The morning sky was clear, cool air sweeping through the gently swaying leaves. The clock had just struck 7 AM when Susanto and Dani arrived in front of a simple shop surrounded by several shady trees. The shop already looked alive, even though the day was still very young.
In the front yard, a slightly plump middle-aged man was sweeping scattered leaves. His face was adorned with a friendly smile, creating an aura of simplicity that made the atmosphere feel comfortable. That was Mr. Karyo, the shop owner and Susanto's uncle.
Seeing them arrive, Mr. Karyo stopped sweeping and waved. "Susanto! Wow, it's rare to see you here so early. And this..." He observed Dani, then broke into a wide smile. "Your new candidate, huh?"
Susanto chuckled as he stepped closer. "Yes, Uncle. This is Dani, my friend. Like I told you on the phone yesterday, he's looking for experience. Dani is a hardworking guy, Uncle. If you don't believe me, you can test him right away!"
Dani gave an awkward smile, clearly nervous. Hesitantly, he extended his hand to shake Mr. Karyo's. "Good morning, Sir. I'm Dani. Thank you... I hope you'll accept me to work here..." he said in a near whisper.
Mr. Karyo accepted the handshake warmly. "Relax, Dani. Nothing too formal here. We're just a small family helping each other out. Susanto has told me a lot about you. Don't be too tense, alright. Take it easy, we'll start slowly."
Dani nodded, then with a slight tremble, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his application file. "Oh right, Sir. Here are my documents, if you want to check them first—"
But before he could finish his sentence, Mr. Karyo had already raised a hand, declining with a relaxed smile. "No need to trouble yourself, Dani. I already trust Susanto. Just start first, we'll see how it goes."
Dani fell silent for a moment, staring at Mr. Karyo in confusion. "Huh... accepted just like that?" he thought to himself, glancing at Susanto who wore a casual expression as if this were normal.
"By the way, are you thirsty? Or haven't you had breakfast?" Mr. Karyo continued, "Don't work while you're weak."
Susanto nudged Dani's shoulder with a small laugh. "Bro, just relax. Uncle Karyo is offering you a drink, why are you just standing there?"
Dani snapped out of his confusion. "Uh... sure, Sir? I'll grab a drink first."
Mr. Karyo waved his hand. "Go ahead. In the fridge inside. If you're thirsty this early, don't get dehydrated!"
Dani quickly entered the shop, walking briskly towards the refrigerator in the corner of the room. His slightly trembling hand opened the fridge door and took out a bottle of cold mineral water.
However, as he was about to close the door, his eyes caught a figure he knew all too well. Nisa.
The woman stood in front of the staple goods aisle, wearing simple casual clothes. Beside her, a short man with messy hair was holding her hand. In a cloth sling wrapped around her body, a small baby slept peacefully.
Dani froze on the spot.
"Sweetie, don't forget to get flour too," the man's voice sounded soft yet attentive.
"I already got it," Nisa replied in the same gentle tone. Her face looked so calm, as if she had no burdens in this world. "Look, Yuda, our baby is really not fussy. Seems like he already understands we're shopping for him."
Yuda, her husband, chuckled softly. "Well, he takes after you. So calm. If he took after me, he'd have been screaming for milk since earlier!"
Nisa smiled, then glanced at the baby in her sling. "Still so small, but he's already made our lives so colorful, hasn't he?"
Dani gripped the water bottle in his hand tightly, trying to control his emotions. But his chest felt tight, as if crushed by a large stone. His mind began to wander, digging up old memories he should have buried deep.
Why did it have to be that bastard...? thought Dani, his chest aching as his gaze remained fixed on Nisa. Why wasn't I the one there?
He remembered the times when they were still together, before everything changed. The sound of Nisa's laughter, the way she called his name softly—it all felt like a shadow haunting him now. That voice no longer belonged to him.
He wanted to look away, but his eyes couldn't stop watching Nisa. A part of him felt shattered seeing that woman so happy, without him.
Dani stared at them unblinkingly, like someone watching a building collapse in a storm. The image of Nisa and that man, mixed with their soft laughter and gentle voices, pierced his mind like a thorn. That should have been me... Dani thought.
"You know, Dani..." Nisa's voice from the past whispered in his mind. "I want a simple life, with someone who loves me wholeheartedly. Can you promise to be that person?"
And Dani back then, foolishly, just smiled and said, "Of course."
But that promise, like everything else in his life, had shattered.
Dani's hand trembled, and the water bottle in his grasp fell to the floor, making a loud enough noise to attract the attention of some customers. He stood frozen, trying to regulate his breath, which now felt heavy and painful.
But the sudden heat erupting in his left eye destroyed all his efforts to remain calm.
"Arghhhhh.... what's.... arghhhh....!"
Dani screamed, his hand immediately grabbing his face. The heat felt like a burning ember stabbing him, and as he touched his skin, he felt something warm and sticky. Blood.
Blood flowed from his left eye, dripping onto his cheek and shirt. His left ear also began to bleed, making his vision spin. The world seemed to turn dark, while the pain continued to attack like thousands of needles piercing him.
Susanto, who heard the scream, immediately ran inside. "Dani! Hey bro, what's wrong?!" he shouted in panic.
Mr. Karyo also rushed in, his friendly face now tense. "Susanto, what's wrong with Dani? Why is he suddenly bleeding? Quick, take him to the hospital!!!"
However, before either of them could get closer, Dani had already collapsed to the floor, writhing in excruciating pain. His body shivered, as if fighting something invisible.
Yuda stopped near the cashier, casually taking out his wallet. Behind him, Nisa stood anxiously, looking toward the small commotion at the end of the shop. The noise was still faintly audible, though some customers had already returned to their own business.
"Honey, what's going on? It's so loud," Nisa asked, half-whispering. Her eyes squinted, trying to see more clearly.
"No idea," Yuda replied, indifferent. "Wait here. I'll pay first."
Nisa nodded slowly, though curiosity gnawed at her mind. While Yuda spoke with the cashier, she observed more carefully toward the source of the earlier commotion. A small door at the back of the shop seemed open, and some employees were seen rushing in and out.
"Sir, sorry, what happened earlier?" Yuda asked the cashier while handing over money.
"Oh, someone suddenly collapsed earlier, Sir," the cashier answered, still serving other customers. "They said he was having seizures, but he's already been taken to the back room by the staff."
Yuda just gave a small nod, then turned to Nisa. His wife was still standing in the same spot, her eyebrows furrowed as if thinking about something. After receiving the change, Yuda immediately approached her.
"Let's go home," he said, taking Nisa's hand.
"Honey, they said someone fell and was taken to the back," Nisa whispered without shifting her gaze. "I think I recognize that voice."
Yuda sighed, slightly annoyed by his wife's excessive curiosity. "Who do you even know here? Come on, don't think about it. People like that have their own problems. Let's just go home."
"But, Honey..." Nisa stopped speaking. For a moment, her eyes caught something on the floor near the back door. Red.
"Is that blood?" she murmured softly.
"Oh my God, I told you not to get involved, didn't I? You can't stand seeing things like this," Yuda replied, gripping her arm tighter. "Let's go home now."
Nisa looked down, having no choice but to follow her husband's steps toward their motorcycle outside the shop. But as they walked away, she glanced back once more toward that back door. An uneasy feeling crept into her chest—a premonition hard to ignore.
On the way home, the sound of Yuda's motorcycle filled the silence. Yet, Nisa's mind couldn't settle. She kept replaying the commotion in her head, trying to recognize the voice that somehow felt familiar.
"I think I know who that was..." she murmured, almost inaudible amidst the night wind. But before she could ponder further, the motorcycle stopped in front of their house.
"Nis, get off," Yuda's voice broke her reverie.
Nisa got off without saying much. However, as she stepped into the house, the feeling remained. As if something important, something she should have understood, remained hidden behind her foggy mind.
Meanwhile, Dani finally fell silent. His breath weakened, and the world felt dark.