The next morning, Arlan went to see Mr. Johan, an old man with a white beard who lived in a simple house under a big tree. Mr. Johan greeted him warmly, and after Arlan explained his arrival, Mr. Johan was silent for a long time, as if he was formulating words.
"Your father was a good man," Mr. Johan finally said. "I still remember the days when he and Salsabila were together. They looked so happy, like the world belonged only to the two of them. But there was something he never told anyone."
Mr. Johan took a deep breath before continuing. "Before Basri left, he asked me to give something to Salsabila. A letter. But I... I was too cowardly to give it."
Arlan was stunned. "The letter? Is it still there?"
Mr. Johan nodded slowly. He went into the house and returned with a small, fragile-looking box. Inside, there was another letter that had never been opened. Arlan read it with a heart full of anxiety.
---
To Salsabila, my love,
I must go again, but I promise I will return. However, if I fail to fulfill that promise, I want you to know that I love you more than anything in this world.
I leave this pendant as a promise, but I also leave a part of my heart with you. If I do not return, it is not because I do not love you, but because I have failed to fight fate.
Live happily, Salsabila. Do not let my love be a burden to you. If I do not return, consider this as my last gift: the freedom to love again.
Forever,
Basri
---
Tears flowed down Arlan's cheeks as he finished the letter. This letter could change everything if it only reached Salsabila's hands. He felt that his task was not yet complete—he had to put all the pieces of this story together so that the memories of his father and Salsabila would not only be a tragedy.