
Wulan the girl's name. He was only about seventeen years old. He is a kara at the moment. His mother died not long ago. His father remarried another woman and let her live alone in his house.
Wulan survived by working as a laborer on tea plantations. By a Hajah mother who was eager to see his fate. Hajah Ayu's mother's name. Working on his tea plantation. Wages from his work. It is enough to meet the needs of his life.
But the problem is his old and rickety home. Remains from his eyes. The house can be said to be unworthy of use. Therefore, Wulan worked hard and was actively saving to be able to improve the house.
The house, located on the side of the highway, is very ancient compared to other houses around it. Breeze can enter through the cracks of the walls of the house that has been cracked and hollow.
To make a very cold air for Wulan. The leak of the roof is also quite severe, so no wonder. If there is heavy rain. Almost the entire house will be all wet. Including the room that Wulan occupied.
Then, suddenly. One very cold night. On January 10, 2023. His aunt Suketi, the younger brother of his late mother, came to see him. Wulan was surprised, because her aunt had not visited for a long time, and the last news she heard was too. This one is heading to the city.
Wulan used to call her aunt Lik Eti. In Javanese, lik is the call for lilik. The sister of the father or mother. No matter the man or woman. Lik Eti is very compassionate and concerned.
Seeing the condition of Wulan living in a rickety house like this. Although this house is large, but it seems to be not worth using anymore, it needs a massive renovation. Lik Eti offers Wulan to come with him. Move to his house on the edge of the forest.
“You just move. To Lilik's place. Even though his house is not this big. But it is more feasible to be occupied,” said Lik Eti.
“Lilik's house is quite far away, later my work in the tea garden how?” Wulan.
“Yaa kan Lilik already have a motor later you can go home to work on Lilik motorbike. You can ride the motor, right?” balas Lik Eti's.
Wulan nodded slowly. While chewing the lovable rengginang from Ms. Hajah Ayu this morning.
“Yoo. For tonight you are satisfied to sleep here. Clothes and all sorts of things. Tomorrow after work directly to the house Lilik no need to come here again. Sorry, tomorrow Lilik can not pick up, because there is business. So you ride angkot and walk first,” explained Lik Eti.
To esokan the next morning. Wulan carried out his activities as usual. He works in Hajah Ayu's tea garden. After work, he had to go to his house first to take the things he needed later when moving to the house of Lik Eti.
He set out by means of an angkot, then later followed by a walk about a hundred meters from the highway to the house of Likah. In the car. Wulan began to imagine Lik Eti's house located right on the edge of the forbidden forest.
The house is located at the very end of Sukalewat Village. The location is really on the edge of the forest. Or rather the border between rural areas with prohibited forest environments.
Then for the house of Lik Eti that he occupies now. This house was once home to their second wife. His house is very comfortable. Clean and beautiful because Lik Eti people are risky, do not like the messy.
The air is cool and fresh. The quality of the road is good, even though it has not been on asphalt. The distance from Lik Eti's house to where he worked was about thirty-five kilometers. The travel time is usually about forty-five minutes.
This house is alone on the edge of the forest. There are no other buildings or houses. The nearest neighbor was about four hundred meters away. Far enough indeed. Plus his house is rare. Unlike in the village of Wulan, which every building has lined up quite tightly.
One of the reasons Wulan accepted Lik Eti's invitation was because the house he was in was very rickety. He did not have enough money for the renovation. Plus, it is currently in the rainy season. Wulan was afraid suddenly when she was asleep, the house collapsed on her.
Lik Eti's house on the edge of this forest is also ordinary. Far from fancy words. This house is quite small, one-story with a size of eight by nine meters. As Wulan recalled, the outer and inner walls used to be plain white.
With ceramic floor. It has two bedrooms, one function room for gathering and eating, and one bathroom. Although impressed. For the current Wulan, that place was the most convenient place for her.
Not far from the house as well, a few hundred meters to the right of the house. It is a pretty big river. The typical rural river that has a lot of large stones, some even up to the size of a house. The river, from the past until now always used to bathe and wash clothes by the surrounding residents.
After about forty-five minutes in the daydream enjoy the ride in angkot. Wulan was near the area of the house. Now, he just continues his journey on foot.
Passing paths that are a little natural rocks. It was almost dark and dark. Wulan must quickly get home, if not to rain. But, he recalled the message from Lik Eti.
If he rarely cooks. Therefore, Wulan stopped by first to the village. To buy food at the local village stall. It is quite difficult for Wulan to find a stall in this village, once there.
Only sell cassava, yam and boiled corn only. For Wulan it does not matter, the important thing is that tonight his stomach is filled, and can sleep well to prepare for the energy in the face of tomorrow.
Finally the adzan maghrib. The new Wulan will arrive in front of Lik Eti's house. It was cold in the evening near the house. I don't know why he stabbed his bones. Then Wulan was also confused, whether since when the fur Iudukkunya bristling.
Arriving at the door of the house, Wulan was quite shocked. Because hearing the voice of women who laugh giggling with each other. Wulan thinks positively.
“Umm..the most at home Lik Eti, currently there are many guests,” murmured Wulan. As he walked closer to the door.