
"Hhhhhhhh!"
Purbo exhaled with all his might. He opened his eyes slowly and found himself lying on his bed.
Purbo turned his head, finding Dini who was still sleeping on her back. Purbo's head felt heavy and a little dizzy. He tried to get up, but his whole body was stiff and hard to move. The joint in the shoulder feels pain.
With great difficulty Purbo sat leaning against the wall of the room. He grabbed the HP lying on the dressing table. He glanced at the clock on his HP which was still in a locked state. Half hour 6 am.
Purbo was confused by what had happened. Just a moment ago he was very sure he was in the yard of Mbah Modo's house to see the judgment against Ceking. But now he is in his bed.
"Dreams?" murmured Purbo scratched the scratching of his head, and made his hair even more messy.
Purbo fingers feel something sticky and cold at the back of the head. He pulled the thing that was stuck in his hair. A red clay the size of a little finger was now in his hand.
"That doesn't mean a dream" Purbo muttered again. Purbo remembered, he was crushed to the brink by villagers on the orders of Mbah Modo. The red soil stuck to Purbo's hair is proof that the incident was real and true.
Purbo uncovers the blanket and rushes out of the room. Slightly staggering he walked into the living room. The pitcher that last night contained the rotten parem was no longer there. Purbo put his foot out of the house again.
Up on the front porch, Mak Nah looks busy sweeping the yard using a broomstick. Seeing the arrival of Purbo Mak Nah floated a smile.
"Good morning sir," said Mak Nah politely.
"For Mak" said Purbo indifferently.
Purbo continued walking past Mak Nah who was collecting dry foliage under the mango tree.
"Gentleman where are you going?" ask Mama Nah wonder.
"You need to walk Mak. My body feels stiff, it needs to be moved so that it does not hurt easily," Purbo said.
Purbo came out of the courtyard of the house with a small run. Mak Nah put down her tongue broom, looking at Purbo's back which looked increasingly distant. There was no more friendly smile that he had shown to his master. Mak Nah glared with her hands clenched tightly until it looked a little vibrating.
The faster Purbo swung his footsteps. The thick, dense fog did not hinder Purbo's desire to convince himself that the judgment party he had witnessed was real.
Arriving at the settlement of Ebuh villagers, Purbo slowed down the pace. The streets are crowded, crowded with people passing by. Purbo was a little surprised, because some people seemed to just turn around in the market area. Nothing was bought, but they continued to mill around to one by one the stalls in the village market.
While looking down Purbo continued walking. As much as possible he avoids seeing people. Passing through the village market, Purbo continued to set foot towards the foothills.
The atmosphere of the streets around the bamboo forest was quiet. There were only a few men walking in front of Purbo carrying scythe, as well as 'wangkil' (a kind of cetok) for gardening purposes. They turned onto the path between the shady bamboo groves.
Finally the village chief's house was seen among the wisps of white mist. The courtyard of the house with the red earth lit up in contrast to the surrounding that looked gloomy.
Japra looked at the arrival of Purbo with a sharp eye. His lush body reminded Purbo of the person who dragged Ceking wrapped in a shabby white cloth last night.
"What are you doing?" japra asked after the locked fence.
Purbo did not immediately answer Japra's question. He looked at the center of Mbah Modo's courtyard. He's looking for a large wooden container that was burned last night for a bonfire.
"Oh this is Anu Eng," Purbo stuttered.
"Anu Anu, why are you?" Japra back to snarl.
"Just a road. Sports," said Purbo reasoned.
The door of the house opened. Mbah Modo is seen walking using his wooden stick. The village chief smiled at Purbo who was standing outside the fence.
"If the road is finished, please stop here. Copy the same Mbah here you know," continued Mbah Modo shouted to call Purbo.
"Ah, no thanks. I say goodbye," Purbo replied as he shouted as well.
Purbo turned around to leave the village chief's house, when he realized the strange thing that had just happened. Though the distance of Mbah Modo's house with the front fence is quite far, after all Mbah Modo is in the house with the door closed. The question arises in Purbo's mind, how could Mbah Modo know that Purbo is just a morning walk, or where maybe the village head could hear Purbo's conversation with Japra?
In anxiety, Purbo now steps away from Mbah Modo's house. The bonfire that should have left burning marks or charcoal in the middle of Mbah Modo's yard was in fact not there at all. The village chief's courtyard was clean, as if the large wood that burned last night had never been there.
"Ahh, fuck! I'm getting dizzy!" Purbo massaged his temple which felt pulsating.
Purbo returned to the area of the village market that was getting denser. Everyone looked indifferent to Purbo. There is no reprimand that should be the hallmark of friendly villagers.
In a state of daydreaming, unknowingly Purbo arrived in front of the rawon stall owned by Mbak Ajeng. The beautiful rawon seller looks deftly pour the concoction into a large boiler containing black sauce savory and fresh.
"Whenever here? I didn't bring any money, '" Purbo muttered alone.
Suddenly a clap was loud enough to hit Purbo's shoulder.
"Hey, please stop by" said Jasman, Mbak Ajeng's husband.
"Ah no Mas, I was just walking," replied Purbo stammered.
Purbo feels Jasman is very friendly and different from other villagers. When everyone felt indifferent, Jasman always smiled when he met Purbo.
"Here you go, please stop by. Sometimes those footsteps outside of consciousness lead you to the right place. Even now," said Jasman. Purbo frowned not understanding.
"Thank you, but I want to go home, Mas" said Purbo still refused Jasman's invitation.
"Hmmm, okay. But if there is time and need a storymate come here," Jasman smiled at a glance and returned busy serving his merchandise to customers.
Slightly hesitating Purbo nodded and smiled. Purbo stepped away leaving the rawon stall that continued to puff smoke with the aroma of the spice.
Purbo got home again around 7am. He went straight into the room and found Mak Nah washing Dini's body with warm rose water. She smiled at the arrival of her husband.
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