The heat of midday began to fade as golden light draped the narrow alleys and rooftops of Cirebon. In front of Toko Kue Palm Sari, the scent of freshly baked rolls still lingered in the air, even as the day's last customers filtered out. Phuby stood by the front entrance, sipping a cold bottle of mineral water, his mind already racing with thoughts about the new house and the land search.
It had been a week since the conversation on the rooftop. With Om Luky's help, they had scouted several nearby plots, each with its own quirks—some were too narrow, some too far from the shop, and some had land issues or unclear ownership titles. Nothing had clicked yet. Phuby wasn't in a rush, but he was starting to feel the itch of impatience. He didn't want to just buy land—he wanted to invest in a future.
As he turned back into the shop, Dhe'ik waved from the counter. He had flour smudged on his face and a towel over one shoulder, already looking like a seasoned kitchen veteran.
"Bro, want to go smoke up top later?" he asked. "Om Luky left a pack of kretek in the rooftop stash."
Phuby chuckled. "Only if there's coffee."
"There's always coffee," Dhe'ik said, flashing his lazy grin. "Also, Kotim brought us some fried tahu. Man's a legend."
The shop ran with a rhythm now. Kotim helped with the front-end flow and bulk orders. Amad handled deliveries, often zooming through the narrow gangways on a beat-up motorbike with a huge branded delivery bag. Apood, despite being employed elsewhere, often dropped by in the afternoon to hang out or help clean. Even Mamad would swing by some nights after closing his family's nasi goreng stall, bringing leftover rice or fried eggs as peace offerings.
Palm Sari wasn't just a bakery anymore. It was a home base. A reunion point for old bonds that had withstood time and change.
Later that evening, Phuby sat cross-legged on the rooftop, cup of coffee in hand, the sky a deepening indigo. Dhe'ik was beside him, rolling a cigarette lazily, while Hana came up carrying a tray of snacks—tempe chips, roasted peanuts, and a few slices of sweet banana cake.
"You're spoiling us," Dhe'ik muttered through a grin.
"You're working hard," Hana said, seating herself next to Phuby.
They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment, only the ambient city sounds filling the gaps.
"I've been thinking," Phuby said slowly. "About the new house."
Dhe'ik tilted his head. "Already picked the land?"
"Not yet. Still looking. But once I do… I'm going to need help managing all of it. Permits, designs, supervising the build."
"I can help," Dhe'ik offered without hesitation. "Kotim knows some people too. Contractors. Reliable ones. Not the kind who disappear after the down payment."
Phuby smiled, grateful. "Thanks."
"And you're going full mansion, huh?" Dhe'ik teased. "Big gate? Columns? Lion statues?"
Hana giggled. "No lion statues."
"Maybe koi pond," Phuby muttered, sipping his coffee.
Dhe'ik laughed. "Of course. Rich guy koi pond arc begins."
The stars began to blink in one by one. Below them, the gentle clatter of dishes being cleaned drifted up from the second floor. Mrs. Wulan and Om Luky were likely wrapping up dinner and preparing for evening prayers.
Phuby leaned back, gazing upward. "You know what scares me?"
"Huh?"
"All this... moving forward. It's good. Amazing, even. But sometimes I wonder how long it can last."
Hana placed a hand on his knee. "Then don't think too far. Just step forward one step at a time."
Dhe'ik nodded. "And if something breaks, we fix it. We're not rich kids playing house, bro. We built this."
Phuby grinned. "Who knew the funny guy could be this deep?"
"I'm multitalented."
They sat there for a while, sipping coffee, laughing, talking about the past and joking about the future. The rooftop, once a quiet spot for reflection, had become a haven of comfort.
---
A few days later, Om Luky called Phuby while he was going through supplier invoices on his tablet.
"There's a spot," Om said. "Corner lot, just five minutes from here by motorbike. Big. No title issues. Asking price is Rp 2.5 billion."
"Five minutes?" Phuby sat up straighter. "Is it close to the main road?"
"Two turns from the access road. Quiet neighborhood. I already called the owner. He's open to negotiation."
"Let's set an appointment."
They visited the location the next morning. The land stretched wide—flat, fenced, and already cleared. It sat at the end of a street lined with a few modern homes, and a small mosque just around the corner.
Phuby stepped out of the car and paced slowly across the grass. In his head, he already saw it: the entrance, the open yard, the shaded carport, the glass doors, the koi pond Hana had dreamed about. It felt… right.
He turned to his family.
"This is the one."
Wulan looked at him and smiled. "Then let's make it ours."
---