Welcome weekend, goodbye weekdays.

As the final bell rang, signaling the end of another exhausting week, relief washed over me. The monotonous routine of classes and exams had taken its toll, leaving us students yearning for the freedom of the weekend. The days after exams felt particularly dull, lacking the usual excitement and activities. Yet, despite the boredom, I still looked forward to the weekend, knowing that something more significant awaited me.

On Fridays, our early dismissal provided a glimmer of hope. Instead of the usual 4 PM departure, we were let go at 2:30 PM. The scorching sun and clear blue sky accompanied me on my walk home, but today, I deviated from my usual path. Instead of heading home, I made my way to a different bus station, the designated meeting spot for a long-awaited rendezvous.

Reaching the station, I sought refuge under the roof, seeking respite from the relentless heat. Resting my feet on the provided seats, I fanned myself with a book, attempting to create a cooling breeze. As I observed a bus pulling up, its sliding doors opening and closing to welcome new passengers, I resisted the temptation to board. My companion had not yet arrived, and I waited patiently, knowing we had agreed to meet here after he finished his "urgent" business.

Even the sheltered area couldn't shield me from the sun's unrelenting rays. Desperate for relief, I approached the station's vending machine and purchased a refreshing can of cold cola. As I inserted the bill and watched the can make its descent, I eagerly reached down to retrieve my chilled beverage from the dispensing slot.

Tit~

The sound of a button being pressed caught my attention, and I turned around, still crouched, to find a pair of feet standing in front of me. Looking up, I discovered that the person I had been eagerly waiting for had finally arrived.

"Arkan, what took you so long?" I asked, my tone tinged with annoyance.

"Just wanted to buy some cold tea. What's the problem?" he responded, a hint of irritation in his voice.

"Forget it. Step back, I need to stand up," I replied, my frustration evident.

Obeying my request, Arkan moved aside, muttering about his thirst as he did so.

This person, sometimes kind and considerate, other times incredibly infuriating. Perhaps he had orchestrated this delay just to tease me. Meeting his eyes, I couldn't help but continue our exchange. "So, have you finally finished your 'really-serious' business?" I asked, exaggerating the importance.

"Yes, yes, I have. Can we not dwell on that?" he retorted, his annoyance palpable.

"It's your own fault for being late to school," I persisted.

"I didn't use my bicycle this morning. That's why I was late," he defended himself.

"Why didn't you bring your bicycle anyway? It's not like the usual," I probed further.

"We're going to Tio's uncle's house. Do you even know the bus route?" he responded, sounding as if he underestimated my knowledge. Truth be told, I had no clue.

"I can ride a bicycle with you," I offered casually.

Arkan looked momentarily dumbfounded by my suggestion. What was wrong with riding a bicycle together?

"No!" he exclaimed sharply.

Why not? What prevented me from being his passenger this time? We had ridden the same bike just last Monday. Was I too heavy?

As I arrived at this half-formed conclusion, a sullen expression settled upon my face. Despite his silence on the matter, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation emanating from him.

"Look, the bus is here. Come on, let's hurry up so we won't be late," Arkan declared abruptly, grabbing my hand and pulling me along with him. His actions were often impulsive, catching me off guard.

We found seats in the middle of the bus, surrounded by empty ones despite the ample availability. The overhead handles remained untouched as passengers opted for the comfort of the seats. Sitting side by side, a vacant seat separating us, the silence settled between us.

"Is your friend already home by now?" I asked, breaking the quietude.

"He should have been home 30 minutes before us," Arkan replied, his tone betraying a trace of worry.

"Oh, I see?" My answer is short.

Most likely Tio's uncle lives on the border so he won't disturb other people who live in the city. When it came to fireworks, they would definitely be complaining about the loud sound they make.

"Is he staying there because of people's complaints?" I asked briefly.

Arkan who seemed to understand my unclear question answered, “Maybe. But it's more a factor of because that's where the fireworks manufactory is, it's even built long before his own birth”.

“A-Amazing! It's like a historic relic of Ilutu city!” I responded in a high tone of awe. I even slightly push my body closer to Arkan which surprised him a little.

“I-it might be an exaggeration to call it a 'Historical Remain', but yeah, I agree. The descendants of Tio's family are already known as suppliers of fireworks for major festivals, and Tio himself seems to want to continue his family tradition" Arkan explained.

After hearing all those amazing things, I asked Arkan in a stiff tone, “H-hey, is making fireworks difficult? I'm a little worried”.

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"Worried? Why?" He asked looking confused by my words.

"It's nothing! Answer me, is it difficult or not?” I denied it and kept asking.

“W-Well, when it comes to whether difficult or not is it, when I first tried it, it wasn't that difficult. Maybe because at that time I was still directly directed by Tio's uncle's instruction” He explained.

I breathed a sigh of relief because it turned out that the first time I would be instructed. If I do it myself, I'll be confused as heck.

Having nothing else to talk about, we are both silent the rest of the way until we got off at our intended station and start walking. It is now 2:50 PM. Turns out the trip was quite long, huh? The evidence is that the atmosphere of the city has disappeared and been replaced with a vast expanse of rice fields as far as the eye can see. This is actually my first impression of the outskirt city, Ilutu.

Our journey is not completely silent. Sometimes I chat with Arkan and vice versa. Conversations like this seem natural for us who have been friends since we first met in the middle of nowhere. A gentle breeze hit us who are walking above the asphalt road flanked by rice fields. There are a few scarecrows that are displayed randomly in the rice fields.

Exiting the rice field area, we are greeted by a fairly large residential area. Most of the houses are traditional models made of wood that have not been touched by modern architecture. This makes the village vibes a lot thicker. Until we stop our leg at a big house with the same model as the others but with concrete materials, beside the house, there is a shophouse that is still closed.

"This is the house" said Arkan.

While a little gawking, I say, "Wow, it's really big".

Then, Arkan, like someone who had often stopped by, without hesitation, stepped into someone else's yard.

“W-wai- Arkan! Is it okay?” My words are convoluted.

“Well, I told them we are coming and got permission. It should be fine. Besides, if you call them while shouting it's not good either, isn't it?" What he said is true too.

"That's not the problem, but ...".

Arkan approached the front door of the house, rapping his knuckles on it twice and calling out in a firm-yet-pleasant voice. He waited for a response, but nothing happened—the silence is palpable. He knocked again, this time louder, and called out once more.

Just then, from around the left side of the house, there came the sound of footsteps crunching over the patches of grass and stones that lined the path. A middle-aged man in crudely stitched clothing appeared, squinting at us in the bright sunlight. Arkan's face lit up with recognition—is this Tio's uncle?

"Ah, good afternoon, Uncle" Arkan greeted an old figure who turned out to be the person we were looking for.

“Ahhh, Arkan, huh? Welcome. Tio is in the back working” His answer sounded happy to see Arkan. Then, his gaze turned to me sharply.

“Oh, who is that young girl beside you?”.

"She's the girl I told you" He said simply while glancing at me, telling me to introduce myself.

“O-oh, good afternoon, my name is Hana Binatha. I came because I wanted to learn how to make fireworks. Nice to meet you" An overly formal formality that ends with a bow of the head.

“Ah, is that so? Okay, then let's go back to the manufactory. The "factory" is behind the house".

Tio's uncle then walk back the way he came, followed by Arkan who preceded me. On the side of the house, there are stepping stones that lead to the backyard.

When I arrive at the back of the house, I'm surprised by how large the backyard is. If anyone wants to play football here, it's definitely possible for inter-regional matches. Maybe a little exaggerated but that's my picture.

On the right, there is a building that is still connected to the main house.

"That building is the 'factory'. Well, you can call it that but it is just a simple workshop" Said Tio's uncle as if he was reading my mind. Continuing the steps of the three of us towards the designated building, the door to the building which is almost entirely concrete is opened by someone from inside. A boy can be seen coming out from the inside and then stopping after seeing us walking towards him, or the building behind him.

Waving his hands, he shouts, "Oiiii, Arkan!"

He greeted Arkan beside me, who is responding to the boy's greeting with a wave of his hand. I assumed he is Tio since his build is similar to those of us high schoolers.

Tio then ran towards us and greeted Arkan directly. "Yo!".

"Yo, as usual at this hour you're really enthusiastic, huh?" Arkan responded to his greeting.

"Haha, it's been a long time since you stopped by, two years?" he continued.

"What are you talking about, I stopped by yesterday. But, well, this place hasn't changed much either” Arkan answered him back.

That's right, not too long ago Arkan came here to ask for fireworks for the two of us at that time.

Their conversation feels like the reunion of a friend who has not seen each other for a long time. Somehow, I feel left out again, they seem too busy in their own world.

"Come on, let's talk inside. Young Hana is also here, you know” Said Uncle Tio as if he was reading my heart. Great. But wait, what was his deal with using 'young' in front of my name?

Then, Tio who finally realized that Arkan wasn't the only one here turn his eyes to me, staring at me sharply like he was analyzing my qualifications. "Oh yeah. My apology, you must be the girl Arkan said. Nice to meet you, my name is Tio Rey, just call me Tio, Arkan's old friend" He introduced himself.

I also then introduces myself. “Ah, yes. My name is Hana Binatha, just call me Hana. Nice to meet you”.

"Done greeting each other? Let's go inside, then” Said Tio's uncle.

Hearing his orders twice, we all then starting to walk toward the fireworks workshop building. The building is made of concrete which stands out very much, different from most of the buildings around here which are made of timber. Maybe to prevent accidents from fireworks. Even so, the door still uses wood and there are also several open windows for air ventilation.

On the inside, we were greeted with a room with a dirt floor. It smells of sulfur too. Rarely is there any visible wooden furniture. The lighting is also sober, but it's not too dark either. We are then taken to a room where the smell of sulfur is really sharp, and also the smell of gunpowder, though it's not as sharp as the sulfurs. Wait, isn't to make a gunpowder you need sulfur too?

Then, Tio uncle's left us and entered a room with a wooden door. Until he came out a few minutes later carrying a pile of cloth, maybe dresses?

"Change your clothes, because if your uniform gets exposed to chemicals it will be troublesome" Said he to me and Arkan. While Tio was also wearing the designated clothes.

After changing clothes and also wearing cloth on our faces as masks and gloves, we were given plastic chairs to sit on. While Tio came out of a room carrying a bucket and some black plastic.

"Hey, uncle" Arkan said suddenly calling him who was preparing tools that I don't know the name of.

Hearing Arkan's call, he turned his gaze to Arkan. "Hmm?"

Arkan then changed his eyes to me for a moment then back to Uncle Tio again. “Yesterday, I had a strange incident. While playing with fireworks, the shells didn't explode in the sky and instead came down and exploded right in front of me".

“Pfft, you're so unlucky” A mocking laugh from Tio who is preparing some strong-smelling ingredients.

Arkan will start telling them about the incident, huh?

Not responding to Tio's ridicule, Arkan continues, “Then, whether it's a hallucination or something, it's like I'm moving from my resting place to a meadow that widens as far as the eye can see. The conditions were very calm as if time had stopped, the night sky was clear, illuminated by many stars, and a gentle wind was blowing”.

As if attracted by Arkan's story, Uncle Tio asked, "A meadow?".

Nimbly, Arkan said, "Does Uncle know something?".

"Wait a minute, will you?". Then, he stood up and went out of the building.

Tio's uncle abruptly rose from his seat and made his way outside the building, leaving us bewildered and filled with questions. The three of us exchanged glances, silently contemplating the mysterious turn of events. Tio's expression mirrored our confusion and curiosity, his serious demeanor adding to the intrigue.