The Musafir
Risking Life Against Sepai
Kenanga looked at Jaya and smiled.
“Kangmas look much better after shower. Now come sit down and eat with me. This time there is a lot of time left, so Kangmas Jaya can eat quietly and slowly.”
Jaya looked at the table full of food and then turned to Kenanga. “Like, I don't know how to thank you for everything you've given me.”
“This is exactly how I thank you for Kangmas for helping me. Come sit and eat.”
Jaya is sitting opposite Kenanga. He took potatoes and a little vegetable. When viewed from the whole food on Jaya's plate, then the food taken by him is very little. The young man had a sense of shame and did not want to eat too much this time—if he rarely ate though. Kenanga acted, she sat down next to Jaya and put a lot of food on Jaya's plate.
“Kangmas eat like a baby only. Eat more, all these foods are made for Kangmas. I'm just here to accompany you, so don't Kangmas yell at me.” Kenanga said her hands were still busy taking care of additional food for Jaya.
Jaya did not refuse, or rather she could not refuse. His gaze unintentionally stopped on Kenanga's still busy face. Jaya silently looked deeply. How soft, clean, beautiful his face was. It's a pity if a girl as beautiful as him is even confined in this place. Kenanga can get a bright future if in the world out there. The girl might be able to lure in a merchant or even a government official. Tekad Jaya is getting stronger, Kenanga must get her rights as an independent human being.
“Why is Kangmas staring at my face? Is something wrong?”
Jaya was caught off guard. And terang also Jaya replied with a stutter. Kenanga was sensitive enough that she did not demand a reply again, instead she switched the conversation. “What will Kangmas do after successfully finding Kembangmas?”
Jaya stopped her mouthful and swallowed the food inside her mouth. “Sorry, Kenanga, if I have to say this. I don't know if I'll ever find Kembangmas. So, I still don't have a plan after that."
“That's okay, don't be too forced too.” Kenanga smiled. “But remember, Kangmas. Even if you fail, keep coming back to visit here.”
Jaya looked straight at Kenanga's eyeballs. How could he come back here just to bring the news of failure? Will Kenanga not be very sad later?
“I can't promise. If I don't come back, assume I'm dead and I'll never come back.”
Kenanga forehead shriveling. “Why is that?”
“Only death from Him can stop me.”
“I told you, don't force it until Kangmas says it like this. It's the same as challenging death.”
“I have to risk my life and challenge death for this success, Kenanga.”
“No. You don't need to, Kangmas. Don't you die. If Kangmas forced himself to death, I would not forgive myself.”
“Need.”
“NO!” Kenanga almost got out of control. “What does it mean to me? How valuable am I to you? Why would Kangmas die for me?”
Jaya long silent. Not because it has no answer, but because Kenanga's clash so ransacked her mind.
“Don't till you die because of me, Jaya. If finding Kembangmas can make you die, then stop.”
Kenanga widens the eyes. He felt that he had hidden all that, then how could Jaya know?
“Your hope is my hope too. Your situation is my condition too, Kenanga. If you risk your life to fight loneliness, then I will also risk my life. If your dreams don't come true and you die stabbed by loneliness, then I will die as the most failed man in the world!”
“But you don't have to risk your life, huh?”
“I will keep fighting life or death. Not for your sake, but for US.”
A promise so easy to say as if what he faced tomorrow would be as easy as jumping over a tree trunk.
Kenanga felt warm in her chest.
After they ate, Jaya without lingering immediately stood up.
He went to the corner of the room where he placed a bundle containing his equipment. Kenanga got up before Jaya took the bundle.
“Kangmas, I have prepared a new bundle and supplies in it. Please Kangmas will wear it.”
Jaya looked back and scratched her non-itchy head while smiling awkwardly. “Of course, Kenanga. Thank you.”
Kenanga knelt in the other corner of the room. His fingers went in between the floors of the larger wooden boards there.
Then he made a move like pulling the board. Miraculously, the board was raised and there was a little square cavity in it. Kenanga lifted the two boards again and pulled out a white bundle that was nicer and better.
The puffer cloth looks silvery if reflected by sunlight. Disguise themselves in their environment.
Obviously it was not silk, this cloth must have been very valuable because Jaya had not seen or known him.
The stitches in the bundle were also neat with a large silver thread. The rope used to attach the bundle to the back was made flat and soft with thin feathers, so comfortable wearing it.
Kenanga also removed four medium-sized sacs that formed the coffers. The bag can open if it is loosened by a rope at its top end, or pulls a rope to close it. Kenanga said that the coffers could be tied around the waist.
“These fabrics can expand more than their original size if charged more. This fabric can also imitate the color in the surrounding environment, will become silver or green when exposed to the sun, and become blackish when not exposed to the sun. The temperature inside these fabrics is also maintained. Inside this bundle there is one robe with the same material, it will be cold during the day and warm when night comes.”
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