FRIEND OF THE NATION

THE EPS 17 ROBIN HOOD

THE EPS 17 ROBIN HOOD

Life is the art or way of making choices. Because we are always faced with a road that branches off, a dark road or a path that glows. A straight road or a sharp pebbled road. So learn. If life gives you a hundred reasons to grieve and cry, show your life that you have a million reasons to be happy and laugh.

Erial walked over here and there. The view rotates to every corner of Adisucipto airport, Jogjakarta. The friend he just knew, suddenly disappeared somewhere. She left it in front of the toilet while she was taking a shower. Where did his new friend go? What the hell happened to him? A feeling of anxiety and worry suddenly ambushed his heart.

“So you guys just got acquainted this morning on the plane?” ask an airport security officer.

Erizal nodded his head.

“And you believe in just handing over your belongings for his protection?” ask the other officers.

Erizal looked at the officer with a clueless look. Are they suspicious of Marlon? No, no, no. They clearly don't know their best friend.

“Iya, sir. I believe it,” he replied firmly.

The two officers laughed instead, as if laughing at Erizal's stupidity who just believed in a new person.

“You just got cheated. Many people are now smart to play dramas because they watch too many soap operas at home. Your friend just pretended to be okay.”

Erizal shook his head. No, the two officers misjudged Marlon. He was very sure, Marlon was a good friend. And he believed in him.

“How old are you?” ask them suddenly.

“Fourteen years sir,” Erizal said as he lowered his head.

“Fourteen years?”

“Ehm,.I mean four more months my age will be fifteen years sir,” Erizal replied plainly.

The two officers looked at each other in disbelief.

“Your age hasn't even been fifteen, and you went wandering here alone? How could your mother give you permission? You stopped by?”

Whahuh? Erizal's forehead is wrinkled. Stop off?

“No sir, I didn't stop by,” Erizal said a little worried. “I went of my own accord and my bundle has given me permission.”

The two airport security officers did not pay attention to Erizal's answer. They even speak their own Javanese, which they do not understand. The two officers talked to each other for a long time. After that they nodded each other's heads. One of the officers crouched down in front of the boy. His eyes looked cold and firm.

“You are under age. How could you have escaped the airport inspection. Now you come with us,” said the older officer.

“Hah? I..Where are you sir?” Erizal's getting panicked.

“We will take you to the Social Service, to undergo rehabilitation before returning to your parents' home in Padang,” said the young officer.

It appears the older officer contacted someone on his cell phone.

“Din, there's a kid who got lost at the airport and couldn't go home. Please take her to Social Services.”

Erizal who heard the officer's words became startled. He tried to wriggle, but his strength was not strong enough to escape the clasps of the security officer's hands. Without feeling her tears begin to melt.

“Do not sir. Please let me go. Let me go to run the mandate of my mother in Padang,” her voice is clear.

But the two officers did not budge. He pulled Erizal's hand out of the room, then carried out of the building. A black Jeep stopped right in front of them. In front of the car glass there is the inscription “AIRPORT SECURITY.” The driver got down and opened the back door.

“Come quickly go inside!” it was to Erizal.

Poor teenager has no power to resist. Finally, he complied with the time he was put in the car. A moment later, the car drove. Leaving the airport. Running fast towards a place Erizal had never visited before. A place that will give meaning and a lot of stories in his life.

***

Marlon was helping Melin wash dishes at Misman's house. Yes, the airport thug forced him to work at his home, in exchange for having no money when he was robbed. He was robbed by Misman when he got lost in the streets of Jogjakarta, when he just arrived from Kalimantan. He has been in this house for a month.

Melin nodded her head.

“Yes. I live in Singkawang, West Kalimantan.”

Marlon nodded his head. He felt like a frog that had just come out from inside the shell, then looked at the world that turned out to be so vast.

“You've been to Singkawang Marlon?”

Marlon shook his head.

“Kalimantan I don't know yet, just hear it from my teachers.”

“So this is your first experience going outside Papua?”

“Ehmm.more precisely out of Baliem.” valley

Melin smiled back. It turns out Marlon's funny too.

“Melin. How many days have you been here?”

“I can't remember. Yes, about one month.”

“And you also suffered the same fate as me. Robbed, but because they have no money, then forced to work here?”

Melin nodded her head back.

“Huh! How ugly they are,” said Marlon berating Misman and Kimah who had trapped him. “Did you ever try to escape?”

“Entertainment. But I had to come back here.”

Huh huh? Marlon looked at Melin's face not understanding. How did Melin get back to this house?

“Why did you come back here?”

“Because I don't know where to run. And the world out there is much more dangerous than in this house.”

“A..what do you mean?”

“Kang Misman and Yu Kimah aren't as bad as you think Marlon is. I was forced to work in this house. But I get food, a place to sleep and get shelter. No one dares touch us while we're here. What else do I need?”

Marlon was stunned to hear Melin's words. That's right, especially Melin is a girl. It would be very dangerous if he got lost on the streets alone.

“And not only we are Marlon, many other children who have been helped by Kang Misman. After being able to work, he let them go.”

What about Robin Hood? A good-hearted robber who distributed his spoils to the poor.

“Kang Misman is indeed a robbing job. The carrying is also fierce. But he also had pity for the children whose lives were abandoned on the streets of the city. Like us now,” Melin said. “She is a good person, but doesn't know how to do a good thing. Because since childhood he lived on the streets forged the rigors of a life full of crime.”

“Then who was Yu Kimah? His wife?”

“I know they are not husband and wife, even if they live in the same house. Even sleeping in the same room. But Yu Kimah strictly obeys kang Misman.”

Marlon nodded his head, although it was difficult for him to understand Melin's story. A good-hearted robber? And it really exists?

“Eh, you haven't told me why you left Singkawang and can be here?”

“Long story Marlon.”

“I have plenty of time to hear all your stories.”

Melin smiled faintly at Marlon's words. But after that, he let out a long breath. His face turned sad.