Bima gripped the old metal key Farel had given him. The small object looked simple, but to him, it felt like the final piece of a long puzzle Arga had created.
Since morning, he hadn't been able to stop thinking about one thing.
What was Arga really hiding?
And why did everyone who knew that secret always choose to stay silent?
Dika sat beside Bima, watching his face.
“You’ve been staring at that key this whole time.”
Bima snapped back to reality.
“Yeah.”
“Don’t tell me you’re hoping it’ll suddenly start talking.”
Bima gave a small smile.
“Not quite.”
Dika laughed.
“Good. I was starting to worry you’d begun talking to objects.”
Rani, who was reading through the notes, smiled too.
“But I’m curious, too. What does that key open?”
Bima looked at Farel.
Farel, standing near the window, seemed deep in thought.
“There’s one place we haven’t been to yet.”
“What place?” Bima asked.
Farel answered quietly.
“Arga’s family’s old warehouse.”
Bima immediately fell silent.
“The warehouse near the river?”
Farel nodded.
“Arga used to keep something there.”
Dika sighed.
“Why are all secrets always hidden in creepy places?”
Rani looked at him.
“A regular warehouse isn’t creepy.”
“When there’s a family secret involved, I think it becomes creepy.”
Bima paid no attention to Dika’s joke.
His thoughts were fixed on the warehouse.
He’d heard about the place before.
Back then, the neighborhood kids were often forbidden from playing nearby because the building was old and no longer in use.
But Arga had taken him there a few times.
At the time, Bima had never thought the place was important.
“When are we going?” Bima asked.
Farel glanced at the clock.
“After school.”
Bima nodded.
That day seemed to pass incredibly slowly.
Every class felt longer than usual. Bima checked the wall clock several times, hoping the hours would pass faster.
When the dismissal bell rang, they immediately gathered in front of the school gate.
But before they could leave, Bima saw someone standing near the parking lot.
Galang.
The man was leaning against a motorcycle, watching them.
Dika noticed him right away.
“There he is again.”
Bima walked over.
“What do you want?”
Galang looked at Bima.
“I want to make sure you stop before it’s too late.”
Bima held back his anger.
“Why do you keep saying the same thing without explaining anything?”
Galang fell silent.
“I’ve already lost years because everyone chose to hide the truth.”
Galang’s expression changed.
“You think I don’t know what it feels like to lose someone?”
Bima was silent.
For a moment, Galang’s voice didn’t sound threatening.
He sounded like someone carrying wounds of his own.
“What exactly was your relationship with Arga?” Bima asked.
Galang looked toward Farel.
“He never told you everything?”
Farel took one step forward.
“Galang.”
But Galang ignored him.
“Arga used to be the person I trusted most.”
Bima was stunned.
“Then why are you after him?”
Galang gave a bitter smile.
“Because sometimes the person we trust most is the one who disappoints us the most.”
Silence fell over them.
Bima wanted to ask more, but Galang had already climbed onto his motorcycle.
Before leaving, he said,
“When you find out what’s inside that warehouse, you’ll know who’s really been lying.”
Galang’s motorcycle slowly disappeared down the road.
Dika stared after him.
“I’m even more confused now.”
Rani nodded.
“Me too.”
Bima looked at Farel.
“Do you know something about this?”
Farel remained silent for a long time.
“I know that Arga and Galang’s relationship isn’t as simple as you think.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Because it’s part of the past that Arga wanted you to learn about slowly, on your own.”
Bima sighed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Farel looked at him.
“I know you’re upset.”
“It’s more than that.”
Bima glanced at the bracelet on his wrist.
“I feel like I knew Arga, but it turns out I don’t know anything about his life.”
Farel fell silent.
“You knew Arga better than anyone.”
“Then why didn’t he trust me?”
Farel answered quietly.
“Because he trusted you too much.”
Bima didn’t reply.
They continued on toward Arga’s family’s old warehouse.
The place was some distance from the settlement.
The closer they got, the less often they heard passing vehicles.
At last, they arrived at an old building near the river.
Its walls were covered in moss.
The wooden door looked fragile.
Bima stood in front of the building.
“Arga brought me here once.”
Dika looked around.
“And you never suspected anything?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because back then, I just thought we were playing.”
Rani gave a small smile.
“Sometimes childhood really is that simple.”
Farel took out the key.
But before putting it into the lock, he stopped.
“There’s something you need to know.”
Bima looked at him.
“What?”
“Once this door is open, there may be no going back.”
Dika raised an eyebrow.
“That sounds like a door to another world.”
Farel didn’t smile.
“This isn’t a joke.”
Dika fell silent at once.
Bima took the key from Farel’s hand.
“I’ve come this far.”
He looked at the warehouse door.
“I’m not stopping now.”
Slowly, Bima inserted the key.
Click.
The door opened.
Stale air and dust immediately spilled out from inside.
They entered carefully.
The warehouse was filled with old things.
Wooden crates.
Old books.
Several rusted tools.
But in the middle of the room stood a small table.
On the table was a black box.
Bima walked toward it at once.
It bore the same symbol as before.
The symbol of friendship he and Arga had created together.
His hand touched the box.
There was writing on top.
“For Bima, who always keeps his promises.”
Bima held his breath.
Dika and Rani stood behind him.
Farel said nothing.
Bima opened the box.
Inside was one final letter.
But before he could take it, they heard something fall outside the warehouse.
They all turned.
Someone was outside.
Dika whispered,
“We have company.”
Bima gripped the letter.
Footsteps drew closer and closer.
Then the warehouse door, already open, began to move slowly.
Someone stood there.
And when the light from outside fell across the person’s face, Bima froze.
Because the person standing before them was someone he had never expected to appear.
Someone directly connected to Arga’s promise.
Bima’s mother.