Kartika was pensive and still looking around before finally grabbing the hand that I extended to her. Slowly, I helped her to go up first and let myself be the last one in the spring.
I looked back, confirming what was at my blind spot. Mysteriously, there was nothing there. A mixed feeling of relief filled my chest. I shook my head a few times and started to move out of the water.
As expected, her lips turned blue and she shivered as soon as she got out into the wind. I don't know how long she was in there, the mountain air was also quite cold at this hour.
I looked down at the yellow songket* I had wrapped around my waist. If only I weren't soaking wet, maybe I would have taken it off and put it on Kartika's shoulders. Fortunately, Danastri's body was already starting to dry and she gave Mahesa's woven cloth to Kartika.
"Kartika! Where have you been? Why don't I see you here?" Danastri sobbed while tightening the woven cloth on Kartika's shoulder.
"I ...." Kartika whispered with an uncertain look. She seemed to be still not fully awake. Although she looked at us several times, the light did not fully appear in Kartika's eyes.
"Achoo!" I couldn't help myself. The wind really embraced me and shared its coldness freely even though I tried to resist it. Repeatedly, I tried to pull back the liquid that escaped through my nostrils.
"We should go home quickly," Mahesa suggested after seeing my and Kartika's condition. "It's already dusk. It could be ...." Mahesa didn't continue, but that was the only way we understood what she meant.
I looked up at the ceiling which was starting to turn orange. It would also take a long time to reach the hamlet because it was necessary to carry Kartika who was walking slowly with a shivering body.
We let Kartika and Danastri walk in front while Mahesa and I followed behind. I wanted to reach the village as soon as possible and change my clothes, curl up in a blanket, and savor the warming wedang*, but running would make me cold and it would be bad to leave my friends behind.
It was so cold. If I'm already cold like this, I can't imagine how Kartika is. I hope she doesn't get sick tomorrow.
"Sorry I don't have anything for you," Mahesa said suddenly.
I raised my hand to refuse and found my fingers trembling, then decided to pull it back. "It doesn't matter. Don't feel so bad," I told him.
"But... how did you suddenly fall like that?" Mahesa's question petrified me. Mahesa stopped and looked at me curiously. "You drowned..." There was a moment's pause before he continued, "...in such a shallow place."
"I slipped on the moss. The rocks are so slippery," I lied. There's no way I'd tell the story if someone suddenly pulled my leg, right? Besides, I could be looking at it wrong.
"You didn't hit your head on a rock, did you? There were a lot of big rocks there."
I rubbed the back of my head, trying to find any bumps that might have been created without me realizing it. Luckily, my head was still perfectly round, there was also no red spot when I pulled my hand.
"I'm fine, just cold," I replied to Mahesa. I was relieved to see the worry starting to disappear from his face.
After all, I was drowning in a large pool, not in the shallow water of the rocks. So, I was less likely to get bumped. However, I didn't tell Mahesa anything. We continued walking after hearing Danastri shouting for us.
During the trip, Danastri kept clinging to Kartika. Her eyes were teary and she shed a few tears. It seemed like she felt guilty and scared because Kartika disappeared when she was with her.
Kartika was Danastri's only and closest female friend-at least that's what I concluded in our friendship. Danastri certainly didn't want to lose her close friend. No one wants to feel that way.
***
"Get plenty of rest!" said Danastri when we arrived in front of Kartika's house.
Light began to appear in Kartika's eyes. Kartika's life seemed to slowly fill up again. With a weak smile, Kartika nodded. "Yes, sorry to trouble you all," she replied softly.
Kartika turned to me and took off the Mahesa woven cloth that Danastri had given her. She now wrapped the cloth around my shoulders. Unfortunately, I didn't feel much warmth. The clothes were even wetter because of my soaked clothes.
"Thank you very much," she said, which I'm sure was not only directed at me but also at Mahesa and Danastri.
"Don't push yourself. If you need help, tell us," Mahesa consoled. Which was answered with a bright smile by Kartika.
"You guys also go home quickly. The sun is already setting. Or if you want, you can stay at my house for the night," Kartika offered.
We turned our heads together and looked up at the sky. The orange had diminished and half the sky had turned dark blue. The atmosphere suddenly changed drastically. The sadness that initially enveloped us turned into worry and anxiety. I looked at Mahesa and Danastri, observing their faces one by one.
"Let's take Danastri first," I suggested, which Mahesa immediately agreed to. "It could be dangerous if Danastri stays at someone else's house without Hamlet Chief knowing." Imagining Hamlet Chief's anger when he found out that his favorite girl was staying at someone else's place was quite scary.
"Why don't you go home on your own? It will be faster to arrive if you don't take me, right?" Danastri refused.
Mahesa shook her head. "It's okay, don't worry. Let's hurry."
We said goodbye and took wide steps and faster than usual. Kartika entered her house immediately and didn't want to linger outside or simply wait for us to disappear from her sight. I saw Mahesa holding Danastri's hand who walked beside him and I moved to Danastri's other side, making the girl in the middle of the two of us.
After walking until the orange in the sky disappeared completely, Danastri's house was visible in the distance. On the front porch, the main door was open, producing the shadows of three people standing facing each other. When they heard Danastri shouting for her father, they turned to us.
"Danastri!" called Danastri's mother who tried to run down the stairs, but was immediately blocked by her husband who came down hurriedly first.
Although darkness was in sight, it did not make us feel the aura of anger on the man's face. Without realizing it, Mahesa and I stepped back, Danastri was already out of Mahesa's grasp.
Instead of retreating, the girl stepped forward boldly. Her arms were stretched forward as if she was blocking her father from passing. It looked like Danastri was trying to protect me and Mahesa.
However, of course, the strength of her small hand was not much. In just one pull, Danastri staggered backward although she did not fall. No one could stop the Head of Hamlet from moving. Mahesa and I also spontaneously continued to step back without paying attention to the road.
Bugh!
A shout was heard and a hard punch landed on the cheek.
Ck, knowing this, I should have let Danastri go home alone.