Chapter 5 — A Haunted House and a Black Cat
Hunter House Arrival
The late afternoon sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the street as the four friends approached the entrance of Hunter House, the town's slightly questionable but very popular game center with a haunted theme that probably hadn't been updated since 2003.
The front gate was decorated with tired spider webs and a crooked sign that read "Enter if you dare!" in jagged letters that looked like they'd been drawn by someone on too much caffeine. From inside, distant sounds of laughter, electronic beeps, and a suspiciously spooky laugh track echoed through the air.
Por walked ahead, calm as always, flipping through a worn pamphlet about the place like he was preparing for a quiz competition instead of a game day. Beside him, Patji bounced on his feet like he'd just inhaled three packs of sugar, eyes scanning every single poster on the wall like he was preparing to buy the entire game center.
Save slowed his steps as his gaze landed on the darkened entrance of Hunter House. His fingers twitched at his sides. Sure, it was just a game center, but the creepy decorations and dim lighting were not helping his overactive imagination, which had already decided ghosts were 100% real today.
Patji spotted it instantly.
"Don't worry, Save. If a ghost jumps out, you can hide behind me. I'll even scream louder than you. Very heroic of me, right?"
The others chuckled, and Save opened his mouth — probably to deny it, but even he wasn't sure — when Auau spoke quietly from beside him.
"It's not that bad. I'll walk next to you."
Save blinked, surprised. Auau's expression stayed calm and unreadable, but his voice was casual, like he was just talking about the weather. No teasing, no smirking. Just simple reassurance. Somehow, that settled something nervous in Save's chest.
Up ahead, Por had already reached the front counter.
"I'll handle the tickets. Four people."
Patji grinned. "Make it five, Por. Save's shadow counts as an extra person."
Por didn't even bother looking up from his wallet. "Then you're paying for the ghost snacks, Patji."
A few moments later, the group stepped past the darkened entrance together. The eerie theme instantly gave way to flashing neon lights, rows of arcade machines, booths, and colorful stalls. The sounds of blaring video games, shouting kids, and prizes clinking filled the air — it was less haunted house and more chaotic carnival inside.
And with Auau quietly matching his pace, Save found that maybe it wasn't so bad after all.
---
The Plan Revealed
A day before — in the sacred battleground of the group chat.
Por: Alright warriors. Mission brief — tomorrow we conquer Hunter House. Meet at 4 pm sharp, don't forget your courage (or your wallets).
Patji: Wait wait WAIT. Are we actually going to that haunted house arcade? The one with the zombie mascot who looks like he needs a nap?
Auau: Yes. And Por called it "conquer" like we're invading a country. Respect.
Por: Because we ARE invading. It's called strategic fun.
Save had stared at his phone when the first message arrived, already regretting opening the chat. The words Hunter House made his stomach flip. The last time he'd gone there was years ago, and he'd sworn off creepy decor and dim lighting forever. Yet here was Por, casually organizing an expedition like they were going on a picnic in Dracula's backyard.
Patji: Okay okay. I'm in. I need to win some prizes. I saw they have the claw machines with those stuffed tigers the size of my ego.
Auau: Por, can we invite Save? He needs some air after all that project stress. Plus, we'll have one extra person to sacrifice if zombies show up.
Save had blinked, pausing mid-scroll. The invitation was casual — almost too casual. He didn't know Auau that well yet. They had only started talking more during the English project. Still, something about Auau asking on his behalf made it hard to say no.
Por: Already ahead of you. Save? You in?
Save: Uh… sure. As long as no actual zombies show up. I didn't bring garlic.
Patji: That's vampires, genius.
Save: Fine. I didn't bring holy water either.
Patji: Perfect. We'll die together.
Just then, Por dropped a random message out of nowhere:
Por: Wait, why is our group chat still named "English Project Squad"???
Patji: Oh my god, true. We finished the project already. Why is it still this lame?
Auau: Because no one had the energy to change it and Por was too busy being "team leader" even after the deadline.
Por: Okay okay, democracy moment — what should we rename it?
Patji: How about "The Bubble Tea Avengers"? Since apparently bubble tea is now more important than survival.
Auau: No. "Hunter House Hooligans".
Por: Perfect. Done. Changing it now.
A second later, the chat name blinked into existence:
Hunter House Hooligans
Por: Okay. Final roll call — Por, Patji, Auau, Save. Tomorrow, Hunter House. We'll split the ticket price and snacks. And no one is allowed to chicken out. If you do, you owe the rest of us bubble tea.
Patji: Deal. Especially the bubble tea part.
Auau: See you guys tomorrow. Don't forget — bravery and small bills.
Por: And snacks. Always snacks. Mission adjourned.
Save had stared at the screen for a moment longer, then sighed, dropping his phone on the bed. Hunter House it was. Well… at least he wouldn't have to face it alone. And at least the chat finally had a cooler name.
---
In the present
The crisp night air sent a slight chill through Save as he stood at the crossroads. His friends, Patji and Por, were huddled nearby, engaged in some quiet discussion about the best way to handle whatever lay ahead. Save, though, was mostly focused on trying to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach.
"Save," Patji's voice interrupted his thoughts, "left or right? Choose. Or else we'll just let the wind decide for you!" Patji's usual mischievous grin was in full force, but Save could see the faint nervousness behind those eyes. After all, who wouldn't feel a little uneasy at a place this dark and eerie?
"I... uh... I'm not good with decisions right now," Save admitted, eyeing the dark path on the left. "But I guess... left?"
Patji nodded with an exaggerated flourish. "Left it is, then! To doom and gloom!"
Save's heart skipped a beat. He could barely make out the silhouette of Auau, standing further down the right side of the path with his friends.
"Great... this will be fun," Save muttered, trying to sound braver than he felt. They started walking toward the left, the path narrowing with each step.
---
A Few Minutes Earlier…
Back at the game booth, laughter and excitement filled the air. Save and his friends had spent most of the evening playing various carnival games. It was the perfect chance to unwind, joke around, and forget about the usual stress.
Then came the final game—a dart-throwing contest.
"Alright, it's time to prove who's got the best aim," Patji announced with a wide grin, tossing a dart in the air like he was already winning.
Save raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that? I've seen you throw darts before, Patji."
Patji ignored him, still showing off his fake confidence. Meanwhile, Auau stepped up.
"You know, I might just surprise you all," Auau said casually, eyes gleaming with his usual cool composure. He didn't seem too worried about the game at all.
The group gathered around, watching as Auau stepped up to the dartboard. In one smooth motion, he threw the dart, and it hit the bullseye with a perfect precision that made everyone pause.
"That's… that's insane," Save said, a mix of awe and disbelief in his voice. "You… you just threw that without even trying, didn't you?"
Auau shrugged, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I like to keep things interesting."
The host of the booth handed Auau a prize—a stuffed black cat doll. Auau took the doll, and without any hesitation, walked straight over to Save, holding it out with a small, teasing smile.
"For you," he said simply.
Save stared at the cat doll, his mind racing. "Uh, I… what? This is for me?"
Auau chuckled softly, "Yeah. You've been on edge tonight, and I thought this little guy could help you relax. Besides, it's a cute cat. Can't go wrong with that."
For a moment, Save stood there, stunned. He hadn't expected Auau to do something like this for him. He hesitated for a second before slowly accepting the cat doll, feeling the soft material in his hands.
"Thanks, Auau," Save muttered, his voice quieter than usual. He couldn't quite explain why, but something about the gesture felt strangely significant.
---
Back to the Haunted Road…
The night had grown even darker as they walked further into the woods. Save found himself clutching the stuffed black cat doll that Auau had won for him, trying to calm his nerves. The path narrowed with each step, and the distant sound of crickets filled the air. But despite the calm, an unsettling feeling settled over him.
Suddenly, a strange rustling sound came from behind them. Save froze, his heart hammering in his chest.
"What was that?" Save asked, voice cracking slightly. His grip tightened on the cat doll, almost as if it could somehow shield him from whatever was lurking in the dark.
Patji, ever the comic relief, shrugged. "A squirrel having a bad day? Or maybe... your worst nightmare?"
Just then, out of nowhere, a figure emerged from the shadows—a ghostly figure, pale and almost translucent. It floated a few inches above the ground, its hollow eyes glowing eerily in the dark.
Save screamed. And not just a little scream—no, a full-on, panicked, high-pitched scream that echoed through the trees.
"Save!" Patji yelled, startled but amused. "You've been watching too many horror movies!"
Before Save could even process what was happening, his feet moved on their own, and in one fluid motion, he had clung to the closest thing to him—Auau, who had appeared as if by magic from the other side of the path.
"Whoa! Whoa, Save!" Auau said, looking mildly alarmed but surprisingly calm. "It's just a... well, let's call it a 'haunted' house prank."
"I... I'm gonna die!" Save's voice trembled as he practically clung to Auau like a lifeline. "No, really, I am! There's a ghost! Look at it!"
Auau raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a calm, almost amused smile. "Relax, it's a prank," he repeated, gently prying Save's fingers off his arm. "Nothing here but... well, nothing. It's all smoke and mirrors. You're okay."
The ghost floated in place, somehow eerily silent now. Save, still holding onto Auau as if his life depended on it, slowly started to calm down.
"See?" Auau said softly, brushing the back of Save's hair. "Nothing to be afraid of."
Save, still shaking, finally nodded, though a part of him wasn't entirely convinced. "I... I knew it wasn't real. Just a little... scared cat moment," Save muttered, cheeks turning red.
Auau let out a soft chuckle, his hand still resting gently on Save's shoulder. "It's fine. You're safe now. Ghosts? Not on my watch."
Then, as the moonlight broke through the trees, Save could have sworn he felt something in his chest. His heartbeat was still racing, but there was something else there too—a strange fluttering sensation. He couldn't quite place it. Not yet. But as Auau looked down at him with a teasing glint in his eyes, Save felt his breath catch in his throat.
Patji, having caught up to them after walking slowly (probably out of some weird sense of duty), threw a knowing smirk toward Save. "Oh, so you've got the ghost-hug therapy from Auau? Smooth, very smooth." He grinned, winking dramatically.
Save glared at him, but then his gaze returned to Auau, who was looking off into the distance, his usual confident smirk still on his face. It was... weird. Was it the ghost that had made his heart race? Or was it something else?
---
Later...
After the encounter with the "ghost," they all made their way back to the game area, feeling both relieved and slightly embarrassed.
"You sure you're okay, Save?" Por asked, giving him a concerned but somewhat amused look.
Save, still clutching the stuffed black cat doll that Auau had won for him, nodded quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine. Ghosts aren't real, right?"
The others laughed, and Save could feel his heart rate finally slowing down to something more manageable. As they walked back, he couldn't help but glance at Auau every now and then. There was something strangely comforting about having him around... more than he wanted to admit.
And as they reached the game booths again, he couldn't quite shake off the feeling that maybe—just maybe—he had something more to look forward to than just winning prizes tonight.
---
The night air was cool and quiet, soft footsteps echoing lightly on the pavement. Streetlights cast long golden shadows as Save walked side by side with Auau, the gentle rhythm of their steps almost in sync.
Save stole a quick glance at him, hands tucked into his jacket pockets.
"You really didn't have to walk me back, you know," he mumbled, voice low but not unfriendly.
Auau just gave a faint smile, eyes watching the road ahead. "I wanted to."
For a moment, they walked in comfortable silence—but Save's mind flickered back to just an hour ago—
— Earlier, under the bright carnival lights —
Patji tugged at his hoodie strings, leaning close with a deadpan stare.
"You sure you'll be fine going home alone, Save? What if a ghost follows you home? Huh?"
He blinked dramatically, face serious but eyes glinting with mischief.
"Remember the one from the haunted house? Maybe it liked you."
Save rolled his eyes, shoving Patji's shoulder gently.
"It didn't like me. I just got surprised, that's all."
Por, standing nearby with both hands tucked into his jacket pockets, tilted his head slightly, his dark hair falling across his forehead.
"Well," he said in his soft, thoughtful voice, "technically… haunted houses don't come with ghosts that follow you home. But if you're nervous, I don't mind walking with you. Or we can get a taxi for you."
Patji scoffed. "Taxi? You act like he lives on top of a mountain."
He nudged Save lightly but his tone eased. "But hey, seriously. You sure you're okay alone?"
Save blinked at them, surprised at the gentle shift beneath their usual teasing.
"I'll be fine, guys. Really."
Before either of them could toss another joke or push further, Auau had spoken quietly beside them.
"I'll walk him."
Patji blinked, surprised, but nodded simply.
Por's lips twitched into a small smile.
"That works too."
Patji shoved his hands deep into his hoodie pocket and muttered under his breath, "Yeah, at least I won't have to wrestle ghosts tonight then."
But the corners of his mouth curved, betraying his relief.
— Back to the quiet street now —
Save let out a tiny chuckle under his breath at the memory.
"Those two really are something."
Auau glanced at him, his smile widening just a little. "They just care about you."
"Yeah," Save said softly, a faint warmth spreading in his chest. "I know."
They turned the corner onto Save's street. The soft hum of cicadas buzzed faintly in the air, mixing with the gentle rustle of trees.
"Hey," Save spoke again after a pause, "I didn't get to say it properly… but you really didn't have to win that prize for me back there either."
His lips quirked up, and he gave a small laugh.
"That cat doll's ridiculous, you know?"
Auau's eyes sparkled faintly under the dim streetlight.
"You liked it though."
"…Yeah, well…" Save looked away, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, but a smile tugged at his lips.
"I guess I did."
Auau's steps slowed a little as they neared Save's house. "You don't usually ask for things."
"Not really my style," Save murmured.
He glanced sideways at Auau, voice softer.
"...You're not really the type to play games either. But you did. Just for that."
Auau shrugged lightly, but his voice was warm.
"Didn't mind it."
He added after a breath, quietly: "I guess I like seeing you smile."
The words floated between them, gentle and unforced.
Save blinked, caught off guard—but not uncomfortable.
A tiny grin lifted at the edge of his mouth before he dropped his gaze to the pavement, suddenly very interested in his shoes.
"Well… mission accomplished then, I guess." His voice cracked slightly from the small laugh he tried to hide.
Auau didn't press further. He just walked the last few steps with Save until they reached his gate.
They both stopped. For a second, neither of them seemed ready to end the moment.
Save shifted on his feet, then spoke again—
"Hey. Next time…"
He trailed off, but Auau waited patiently.
"…Let's play another game," Save finally finished, glancing up with a small grin.
"Maybe I'll win you something stupid next time."
Auau's smile deepened, quiet and bright.
"I'd like that."
They stood under the warm glow of the streetlight just a second longer, the night stretching around them gentle and endless.
---
The door swung shut with a soft thud as Save stepped inside, slipping off his shoes with a quiet sigh. Evening light spilled lazily through the windows, casting long amber streaks across the tiled floor. In the crook of his arm, the small black cat plush sat neatly, its stitched yellow eyes glinting faintly.
"Save, you're home?" his mother's voice carried from the kitchen, casual and warm.
"Yeah," he replied, loosening the collar of his uniform as he shuffled farther into the house.
His mother appeared around the corner, wiping her hands on her apron. Her gaze immediately landed on the plush toy, and a slow smile tugged at her lips.
"Well, well… what's that you're carrying there?"
Before Save could answer, Mali, his sister, poked her head out from the living room, her sharp eyes narrowing like a cat spotting prey.
"Ooohhh… is that a present I see?"
Save held the plush a little closer to his chest, as if shielding it would somehow end the conversation faster.
"It's nothing. Just something a friend gave me," he muttered quickly.
Mali grinned, stepping closer with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
"A friend, huh? Sure, sure. You don't usually get gifts from friends, Save."
Their mother chuckled softly, folding her arms. "That friend must think you're special. Brings you gifts… sounds pretty charming to me."
"Mom," Save groaned, tilting his head back with exaggerated exasperation.
"I'm just saying! Must be someone who likes you quite a bit," she teased lightly, exchanging an amused look with Mali.
Mali leaned closer, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper.
"So? Cute? Handsome? What's the story?"
"I'm going to my room," Save announced abruptly, spinning on his heel and heading for the hallway with quick, determined steps.
Behind him, his mother called after him, laughter in her tone.
"We're not asking names! Not yet, anyway!"
Mali added cheekily, "We'll find out eventually, you know! We always do!"
Save didn't answer—he just shook his head, lips twitching despite himself, and slipped into the quiet refuge of his room.
---
Inside, the evening glow softened the corners of his small, neatly kept space. He set the plush gently on his desk, sitting on the edge of his bed and exhaling slowly.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out — a message blinked on the screen.
[Auau]: got home safely?
A soft smile played on Save's lips before he could stop it. His fingers tapped quickly.
[Save]: yeah, just got in. thanks again for today.
The reply came almost instantly.
[Auau]: anytime. glad you liked the cat. suits you.
Save's smile deepened. His room felt warmer somehow, his chest lighter. His thumb hovered over the keyboard, hesitating… and then typing again.
[Save]: i like it a lot. really.
He locked his phone and lay back against his pillow, exhaling quietly. His gaze drifted toward the ceiling, soft and unfocused. His heart beat a touch faster than usual, but not in a way that unsettled him — more like a quiet hum beneath his ribs.
---
The game had ended with a whistle and a few dramatic falls. The boys sprawled on the bench like tired lions.
Patji flopped down, clutching his chest. "I swear, Auau's got rocket launchers in his arms. I was nearly reborn today."
Por sat more gracefully beside him, wiping his face with a towel. "He was intense, yeah. Focused."
Auau walked over, stretching his arms. "You two look like you ran from a tiger."
Patji pointed weakly at him. "You are the tiger, bro."
Por chuckled but stayed quiet. His eyes followed Save, who sat a little distance away, silently drinking water.
Patji leaned back and smirked. "Hey, Auau… you didn't go soft on us today. But with Save? That ball came flying like a butterfly in slow motion."
Auau's ears twitched slightly. "What? I was just… being careful."
Patji raised an eyebrow. "Careful? The only time you're careful is when you're holding hot ramen."
Por, still watching, added softly, "He didn't even try to dodge. And you still threw it slow."
Auau rubbed the back of his neck. "He looked tired, that's all. I didn't wanna hit him."
Patji grinned. "Hmm… sounds like someone's got a soft spot."
Auau groaned, sitting down. "You're reading too much into it."
Patji bumped his shoulder. "I'm just saying — if you start packing his lunch next, I'm calling it romance."
They all laughed, even Auau — though a faint pink crept into his cheeks. But Por… Por just tilted his head, observing Auau's reaction, and then glanced toward Save, who sat with his head low, lips pressed together.
There was something in Save's silence — not just tiredness.
Por didn't say anything.
Not yet.
---
— End of Chapter 5 —