Chapter 1
Unheard Words
The rain poured down in steady sheets, drenching the narrow streets of the city. Aisyah pulled her hoodie tighter around her head as she walked home from school, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Her fingers clutched the edges of a letter she had written the night before—a letter meant for Angga.
She had written it in the quiet of her small bedroom, with only the soft glow of her desk lamp for company. The words had flowed easily at first, each sentence a window into her heart.
Dear Angga,
I’ve been meaning to tell you something for a long time…
Aisyah bit her lip as she remembered the letter’s ending. She had poured her heart onto that piece of paper, but when it came time to give it to him, fear had stopped her.
What if he doesn’t feel the same? What if this ruins everything?
She had known Angga since they were kids. He was the boy who always stood up for her when others teased her for being too quiet, too smart, or too different. He had been her friend, her protector. But somewhere along the way, friendship had turned into something deeper. Something she didn’t have the courage to admit.
The school bell had rung that afternoon, and Aisyah had seen Angga across the courtyard, laughing with his friends, his guitar slung over his shoulder. He was always surrounded by people, always the center of attention. Yet, somehow, he still noticed her.
“Aisyah!” His voice had cut through the chatter, making her heart skip. He waved her over, his usual bright smile lighting up his face. “Hey, are you coming to the music showcase this weekend? I’m performing a new song.”
Aisyah had managed a nod, her voice caught in her throat. She had wanted to say something more, to tell him how much she admired his passion for music, how proud she was of him. But the words stayed locked inside, like they always did.
Now, walking through the rain, she clenched the letter tightly. Maybe tomorrow, she thought. Maybe tomorrow I’ll find the courage to give it to him.
The sound of a familiar tune broke her thoughts. She pulled out her phone and saw Angga’s name flash across the screen. It was a recording of his latest song—a melody that had been stuck in her head since the first time she heard it. Aisyah smiled, listening to the notes. His music always had a way of making her feel seen, even when she was invisible to everyone else.
As she turned the corner to her street, a sense of unease settled in her chest. She didn’t know why, but something felt… off. The usual hum of the neighborhood was missing, replaced by the distant wail of sirens. A flash of blue and red lights reflected off the rain-slick pavement, and Aisyah quickened her pace.
Her heart sank as she saw a crowd gathered near the intersection. In the middle of the chaos, she spotted a familiar figure—a motorcycle lying on its side, and just beyond it…
“Angga?” The word escaped her lips in a whisper, barely audible over the rain.
She pushed through the crowd, her breath hitching as she caught sight of him. Angga lay motionless on the ground, his face pale, his guitar case broken beside him. Paramedics worked quickly, their voices urgent but distant, as if coming from a world far away.
Aisyah stood frozen, the letter crumpled in her hand. The words she had written, the emotions she had kept hidden, all seemed meaningless now.
Please, no. Not like this.
Tears mixed with the rain as she watched them lift Angga onto a stretcher. The boy who had always been full of life, who had always made her believe in something bigger than herself, was now fighting for his own.
As the ambulance doors closed and the sirens wailed into the night, Aisyah stood alone, clutching the letter that would never reach him.
Dear Angga…
I’ve been meaning to tell you something for a long time…
But now, I might never get the chance.
