Re - Growth of Life
Exhaust (1)
“Pursue the boy! Don't let him run!” One of the traders shouted furiously.
I wave with one loaf of bread in one of my hands, “I owe first yes, I will pay!” I smiled broadly, running past the crowd of shoppers who were confused as to what was happening.
Two minutes later I managed to run away from that “keramat” market.
My breath was wheezing, my running rate was constantly decreasing. I removed the hood of my jacket, letting the fresh air in the streets pass through my dirty skin.
“Haha, today's breakfast menu is ready. Three slices of bread, one slice for me, two more pieces for me.”
I ran back to my “rumah”, for sure he was happy after a long time not eating hot bread.
***
A five-minute walk from the market, back home is a daily adventure. Sometimes I “dak” accidentally dropped the groceries of one of the buyers, pretending to be sorry, looking down to collect his groceries scattered. And if the man is off guard, I put one of his groceries in my jacket pocket, then leave the market.
Sometimes I work with wild cats. Haha, looks impossible, right? But this is the truth.
The cat distractedly took two grilled fish, while I snuck whatever grilled fish I could with my hand.
Then the cat meowing made the merchant aware, then he mocked the merchant and then ran away as quickly as possible.
Me? Don't ask, that day we both got a big catch. The cat had two tails, and I had four. I put the grilled fish in a shopping bag, and then went through the back road.
***
“Room home.” I'm down, arrive at our “little” house.
As he said, “small home”. Basically this is not a house, me and my adek only live behind a large garbage can topped with a large blue plastic 2x2 meters long, with a long stick hook.
Seeing my sister's happy face today can just eat, I'm already happy. I put down three pieces of bread, sit down.
“Wah... Bread, still warm. Where do you get money from?” My sister's face was beaming.
“Second brother was out of work part-time, then in wages. Because of the high wages, brother just buy a lot of bread.” I smiled– no, rather trying to smile so that my sister does not suspect, then hunger strike because this is stolen goods.
My sister took a slow turn, then her hands nimbly took the bread.
I chuckled at my sister's behavior, like not eating for a week. He had not eaten for two days.
“You've learned?” I'm picking up just any topic.
He grinned, nodded. “Iya, I learned this.” He showed me a shabby thin book next to him.
I scratched my head that wasn't itchy, “This is what?”
“This is the capital letter.”
“Acts?”
“Iya sis, from the person who threw this away he said so. And he said this book was no use, so he just threw it away. I keep picking up.” My sister laughed. I laughed too, though I didn't know what my sister meant.
“Kak.” She's looking.
“Ya?”
“Their list will be three. We are here only two. Well, who's this one for, sister?”
I pretended to think– raised his head, “Ya for my dear sister lah.”
His cheeks are bubbling, “Not!”
“It should be in for half a brother. To be fair, you know.”
“Hm? So that your nutrition is fulfilled. Hence Brother love more.” Waw, I look like a nutritionist don't I?
“Giza Nutrition, Body Sister just skinny so. You should have bought a lot of it for your own brother. Don't I doang dong!” Wretch! He gripped his waist!
My nose expands, “Hehe, sorry.. next time Brother also bought a lot for Brother himself deh.”.
“Appointment?”
“Appointments.”
“Well that's it!” We were shocked to see so many people coming here.
One of them stout forward, “Where else are you a boy? You stole another merchant's bread this morning. Then, later in the day you will steal let alone heh?! My roast chicken? Or that guy's fish?” He pointed to the man I knew, the merchant who sold grilled fish.
One of them gave a block of wood to the Kekar, he patted the block of wood.
“Hah! You guys don't think we didn't catch you two all this time because of Maria the handyman–”
“DIAM! He's not evil!” He didn't even speak yet, my brother cut his sentence.
That person's face was as crimson as a boiled crab, “Who can cut the old man's talk huh?! What he also taught you guys–”
“DIAM!” This time I cut it.
My breath was wheezing, my chest suddenly tight, though not running away. They're wrong! They were just being played by that old priest!
“Oh... They teach you guys too... Bring them both.” Exclaimed the bontot Kekar.
Two of them approached us. Even though we fought back, our efforts were in vain. They first hit the stomach, made us droop, then we were both in the arms of the two men.
BRACKET! A small book from my pocket fell. The grilled fish merchant took it, “Hm? Holy book? This must be because you were taught the same thing your mother did not! Carrying books everywhere, even while stealing? Huh! What does the world say.”
My sister had fainted in her arms, my eyes were twitching, faintly seeing the overcast sky that was about to rain.
My hands are trying to reach my sister, “Naa... Taas... N.” My eyes closed.
***
“Nak..” That soft voice, that gentle calmness, was unmistakable! Mama!
Eyes open. I saw my mom standing in front of me. I looked around carefully, white. All white! Where is the blue sky? The market? Trash bin? Oh yea! Where is my sister!
“Don't panic like that, Adrian.”
“Mama!” My eyes sparkle to see Mama's face. Wait, that means...
“No Child, you are not dead. We are in your subconscious. Right now you will be taken to the village. Sorry to say it, but..” This time I saw my mom so nervous.
“But what Ma?” I tried to smile, at least it could make Mama happy.
“But, you guys... No, it's. Remember Mama's advice, never worry.”
My mother turned her back to me. I wanted to grab her hand with mine, but I couldn't. Translucent.
“Mama's message is only one. Take good care of your sister.” After Mama said her last message, Mama had already disappeared from the dust.
