confessions. I felt even worse when I saw Danastri staring sadly at the sparrow that was moving around without thinking about flying away. She was like that to the bird that had two wings to fly anywhere.

"Emm ... I hope your father can change his mind and approve of you and Mahesa." In the end, all I could do was pray. However, I was happy when I saw the sadness in Danastri's face begin to disappear.

"Thank you. By the way, Chandra, don't you have to go home soon? I know that you won't disappear even if you're outside alone at night, but it's still dangerous."

"What are you talking about, anyway? It was an old incident. Maybe I was just lucky that night," I argued.

"What kind of luck? You're the only one who made it home despite wandering around on a pedestal at night, even going so far as to bring the missing person back to the village. I don't believe there is such luck. Let alone the villagers, Datuk* Suma would also consider you special, right?"

I laughed stiffly. I hadn't heard from Datuk Suma in a long time, that middle-aged man had left and never returned. He said he was exploring at the time. 

"Don't believe that. It could have been a one-time thing. There is no second chance. If I break the taboo, I'll disappear too, just like the other villagers. Besides, the night is scary, and dark, and there could be wild animals from the forest." 

Danastri snorted in disbelief as if I was just talking nonsense. I looked up and stared at the twilight sky. It was time to go back. I said goodbye to Danastri and headed back.

Because the streets were quiet, I easily spotted other people walking from a distance. There's no way any residents would dare to do that.

They would definitely prefer to stay in their homes or stay at other people's homes when they don't have enough time to get to their own homes. So, of course, he must not be from here.

As I got closer, I finally realized that he was the same person who had been standing in front of Danastri's house.

I gasped at the sight of him. He was still there! That means he's not missing! And the village abstinence may indeed be a myth.

The young man smiled and nodded at me. Strangely, that smile gave me a strange feeling in my heart. I got goosebumps when I saw it.

If before, he never wanted to look into my eyes and always looked away, this time our eyes met. Apparently, those eyes were more alive than I thought before.