Behind The Lies
The Announcement of Grief in Iyash's Ear

Iyash's friends knew that Iyash was in Surabaya, so early in the morning they came to ask him something, because they only heard the news of Aruna's death, without knowing what really happened.

“Yash, your friends are in front,” said Granny Alma in front of Iyash's room.

“Who?” Iyash was preparing in front of the mirror, he felt that there was no interest in it anymore, so he chose to go home today.

“Yash, meet first, pity they are waiting.”

“Say today Iyash has no time.”

“Yash, open the door first.”

Iyash. He turned around and opened the door. “Nek, but–”

“Only a minute, Yash,” persuade Grandma Alma. “Their love must miss you.”

Iyash sighed and quickly went to the living room.

Bagas, Umam and Dennis accidentally come to meet him, while Naya has gone to Malaysia with her Budenya working there.

“Iya?” Iyash sat in front of the three young men. He could have asked who they were, but no, he just forgot, not didn't remember. She knew the three men were her High School friends, but she could not remember any of their names.

Seeing Iyash's expression, Bagas was astonished. “Why are you, Yash? We're here to see you. Sorry because at that time we did not visit, you, ‘kan know Jakarta is foreign to young people like us,” said Bagas.

“Iya, Yash. You how are you?” ask Umam.

Iyash did not immediately answer him as if he was remembering how close he was to the three people.

“Yash?” call Umam, because Iyash didn't answer his question.

“I'm good,” reply Iyash flat.

“Sgratitude.” Umam looked at Dennis who had just fallen silent. Actually from home Dennis was impatient to ask about Aruna, but when they came here, they even got a message not to discuss anything about Aruna. It's really upsetting for Dennis.

“Yash, exactly what happened?” ask Dennis at the end.

“Means?”

“We heard you were in an accident, and during the day we heard that Aruna died, is that true?” ask Dennis again.

Immediately Iyash was stunned for ten seconds. He was looking for that information in his head.

“Yash, we don't mean to make you sad, we just want to know the truth,” Dennis said, while Umam and Bagas just kept quiet.

“I–” Tears Iyash suddenly pooled. He then sighed. “Why not ask Mr Ridwan?” Iyash asked back.

“Why should Mr Ridwan? Isn't Aruna going to Jakarta with you? Mr. Ridwan has already banned you, but Aruna insists on going with you.”

“Den,” whispered umam. “Already.”

Free of charge they explained anything, Iyash's current memory was exactly like an imperfect puzzle piece. Messy and some even missing parts.

“So, how, Yash, we came here just wondering, did Aruna indeed die, kept where she was in the tomb, ‘kan?”

Dennis was asked to be quiet by Umam, but he kept talking.

“I don't know, I don't know!” Iyash hit his own forehead. “Free of you guys, I don't remember anything.”

“But, you remember us, ‘kan?” ask Bagas.

Iyash fell silent and tried to remember, it seemed like Iyash only remembered what he wanted to remember, but if so there should be nothing he forgot about Aruna.

“Iya, ‘kan, you remember us, then why did you forget about Aruna? If you are amnesiac, you will not even remember who you are,” Bagas said again.

All they know is that amnesia is like that, but in Iyash's case, it's different.

“Sorry,” says Iyash slowly.

“You're just pretending not to remember, ‘kan, you just don't want to be blamed for Aruna's death. You don't want to be named as the cause of Aruna's death, yes, ‘kan?” accuse Dennis.

“Dennis!” This time Umam tried to be more assertive, but not with Bagas who instead acted the same as Dennis. If Dennis used to say there was no problem with Iyash, but now another. He was disappointed that Iyash was acting this way.

“You approached us just to get close to Aruna and after your goal was achieved, you kept us away from Aruna, it turns out we are not friends,” Accused Dennis.

Iyash. Tears continued to pour down both of his cheeks.

“Den, I know you're disappointed, but you can't talk like that,” said Umam slowly. He looked at Iyash. “Yash, we are sorry.”

“Indeed the reality is so, Mam.”

The atmosphere became stiff and silent for up to a few seconds.

“I ...” Iyash got up and looked confused. “I'm sorry.” Iyash then left the living room.

Bagas, Dennis and Umam pensive. It seems that they are trying to believe in Iyash, but still doubt him. The three-year friendship did not make them really close and knew Iyash well.

Iyash went into the room. “Arrgghhh!” He threw his ass into the bed. He hates himself. “Why should it be part? Why not just lose everything?” tanyanya.

In her shadow she saw Aruna's smile, then she could see the woman's cry, and she suddenly blinked when she saw Aruna's angry face. Instantly he stopped hitting the back of his head against the wall, then thought.

Just like Aruna, Iyash also blames himself for events that he cannot even remember fully.

“Yash,” call Granny Alma. “His friends are home? Though Grandma has bought fried foods.”

Iyash got up and walked over to his grandmother. “Nek, what really happened?”

“You mean?”

“Why did they say that Aruna was dead?”

Grandma Alma flabbergasted looking at Iyash.

“Nek, please say something so that Iyash is not confused anymore.”

Alma's grandmother was silent for a moment, she then went inside the room and sat on the bed.

“When we heard you were in an accident, Ridwan went straight to Jakarta, alone, while we were just leaving during the day, so, so, when we got there the next night we didn't see Aruna and Ridwan anymore. Your mother said that Aruna died in an accident and that she was buried in her grandfather's place, we really don't know where we should go on pilgrimage,” Grandma Alma said.

Iyash's heart is beating. He was flabbergasted while shaking slowly. “Mama didn't say anything about this.”

“Mama you're afraid you're ngedrop.”

“But, Grandma, Iyash thought Aruna was lecturing here.”

Grandma Alma frowned. “Kan, did you help him get a scholarship in Jakarta?”

“Students?”

“Iya, you don't remember?” Grandma Alma sighed. “Sorry, but Grandma thinks it's time you knew that Aruna wasn't around.”

Iyash again denied the sad news. “Grandma saw the body?”

Grandma Alma shook her head.

“Grandma saw her grave?”

Grandma Alma shook her head again.

“Means she's alive, Nek,” refutes Iyash sure.

“Astaghfirullah, Iyash. Grandma did not see the body, the tomb, but Mama you saw the body and after that the ambulance took them away to the funeral home.”

“Where?” tanya Iyash.

“Grandma, ‘kan already told Grandma don't know.”

“Where should Iyash prove that the news of death is true?”

“Nobody knows, Ridwan also disappeared. Or maybe you can ask directly your Mama.”

Iyash turned around and hit the wall.

Grandma Alma was shocked. “Quiet, Son, why did you become like this?” He rubbed Iyash's back.

“I don't remember anything, Grandma, a lot of holes in the head.” Iyash hit his own head.

“Who said?” Grandma Alma raised her voice a little. “You still remember Grandma, you remember Grandpa, you still remember Surabaya and most importantly you know that you are Iyash.”

Iyash. His hand shook and he slowly dropped a forehead against the wall.

“God only takes a few parts, a few events and it's all the best for you.”

Iyash's breath gasped to hold something churning within him. Ever since he realized that he could not remember part of the past, he hated and did not accept himself.

“Sabar, you should be patient and do not forget you should always be grateful because you can still be here, you can realize your goals. You are the hope of all of us.”

  Iyash was downcast and tried to think clearly without involving anger.

“Aruna may be unlucky, she got a scholarship, but she hasn't had a chance to feel what college is like,” Grandma Alma said.

If Iyash could remember why he had an accident? He doesn't even know that Aruna was with him in the fatal accident.

“All is not your fault, Yash. It's already part of your life.”

Instead of being sincere, Iyash was even more frustrated with this situation. “It is better Iyash return to Jakarta today.”

“Astaghfirullah, you don't appreciate Grandma here?”

“Iyash is here to meet Aruna.”

“So, you don't want to meet us here, do you?” Grandma Alma was silent for a few seconds. “Grandma knows you're sad, but what can you do? Maybe this is also the reason Ridwan left and did not come back here again. Poor him.”

Iyash sat down. His cheeks were wet from the dam that fell from both corners of his eyes.