Whispers Beneath the Morning Breeze

That morning, Lucy felt slightly lighter than in previous days. Although her heart was still filled with regret and worry about her uncontrollable powers, she sensed something different within herself. A faint glimmer of hope seemed to seep in slowly, even if just a little, since learning the spells in the book.

As she stepped out of her room, the fresh morning air greeted her. There were no bustling sounds from outside, only the soft whispers of the wind through the leaves.

Uncle Wiryo was nowhere to be seen in the house. he was likely out visiting the villagers to provide spiritual guidance. Meanwhile, Aunty Rati was busy tidying up the house. Then Lucy decided to take a short walk to the backyard garden.

When she arrived there, she saw a man standing under a large tree, his posture straight and his aura calm. He seemed familiar somehow, although Lucy was certain she had never met him before.

"Good morning," the man greeted in a deep yet composed voice.

Lucy stopped in her tracks, surprised and unsure of what to do. No one else ever came to the house apart from Uncle Wiryo and Aunty Rati. The man, with his simple yet elegant appearance, made Lucy feel a little uneasy. Her curiosity, however, was piqued.

"Uh, good morning," Lucy replied hesitantly, lowering her gaze slightly. Although she didn't know who he was, there was something about him that felt different, carrying an energy so serene that it seemed to bring a sense of peace.

"Hey there, I'm Malik," the man introduced himself with a warm smile. That smile brought a strange sense of comfort to Lucy. "I came to see Mr. Wiryo. I heard he could give me some guidance on a problem I'm dealing with."

Lucy nodded slowly. "Oh… Uncle Wiryo isn't home right now. Maybe you can wait for him, or, umm, if there's something I can help with…"

Malik looked at Lucy intently, as though searching for something within her.

"Alright then, maybe while I wait for him, would you mind keeping me company for a little walk?" he offered.

Lucy felt awkward. Since coming to Indonesia, she rarely interacted with others, let alone someone who exuded such calmness and attentiveness. The fear of hurting others like she had in the past, or the judgmental looks from the locals, always kept her distant from people. But there was something different about Malik. There was a tranquility about him, something that made her feel slightly at ease.

"Alright," she finally said, though with some hesitation.

They strolled along the path that cut through the backyard garden. Fresh air flowed between them, and the only sound around was the chirping of small birds. Lucy felt a little more relaxed, although her mind still replayed Pak Wiryo's words and the dark visions that haunted her.

Malik broke the silence first. "You're feeling pretty weighed down, aren't you?" he said softly, as if he understood what Lucy was going through.

Lucy looked at Malik, startled.

"What do you mean?" she asked cautiously, not wanting to reveal too much to someone she'd just met.

Malik smiled faintly. "Sometimes, we can sense things that words can't fully explain. There's something about you that's... well, different."

Lucy felt a chill run through her at his words. How could he sense it? She had tried so hard to hide the power within her.

"What are you trying to say?" Lucy asked, attempting to sound as calm as possible.

Malik paused, his gaze serious. "I don't want to make you uneasy, but I can feel… a powerful energy around you. There's something unique about you, something I can't quite explain. And I think you know what I mean."

Lucy froze. Malik's words hit too close to home, but she couldn't bring herself to explain everything. "I don't know what you're talking about, Malik. I'm just… a ordinary woman."

Malik nodded slowly, as if he understood, even though he knew there was more beneath her words. "It's not easy, is it? Living while hiding something so immense within you. But trust me, Lucy, there's nothing wrong with you. Everyone has strength within themselves, even if they don't realize it."

But Lucy felt more confused than ever. Did Malik truly know about her powers? What made him so certain?

They continued their walk, and Lucy sensed something unusual. Beside her, Malik seemed like someone she could trust. The atmosphere around them felt calmer, more peaceful. There was a kind of protection in his presence, something almost unexplainable.

After walking for a while, they finally returned to the house. Malik expressed his gratitude sincerely, and without another word, he left, leaving Lucy standing there with her thoughts racing.

****

Later, after having lunch with Uncle Wiryo, Lucy decided to walk back to the backyard garden, hoping to find a moment of peace. But when she arrived at the same spot where she and Malik had first talked, she saw the man sitting under the large tree, as if waiting for her.

Seeing Malik there, Lucy felt slightly awkward, but an unexplainable sense of curiosity and attraction drew her closer.

"Malik?" Lucy greeted softly, her voice tinged with hesitation.

Malik looked up and smiled warmly. "Oh, Lucy. Glad to see you again."

Lucy stopped a few steps away from where Malik sat. "What are you doing here? Are you waiting for Uncle Wiryo again? You can come inside....he's home now."

Malik leaned back against the tree trunk, his sharp eyes focused on Lucy with quiet intensity. "I just feel like there's something unfinished between us. Something we need to talk about," he said, his voice low and steady.

Lucy's heart pounded in her chest. There was something strange about Malik's demeanor, as if he knew something she hadn't told him. "What do you mean? What do we need to talk about?"

Malik took a deep breath before speaking. "Lucy, I want you to know I didn't come here just to see Mr. Wiryo. I came because I felt something incredibly strong within you. It's like your energy called out to me."

Lucy stood frozen, staring at Malik in confusion. "I don't understand what you're saying. I'm just an ordinary person."

Malik chuckled softly, but the sound was like a whisper carried by the wind, touching something deep within her. "No one is truly ordinary, Lucy. The power you carry isn't something that can be hidden so easily. I can feel it, even if you try to bury it."

Malik fell silent for a moment, his eyes gazing into the horizon, as if searching for answers within himself. "Because I know what it feels like to be trapped by a power you don't understand. I've been where you are... isolated and afraid of what's inside me. But eventually, I learned that we can't run away from who we're meant to be."

Lucy felt a strange resonance with Malik's words, something that reminded her of the loneliness she had always felt. At the same time, there was something comforting about him.. something she couldn't quite explain.

They sat together under the large tree, talking more about the powers Malik possessed and the experiences that had taught him how to control them. During their conversation, Lucy felt a connection growing between them... not just a bond between two ordinary people, but between two souls that truly understood each other.

After some time, they parted ways. Malik walked away from the garden, while Lucy remained there, lost in thought. Though their meeting felt like the beginning of something, many questions still lingered in her mind. What was Malik hiding? Why was he so drawn to her? And most importantly, what was going to happen next in her life, which now seemed more shrouded in mystery than ever?