The night was peaceful, with only the sound of crickets and the gentle hum of the fan audible in the Adriansah family home.
The three children were busy studying in their rooms. In the living room, Mr. Rikita sat in a rattan chair, clipping his nails. Beside him, Mrs. Sari, Ratna's mother, was engrossed in a television show, hugging a small pillow.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang loudly.
Woof! Woof!
All the pet dogs immediately started barking, one after another. The previously tranquil atmosphere of the house turned noisy in an instant.
"Hmm, who is it this late?" complained Mr. Rikita, frowning. He reluctantly put down the nail clippers.
"It's already eight o'clock, you know," chimed in Mrs. Sari, her eyes still on the large clock above the television.
With heavy steps, Mr. Rikita walked towards the door.
From outside, the sound of the gate being opened could be heard, followed by the dogs' increasingly loud barking. A few minutes later, he reappeared with the three dogs in tow.
"Ratna! Ratna! Your friend is here!" Mr. Rikita called out.
Then, in a softer but clearly annoyed tone, he whispered, "Tell him not to come so late next time."
Ratna, still wearing her striped pajamas, quickly got up. She was confused. Who would come visiting so late?
She had never had a friend brave enough to come to her house. Her house was indeed far from school.
She walked to the front yard, her heart beating softly.
As the door opened, the moonlight immediately greeted her, casting a soft glow on the face of the person standing there.
It was Rey.
He stood there in a black coat and jeans, his smile warm, if a little awkward. His motorcycle was parked behind him, gleaming under the light of the garden lamp.
"Rey… how could you—" Ratna's voice caught in her throat. She could hardly believe it.
"Ratna," Rey replied with a wide smile. "I promised I'd come, didn't I?"
Ratna's heart fluttered.
She didn't know whether to be happy or panic. No one had ever come to her house like this. Especially... this late at night.
"Ah, I really didn't expect you to show up," Ratna said, still a mix of shock and embarrassment.
"Ratna, if I say I'll come, it means I'll definitely come," Rey stated firmly. There was a hint of pride in his voice.
The two were silent for a moment. The atmosphere felt awkward.
The moonlight shone on Ratna's face without her glasses—plain, simple, but somehow, just beautiful in Rey's eyes.
"It's nice to finally see you," Rey said at last, looking at her with sparkling eyes.
"Why did you come to my house? Why not at school?" Ratna asked, her voice trembling slightly. There was a fear of being misunderstood, a fear of being scolded by her Dad.
"Ah, it's not private at school," Rey answered casually with a small smile. "If we were there, too many people would see us. We wouldn't be able to talk normally like this."
Ratna looked down, her fingers clutching the edge of her pajamas.
"Have you studied for tomorrow?" she asked randomly, trying to hide her nervousness.
"Yeah. You?"
"I have too," Ratna replied quickly.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps were heard from inside the house.
Mr. Rikita entered the living room without a word. He stood in the corner, adjusting a curtain that was already tightly closed, then cleared his throat loudly.
"Ahem, Uncle," Rey greeted nervously, bowing slightly.
Mr. Rikita's gaze was sharp. He looked at Rey for a long time, then pointed at his wristwatch.
"It's late. It's time to go home. Next time, don't come visiting so late if you want to hang out at someone's house," he said flatly but sternly.
Ratna's face immediately felt hot. Rey bowed deeply as well, his face paling.
"Alright, Uncle. I'm leaving now," he stammered.
Mr. Rikita only nodded coldly and left without turning back.
Rey stood up, pushing his motorcycle out of the yard.
"I'm sorry, Ratna," he said softly.
"Ehm, it's okay, Rey," Ratna replied with a small, forced smile.
Rey looked at her for a moment, then asked quietly, "Can I still visit again sometime?"
Ratna looked at him briefly before answering, "Let's plan it again, okay?"
Rey gave a faint smile, started his engine.
"OK. Bye, Ratna."
The soft sound of the motorcycle engine disappeared down the lonely road.
Ratna stood on the porch, watching Rey's retreating back.
Under the moonlight, her face looked wistful—a mix of embarrassment, relief, and somehow... a little longing that hadn't been spoken.
💞After Rey Left
The sound of Rey's motorcycle slowly faded into the distance.
Only the crickets and the whisper of the night wind remained.
Ratna was still standing on the porch. Her hands gripped the door, her eyes staring blankly at the dark street in front of the house. In her chest, something was beating softly—a mix of nervousness, embarrassment, but also warmth.
"He… he really came."
Ratna gave a tiny, almost unbelievable smile.
This was the first time someone had come specifically to see her, especially this late.
Rey… the new student who had always looked at her in a different way.
"Ratna!" Mrs. Sari's voice from the living room startled her.
Ratna hurriedly went inside and closed the door.
"Yes, Mom," she answered quickly.
"It's late, time for bed. School tomorrow," Mrs. Sari said casually, her eyes still on the television.
Ratna just nodded and rushed to her room.
As the bedroom door closed, Ratna threw herself onto the bed.
She took a long breath, staring at the ceiling.
Rey's image kept popping up in her head—his black coat, his warm smile, the way he softly said her name… "Ratna."
Every time she remembered it, her cheeks warmed up.
"Why am I so nervous?" she mumbled, covering her face with a pillow.
She turned her body, looking at her bedroom window. Through the glass, the moon still hung high, perfectly round.
Ratna smiled faintly.
"He really came just to… see me?"
On her study desk, her books were still open. But that night, her mind was no longer on her lessons.
Her heart seemed to be floating along with the moonlight outside the window.
__
On the other side, on the same lonely road, Rey was speeding his motorcycle slowly. A small smile still lingered on his face.
"Ratna… even in pajamas, you're still beautiful," he muttered softly before accelerating towards his home.
💖💖💖
And that night, for some reason—neither of them could sleep.