On a narrow path lined with thick bushes and towering trees, three young figures crouched silently. Hidden among the greenery, their eyes were fixed on a large garden owned by Mr. Rahman.
"This is crazy." Rio whispered while peeking through the leaves. "Are we seriously stalking someone right now?"
"This isn't stalking," Yuni replied, stifling a laugh. "This is… a field surveillance operation. Operation: Guarding Mr. Rahman's Garden officially begins."
Boni sat cross-legged on the damp ground, checking his watch carefully. "Mr. Rahman said those village officials usually come around eight. We wait until they show up."
Moments later, the hum of an approaching car broke the silence. A black vehicle rolled slowly down the dirt road, its front wheels crunching gravel. It stopped right in front of Mr. Rahman's garden gate. Two men stepped out, dressed neatly like office workers, but their sharp gazes and confident strides hinted at something more sinister.
"There they are." Boni muttered under his breath.
The first man knocked on the gate and called out, "Mr. Rahman! We're here again for a friendly chat!"
A few seconds later, Mr. Rahman emerged from behind the wooden house inside the garden. His body looked thin, but his steps and expression exuded a firm presence that was hard to challenge. He walked slowly to the gate and opened it, standing tall before the two men.
"What do you want this time?" he asked, his voice cold and flat.
"We're just here to negotiate, sir." said the second man with a falsely polite tone. "Our offer has doubled. If you agree to sell today, the money goes straight to your account."
"I already told you yesterday this garden is not for sale." Mr. Rahman replied without hesitation. "You think everyone can be bought with money?"
The first man chuckled lightly. "Sir, everyone has a price. If you won't sell to us, maybe someone else will come with... a more convincing approach."
Behind the bushes, Boni clenched the soil in his hand. "That's a threat..." he hissed.
Meanwhile, Yuni slowly raised her phone and began recording the conversation. She zoomed in and ensured the sound was clear. Her hands didn't tremble, her eyes focused like a field journalist.
Rio gritted his teeth. "They've seriously crossed the line."
Mr. Rahman remained calm. His gaze was piercing. "If you still have any shred of dignity, I suggest you leave now. I've got better things to do than entertain uniformed thugs."
The two men glanced at each other, then turned without a word and headed back to their car. Moments later, the vehicle sped off, leaving deep tire marks in the wet soil.
Once the car disappeared, Boni, Yuni, and Rio emerged from hiding and approached Mr. Rahman.
"Sir! We saw everything!" Boni exclaimed.
Mr. Rahman looked at them and gave a faint smile. "You've been there the whole time?"
"Sorry, sir... We just wanted to help." Yuni said quickly.
Mr. Rahman nodded. "I know your intentions are good. But be careful. Those men aren't just anyone."
That night, under the large durian tree that served as their secret base, Boni replayed the video Yuni had recorded. The threats were crystal clear voices dripping with pressure, intimidation and greed.
"We can use this." Boni said. "If we share this video, the villagers will finally see who their village head really is."
Rio nodded. "But we need to be careful. If they find out it came from us, we could be in serious trouble."
Yuni grinned as she clutched her phone. "Relax, I have a plan. I'll send it to the moms' prayer group chat. They'll spread it faster than any neighborhood gossip."
Boni and Rio looked at each other, then chuckled softly.
"Smart move, Yun." said Boni. "That's brilliant."
By morning, the video had spread across the entire village. In coffee stalls, in the fields, even at the mosque everyone was talking about the same thing: the threats against Mr. Rahman.
"Did you see that? They threatened Mr. Rahman!"
"No wonder so many people suddenly sold their gardens. They were forced!"
"Our village head? He's not a leader. He's a thug!"
The mask that had long hidden corruption was beginning to fall. Fear, once only whispered in private, was now part of every conversation. Villagers began to recall suspicious incidents from the past, piecing them together like a puzzle that finally revealed the bigger picture.
Meanwhile, in the village head's office, Rasyid stared at his phone screen. He played the video for the fourth time. His jaw tightened, his face red with anger.
"Who recorded this?! Who dared spread this video?!" he roared.
His assistant trembled, face pale. "W-we're investigating, sir. But… the villagers are starting to get restless."
Rasyid slammed the table. "Call an emergency meeting! We need to change all plans. And find out who's behind this. IMMEDIATELY!"
Beneath the durian tree, Boni scribbled into his worn-out notebook.
"Today, we took one step forward. But this isn't the end. This is the beginning of a long war. The village head will retaliate. We need to be ready."
He closed the notebook and gazed at the night sky. Stars peeked through the leaves above.
"Team Duren Guardians… we're just getting started."
Soon, Yuni sat beside him.
"You're writing everything down?"
"It helps me think." Boni replied. "Helps me stay focused."
Rio arrived carrying a plastic bag. "Fried bananas. For all three of us."
Yuni giggled, grabbing one. "We'll need energy to fight corruption, huh?"
"We're not just fighting corruption." said Boni. "We're also fighting fear… and people's silence."
Rio nodded. "But it feels good, doesn't it? Like we're finally doing the right thing."
Yuni paused. "Do you really think we can change things?"
Boni stared at the small fire nearby. "I don't know. But if we don't try, nothing will ever change."
Elsewhere, in a dark office in the city district, a man in a suit stared at a list of names in his hand.
One name was circled in red:
Rahman – Refused. Trouble Expected.
Another name was underlined:
Boni – Influence Unknown. Investigate Further.
He leaned back in his chair, lit a cigarette, and smiled thinly.
"So… this village isn't as asleep as we thought." he murmured.
Then, he picked up his phone and said in a cold voice, "Prepare the next team. This time, the plan needs to go deeper. And that boy named 'Boni'... we can't afford to slip up again."