The day unfolded as any other unremarkable, predictable, slipping by without so much as a ripple.
For Havi, the morning and afternoon at school held no surprises.
The hours stretched in their usual rhythm, lessons blending one into the next, the steady hum of routine wrapping around him like a familiar tune.
Even in English class, he found himself laughing, swept up in Mr Fahmi's characteristic wit.
The teacher, with his animated expressions and effortless humour, had a way of turning even the dullest grammar rules into something oddly entertaining.
Nothing seemed out of place. Nothing at all.
Not until the bell rang.
Its sharp chime cut through the classroom, bringing with it a strange sense of finality, though Havi could not quite place why.
"Right then, children! That concludes today's lesson," the teacher announced, closing his book with a decisive snap.
"Don't forget your homework. It must be done. And remember, we've a test next week, so I expect you all to be prepared."
He cast a pointed glance around the room before offering a nod of dismissal, "That will be all. Thank you, and good afternoon!"
"Good afternoon, sir!" came the collective response, voices merging into one.
Chairs scraped against the floor, the rustle of books being stuffed into bags filled the air, and conversations sparked to life.
Havi rose from his seat, the echoes of the bell still lingering in his ears.
Havi strode swiftly out of the classroom, his mind still tangled in thoughts of the watermill and the man-made marsh.
The weight of these revelations pressed upon him, urging him homeward with an urgency he could not quite explain.
As he reached the school gates, he barely spared a glance at the passing crowd, his focus set solely on catching the next public transport.
Yet, just as he stepped forward, a sleek car pulled up before him, halting with an abruptness that made him pause.
The door swung open, and a familiar voice rang out, bright, eager, unmistakably excited.
"Havi! I've got fantastic news!"
Havi blinked. The figure emerging from the car was one he knew well.
"Diana," he murmured, recognition settling over him.
A flicker of anticipation stirred within him, for there was only one reason she would appear before him in such a manner.
"It must be something good from your uncle, then," he added, his voice laced with expectation.
Diana beamed, her excitement near palpable, "Of course it is!" she declared, barely containing her enthusiasm. "You won't believe it, Havi!"
Havi tilted his head slightly, curiosity now outweighing the urgency that had gripped him moments before.
"Well then," he said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I'm listening."
Several students who happened to witness the scene stood frozen in surprise.
Among them were a handful of girls who, though they had never dared to confess, had long nurtured quiet affections for Havi.
"Look at that girl with Havi," one of them murmured, eyes narrowing in recognition.
"Isn't that Diana Galuh? The top student in the entire province of Hensa?"
Another girl let out a dramatic sigh of despair, "Oh, no! My Havi!"
"He's never been seen with a girlfriend before," a third chimed in, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"And now we find out he has one, not just any girl, but the brightest student in the whole province?"
"If only I were her," another whispered wistfully, her gaze lingering on Diana with something between admiration and envy.
"Keep dreaming," her friend scoffed, crossing her arms. "Face it. We've lost."
The growing closeness between Havi and Diana did not escape the notice of others, least of all Sayono, better known as Yono, Havi's most trusted friend.
Ever exuberant, Yono's face lit up with a mischievous grin as he beheld the two standing together.
Without a moment's hesitation, he steered his gleaming new bicycle towards them, his approach marked by the rhythmic whir of spinning wheels upon the pavement.
"Oi, Havi!" he called out, his voice carrying across the schoolyard.
"Are you not going to introduce me to your beloved? What kind of friend keeps secrets like this, eh?"
His words, spoken with characteristic boldness, turned more than a few heads. A murmur rippled through the small crowd still lingering by the gate.
Havi and Diana stiffened. A rush of colour crept into their cheeks, though neither dared meet the other's gaze.
For a fleeting moment, Havi's eyes flickered towards Yono's bicycle, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Well, well," he mused, his tone edged with playful reproach. "It seems someone has acquired a rather fine new bicycle."
Yono chuckled, feigning innocence, "Ah… I was going to show it to you later, I swear!"
Havi shook his head in amusement before turning to Diana, "Diana, this is Yono, my closest friend, though at times I question my judgement."
His eyes flickered back to Yono, "And Yono, this is Diana. But surely, you don't need me to tell you who she is?"
With a theatrical scoff, Yono extended his hand, which Diana accepted with polite grace.
"Hah! Do you take me for a simpleton, Havi?" Yono grinned.
"Of course, I know who Diana Galuh is! Who in their right mind wouldn't?"
Then, as though struck by sudden realisation, Yono's expression softened, his usual boisterousness dimming just a touch.
"Oh, that's right," he murmured. "Today's your birthday, isn't it?" A genuine smile played upon his lips. "Happy birthday, mate."
For a brief moment, something akin to guilt flickered in his eyes, "I'm afraid I've no gift for you just yet."
And with that, he swung his leg over his bicycle and dismounted, stepping forward with deliberate ease.
Then, in a manner entirely devoid of jest, he pulled Havi into a firm, unwavering embrace.
A dreadful silence clung to the air, thick and suffocating.
It coiled around Havi's throat like an invisible noose, tightening with every breath he took.
The world around him, the chatter of students, the distant hum of the city, blurred into a meaningless haze.
Diana's expression faltered, "Havi… Is today your birthday?" she asked, her voice soft, almost hesitant. "Why didn't you tell me? I... I didn't even bring you a gift."
Havi barely registered her words. His mind was elsewhere, tangled in a memory that did not belong to this life, but to another.
Yono, as oblivious as ever, laughed heartily, "Haha, Diana, don't worry about that! Havi's parents are some of the most thoughtful people I know."
"Just yesterday, they stopped by my house and saw my new bicycle. They asked where I got it, and I told them, at the central square in Telaga City. And..."
His words never reached their conclusion.
Havi's body turned rigid. His breath hitched. A sickening chill crawled down his spine, sinking into his bones like ice.
Yono frowned, "Havi? What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Diana took a step closer, brows drawn in concern, "If you're feeling unwell, we should go to a doctor."
But Havi did not hear them.
15th September 1993.
The date burned itself into his mind with a cruel, scorching clarity.
'In my past life, today was the day. The day I lost them.'
His heart pounded, wild and frantic. A thousand possibilities raced through his mind, each more horrifying than the last.
If his parents were at the central square, then...
'No! I won't let it happen again! I won't lose them again!'
Panic seized him. His voice tore through the air, desperate and unrelenting.
"Diana! Take me to the shopping district in Telaga City! Right now!"
Diana's eyes widened, "Havi, what's going on?"
"Yono, you too! Hurry, before it's too late!"
The urgency in his tone sent a shiver down their spines. Neither of them moved, still trapped in confusion.
Havi clenched his fists, "What are you both waiting for?! Get in the car! NOW!"