Short Story (Cerpen)

Unfettered by Time (Part 4)

Category: Fiction Fantasy Short stories

Title: Unfettered By Time (Part 4)

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Rom and Sam are still picking on the poor bus driver. Because it was pulled, as a result the driver was not concentrated in driving. A dog suddenly flashed. The bus driver was surprised not to play. He tried to brake, however, he lost his balance, the bus made a sudden turn, and fell into the lake. All the passengers screamed. Joe felt his cheek bump, and his mouth was filled with water. The bus is now floating on the lake. The water's up to Joe's waist right now. Joe screamed in his heart. Why the hell to audition for The Master alone the various obstacles he had to face? From being robbed, stabbed, rioting, and now this..

Joe tried to stay calm. 'Mother?' call slowly. Ash did not faint. 'Yes. I am here, ' said Abu. 'Rain?' call him. 'Yes, yes, I am alive!' answer Rain.

Joe is relieved now. Then he looked. He realized that the bus passengers were mostly children!

The children were crying in fear. Joe had no choice. He must save them all. Joe looked ahead. The driver, Rom, Sam, Darko lying unconscious. The boys cried until Joe finally stood up and said, 'Quiet, we have to get out of here!' joe said as he tried to calm the children down. The kids kept crying. 'Listen to me, listen to me!' yells. But the kids kept crying…

Abu then struggled to stand up. 'Stop.' Said. All the children then remained silent. And look at him. 'We won't let anything happen to you!' abu said firmly. 'We're gonna get you out. You need not be afraid!' yells.

'Joe, Rain, come on.' said Abu. Joe nodded slowly.

Rain then told the children to shut up and divided them into 2 rows. The first row will be issued by Joe, and the second row will be issued by Rain.

Joe held the first child. The boy was crying. 'It's okay, ' whispered Joe comforting the boy. Joe then takes the boy swimming to the edge, followed by Rain who also brings another child. It feels so far to the edge. While the bus is getting tilted, if they are too long then all will sink.

Joe and Rain get to the edge. They put the children they brought to the edge. 'Wait here, don't go anywhere.' Said Joe. Rain said the same thing to the child he was carrying. They then turned to the bus which was getting tilted. Abu guided them. One by one the children managed to bring them to the edge.

'Already all, come on Abu!' said Joe. Abu was about to step out of the bus, but, suddenly, the sound of a child crying came.

'Wait 'wait! There is still one!' abu said while trying to find the source of the voice. But suddenly, the bus slowly shifted and was already tilted once. Abu, of course, did not realize that the bus had shifted away.

'ASH!' yelled Joe who was still on the edge. Without a second thought, he jumped back into the lake. Rain called out to her, then jumped into the lake.

Ash struggled to swim smoothly. The water is chest-high now. He frantically looked for the voice of the child who was still crying. Found her. The boy seemed to be shivering with cold. 'Please.. Pinched my leg.' Said the boy grimacing. 'Hold.' Abu Said. He took a deep breath, then dived. He's trying to figure out what's pinning the kid down. It turned out to be a fallen pole.

Abu then tried to lift him up. So heavy. Outside, Joe and Rain are still trying to find Abu. Joe repeatedly popped his head out. 'Mother, Abu!' calling repeatedly. Ash tried to lift the iron a third time.

The bus is getting leaning now.. A little more they'll drown. While trying to lift for the fourth time, Abu finally managed to lift the iron. The boy opened the bus window and cried.

Joe heard the boy's cry. He quickly extended his hand. 'Come on, kid, it's okay, ' Joe said. The boy then welcomes Joe's hand and Joe pulls him out. Joe handed the boy over to Rain. 'Bring him to the edge. I have to help Abu, he's still inside Joe said.

Rain according. Rain then carried the child to the edge.

'Mother?' joe cried while hoping anxiously. The ashes then appeared. Joe tried to get him out. Joe stretched out his hand. Abu was trying to welcome him. Their hands were both wet so Abu had trouble holding Joe's hand.

'Come on. take my hand!' said Joe rasping. He kept trying to pull his best friend out of the bus. Ash then gripped Joe's hand. Joe tried to pull Abu as hard as he could. The bus was tilting.Rain had jumped back into the lake. He was trying to help Joe. Rain pulled Joe's shirt as hard as he could. Joe took out all his ability to get Abu out. He stomped hard, and finally Abu came out of the iron. Abu has fainted. When Abu got out, the bus sank, with the driver, Darko, Rom and Sam.

Joe and Rain immediately brought Abu to the edge. The kids are still crying. Rain then went to look for reinforcements. Joe was tired. 'Mother, don't leave me.' he whispered. Then his head hit the ground.

Joe opened his eyes. Everything is getting run away. Joe squinted his eyes. He fumbles. Then put his glasses back on. It turned out that he was already in the hospital, the hospital when he was treated for his injuries a few days ago.

Joe came out of his room. Rain greeted him. 'Joe 'Joe! You're all right!' said Rain relieved. Joe nodded. 'Where's Abu? How's she? I wanted to meet him, Joe said slowly. 'Come. It's not so good. But Abu is great. The children survived all his blessings, Rain replied, walking to take Joe to Abu's room.

Abu closed his eyes. On his nose perched a breathing hose. Joe. Rain then left them both. Ash opened his eyes slowly. 'The kids survived all?' whispered. Joe nodded. 'Don't worry, ' replied Joe. Ash smiled weakly. 'It turns out I can be a hero too. I can be useful too, ' said Abu softly.

'So as not to get bored, what if we do the game?' joe said he felt sorry for his friend. 'What game?' tanya Abu is interested. Joe thought for a moment. Then he saw the sister passing by. 'What if you pretended to be dead, then I pretended to cry and called the Doctor, then you startled them?' joe said while grinning ignorantly. Ash laughed weakly. 'Seems fun. Alright.'

'Wait here.' said Joe. Then he came out of Abu's room. 'Doctor, doctor! Help u! My friend is not breathing at all, please, Doctor!' joe said, pretending to sob while pleading with the passing Doctor. The doctor looked panicked, then went into Abu's room. Joe blinked his eyes. Abu pretended to close his eyes.

When the doctor tried to check Abu's heartbeat, Abu immediately opened his eyes and shouted, 'KENA!' The doctor was surprised, of course. He went out and got angry, grumbling them like a child. 'My heart.. Oh my God, said the doctor again and left.

Joe and Abu chuckled. Joe laughed out loud. 'Ready for the next victim?' ask Joe. Abu nodded. Joe went back to pretending to suck. They managed to surprise another doctor. 'Not funny!' exclaim that Doctor.

'Now, the last victim, let's work Dr. Limbad.' Chuckles Joe. Abu nodded. Joe went back outside the room, looking for Dr. Limbads. 'Dr Lim, please, my friend is not breathing, ' Joe said as he pretended to sob. Dr. Limbad looked shocked. He rushed to Abu. Abu closed his eyes again. Joe then peeked out from behind the door.

Dr. Limbad checked Abu's heartbeat. Joe took pains to hold back the laughter. But Abu didn't move at all. 'Come on, Abu, ' he whispered. But Abu did not open his eyes.

Dr. Limbad approached him. Dr. Limbad patted Joe's shoulder. 'Joe, I'm so sorry, ' he murmured. Joe looked at Abu who seemed to be still asleep in disbelief. He forced me to laugh. 'He was just kidding, ' Joe said, forcing a laugh. Then he approached Abu. 'Let's wake.. Abu, you're kidding me, right?' joe said again with a very forced laugh. Dr. Limbad just looked at him sadly. Joe shook Abu's body. The ashes are not flinching. 'You promised we'd always be together, Abu! Come awake!' joe exclaimed while shaking Abu's body.

Dr. Limbad tried to calm him down. 'Let him rest, Joe.' he whispered. Slowly Joe's tears came down. “See, she smiles. He died in peace.” whispered Dr. Limbad again. “But he was still joking with me!” joe said sting. Dr. Limbad nodded. “Yes but the impact when you guys crash was very hard.” whispered.

Rain went into Abu's room. Looking at Joe who looks very shaken and Dr. Limbad who tries to calm Joe down, Rain immediately concludes: Abu is gone.

Rain slowly approached Dr. Limbads. 'Dr. Lim? Can I borrow a phone?' tanyakanya. Limbad. Rain then tries to calm Joe down, and asks for Abu's parents' phone number. Joe, still shaken, gives Abu's parents a phone number. Rain then called Abu's parents. As if struck by lightning, Abu's parents received the news…

Two days later, two days later but it felt like 5 minutes for Joe, finally Abu will be buried in Jakarta. He still could not believe that his best friend in the world was gone. Everything has gone by so quickly in the past few days. Joe tried to look strong even though his heart hurt so much. He walked into the front room of the funeral home with lethargic steps, then he sat down. He took a deep breath, trying not to let his tears out.

'Joe?' call someone. Joe. Mr. Andre. 'Can I sit down?' ask Mr. Andre softly. Joe nodded. He tried hard not to look at Mr. Andre's face.

'It's all my fault, ' said Joe. Andre raised his hand. 'No. Don't talk like that' Mr. Andre said firmly. 'My wife and I don't blame you, it's God's will. Our son has been sick for a long time, you know that, Mr. Andre said.

Joe is starting to not be able to control his emotions. 'B-but if s-I don't bring him here, he'll still be with you!' joe said as he gritted his teeth. His voice is shaking now. 'Joe, calm down, boy! It's not good to blame yourself!' exclaim Mr. Andre again.

Joe subconsciously rammed his head into Mr. Andre's chest. Mr. Andre then stroked Joe's hair and hugged him like his own son. 'I-he always said he wanted to appear in front of millions of people! D-and I've made his dream run aground!' joe said stammering. 'W-forgive me! W-forgive me!' yell Joe again.

'There is nothing to forgive! You will continue the dream of Abu! You'll stay in that competition, and be the champion!' mr. Andre said firmly. 'Remove your tears, son.' Joe broke free from Mr. Andre's embrace. He was ashamed of not being able to control his emotions. 'May I see Abu one last time?' joe asked in a loud voice. 'What are you talking about, son? Of course I can!' mr. Andre said softly.

Joe then went into the funeral home. Abu's body was still lying there, his hands clenched, his eyes closed and smiling. His face looks peaceful. He could be thought to be sleeping. Slowly Joe stared at the corpse of his best friend from head to toe. Top button open Ash shirt. Joe then buttoned the button slowly.

Slowly, Joe bent his knees. He wanted to talk one last time to his best friend. Even though Joe knew, his actions were stupid. Joe's head has been aligned with Abu's corpse's head now. Joe then brought his lips closer to Abu's. 'Hey it's me, stupid hotshot, ' Joe whispered.

'You're selfish, eh? He said you'd accompany me anytime. You said you'd always support me. But you even feel good to sleep here, ' he murmured. Joe then laughed a little. He then sucked the snot slowly out of his nose.

'You know, I hate you. I hate that you broke our promise to be together forever.' he continued in a very fond voice. 'You just leave without saying goodbye. Do you know that's very disrespectful?' Joe forced himself to laugh. 'I hate you, Abu. I hate that you left me alone like this.' Joe muttered again. For a split second, Joe simply stared at Abu's corpse with a very blank look. Suddenly in his mind, something happened.

Joe took off the Abu's shoes very carefully. He took off his shoes as well. Then Joe took out a marker from his pocket. He then wrote the initials of his name and the name of Abu in their respective shoes. Very carefully and slowly, Joe rewoven the shoes he had written with the initials of his name and the name Abu to the foot of Abu's corpse. Now Abu's body looks a bit odd wearing different shoes, with each shoe inscribed with the letters 'JS' and 'AM'. Without realizing it, he smiled. 'Go to heaven, let the angels take care of you, ' he whispered. 'Send my regards to your father and mother when you meet in heaven.'

The funeral took place briefly. Joe was relieved, for some reason, even though his heart felt like it was being sliced open. Rain patted Joe on the back, trying to cheer him up. Joe could only smile a little at him. 'I have to go home and start a new life.. Can you give me your phone number? So that once in a while we can communicate' said Rain. Joe smiled. He then gave me his phone number. After the funeral, Rain left. Joe then thought after Rain left. Andre was right, he thought. He must continue Abu's dream.

Joe finally auditioned for The Master. From the time of the audition, Joe has fascinated the judges.. Joe's journey is quite long in The Master. Until finally the night of the final arrived, and Joe was crowned champion. When he was crowned champion, Joe saw the empty seat, in his heart he thought, the empty seat should be occupied by Abu.

'For whom is this victory you offer?' ask the host of The Master. Joe sighed. 'For my friend Abu Marlo, who is timeless. He should have been standing here with me, too, but now he's gone. We were supposed to be together in The Master's competition, but he went ahead of me. For that, I present my victory in memory of our friendship that will not be timeless, said Joe.

The entire audience clapped their hands while standing up. Some even shed tears. Joe looked up. Abu must have been watching him from heaven there.. And just then, Joe realizes that Abu never really left, but will always live in his heart.