That evening, a sense of restlessness gripped Felzein as he sat alone at home.
Seeking a distraction from the quietude, he retrieved his white scooter and decided to take a brief ride, hoping the cool night air and the blanket of stars overhead would offer some relief.
As he glided past Koba Baru Pharmacy, his attention was drawn to a figure standing alone in front of the shop.
Her silhouette was familiar, and from the uniform she wore, Felzein quickly recognised her as one of the pharmacists working there.
"She must be waiting for a lift," he mused to himself, a thought drifting through his mind as he continued his ride through the tranquil night.
Felzein had no intention of stopping. He carried on down the winding streets, the once-bustling roads now deserted and silent in the stillness of the night.
At one point, he paused by a small fishing pond, where a handful of people remained, their patience unwavering as they waited for a bite.
The flicker of their bobbing floats in the dim light seemed almost meditative, and oddly enough, it eased the restless thoughts in his mind.
Time slipped by unnoticed, and before long, he caught sight of his watch.
It was 10:20 PM. With a soft exhale, he muttered under his breath.
"It's late enough now. Might as well head home," he thought, feeling the weight of the quiet night press gently on his shoulders.
Without hesitation, he started his scooter again and made his way home.
As he passed by Koba Baru Pharmacy once more, he noticed the woman was still there.
This time, she had taken a seat on the bench in front of the pharmacy, perhaps worn out from standing for so long.
Felzein furrowed his brow and slowed his bike to a halt.
"Why is she still here? Surely someone should be picking her up by now?" he murmured to himself, a hint of confusion in his voice.
A wave of sympathy swept over him. He decided to approach the woman, simply to check if everything was alright.
Before getting off his bike, he reached into the pocket of his jacket and slipped on the black mask he always wore when venturing out.
Only then did he dismount and step toward her, closing the distance slowly.
Rosa jolted as a figure approached her, his silhouette barely discernible in the dim light.
The weak illumination made it difficult for her to identify the man, but from his posture, she could tell immediately that he was not her uncle, the one she had been waiting for.
"Who is he? Why is he coming over here?" her mind raced, a flicker of unease spreading through her.
Her heart quickened, its frantic beat almost deafening in her ears. Fear began to settle over her thoughts like a heavy fog.
"What should I do? It's late, and I'm all alone..." Rosa bit her lip, struggling to hold onto her composure, to suppress the growing panic.
She felt a sinking sense of helplessness, the instinct to run or cry out pushing against the stiffness in her limbs. But her body betrayed her, frozen in place.
Her thoughts churned with dread, a cold certainty growing in her that the man who approached had no good intentions.
However, suddenly a familiar voice came from the man.
"Miss... Why aren't you going home yet?" he asked in a calm tone.
Rosa was taken aback. She scrutinised the man more carefully.
As her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the night, she finally recognised the figure, her regular customer at the pharmacy.
The man with the black mask, whose true face she had never seen.
A wave of relief washed over her, "Alhamdulillah... It's you, Sir," Rosa said, letting out a long sigh.
Felzein furrowed his brows, feeling puzzled, "Who did you think I was, Miss?" he asked.
Rosa blushed, "Sorry, Sir. I thought you were a criminal. Hehe..." she chuckled nervously.
Felzein sighed, then shook his head, "Astaghfirullah..." he muttered, both bewildered and amused.
Felzein continued, "It's already late, Miss. Why aren't you heading home?" he asked again.
Rosa sighed, "I want to go home too, Sir. But my uncle's motorbike got a flat tire on the road. I've been waiting for over an hour. What a day," she complained, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Felzein gave a nod of understanding, "And where do you live, Miss?" he inquired gently.
"In the Karang Randu area, Sir," Rosa responded.
A flicker of surprise crossed Felzein's face, "That's quite a distance, isn't it?"
Rosa nodded slowly, her tone thoughtful, "Yes, it is."
Having already resolved to assist her, Felzein offered, his voice calm, "Let me give you a lift home, Miss."
Rosa hesitated, a faint sense of reluctance in her eyes, "Oh, I wouldn't want to trouble you, Sir," she replied, her words edged with a tinge of discomfort.
Felzein's smile was barely perceptible behind his mask, "It's no trouble at all. Better than wondering when you'll be able to head home, don't you think?"
Rosa paused, her thoughts settling into a strange peace. There was an ease about him, a quiet reassurance that he meant no harm.
After a brief moment, she nodded, "Well then, Sir. Thank you."
That night, for the very first time in her life, Rosa found herself doing something she never would have imagined.
She was travelling with a man whose face she had never truly seen.
As they made their way to Karang Randu, Rosa's home, the journey was marked by an almost palpable silence between them.
Felzein spoke only occasionally, his voice breaking the quiet as he asked for directions when they reached intersections or junctions, making sure they were still on course.
He knew the Karang Randu area well enough, yet as they ventured further into the countryside, a sense of uncertainty began to creep in.
This was, after all, the first time Felzein had driven this far, navigating roads that felt foreign and unfamiliar to him.
At the final crossroads, Felzein inquired once more, "Right or left, Miss?"
"Turn right and continue straight. You'll see the watchpost ahead, stop there," Rosa instructed, her voice soft and calm.
Felzein nodded in acknowledgment, saying little, and gently accelerated his motorcycle towards the route she had pointed out.
After a brief five-minute ride, the watchpost emerged in the dim glow of the night.
Though the hour was late, the sign reading "Karang Randu, RT 06 RW 01" remained clearly visible, illuminated by the bright light overhead.
Felzein gradually eased off the throttle and brought the motorcycle to a halt directly in front of the watchpost.
Inside the watchpost, a few elderly men were lounging at ease, likely fulfilling their duties for the night.
The low hum of their conversation blended with the sound of the distant night.
Rosa greeted them cheerfully, her voice a soft melody in the quiet night, "Good evening, gentlemen."
In an instant, they all turned towards her, offering their greetings in unison.
One of them, Sudiro, let out a jovial laugh, his voice filled with familiarity, "Ah, Ocha... Why are you so late coming back?"
His gaze drifted to Felzein, still perched atop his motorbike.
With a playful smirk, Sudiro teased, "Ah, so you've been out on a date, then?"
Rosa flushed a deep shade of crimson, her embarrassment evident, "Oh, Mr Diro... We're not dating. This is my friend, a regular at Koba Baru Pharmacy," she hurriedly explained, her voice slightly flustered.
"Uncle Feri's motorbike broke down, you see..." Rosa continued, offering the full context of the evening's events.
Sudiro's expression softened, and he nodded in understanding, "Ah, I see now. Well, Cha, you're welcome to head inside," he said, his tone casual and unbothered.
Rosa nodded, grateful, before turning back to Felzein, "Sir, why don't you come in for a bit?" she invited with an unexpected earnestness.
Felzein hesitated, acutely aware of the hour, "Oh, Miss, it's rather late," he replied, attempting to offer a polite excuse.
"It's perfectly fine, Sir. You simply must come in for a while," Rosa insisted, her voice firm yet gentle.
Felzein's brow furrowed with confusion, "Why is she so adamant?," he wondered inwardly, taken aback by her insistence.
"Come on, Sir," Rosa repeated, her voice tinged with a quiet sense of urgency.
Sighing softly, Felzein resigned himself to the moment, "Alright, alright, Miss," he relented, his tone conceding.
With a small, awkward pause, Felzein followed her from behind, offering a polite nod to the men at the watchpost before he finally allowed himself to be led inside.
Arriving at the modest front door, Rosa turned once more to Felzein, her voice warm yet insistent.
"Come on, Sir. Don't stand on ceremony," she urged, a gentle smile playing on her lips.
Felzein gave a brief nod in response, the words caught on the tip of his tongue.
"Salamu aleykom, Father, Mother. I'm home," Rosa called out as she opened the door.
Moments later, from within the house, appeared a pair of elderly figures, Rosa's father and mother.
"Wa aleykom salam, Alhamdulillah, Ocha," her mother, Lasmini, sighed in relief, her voice thick with emotion. "You've finally returned."
Her father, Baharuddin, echoed her sentiments, his face softening with a slight smile.
"Alhamdulillah. Forgive your uncle, dear. He's always got some odd scheme brewing," he remarked with a rueful shake of his head.
"It's all right, Father, Mother. It's thanks to this gentleman here. He kindly brought me home," Rosa replied, turning her gaze toward Felzein.
Only then did Baharuddin and Lasmini notice the young man standing quietly behind their daughter.
They exchanged a look, a mix of surprise and curiosity crossing their faces.
Who, they wondered, was the young man their daughter had so casually mentioned?