Ever since what happened at the abandoned house yesterday, Sendi couldn't seem to settle down.
Usually, when he woke up in the morning, the first things he thought about were breakfast, school, or how to avoid getting scolded by Mom for being late. But today was different.
There was only one thing on his mind.
That abandoned house.
Who was inside?
Sendi sat at the dining table, stirring his fried rice without any real intention of eating.
“Sendi.”
“Hm?”
“Are you eating or playing with your food?” Mom asked.
Sendi only just realized that his spoon had been going around and around his plate.
“Eating, Mom.”
“You've been at it for five minutes and have only taken two bites.”
Sendi gave a small smile.
“I'm thinking.”
“Thinking about what? You forgot how to eat rice?”
Sendi almost told her about the abandoned house, but he changed his mind.
If he told her, Mom would definitely forbid him from going near the place again.
“It's a secret.”
Mom raised an eyebrow.
“Well, look at you. Little kids have secrets now.”
“It's not a big secret.”
“If it's not a big secret, why do you look so serious?”
Sendi didn't answer.
He quickly finished breakfast, then stood up.
“I'm heading out, Mom.”
“Your lunch?”
Sendi stopped.
“Forgot again.”
Mom just chuckled as she handed him his lunch box.
“If you ever leave your head behind someday, don't be surprised.”
Sendi laughed.
“You're too much, Mom.”
He put on his shoes and left the house.
But this time, he didn't head straight to school.
Sendi stopped at the end of the street.
His eyes turned toward the narrow alley where the abandoned house stood.
“I just want to take a quick look,” he muttered.
But after only a few steps, someone tapped him on the shoulder.
“What are you spacing out for?”
Sendi jumped.
“Joko!”
Joko stood there with a piece of bread in his hand.
“I've been watching you stand there like a statue.”
“I'm not doing anything.”
“Liar.”
Sendi fell silent.
Joko took a bite of his bread.
“It must be about that house.”
Sendi immediately looked at him.
“How'd you know?”
“Because your face is easy to read.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
Sendi slipped his hands into his pants pockets.
“I'm just curious.”
“Curious about trouble.”
“Not necessarily.”
“An abandoned house, weird noises, and a story from Nisa. What do you think that is?”
Sendi thought for a moment.
“An adventure.”
Joko nearly choked.
“What kind of adventure? We're school kids, not movie characters.”
“That's what makes it fun.”
“Fun for you. I'll be the one freaking out later.”
Sendi laughed.
The two of them finally walked to school together.
In class, Sendi tried to focus on his lessons. But every time the teacher explained something, his thoughts drifted back to the house.
The house.
The closed door.
The voice from inside.
And Nisa's words from yesterday.
The person didn't leave because they moved away.
“Sendi.”
Sendi jerked upright.
“Yes, sir?”
Mr. Arman stood beside his desk.
“Do you know what I'm explaining?”
Sendi looked at the blackboard.
Silence.
His classmates began to snicker.
“I forgot, sir.”
Mr. Arman sighed.
“Your body is sitting in class, but your mind is off wandering somewhere.”
Sendi gave an embarrassed smile.
“Yes, sir.”
After the teacher returned to the front of the room, Raka, who sat behind Sendi, tapped his desk.
“Still thinking about that house?”
Sendi turned around.
“Yeah.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
Raka shook his head.
“You're not scared?”
“I am.”
“Then why are you still curious?”
Sendi shrugged.
“Because if I don't know the answer, I'll keep thinking about it.”
Raka fell silent.
Maybe he was beginning to understand why Sendi couldn't let it go.
Sendi wasn't looking for trouble.
He just didn't like unanswered questions.
At recess, Nisa came over again.
This time, she looked more serious.
“Are you guys still talking about that house?”
Sendi nodded.
“You know something, don't you?”
Nisa was silent.
“Just tell us.”
“Not everything needs to be investigated.”
“But I saw it myself.”
Nisa stared at Sendi.
“You went inside that house?”
“Just the yard.”
“Sendi.”
Her tone changed.
“What?”
“Don't do it again.”
Sendi and Raka looked at each other.
“Why?”
Nisa sat down.
“There used to be a kid who was curious about that house too.”
“And then?”
“He went inside.”
“And?”
Nisa lowered her head.
“After that, he never wanted to talk about it again.”
Sendi furrowed his brow.
“What do you mean?”
“He changed.”
The mood suddenly fell silent.
Joko, who had just arrived with a drink, immediately sat down with them.
“Changed how?”
Nisa took a breath.
“He used to be a really talkative kid. Always joking around. But after that happened, he became quiet.”
Sendi stared at the table.
“Because he was scared?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
Nisa nodded.
“Because even now, he still hasn't explained what he actually saw.”
Sendi grew even more curious.
“Who was this kid?”
Nisa didn't answer right away.
“His name was Dimas.”
Raka searched his memory.
“Dimas? The older student from back then?”
Nisa nodded.
“Yeah.”
Sendi looked at Raka.
“You know him?”
“I just know his name.”
“Where is he now?”
Nisa looked toward the window.
“He moved away.”
That answer left Sendi even quieter.
The more stories he heard, the more questions appeared.
After school, Sendi didn't go straight home.
He stood in front of the narrow alley leading to the abandoned house.
Joko walked behind him.
“Don't tell me we're going there.”
Sendi smiled.
“We?”
Joko pointed at himself.
“Yeah, because if I go home now, I'll be thinking about it too.”
Raka eventually showed up as well.
“I knew you guys would come here.”
Sendi flashed a wide smile.
“Then there are three of us.”
“Don't get excited yet,” Raka said. “We're just looking from outside.”
“Deal.”
The three of them walked slowly forward.
The house was still the same.
Silent.
Its walls were covered in faded paint.
Its windows were shut.
There was no sign that anyone lived there.
Sendi stood in front of the gate.
“Strange.”
“What?” Joko asked.
“Yesterday, I heard a voice from inside.”
Raka looked at the house.
“Maybe it was a rat.”
Sendi shook his head.
“That voice was different.”
The three of them fell silent.
Suddenly...
Creeeak.
The sound came again.
Just like yesterday.
Sendi's eyes went wide.
“You guys heard that?”
Joko slowly nodded.
“Yeah.”
Raka took a step back.
“Now I believe you.”
Sendi stared at the door of the house.
This time, he wasn't the only one who had heard it.
There was something in there.
And the three of them had just discovered that the abandoned house might not really be empty.