SUKMA: The Deal With the Devil

Choosing Alone

After long enough to weigh the advice of Sukma, Andra finally got a decision. He saw again the Master who was cleaning up the books while telling the students to rest. Andra bowed for a moment, then turned to Sukma.

"Where, Andra? You want to, right?"

Andra nodded weakly.

"Well, why not? Wouldn't you be happy if Master and other friends could see you?" ask Sukma astonished.

"I'm less, Sukma."

"Well, why minder?"

"Before, there was a child who could see me, like you. But he shivered in fear. Maybe I'm ugly. My face is not as good as it used to be. Said the boy, my face pale as an undead."

"Oh, that, yeah. So, if the other kids can see you, they'll be scared, right?"

Andra nodded.

"But if Ms. Guru .. like she will not be afraid, deh," said Sukma.

"Any person who is not used to seeing ghosts will be surprised to see me. In fact, not a few of them are screaming in fear" explained Andra.

"Hm." Sukma exhales. "Why, anyway, are those people weird? Seeing people who have died even afraid, especially if you see a God who is very gedeee."

"That's why, humans are not allowed to see supernatural things. They won't be strong if they see strange-looking supernatural beings."

"But .. Why am I different, huh? I see humans and supernatural beings the same, you know. For me, they are both alive."

"Maybe you are different, Sukma. Not all indigo children are given the power to see invisible creatures. Some are strong, some take time to be strong."

Sukma nodded in reverence.

"Sukma, why don't you take a break? Come on, come out with your friends!" said the Teacher from the front of the class.

"I'm not going anywhere, Mom."

"Loh, why?"

As soon as Sukma came out of his stool, he ran towards Bu Guru. His determination to bring Bu Guru together with Andra, still remains the same. Especially when accidentally saw the sadness on the face of the hooded woman, Sukma's heart felt full.

"Master Teacher, Teacher Mother. I want to see Andra, don't you?" ask Sukma with sparkling eyes.

"Andra's? Who's Andra?" asked the Master with a frowning forehead.

"Mother doesn't know? He's my countryman. He also told me that Mom hugged him when he last saw a pain in his chest."

Pensive Bu Guru heard the narration of Sukma. He looked at the little girl for a while, suspecting that Sukma had different abilities from other children. Realizing the opportunity to see the dead Andra, Master felt very eager to meet his students. However, on the other hand he was afraid, because Andra was not an ordinary human like the other disciples.

Sukma waited long enough for the decision of Master Ma. The hijab-wearing woman nodded, and Sukma grasped the intent of the nod of the Master Teacher. It seems like Master Ma agreed, he thought. When Bu Guru started to say something, Sukma's heart was pounding.

"No, Sukma. Just let her calm down without having to be bothered by Mom. We are different in nature, different in their dealings with living humans" said Mrs Guru with a bitter smile.

"But, Mum. Andra comes here every day. He said, death is not an obstacle for Andra to learn."

Satisfied Bu Guru heard the narration of Sukma. "Thank God he still wants to learn. But for the business of seeing Andra back, let you be the communication link between Andra and Mother. Yes, Son?"

"Alright, Mom. If you don't want to, I won't make it, really."

"Already, now you go out and play with other friends. They must be waiting for you," said the Master.

Sukma. "No, Mom."

"Loh, why?"

"Nobody is waiting for me. The proof is that no one wants me to be the same. They will not play with me either. Is it my fault, ma'am, that their mother forbade them to play with me? I'm not, am I, not evil."

The teacher nodded. "Maybe their mother was worried because she knew that you were being disrespectful to an older person?"

"Not polite, Mom? What is disrespectful? Every day I like to kiss the hands of older people, even if I don't know them. Furthermore, I have never fought them either, let alone the same Pak Haji and Aa Fadil. If I do not behave like an older person, my mother immediately angry and negur. In fact, yesterday I was put down the nulis 'Dedek apologized' a hundred lines equal my father," said Sukma with his song.

Master smiled bitterly at Sukma's words. Noted from his words, Bu Guru was sure, that Sukma was not a bad boy like the parents of other students thought. Especially when Sukma said always kiss the hands of older people, even though he did not know him. Now, Bu Guru began to think about the way that must be taken so that the parents of students understand, that the character of Sukma is not in accordance with their assumptions.

Meanwhile, in Atikah's class, Dian occasionally looked out the classroom window. My colleague Atikah scratched the back of his head while frowning. He occasionally glanced at his countryman, who was still writing tasks from the blackboard.

"Hey, Atikah! How come your sister isn't visible, huh? Is he not resting?" dian asked in amazement.

"Maybe he went to the shop again" replied Atikah lightly.

"Ah, time? I didn't see him leave class, you know. Is she not given pocket money to your mother?"

"Oh, that. So why not look, huh? Is he not being shunned by his friends because of the video?"

Instantly Atikah was stunned, then glared at Dian. "The video? What video?"

"You don't know, do you? That, video Sukma again mengginjek the fathers. Now the video is viral, you know. In fact, the boy in our class had the video. They say they like the power of Sukma."

"Hmm, my sister is special. You know what's even more surprising?"

"What?"

"He once slammed a bald om-om of time in the station."

"Geez!"

"But why is my sister in trouble now, huh? Yesterday was fine." Atikah propped up her chin while staring at the ceiling.

"Maybe the parents of students do not like it, because Sukma does not behave like an older person," said Dian.

"That, yeah. Pantesan from this morning people worried about him cynically, not to mention yesterday the same father of my mother gave the same punishment as Dek Sukma. That's the cause."

"Well, don't you know?"

"I know, but I don't understand why until Dedek Sukma is punished."

"Oh, yeah."

Atikah continued writing assignments from the board. In silence, his mind kept turning. He thought of how to protect Sukma from the hatred of the people, if someday the worst happened to the sister. Atikah knew very well, that Sukma could not do that indecision if there was no reason.

...****************...

After school, Sukma approached Citra who was pensive on the rented terrace. Inah's mother, who picked up Sukma, tried to persuade her youngest daughter to go home and change her clothes. However, the little girl insisted on not following her mother. He said that when he finished chatting with his neighbors, he would go to his rented house.

Seeing Sukma's strange demeanor, Bu Inah shook his head while leaving the youngest with his neighbor. Not to forget, before returning home, Ms. Inah warned Sukma to change clothes immediately. Sukma nodded quickly and confirmed, that his chat with Citra will not be long.

"Sukma Dedek, why do you want to sit here with Auntie?" ask Citra in a lethargic manner.

"I'm just a Auntie's nemenin."

"Here you go home and change your clothes first."

"No. I feel sorry for Auntie."

The image smiles while stroking Sukma's hair. "Dedek, Auntie does not need to be pitied, really. Aunty is great."

"Don't say that, Auntie. Even though Auntie is already big, Aunt must be sad and lonely, right, because of the loss of baby Aunt?"

The image looked away, then wiped away the tears dripping down his cheek.

"Auntie should not be ashamed. Cry, it's okay. I will not do Auntie," said Sukma rubbed Citra's back.

The image finally bled at the utterance of Sukma, then the cry broke. Bu Inah who noticed Sukma's attitude, was worried that the youngest had said something hurtful to the woman. When he was about to rush to Sukma, suddenly Bu Inah's steps were restrained by Mr. Risman. Her husband advised her to keep quiet and pay attention to the youngest, because something that is seen is not necessarily the same as the truth.

Meanwhile, Sukma tried to calm Citra. A few minutes later, a little girl, shorter than Sukma, came out of Citra's rented house. Sukma waved at him, and told him to sit on his lap. The little girl complied, then sat on Sukma's thigh.

"Aunty doesn't have to be sad anymore. Aunty's son is here, really," said Sukma.

"No way, Sukma Deck. Aunt's son has died, he can't be here" Citra denied.

"Maybe his body isn't here, Auntie, but his soul is still there."

Impressed Citra heard Sukma's speech. He seemed to not believe that the soul of the child he contained was still alive.

"If Auntie wants to see, I can help Auntie. Let Auntie not be sad anymore," Sukma advised.

"So, can you help Auntie?"

Sukma nodded, "If Auntie wants to, here! I'm gonna make Auntie see Auntie's son."

The image also inched closer to Sukma. Next, the little girl placed the Citra princess next to her, then placed both her palms before the eyes of her neighbor. His mouth was muttering, then releasing his hand back from the eyes of Citra.

"Now Aunty can open her eyes," said Sukma.

Slowly, Citra opened her eyes. Sukma told him to turn his body towards her. The little girl standing next to Sukma was smiling at Citra. At first, the woman was astonished at the figure of the little girl she had just seen this time.

"Mother," said the little girl with a faint smile.

How excited was the image of hearing the word come out of the little girl's mouth. Her tears melted, her heart was happy. She was so happy to see her daughter for the first time. Sukma was also happy, seeing the semingah look clearly drawn on the face of Citra who was moody since.