Aku di Sini – The Night of the Accident
The day of her birthday dawned bright, sunlight spilling over Bandung’s rooftops. Putri woke with a smile. She dressed carefully, choosing her favourite blue blouse, and tried to keep her excitement quiet so her family wouldn’t tease her.
She told herself she didn’t care about presents, that she only wanted her friends around her. But deep down, she wanted to see Agus. More than anything, she wanted him to show up.
That evening, the house filled with voices. Friends brought small cakes, laughter filled the rooms, and her parents bustled with pride. Yet as the hours passed, Putri’s eyes kept straying toward the door.
Agus had planned it perfectly. He waited until his parents were asleep, then slipped out with his motorbike keys hidden in his pocket. The small gift box was tucked safely under his jacket.
The roads glistened with rain. Streetlights reflected on the wet asphalt, turning the city into a blur of gold and silver. He leaned forward, urging the bike faster. He wanted to make it before she cut her cake.
“Just a few more minutes,” he muttered under his breath, gripping the handlebars.
The wind tore at his face, and the sound of the engine drowned out the night. He thought of her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she teased him. That was all he wanted to see.
But Bandung’s roads are not forgiving. A sharp turn, a truck pulling out too quickly, the sudden screech of brakes. The world flipped into chaos.
And then silence.
At her party, Putri’s laughter faltered when her phone buzzed. She checked it quickly, expecting Agus. But there was nothing. Just a blank screen.
Hours passed. Her friends sang, her parents urged her to blow out the candles, but her heart wasn’t in it. She excused herself early, retreating to her room.
Midnight came. No message. No call.
She lay awake, staring at the ceiling, her chest tight with unease.
Somewhere across the city, the silver bracelet never reached her hands.
And that night, as Putri tried to sleep, her window rattled, though it was closed.
