Arya remained silent in her mother's embrace. Her sobs had faded, leaving only the occasional shaky breath. Her mother gently stroked her back, offering a comfort that felt strangely familiar.
"It's okay, sweetheart… Mom's here."
The air in the room felt colder. Arya took a deep breath, her eyelids growing heavy. She let them close for a moment, allowing herself to relax, if only a little.
A soft breeze drifted through the room.
Somewhere in the distance, a faint sound echoed. Footsteps shifting… or was it just a trick of her mind?
Then, in the quiet...
Laughter...Soft at first, then clearer.
Her eyes fluttered open, the sunlight was warm against her skin.
"Arya! Hurry up, the bell's about to ring!"
He turned his head.
Nadia stood a short distance away, her face glowing under the morning sun. By the school gate, Ridho and Sinta waited beside her.
Arya blinked. For a brief moment, the heaviness in his chest lifted. Without thinking, he smiled and took a step forward.
Then, together, they walked into the classroom just like any other day.
***
The entrance bell rang sharply, signaling the start of the first lesson. Arya, Nadia, Ridho, and Sinta had just settled into their seats when the classroom erupted into noise.
As usual, the chaos stemmed from Jaka the loud, mischievous troublemaker, not unlike Ridho.
"Bro, you won't believe it! I almost got hit by a motorcycle while crossing the street! I swear, it was just like in a drama!" Jaka announced dramatically to his friends.
Ridho, seated next to him, burst out laughing.
"For real? So, did you bounce off the hood and land in the arms of a pretty girl?"
"Hah! If that happened, I wouldn't be here! Cue the sad soundtrack, slow motion fall, then boom hospital scene," Jaka said, laughing even louder.
The class erupted in laughter, while Arya simply sighed, flipping open his book and attempting to focus. But Jaka's voice only grew louder.
"Eh, but seriously, that wouldn't happen to me. I'm built different! No way I'd fall just 'cause of a passing motorcycle! Hahaha!"
Arya finally turned, his patience wearing thin.
"Can you shut up, Jaka? I'm trying to read," he said, his tone sharper than usual.
Jaka smirked. "Relax, bro. The bell just rang."
"And you've been loud ever since," Arya shot back, his voice flat.
Jaka leaned back, still grinning. "What's up with you, Arya? Got dumped again?"
A few kids snickered. Arya clenched his fists, but before he could respond,
BANG!
The classroom door slammed open.
"EVERYONE, QUIET!"
Mr. Budi's booming voice cut through the chatter like a whip, making everyone sit up straight. He hadn't even stepped fully into the classroom, yet his face already wore a look of irritation.
Mr. Budi was known for being strict though not as terrifying as Mr. Surya. He had his moments of humor, occasionally cracking jokes in class, but when he was mad, it was best to stay silent.
Arya sighed. Jaka might find a way to weasel out of trouble, but Arya had a bad feeling about this. And sure enough,
"You two!" Mr. Budi's sharp gaze landed on them.
"Arya, Jaka. Up front. Now!"
Arya closed his eyes for a moment, suppressing his frustration. Meanwhile, Jaka let out a low whistle and clapped Arya on the shoulder.
"Man, we're real VIPs today. First bell hasn't even cooled down, and we already got a special invite," Jaka muttered with a smirk.
Arya exhaled slowly, dragging himself up from his chair. The day had barely begun, and he was already in trouble.
Arya and Jaka trudged to the front of the class, their steps heavy. Jaka, still grinning, nudged Arya's arm with his elbow.
"I think we're about to get a singing assignment, Bro," he whispered, still in a playful tone.
Arya just sighed, choosing to ignore him.
From his seat, Ridho was clearly enjoying the moment. He stifled a laugh and leaned toward Sinta.
"I knew it. That guy gets worked up way too easily."
Sinta, who had been jotting down notes, glanced at Arya with a mix of sympathy and amusement. A small smile tugged at her lips.
"Yeah… poor guy. But honestly, it's kind of his fault too. Why let Jaka get under his skin?"
Meanwhile, Nadia looked more concerned. Her eyes followed Arya as he walked forward, a trace of anxiety on her face.
"I hope he doesn't get punished…" she murmured under her breath.
At the front of the class, Mr. Budi stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
"Do you know why I called you up here?" he asked, his voice calm but firm.
Jaka, without missing a beat, shrugged. "No idea, sir. Didn't you just say?"
Laughter rippled through the class, but it died instantly the moment Mr. Budi shot them a glare. From his seat, Ridho smacked his forehead.
"Gosh… this guy…"
Mr. Budi let out a slow, deep sigh before turning to the board. He picked up a marker and began writing a problem.
"Because, from what I heard, you two were the loudest ones in class before I walked in."
"And now, solve this problem," Mr. Budi instructed.
Arya immediately focused on the question written on the board. Luckily, it was still within her grasp nothing too complicated. Jaka, on the other hand, stood with his hands on his hips, squinting at the equation as if it were written in an alien language.
"Sir, is there a multiple-choice option?" he asked, completely serious.
The class burst into laughter.
Sinta shook her head, covering her mouth to keep from giggling. Nadia sighed, rubbing her face as if she couldn't believe Jaka's ridiculousness. Meanwhile, Ridho was already doubled over, barely able to contain himself.
Mr. Budi pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly trying to keep his patience in check.
"Jaka, this isn't an exam. Just solve it, or I'll mark you absent with a bonus."
Jaka snatched the marker in a panic. "Y-Yes, sir! I'll try!"
Arya calmly started writing her answer, while beside her, Jaka was scribbling nonsense in the corner of the board. As Arya finished, she glanced sideways then nearly facepalmed on the spot. Jaka had written a completely unrelated formula. Worse, for some inexplicable reason, he had circled the number 69 in bold.
Mr. Budi stared at the board, his expression unreadable. The class fell into an uneasy silence. Sinta and Nadia exchanged looks of pure resignation. Ridho was seconds away from losing it, but the moment Mr. Budi exhaled sharply, he clamped his mouth shut.
"Jaka," Mr. Budi called, his tone laced with exhaustion.
"Yes, sir?"
"Do you realize that your answer is… completely wrong?"
Jaka stared at the board, then back at Mr. Budi with a face full of innocence.
"Wrong, sir? But I thought I nailed it."
The class erupted into laughter once more. This time, Mr. Budi didn't bother holding back his frustration.
"Alright. Both of you are getting punished."
Arya's head snapped up. "Why me? What did I do?"
Mr. Budi shot her a flat look. "You were part of the commotion before class even started."
From her seat, Nadia gave Arya a worried glance. Sinta pressed a hand to her chest in silent exasperation, while Ridho had to bite his lip to keep from laughing.
Arya let out a slow, defeated sigh. Meanwhile, Jaka grinned as if he had just won something.
"So, what's our punishment, sir?" he asked, far too casually.
Mr. Budi smirked. "Both of you, outside. Stand in the corridor until my lesson is over."
Arya closed her eyes briefly, then exhaled. Yeah. Today was definitely not her day.
***
Arya and Jaka stood outside in the hallway, right in front of the classroom door. The cool morning breeze did nothing to ease the discomfort of their punishment.
Jaka leaned against the wall, letting out a long sigh.
"Well, this is it. I thought he'd make us run laps around the field while singing the national anthem."
Arya shot him a tired look. "Can you not talk for once?"
Jaka grinned. "I could… but I don't want to."
Arya just shook her head and chose to stay silent. But it only took a few seconds before Jaka got restless again.
"Bro, how long are we supposed to stand here? Feels like we've been exiled for life."
"It's been five minutes, Jaka."
Jaka groaned dramatically. "Yeah, nope. I can't survive under this oppressive regime."
Arya rubbed his face. "You're only out here because of your own mouth."
Jaka shrugged. "And yet, you're standing here too. Guess that makes us cellmates, huh?"
Arya shot him a sharp glare. "I got punished because of you."
Jaka chuckled. "Yeah, fair… but don't worry, Bro. If we work together, maybe we can break out of here."
Arya gave him a deadpan stare. "Jaka, this isn't a prison."
Jaka raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Just kidding."
A moment of silence passed. But of course, Jaka was still Jaka.
"Hey, Bro."
Arya glanced at him, already exhausted. "What now?"
"You think Mr. Budi's this grumpy at home too?"
Arya sighed. "I don't know, Jaka. I really don't know…"
Jaka grinned.
"I bet when he's at home, he sits in front of the TV watching soap operas while munching on crackers."
Arya was about to respond, but before she could even open her mouth, a voice from inside the classroom cut through the air.
"Arya, Jaka, stay put!" Mr. Budi's voice boomed.
Both of them instinctively straightened up. From inside the classroom, Ridho sat grinning, covering his mouth to stifle his laughter. Sinta just sighed and shook her head. Nadia, however, glanced toward Arya, concern flickering in her eyes, as if silently asking if he was okay.
Outside, Arya leaned back against the wall, trying his best to tune out Jaka, who was still mumbling nonsense to himself.
Today was going to be a long day.
***
The school bell rang, marking the end of the day. Students poured out of the gates some rushing home, others lingering near the entrance, chatting and laughing.
Arya, Nadia, Ridho, and Sinta strolled together, their pace unhurried. Their bags hung loosely on their shoulders, their steps light, as if the punishment from that morning had never happened.
"So, how does it feel to be stuck standing in the hallway?" Nadia asked, casting a glance at Arya.
Arya let out a deep sigh. "Exhausting. And embarrassing."
Ridho chuckled. "See, Bro? You should've kept your cool. If you hadn't hit Jaka, you'd be fine."
Sinta chimed in. "Yeah. He's like fire the more you fan him, the bigger he gets."
Arya rubbed the back of his neck. "I know... but did you hear what he said earlier?"
Nadia smirked. "Yeah, I did. He's a pain in the ass."
They took a quieter route home, passing through a narrow alley near the school. It was shaded by trees lining its edges, offering some relief from the heat of the afternoon sun.
Suddenly, a cat leaped over a fence and landed right in front of Ridho.
"Holy.....!" Ridho stumbled back, eyes wide with shock.
Arya and Sinta burst out laughing.
"Wait, are you scared of cats, Do?" Arya teased.
Ridho quickly straightened his bag, trying to act nonchalant. "Scared? No. Just... caught off guard."
Nadia crouched down, stroking the cat's head. "Aw, look at you. So cute."
The cat let out a soft meow before darting off. But as Arya watched it disappear, something about the alley unsettled him. He slowed his steps. The place felt strangely familiar, like a fragment of a memory just out of reach.
"I don't know why, but I feel like I've been here before..." he murmured.
"But when?"
Nadia and Sinta exchanged puzzled looks.
"Huh? What do you mean? We've never taken this route before," Sinta said. "Today's the first time."
Arya shook his head, but the feeling lingered.
"I don't know, it feels like...." Arya was silent for a moment.
"This place feels familiar,"
Ridho immediately looked at Arya with a dramatic expression.
"Bro, isn't this where you were in your previous life?"
Sinta patted his shoulder. "You shouldn't watch too many movies."
They laughed again, thinking it was just idle chatter. But inside, Arya couldn't shake the strange feeling. It was as if something had happened here...
Something close but vague.
They continued walking, leaving the alley behind. But that feeling lingered in Arya's mind.
***
Nadia's home was warm and inviting, the comforting aroma of home-cooked food filling the air. At the dining table, she sat with her parents, the simple yet familiar dishes spread out before them clear vegetable soup, fried tempeh, and shredded chicken.
Her mother, Mrs. Tika, a woman with a gentle smile, poured water into a glass, while her father, Mr. Arif, who always carried a calm presence, placed a piece of tempeh onto Nadia's plate.
"How was school today, Dear?" her mother asked softly.
Nadia chewed her food for a moment before replying, "Same as always, Mom. Lots of assignments."
Her father looked up. "That's a good thing. Homework helps reinforce what you've learned."
Nadia let out a small chuckle. "Yeah, but if there's too much, my brain might short-circuit."
Her mother shook her head, smiling. Her father just nodded. Dinner carried on in a relaxed manner, their conversation flowing between schoolwork and lighthearted stories about the university where her parents taught.
Once they finished eating, they moved to the living room. The television murmured in the background, the evening news playing at a low volume. Dad occasionally glanced at the screen while reading his newspaper.
Mom sat on the couch, a cup of tea in her hands, while Nadia sat cross-legged on the floor, hugging a pillow against her chest.
"Nadia, have you finished your homework?" her mother asked.
Nadia nodded. "Yeah. Oh, Mom, Dad....tomorrow, my friends and I are planning to stop by the park after school. Is that okay?"
Dad lowered his newspaper slightly. "Which park?"
"The one near the intersection. The one with the wooden benches," Nadia answered.
Dad nodded. "Alright, but don't stay out too late."
Nadia smiled. "Got it."
Her mother studied her for a moment. "You seem distracted, Dear. What's on your mind?"
Nadia hesitated. She wanted to say nothing, but... something had been weighing on her since earlier that day.
"I don't know, Mom… it just feels strange," Nadia murmured.
Her mother set down her teacup. "What feels strange?"
Nadia hesitated, biting her lip.
"After school, we walked past the alley near campus. Arya said he felt like he'd been there before but couldn't remember when."
Dad lowered his newspaper. "And?"
Nadia shook her head slowly. "I don't know, but… I feel like I've been there too. Just like Arya said."
Silence settled over the room. Mom and Dad exchanged a glance brief, but telling.
"Sometimes our minds play tricks on us," Dad said finally.
"Maybe it's just a coincidence."
Nadia nodded, as if accepting his words. But deep down, something didn't sit right.
Outside, the evening breeze drifted through the trees. The sky had darkened, but the stars flickered brightly.
Nadia took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling.
Maybe Dad was right, maybe it was nothing. But if it was nothing, then why did it feel like more than just a memory?
***
The school bell rang, echoing through the hallways, marking the end of another school day. Students poured out of their classrooms some eager to leave, others lingering, caught up in conversations.
Inside the classroom, Arya closed his book slowly. His gaze lingered on the desk, unfocused, his mind still tangled in the strange feeling that had been haunting him since yesterday.
"Hurry up and go home, Bro?" Ridho's voice cut through his thoughts as he gave Arya's shoulder a light tap.
Arya blinked before nodding. "Yeah, let's go."
At the door, Nadia and Sinta were already waiting. The four of them walked together toward the school gate. But as they stepped outside, Arya's pace slowed. His thoughts drifted back to the small alley at the end of the main road, the one they had walked through yesterday.
Without realizing it, he stopped.
"What's wrong, Arya?" Nadia's voice pulled him back to the present.
He exhaled, shaking his head slightly.
"I'm still thinking about that weird feeling in the alley yesterday."
Ridho followed his gaze. "Well, then let's go through it again."
They turned onto the alleyway. Just like before, it was quieter than the main road. The tall walls on either side made the space feel almost disconnected from the city beyond.
Arya's steps slowed as they reached a particular spot a wall covered in graffiti, its colors faded and peeling with age.
Something about it tugged at his memory, like a thought lingering just out of reach. His fingers brushed against the rough surface of the wall, feeling the chipped paint beneath his touch.
"What is it?" Sinta asked, watching him closely.
Arya was silent. Just as they were about to step out of the alley, a faint sound echoed behind them.
Footsteps.
He stopped instinctively.
"Did you hear that?" he whispered.
They were all silent.
Nothing.....
Ridho glanced back, then shrugged. "I didn't hear anything."
But Arya's heartbeat quickened. The air felt heavier, carrying the scent of damp earth and something else...Something familiar.
Before she could dwell on it any longer, Nadia gently tugged at he arm.
"Come on, let's go."
Arya nodded, but the unease in he chest lingered.
***
Once they stepped out of the alley, the tension eased. The familiar sounds of the city surrounded them again. When they reached the park, they settled onto a wooden bench beneath the shade of a large tree.
Ridho rummaged through his bag and pulled out a snack, while Sinta unscrewed the cap of her water bottle.
"I'm starving," Ridho muttered as he unwrapped his sandwich.
Nadia chuckled. "You just ate a few hours ago, and you're hungry again?"
"It's called a high metabolic rate," Ridho said proudly.
Sinta shot him a skeptical look. "Metabolism or just plain gluttony?"
They laughed, but Arya remained unusually quiet. Sitting beside him, Nadia noticed.
"You're still thinking about that alley, aren't you?" she asked gently.
Arya hesitated before finally nodding.
"Yeah… I don't know why, but it feels like there's something I need to remember. Something important."
Ridho, mid bite, raised an eyebrow. "You're not seriously thinking it's some kind of supernatural thing, are you?"
Arya let out a breath. "I don't know, Ridho. It just doesn't feel right."
Sinta, her usual playful expression replaced by something more thoughtful, nodded.
"If it's bothering you this much, maybe we should look into it?"
Nadia agreed. "Maybe we can ask around. Someone might know if that alley has any history."
Arya looked at each of them, surprised that they actually wanted to help. A soft breeze rustled the leaves above, the golden light of the afternoon filtering through the branches.
Maybe they were right. Maybe she should find out before this strange feeling grew even stronger. But...Somehow, she felt this was something she needed to uncover on her own.
***
(Nightfall – Back to the Alley)
The night sky stretched endlessly above, speckled with faint, distant stars. The streets had quieted, only the occasional hum of passing vehicles breaking the silence.
Arya stood at the entrance of the alley...Alone.
He wasn't sure why he had come back. His feet had simply carried him here, as if something deep inside was pulling him forward.
I have to know.
Slowly, he stepped into the alley.
The air was noticeably colder than it had been during the day. The wind whispered between the high walls, carrying an eerie stillness that sent a shiver down his spine.
He stopped where he had touched the graffiti covered wall earlier. Hesitantly, he reached out again, fingers brushing against the rough surface.
And then, a memory flickered to life. A glimpse of himself, much younger, standing in this very spot. And beside him…Nadia.
The sky was gray, rain pouring down, soaking the streets. He could feel it something had happened here, something important.
But before he could grasp the memory fully,
BRAK!
A loud crash echoed from the far end of the alley. Arya gasped, snapping back to reality. His pulse pounded in his ears as he glanced around.
The alley was empty. Not a single soul in sight. Swallowing hard, he took a shaky breath. He was certain now. He and Nadia had been here before.
But why? What had happened in this place?
The answers were just beyond his reach, fragments lost in time. And he knew one thing for sure. He had to remember.