ASTAKONA [COURSE EIGHT]
Chapter 8

"Zara" called Mak Zalilah from the kitchen, but Zara did not respond. He had only been silent for an entire day in his room, his gaze was blank, and his mind was filled with grief from Kedidi's violent death before his eyes. Losing his best friend also made his spirit fade, no news from him.

Mak Zalilah peeked at Zara and then strangled her waist. "Woi, this kid! I've called you many times, but there's no answer. Just be quiet all the time. You think crying 24 hours in the room will solve your problems? Your friend is dead and buried, what else do you want to think?"

Zara remained silent, as if deaf to the outside world.

"He's a slacker, Mom. He's not sad, he's just lazy" slit Irina, Zara's sister.

Mak Zalilah approached Zara. "If you're a slacker like this, you eat this" he said, pulling Zara's ear. Zara felt pain from the pull and realized the presence of Mak Zalilah and Irina.

"Newly realized? I called no response. This lazy woman. Take it, go to the market Ningku buy charcoal. Charcoal is almost gone" said Mak Zalilah while giving a little money and a big basket that can be shouldered. Since Indra, her son, was not at home, she had to use charcoal for cooking.

"Go now! You want us to starve because we don't eat?" angry Irina.

Zara lazily took the basket and came out of the house. However, halfway through the journey, he realized that he did not know the direction to the market of Ningku. Finally, he decided to go to Kedidi's house to ask Kedidi's mother. The mother then led him to the market.

"Thank you, Uncle," Zara said as she nodded in thanks for her help.

"You can go home by yourself, right? Want Mak Cik to accompany you?" tawar Mak Cik's.

"Ga anything. I don't want to trouble Mak Cik," replied Zara gently.

"All right then. Mak Cik came home yes," said Mak Cik with a friendly smile.

Zara nodded again in response and Mak Cik left her to go home. Zara continued her journey to the market of Ningku with a large basket to help Mak Zalilah. Although her heart was still filled with sadness, she tried to stay strong and received help and support from those around her.

Amidst his confusion, Zara feels as if she has been trapped in a parallel universe featuring mysterious taverns that she cannot remember, yet seem so familiar. He felt that there was something strange about this situation, but there was no memory of him that he could relate to those places.

In his search, he found a charcoal shop that caught his attention. Inside, there was a rope that looked so familiar. Unexpectedly, someone from a distance noticed him and approached him while greeting him. The man's voice felt strange and suspicious.

"Sir, want to go upstairs to? Brother could help, but on one condition," the man whispered, as his gaze drifted to Zara's body.

Fear suddenly ambushed Zara, and she immediately tried to escape. However, his escape was stopped by the man's best friend who was nearby. Zara felt increasingly scared, and panic struck. In his confusion, Zara ran very hard away from them. Increasingly, until finally reached the edge of a vast lake. Running out of energy, Zara grabbed a long piece of wood that was around, trying to deal with the threat that came.

However, before he could do anything, someone suddenly appeared and threw a stone at his pursuer. The attack made the two pursuers retreat, and Zara was relieved to get help. A man in his 40s who had just appeared faced the two pursuers bravely.

"Look how weak you are against a girl! Come on, fight me, let's see who wins, '" he challenged vigorously.

They fought indiscriminately. Punches and kicks exchanged, but eventually the man managed to defeat the two pursuers. They left with their injuries.

The man who saved Zara looked at her with cynical eyes, saying that his face resembled someone he knew when he was young. Although he tried to get closer, the man seemed hesitant.

"Sir is fine? Pakcik's nose is bleeding," asked Zara worriedly.

"There's no way a hero as strong as me would bleed because of street criminals like them" he replied confidently.

"But Pakcik is indeed bleeding," Zara said, increasingly worried.

"She must have been affected by the liquor" murmured Zara, while trying to look for signs of life around her.

As it turned out, the man had only fainted due to the effects of the drink, and not because of the injuries he had sustained. Zara shook her head, feeling astonished by all the strange events that had happened to her today.

His eyes were suddenly fixated on a bunch of wild mint leaves growing around a tree by the lake. Quickly, he plucked a few strands and squeezed them using a stone, creating a fresh scent of detached mint oil.

With a pounding heart, Zara placed the mint leaf paste near the nose of the fainting man. He hopes the refreshing smell of mint can help restore his consciousness. He took his handkerchief and took the lake water and cleaned the man's blood.

After waiting anxiously for 15 minutes, the man finally regained his senses.

When the man opened his eyes, he saw Zara who was still standing by his side, looking towards the lake. The man tried to sit down and watched the red-haired girl at his waist who had been guarding him.

"What are you doing here? From the way you were, it looks like you're Tias, right?" asked the man with curiosity.

"Yes, I'm Tias" said Zara, smiling with relief because the man was conscious. He stood up, planning to return to his home.

"The uncle's fine, right? I'm going home now. Thank you for your help" Zara said, taking the big basket and lifting it on her shoulders.

"Wait a minute" said the man quickly. "What are your plans with that basket? Are you going to fill up the charcoal?"

"Yes" Zara replied briefly.

"Then let me help you bring the charcoal home" the man said sincerely.

Zara felt haru with the offer of this kind-hearted man. Although he initially felt fear and confusion, there was now someone who was willing to help sincerely. He thanked me again.

"Thank you, Uncle," Zara said with gratitude.

Together, they walked home with light steps. Zara is relieved to have met someone who saved her and is willing to help overcome her predicament.

They finally arrived in front of Zara's house, and the man gently placed the charcoal-filled basket in front of the door. However, when the door of the house opened, an angry shout came from inside the house. An old woman by the name of Mak Cik Zalilah stood in the doorway, angry that Zara was coming home slow.

"This is who you brought home?" mak Cik Zalilah exclaimed, his sharp gaze staring at Zara and the man.

The man patiently explained what was happening, but Mak Cik Zalilah seemed unconcerned, only focusing on the charcoal-filled basket that should get home safely. He picked up a few pieces of charcoal and took them to the kitchen, without much talking.

Zara and the man live outside the house, and the man shows concern and concern for Zara. He asked about the old woman, thinking that she was Zara's mother. But Zara just stared with sadness.

"Have you always been treated this way by him? Who is he really? Your mom?" the man asked with concern, condemning the unnatural treatment of a mother to her child.

Zara cried slowly, expressing her sadness. "She's not my mother" he said in a soft voice. "She was my foster aunt who took care of me since childhood after my parents died."

The man looked at Zara's sorrowful gaze and gave her support. He could feel how heavy a burden Zara was carrying.

"Will you get out of this house? I can help you" said the man attentively. "Tomorrow, we'll meet at the lake like this at the same time, and we'll talk about everything."