SYAHDU (Contract Sleep Friends)
New Hope

Syahdu slowly opened his eyes. He felt his head still dizzy, yet he also felt something warm felt in his palm.

"Wake up?" Arga sat on the edge of the bed holding Shahdu's hand. The girl raised her hand to look at the infusion on the back of her hand.

"Lo fainted, so I brought him here."

Syahdu looked around. Yeah, this is Arga's apartment.

"Gue also made you porridge." Arga moved from his chair to the kitchen. While Syahdu tried to sit and lean on the head of the mattress.

Syahdu saw the shadow of his face on the glass of the closet. His eyes were swollen, his face was crumpled and pale.

"Eat first. There's no energy for not eating for days." Arga sat down and placed the tray on the nightstand.

"Do you want a bribe?"

Syahdu silently looked at him. He remembered his last meeting with Arga. The moment when Syahdu realized that Arga was starting to like him.

"Why did you bring me here." The voice of Syahdu is very small and raucous. She started crying again.

"I should have stayed there until I died." His eyes and nose were sore. Again and again, her tears fell. The wounds in his heart were deep because Wicak and Suriani left him.

"Shahdu.." Arga grabbed Syahdu's hand and grasped it slowly. "Gue knows the lo-" condition"

"No." Syahdu quickly pulled his hand from Arga. "You won't understand!" Touch it with a hiccup.

Syahdu covered his face with both hands. She was crying with her body shaking.

Arga immediately hugged the girl's body. He was not good at persuading, but he knew enough how the girl felt. Even while asleep, Syahdu sobbed in his dream and it made Arga unbearable.

Syahdu cried loudly in Arga's arms. He sniffled because he did not know the direction of his life. Dear ones have abandoned her and now, she has to live her life alone.

"Please don't do these rich things anymore. Never think of ending your life. Please, I beg you. You are not alone. I will continue to be on your side. I promise."

Syahdu did not reply even though he heard that. For him the promise is not something he should trust considering Suriani and Wicak do not keep it. Moreover, Arga, that man must have very easily denied it.

After being calm, Syahdu ate being fed by Arga. Of course with the persuasion of the man. She chewed very slowly with a blank look, yet Arga was very patiently waiting for her. Syahdu's physical and psychic condition was completely shaken.

...🍁...

Arga panicked half-dead when he did not find Syahdu on the bed and the infusion just slipped away. He looked for all the space but there was no woman.

Arga shouted calling out the name of Syahdu, there was no answer. He only took a shower for a while. But why did Syahdu run away from him.

Arga rushes to the rooftop. Ever since Syahdu decided to commit suicide, Arga has been watching him. He did not want to lose the girl. He wanted Syahdu to stay alive with him.

Arriving above, Arga shouted calling the name Syahdu. He looked for all sides, but he did not meet.

Arga looked down, he was afraid that the woman had jumped. The darkness of the night made it a little difficult to see the condition below. But there was no sign of anything that made him sure Syahdu jumped from the top of the building.

He reached into the cell phone in his pants pocket. Calling Syahdu, but not active.

"ARRHGG!" Frustrated, Arga ran downstairs to find Syahdu. He did not want to lose the girl a second time.

Arga went into the apartment. He found that the teket that is often used Syahdu is still hanging near the closet. Does that mean, Syahdu did not go far? His phone was also on the table.

Not wanting to linger, Arga went out and started looking for Shahdu.

While elsewhere, Syahdu stood staring at a door that stood firmly before him. That's Wicak's room. The place where he was a few days ago still sleeping with the man inside. Now, it's all just a memory.

"Shahdu."

"Wanna get in?" Ask, then go in for a while and come out again with a key in his hand.

"This is Wicak's room key. He said tomorrow morning Wicak's parents would come to pack things."

Syahdu received the key. He nodded and went into Wicak's room.

Khairul sighed. He could see the slump of Syahdu from those swollen eyes and deathly pale face. He felt sorry for the girl.

Syahdu stared at the entire room. His style was still the same as the last time he left. It was just that there was currently a black suit hanging on the wall. That suit that Wicak might wear for his trial was supposed to take place yesterday, the day he died.

Syahdu sat on the bed. He stroked the bed sheet that Wicak had not replaced either. She was pictured by the figure of the man who hugged her tightly that night, with whispers of love in his ears.

Syahdu. His voice could be heard by Khairul who was waiting outside. The girl's tears never dry when she remembers all the things about Wicak that now feel so painful.

Syahdu glanced at a paper on a small table. It was the location of the village that he and Wicak wanted to go to. Bebatu Village. Syahdu. He put it in his bag.

After feeling satisfied, Syahdu came out of the room with some items he needed.

Syahdu walked without direction and purpose. The night is getting thick and it may soon rain.

Shahdu stopped, he looked up at the sky. Suddenly a question came to his mind.

"Sister, did you meet Grandma there? Are you guys looking at me?" Ask the girl to the black sky.

Shahdu's cheeks fell a drop of water from the sky. The girl deleted it.

"Do you wish I were dead? So we can gather there?" That voice sounded again. Syahdu hurriedly wiped away his tears and rushed his way as his mind started to muddle. He knew there was no way Suriani and Wicak would want him dead. They certainly expect Syahdu to continue life, even though the girl does not know the direction and purpose of her steps to where.

The rain fell down hard. Syahdu raced towards one of the bus stops on the side of the road.

He rubbed his slightly wet arm. Fortunately, he was able to shade before the rain completely soaked him.

Syahdu stared at the falling water in front of him. Later it was the rainy season and it was in this season that his miserable life began.

Now he just needs to get his life back together. Syahdu recalled the piece of paper he had taken from Wicak's desk. Bebatu Village, somehow caught his attention.

Syahdu chose to sit. He's been tired all day. There hasn't been 24 hours of Wicak leaving him and this is very difficult for him. But the world forced him to walk even though he wanted to stop.

Again he remembered karma. Maybe he should have all of this. Something he had to pay to atone for all his sins.

Syahdu bends his knees as he feels cold. The wind was so strong that it pulled her hair.

The girl just stared blankly at the direction where the rain was falling on her. He used to take a rain shower with Wicak and it was so much fun. Can it be repeated?

A hand stalling in front of him. Syahdu looked up and looked at Arga standing up with a slightly wet body. He pulled his wet hair back.

"Gue's not late, is it. Just promised to stay beside you. Good to see you here." He said with his special smile.

Shahdu looked at him coldly. Not returning Arga's hand to him.

"Tomorrow if you want to go, tell me. I want to go wherever you want. But today, please first. Already malem. We're home, yuk." Follow that guy again.

Syahdu knew and now could truly feel Arga's affection and concern for her. Is this a new hope? Should he accept that? But, wouldn't he also later be abandoned by this man? Considering Arga's getting engaged any minute.

"Come on." Invite the man again when he sees Syahdu daydreaming at him.

Syahdu welcomed Arga's hand, then stood up. While the man opened his jacket and held it to the head of Syahdu and himself. Somehow Syahdu even saw a smile on Arga's lips. The man looked so happy when Syahdu's heart was grieving. But he didn't get dizzy. Syahdu followed Arga's steps leading him to his car.

TB