Morning sun was still reluctant to fully show itself, only faintly greeting the earth as Naufal walked quickly through the airport.
The clock on his wrist showed 6:30 AM. It ticked rhythmically, following Naufal's sure steps as he walked through the departure hall.
The typical morning atmosphere of the airport – the hustle and bustle of suitcase wheels, the chatter of passengers, and the hiss of air conditioning – filled his hearing.
However, in the midst of the crowd, Naufal remained focused, his eyes observing every detail around him, as if searching for something, or someone. His face looked tense, slightly anxious.
Rows of waiting chairs on his right and left were filled with passengers busy with their respective activities. Some were engrossed in reading books, their heads bowed behind pages full of stories.
Some were busy with their smartphone screens, their fingers dancing on the glass surface, perhaps texting or playing games.
Others were chatting lightly with friends or family, their laughter occasionally heard among the noise of the airport.
Naufal watched them all, as if seeking peace amidst his inner turmoil.
A tap on his shoulder broke his reverie. He turned, and a relieved smile etched on his lips.
"Uncle Dika," he greeted warmly.
Dika Prasetya, a man of Javanese descent whom he had known for more than ten years, was one of the mechanics at the airline where his mother, Adelia, worked.
When Naufal was little, whenever he accompanied Adelia to the office after school, Dika always greeted him warmly.
Those childhood memories flashed clearly in his mind, providing a little peace amidst the storm that was hitting his family.
"Why are you here, Naufal?" Dika asked, his voice gentle.
"Looking for Mama," Naufal replied briefly, his tone slightly worried.
His anxiety was not only because his mother was not at home, but also because of the bad feeling that had haunted him since this morning.
"Isn't your Mama off today?" Dika asked back, a little surprised.
Naufal was silent for a long time, before finally saying,
"Papa... Papa sold our house without Mama's knowledge, Uncle. And all my educational savings are gone too."
His voice trembled, holding back anger.
"What? Who told you?" Dika frowned, a sense of worry beginning to envelop him.
"Yesterday the person who bought the house came. And earlier I accidentally read a message that Aunt Lila sent to Mama. She said she saw Papa in the waiting room with Aunt Chintya, waiting for their departure schedule," Naufal revealed. "Maybe Mama came here to meet Papa."
Dika stopped in front of the door, listening to the hubbub coming from inside. The atmosphere inside seemed noisy, different from usual.
"What's going on here?" Dika muttered, a little curious.
He immediately approached a cleaning service who was cleaning the floor near the door.
"Adel is angry, Sir," the cleaning service replied, his voice whispering. "Very angry."
"Why?" Dika asked, his tone slightly raised.
Before the cleaning service had a chance to answer, the door to the room opened. Lila, Adelia's co-worker, appeared with a surprised and slightly pale face.
"Eh, Naufal?" she exclaimed, her eyes looking at Naufal with an expression that was difficult to interpret.
The presence of Naufal and Dika in front of the office door seemed to be a sign of an even bigger problem.
Lila took a deep breath, trying to calm herself before telling what actually happened.
"Come in first," she invited, opening the door wider.
Naufal and Dika entered the room, their steps accompanied by a surge of curiosity and worry.
The room seemed more crowded than usual, some employees gathered in the corner of the room, whispering to each other. A tense atmosphere enveloped the room.
Adelia appeared to be sitting in the middle of the room, her face flushed with anger. Her eyes were teary, and her gaze was sharp and full of anger. Not a single word was heard from her mouth anymore.
Naufal and Dika exchanged glances. Lila approached Naufal and Dika, explaining in a low voice, "Earlier in the check-in room, Fatar and Chintya were sitting waiting for their flight schedule. It was delayed by 1 hour, so when Adelia came, she was still able to meet and curse them in public. But of course that's not justified. Pak Andi immediately pulled Adel to the office so as not to disturb public comfort."
"Has the plane boarded?"
"Yes. Fatar and Chintya are already inside. It's my fault. I shouldn't have sent that photo which definitely ignited Adel's emotions. Making her scolded by Pak Reza for causing a commotion. But what to do? I was annoyed to see it. Chintya really has no heart," Lila said.
Naufal felt his chest tighten. He couldn't imagine how devastated his mother was right now. He approached Adelia, hugging his mother tightly, trying to give her a little strength and peace amidst the storm that was hitting their family.
"Let's go home, Ma," Naufal whispered.
"You go ahead. Mama wants to take the next flight, to the same destination as your father and that woman."
"Does Mama want to sue for the money Papa took?" Naufal asked.
"Money can still be earned. But those who have betrayed deserve to be taught a lesson!" Adelia's voice still trembled with anger.
"No need, Ma. Just let Papa go with Aunt Chintya. God knows that Papa is not a good man for Mama. That's why He gifted that bad man to a woman who is also not good."
Adelia was stunned. She never imagined that such a simple sentence would come from the mouth of a teenager who was only 17 years old.
"Mama, you are too precious for people like that. It must be realized, no need to wait. Make this the time to let go of the maker of wounds in Mama's heart," Naufal said.
Dika also patted Adelia on the back.
"Your son is right, Del. Even if you can catch up with them. What can you do? Curse them? Shout to everyone that they are traitors? That might make us very satisfied. But that's not how to repay their evil."
"I promise, Ma. I won't be a child who fails in Mama's upbringing," Naufal promised, a statement that made Adelia burst into tears in her son's arms.
And that night, Naufal sat on the terrace of the house while looking at the sky. It was dark, there was only one star visible in the sky.
Naufal stared at the star without blinking. Even though it looked very small for such a vast sky, the Star was still trying to be a point that could illuminate the darkness of the night.
Naufal smiled. That night he learned one thing from the star he saw. No matter how small the light emitted by a star, it must be able to be a little light for the vast darkness.
Adelia had said earlier on the way home.
"Grandpa and your uncles, don't need to know what problems we are facing. Mama will fight for your future," so was the promise and determination from the woman who had given birth to Naufal.
"Okay, we'll fight together, Ma. I'll make Mama proud to have me as Mama's son," Naufal promised. "You be a witness to my promise tonight, Star! One day I will make Papa regret and kneel to apologize to Mama!""