KHADIJAH'S POV
AT SCHOOL
Ten days have passed since that incident. Since the fight that made the entire school freeze in fear. And since Mr. Satrio appeared like a dark shadow from Halim's past.
And now, it's 8:20 in the morning. Mrs. Salamah is explaining the Arabic lesson, but my mind isn't focused on the board at all. My eyes keep sneaking glances at Halim, who's sitting next to me.
Today, Halim isn't smiling like he usually does. His eyes look empty, his face is pale, and I can see faint dark circles under his eyes. He probably didn't sleep well last night.
And looks like… I'm not the only one who noticed.
In front of me, Latifah sits stiffly, clearly anxious. Seeing Halim like this… it's crushing her. She's been glancing at Halim over and over without saying a word. That worried look… I know exactly what's running through her mind right now.
My eyes then shift to Dzaky. The quiet student is sitting there staring at the board… while holding his chest. I heard that after the fight, he got a mild heart problem because of that senior's punch. He's been coughing all day, and his breathing is still heavy.
Meanwhile, Karim and Halim's other close friends don't look energetic at all today. Usually, they'd gather around Halim's desk and chat together. But everything changed after that fight. Now, they all act like strangers who don't know anyone.
As I look at all of Halim's close friends, my mind drifts back to everything that has happened lately.
Since that day, a lot of things have changed in this school. One of them is… every time Halim walks down the hallway or sits quietly in class, students nearby immediately go silent and try to walk away—anywhere, as long as they don't stay close to him.
After Halim stopped that senior with the karambit and knocked him out, almost everyone in school became scared of interacting with Halim, especially the ones who used to make fun of him before.
Because that senior with the karambit… he wasn't just some regular student. He was known as the scariest delinquent in the entire school. I don't know his name, but he was always involved in trouble. And now, he's been taken in by the police.
But Halim's 'victory' in stopping him wasn't something the students celebrated. Instead… Everyone got more scared. They started thinking Halim might treat them the same way… or maybe even worse.
And if you think the changes only happened at school, you're wrong. Halim… he isn't the same Halim I used to know.
In class, he often falls asleep… or maybe he's just pretending to sleep so he doesn't have to talk to anyone, so he can hide his pain behind closed eyes. And whenever someone tries to talk to him, his responses are short and cold.
Because of that… Halim and I barely talk anymore, especially in class.
But at my house, things are a little different.
Halim still tries his best to smile and hide everything whenever Abdullah is around. He probably doesn't want Abdullah to know what's been happening. And even if he explains it, a little boy like Abdullah wouldn't understand.
I'm not lying when I say tears run down my cheeks whenever I see Halim force a smile in front of my little brother. It hurts so much to watch.
What I want more than anything right now is to talk to Halim and make all of this stop. But at the same time… I'm scared.
I'm scared that it'll make him close himself off even more.
And the hardest thing to forget is the relationship between Halim and Mr. Satrio. How could a man who once took care of Halim hurt him like that… grabbing his neck so violently?
Has Halim really been living like this… all this time?
Halim already lost his parents, and that was only one of many terrible things in his life. Do people really want to keep hurting him…?
Why, Halim…? Why you—
"…Understand?"
Mrs. Salamah's voice snaps me back to the front of the class.
"Understood."
I really can't focus. Halim's name is the only thing filling my mind now.
The longer this goes on… the more things change around here. I don't know what else might happen if this keeps going on.
I look at Halim again. My ears desperately want to hear his caring voice again, and my eyes… They miss the smile that always made my heart race.
But the Halim I knew… Halim might already be gone. And maybe… he won't come back.
"Any questions?"
"No."
Actually… I have a question for Mrs. Salamah. But I'm too scared to ask.
I stare at her silently, wondering… can Mrs. Salamah help Halim? Even a little? Ease Halim's burdens, even just a bit?
Because if she can't… things will only get worse for Halim.
Honestly, I really want to help him, to face all of this together. But I know Halim would refuse. And besides… our relationship isn't the same anymore.
Halim and I aren't two people who laugh together during study time anymore. We're not two people who can communicate just with our eyes.
Right now, all I can do is watch Halim silently and guess what he's thinking.
I wish I could help Halim, the same way he always helps me.
Halim never asked for anything in return for the kindness he's given me and my family. The only thing he ever asked… was for me to keep my distance and interact less at school.
Even though I agreed… my heart didn't want that at all.
I don't want Halim to see me as someone unfamiliar, and I don't want our relationship to become awkward like this.
I want to be able to greet him again without being ignored.
I want Halim to know I'm still here.
I want to be someone important to him—more than just a classmate or a neighbor.
Or maybe…
I… I want—
"—Mrs. Salamah! Halim's nose is bleeding!"
Ali's sudden shout breaks the silence, and everyone immediately turns to Halim.
Blood is dripping from his nose. But Halim… his expression stays blank, his eyes fixed on his desk—as if he's just starting to realize the red stains spreading on the surface.
The room fills with whispers instantly.
Some students look shocked. Some are scared. Others… disgusted.
"Arif! Take Halim to the school health room! Now!"
"O-Okay!"
"No need."
"What?"
"…I'll just go to the bathroom."
"Halim, you need to treat that. Mrs. Rahmah is at the school health room right now, you can rest there."
"I'll rest there during break. But for now, I need to wash it off in the bathroom."
"Fine, but let Arif go with you, okay?"
"I can do it myself."
Halim stands up calmly and walks to the door. One hand covering his nose so no blood drips on the floor, the other reaching for the doorknob.
All I can do now… is sit here and watch him leave.
Halim…
IN THE SCHOOL HEALTH ROOM
*The school bell rings…*
The bell echoed loudly through the halls, signaling that break time had finally begun.
Latifah, Karim, and I were now escorting Halim to the school health room.
The three of us walked quietly down the empty hallway. Usually this place would be crowded at a time like this.
Dzaky, Ali, Arif, and Rizky weren't with us because the principal had asked the four of them to come to the staff room. Nobody knew what they were talking about there.
Earlier, Halim said he could walk to the health room on his own, but Mrs. Salamah immediately refused and told the three of us to take him there instead.
I'm not even sure if Halim actually wanted us by his side.
A few seconds later, the four of us finally arrived at the school health room.
Mrs. Rahmah greeted us with a warm, concerned look on her face. She was a young and beautiful woman, her voice was soft, and the way she looked at Halim felt so gentle… like a mother looking after her child.
We gave her a quick explanation about everything that had been happening lately, including how Halim's nosebleed suddenly started during class and how his condition seemed to be getting worse day by day.
Mrs. Rahmah listened carefully. Then she gently asked Halim to sit at the edge of the bed.
Halim sat there with the same expression he had earlier… blank and sleepy. I could see his shoulders slightly slumped, a sign that he really needed rest.
Mrs. Rahmah stood there for a moment, quietly observing Halim as he sat with his head down. Then she looked at us and said,
"…Alright, but only Halim is allowed to stay here. The three of you may leave."
"We're not allowed to stay with him, Mrs. Rahmah?"
"No. Let me take care of him here."
What she said left the three of us completely speechless.
"Listen. I actually already know what's been happening in this school, and I've dealt with situations like this before."
"Really?"
"So that means—"
"Talking to me is what Halim needs right now. So please… leave the two of us here, and he'll be alright."
It seemed like the only thing we could do now was trust someone who might understand better how to reach the hidden wounds Halim never shows.
Karim let out a quiet sigh. Then without looking at me or Latifah, he began walking out.
"Come on, ladies. Let's go."
The three of us stepped out of the room with uncertain feelings swirling in our chests.
*The door closing…*
The health room door shut tightly behind us. Now Halim is inside… alone with Mrs. Rahmah.
For a while, none of us said anything. The only sounds were our footsteps and the faint breeze drifting through the hallway. For now, there was nothing more we could do… except trust.
"…Do you think Halim will be okay? I'm still worried."
Latifah's voice was soft, trembling with worry.
I could see the doubt clearly in her eyes. It showed just how much she cared about him.
"We don't have to worry. Halim's with the right person right now. I'm sure he'll be fine there."
"You think so?"
"Mrs. Rahmah definitely knows what she's doing. There's nothing to worry about."
Latifah fell silent, though her anxiety hadn't faded at all.
"I'm going to check on Ali and the others. There are some things I need to talk to them about."
Karim said that before walking away, leaving just the two of us in the hallway.
Latifah and I stood quietly, watching Karim walk farther and farther away.
Then my eyes shifted to Latifah, and I saw…
"Latifah…?"
Latifah's shoulders were shaking, and tears were slowly slipping down her cheeks.
The tears slid down her face… and onto her glasses.
Latifah wasn't crying loudly… and that somehow made it feel even more painful.
I remembered I had tissues in my pocket. So I quickly took one out and gently wiped the tears from her face.
Then I gave her a small smile, hoping to bring a bit of warmth into this cold moment of worry.
"Halim will get through this. We just have to keep believing in him."
Latifah slowly lifted her head and looked into my eyes.
"Everything's going to be okay, Latifah."
For the first time in a while, a tiny smile appeared on her face. Fragile, but real.
"…Thank you, Khadijah."
"You're welcome."
Latifah's smile always had a way of calming my heart and mind.
"Want to go to the cafeteria? We can meet Alya and the others there."
"That sounds like a good idea."
Together, Latifah and I walked toward the school cafeteria. The hallway was slowly filling with laughter and chatter from other students.
It's better to give Halim the time he needed with Mrs. Rahmah.
We all knew Halim was strong. But even the strongest people still need a place to rest.
And hopefully… that health room could be the place where Halim finally finds a moment to breathe again.
IN THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA
The school cafeteria felt a little warmer than usual. Maybe it wasn't just because the weather was nice today, but also because our conversations slowly made the atmosphere calmer.
We sat on the chairs, enjoying the snacks on the table while trying to distract ourselves from all this anxiety.
Zahra talked about a funny dream she had last night. Alya slipped in a simple joke that… like always, it was way too silly not to laugh at. And for a moment, I felt… like everything was okay.
But that peaceful moment didn't last long…
"Hi, Khadijah…"
The voice sounded flat… but it was enough to ruin the calm moment. Just hearing that voice, I already knew who had greeted me.
The four senior students who once challenged Halim and got into a fight with Dzaky… now they are here.
Febriana, Alya, and Zahra immediately shot up from their seats. Their sharp glares made it obvious they were ready to wrestle if they had to.
Meanwhile, Hafizah and Latifah stayed seated near me, acting like loyal bodyguards who wouldn't let a single finger touch me without permission.
"How dare you all show up here."
"What do you all want…?"
"We…"
One of the four seniors tried to speak, but he sounded hesitant. Very different from how arrogant and bold they were back then.
"Alya."
"Yeah?"
"Since you're terrible at fighting, can you do something for me?"
"Do what?"
"Go tell Dzaky that the seniors are back and hand out no-invitation karate parties in the cafeteria."
"Ali might want to hear this too. Don't forget to tell Ali that someone in the cafeteria likes his little sister."
"—Wait! Hold on!"
All four seniors instantly looked terrified at the mention of Ali and Dzaky. Eventually one of them gathered the courage to speak again.
"…We just want to talk to Khadijah."
Whatever that senior said instantly sparked anger around me. Alya and the others stared at the seniors with pure hatred in their eyes.
"Halim changed because of you four. And now you want to talk to Khadijah…?!"
"Hey, that wasn't our fault! We never fought Halim!"
"Not your fault?! If you four hadn't caused trouble back then, Halim wouldn't be like this now!"
Latifah began raising her voice.
I knew the tension was rising. But the cafeteria wasn't the right place to fight. So I decided to speak up, hoping to calm things down.
"Girls, can you calm down for a moment and let me talk to these seniors?"
"What?!"
"Khadijah?!"
Alya and her friends turned to me, shocked by what I said.
"We actually came here just to talk with Khadijah for a bit. But if Khadijah doesn't want to, that's fine."
"Of course we can talk for a moment."
"Khadijah! What are you doing?!"
"Did you forget who these four are?!"
One of the reasons Halim wanted to distance himself from me was because he was threatened by some students here, and these four seniors were among them. So it was no surprise Alya and the others weren't okay with this.
But I wanted to try something Halim always did when dealing with hot-tempered people… stay calm and smile.
I looked at Alya and the others, then smiled.
"I know exactly who these four are. But I want to hear what they have to say."
Alya, the rest, and even the seniors… all fell silent at my words.
"Alya and everyone, please sit down. Let me talk to them."
Latifah and Hafizah looked worried. Meanwhile, Alya, Zahra, and Febriana still looked furious.
"Fine, seniors. Five minutes."
They finally sat down again… though still on high alert.
I turned back to the four seniors and kept my smile.
"Go ahead. You can talk now."
"Uh… can we talk somewhere quieter? This place is too crowded."
"That's only going to make things suspicious. If you want to talk to me, do it right here. Understand?"
"Yes!"
"Tell them, Khadijah!"
"Shhh… calm down, everyone."
The seniors still stood there, but now they looked a bit… timid. Like little kids caught doing something wrong.
"Don't stand there looking unsure. Just say what you want to say."
A few seconds later… They finally spoke.
"We just wanted to know… if you're free after school today, Khadijah?"
"Yeah. We can go somewhere fun together if you want."
Being invited somewhere fun always makes me happy. But don't think for a second that I've forgotten the reason things became awkward between me and Halim.
This is the perfect time to return the favor… with a polite rejection and a smile.
"Wow… that's really nice. Thank you for inviting me. But… unfortunately, I have to decline. Sorry."
"What…?"
"—Pfft!"
"Nice one, Khadijah!"
The seniors froze, shocked by my response. Their expressions said everything.
"But we'll treat you, Khadijah."
"You're very kind. Thank you for offering, but I already have something to take care of with someone."
"Someone…?"
"Haha! You hear that, seniors?! Rejected!"
"Alya, please be more polite to our seniors."
"To these four? Hmph! Never."
The 'someone' I meant wasn't Halim, but my mom. After school, I needed to call her and tell her the kitchen groceries were almost gone. So I wasn't lying to these four.
"Are you talking about Halim, Khadijah?"
"Halim? What do you mean?"
"You two are always together at school. So… we thought maybe you had plans after school."
"By the way, is Halim your boyfriend, Khadijah?"
"Listen. Ten days ago, Halim asked me to reduce our interactions at school. I had to agree because he said there were many students who were jealous of seeing us together all the time."
"Seriously?"
"Who's jealous?"
"One of them is… the four seniors who are talking to me right now."
"Huh?!"
"What do you mean?!"
The seniors looked stunned, as if they'd just learned something new. Such an obvious lie.
I really want to mess with these seniors… so, why not?
"That's not true, Khadijah!"
"We're not jealous!"
"Oh really? Not one of you is jealous?"
"No! None of that is—"
"Thank you."
"Thank you?"
"Since none of you are jealous, that means Halim can stay close to me and no one will mind."
"What?!"
"Halim and I will talk more later, including about our relationship in the future."
"What did you say?!"
I glanced at Latifah.
"Latifah, do you think Halim would be happy if I became one of his close friends?"
"Close friends…?"
"I don't think that's even a question, sweetie. You and Halim already look like two close friends who always study together. And Halim can barely stop smiling whenever you're near him."
"Being shy isn't Halim's only trait, but he's also known for being friendly and keeping harmony in friendships. So if you want to get closer to him, I'm pretty sure… in less than a day, you two will act like siblings who always look after each other."
"What are you all even talking about?"
I turned back to the senior who asked.
"You said you wouldn't get jealous, right?"
"No, I'm not jealous. I just—"
"That means you won't mind if I continue talking to Halim after this."
"Huh?!"
"If Halim wants to be my close friend, maybe I'll give him a nice gift later."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Got any gift ideas for my future close friend?"
"You don't need to think too hard, Khadijah. Whatever you give Halim later, he'll accept it with a smile."
"Fine! Fine! I am jealous you're always with Halim! You win, Khadijah!"
Haha! I won! I totally messed with these seniors!
Seeing the seniors' faces turning red made Alya and the others burst into laughter.
"You boys are way too easy to read!"
"Exactly."
The seniors, red-faced, had no idea what to say anymore. The weather was nice today, just not for these four seniors.
"Khadijah."
"Yeah?"
"You're not dating Halim, right?"
"Oh my god… didn't you hear what Latifah said earlier? Halim is too shy, way too shy—to be in a relationship like that—"
"We just want to warn you not to trust Halim too much."
"That's right."
Don't trust Halim? As if these four seniors know anything about him.
I stopped smiling. For the first time, I was actually interested in hearing their nonsense.
"And what makes you four think that?"
"Halim isn't someone you can trust. Don't ever believe anything he tells you."
"He has two sides. He may look nice on the outside, but not on the inside."
"You should be careful around him. He'll betray you someday."
"I remember Halim once said he planned to hurt you later…"
They were talking complete nonsense. But I agreed with one thing that you do need to be careful around strangers. Bad things can happen anywhere and anytime.
But still, I'd never betray someone who's always been kind to me. Halim has always been good to me and my family.
Besides, if Halim did betray me someday, I'm sure he'd have a reason. And I promise… I'll handle it before things get too far.
"…Never trust Halim, Khadijah."
That senior finally stopped talking.
I didn't fully listen, but there was no point asking them to repeat anything. I already knew it was all lies.
"…Are you four done talking?"
"One more thing. From now on, stop dating Halim. It'll only bring you trouble here. Your family might even get dragged into it."
Maybe I understand why Halim chose not to date anyone. Some students at this school are just… annoying.
"Let me make this clear again… Halim and I are just normal friends. We don't have that kind of—"
"But you two are always together."
"Is it wrong for friends to be together?"
"In our class, Khadijah's seat is right next to Halim's seat. So of course Halim and Khadijah are always together."
"Exactly! Plus, Halim is the only student here fluent in foreign languages. Isn't it normal for them to talk a lot?"
"True."
"Absolutely."
Maybe they realized I wasn't comfortable anymore, so my friends stepped in to help.
The cafeteria went quiet. Every student in this place probably listened in on our conversation.
"…Let's get back to class."
"Let's go."
"—Hey! We're not done yet!"
"Enough. Enough. Enough. We're done listening to your nonsense."
"Come on, sweetie."
Latifah and Hafizah grabbed my arm, pulling me away. There wasn't anything I could do except follow them back to class.
I looked back at the seniors for a second. And something in my heart told them that I have something far more important than listening to your trash talk.
IN THE CLASSROOM
We had just gotten back to class after that whole troublesome incident in the school cafeteria.
The moment we walked in, my eyes immediately went to one particular desk… the place that always belonged to Halim.
Halim… he's back, and he's not alone anymore.
Karim, Arif, Rizky, Dzaky, and Ali were all gathered around him. They looked like they were having a relaxed chat, and somehow… laughter was coming from that group.
In the middle of them all, Halim sat quietly in his chair. His eyes still looked heavy, and his body leaned forward a bit, but a small smile curved on his lips. Even though it wasn't his usual big smile, it was enough to make me feel a little relieved.
It had been so long since I last saw Halim smile like that in class.
I didn't know what Mrs. Rahmah had said to him in the school health room earlier. But whatever it was, I'm grateful… really grateful.
That small smile alone was enough to make me feel better, even if it was a weak smile.
I walked over to Halim and the others. Latifah, Alya, Zahra, Febriana, and Hafizah followed behind me.
"…Hello, ladies."
"Hi."
"Hey."
"How was your break at the cafeteria? Everything good?"
"Not really. Those four seniors showed up again."
"They showed up again?"
As always, Dzaky opened the conversation with his cold stare and flat tone.
But this isn't the right time to talk about this. I need to change the topic.
"Actually, it's nothing worth talking about. We should talk about something else. Anyway… is Halim feeling better now?"
"Halim's fine. He just didn't get enough sleep last night."
"So Halim had a nosebleed because he didn't sleep enough?"
"Did Mr. Satrio hit your nose earlier, Halim?"
"Mr. Satrio would never do that."
"Really? Mr. Satrio's never hit you before?"
"Mr. Satrio might look scary when he's angry, but Mr. Satrio is still a good person. He always helps me, even when I don't need his help. And if he ever did hit me, I'm sure it would only be part of martial arts training. Besides, Mr. Satrio always punishes me whenever I make a mistake."
Halim said all that quietly, his voice weak and tired. And I knew Halim wasn't making excuses.
Mr. Satrio and his wife should know how to act like good parents who teach the right lessons.
Love alone isn't enough. Kids need firmness too, something that can turn a weak mindset into a stronger one. The goal is to prepare them for the harsh world out there.
No wonder Halim didn't flinch when he faced those four seniors ten days ago. That alone was proof that his mentality had been trained properly.
"Anyway, what were you guys talking about earlier?"
"We were just talking about the inter-school Olympics."
"This year's inter-school Olympics?"
"Yeah."
Inter-school Olympics? What's that? I'd never heard about it before, but it sounded interesting.
"It won't be long now, the inter-school Olympics are coming up. Does anyone know when the competition actually starts?"
"After the semester exams. And Halim… our coach picked him as our new football strategy planner this year."
"This year?!"
That was really surprising. I had just learned that Halim was a football strategy planner. Isn't that supposed to be the coach's job?
"So… how's it going, Halim? Found a good strategy yet?"
Now everyone focused on Halim.
Halim stayed quiet for a moment, his eyes half-closed.
Then, with a low and tired voice, Halim finally answered.
"…I've spent so much time trying to find a strategy that suits our playstyle, to the point that my head hurts every time I think about it. And the result is… I still haven't found one. So—"
"Hey, general. You shouldn't push yourself like that. Got it?"
"You won't feel any better if you keep this up, Halim. You need to manage your time properly."
"She's right. We don't want our captain getting sick just because he's overthinking about strategies."
True. You should think about yourself too, Halim. It only makes me worry. You know that, right?
"Khadijah, do you have a hobby?"
"Of course. I like reading a book, I like—"
"That's not what I meant, Khadijah. I mean, do you have a hobby in sports?"
"Sports?"
"Yeah. Is there anything you like in sports?"
In sports, there aren't many things I'm good at. Except…
"I love badminton."
"Badminton?"
"Yeah. I used to watch badminton matches on TV with my family. And not just that, my dad and I used to play together in our backyard. It was really fun."
"Wow, you really love badminton, huh?"
"Yeah. I always hoped I could watch a big match in person someday. Not on TV. I mean actually being there in the arena."
"You know what, Khadijah? You don't just have to watch here. You can also become a badminton player in the upcoming inter-school Olympics."
"Oh, yeah!"
"What a coincidence!"
"That's right! Khadijah can be Latifah's partner!"
I was a bit surprised by their enthusiasm. I still didn't even understand the inter-school Olympics fully.
"…Latifah's partner?"
"Last year, Latifah and her old partner competed in the junior badminton competition. But her old partner isn't here anymore. So they can't play together again."
"Right now, Latifah's looking for a new partner who can compete in the inter-school Olympics. And so far, Latifah hasn't found anyone ready to be her partner."
"There aren't many girls here who are good at badminton. Most of them just want to play around or watch the matches."
"Exactly. If Khadijah joins the badminton selection later, there's a high chance she'll be Latifah's new partner."
"You two will play together… all the way until you win the gold medal."
"Oh…"
I slowly nodded, finally starting to understand this whole inter-school Olympics thing.
But before I could fully process everything—
"Yeay!"
Latifah suddenly hugged me from behind.
"—Latifah?!"
"Khadijah's going to be my partner!"
Latifah was absolutely thrilled that I'd be her partner. She hugged me tightly, even pressing her cheek against mine.
That unexpected hug almost made my heart jump out of my chest. And it made everyone around us laugh… including Halim.
Halim's body still looked tired, but Halim looked at us while chuckling.
That smile had returned. That genuine smile that only appears in rare moments… and also made my cheeks turn red and warm.
Why did that smile have to show up at a moment like this…?
"Halim."
"Yeah?"
"I don't know if this helps or not, but… I think football strategies and war strategies are pretty much the same."
"Huh? What makes you think that, Ali?"
"I don't know. I'm just saying what came to mind."
"...…"
2 HOURS LATER…
It's 1 PM. The clouds above were gray, like they were holding back the rain that would fall any minute.
After school, I walked home alone along an empty street.
Usually, I'd walk home with Latifah, Hafizah, or the others. But today, everyone had something to do. I understood, and I couldn't force them anyway. But still… It felt really quiet.
I remembered Halim once told me that I shouldn't walk home alone, especially through deserted areas. But I don't want to trouble anyone.
I believed that I could get home by myself.
Turns out, it wasn't that easy.
"Halim…?"
My steps froze when I saw someone I knew very well, Halim.
Halim's walking alone, but this isn't the road to his house. Instead, Halim is heading toward… somewhere unknown. That path is so empty and way too creepy to be called a normal street.
Curiosity slowly overshadowed the hesitation inside me.
Quietly, I followed Halim from afar. And I didn't want Halim to know I was following him.
The road Halim took was lined with old and abandoned houses, their windows shattered, their paint peeling off. The air smelled damp and musty, and wild grass grew along the edges of the street.
I held my bag tightly. This place made my heart race.
I had been following Halim for about six minutes. But I still hadn't found a single clue about where he was going. Questions started popping up in my head. And—
"Khadijah…"
Oh no. That voice…
That familiar voice came from behind me.
The last time I heard that voice was… in the school cafeteria.
I slowly turned around… and there they were. The last people I wanted to see right now.
The four seniors who had met me at the cafeteria before… They are here now.
And the worst part is… I had lost track of Halim.
"What are you doing in a place like this?"
"I…"
Fear forced my brain to think fast, yet it froze at the same time.
What should I do? Where are you, Halim…?
"Did you get lost?"
"You should just come with us. We can chill at a café."
"Or maybe go somewhere fun."
"…No. I just want to go home."
"We can walk together."
"I can go by myself—"
"This place is too dangerous for a pretty girl like you, Khadijah."
Their flirtatious tone almost made my stomach turn.
I slowly stepped back. But the four seniors began closing in on me.
And then, in an instant, one of them grabbed my arm.
"Come on, let's go."
"Let me go."
"Nope."
"I said let me go—"
I tried my best to pull myself free. But at the same time, the other three seniors rushed in and grabbed my other arm… and even my body.
It felt like I was being choked.
I struggled, but these four seniors were strong. Way too strong for me.
"Help me out!"
"LET ME GO! HELP…!!!"
I screamed as loud as I could, hoping someone… or anyone… would hear me.
But this place was too silent… too empty.
My body slowly weakened, unable to fight the four seniors.
I'm scared. Panicking. I just want to go home.
My eyes shut tight, tears spilling from the corners.
Someone… Please help me.
"Assalamualaikum…"
Suddenly, I heard someone.
The voice was calm… but sharp and firm.
Slowly, I opened my eyes.
That voice… that voice… I knew it. It's—
"Halim?!"
It's Halim! He's here!
"Well… well… well…"
TO BE CONTINUED…