The One Thousand Days

Chapter 6. Devila€ s Contract

The thing I did to him was put a droplet of blood into his mouth. It's just, I can't say anything about that. He also did not say\-words anymore while my body was still frozen as the young man's hand gripped my wrist tightly. His face as pale as a corpse made me shudder and pity. What the hell happened to him? His dark eyes were staring at me blankly. Guilt suddenly came crashing and ripped me apart. That feeling just happened when I did not find suspicion and hatred in those eyes. The black bead looked empty. And what have I done and will do to him must have been so evil?

“Au–”

I did not continue the word\-word as the young man suddenly\ smiled faintly. Clutches weaken. A second later, his hand again drooped on the side of the body.

“Hey, wake. Hey!” I said as I continued to shake his body which suddenly just returned silent. However, the young man flinched. As if\-pronounced a single long sentence could make him faint instantly.

“You will wake up all the inhabitants of this house if you keep shouting.” Alice's voice suddenly\sound.

“He woke up, he held my hand, in–dia–”

“Yes, yes, I know. Don't bother\-repot explaining!” the cut sounds really\-really cruel.

I looked at the girl demanding an explanation. Alice shrugged her shoulders in a relaxed manner as if the incident just now was not something worth explaining.

“She moves due to a reaction from your blood.” The girl said a casual word and then came back to ignore me. He moved closer to the man who was still lying on the bed.

“Ta–tatata–pi she talks.”

“That's just your feeling!”

“No way, he really\-talk to me,” I said explaining.

“He didn't speak, there's no way he could have done that if only one or two drops of your blood had fallen into his mouth. So don't question anything stupid anymore!” concluded quickly.

 “Is he still alive?” I don't care at all about the ridicule in his voice.

Alice looked up at me. “Of course. Don't be stupid, please!”

“Continue what happened? Why he suddenly\suddenly just wake up, he–”

“Sst! Can be silent anyway?”

Alice's words instantly made me speechless. Maybe I'm too puffed up but curiosity always takes control when mysterious\-things happen that need answers. Yes, there may be a soul that is always curious in me, even if it may be only a little.

“Help me!”

I woke up from the daydream when I heard Alice's voice. The girl is now pulling the body awake.

“You flanked him?” I still find it difficult to silence my mouth from questions that spontaneously just pop out.

“We have to take her this morning. Don't ask much, I'll explain later!”

We got the guy out without much trouble. Struck and limped a few times while dragging his body. He was thin, but his posture was high enough to make us a little slower.

During the trip I observed this place. The house is still quiet like an untouched haunted grave, out of nowhere the woman who was pulled by a machete with jasmine on her head went. Alice rushed into the car after putting the boy in the back seat.

“We do not say goodbye before going home?” I asked as I followed Alice who turned inside to close the front door.

“I told you earlier, just relax!” he said while locking the gate.

“Where now?” ask me when the car engine is galloping.

Alice frowned as if to say. Please don't tell me you don't understand at all.

“Don't tell me my home?” I guess the origin.

“Bingo!”

“What?” my voice went up half an octave. “You're crazy!”

“Gosh! I need extra patience stock.” Alice patted the chest sarcastically.

“Ya, not so is kali.”

“Then?”

“Street?” I was full of doubt even though the answer was clear.

“Aparticularly?”

I immediately fell silent. This spirit-calling girl does not like to be denied. The car starts to move slowly when the engine is already roaring smooth. We passed through a lonely road. It's too early.

The sun was high when we got home. I stayed alone until we brought the young man into the house without much disturbance. We laid the young man in my brother's room. After that, you move out.

“You've been robbed or how?” alice asked, looking around.

“Iya, two days ago,” I said limp.

“Saballah. There's nothing I can say other than that.”

“Yes. You're so nice!” sindirku.

“Indeed. The truth is I'm helping you now.”

“By the way\-by the way we have to talk,” said I switched the topic of the chat while following Alice who walked out.

 “Of course. We do need to talk.” Alice chirped lightly as she walked down to the living room downstairs.

“You want me to do what with that young man?”

Alice glanced at me a little and then leaned back on the back of the sofa to reveal indifference.  I snorted annoyedly at her attitude. Alice seemed to realize my frustration until she sat up straight again.

“He is the medium you will use to summon the soul of your beloved. Your girlfriend's soul will enter her body–”

“Yayaya I know,” my fast.

“Then what did you ask?”

“But, not a few hours ago you told me about the media. I didn't forget. I mean why does he have to be here? I don't need to see Geral every day.”

“Then where do you want him to stay? Home to his family?”

I nodded stiffly. “Maybe,” I said not sure.

Alice shuffled at me. His round eyes looked unperturbed. “Listen, Geral is not in her own body. Then you think his family will accept a foreign youth who claims to be his son?”

“His parents are dead, he is alone.”

“OK, his parents died and he has no brothers. How relatives? Let's say there are no relatives, then neighbors. What about neighbors?”

I shook my head again. All of Alice's words were true. How could Geral's remaining relatives possibly accept a stranger claiming to be a deceased member of their family? Which person would believe anything ridiculous about soul-calling or anything in modern times. After all, maybe they will be angry if they know their family members are called back in the world which means fighting against destiny and making their spirits not calm there.

“Well. They must have refused. There is no way they will accept and say ‘sayang, finally you come back from the afterlife. We missed you.” Alice turned her head towards me for a moment and let out an incredulous laugh. “Don't tell me that's what's on your mind right now?”

I pulled out a glass of mineral water and gulped it in a few big gulps. “From your opinion, it feels impossible.”

“Oh gosh! Again\again I was right?” Alice screamed with a tone that sounded made\-made.

“Then what should I do to him?”

“You must contain it, that's part of our agreement. You call him then you're the one responsible.”

“In addition, what should I do?” pasrah.

What else can I do? My mind is completely\-dead now. On the one hand I feel that maybe I'm starting to go crazy, but on the other hand I hope that all these crazy things happen and that I can meet Geral as soon as possible.

“You mean choose?”

“On that night\-night, the two souls in the man's body will all come out. Both will ask you to choose. Whoever you choose will stay with you until the thousandth day. You understand?”

“I obviously chose Geral, the owner of the body is no one\-who to me,” I said steadily.

“Oh well, I'm just telling you. You mustn't forget, she must be with you that night. If you are separated then that Geral will not come back, so whatever happens hold him by your side,” he said explaining–no, he sounds more like a warning.

“You mean Geral will never return to that guy's body?”

“Yep.”

I nodded in understanding. “Only that?”

I've recorded everything Alice said into my phone. Although my memory is not that bad. I'm just afraid that I'll forget all these taboos and make trouble later.

“Then there is a phase in which your lover's soul weakens and perhaps the owner of the body returns at the full moon of each month. When that happens, don't let him take his necklace off. When he removed the necklace for more than three hours then the game\-over. That geral will not be able to find his way back to the body of that loan.” Alice again\-again reminded.

“Then what will happen?”

“Jiwa Geral will float in the world in confusion until the thousandth day.”

I obviously don't want Geral to float\-layang in the world in confusion. Of course he stayed by my side, for that I should not be banged up in the least. However, I swear Alice's warning sounded terrible. More like a threat than a working theory of soul transfer. Even so, I nodded and recorded everything Alice said without asking much.

 “That necklace is the entrance of Geral's soul into the body you chose. The bracelet shows that you are the one who called him, you are the owner.” Alice continued her explanation.

“I think it looks like a pentagram that witches use to summon demons,” I said originally because I remembered the part\-part in a fantasy novel I read a few months ago.

“Ya, you could say that.” Alice relaxed as she sipped the mineral water she had just poured into the glass.

“By the way\-by how much should I pay you?”

I really\-have no money now after the robbery two days ago. The money I have for survival I got from Alex. In order to pay Alice, I had to collect first.

Alice turned to me and patted me on the shoulder. “Cheap cheap, the bill will not come quickly\-fast.”

I shuffled away from him. His smile was really\-suspicious. Alice is too cheerful for the size of someone who always deals with ghosts. Really\-really cheerful and odd.

“We are friends,” the sound is still cheerful.

Huh huh? What friend? It's even stranger. Glancing scared\-fear but that smile turned into laughter. He chuckled until his shoulders were shaken. Totally\-suspicious. I still looked at her full of suspicion even as the girl bailed home.

~\*~

 I settles\-sink into Alex's room, where the young man is asleep. Make sure he doesn't move. To dare to go inside. His breathing sounds regular. His eyelids were still clinging to each other, he looked sound. It's just that he's too sound to be called asleep. I'm not sure she's gonna wake up, but Alice thinks she's gonna be up any time soon so maybe I should wait.

“Thank you for making my Geral come back, whoever you are.” My finger pulled out a blanket to cover the body of the foreign youth. “You must bring it back, I will destroy you if you don't!”

I'm not sure if he heard it or not but I want to make the line clear here. He's no one\-who, just an intermediary for me to get Geral back. I don't care when people say I'm possessive or crazy enough to perform a seance ritual for a man\man.

I touched my chest, the tightness and pain began to torment me again. A pain that was often excruciating when I remembered the young man. Smile, laugh, sweet treatment to the tiny birthmark of the left side of his forehead. All of this makes me miss him so much. Honestly, I still wasn't willing to let her go so soon. My eyes are getting wet.

“I won't cry, because I'm sure you'll be back.”

“Enza\-”

A sighing and heavy voice suddenly\just called my name. I was instantly silent. My hand that was originally holding the edge of the blanket just let go. The fur sitting on the nape suddenly\ suddenly stood as if giving a signal something was wrong in this place. The heat feels strange and the temperature of this room as if\-as soon dropped dramatically. Lamat\-goal the sound of footsteps could be heard approaching.

“Who?”

Slender. There is no lawfulness. I bit my lips while my hands were clenched.

“Geral?”

I touched the nape trying to ease the fear that suddenly\ just crept closer. Buru\-hustle closed the door and ran out.  Open all the windows and doors. Bright and glare. The sunlight came into the house.

Ghosts are afraid of the sun, so they always come out at night. I was still standing in front of the window touching the bracelet in my hand. Breathing out heavily. I hope everything I do is the right thing.

I turned back to look at the closed door.  Still want to know what's going on in there. Undo the intention when the fine fur on the nape begins to overreact. Maybe tonight or tomorrow. There was plenty of time left just to stare at the young man. Anyway, now I have to open a shop and make some money to make a living.

In the afternoon, some customers came to the store. Now I'm serving the last customer today because I'm closing soon. A man who came alone and ordered roses for his wife–. My finger cut the handle of the yellow rose before packing the bouquet. Occasionally steal a glance at the man who is still waiting impatiently. The man always ordered flowers every few days. Different types of flowers\-different, but always yellow.

“Yellow is bright,” she said as I asked her why she chose sun-colored flowers.

I smiled back then, and Geral and I loved the sunflowers. The flower was large, looking gallant and full of benefits. Where the seeds can even be a snack that tempts the tongue to continue chewing. We used to go to the sunflower garden on the outskirts of town. Almost every week. He always spends time at his peak\-hour.

“This is it,” cried while thrusting a wreath when the man approached.

“Thank you,” the man smiled kindly then left after paying some money.

My eyes are staring around. A smile formed on the lips as my eyes found a stalk of sunflower in the corner of the stall. Geral would have woken up soon if there was a flower next to her. By the way\-by the way, what is he doing now?

I want to see him now, maybe now he's still asleep. All lunch, I can see it. This longing instantly erupted. I hurriedly\hurried to my feet. Pull four flowers out of the container to give her.

 “Enza!”

Someone said hello when I closed the door. I looked towards the direction the sound came from. No steps were heard approaching. I looked at the middle-aged woman who was standing not far from where I was now. Glancing at his brown eyes highlighted full of judgment.

“Iya, Auntie,” I try to be polite. “You buy flowers, Tan?”

He nodded and then smiled. “Tante notice you alone.”

Oh, you wanna gossip.

I snorted, but still tried to smile. This kind of woman is just a neighbor who likes to gossip and pry at the wounds of others.

 “You didn't move to your father's house?” tanyanya direct.

Nah. The same question again. A hobby of scraping the wounds of others is hard to lose.

My finger squeezed the flower stalk in my hand. The same question over the years. Didn't he know that I was living alone and my relationship with Dad was always bad. I would love to stuff my neighbor's mouth with dry leaves so he doesn't get busy taking care of other people's lives. Honey, I'm not that nice. Just surprisingly, why aren't they tired of repeating the same question?

“No.”

The fat woman turned her head for a moment to my house. Sighing heavily as if bearing heavy burdens. “Tante thought it wouldn't take long for your house to be crowded after you and your lover get married. Who would have thought destiny said otherwise, your girlfriend even left you.”

There was a pity sound made\-made in his voice to make me anxious and upset at once. My finger's golden was getting stronger until the flower stalk felt watery. I am lonely and alone, but I do not need the mercy of people.

“Destiny is sometimes cruel, you are patient yes, Za.” A smile spread on his lips.

Patience? Just be right! How can you be patient if people like you keep harassing other people?

I think I'm hitting him with a flower stalk right now. However, only a stiff nod was formed. I put on a fake smile before saying excuse me. Leaving that fat lady on the street. I took a quick glance before I stepped into the courtyard. He only shook his head a few times and walked back to his house. It seemed that he was very intent on hurting the feelings of others. Deliberately going out just to scrape someone else's wounds.

My frustration ended when I opened the door. The young man was still silent in his sleep. It looked unperturbed as I replaced the Lavender flowers in the vase with sunflowers.

“Geral, look I gave you sunflowers. Wake up and tell me something fun,” I said as I opened the shutters, for the air circulation in the room so as not to be stuffy.

I approached and slammed my ass on the surface of the bed. Positioning myself on the edge while looking at the black-haired young man with a mole under those eyes. Smiled with relief when he heard he was still breathing regularly. My hand was stretched out eager to touch his face. Nope, no. That face doesn't belong to Geral. Although I looked at him for the past three days, that face had no resemblance at all to Geral.

“Geral, wake up!” my spoken. “I miss you. Don't leave me alone.”

My eyes could not be separated from the figure of the sleeping prince who now seemed too late in a long sleep. This activity broke when the loud noise shocked me. I tiptoed as the shutters in the room moved shut. It was slammed hard as if the wind was hitting him forcibly. My eyes are staring in all directions. The entire fur on my body started to stand up straight. This room felt cold all of a sudden making me shiver. Then the sound of footsteps was heard again.