Chapter 004: The ID Doesn't Match
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Three knocks broke the quiet of the late afternoon.
The modest house, built in a traditional Banten style with modern touches, remained peaceful. The fading evening light hinted that Maghrib was just around the corner.
"Assalamu'alaikum..."
A greeting came from outside the door.
"Wa'alaikum salam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh."
A woman's voice answered from inside. A moment later, the sound of light footsteps hurried toward the living room.
"Coming..."
Aruna opened the door with a welcoming smile.
The moment the door swung open, her smile slowly faded.
A tall, broad-shouldered man stood before her. His long hair was carelessly tied back. A thick mustache and beard covered much of his face. The worn jacket he wore was coated in dust, as though it hadn't been cleaned in ages.
On the other side, Ardan fell silent for a moment.
His eyes studied the young girl standing before him.
The girl who had just lost both of her parents.
Aruna frowned slightly.
She didn't recognize the man at all.
Without realizing it, she kept one hand firmly on the door.
She opened it only halfway—enough to reveal herself, but not enough to let the visitor inside.
"Why aren't you opening the door all the way?" the man asked, frowning. "You're blocking the entrance. I can't get in."
"I'm sorry... may I ask who you are, sir?"
Aruna's voice remained polite.
Inside, however, irritation was beginning to grow.
The man hadn't even introduced himself, yet he was already asking to enter someone else's home.
"I'm Ardan."
His answer was brief.
"I'm sorry... who are you looking for?"
"Gavin."
"Gavin isn't home. He went out."
Ardan let out a short breath.
"Why are we talking out here?" His voice began to rise. "Just let me come inside first!"
"I'm sorry... I can't do that, sir."
This time, Aruna's answer was firmer.
"I don't know you."
She deliberately avoided mentioning that she was home alone.
To her, the man standing at the door was still a stranger.
It didn't matter who he claimed to be.
"I'm Ardan! How can you not remember me?" he exclaimed, his patience beginning to wear thin. "Come on... just let me in first. I've got something important to discuss with you."
"No!"
This time, Aruna raised her voice as well.
"You can't come inside."
She looked him straight in the eye.
"You're a guest."
"You should be polite."
Her words left Ardan speechless for a moment.
He rubbed his face slowly.
Good grief, this kid... he grumbled inwardly.
"I'm Ardan," he said again, lowering his voice and making an effort to sound friendlier. "We've already met once, at my brother's wedding to your mother."
His jaw tightened with frustration.
He had barely slept for days because of work.
And now his mind was still consumed with worry over his brother.
The long journey here hadn't given him a chance to rest, either.
Yet after finally arriving at this house...
He was stuck outside the front door.
Meanwhile, Aruna noticed the change in the man's expression.
She knew he was getting irritated.
But she didn't budge.
If anything, she became even more cautious.
As far as she was concerned, a stranger was still a stranger, no matter how confidently he claimed to know her.
"Really?"
Aruna asked sharply.
She held out her hand.
"Let me see your ID."
Ardan's eyes widened.
"You've got to be kidding me..."
The complaint escaped before he could stop it.
For a brief moment, Aruna was startled by the look in his eyes.
With his tall, muscular build, the man standing before her was undeniably intimidating.
But she didn't back down.
Ardan drew a long breath.
His irritation hadn't faded, but he was beginning to understand.
The girl was home alone.
And with the way he looked right now...
He did resemble a suspicious stranger.
Part of him was annoyed at being treated like an intruder.
Another part silently gave her a thumbs-up.
Good... she's cautious.
Although... this is a little much.
If someone dangerous really showed up, being this fearless could get her hurt.
"Here."
Ardan pulled out his wallet and handed over his ID card.
"Muhammad Ardan Wiryawan. Well? Can I come in now?"
He tapped the name on the card with his finger.
"Uh... wait."
Aruna still didn't move.
"Seriously..."
One of Ardan's eyebrows lifted.
"What now?" he asked curtly. "Come on. I'm in a hurry."
Aruna slowly shook her head.
"I'm still not convinced."
"Why not?"
This time, his irritation gave way to confusion.
He looked at Aruna with an almost pleading expression.
"You don't look like the picture."
Aruna pointed at the photo on the ID before looking back and forth between it and Ardan's face.
Without thinking, the words slipped right out.
"The man in the photo is actually pretty handsome..."
She paused for a split second.
"...but you look scary."
Aruna's eyes immediately went wide.
Both hands flew to cover her mouth.
Oh no... that just slipped out.
She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment.
Whatever, she thought.
It's his own fault. He came to someone else's house acting all rude.
Standing at the doorway, Ardan could only tilt his head toward the evening sky.
He let out a long sigh.
"Seriously..."
He slowly shook his head.
"What did I dream about last night? First I get called 'sir'..."
"...and now I'm being told I have a scary face."
"I'm sorry, sir... I didn't mean to."
The apology came out instinctively.
And sincerely.
Aruna pressed her palms together as though trying to ease the tension.
"It was an honest thought..."
"...but I wasn't trying to insult you."
Ardan narrowed his eyes.
"Are you apologizing..."
"...or finding another way to make fun of me?"
"No, sir!"
Aruna shook her head frantically.
"No, really. I wasn't making fun of you at all."
She looked flustered.
But her voice remained completely sincere.
"I swear."
Ardan closed his eyes for a moment.
His chest rose before he let out a rough sigh.
"Fine..."
He waved a hand, ending what had become the strangest argument he'd had in a long time.
"Let's drop that."
His expression grew serious again.
"I've got something much more important to deal with."
"It concerns both you and Gavin."
"But Gavin isn't here."
"So I'll tell you instead."
"Okay..."
Aruna gave a small nod.
"But, sir..."
"I'm still not convinced you're really who you say you are."
Her eyes fell once again to the ID card in Ardan's hand.
"The picture looks completely different."
"Oh, come on..."
Ardan tipped his head back before looking at her again.
"Are you always this suspicious?"
"I have to be."
Aruna answered without hesitation.
"The important thing is that I'm not accusing anyone."
She pointed to herself.
"But staying cautious is a must."
Her voice remained calm.
"I'm a woman, sir."
Those words left Ardan silent for several seconds.
His annoyance still lingered.
But he couldn't argue with that.
"Alright..."
He stroked his beard slowly.
"So what exactly am I supposed to do to convince you?"
Ardan spread both arms.
"It's not like I can shave my beard first, is it?"
Aruna didn't answer immediately.
She carefully looked him over from head to toe.
Long hair.
Thick beard.
A dusty, worn-out jacket.
Then back to his face.
Ardan met her gaze.
Several silent seconds passed.
Only the evening breeze drifted across the front porch.
"Come on!" Ardan finally exclaimed. "I don't have all day!"
"Um... how about this..."
Aruna slowly raised one finger, as though she'd just thought of something.
"You said you're my father's younger brother..."
"I didn't say I was!"
Ardan immediately cut in.
"I am his younger brother."
"Would you just be patient for a second, sir?"
This time, Aruna snapped back.
"At least let me finish."
Ardan let out a short breath.
"Fine. Go on."
"So..."
Aruna continued.
"If you're Dad's younger brother..."
"...then you're Mamang."
Ardan gave a small nod.
"In that case, Mamang should have my father's phone number."
Suddenly, Aruna's eyes widened.
"Oh... wait!"
She had remembered something.
She raised a hand, signaling for Ardan to wait.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm going to close the door first."
Before Ardan could respond, Aruna had already pulled the door shut.
Bang.
The door closed.
A moment later, the sound of the lock turning came from inside.
Click.
Ardan stood frozen.
One eyebrow lifted.
"Huh..."
Before he'd even finished processing that, another lock slid into place from inside.
Click.
This time, Ardan was completely speechless.
That kid...
The corner of his mouth twitched.
She locked it... twice.
He looked at the tightly shut door.
"Wow..."
Ardan slowly rubbed his face.
"She really sealed it up."
He shook his head with a long sigh.
"She actually locked me outside."
For several seconds, he simply stood there staring at the door.
The house where he had been born.
The house where he had spent his childhood.
And now...
He was standing outside it like a complete stranger who wasn't even allowed to enter.
The thought was both amusing...
And irritating.
"Good grief..."
He rubbed his chest.
"Do I really look that scary?"
Even so, beneath his frustration, he found himself giving a small nod.
Come to think of it... that's actually good.
At least she doesn't just open the door for strangers.
Too bad I'm the unlucky one.
Ardan had barely sunk into his thoughts when the phone in his jacket pocket began to vibrate.
Bzzzzt... Bzzzzt...
He pulled it out.
The screen showed an incoming call from Aruna's phone.
Ardan immediately understood.
"Oh..."
"So that's your idea."
He answered the call and raised the phone to his ear.
"Assalamu'alaikum, sir..."
Aruna's voice came through the line.
"Wa'alaikum salam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh."
Ardan answered calmly.
"Yes, this is Pak Arga's phone."
He glanced at the still-closed front door.
"But unfortunately..."
"...he isn't available right now."
A few seconds later, the sound of a lock turning came from inside.
Click.
The door opened once more.
Aruna stood in the doorway, her phone still pressed to her ear.
Her gaze shifted from the phone screen to Ardan, who was also holding a phone to his ear right in front of her.
"How do you have Dad's ph—"
"Because I'm..."
Ardan cut her off immediately.
"Ardan."
He raised the phone slightly in his hand.
"This is exactly what I came to tell you."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"So?"
"Do you still not believe me?"
He looked straight into Aruna's eyes.
"What more proof do you need?"