The Journalist

Part 56: Releasing the Unheld

Everyone was shocked by Mr. Ali's decision to go straight to the battlefield. One by one the men who were in that place then volunteered to join the army. They cheered vigorously while buzzing the words of the spirit burner.

"Sir, do you seriously want to join our army?" ahmed asked with anxious strokes covering his face.

"Yes, Ahmed. How could I stay here while we're short on troops. Please take good care of our children and sisters!"

"But, Sir. You never go down directly in a war. You don't have that experience. How come?" Ahmed's voice choked with tears streaming out.

"Are you underestimating my hidden skills?" Mr. Ali laughed as if there were no burdens to be thought of.

"No, Mister. Please don't be rash!"

Mr. Ali hugged Ahmed trying to calm him down. The man's gaze was now directed at Ameena.

"Ameena, I'm going first. Please don't tell Khalila anything about this!"

As the man turned around, Ameena immediately said in a soft-sounding tone, "Sir, please come home safe! Khalila's waiting for you."

Mr. Ali turned slowly back to look at Ameena who lowered her head. "If I go home, will you be Khalila's mother?"

"I have long regarded Khalila as a child. You don't worry," Ameena replied while remaining down.

Mr. Ali laughed softly. "I mean, are you willing to marry me and be a part of me and Khalila?"

Compared to Ameena, I was the first one to gasp. Mr. Ali would not hesitate to propose to the woman in front of us all. Moreover, this is done when the situation is precarious. Ameena who had lowered her head earlier, then raised her face with a mimic that was no less surprised. The eyes of the two met in one glance. Even so, the lips of the woman were still tightly clenched.

"Sister Ameena, accept the proposal, sir! At the very least, it would be his encouragement." A woman standing next to him whispered to him. Some of the people standing behind also urged him.

Ameena is still flinching. However, it seems that the silence of the woman is considered as an agreement so that the face of Mr. Ali looks radiant.

"Say, what dowry do you want?" ask Mr. Ali as proof that he is really serious.

Quiescent. Ameena still has her voice. Aside from stingy out words, she was also known for being an expressionless woman. His facial water doesn't describe anything so I can't guess his heart and mind right now.

"Say, what do you want?" repeat mr. Ali.

"Only your safety, Sir!"

Everyone looks at me. Yeah, those words were coming out of my mouth, not from Ameena.

"To marry her, of course you have to survive first," I said while looking firmly at Mr. Ali.

My position was currently standing between the two of them, where Mr. Ali was in front of me while I turned my back to Ameena.

"You're right!" reply Mr. Ali with a faint smile on his lips.

"Master, if I may suggest, don't fight them. Hide for a while, then invite them to diplomacy to reach an agreement," I asked Mr. Ali.

"I'm a journalist! I am neutral and not on any side! If you're willing, I can facilitate your voice in the media! I also work for Reuters, it's the biggest news agency right now" I told the man. I turned back to Mr. Ali, "Master, if you want, you can be my source. You are a known and respected figure of the people in this region. You can make a statement in the mass media representing the anti-government camp."

"Don't listen to him, sir! He approached us just to seduce you into joining this curse regime" said the old man.

"That you fight is your brother too!" I shouted no less fiercely, "the soldiers are your brothers! I'm sure, deep down, they don't want to put guns on their countrymen, either. The civil war is more heartbreaking than fighting another country. End this and make a deal!" I tried to open their minds, even though I knew it was hard.

"Are you inciting us to betray our comrades who have been killed because of the curse? They have violated the liberated zone agreement, how could we still be willing to negotiate with them? Do you know, Mr Ali's brother was executed without trial?! There has been a lot of blood of our comrades spilled in this country and now our land will be plundered and occupied, how could you ask us not to resist!" sahut again. This time, accompanied by the cry of those behind him."

(liberated zone: rebel-held areas)

"If we don't end the war, then we're the one that's going to end the war" I said in a weakened hoarse voice. I don't know how else to wake them up if fighting isn't a solution.

"You approached Mr. Ali and asked him to be the source. Ah, I know, you used him and all of us for your work, right? The press today is shameless! Use any means to get news!" Not only accused him, now the old man also insulted my profession.

"Enough!" Mr. Ali cut through the heated debate between us. He approached me while looking at me with a face full of dilemmas.

"Brother, thank you for your advice. But, sorry ...." Mr. Ali patted me on the shoulder while commenting on his trademark smile.

As she was about to move on, I whispered in a voice almost gone, "Ameena has lost her husband. Don't let her lose you as her future husband!"

When I said that, my voice shook. My eyes also felt dewy. My mouth and heart are out of sync. However, it is not the time to think about matters of the heart. Perhaps, this was also what master Ali felt when he decided to go to war after proposing to Ameena. Putting aside his personal affairs first, for the sake of protecting many people. The circumstances require us to let go of the ego.

Mr. Ali froze. Pretty long. Before he finally turned to Ameena who was standing behind me.

"I will bring my victory as our wedding dowry" he said optimistically.

I looked at Mr. Ali's back with weak drooping eyes. Why did they choose war? War does not benefit any side. When I became a Japanese self-defense force, I always instilled the principle that soldiers fight not because they hate the enemy, but to stop the enemy's actions. After changing profession to be a war journalist, I tried to show the public forms of cruelty from war through broadcasts, writings and photos that I made.

All the grown men in this foundation have left, except me and Ahmed. The women and children dispersed when they heard a barrage of weapons. Some went to the house of worship to pray. Now, only Ameena and I were left in that courtyard. The sound of bullets that continued to rumble as if being an escort when there was no sound between us.

Mina-chan, how can I let go of my feelings for you?

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Author notes ⁇ ️️

Fyi, in Indonesia there was once the most phenomenal exclusive interview. An interview with a Timor-Leste rebel, Major Alfredo (former military police commander in TL). It was said to be phenomenal because then major Alfredo was a fugitive of the governments of Timor-Leste and Australia, continue before doing the interview Alfredo asked Andi and all the kick crew Andy involved to do the pocong oath so as not to divulge his whereabouts. The time and place were kept secret and determined by Alfredo himself. And the deal should only be broadcast after the man leaves safely. Oh, yes, Alfredo is famous shrewd and very slippery in disguise. Sadly, he died a year after this interview.

Is Andy's kick ass charged with co-hiding a fugitive? Of course not, because the press and the media have the right to protect their sources. Likewise with the interview of Osama bin Laden who was once dubbed as the most dangerous person in the world.

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