Adult Zone
5. Buntu Street

...DEAD END...

...Author by: David Khanz...

Hot burning day. Stinging nyelashes pinch the pores in almost every part of the body. Draining heavily, sweat flooding the body. As one man felt, Rendra, stepped unsteadily on a smoldering path. Exhausted breathing, plus blank eyes staring at the environment. Completing the suffering in the midst of the rampage that fills the head.

Rendra paused for a moment under the shade of a tree on the side of the road. Sweat on the face with the back of the hand. Staring at the sky for a moment, then he crouched pensively remembering the events some time had passed.

"How about that loan application, sir? This has been the last week in accordance with what you promised," said Rendra Kala facing his boss, Wijaya, in the workspace of men with fashionable looks.

Wijaya lowered his glasses slightly. Staring sharply at the pensive Rendra. "Sorry, Sir. The company's financial condition is empty" said Wijaya accompanied by a wry smile. "I have spoken with the head of the financial subsection and the office treasurer, they said. Empty cash. There is also funding for office program activities. It cannot be disturbed for other purposes. Including loans for Mr. Rendra's."

Rendra swallowed bitter saliva. His throat suddenly dried up. Disappointed, he asked, "Absolutely unable, sir?"

Wijaya. "Yes, their answer is like that. Sorry, sir."

Rendra lowered her face. His eyelids began to stagnate clear points. Sadness mixed with deep disappointment.

"Is there anything else you want to say, sir?" asked Wijaya a few moments later. "The question .. I have to get back to work."

Rendra raised her face. Look expectantly at his superiors. After gulping a few times, he said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Wijaya. I only need a loan of three million, for the cost of school children. If today can't pay for the re-list, that means .. My son dropped out of school."

"Yes, I already know the reason you want to borrow money the other day. I understand it very well. But ... the problem .. yes, as I said earlier," Wijaya said, glancing at his watch.

Rendra took a deep breath. With a stern voice, he added. "I'm sorry, sir. I mean ... if indeed the office can not help .. maybe you can help me find another way out. The thing is, I really need it, sir."

"What does Mr Rendra mean?" Wijaya frowned. This man began to sniff there was another scent from the words of his subordinates.

Rendra looked back. Shame and forced expectantly, continue to shackle the mind. Then he replied, "Once again, I apologize for my stupidity, sir. Me .... " This man is no longer able to withstand the emotional enticement in the heart. " ... Maybe you'd like to help me, sir. I was confused as to where else to ask for help. My only hope is from the office or you."

"Then?" Wijaya squinted the petals. It seemed like he already understood, what Rendra had meant just now.

Silent for a moment, until then the shabby-looking man continued to say, "Maybe .. eeumm, maybe you have a little money for me to borrow, sir." Wijaya. Rendra added, "I promise to repay five hundred thousand per month. I can return it to fullness later, sir. I promise. It's for the sake of the child's education."

Wijaya seemed to be thinking hard. "Where are you?" he said, "the problem is, for now .. I myself have no personal savings." Rendra was disappointed. The only hope, now threatened to disappear. "Sir Rendra knows it himself, right? In the midst of pandemic conditions like now, almost everyone is down. Including myself. So .... "

Suddenly Wijaya's phone rang. There's a call from a number called 'my son' there. The man immediately grabbed his goal. Shortly before receiving the call, he gave Rendra a code to be quiet for a moment. "Yes, Son. What's up?"

Rendra's tears run down his cheeks. Still with a lowered position, he waited for Wijaya until after talking through a cellphone.

"Oh, that bike?" Wijaya glanced at Rendra for a moment. His voice suddenly dropped a little. "Yes, already. You just go to the dealer. Choose what you like. Papah will transfer the money directly, son? How's it? Okay well? Alright. Wait for news from you later. Yes, Papah is still in the office. Workings. Okay, Honey? Hye!"

Wijaya closed the conversation. After putting the phone back on the table, he said to Rendra, "I think it's like that, sir. So .. sorry, I can't help."

"I only need three million, sir," urged Rendra Lirih.

"I know, Sir. If only I had, maybe ten million I would give. The problem .. I myself am in need. Mr. Rendra heard it himself, right? The firstborn asked to buy a motorbike, the second also had to re-apply school. Then my wife. So .... "

"I beg you, sir. I ask for your generosity," said Rendra this time accompanied by sobs.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Rendra. I can't yet. Except .... " Wijaya reached into his pants pocket. "If you want to have lunch, there's twenty thousand. Just put it on first. It doesn't have to be returned."

Rendra stared for a moment at the green sheet of money that Wijaya offered. Shaking his head, he chimed in, "Thank you, sir. I just need help. Because of this problem, I lost my appetite."

Wijaya smiled wryly. "Sorry, sir. I can't help."

Rendra got up from sitting down. After his clearance, he rushed out of the room with a grim face.

His heart seemed to be breaking into pieces. Nothing can be entertaining. As one of his coworkers said in the office boy section. "Where, Ren? Have you received a loan from Pak Jaya?" josep asked as soon as the two met in the back room.

Rendra shook weakly. His lips trembled, unable to answer the question of his fellow profession. Josep took a breath. Miris.

"Don't know, Jos. I thought that too. But, what else? The facts are like that" said Rendra sadly. His chest tightness felt. "Gue resigned."

"Damn it! The boss has no feelings!" swearing Josep while clenching his hands.

"Udahlah. No need to discuss it again," said Rendra sadly. "That means the cave has to be willing, the cave boy came out of the school."

"Don't dong! The child's education is much more important, Ren. Your son should be in school" said Josep. "Where would you like to use cave money?"

Rendra. "Do you have money, Jos?"

Josep stared sadly at his co-worker. "Monday study, the cave deliberately nyisain balance at the ATM. Not big, just two hundred thousand. If you want to use it, take the cave right now."

Rendra shakes. "Cave the need for three million, Jos."

"That's it, the cave itself doesn't have any, Ren. Sorry .... " Joseph looked at haru. "If there were, the cave wouldn't have thought. Must've taken the cave to you, Ren."

Rendra patted Josep's shoulder. "Thank you, buddy. Cave believe ama elu. But .. sorry, the cave can't accept your offer. There are still many flaws."

Josep scratched his head. " ... Of .. or gini. Gua wants to try to find other friends of our profession. Who knows if they can help. You wait for the cave, until the break. Don't go anywhere."

Rendra smiled haru. "Thank you, Jos."

After saying that, Josep immediately rushed to leave Rendra. I don't know where. Maybe meet other friends in the office environment where they work. Waiting expectantly until the time of rest, in fact the figure of Josep never came.

Finally, Rendra decided to leave the office. Tracing the hallway of the room with a limp step. In the parking lot, Josep's motorbike was not found as usual hanging out there. Maybe he went or where. Rendra didn't want to ask much.

Sometime after the man left, Josep suddenly came to the office. Hurry up to hunt the back room, where the usual place of the workers as professional gathered. Looks so much unusual as it should be. A crowd of other workers crowded in there.

"What's this?" josep asked one of the crowd.

"Well, it just so happened that you came, Jos," said the figure asked earlier.

"What the hell is it?" ask Josep again.

"You'll see for yourself in that pantry, Jos."

Josep according. A moment later he fell in with his eyes wide and mouth gaping. "Yes, God!" shaken surprised.

For a few moments Josep was still glued followed by tears that could not be dammed.

"I'm sorry, Jos" said one voice behind Josep. From the figure that was. "Now, quickly tell his family. Because I thought, you're the only worker here who knows where his wives live."

Josep stunned. "Pinjem gua your vehicle."

"Where is your bike going?"

"Gadein cave earlier," answered Jos while wiping his pants pocket stored money of three million rupiah, to meet the needs of Rendra.

But now, the money is useless. Replacing the deep sadness in Josep's heart.

TOOOTT!

The shrill screams of the town bus horn spread Rendra's daydream. The man's eyes stared at the speed of the vehicle towards him. Still overwhelmed with sadness and a rumble of emotion behind his chest, he suddenly rose from his squat. Then stepped quickly hunting for the arrival of the bus. Not going up or stopping, but deliberately standing right in the middle of the path that will be passed.

In a split second, Rendra's body would be mercilessly hit by the front of the vehicle. But nothing happened. The bus body smoothly passed the man, unharmed or thrown horribly. Likewise with other road users. Rendra was still intact standing rigidly on the paved road.

Because at that time, no human being could witness his presence, nor hear any more screams of disappointment. The man had chosen another path to overcome the problems of life, rather than passing slowly while hoping for God's guidance.