29. Jarak; A Good Guy

"Jalak, Jalak, wake up."

I opened my eyes slowly when I heard a familiar voice. Deka shook the body that had fallen asleep; I should have been on guard. Damn indeed.

"I want to pee," said Deka.

Thankfully, there wasn't anything wrong that he reported. I nodded, got up, and then followed Deka's steps.

"Just stay in that room, Deka. Don't come out," I ordered.

Meanwhile, the child urinated in the corner of the room, which was not a toilet. I looked at Banyu, still lying there, coughing occasionally. There's nothing I can do apart from providing food and drink or the medicine he needs to take.

"Santi isn't home yet. When she comes home?" Deka was near me; he had finished urinating.

"Maybe tomorrow; it's still dark now, right?" I rubbed her head gently, "Go back to sleep, okay?"

Deka nodded, then returned to his bed. He was obedient and still sleepy.

Meanwhile, I have to stay awake until morning. When the dim rays of the sun appeared because black clouds covered it, they, the three people, had not returned.

Deka hadn't woken up when I saw him. However, it was different from Banyu, who was already sitting down; what was worse was that her face looked pale. He has a fever.

"I need medicine."

"Or you need to eat; you've only eaten a little since yesterday, Nyu," I stressed. I rushed to get canned food in the form of sardines, then made a fire from pieces of rotten wood. Just a moment is enough for the sardines to cook.

"You have to eat before taking medicine." I handed him the can of sardines I had opened; he accepted it, devoured it, or was forced to devour it.

However, Banyu returned what he had swallowed and vomited. This way, I don't know what to do anymore.

"Just give me the medicine; at least let me sleep."

Many medicines have high doses, with various side effects, including making you tired. So, I gave it all and let Banyu choose for himself.

"Hang in there, Nyu. I don't want to have to put a hole in your head."

"If you have to kill me, don't hesitate, or you and Deka will become victims."

"Hold on, at least until they come back here." I looked at the empty street.

"If they come back, don't get your hopes up; they might already be eaten to death ---"

I stared intently into Banyu's eyes; my right hand gripped his upper shirt. He didn't have to say what came out of his mouth. "Speech is a prayer, don't be weird!"

He pushed my hand away from his shirt, and with a pale face, he said, "Sorry, but that's just the worst possibility."

"They'll be back." I took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. However, Banyu's words are valid.

"Do we have cigarettes?" Banyu asked, making me look at him while frowning.

"Just get it if you have it. I haven't smoked in a long time."

"Nothing, I've wasted my time here."

"I see, yes. Then I'll have to look at the nearest shops."

"Are you serious? Just walking is already unbalanced. Do you want to go out just looking for cigarettes?" I can't stop thinking.

Banyu was already standing; he was determined; his hand grabbed the doorknob; he wanted to get out. He didn't stop.

"Hey, Nyu." I called him as he walked over; he turned his head before opening the door, "A few meters from here, there is a shop; I think there are cigarettes."

"Okay." He winced in pain.

"Let me take it."

Banyu turned back, "No need, I can do it myself."

"Apart from looking for cigarettes, I also have to look for other things. If I need food and drinking water."

"Let me look for it all." He insisted.

"No, I'm sure you can, but my body is fresher and can run faster if a corpse comes. You're here, Nyu, look after Deka."

Banyu thought momentarily, then gave up his efforts to escape. Maybe he realized that his body was not in good condition.

I nodded and took my backpack containing a drinking water bottle. Before stepping out, I said, "Take care of Deka, don't make a sound, be quiet; I'll be back this afternoon or evening."

"That's it, I understand."

***

The unrefreshing wind hit my face. The morning sun was not as bright as during regular times, as if to describe what was happening. The corpses were not nearby, nor could a growl be heard.

I stepped carefully; every alley I checked with my eyes was safe. Cigarettes, I went out just to look for that thing, damn it.

If I didn't have a heart, maybe I would have left the two of them and been free as before. However, feelings of unease hindered those bad intentions, and I complied with even strange requests at a time like this.

I arrived in front of the shophouse, closed by a green door. It's like it's locked from the inside, whether there are occupants or not. However, if I'm not mistaken, this place used to sell cigarettes of various brands. Yes, I passed through this area once.

After walking around, I didn't find any sign that this place was closed outside, meaning someone was inside to complete it before chaos occurred. This green rolling door also seemed to have been hit by a blunt and sharp object; some tried to force their way in but didn't have much time because of the corpses that were chasing wildly.

I brought my crowbar, stuck it between the rolling doors, and tried to open it to the side. It's still not easy; there is a padlock that locks from the inside.

"Hey, is anyone in there?" I tried calling, not too loud, but I tried to be heard in case someone was inside.

No answer. I thought for a moment; I looked in another direction several times, alert.

The other shops had fallen apart; this was all that was left. I went to check out the others several times but came back here because I had no choice.

"You're human?"

I immediately looked at the green rolling door; the sound came from inside. There are people with hoarse and slightly stuttering voices.

"Hey, sir, are you in there?" I asked just to be sure.

"Ah, right, you c-can help me?"

"What do you want help with?"

"I asked, can you help or not?"

I said, "Yes, I can, but I also need help."

"What?" The voice was hoarse; maybe the person inside was old.

"We need food, and are there cigarettes in there?"

Without saying a word, he opened the door of this green shophouse. Then he pulled me in and closed it again. The light from the candles could already illuminate his messy face.

He had a beard and looked old, around his thirties. And smoking, the first thing he handed me was a cardboard box full of various brands of cigarettes.

"Enough to kill you." He laughed as if he had known me for a long time. "Just take food here; it's free. I don't need it if you help me after this."

"We haven't even met yet." I offered my right hand, inviting him to shake hands, "Distance."

"Oh, okay." He greeted me. "Aris and I don't need everything here."

"You can come with us." I offered.

"We? You're not alone?"

"There are some friends you can join if you want." I don't know, but when I first heard and saw his face, I could confirm that he is a good person. Because who would want to give everything they own to someone else? Even at a time like this, it was impossible.

"No, I just need your help, and I hope you want it."

I smiled; he was sincere. "Anything, what help?"

"Kill me."