Arel's first day back home felt strange and wonderful at the same time. So many little things he'd once overlooked now felt incredibly meaningful.
Early that morning, he heard his mother's voice calling from the kitchen again.
"Arel, wake up. You'll be late."
Still lying down, Arel slowly opened his eyes.
For a few seconds, he said nothing.
It had been a long time since he'd heard that voice in person.
"Yeah, Mom," he answered.
Not long after, Arel left his room and sat down at the dining table.
His mother had prepared breakfast, just like she always did.
"You still like sleeping in, I see," his mother said with a smile.
Arel let out a quiet laugh.
"I thought leaving would change me."
"Changing is fine, but don't bring your bad habits with you."
Arel smiled.
That simple conversation made the house feel alive again.
But Arel knew coming home didn't mean everything would immediately go back to the way it was.
Some relationships still needed to be repaired.
Some trust had to be rebuilt.
And he still had a lot to learn about himself.
After breakfast, Arel decided to meet Raka and Dimas.
He wanted to see them in person, not just through messages or phone calls.
The three of them made plans to meet at their old spot.
A small eatery near the park.
When Arel arrived, Raka and Dimas were already sitting there waiting.
Dimas stood up immediately.
"Well, look who showed up."
Arel laughed.
"You haven't changed."
"What can I say? It's a rare opportunity."
Raka only smiled as he looked at Arel.
"I still can't believe you're really back."
Arel pulled out a chair.
"I'm still learning how to believe it too."
Dimas sat back down.
"So you're not going to run away anymore?"
Arel looked at both of them.
"No."
"You sure?"
"I'm sure."
Raka smiled.
"Good."
They started talking about all kinds of things.
About Arel's job at the bookstore.
About their lives over the past few weeks.
About the little things they used to do together.
But after a while, the mood grew more serious.
Raka looked at Arel.
"Rel."
"Yeah?"
"There's something we need to talk about."
Arel could already guess what it was.
"About what happened back then?"
Raka nodded.
"Yeah."
Dimas fell silent too.
"I already know about Fajar," Arel said.
Raka was startled.
"You've seen him?"
"Yeah."
"And?"
Arel drew a breath.
"He confessed."
Raka lowered his head.
"I still have a hard time believing things went that far."
Arel looked at them both.
"I did too, once."
Dimas fidgeted with the straw in his drink.
"But now?"
Arel thought for a moment.
"Now I realize that holding on to my anger won't change anything."
Raka looked at Arel with admiration.
"You've really changed."
Arel smiled.
"Maybe because I'm tired of being angry all the time."
Dimas nodded.
"That's the most mature thing that's ever come out of your mouth."
Arel laughed.
"Don't start."
The three of them laughed again.
For the first time in a long while, it felt like old times.
But this time was different.
They weren't just joking around.
They understood each other better, too.
After they'd talked for quite a while, Raka suddenly asked,
"Rel, do you still want to work at that bookstore?"
Arel nodded.
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because I like that place."
Dimas smiled.
"Even though you never liked reading before."
Arel gave a quiet laugh.
"I've changed."
"Or are you just pretending to change?"
Arel grabbed a tissue and tossed it at Dimas.
They laughed again.
That afternoon, Arel walked home.
On the way, he passed his old school.
A place that held so many stories.
There were good memories.
And there were memories he wanted to forget.
He used to avoid that place at all costs.
But now he stopped for a moment.
He looked at the building from outside.
The same place could feel different when the person looking at it had changed.
His phone chimed.
A message from Nara.
"Are you home?"
Arel replied.
"I am."
A few seconds later:
"I'm glad to hear that."
Arel smiled.
"Thank you."
Nara replied right away.
"You still say thank you all the time."
Arel gave a quiet laugh.
"Because I really do have a lot to be grateful for."
Nara sent another message.
"How does it feel to be back?"
Arel thought before answering.
"Scary."
Then, a few seconds later, he added,
"But better than running forever."
Nara replied.
"That's progress."
Arel slipped his phone into his pocket.
He felt that his life still wasn't perfect.
There were still a few relationships that needed to be repaired.
There was still guilt that sometimes resurfaced.
But now he no longer had to face it alone.
That night, Arel sat in his room.
He opened the small notebook he used to carry everywhere.
Its pages were filled with old writing.
About fear.
About wanting to leave.
About questions he'd never answered.
Arel opened to a new page.
Then he wrote:
"I left because I felt like I had nowhere to return to."
He paused for a moment.
Then continued:
"It turned out that place had never disappeared. I was just too afraid to see it."
Arel closed the notebook.
He looked around the room.
This room had once felt like a place filled with pressure.
Now it felt like a place to begin again.
But just as he was about to go to sleep, his phone chimed again.
A message came in from an unknown number.
Arel opened it.
"Hello, Arel. I heard you've come back."
Arel furrowed his brow.
He didn't recognize the number.
Another message came in.
"There's something you still don't know about what happened back then."
Arel sat up immediately.
His heart began to beat faster.
He'd thought all the old stories were over.
He'd thought all the answers had been found.
But it turned out there was still one piece left unopened.
One story that might have been hidden all this time.
Arel stared at his phone screen.
Then one final message came in.
"If you want to know the truth, meet me."
Beneath the message was a name.
And that name made Arel's expression change.
Because it belonged to someone he never thought would reappear in his life.