"Just like this, you give permission directly to grandma, do you think it's okay if I go again today" I said with full confidence.
I'm sure Widya won't get permission from grandma because last night I went too late and worried her, grandma would definitely refuse my best friend's request.
"Okay. I'll tell grandma. Hemh" she said immediately let go of my arm and then sat beside grandma. Behind them I listened to the conversation, smiling faintly when I saw Widya whining. After talking at length about her aims and objectives, we were waiting for an answer from grandma, she was silent and seemed indifferent while still enjoying the smoke from her cigarette.
"Well, you won't get permission," I muttered satisfied.
"Yes. You may go," said the grandmother then.
"Yeeeyyy. Thank you grandma," said Widya happily, hugging her.
"What?!" I said surprised.
"Listen, right? Grandma said yes, which means you can't refuse. Haha" said Widya pinching my cheek. "You get ready, I also want to get ready. I'll pick you up in 15 minutes anyway!" she said.
"Bu... But Wid!" I said not finished.
"Bye" Widya waved and then disappeared behind the door.
Whatever power, I stood silently holding Reno's jacket. While grandma turned to me with a smile.
"Grandma, why are you even allowed?" I protested.
"Well, what's wrong with that? You occasionally need to hang out outside the house. Not only in your room, just in the living room, be busy with your own world. Get ready there, I'll let you go"
I was silent, I folded Reno's jacket and put it back on the table in the room. After that, I had to get ready to take a shower and take Widya to her uncle's house. But it's funny, Widya has lots of friends. But if there's anything, I'm always the one she's looking for.
*****
"Nimas, your body aches or not?" asked Widya when we were on our way.
"Yes, it all hurts. That's why I was too lazy to ask you to go" I replied lacking enthusiasm.
"Hihi, I'm sorry. I'll treat you to meatballs later," he coaxed.
"It's not a treat problem, I want to sleep" I replied again.
"Oke, oke, later we will rest at uncle's house. The problem is while uncle was at home, he was sick, so my father bought a cake for him. At first, my own father wanted to deliver, but suddenly there was a meeting," explained Widya.
"There is still a holiday meeting?" I asked.
"Nimas, our school is on holiday. Not my father haha"
"Oh you right, Reno and Dika are still in the village?" I asked.
"Still I think, at this time they must not wake up"
Dika and Reno are different from us, waking up at half past seven is too late for us. I'm sure after coming home from my house last night, they didn't go straight to sleep.
"Oh yeah, Wid, when I get home, can I ask for your help or not? Take me to the bookstore as well" I said.
"Yes. With pleasure," answered Widya.
Approximately half an hour on the way, we arrived at Uncle Widya's house. Let's say his name is Uncle Bagio, he is a truck driver for a wood factory. Usually he always delivers wood between cities and out of town.
"Assalamualaikum" we said in unison.
We waited quite a while in front of the house, several times Widya knocked on the door and said hello, but there was still no answer.
"Wid, maybe uncle is still sleeping" I said.
"It's noon Nimas, I'm sure uncle is awake"
We waited while chatting, not long after we heard the sound of someone opening the door. "Oh, Widya? Since when were you here?" asked Uncle.
"Oh uncle, we've been here for almost half an hour" Widya replied shaking uncle's hand, as well as me.
"This is Nimas, isn't she? Grandma Putri's granddaughter?"
"Yes uncle" I replied smiling.
"Wow, you are big, you are very tall now" uncle chuckled. "Come in"
We sat in the living room, not long after Aunt greeted us with warm drinks and snacks. "I'm sorry we didn't know you were coming, we were in the back garden earlier" said Aunt.
"It's okay Aunt, I thought you weren't at home earlier. We almost turned around earlier," Widya replied.
We had a long chat with uncle and aunt. Apart from asking about the news and conditions in our village, my uncle also shared his experiences as a driver. Meanwhile, Widya excitedly recounted last night's events, I just listened silently when Widya told me.
"The tomb in the village? The road to the city, right?" asked Uncle
"Yes uncle" we answered together.
"It's known to be haunted, in the past there was also a motorcycle taxi driver who took a kuntilanak as a passenger. He met a woman there, she said he wanted to ask for help at the T-junction. But after arriving at the T-junction the woman disappeared without a trace," said the uncle. Widya and I listened carefully, it turned out that there were many stories that happened in the tomb.
"If I ever met a ghost, but not in the tomb there, it was in S village. At that time I wanted to take the wood to the factory, but it turned out to be an unlucky night"
"What happened uncle?" I asked.
Uncle Bagio was silent for a moment, you could see his eyes wandering far into that time. His expression changed drastically, he let out a few deep breaths. It looks like uncle is heavy to tell.
It could be that what happened at that time traumatized him to this day, but after wiping his face with his palm, uncle began to tell his story.
"This happened several years ago. At that time I happened to be driving alone, while the assistant had already gone home. It happened around one in the evening to be precise at the T-junction in S village"
"Why does it have to be at night, uncle? You can deliver it the next morning, right?" asked Widya.
"I can't kid, motorbike is at the factory. I delivered that night too so can get off work in the morning. Actually, it's normal for you to come home from work at night, but that night was the first time you met a ghost"
"Uh, scary," said Widya shuddering.