The aroma of fried rice from the kitchen pierced Naufal's senses. The distinctive fragrance of Adelia's carefully selected spice blend had managed to wake him from a deep sleep.
Tuesdays always felt heavy to Naufal. Not because of the workload piling up at the office, but because of the burden on his mind that haunted him at the start of every week.
Still, the aroma of fried rice eased that burden a little. At least he could fill his stomach with a delicious meal before facing the long day ahead.
Naufal hurried to the bathroom to freshen up, then put on the black shirt his mother had prepared. He glanced at the wall clock.
6:30 a.m.
There was still time before he had to leave for the office.
At the dining table, Akhzam was already sitting neatly in his clean school uniform. His face brightened when Naufal approached. A plate containing fried rice that was almost gone sat in front of him.
“Older brother,” Akhzam greeted him with a wide smile. His mouth was still full of fried rice.
“Wow, little brother, are you almost finished with breakfast?” Naufal asked as he pulled out a chair and sat beside him.
“Yeah. Mom's fried rice is so good!” Akhzam replied, giving him a thumbs-up.
Naufal smiled. He knew exactly how delicious his mother's fried rice was. Its distinctive spice aroma, combined with a savory flavor and a hint of sweetness, always made it hard for him to stop eating.
He picked up a plate and spoon, then began eating the still-warm fried rice. The first bite immediately awakened his appetite.
“Mom's fried rice really is one of a kind!” Naufal praised.
“Thank goodness you both always like it,” Adelia replied.
“Older brother, I have a math test today,” Akhzam said suddenly. His voice sounded anxious.
Naufal's spoon stopped in midair.
“A math test?”
“Yeah. Addition and subtraction. I still get a little confused by word problems,” Akhzam answered.
Naufal set down his spoon. He immediately turned his attention to his little brother.
“How about we review a little before you leave for school? Maybe I can help.”
Akhzam nodded eagerly.
“Really, older brother? Thank you!”
After breakfast, Naufal and Akhzam sat in the living room. Naufal took his little brother's math textbook and patiently began explaining addition and subtraction.
He used simple language and several objects around them as examples. Akhzam furrowed his brow from time to time, but Naufal didn't rush him. He repeated his explanations until his little brother truly understood.
“If you add three apples to two apples, how many do you have?” Naufal asked.
“Five.”
“Good. What if you eat two of the five apples?”
“Three.”
“Exactly. That's how you solve word problems. Read slowly, then figure out what the question is asking.”
“Thanks, older brother. I understand it better now,” Akhzam said with a relieved smile.
“You're welcome, little brother. The important thing is that you keep trying. Don't be afraid to ask if you don't understand.”
Naufal affectionately ruffled his little brother's hair.
At 7:00 a.m., Akhzam was ready to leave for school.
“I'll take him, Mom. I can head to the office afterward,” Naufal said.
“Be careful,” Adelia warned. “Are you coming home later or not?”
“We'll see, Mom. We're leaving now.”
“Bye, Mom!”
Akhzam waved, then followed Naufal out of the house.
They quickly headed for the car. After fastening their seat belts, Naufal started the engine.
His phone rang.
Aretha's name appeared on the screen.
Naufal's heart immediately began beating faster. His instincts told him this call was not about ordinary news.
He glanced briefly at Akhzam, then answered.
“Hello, Retha?”
“Brother Naufal, we've received important information!” Aretha's voice sounded panicked and breathless. “Dion, our primary target, is going to make a major deal this morning at the abandoned shop-house that used to be Fruity Mart. We need backup immediately. They're heavily armed!”
Naufal straightened at once.
“Retha, make sure that information has been verified. Where exactly is the location?”
“Jalan Garuda Sakti, past the traffic-light intersection. There's a row of empty shop-houses. The former Fruity Mart is the fourth shop-house past the intersection.”
Jalan Garuda Sakti.
Naufal knew the area.
Akhzam's school was not far from there.
It felt as if the blood had stopped flowing through his veins.
“Retha, that's very close to Akhzam's school.”
“I know, brother. That's why I called you. I'm already at the location, watching from a distance. There are quite a lot of them.”
“Don't do anything until the backup team arrives.”
“Brother, they're starting to move.”
“What?”
“Several people just came out of the shop-house. They're checking the street. It looks like they've realized something suspicious is going on.”
Naufal pressed down on the gas pedal.
“Where are you?”
“Behind a small food stall near the shop-house. The building is nearly collapsing. I'm hiding behind a wall—”
The sound of something falling came from the other end of the call.
Then came the sound of footsteps.
Aretha held her breath.
“Retha?”
“Brother…”
Her voice had dropped to a whisper.
“Two people are approaching. They're carrying weapons.”
Naufal tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
“Don't move. Put your phone on silent. We're coming.”
“Brother, if I don't—”
“Don't talk like that. Hold on.”
The call disconnected.
Naufal stared at the road ahead. Beside him, Akhzam watched his older brother's expression change.
“What's wrong, brother?”
Naufal tried to smile, even as his mind began filling with the worst possibilities.
“Nothing. I just need to get you to school faster.”
He contacted the command center through a special channel.
“Garuda Unit, this is Naufal. Target Dion is going to conduct a drug transaction at the former Fruity Mart shop-house on Jalan Garuda Sakti. The location is near an elementary school. The school security team needs to be mobilized immediately. Don't let any civilians approach the area.”
A voice on the other end responded quickly.
“Received. Backup team is moving.”
Naufal ended the call, then contacted Dimas.
“Dimas, deploy the armed team. First priority: evacuate and secure the civilians. Second priority: rescue Aretha. Don't let a single suspect escape toward the school.”
“Yes, brother. We're heading there now.”
Naufal then contacted the school staff.
There was no answer.
He tried again.
Still no one picked up.
His jaw tightened.
“Brother?” Akhzam looked at him.
“We'll be there soon.”
Naufal pressed harder on the gas pedal.
A few minutes later, he turned the car toward the school. He got out without turning off the engine, then walked Akhzam to the gate.
“Good morning, Mr. Diki,” Akhzam greeted him.
“Oh, Akhzam was brought by Brother Naufal?” The security guard smiled warmly.
Naufal crouched in front of his little brother.
“Azam, listen to me. Don't leave the school until Mom or I come to pick you up. If you hear a loud noise, stay inside your classroom and follow your teacher's instructions.”
Akhzam nodded.
“Why, brother?”
“It's nothing. I just want you to be careful.”
Naufal patted his little brother's shoulder, then stood.
“Take care of Azam, Mr. Diki. I have to get to the office right away.”
“Yes, brother.”
Naufal got back into the car and sped toward Jalan Garuda Sakti.
Before he reached the location, the sound of gunfire echoed from the distance.
One shot.
Two.
Then a burst of gunfire followed.
Naufal felt the back of his neck tense.
The shootout had begun.
He parked several dozen meters from the shop-houses. The backup team was already there. Several members were taking cover behind vehicles, while others moved along the sides of the buildings, sweeping the area.
Smoke billowed from one of the shop-houses.
Shouts mingled with the sound of gunfire bouncing between the walls of the old buildings.
“Dion is inside!” Dimas shouted. “They're holding one of our members behind the food stall!”
“Aretha?” Naufal asked.
“Not in sight yet!”
Naufal ducked as a bullet struck the concrete pillar near him. Cement fragments sprayed across his shoulder.
“All units, hold your positions!” he ordered over the radio. “Don't advance without cover!”
Two suspects ran from behind the shop-house with weapons in their hands. They tried to find an opening toward a narrow alley leading to the back street—a street that could also take them closer to the school.
“Don't let them into the alley!” Naufal shouted.
Dimas and two other officers moved to the left. Naufal took cover behind a parked car, watching the suspects' movements.
One of the suspects fired wildly.
The gunshots shook the air again.
Naufal returned fire with carefully aimed shots. The man's weapon flew from his hand. He fell flat and was immediately secured by the other officers.
The second suspect turned and ran toward the nearly collapsed food stall.
Naufal saw something move behind the rubble.
Aretha.
She was lying on the ground with one hand pressed against her shoulder. Blood soaked her shirt. Above her, part of the stall's roof was on the verge of collapsing.
“Retha!”
Naufal ran forward in a crouch.
“Wait, brother!” Dimas shouted. “There's a shooter on the second floor!”
A bullet struck the ground just a few inches from Naufal's foot.
He threw himself behind a pile of bricks. His breath came fast.
Aretha lifted her face.
“Brother… don't come over here.”
“Be quiet and stay conscious.”
“The shooter is upstairs… Dion is still inside.”
“I'll get you out.”
“Don't leave your position. I can still—”
“Retha, listen to me!”
Naufal took off his bulletproof vest and crawled toward Aretha, keeping his body as low as possible. Another burst of gunfire rang out. Dust flew around them.
He grabbed Aretha's hand and pulled her behind cover.
Aretha grimaced.
“Your shoulder?”
“Yes. The bullet may have only grazed me.”
“Apply pressure.”
Naufal tore fabric from the bottom of his shirt, then pressed it firmly against Aretha's wound.
“Ow…”
“Sorry. If I don't apply pressure, you'll lose more blood.”
“Brother… Dion…”
“The others are chasing him.”
Dimas's shout came from the direction of the shop-house.
“Dion just came out the back door!”
Naufal turned.
Dion was running with a weapon in his hand. He carried a black bag that looked heavy in his other hand. He was trying to reach the narrow alley behind the shop-house.
Naufal looked at Aretha.
“Stay here.”
“Don't—”
But Naufal was already moving.
He ran from behind the rubble toward the alley. Dion turned and fired immediately. Naufal threw himself to the side. The bullet struck the wall behind him.
Dion kept running.
“Stop!” Naufal shouted.
Dion ignored the order. Instead, he raised his weapon and aimed toward the main road.
In the distance, several vehicles had stopped. Civilians were beginning to get out to see what was happening.
If Dion fired at them, civilian casualties would be unavoidable.
Naufal didn't have much time.
“Drop your weapon!”
Dion turned and gave him a crooked smile.
“You cops are always too late.”
He aimed his weapon at the civilians.
Naufal fired first.
Dion staggered. His weapon fell away, while the black bag dropped onto the asphalt. He collapsed before he could reach the main road.
Dimas and the other officers immediately secured him.
“Dion has been taken down!” Dimas shouted.
A small explosion came from inside the shop-house. Black smoke poured through a shattered window.
“Everyone fall back!” Naufal shouted. “Check whether anyone is still inside!”
Several officers moved in carefully. They found two more suspects hiding in a back room, along with several packages of drugs stored in wooden crates.
After making sure there were no other threats, Naufal returned to Aretha.
The woman looked increasingly pale.
“Retha, stay conscious.”
“I haven't passed out, brother.”
“Good. Keep talking.”
“Brother Naufal…”
“What?”
“Is Akhzam's school safe?”
Naufal fell silent for a moment.
“It is. He's already inside the school.”
Aretha gave him a faint smile.
“Thank goodness.”
“Don't talk too much.”
“Did you come because of that school?”
“I came because everyone needed to be saved. Including you.”
Naufal carefully lifted Aretha into his arms.
Aretha groaned, but didn't resist. Blood began seeping through the makeshift bandage on her shoulder again.
“Naufal,” Dimas called.
“What?”
“The ambulance is here.”
Naufal carried Aretha toward the ambulance. Every step felt heavy because he could feel the woman's weakening breaths.
“Stay calm, Retha. Everything's going to be okay,” he whispered.
“Don't lie to me, brother.”
Naufal looked at her.
“I'm not lying.”
“You look scared.”
Naufal didn't answer.
For the first time that day, Aretha had managed to leave him speechless.
He handed Aretha over to the paramedics, then made sure the ambulance doors were closed. The siren soon wailed as it carried Aretha to the hospital.
Naufal turned toward Dimas, who was standing not far away. Behind him, Razak and several team members were still examining the evidence.
The dealers were gathered together, sitting with their hands cuffed. Several armed unit members stood guard over them, alert and watchful.
“Let us handle things here, sir,” Dimas said, seemingly understanding that Naufal wanted to follow the ambulance to make sure Aretha was all right.
Naufal nodded.
“Okay. Let me know once you get back to the office.”
“Come on, Wisnu.”
“Yes!”
The young man, who appeared to be in his early twenties, quickly followed Naufal into the car.
That day became another unforgettable entry in Naufal's life.
Inside the car, silence settled over them for a while. The only sounds were the hum of the engine and their still slightly hurried breathing.
“Brother, Aretha's going to be okay, right?” Wisnu asked softly.
Naufal drew a deep breath. His eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, but his thoughts were still stuck on the blood soaking Aretha's shoulder.
“We did everything we could. Now all we can do is wait for the doctor to treat her. She's strong.”
Wisnu nodded, though worry still lingered on his face.
“She was the only one brave enough to go in first, even though she knew the risks.”
Naufal clenched his jaw.
“That's how she is. She never does anything halfway. Because of her courage, we were able to take Dion down today.”
“I still can't get over it. Akhzam's school was so close to the raid site. If we'd been even a little late…”
“Don't think about ‘if,’” Naufal cut him off. His voice was firm but not angry. “We got there in time. We prevented the worst-case scenario. Focus on that.”
Wisnu was silent for a moment, then nodded resolutely.
“Brother…”
“Hmm?”
“Can I be honest?”
“Sure.”
“Earlier, when I saw you carrying Ms. Aretha to the ambulance, I realized I still have a lot to learn. Not just tactics and how to shoot, but courage, decision-making, and humanity, too.”
Naufal glanced at him. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“If you've reached that realization, then you're already one step ahead, Nu.”
The car continued toward the hospital.
In the distance, the sound of the ambulance siren still drifted faintly, as if accompanying their journey—not only toward the place where Aretha was being treated, but also toward a new chapter in their lives as guardians of the nation, with every risk ahead of them.