The Destruction of Batana

VERO AND BUNDARA

　

　

I went back to prison in a bad mood. I try to make my mind not to remember my bad memories. Persuading my heart not to be dissolved in sorrow. However, the upcoming events were able to divert my mind. It's the events that made me know about Vero and Bundara's past. Two men are in jail with me.

I was sitting in the middle of the prison like I was yesterday. Vero and Bundara have not arrived. Their work must have been very heavy. Especially Bundara who became a miner.  I closed my eyes for a moment. Calm my mind. This silence helps me.

My eyes opened as soon as I heard the crowd outside.

“Hey! There's fights!” someone called out, followed by the others.

I decided to get out of my cell. Find out what's going on. My eyes were fixed on the crowd of people in the prison hallway. I approached the crowd. Curious.

I was surprised to find Vero lying on the floor with two prison officers standing in front of him. I entered into the crowd. Approaching Vero who looks in pain while holding his left hand. It seems he was electrocuted.

“I told you to be polite to the officers, Vero the Traitor.” The officer said in a derogatory tone.

“Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Vero? You're a top-level traitor, who deserves a reward from your master. Even you don't deserve to be in an elite prison.” Said one of the officers. His right hand is seen clutching a piece of fruit.

“You all! Next time don't pretend just to get a reward from your master. Either way, you are prisoners. Cih, I don't know what's on the mind of the masters you serve.”

Now I understand what's going on. It seems the officer took Vero's fruit. The result of his wages working. Spontaneously I stood right in front of the officer. My eyes are staring hard.

“Restore!” I can't stay still. Either way, the fruit belongs to Vero. Even if he's an inmate, that's his right. Doesn't this prison allow prisoners to get a reward from the master they serve? As long as it is not one of the prohibited items and food that should not be taken into prison.

“Hah? What did you say, boy?” He stared back at me cynically.

“If you take suspicious action, we will electrocute you.” The bracelet in my hand started to warn me. I don't care, however the actions of this prison officer can't be allowed.

“I SAID, RETURN!” I called out more fiercely.

The officer was silent. He felt his pride was destroyed. He raised his hand, preparing to hit. But he broke it.

“Cih, you're safe, boy. But next time I will definitely teach you a lesson.” He's moving away. Followed by the other officer. Throwing just any of those fruits.

The other inmates began to disperse. I helped Vero to stand up.

“Te, thank you, Lian. Is it a matter of you taking those fruits.” Vero's voice sounded soft. He was clearly enduring the pain.

A few minutes later Bundara arrived. It seemed like he rushed over as soon as he heard the news of the fight.

“Jeez, Vero! Again you are looking for trouble with the prison officers.” Bundara nagged while helping Vero to walk. It was easy for him to carry Vero's body.

Bundara leaned Vero's body against the wall of his room. His face looks pale. It must be that the effect of the stun was very strong. That is why the prisoners no one dared to break the rules.

“Lian, get water!” For the first time Bundara called me. I immediately rushed over.

I thrust a glass of water at Vero. He drank it, then laughed.

“Why are you always looking for trouble, huh?” Bundara asked fiercely. He seemed annoyed by Vero's behavior.

“I can't accept their deeds, Bun. I can't let them insult you.” Vero's voice is back. But he still could not move.

“Conflict? What do you mean?” Bundara's voice softened.

“They're talking about you, Bun. They talk about your life. Said you were an outcast. Of course I can't let them. I don't want anyone harassing you about your past. That was a heinous act. I don't like it.”

The room was silent for a moment. Bundara. Then stand. His hands looked clenched, his face turned serious. His breath roared violently. His veins hardened.

“You wait here, Vero. Let me beat them myself up.” Instantly the bracelet in Bundara's hand gave a warning.

“Stop, Bun! I don't want you to get extra shocks and penalties! I'm the only one who has experienced it!” Vero tried to get up. Trying to calm Bundara who looks very emotional.

Bundara began to approach the cell door. Vero kept shouting. Trying to persuade Bundara. I was facing a bad situation. I had to intercept Bundara before anything worse happened. I keep thinking. Finding the right sentences to dilute the ongoing tension.

“I lost my family.” For the first time I said that to them.  Hope Bundara is calm.

Their eyes were fixed on me. Bundara's fist stretched. Steps ceased.

“My father, Aunt, Uncle, and three cousins were slaughtered. My mom disappeared, and my sister.” My throat's choked. I can't continue my sentence.

Bundara patted my shoulder slowly. “No need for you to continue, Lian. We both know how you feel.” He smiled gently.

The three of us sat in the middle of the prison. Vero's face has recovered.

“Alright, we decided to tell our story, Lian. You must be wondering why we could be in jail, right?” Vero came back cheerful.

I honestly never wondered about them. But I decided to listen. Maybe by listening to their stories they can help me to forget my bad memories.

This story starts with Vero. He looks excited. No doubts she emitted.“You know, Lian. Like I said, this prison is a special prison. Prison for temporary prisoners like you. Formerly, I was one of the patrol soldiers or you could call the police.”

“That day, when I was on patrol with two of my comrades. We're circling the city. Ensure the city remains safe. Sometimes we find thieves who loot the property of citizens. Capture them and put them in the room of the roof, which will then be adjudicated in court.”

“But that day was different. For the first time I met a child, Lian. He may be about 6 years old. Body frail. His face looks so thin. He stole a piece of bread at the food store. Of course I can't let a thief escape. Even if he is a child. Be that kid we take to the room. But, this is what touched me and betrayed my work as a patrol soldier.”

“I decided to find out about the child's family. Search for his address, and find a slum on the edge of Keios Town. Meet the child's family. However, I was really surprised, Lian. When I arrived, the child's mother died. Died with a terrible condition.”

“The mother of the child died on her shabby cot. With a very thin body. No one knows about that. My heart aches even more once I know, if Mother is the only family of the child.”

Vero. His eyes were full of regret. “I don't know what to do then. Should I tell the child or not? Those thoughts continue to haunt me. And in the end, it made me a traitor.”

“Protection rules me. It always makes me have nightmares. Makes me want to repeat the past. The day I caught the boy. I should have let him go, see his mother one last time. And just the day before the court, I decided to release the boy. And in exchange I allowed myself to be arrested.”

“But you know, Lian, the boy said as I was released. The boy thanked me. Say thank you to me. That sentence is like a big blow. Like a hard slap. I really don't deserve her thanks. I really don't deserve it. I couldn't even imagine the child's face when I found out his mother was gone. Let me hold that guilt while I'm in jail. Even to this day, I can't forget it.”

“If you look at me who is always carefree, always smiling, all that is fake, all that is a lie, all that is a lie. I did it for the sake of removing this guilt. To forget that day. I don't even deserve to be in this prison. I make it every day. Adding to my sentence, so that I could be in prison forever. ”

The room was silent again. Vero again lowered his face, it seemed that he really felt guilty for the past events that he had experienced. Vero's face looks different, not what it used to be. Hearing her story made me understand that bitter experiences didn't just happen to me.

Bundara patted Vero's shoulder slowly while saying softly. “Not only you, Vero, I also have a bitter experience. What the officer said was all true. If I was an outcast.”

This time Bundara decided to tell his story. My eyes were on Bundara. His face turned into a gentle figure. Now that I know, Bundara is not as bad as I think.

Bundara began to tell his story. “Crust you guys? This body I got was just for the sake of relieving my pain as an outcast. I don't have a father, only my mother raised me. But he raised me like he wasn't his real son. Treat me like a wild animal.”

“I always respect him no matter how many times he hurts me. Letting me sleep on the floor without a single sheet, giving me food that should not be worth eating. I love him so much, no matter how much he hates me.”

“Until one day when I was 8 years old, he disappeared. That day as usual I woke up from my sleep, but I did not find him in any room. I was so panicked, screaming to call his name. I hope he returns my call even with anger. I decided to ask the neighbors around me. And their answers were all the same, My mother left with a suitcase. Be me alone in that house.”

“As I say, no matter how evil he is to me, I still love him. I waited for him and could only hope he changed his mind. I waited for him even though I knew he would never come back. But whatever the power, he never came back.”

“I decided to go to an orphanage. And you know what, Lian? The caretaker is like an angel to me. My affection for me is like a real child to him. He even sent me to school and raised me until I was 17 years old.”

“But the wound in my heart will never heal. I kept remembering the incident where my real mother left me. He abandoned me like a wild animal. Be I ask the guardian of the parlour to attend the Sky Academy. A school where I can grow stronger and hope my heart wounds heal. You know what, Lian? The caretaker was crying. Crying for me. No one has ever cried like this before. The cry was like a mother watching her child go far away. And he said, no matter what anyone says about you, you're still my son. The family part of this home. If you leave only to heal the wounds of your bitter past, I will still consider you as my son.”

“Really those words are the most beautiful words I've ever heard, Lian. But not enough to erase my pain, I still made up my mind. Go to the Sky Academy. A school where you can be strong. To be honest, I did all that so I could find my real mother. I forged myself to erase my prejudice against him. Anyway, I'm still the son of my real mother.”

“Four years passed. I've become one of the soldiers of Keios City. This way I will be more free to find my mother's whereabouts. I'm looking for my mother's name in the Keios City information building. I managed to find out where my mother lives. Let me go to her place with joy. My heart was more impatient once it reached his residence. I knocked slowly on her door, and..”.

Bundara was silent for a moment, his eyes were teary, his huge body was trembling. He continues his story. “You know, Lian. The words that came from Mom when she saw me? Holy hooch! What are the puppies doing here?. Hearing that sentence my heart felt squeezed. My body spontaneously reacted. I was about to punch him in the face. Half of me prevents me. I stopped, I would never be able to consider her my mother again. I decided to return to the orphanage, where I grew up with warmth.”

“I went back to the parlor feeling devastated. My physique is strong, but my mentality is nothing but weak mentality. I ran like crazy to meet the caretaker. But the events that awaited me made my life filled with regret. Adding to the wounds that were in my heart. That day I saw a very sad sight. The orphanage has been forfeited.”

“I fell down, my tears were falling. Staring wistfully at the building of the parlor that had been charred on fire. I don't know if a few months ago the orphanage had a fire. I don't know if all the residents of the parlor are trapped inside. For I have been lulled over my desire to forget the bitter past. This pain slowly turned into anger. Emotions rule my mind, making me commit transgressions. I destroyed one of the public facilities. An angry scream filled with regret. And ended up in this prison.”

“If only I could repeat that day, the day I decided to go to the Sky Academy. Maybe the guards and the residents of the parlour will survive. Maybe I can still see their faces, enjoy the day with happiness. Just like Vero, those shadows kept spinning in my mind. It is like a punishment to me. Punishment for my selfishness.”

The atmosphere of the room felt tight. Bundara. His breath sounds harsh. He tried to calm his mind. This time Vero patted his shoulder softly. Trying to cheer him up.

“Come, Bun! You don't cry in front of a boy, it's a shame.”

“Fuck you, Vero!” Bundara. His stature returned to how it was. Vero just laughed, feeling innocent.

They returned to how they were, there was no sadness left on their faces. I just stared at those who were fighting back.

“Sorry I still can't tell you my story.” My breath in my heart.