The mansion room was silent. The clock on the wall showed almost midnight, but Yohanes's eyes refused to close. He sat on the edge of his bed, the dim bedside lamp casting a small circle of light in the vast room.
An open notebook lay on his lap, but the page was still blank. The pen in his hand spun aimlessly, leaving only small meaningless scratches at the edge of the paper.
Pointless.
The word echoed again in his head. That old dusty board, its paint peeling, the large letters staring back at him. As if the building wasn't just an abandoned place, but a black hole pulling something out of his past.
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to calm himself. Yet Effendi's face appeared—the sharp, meaningful gaze from dinner earlier. His words rang clearly: "A secret is lighter when carried together."
Yohanes bit his lip. He knew Effendi had already sensed something. Maybe even Deon too. They were too smart, too perceptive. A simple lie about "walking too far" could never hide the dust on his clothes or the unease on his face.
But how could he explain? He didn't even understand it himself. Why did that building disturb him so much? Why the name Pointless? Why did it feel both strange and familiar when he stood before it?
His hand clenched into a fist over the empty page. "If I tell the truth, will they understand? Or will they pull away from me?" he whispered to himself.
Then he remembered Nadine's loving face, her gentle hand on his shoulder. "In this house, you are never alone," she had said earlier.
Una, with her warm smile.Jovian, mischievous yet always able to break the tension.Deon, with his sharp logic.Gibson, steady as a pillar.And Effendi—the grandfather who, for some reason, felt deeply connected to his past.
His heart trembled. "I don't want to lose them. Not again."
At last, Yohanes closed his notebook without writing a single word. He lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The shadow of the Pointless sign clung to his mind, side by side with the smiles of his family tonight. Two worlds pulling at him: the mystery of the past, and the warmth of the present.
A small tear slipped from the corner of his eye. He quickly wiped it away, as if afraid someone might see him—even though he was alone.
"Tomorrow… I have to be more careful," he whispered softly. "I'm not ready to share. But I promise… one day I will tell them. Once I finally understand."
He turned off the lamp. Darkness filled the room, leaving only one thing he couldn't switch off: the whisper of doubt, and the mystery still waiting to be uncovered.
Shadows in Sleep
The late night finally pulled Yohanes into the world of dreams. He stood alone on a strange road—long, silent, with a thin fog that blurred everything around him. At the end of the road stood the old building. Pointless.
A broken wooden sign hung above the entrance. The wind rocked it, making a creak… creak… sound, like whispers that never stopped. Pale moonlight fell on the faded letters, as if trying to give a warning.
Yohanes took a step, each one echoing strangely on the empty road. His heart pounded hard. As he drew closer, the building's door opened by itself—inside was total darkness, with only a long shadow moving slowly.
From within the darkness, a faint voice spoke:"You came… too late."
He froze. That voice… it sounded so much like his father's. Then, slowly, two silhouettes appeared—his father and mother. They stood in the doorway, their faces not fully visible, but their shapes far too familiar to mistake.
"Father… Mother…?" his voice trembled.
His mother's hand reached out, but never touched. Each time he tried to move closer, the distance stayed the same. The shadows stepped back, retreating into the darkness of Pointless.
Yohanes tried to run after them, but the floor beneath him suddenly turned into water. His feet sank, his body trapped. The building grew farther away, his parents' voices fading thinner and thinner.
"If you want to know… don't come alone."
The words repeated, echoing from every direction. Then the Pointless sign crashed down, slamming into the ground with a deafening sound—forcing Yohanes awake, gasping for air.
The room was dark, his breath ragged, cold sweat dripping down his temples. He stared at the ceiling, his heartbeat still wild."Don't come alone…" The phrase clung to his mind, refusing to leave.
A Morning that Beats Warmly
The sun slipped through the thin curtains of Yohanes's room. Birds chirped from the garden, and the sounds of life in the mansion began to stir: Nadine's footsteps in the corridor, Jovian shouting for his missing socks, and the faint smell of toasted bread drifting upstairs.
Yohanes sat on the bed, covering his face for a moment before getting up. Last night's dream still felt vivid, leaving behind a strange feeling—somewhere between longing, fear, and a heavy question mark.
When he came down to the dining room, everyone was already seated. Una was setting the glasses, Deon was busy on his tablet, Jovian paced around while chewing on bread, Nadine and Gibson discussed the day's schedule, and Effendi sat at the head of the table, reading the newspaper.
"Morning, Han!" Jovian shouted louder than necessary. "Finallyyyy! I thought you'd sleep until noon."
Una turned with a worried face. "You're late, Han. Did you sleep too late last night? You look pale."
Yohanes only nodded slightly. "Bad dream," he admitted, though without details.
Effendi slowly lowered his newspaper and looked at him deeply. "About Pointless?" he asked, as if he could read his thoughts.
Yohanes froze, then quickly lowered his head. "I… dreamed about my father and mother."
The table immediately went silent. Nadine set her spoon down gently, Gibson lifted his calm face, and Deon stopped typing.
"What was the dream like?" Nadine asked softly.
Yohanes exhaled, then told them just enough: the foggy road, the old building, the silhouettes of his parents, and the voice that said "don't come alone." His voice was hoarse, dragging feelings from deep within his chest.
Una quickly reached for his hand. "That might be a message… that you don't have to carry everything by yourself, Han. You have us."
Jovian, usually the one to joke, only lowered his head and scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah… don't act like some lone hero in a movie. You're more like the main character who actually has a team, you know?" he said, trying to lighten the mood.
Deon looked at him seriously. "If it's a symbol, it means real danger might wait if you insist on walking alone. Remember that carefully."
Finally Gibson spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Dreams aren't always prophecies. But sometimes, they're mirrors of our hearts. If your heart is afraid of being alone, then let others walk beside you."
Nadine placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You're our son now, Han. If your parents left a message through your dream, maybe it was for you to truly trust in your new family."
Yohanes swallowed hard, his eyes burning. For a moment, he felt like a little boy again, wrapped in warmth and care. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice almost breaking.
Effendi ended the moment with a single, meaningful sentence:"Sometimes the answers lie in the place we fear most. But the key to entering it is the hand we choose to hold."
The tension in the room eased again when Jovian shoved a piece of bread into Yohanes's mouth and said, "Okay, enough morning drama. Eat first, or you'll get even paler."
Laughter finally broke around the table. Warm, like the home Yohanes had dreamed of for so long.
Shadows That Linger at School
That day, even though the morning sky was bright and the schoolyard was filled with the lively voices of students, Yohanes felt as if his head was still trapped in the fog of last night's dream. The shadow of the Pointless building kept appearing in his mind. The faint voice of his father saying "don't come alone" echoed in his ears.
He walked slowly toward class, his bag on his shoulder feeling heavier than usual. From a distance, Arka waved his hand."Han! You're so late, I almost thought some monster dragged you out of the mansion!" he shouted in his dramatic style.
Yohanes gave a small smile, but he didn't have the energy to joke back. Arka immediately narrowed his eyes, quick to notice the change."Eh, why does your face look like you saw a ghost all night? Are you sick?"
"No, Ka. I just… didn't sleep much." Yohanes sat at his desk, opening his notebook without really looking at it.
Arka patted his shoulder. "Didn't sleep because of what? Don't tell me… you studied all night just to finally beat me in Math?" He tried to joke, but Yohanes only sighed softly.
"Dream," he answered briefly.
Arka instantly turned serious, dropping his chatter. He leaned closer, his voice softer. "What dream, Han?"
Yohanes stared at his desk for a moment. There was a pull to tell him, but something inside held him back. In the end, he only said, "About my parents. I saw them… but I couldn't really reach them."
Arka went quiet for a few seconds, then said softly, "That must be hard. I know what it feels like to miss someone who's gone. If you ever want to talk, I'm here."
Yohanes turned to him, a small curve on his lips. "Thanks, Ka. Maybe later."
Arka didn't push, only nodded firmly. "Remember, my vent is always open 24/7." He pointed to himself, slipping in a little humor so Yohanes wouldn't sink too deep.
During the break, Yohanes chose to sit in the school garden, staring blankly at the trees. The wind blew gently, but his thoughts refused to settle.
Kia suddenly appeared, carrying two milk cartons from the cafeteria. "I've seen your gloomy face since morning." She sat down beside him without asking and handed him one. "Drink. They say sugar can lighten your thoughts."
Yohanes hesitated for a second, but finally accepted it. "Thanks, Kia."
They drank in silence for a while before Kia spoke again. "If it's about your parents, you don't have to explain everything. I know… even just thinking about them can make your chest feel heavy."
Yohanes turned to her quickly, a little surprised. "You… know?"
Kia kept her eyes forward, not on him. "I can only guess. But I've learned one thing… don't let longing turn into a burden you carry alone. If you're not ready to talk, that's okay. But don't hold it in too long."
Something warm yet heavy stirred in Yohanes's chest. He wanted to be honest, but there were secrets he had to keep—especially about Pointless. So he only said softly, "I dreamed they came… but they felt far away. And I don't know what it means."
Kia turned to him, her eyes gentle. "If they come in a dream, it means they still want to be close to you. That's not something you should be afraid of."
Silence fell again. Only the sound of the wind and the distant noise of other students filled the space. For Yohanes, Kia's words felt like a thin blanket of comfort, even though his heart was still restless.
When the school bell rang, Arka appeared again, walking beside Yohanes."Tomorrow you better be more cheerful, okay? If not, I'll sing all day in class until you lose your mind!" he threatened, lifting his chin with fake confidence.
Yohanes let out a small laugh—the first since morning. "Don't, Ka. That's scarier than my nightmare."
Arka grinned in relief, though he could still see the shadow of sadness in his friend's eyes. He knew Yohanes was still hiding something, but at least he'd lightened the load a little.
Behind them, Kia walked more slowly, watching Yohanes without saying much. In her heart, she knew Yohanes hadn't opened up completely. But she also knew—there would be time for that.
Yohanes stepped out of the school gate, the shadow of Pointless still clinging to his mind. But with Arka by his side, and Kia not far behind, he realized—no matter how frightening the dream was, he wasn't completely alone anymore.
Unfinished Whispers
The school bell had just rung. The classroom buzzed with noise as students rushed to pack their books and race for the door. Yohanes was still sitting at his desk, quietly arranging his pencils with no real purpose. His hands were busy, but his thoughts were far away.
Kia's words from a few days ago came back to him suddenly: "My parents… they were close friends of your late parents."
Like an echo playing over and over, those words pressed their way out of his memory. Back then, Yohanes had brushed it off as just kindness, a way for Kia to feel connected. But now—after the dreams, after the haunting image of Pointless—those words felt different.
"Close friends…" Yohanes whispered to himself. The phrase felt too simple to cover something that might be far deeper.
He rose slowly, slinging his bag over his shoulder, and stepped past the empty desks. In the hallway, the afternoon light slanted through the windows, stretching his shadow across the floor. The shadow seemed to follow him more faithfully than anyone else.
At the end of the corridor, he saw Kia waiting. She held a book close to her chest, her face calm. But that calmness only made Yohanes hesitate even more.
What do you really know, Kia? he wondered. Did you say that just to comfort me, or are you hiding something I don't yet understand?
His steps slowed. He wanted to ask her directly—to shake loose all the doubts sticking to his mind. But his tongue felt heavy. A strange fear crept in: fear of the answer Kia might give.
"Were they really just friends with my parents? Or… something more?" he muttered under his breath, so soft even he barely heard it.
Kia looked up when she saw him approach, smiling faintly. "Han, you took forever to leave class. I thought you fell asleep."
Yohanes forced a quick smile, trying to hide his thoughts. "I was just… putting things away."
But his eyes betrayed him. Kia looked back with an expression hard to read—warm, yet as if holding something back. Yohanes's chest grew heavier, as though another layer of fog had settled between them.
For a few moments they walked side by side, but Yohanes barely heard the chatter of students around them. Only one question spun in his head:
Does Kia know more about my parents than I do myself?
When they reached the school gate, Arka was already waiting, waving wildly. The noise returned, the scene lively again—but in Yohanes's heart, the mystery clung to him like a shadow that refused to leave.
He glanced at Kia. Her smile was ordinary, her words light, yet Yohanes was certain—behind those eyes was a story left untold.
And for the first time, he felt true fear: not just of the old building called Pointless, but of the possibility that someone close to him held the key to a past that could change everything.
Shadows Behind the Sunset
The Alister family car stopped in front of the mansion. The sun was sinking toward the west, leaving the sky painted orange that slowly faded into purple. Yohanes stepped out with slightly heavy steps, his school bag still hanging from his shoulder. From the outside, the great house looked like a calm fortress, but inside his mind, a thousand questions kept spinning.
Kia's words kept echoing: "My parents… they were close friends of your late parents."
He gripped the strap of his bag tightly, as if holding on could stop his worries from spilling everywhere.
As soon as he entered the living room, the familiar noise greeted him. Una was on the sofa, flipping through her school notes. Jovian sat on the carpet, busy with his old but favorite toy car. Deon walked past in his neat shirt, just back from campus. From the kitchen came the faint sound of Nadine and Gibson talking about tomorrow's schedule.
"Han, you're home so late," Una said, glancing up with a warm smile. "Did you have extra activities?"
Yohanes froze for a second, then quickly shook his head. "No… I just walked a bit slowly."
Arka, who had walked home with him earlier, was already gone. That only made Yohanes feel even more alone in the whirlpool of his own thoughts.
Jovian looked up briefly, one eyebrow raised in his usual mischievous way. "Hmm, you look like someone who just got scolded by a teacher. But you're supposed to be the good student."
Yohanes forced a smile. "I'm just tired."
But his voice sounded dry. Deon, who rarely spoke unless it mattered, stopped on the stairs. His eyes were sharp but not judging. "Tired in your body, or tired in your mind?" he asked plainly.
The question shook Yohanes's chest. He almost answered honestly, but quickly lowered his gaze. "I don't know. Maybe both."
Una closed her notebook and walked closer. "If you need to talk, you can talk to anyone here, Han." Her voice was soft, as always. "Don't keep heavy things trapped in your head alone."
Yohanes swallowed hard. Her words pierced him, because he was carrying something heavy. But his mouth stayed shut. "I know," he answered briefly, forcing a small smile.
From the kitchen, Nadine appeared carrying a tray of warm tea. Gibson followed behind, his expression calm as ever. They glanced at the room, then exchanged a look.
"Someone looks a little gloomy," Nadine commented as she set the tea on the table. "Was it a tiring day, Han?"
"Not really, Mother. Just… too many thoughts."
Gibson sat down slowly, his steady eyes resting on Yohanes without pressing him. "Thoughts are good. It means you're alive. But if they're too heavy, let them be shared. You're not alone."
Yohanes lowered his head. Warmth and pain swirled together in his chest. How could he lie to a family so sincere? And yet, he was afraid to reveal a secret before he truly understood it himself.
He held the warm cup Nadine gave him, the steam brushing his face. "I'll be fine," he said softly. "Thank you."
The room grew quiet for a moment. Una still looked worried, Jovian pretended to play with his car but kept sneaking glances, Deon lingered on the stairs as if deciding whether to come back down. Gibson sipped his tea slowly, while Nadine gave Yohanes a gentle pat on the shoulder before stepping away.
Everyone knew he was hiding something. But they didn't push. They just waited.
And that was what made Yohanes even more restless—because the love and warmth they gave felt like a bright light, only making the secret he carried burn clearer inside him.
That night, as he headed to his room, Yohanes looked at the large mansion doors closing behind him. Behind all the laughter, warm tea, and tender words, he knew one thing for sure:
The shadow of Pointless and Kia's words would not fade easily. And he would have to find the truth—whether with, or without, the new family that had given him their hearts.