Even though it’s already past sunset. But Lulu still hasn’t come home. Mom is clearly in a panic, like a chicken without its feathers. Usually, at the latest, around half past six, Lulu’s nose would appear. Whistling dangdut tunes or making a ruckus to find some extra cash for the rickshaw fare.
“Does Lulu bring a spoon with her, Mom? Why are you looking for her?” Lupus said.
Lupus immediately got a smack.
Hehehe… to be honest, Lupus really can’t stand his little sister. Because Mom gets so worried when Lulu comes home even a little late. But when it’s Lupus, oh, they don’t look for him even if he doesn’t come home for a week. That’s why, if you pay attention, you’ll always see Lupus carrying a spoon wherever he goes. The reason? “So they’ll look for me!”
There was a time when Mom was making a big fuss about a missing spoon. Lulu spoke up, “You’re looking for a missing spoon. But Lupus, your own child, is never looked for.”
“Ah… Lupus can come home by himself when he’s hungry. But how can a spoon?” Mom said while still searching for her spoon.
Lulu just giggled, imagining how annoyed Lupus would be if he heard Mom’s words.
But now it’s Lulu who’s missing. And Mom is frantically searching for her.
“Why don’t you go to her school, Pus? Maybe she’s still there. Because whenever she goes anywhere, Lulu always says so.” Lupus, who was busy watching TV, lazily replied, “There’s no way Lulu is at school, Mom. Maybe she went to the Zoo.”
Mom was shocked and gave Lupus a sharp look.
“Why would she be at the Zoo late at night? Did she actually tell you that she was going to the Zoo, Pus?”
Lupus was taken aback. “Uh, that was just an example, Mom. It would be lucky if it’s true.”
“Outrageous! Are you happy if your sister really went to the Zoo late at night?” Mom scolded angrily.
“I mean, it would be easier to find her if she’s actually been caught going to the Zoo. That’s what I meant.”
Mom started getting angry again.
Well, it’s really difficult. And Lupus already knew that he would be the one sent around the world to find out where Lulu is. Uh, it’s exhausting. Just imagine, if Lupus hadn’t come home, there’s no way Lulu would be asked to go through the trouble of searching. It’s really unfair. Lulu always gets lucky. Always gets the best. Shouldn’t it be more enjoyable to watch TV and snack on homemade fried tofu made by Bibik at a time like this? Or buy some siomai from the stall on the corner of the street. Instead of looking for that mischievous Lulu who knows how to disappear. That kid is probably having a great time with her friends while everyone at home is worried sick.”
“Yo, Mom! She’ll come home eventually… if she remembers…”
“But it’s already almost half past seven. Why don’t you go to Suli’s house, or anyone else you know,” Mom said anxiously while occasionally peering through the curtains, looking outside. Maybe Lulu will show up.
It’s already dark outside.
And with a mix of grumbling and sighs, Lupus took out his racing bike from the garage. In his heart, there’s only one thing he’s determined to do: give Lulu a good scolding when he finds her. That kid always causes trouble. If her disappearance didn’t make Lupus busy like this, he wouldn’t care. But this…?
Mom is also too worried. Even though she’s a young kid, it’s normal to have sudden plans once in a while. Who knows, when Lulu wants to come home, she meets a guy with a car and they go out… oh man! That kind of thing is definitely not healthy! Lupus is worried himself. Because Lulu, even though she’s in first grade, her rebellious spirit is still strong. She has two whirlpools in her head. A sign of a naughty child. And what if it turns out Lulu really wants to go with some rich guy in a fancy car around the city? Or maybe to Puncak? Hiiii… hopefully not! Lupus understands now why Mom is so worried. Because having a daughter is the most difficult to take care of. A little distracted, and she’ll be in trouble. And the incidents with guys who like to take young girls are not made up. Lupus often hears about Fifi being chased by those guys. Luckily, Fifi is strong-willed. Only the ones with BMWs are accepted.
Without realizing it, Lupus arrived at Suli’s house with his racing bike. It turns out Suli was buying meatball soup in front of the house.
“Weird, you always come when I’m buying meatball soup,” Suli said.
Lupus laughed and immediately ordered a bowl.
Then Lupus joined Suli sitting on the porch sofa. He lifted his legs and hugged them to his chest to feel a bit warm. It’s cold tonight. Suli started devouring his meatballs. Occasionally, his mouth would pant from the heat. Dang, this kid has no patience when it comes to eating. Lupus helped Suli fan his meatballs with a piece of paper he found on the sofa. “To cool it down faster,” Lupus said.
“Hey, that’s my Valentine’s card!!!” Suli shouted while snatching the paper from Lupus. Dang, Valentine’s Day was so long ago, and he still kept the card. Probably from his girlfriend…
“Who’s it from, Sul?”
Suli just stuck out his tongue. Lupus managed to read part of it: ‘… love makes every day the most beautiful day for you…’ Seriously, so romantic?
“Do you know Boim, Sul?”
“Your friend who supposedly won the flip-flop look-alike contest?”
Lupus laughed, hahaha… “Yeah.”
“What about him?”
“On Valentine’s Day, he got the most Valentine’s cards!”
“Really? Is he handsome or something? Introduce me, Pus.”
“Sure. Because his dad is a mailman, hahaha…”
Suli pouted.
Lupus took the bowl of meatball soup handed by the vendor. “Is the sauce generous, bro?”
Then both of them eagerly devoured their warm meatballs. It’s the best to eat warm meatballs on a chilly night like this.
A few moments later, Suli got up to get a drink.
“What do you want to drink, Pus?”
“Don’t bother. Just coconut ice…”
Suli cursed. Is this a restaurant or something?
A few moments later, Suli reappeared with a bottle of cold water in his hand. “By the way, where’s Lulu, Pus? Why didn’t you bring her?”
Lupus was startled. Oh my gosh, he was supposed to find Lulu. Why is he enjoying himself here instead? Lupus immediately asked Suli if he saw Lulu after school today.
“Well, why are you asking me? I don’t know, Pus. We didn’t go home together. Lulu ran away during the last period…”
Crazy. Lupus hurriedly excused himself. Then he grabbed his bike parked near the meatball vendor and disappeared around the corner.
After a while, for some reason, Lupus reappeared. Panting and stopping near Suli, who was ordering another bowl. “Did I forget something?”
“No, Sul. Just wanted to ask. Has my Valentine’s card arrived?”
“Which card? Not yet. Did you send one?”
“No. Do I have to?”
“Huh?”
Lupus walked away laughing.
Uh-oh. Turns out Lulu is in trouble. It’s already nine o’clock at night, and that kid still hasn’t shown up. Lupus has been searching everywhere, but no luck. Mom is getting more and more worried, unable to relax. She keeps peeking out the window, or urging Lupus to keep looking for Lulu until they find her. So now Lupus, who should be sound asleep in bed, is drowsily searching for Lulu at her friends’ houses. But still no sign of her. Damn, that kid sure knows how to make things difficult. Several times, Lupus almost fell into the ditch with his racing bike because of the unbearable sleepiness.
“Lupuuuus…, Lupuuuus…,” suddenly there was a sweet voice calling from a pickup truck.
Lupus turned around. Hey, who’s that? There’s a cute girl calling out to him. “Hold on, Pus.” The girl got out of her car and approached Lupus. Wow, she’s cute too.
“You’re Lupus, right? You’re looking for Lulu, aren’t you?” the girl exclaimed.
“How did you know?”
“If I can find where Lulu is, what’s the reward?” she said playfully.
“Hey, you’re Lulu’s friend, right? Where’s Lulu?” Lupus got excited. He jumped down and Lulu appeared from the girl’s car. She immediately got scared when she saw Lupus staring at her. “Weniii…, helppp!” Lulu quickly hid behind her friend.
The girl acted as if she was protecting Lulu. “Wait, Pus. Don’t get mad just yet. Listen. Lulu came to my house after school. We planned to see my doll collection. But since my house is far, near Bogor, we got back a bit late. We got carried away playing. Lulu was supposed to stay over at my place, but she didn’t tell her mom. And now you came by, Pus. Please help Lulu. She’s pitiful…”
“Yeah, Pus. Please convince Mom,” Lulu joined in, “I’m scared!”
Lupus could only sigh. Then he pulled Lulu’s hand to move her away from there. Lulu was already scared, but when Lupus whispered softly, “Damn, your friend is pretty too. What’s her name? Weni, right? If you want to go to her house, invite me too. Especially if you want to stay over…”
Lulu was stunned.
Tonight Lulu was sad. She was punished by her mom to replace the maid’s task of washing the leftover catering dishes from earlier.
“That’s the punishment for a child who makes their parents worried. Going out without permission!!” her mom said.
Lulu could only obey. And until night, she grumbled alone in the kitchen, washing the dishes. Her mouth was busy cursing herself for getting into trouble.
After a while, Lupus appeared with a glass of milk. “Drink to make you stronger for washing.”
Lulu ignored him.
Lupus felt sorry for her. He helped a little in rinsing the dishes that had been washed.
“Sometimes I envy you, Pus,” Lulu said while still washing the dishes. “You’re lucky. Free to go out, stay over, without having to bother asking for permission first. You’re so free. Mom never looks for you. What about me? If I disappear for a while, she’s already searching for me. Am I a spoon or something?”
Lupus chuckled.
“Ah, people are so weird. Never satisfied. If they look for you, it’s wrong. If they don’t look for you, it’s still wrong. I actually envy you, Lu. You get so much attention. Do you think I’m not sad, that I’m never looked for?
But yeah, we need to feel unsatisfied. Because if we’re easily satisfied, life becomes boring. No challenges. Hihihi…”
Lulu laughed along.
“Well then, sometime we should go out together, Pus. It’ll be fun. You’ll be looked for, because you kidnapped me. Hihihi…”
Both of them nodded in agreement.
Before they knew it, all the dishes were already clean.
