Secret Denis
Twenty-six

Night crawled to his heart. Mr. Mijan's house seemed to be quiet from the noise last afternoon. The children of Mr. Mijan have returned to their homes. Almost everyone in the house is asleep. Except one guy.

Denis is still sitting in the seat at the back of Mr. Mijan's house.

"Why not sleep?" Alex's voice shocked Denis. He looked a little, although he was actually very surprised.

"Not sleepy." Answer Denis briefly. Alex sat down next to Denis. His eyes looked at the sky that was sprinkled with stars. He suddenly recalled when he stared at a star as numerous as this one while staying in the valley with Darman. At that time he and Denis sat both staring at the stars. It's like de javu.

"You're still thinking about bang Theo?"

"Yes." Yeah." Denis took a slow breath.

"May she be okay." Muttered Alex.

Denis nodded. She hopes for the same thing Alex expects.

He borrowed Anwar's cell phone to call Theo's bang house number. He remembered the number was out of his head. Same with the phone number. If the phone bang Theo he is not poultice. So is the mobile number of Mbak Fani or Sisil's.

Disappointment should he swallow because no one picked up anyone's home phone. He tried repeatedly to call but in vain. Then he switched to calling the workshop. But again he had to be disappointed because only the busy tone he heard.

"How long are we gonna be here?" Alex asked as he stared at the moon peeking out from among the leaves.

"As far as you." Alex glanced at Denis with the corner of his eye. A few days ago he did not hear the word 'lo' 'gue'. Why are they showing up again?

Alex sighed and threw it away slowly. Close his hands together, holding the cold that felt piercing the skin.

"I want to go back to Jakarta. You want to accompany me?"

Denis did not immediately respond. He stood up and walked towards the waist-high wall fence. Put both his hands in his pants pocket.

"For a long time I didn't set foot there." Mumbled wailing.

"Don't you miss your family?" ask Alex.

"No." Answer Denis quickly.

Alex smiled flatly at Denis's reply. He shook his head as if he did not believe what Denis had said. But he didn't say anything. The silence was for some time.

"What are your plans if we go to Jakarta?" Denis asked without looking at Alex. The person asked did not immediately answer. He got up from his seat. Standing next to Denis' body.

This afternoon, after Denis failed to call Theo bang, Alex tried to call his house. After waiting for a while his phone picked up. The voice of her housekeeper was very familiar to her. But Alex immediately handed the phone to Denis to talk to his maid.

"Hallo. Sorry, who is this?" Tanya bi Rumi, the housekeeper of Alex's family, with her distinctive accent.

"I'm a friend of Alex's. Does he exist?" Denis's answer was followed by a pretend question.

"Lho.aden doesn't know that it's Alex.."

"Who's bi?"

Another voice paused when bi Rumi was about to answer Denis's question.

"This is Alex's friend.."

"Hallo..?

The sound across there has changed. Looks like this woman just took over the phone that is being held by bi Rumi. If you hear his voice, Denis can imagine that this woman is younger than bi Rumi and very careful with his words.

"Who are you?"

The woman across there is back to her voice. Denis glanced at Alex at a glance. The man was looking at her with curiosity.

"I'm a friend of Alex's. I just got back from England and wanted to meet Alex. Can I talk to him?" What an amazing acting. Alex held up his thumbs that Denis had not responded to at all.

"What's your name? Do I know you?"

Denis slightly scrunched his forehead. His brain quickly searched for a suitable name for him to mention to the woman across the street.

"If you can tell, who are you? Are you Alex's mother?" Just buy some time before finding the exact name he will mention.

"Yes. I'm Alex's mother."

"I.. David, aunt. College buddy Alex. Long time no see." Denis grinned faintly as he said that sentence.

"David?"

"Yes, aunt. Can I talk to Alex?"

"Have you not heard the news about Alex?:

The woman's voice sounded soft.

"News of what, auntie?"

"News about Alex..."

"He.he had an accident. And he's he's dead."

The woman across there sobbed. Weeping lamented Alex. Denis had to keep the flat object away from his ear because of the cries of his mother Alex who sounded roaring loudly.

And now, Alex is still speechless thinking about what he's going to do. Her mother was devastated when she got a call from a person claiming to be her son's friend. Heart worried. Does he have to talk to his mom and tell her he's actually alive? What would have happened if he had appeared after the news of his death that was publicly known? What would her mother respond if she knew the truth?

It is not only her mother who is considered if she raises herself after her eating event that is mourned by many people. There was one person he most wanted to see his expression if he came home later. The one who had pointed a gun at him brightly. Alex is very impatient to see the guy. But of course he could not carelessly meet that person. He did not even know what was behind the hospitality and affection that the person had shown all along. Whether he works alone or there are others behind him.

Alex still doesn't have a clue about it. He had to really set the pace. Do not let the opportunity given to him by God, while still giving him life to this day, will be wasted in vain. Right now, he had to find out first, who was the opponent and who was the comrade. Who should he believe in this moment?

*****

Early in the morning Mr. Mijan's house was back boisterous with the voice of Mariana who was in the kitchen with Darmini's mother. Cheerfulness permeates the whole house with its ceaseless chirping. Sometimes there is a sound of laughter from Darmini when Mariana says something funny.

"Mak'e will miss you so much after you return to Jakarta." Ms. Darmini rubbed the corner of her watery eyes from laughing too much.

"I'll miss Mak'e, too. You're so good with me, like my own mak'e." Mariana put her hand on the waist of Darmini's mother. Laying his head on Darmini's boat with spoiled.

"What is it that early in the morning?" Mr. Mijan entered the kitchen after doing his routine activities every morning. Especially if it is not taking care of pets in the backyard. The fish and chicken became his free time after he stopped working at the Denis family home.

"This is sir'e, Mariana is going back to Jakarta. Mak'e must be kangen with this kid who brought him no kelulungan." Ms. Darmini chuckled.

"When are you back in Jakarta?"

"Tomorrow. Now I want to say goodbye, I'm afraid I can't."

"Well, you're out in the sea. Especially you virgin. I have to take care of myself." Mr. Mijan spoke affectionately. Mariana was like a child to him. Besides because Mariana is the sister-in-law of Anwar, Mariana and her sister Marni, no longer have parents. They were living when Marni married Anwar. The presence of Mr. Mijan and Ms. Darmini, made the two brothers get the figure of parents they really miss. Moreover, the attitude of Mr. Mijan and Ms. Darmini who are very affectionate and already consider them as their own children.

"Excite." Mariana answered with great respect.

"Don't forget the hometown, yo nduk. Mak'e pray you get a soul mate soon. Let someone take care of you." Ms. Darmini gently rubbed Mariana's arm.

"Ih.what the hell mak'e. Boyfriend doesn't have mak'e either." Mariana glanced at Alex and Denis who had just come to the dining room. The two people immediately sat down at the dining table and joined the others.

"Mas Anwar isn't here, sir?" Ask Denis to Mr. Mijan.

"He works. He'll come here later in the afternoon."

Ms. Darmini serves breakfast to everyone. They then had breakfast while interspersed with small talk that showed the familiarity of Mr. Mijan's small family.

"So you want to go back to Jakarta?" ask Alex to Mariana.

"Yes. Tomorrow morning the subuhnya depart."

Alex glanced at Denis who was focusing on his food. His flat face made anyone reluctant to ask him to speak. Alexpun undoes his intention to convey what is in his heart. He returned to his breakfast in silence. Only occasionally raised his face to smile in response to the chatter of Mr. Mijan and Mariana.

After breakfast, they moved to the back porch. A favorite place for all family members to spend the day if bored at home. Mariana helped mom Darmini tidy up the dining table and washed the dishes of their used breakfast.

"I think soon I have to go back to Jakarta. Maybe tomorrow is the right time." Alex said as they sat in the back seat.

"Have Alex thought about Alex's decision?" Mijan looked at Alex.

"The longer I hide, the more uncontrollable that person becomes. I am very worried about my family. I know, they're definitely not okay."

Mr. Mijan sighed. His eyes were implying worry to the two young people before him at this moment. The attempted murder of Alex is a serious crime. The person who did it must have planned carefully and he is a very dangerous person. Moreover, he is a close person and confidant Alex and his family. Right now I don't know what else that guy is planning.

At least Alex knows for now his family is safe. But he doesn't know what the man's covert plan is so he can still be with his family. After what he did to Alex.

"Where will you live when you get there?" Ask mr. Mijan.

"We'll find a rented house there, sir. I don't want to take the risk of asking people I know for help. Let us hide from anyone who knows me."

Mr. Mijan mangosteen heard Alex's words.

"You can go there with Mariana. That's where he can find you a rented house."

"Yes. Maybe so much better." Alex agreed. He asked Denis opinion. And Denis agrees if they leave tomorrow and are with Mariana.

"Mothers are actually very happy if you guys linger here. But you understand, son Alex must immediately solve the problems that are being faced by son Alex. You can only say, you have to be careful there. Always beware of everyone you meet."

"Thank you sir. My father's message will always be remembered." Alex was polite. Although Mr. Mijan is a former worker at the Denis family home, it does not necessarily make Alex feel higher than the village man. It has become a trait of Alex who is famous for respecting others in the family environment and in his workplace. Moreover, this is a person who has helped him in the middle of his journey to uncover the facts hidden in his life.

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*****