Lutfi Gilang's

5. Detective

I was sitting in the living room with two prisoners who this morning interrupted my breakfast. It was a cell that was in the South rutan carriage, meaning I had already been completely moved here.

I don't know what made the officer decide, one thing I'm certainly grateful for was my decision to hide the book and stationery behind the prisoner's shirt number 986, so that it was not left in the previous living room. And of course, if the clerk had completely forgotten about my living room in the end of— block next to Herman's bedroom, it would have been a good sign for me, because in the last 3 days, I'd had the wall smashed. So, I didn't have to bear any punishment, and they would have thought that the wall was destroyed because it was old or something.

I should have asked the officer why the officer moved me to this room with the two of them, but before that, I discussed the incident this morning, the brawl at the diner. "What's going on?"

"Officers are fighting" Noer said.

"Ordinary kayak," added the old man.

"Hmmm...." I muttered. "I'm not involved?"

"Absolutely not." the old man's bellow. "Even the other inmates shut up without asking for payment,"

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God, I won't be denounced by troubled prisoners for that. But, I still have to be vigilant in case I meet Herman and his two men, again." said my inner.

"So?" many finally. "There's rolling?"

"Ha ha ha, no, no." replied the old man.

"But no one else wants a place with us" continued the new prisoner.

I grunt. "Did this have a worse impact on me?" Brain thinks.

"I don't blame you, man, I don't even regret it" the old man said moments later. "I'm just grateful to be able to one place with such a generous and strong man like this dude."

"Of course!" Noer exclaims. "Maybe you could be a guard for us, ha ha ha...."

I responded with a sharp look.

The new prisoner raised both hands, giving in. "Where dare I fight you?"

"Bung has to fulfill our selfish requests. I'm sure the nine-eight-nam inmates are more than just a rumor going around" the old man said. "We need a man's guard to get out of this place alive."

I laid myself back on the flat bed with both hands.

"We'll pay with whatever information we know, what you need, whatever. Everybody!" noer Tawar. "And there are no lies!"

"Only a fool would believe your words." I actually wanted to say that, but I held back. I don't want to argue with them. Let them do what they both want, and I do what I decide. It is freedom, and right. To me.

"Dude.... still have doubts about us?" ask the old man.

I motioned no by raising my hands, then facing the wall, turning my back to them.

"That's it.." said the old man. "let us know our secret. How's the new kid?"

I heard him snort before replying: "Yes, I guess if he. I believe this guy isn't a delinquent like them."

I was flattered to hear the words that came out of his mouth. And I'm pretty sure right now, that Noer isn't as inexperienced a man as my initial view of him was. Obviously, his tone changed, unlike before. So, who exactly is he?

"Before proceeding to a complicated discussion, I must introduce myself," said the old man. "Kusnadi Singodimedjo, whatever you want to call me. I'm used to this nickname too. Like an old man, for example. Whatever! And I don't have a problem."

I was silent, not responding. Still staring at the concrete wall.

"I, Pramudya Wihardja Kusuma" said the new prisoner. "I'm sorry, because the first time we met I lied to you, instead,"

I've guessed. Indeed, in this place I can't trust anyone. Even if his real name is true, I don't care, for me he's still a new prisoner who's pretty close to me. And I regretted his actions this morning, because it made me angry at the first meeting.

"I have a reason!" he added. "I'm just trying to be friends with you. You know.it's one of the names of a woman who reportedly disappeared without a trace."

I was caught hearing his words. Immediately I sat down and threw a glance at the new prisoner.

"Your eyes are still terrible" said the new prisoner. "I know you don't accept it because I've used your fiance's name."

With a short gesture, I clipped the collar of the new prisoner's shirt. "What do you want?!" I growl.

"He told me, Pram came here to meet a man, a nine-eight-nam prisoner." said the old man relaxed, as if he had gotten used to the violence before his eyes.

"Pram?" I asked myself. I feel familiar with that name.

"You don't remember me at all?" ask the new prisoner.

"I remember, you were the new guy who ruined my breakfast time" I responded.

"God! You think I don't know? Your morning is always full of problems!" He exclaimed. "It's not just me, most of the inmates here are always ruining your morning, right?"

The answer was a sign to me that he had heard rumors circulating about me. And maybe the old man told him.

"Have your brains been dull, Detective?"

"Detective?" I repeated the new prisoner question in the brain. It felt like I hadn't heard that name in a long time, and I was starting to recognize the man in front of me. I looked at the face in front of me, showing the physical appearance of Indonesian-Japanese descent. Could she.... "King?"

The man nodded as he said: "Finally we meet again, Sensei."

🚶🚶🚶

Fourteen years ago, when I was in the 3rd grade of Elementary School, you invited me to visit his boarding school in Kediri, East Java. We stayed not long, just a few days, not more than a week.

I'm friends with quite a lot of people, and I don't really understand who their names are, because I change places every day, and always meet new people. What I said earlier in The Missing Lovers, my memory is weak. It is not wrong to forget them.

But there's one thing that concerns me right now. Blaster boy, of Indonesian-Japanese descent. He called, and I don't remember his full name. He's five years older than me. Twice invited me to play hide and seek and always track me when night salary arrived.

"Well, Sensei... are you going to stay longer?" tanyanya while eating grilled corn. Ignoring the explanation of Abah Kyai.

Indeed, for a boy our age it was difficult to listen to such a complicated explanation. Maybe if it were four eyes, we would pay more attention. But, I'm not guaranteeing. His name is also a boy, who prefers to play. So, if your favorite also play—not serious, you guys are no different from us—bocah the age of SD/MI children.

I'm shaking.

"So, you really want to go Sensei?"

I agree with the signal.

"When does Sensei go?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"If so, Sensei wants to play with me again?"

I'm nagging. My ears would rather listen to his lectures than his play call. I don't mean I don't like that conversation, but he can do it tomorrow after he gets home from school and doesn't bother me tonight. There is a time division.

"Well Sensei...."

I snorted, feeling annoyed with his treatment. But if I don't respond, he could act more annoying than before. So, I ended up too. "What is that Sensei?"

Suddenly he laughed making the people around us glare then exclaimed: "Ssttt! Don't be noisy!"

The boy nodded while scratching his head. Continue to eat the corn and say: "Sensei means Teacher,"

"Oh." Nug at me.

"Sensei ga nanya is from what language?"

I'm shaking.

"Emang Sensei knows?"

I agree with the signal.

"Try, what language?"

"Japanese, right?"

"Well, how, can Sensei know? From where? And no one else knows, koh." He asked in a surprised tone.

"You're of Indo-Japanese descent, so there's a good chance you could speak both languages. Well, I'll just say you mix Indonesian with Japanese. But I just knew what that meant. Thanks," I explained.

"You're really great, Sensei! " strictly speaking.

"Stop calling me Master!" my door.

"He he he, don't you want to be Sensei? "

I'm shaking.

"Why?" tanyakanya.

"I want to be a detective." I replied.

"Detective?" He tried to confirm his hearing.

"Hmmm...." Nug at me. "The detective can know everything, solve puzzles, and help the police catch criminals."

"Oooh. It turns out Detective Sensei."

What the boy next to me meant about treasure was an old book that one of the Ustadz had hidden with the intention of giving us a pirate game two days ago. He provided a map with an image that was almost similar to a pirate-style treasure map. Every place, we are asked to solve puzzles and if there are questions we need to answer. Well, those questions revolve around the religion that we learned in the early days, where njai. But not infrequently there are also trap questions that I do not remember. Pardon us.

"He," I laughed. "Greater than later, I'll be better!"

"Ha ha ha," He followed up laughing. "by the way Detective Sensei is how old is he now?" He's nanya.

"Eight years," I replied.

"Huh?! Impossible!" I'm sure it's a sign that he doesn't believe me. "Don't lie Sensei!"

"I'm serious" I replied. "you?"

"I'm. thirteen years old" she answered nervously inexplicably.

"Oh. Uh, what's your name, huh?"

He grunted annoyedly. "King. Fuckin', dong!"

I'm nagging. Inwardly said: "The name is similar to the way a sissy boy laughs, 'jajajaja....'"