Love In War
⁇ ⁇

No matter how long we docked in the boat, until finally, we arrived at a region, which I seemed to recognize.

The man took the woman to a house in the middle of the forest. He was greeted by a young woman.

"I need your help?" Pinta the man begged someone who was standing staring at the deer-headed statue while putting the woman's body on the long table that was right in front of her.

"What do you want?" My eyes widened as the man turned his back. My brain was spinning in memory of a father who drove me home while I was straying in the woods and now I realize that I am in that empty house.

The man grinned, looking at me. Slowly his face turned creepy, red, his eyes turned black, on his head there were two horns and small horns on the sides of his forehead.

He pointed at me with his pitch-black finger, making the man carrying the woman also turn his head, slowly the foreign man's face changed. His face was covered with feathers, and his head was overgrown by two buffalo horns.

I gulped my salivary rough, slowly retreating. Can they see me?

The buffalo-headed creature extended its hand to me." Come with me."

Before my hand reached the big, hairy hand, my eardrums caught the holy verses of the Quran recited by some, making every provision of my body ache. I can't even move the muscles in my legs.

"Arya!"

I looked at the source of the voice. Reviewing the sick smiles as my Father, Mother, and friends walked over.

The smile that had originally burst out, suddenly faded, as their shadows one by one disappeared.

I tried to run, endure the pain, to where they were. Search for. But they weren't there.

"Mom, Dad."

Where'd they?

Tears cannot be held. I freaked. Alone in this dark room.

"City." That sound.

I closed my eyes, as a blinding shadow suddenly appeared before me.

A luminous circle. Like mirror. I was shocked when I heard a guess from inside the mirror.

"Hallo. Is there anyone?" There is no word of anything.

But when my feet were about to step away from the mirror, suddenly there was a sobbing sound from inside.

Slowly I went back. Touching the front area of the convex surface of that circle. Like water.

As my feet stepped in, suddenly a bright light burst into my sense of sight, before it dimmed and turned pitch-black.

The last thing I felt was the wind that hit my skin.

"Laila! Otono, daddyjennni!" (Laila! Wake up, it's morning)

The sound of a loud cry echoed into my sense of hearing.

Slowly my eyelids opened. Repeatedly opening the eyes to adjust the intensity of light entering through the cracks of bamboo cubicles.

"Aww-www." Grimacing, holding the head when the pain whack.

Where am I? That was the first question I asked as I looked around and realized I was in someone else's house.

Trying to remember. The last thing I saw was a mirror-shaped halo of light. The more I tried to remember the more pain that hit my head.

Am I dreaming?

I pat, I pinched, cheeks and skin of my hands hoping this is all a dream. But all I think is pain.

Is this real?

Boost. No. gabe. This must be a dream.

"Aww-www." My cheek hurts, how many times have I pinched it as well? It must have been red.

"LAILO." There was a voice of a woman calling from outside.

Hurry up, I dangle my foot from the bed. But as I was about to step up, my legs were tripped by the skirt I was wearing.

Gawking. When do I wear a kebaya?

The open-air curtains feature the figure of a mother.

"Darkl? Essunogatti." (What are you doing? Get out quick)

I'll stand up soon. Takes Mom from behind. I'd like to ask, but I'll pry. Maybe later, just wait for the right time.

The mother stopped in front of the fireplace.

I crouched down beside him, watching him cook using a fire stove while blowing the fire using bamboo binoculars.

"Huh?"

"That's where the laundry's been piled up." He pointed at the wicker basket that was in the corner of the back door lip. I'm standing up. Taking laundry.

Scratching the nape confused. Now where do I wash my clothes?

Mom's clucking." Why just shut up?"

"I don't know where to wash these clothes?"

Looks like a frown on his forehead."Now wash your face first, it looks like you're still sleepy."

The mother told me that the laundry must be washed in the river.

"Where are you going?" he asked when he saw me about to step into the front room.

"You take the veil first." No way, I'm going out of the house without closing the aurat.

Clucked. Growled. When checking the wardrobe and not finding a hijab there, there are only a few long scarves dangling.

"Mom, I go wash first. Assalamu'alaikum." She looked astonished at my attitude, she followed my steps to the door.

I carved a friendly smile as I passed by some of the locals. Just like Mom earlier her face hinted at a question mark.

Some of the women who were washing looked at me in wonder.

I looked at my appearance. Is something wrong?

"Are you going to take a shower wearing a veil?"

"You asked me?" The women nodded.

Oh, now that I understand, it turns out that my appearance makes them look astonished when they look at me.

"Yes," I answered briefly as I began the activity of washing clothes. Rubbing clothes with hands that have been covered with laundry soap.

"When did you wear a veil? Yesterday you didn't wear it."

"Since this day."

"But why? Is it because you broke up?"

I frowned at me. Breaking love?

"No, since when did I break up?"

They throw one another a glance.

"Aren't you the one who ran amok at Zainuddin and Romlah's wedding yesterday?"

I'm made gawking. Yesterday? Yesterday I was still in my world. Not in the middle of nowhere.

I don't know, I don't want to get dizzy. Now I just want to find out what really happened to me and why am I here?

****

"Laila, you're not sick, are you, son?" ask her while touching my forehead.

I nodded and said I was okay.

"What's wrong, Mom?"

The man who was sitting while drinking black coffee was choking on his own drink.

He looked at me in wonder." Since when did Mama's call turn into Mama's?"

I coughed up my chin that wasn't itchy. When he was about to answer suddenly a rowdy sound came from the yard of the house.

"Why, Mom, Ma?" ask the woman standing at the door.

"Siti's son is dead."

"Innalilahi wainnailaihi Rojiun."

The mother told me to stay home, and don't wander around.

"Lock the door and don't open it, if it's not Dad or Mama coming home."

Nodding obediently and quickly I closed the door of the house.

Now what am I supposed to do? How can I get back into my world again?