The morning greeted again, the sky was so spacious with its single color, almost entirely blue if only a few small splashes of white clouds were not present to complete it. But that is not a guarantee that the whole day will always be sunny, because storms can come at any time without predicting.
The condition of the morning sky was the same as yesterday, but not a day with the same feeling for Abdul. The beautiful and cool atmosphere between the views of the vast rice fields and the green hills was not seen again this morning. It might not even be there the next morning. Now all that can be seen is the chaotic streets of a small town. The green color of rice fields and plantations in his eyes no longer exists.
Abdul walked into the Bus Terminal. Bumiayu is a small town located about six kilometers from the village of Kali Gintung. In this city there is the only Bus Terminal which is always busy every day. Indeed, the atmosphere of the city is chaotic and hot, but this small town has places that are no less developed than other big cities.
Abdul's appearance this time is a little more modern. Wearing black shoes and a gray backpack both of which were worn from last year's school. While the clothes he used were jeans with holes in the knees, and a red shirt covered with a brown jacket with a zipper that was accidentally opened. The reason for this different appearance was of course because he would be traveling a long way.
Her fresh appearance was in stark contrast to her withered expression, for indeed her heart was in a state of chaos. He had to make a very tough choice for him, which was to leave the house.
Not intending to run away from responsibility, but rather his inability to see the sadness of his parents because of his own careless actions.
Even so sure of his choice, but he didn't know where to go. The only place name that popped into his head was Jakarta. Because that's where the main goal of most people to migrate.
Several times he had to ask people around the terminal to find his destination bus. But what happened was that the bus agents who came to him at the same time wanted to offer bus tickets. They ask questions that are all the same as; "Where are you going, bro?", or "What bus are you looking for?", and are always asked over and over again. It has become a tradition for bus agents to offer buses from their respective companies aggressively and consecutively.
Between innocent or wise, Abdul chose the bus from the first agent who offered it. But when he got on the bus, when the bus officer asked for the fare, he was very surprised because the price he had to pay was more expensive than he expected.
Actually the rates are general and reasonable, it's just that Abdul doesn't know anything about the prices. Naturally, this was the second time he had boarded the bus. He used to take the bus once, which was when he took a neighbor to the airport to go on a pilgrimage.
***
In the half of the bus journey, Abdul noticed someone sitting left side from him who had not said a word for a long time. The person who looked to be around the age of 30's maybe, a very chaotic appearance. His long hair but not very neat, and his shabby clothes attracted his attention even more.
That person was always silent, even when the bus clerk asked for money, he just gave it without looking and without saying, his eyes were blank like someone who was very frustrated.
Abdul understands very well, the feelings he is experiencing right now have made him confused, but he will not allow his mind to be so frustrated that he forgets his own physical condition.
Abdul is a person who really cares about other people's circumstances, his heart is very sensitive, often he prefers to give in when there is a conflict with someone. His concern did not make him always have to know the problems experienced by other people, but this time his curiosity was much higher than his concern.
"Where are you going, sir?" asked Abdul to open the conversation.
"I don't know either," replied the man who was still blankly looking ahead.
"Excuse me, sir, what's your name?" asked Abdul again.
"Jay," the man replied, this time glancing slightly at Abdul.
"Is there a serious problem, Sir? You've been quiet and daydreaming," Abdul asked trying warmly.
"You can't always draw conclusions just by looking with your eyes," said Jay, staring blankly ahead.
"Sorry, sir!" Abdul felt uncomfortable.
"But I can tell when you're in a state of chaos without even having to look at you," Jay responded firmly.
"How did you know?" asked Abdul lightly surprised.
Jay then grabbed Abdul's shoulder.
Before the conversation could continue, suddenly there was a hysterical scream from the bus passengers. Abdul was confused about what really happened.
"Braaaaakkkkk.....!"
A truck from the opposite direction hit the bus Abdul was riding as it passed the winding road. The impact was so hard that it immediately pushed the bus back and then fell into a 20-meters-high cliff at the bottom of a lake. The bus rolled over and fell into the lake.
The depth of the lake is enough to submerge the entire body of the bus, the passengers' panic is getting worse even without a sound. Because, no one will be able to scream while in the water. It seemed like this was the end of their lives.
But Abdul did not give up, he then tried to quickly get out through the emergency exit. His hand grabbed the doorknob and opened it. Immediately he swam to the surface with a feeling of panic.
Bring him to the surface. He tried to take as many breaths as possible before then continued swimming to land. Abdul was really scared, and thankfully finally survived the accident. Arriving on land, he turned his head towards the surface of the water where the bus had fallen.
No other passengers surfaced. It seemed certain that he was the only survivor. All he saw was the surface of the water that looked calm and normal as if nothing had touched him except for the tiny waves left over from his own swimming movements.
Abdul was confused by what he saw. It should have left the fall of a bus as big as it made a foamy bubble on the surface of the lake. And also no sign of scratch marks between the cliff walls lined with shrubs and vines. Even though the fall of the bus had rolled over to touch the cliff wall first.
He looked around the lake, there were many large trees. The forest is lush and dense like it has never been touched by humans. Actually this place is very beautiful, but fear changed his judgment about this place, he has started to think about bad things.
Suddenly from a distance there was the sound of footsteps and the neighing of a horse, the sound was getting closer and made Abdul's heart even more frightened. Abdul closed his eyes not wanting to see anything.
He turned his body in the opposite direction from the source of the sound. Closer and closer until at last the sound of the horse's footsteps stopped. Just stopped not far behind him.
"Hey, who are you?" snapped someone who was still unknown.
Abdul turned his head and found a dashing man, dressed in a classic style as he often saw at the 17 August carnival in his village.
It turned out that the horse had been riding. Abdul was stunned and didn't say anything.
The horseman drew his sword from its scabbard and pointed it at Abdul.
"I ask you again, who are you? The horse rider continued.
"I am Abdul," Abdul replied stammering.
"Where are you from? and what are you doing here?" asked the horseman with another snarl.
"I just had a bus accident, and the bus I was in had entered the lake," Abdul replied.
"Bus? what is a bus?" the man asked suspiciously.
Abdul is getting confused and feels really bad. What kind of nature is this? Who is this creature? even the bus doesn't know.
***