The afternoon sun had begun to warm the yard when everyone finally went back inside the house.
The laughter and chatter from outside slowly moved into the living room as the group settled down. The wooden door creaked softly when Ammar pushed it open, letting the cooler air of the house greet them.
One by one they stepped in.
"Ahhhh… I'm full," Zul groaned dramatically, holding his stomach as he walked straight toward the couch.
He practically collapsed onto it as if he had just run a marathon instead of eating twice in a single morning.
"You always say that after eating," Danish said, chuckling.
Zul waved his hand lazily. "Because it's always true."
Haya and Danish followed him and sat on the three-seater couch. Zul had already taken the far end, stretching his legs like a lazy cat claiming its territory.
Across from them, Ammar quietly sat on the single-seater chair near the window.
Their mother lowered herself onto the two-seater couch beside the table, smiling as she watched the boys settle down.
From the kitchen, the sound of clinking plates and running water could be heard.
Inari was standing at the sink, washing the dishes left from their second round of breakfast.
"Why am I the only one doing this?" she complained loudly.
"Because you ran away earlier," their mother answered calmly from the living room.
"That's unfair!," Inari muttered.
Just then, Hanna walked into the kitchen and rolled up her sleeves.
"Here, I'll help," she said.
Behind her, Annis followed with a small laugh.
"Me too. If we leave her alone she might break all the plates."
"Hey!" Inari protested.
Their voices blended with the sound of water and dishes, filling the house with a comfortable kind of noise.
Meanwhile in the living room, the boys continued talking.
Zul leaned deeper into the couch.
"I swear your mom cooks too well," he said. "If I stay here for a week I'll gain five kilos."
"That's your own fault," Haya replied. "You're the one who keeps eating."
Danish laughed quietly.
"Well, he did eat breakfast twice and the portion too..."
Zul pointed at him.
"Hey, you ate too!"
"Not as much as you."
Their mother shook her head gently, amused by the boys' bickering.
"You boys haven't changed since you were all just a kid ," she said.
"That's because we're still young, Auntie," Zul replied proudly.
From the kitchen, Annis peeked out for a moment.
"More like still childish."
Everyone laughed.
The warm, easy atmosphere filled the living room. It felt like time had slowed down, letting them rest in the comfort of familiar company.
For a moment, no one felt the pressure of the future, responsibilities, or the paths waiting ahead of them.
It was just a quiet afternoon.
And the soft sound of dishes being washed in the background.
After resting for a while in the living room, the lively atmosphere slowly began to calm.
The conversation drifted from one topic to another before finally fading into small, scattered remarks. The boys sat comfortably on the couches, some leaning back, others stretching their legs as if they had no intention of moving again.
From the kitchen, the sound of dishes finally stopped.
A moment later, Inari walked out while wiping her hands with a towel. Behind her came Hana and Annis.
"All done," Inari announced.
"Finally," Zul said lazily. "Now you can sit and suffer the same food coma as us."
"Food coma?" Inari scoffed. "You're the only one dying over there."
Annis and Hanna sat down near the edge of the room, joining the group again.
For a while, they all talked together like before—laughing at small jokes, recalling random memories from school, and teasing one another.
But slowly, the time to leave approached.
Danish checked his phone.
"Ah… it's already afternoon," he said.
Zul groaned dramatically again. "Don't tell me that."
"We should probably head back soon," Danish continued.
Zul sat up slightly, rubbing his neck.
"Yeah… my mom will start calling if I disappear too long."
Their mother nodded gently.
"You boys should get going now , you too girls ."
The atmosphere shifted slightly.
Not sad.
But quieter.
Everyone slowly stood up.
Chairs moved. Slippers scraped softly across the floor.
Outside the house, the warm afternoon light had grown brighter.
"Alright then," Zul stretched his arms. "Thanks for the food, Auntie."
"You're always welcome here," she replied with a smile.
Danish bowed his head slightly in thanks.
" Thanks for having us , Auntie." Hana and Annis continue.
Meanwhile, Haya stood a little apart from the group.
Hana was standing near the doorway.
For a brief moment, the two of them found themselves facing each other.
Neither of them spoke.
The noise from the others faded into the background.
Haya scratched the back of his head slightly.
"Uh… thanks for helping in the kitchen earlier," he said awkwardly.
Hanna blinked, then smiled softly.
"It's nothing.its me who wants to help "
A small silence followed.
The kind that made both of them suddenly aware of how close they were standing.
"Well… um…" Haya started, but stopped.
Hanna looked down for a second, lightly brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I guess… we'll see each other again sometime," she said.
"Yeah," Haya replied quickly. "Yeah, of course."
But even as he said it, a small thought crossed his mind.
Will we?
Everyone was going their own way now.
Different plans.
Different paths.
Maybe it would take a long time before they all gathered like this again.
The thought left a faint heaviness in his chest.
"Hey! Haya!"
Zul's voice broke the quiet moment.
"Not gonna say anything before we leave?"
Haya turned slightly.
"Hope you all doing well..?"
Before stepping away, he looked back at Hana once more.
She gave him a small wave.
He nodded and wave back.
Outside, the Haya's friends prepared to leave, their voices growing louder again as they joked with one another.
But behind them, Haya felt a strange feeling lingering in his chest.
Not exactly sadness.
Not exactly happiness either.
Just the quiet awareness that moments like this… didn't last forever.
After seeing his friends off at the gate, the house slowly returned to its quieter rhythm.
The sound of their laughter faded down the road as they road their motorcycle away, leaving behind only the warm afternoon breeze and the occasional chirping of birds.
Haya stood by the there for a few seconds longer than necessary.
Amar had already stepped back inside.
"Oi, how long are you planning to stood there?" Amar called from the doorway.
Haya blinked and shook his head lightly.
"Okay… i'll move "
He walked back into the house.
Inside, the living room had already changed its atmosphere.
Their mother and Inari had taken control of the television.
"Come here, come here," their mother said excitedly while patting the couch. "It's starting already."
"What's starting?" Amar asked.
"My drama!"
Inari grabbed the remote like it was something precious.
"You two better not change the channel."
Amar sighed but sat down anyway.
Haya also sat beside him, leaning back against the couch.
The television screen lit up with dramatic music.
It was a Korean drama.
On the screen, a man in a suit was shown working late at an office. Papers were scattered everywhere. His eyes looked tired and empty.
Their mother leaned forward slightly, already absorbed.
"So This is the main character," trying to understand.
Inari nodded eagerly.
"Do adult really live like that ?."
On screen, the man was shown arguing with his boss, rushing through endless work, and eating instant noodles alone in a dim apartment.
"Whats wrong with that bald boss of him ," Inari continued. "I it were me i already punch his wrinkled cheeks."
Their mother sighed.
"Poor thing."
The scene changed.
The man collapsed at his desk, exhausted.
Closing his eyes.
Then everything faded to darkness.
Mom clasped her hands together.
"Huh? What happened !"
The next scene showed the man suddenly waking up in a classroom.
He looked younger.
Much younger.
A teacher was writing something on the blackboard.
Students filled the room.
The man stared at his hands in disbelief.
"What ? He went back in time," Inari said surprised.
Their mother nodded.
"Now now what he is going to do ."
The drama continued.
The man slowly realized what had happened.
Instead of wasting his youth again, he began making different choices.
Studying smarter.
Helping his friends.
Avoiding the mistakes that ruined his future before.
Meanwhile, on the couch, Amar watched with mild interest.
"Hmm… not bad."
But beside him, Haya wasn't as relaxed.
His eyes stayed fixed on the screen.
The words from earlier that day echoed faintly in his mind.
There is no story for me to tell.
On the television, the character was given another chance.
Another life.
Another opportunity.
To fix things.
To live better.
Haya shifted slightly in his seat.
Something about the story made his chest feel uncomfortable.
Not painful.
But unsettled.
As if something inside him had been lightly poked.
The drama reached the end of the episode.
The main character stood in front of his school gate, looking determined.
The music swelled.
Then the screen faded to black.
"Ahhh!" their mother said happily. "So good!"
Inari nodded enthusiastically.
"Cant wait for the Next episode right , Mom !."
Amar stretched his arms.
"Well, that was interesting."
Haya quietly stood up.
"I'm going to my room," he said.
But before he could take another step—
"Haya"
Haya stopped in the middle of the living room when Amar called his name.
"You free for a bit?" Amar asked while standing up.
Haya turned around slightly.
"Why?"
Instead of answering immediately, Amar walked toward the small table near the entrance and grabbed his motorcycle keys. The faint jingle of metal echoed softly in the room.
"I want to go somewhere," Amar said.
Then he looked back at his younger brother.
"Come with me."
Haya hesitated for a moment.
Outside the window, the afternoon sun had already begun to lean westward. The light entering the house had turned softer, warmer.
"…Okay," Haya finally replied.
But Amar raised a hand slightly.
"You should go and pray first."
Haya nodded quietly.
A little while later, the two brothers stepped out of the house together.
The air outside felt calmer than earlier in the day. The village road was quiet, only the distant sounds of people chatting and motorcycles passing by occasionally.
Amar started the engine.
"Get on."
Haya climbed onto the back seat without saying much.
The motorcycle slowly rolled forward, leaving the house behind.
They didn't talk during the ride.
The wind brushed against their clothes as they passed familiar paths of the village—small houses, coconut trees, and narrow roads that Haya had walked countless times growing up.
Yet today, everything felt slightly different.
Eventually, Amar slowed down the motorcycle.
They arrived at a place where the river widened greatly.
Stretching across the water was a long bridge—one that connected the riverside village to what looked like a small island sitting quietly in the middle of the river.
Amar parked the motorcycle near the edge.
"Let's walk a bit."
They stepped onto the bridge.
The wooden planks creaked faintly beneath their footsteps. Beneath them, the river moved slowly, reflecting the soft light of the late afternoon sky.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Only the sound of water and wind accompanied them.
Then Amar finally began.after they both sat and hung their foot on the edge of the bridge.
"You know," he said casually, resting his arms on the bridge railing, "when I first left for college… I thought everything would be easy."
Haya leaned against the railing beside him.
Amar continued.
"I thought I'd meet new people, study hard, get good grades… and that would be it."
He chuckled quietly.
"But life doesn't really work like that."
Haya listened silently.
"At first, I struggled a lot," Amar admitted. "Assignments, pressure, expectations… sometimes it felt like everything was piling up… and makes me want to give up."
He looked out toward the river.
"There were nights I couldn't even sleep properly."
Haya glanced at him slightly.
Amar smiled faintly.
"But eventually, i did learn something."
"What?" Haya asked quietly.
"That everyone is struggling in their own way."
The two brothers stood there for a moment longer.
Then Amar straightened up then ask .
" Do you have anywhere to go to ? "
Haya just replied gently
" There is.."
"Where?"
"The sea."
" to the beach we go then." Amar replied excitedly
The motorcycle ride continued.
The time seem to pass by faster than ever.
This time, the road stretched farther toward the coast.
The sky had already begun turning orange, the sun slowly lowering toward the horizon.
When they arrived, the beach was almost empty.
Only the sound of waves greeted them.
They walked across the sand until they stood close to the water.
The sea stretched endlessly before them.
The sky was painted with warm colors.
Orange.
Gold.
Soft purple clouds far away.
Amar stood quietly beside Haya.
Then he said calmly,
"So."
Haya didn't look at him.
"Is there anything that You been holding ," Amar continued.
Haya's fingers slowly clenched.
For a moment, he tried to say nothing.
But the pressure inside his chest had already grown too heavy.
His throat felt dry.
Burning.
Like something had been stuck there for a very long time.
"…I don't know what's wrong with me," Haya finally said.
His voice sounded lower than usual.
"I feel like… I'm stuck."
The words began to come out slowly.
Then faster.
"I look back at everything and… there's nothing."
"No there isn't really anything felt real for me ."
"Nothing that i have been there."
"As if I wasn't even exist"
His voice trembled slightly.
"And now everyone is moving forward…."
The wind blew softly across the beach.
"But I don't even know what I'm supposed to do."
Haya looked down at the sand.
His chest felt tight.
"I tried to ignore it."
"I tried to pretend everything was fine."
"But the more i remember it the more i hope i wasnt event there ."
His voice cracked.
"…even though that is what i want ."
He took a shaky breath.
"And there's also that dream… that girl… I don't even know if she's real or not."
" Who even she is "
The words poured out like water breaking through a dam.
Something that he had kept inside for so long.
Slowly.
Surely.
Until finally—
Silence returned.
The sky had turned deeper orange.
Amar listened to everything without interrupting.
Then he stepped closer and gently placed his hand on Haya's shoulder.
Haya still stared downward.
Then Amar spoke softly.
"Even so… you tried your best, didn't you."
Haya's shoulders trembled slightly.
"To find beauty in everything…. To find where you belongs "
The wind moved gently around them.
"You did well."
A tear fell quietly onto the sand.
"You did great."
Haya covered his face with one hand.
His breathing became uneven.
"I'm sorry I didn't realize how hard you've been through."
And that was the moment.
The weight inside Haya's chest finally broke.
Tears streamed down his face as he cried openly for the first time in a long while.
Not from sadness.
But from relief.
As if something heavy that had been sitting inside him for years had finally been lifted.
Finally able to be spoken.
The sun slowly descended toward the horizon.
By the time Haya calmed down, the sky had already begun to darken.
"Feel better?" Amar asked gently.
Haya nodded slightly.
"…Yeah."
They returned to the motorcycle.
As they rode back home, the sun slowly disappeared behind the sea.
Haya glanced back one last time.
Toward the shoreline.
Then suddenly—
His eyes widened.
"What the hell…"
Near the water, standing quietly in the distance, was a figure.
A girl.
She wore a summer one-piece dress.
A straw hat rested on her head.
Her long hair moved softly with the wind.
Her form appeared almost like a shadow against the glowing sunset.
"…were you still there?"
Haya whispered under his breath.
The wind from the sea lifted her long hair.
The ribbon on her straw hat fluttered quietly behind her.
For a moment… it almost felt like she had turned toward him.
But before he could be sure, the motorcycle curved behind the hill, and her silhouette slowly vanished from sight.