Again

Today Udin and Hakimi cycled to school as usual. Udin feel awkward after yesterday incident. Hakimi didn't show any indifferent towards Udin.

"So did it happen last night?"

"No." That's the only reply from Udin. He reluctant to discuss it with Hakimi now. He worries if yesterday's thing repeat itself.

After that they cycled in silence until they arrive at the gate.

While locking the bicycle Hakimi give a book to Udin. "You want to read this book right? " "Might as well do it for our punishment."

Udin rummaging through the book feeling happy. It is Lashkar Pelangi by Andrea Hirata. He still didn't read that book even though it was a hit.

"What book did you choose?"

"Maybe one of Teme Abdullah books." That writer is Hakimi favourite.

"That's great."

"Are you okay?" "I meant your neck." Udin pointed to Hakimi's neck. Udin still feeling guilty about it.

"No worries it's okay." Hakimi touch his bruised neck. The skin colour changed to dark chocolate.

"How is your head?"

"It's okay. "I have a hard head you know." Both of them laugh and the awkwardness of the moment passed.

During recess time Hakimi try to talk to Udin to discuss about his condition again.

"I don't think I want to talk about it." Udin didn't want to put Hakimi in danger situation.

"But if we didn't talk about it how are we going to solve it." Hakimi didn't want to give up.

"Your mother didn't believe us when we told her yesterday, remember?" Udin look hurt.

"I know that." "Maybe we can tell your grandparents." Hakimi try to convince Udin.

"Am I not enough burden for them?" Udin always try to be a good boy for his grandparents. He always feel that he is an extra that his grandparents have to carry.

"Yesterday my grandmother said I'm not at home." Hakimi stop eating his fried noodles and wait for Udin to finish his story.

"She didn't call me for dinner." " I was in my room all the time." I fall asleep at my study desk." "My grandfather wake me up after that." "Don't you feel strange when she said that?" Asked Udin to Hakimi. "Does your grandmother has a vision problems?

"I'm sure her eyes sight still good." Answer Udin. "She only need spectacle when she is reading."

"Then how come she didn't see you? Asked Hakimi back. "I know right."

"It's happened a few times too." "When?" Hakimi started to be curios about it. "The earliest one was when I'm in standard one." Udin knew about it when he overheard his grandparents conversation. "How come you made a mistake this afternoon Odah?" "I'm not mistaken." "He was not in the house." "The first place that I checked is his room." "I only saw his toys on the floor." "I even call his name." "Maybe he was in another room." Suggested Pak Samad. "I also checked other room." "That's why I panicked and call you." "When I checked again, the odd thing that happened was he was in his room sleeping among his cluttered toys."

The other time I knew that my grandmother couldn't find me when I was in standard three. It was school holiday time. I remember it was a very hot day. I feel stuffy and sit at the veranda reading. As usual I fall asleep there. When I woke up I feel thirsty and went to the kitchen to drink some water. My grandmother asked me where did I go without telling her first. I said I was at the veranda the whole time. She said why I didn't answer her when she called me. I said I didn't hear it. When I asked her why she didn't wake me up she said she didn't see me there.

Hakimi didn't say anything for the first few minutes after listening to Udin story. "So you are invisible when you are sleeping?" Udin shocked when he hear that. "Are you sure about that Kimi?"

"Maybe." It's not impossible right." "Just think about it." "You are in your room the whole time but your grandmother didn't see you there." "If she can't see you it's mean you are transparent." "Why we say that is because you are there." Udin still can't accept that probability. "It's too absurd Kimi." "Udin! Just think about yesterday." "It's not logical too right."

"With this new factor we need to analyse it again!"

"No! I won't" Udin sure that is the right decision at the moment.

They walk towards the classroom because recess time is up.