After Two Decades
The Other Side of Life

The people in black clothes were black-clad looking at their two friends who had been sprawled. They growl annoyed. The two remaining people instantly caught fire and immediately ran towards us savagely. I spontaneously held the little boy and held him tighter. Jan prepares with his gun. We looked at each other and exchanged signals.

A few seconds later, two men with assault rifles came out of the alley. Appearing before us with a fierce face. One facing Jan, one facing me. Before that perfect person got in front of me, I first moved nimbly welcoming him with a surprise kick. My kick hit his hand. So that the rifle he was holding slammed and fell far behind us. The man growled in annoyance. Then he punches blindly. I moved as far away and as fast as I could with the little boy still in my arms. Since I couldn't hit back, I just kept dodging from earlier. Fortunately, for a long time the person was tired also continued to hit without a single punch on target. So when he let his guard down, I shifted and did a kick. This guy can't escape. My kick hit his right shoulder, knocking him against the concrete wall on the side. His head was even hit hard. He complained of pain. Then I hit him again. Then mercilessly his chest hit me hard. While suffocating, my opponent fell backwards. Crashed into rocky ground. At the same time, his partner who was facing Jan also fell sprawled. Be them lying side by side. Both complain of pain. I see, Jan's opponent is also unarmed. The rifle was also thrown by my friend. The two men looked unconscious with wounds on their heads. I make sure again by researching more closely, they do not move anymore. Then I let out a heavy and full of annoyance.

The little boy in my sling I lowered him carefully. I saw her innocent face still gawking and confused, and a little frightened. I researched this kid, from head to toe. Looks kind of weird. He was about eight or nine years old. His appearance is very shabby. His face was crumpled and unkempt. His clothes were dirty like they were not replaced, some were even torn. He also does not wear footwear. He looks like a homeless kid with no home. His appearance was so sad. From earlier he just looked at me while gawking half confused and half scared, but finally this little boy dared to open his mouth.

"Te .. thank ... thank you, Om, for saving me!" he said with a nervous voice. I knelt down and stared kindly while smiling at the little boy. He rubbed his shoulders to calm him down.

"Thank you back, brother!" my answer. "You don't have to be afraid of me, I'm not a bad person!"

"Occus Om who is this? Who is that person, too?" ask the little boy.

"That person .. hmm, they are bad people" I replied, accusing two black-clothed men lying in front of us. My best friend Jan was seen examining and ransacking those people's clothes. Search for identity data or whatever is required.

"I'm not a criminal either, am I?" ask the little boy. "Because I've never seen Om here before."

I smile. Then he said, "No, I'm not a bad person. Take it easy, brother!"

The little boy for the first time finally smiled. Smiling innocently in that shabby and frail body condition. However, in her shabby and frail, I could see the sincerity of her smile.

"Whose name are you?" my many.

"My name ... Steven," replied the little boy. He extended his hand. "Whose name?"

"My name is Renato." I welcomed the hand and shook hands with him.

"Oh, um Renato!" he said with a plain face.

"How much are you?" ask again.

"Lord?" The boy suddenly became confused. He thought for a long time to answer while scratching his head.

"Why?" I asked while looking at wonder.

"I don't know how old I am, Om!" answer this little boy named Steven. His face looked sad to admit that.

"Why can you not know?" tanyaku.

"I don't go to school, Om, I don't understand counting!" steven replied innocently. I'm dumbfounded. I have no reason not to believe. This kid must be honest. It's so sorry for him.

"Why don't you go to school, brother?" ask me to be concerned.

"No money, Om!" answer Steven.

"Where do you live?"

"There, Om, not far from here" Steven replied as he pointed his index finger in one direction. Where when I looked in the direction he pointed, what I saw was a row of hut houses from the board that mostly looked old and weathered. I'm really curious now about this kid's life.

"Dad ...." Steven bowed for a moment. "Dad I don't exist, Om. Mom too. I don't know who my father and mother are. I was born and raised on the streets, before the Good Grandpa helped me."

My heart was full of hearing that. Unfortunately this child, he had to live at such a young age without a parent figure. Plus he had to endure this kind of distress, even his clothes were shabby and worn out. I feel really concerned about him, especially me and Steven this one fate, which is to have been orphans even before we were teenagers. We both lost both parents before understanding the world. So, I really understand how he feels. I could feel what kind of sadness he was going through. I know what it's like to be him. I was in his position at the moment.

"Sorry, it makes you sad!" I said while rubbing the shoulders and hair of this little boy. Trying to cheer him up.

"It's okay, Om!" Steven lifted his head and smiled at me. I'm amazed. Very strong heart of this child, I thought.

"So who are you staying with?"

"I live with my Good Grandpa" replied Steven.

"Good grandfather?"

"The grandfather was a janitor in this area" Steven explained. "He has no one's relatives anymore. So, this grandfather was kind enough to take us abandoned street kids to live in that grandfather's house. There are many of my friends there whose fate is almost the same. It was my grandfather who fed and took care of us every day. Actually, that grandfather was also not a person who had a lot of money. We can't go to school, and we can't buy nice clothes, but it's okay, we can just eat thanks."

I shake my head in disbelief. I'm really touched by this kid. His life was really poor and difficult, but he could still smile and say he was grateful for what was there. He sounded proud to tell about the good grandfather who took care of him, even though they lived in simplicity, but he felt the happiness and tranquility of life in their small family. Really touched me.

"Gee, how sorry are you!"

"It's okay, Om!" steven replied with a smile again.

"Hmm, will you take me to your place of residence? I want to take a look" I said.

"Can, can!" answer the boy. "Come, Om, come with me!"

The boy excitedly pulled my arm. He took me in a hurry. He led me towards the slum he had pointed at. As far as I could see, there was not a single luxurious building. Everything is in worn and dilapidated condition. I was flabbergasted, realizing there was life lingering here.

"Ren," call Jan from behind. "Where are you going?"

"A moment" I said, looking over. "You wait a minute, I'll be back!"

Jan who looked busy with his gawai just nodded at me walking to the far side with Steven.

***

Me and the little boy walked through a row of old buildings for a few minutes. Along the way I watched one by one the houses, how hard the scene slapped me in the face. I thought, all this time I lived in luxury and flourishing treasures, everything I wanted I could get easily. As easy as I said it, it was as easy as it all instantly arrived in plain sight. All needs and needs can be met. Life is complete and nothing less. My job is fun too. However, I always thought that my life was suffering, I always cursed the fate and destiny of God, never grateful for what I had. I always feel empty, even though it is less full what my life is. During this time I worked and dabbled in the business world, with work affairs everywhere and always moving. I feel like I've traveled and visited many places in this country. All the places I've been, they're just little bits of real life. All the places I've been to, are still within the scope of wealth and luxury. While on the other side of this world that I do not know, there is a handful of life that survives in the underdeveloped and slum areas. Living in a state of distress and deprivation. The house was rotten and almost collapsed. Never mind thinking about lifestyle or good clothes, for school even to eat them hard. In the point of view of a person like me— who is used to a one-stop life since childhood—, it is a sad life. However, Steven has shown me evidence of greatness. From that moment I noticed, there was no look of complaining and sadness. It only took a moment for her to recover her heart that had been slightly shaken and frightened, after which I could see the joy on her face. The longer we walked, the more I saw, the child didn't look the least bit sad. He just looks proud to show me his residence. What a hard slap for me. Why is it that with all the treasures I have, I am more often moody than smiling? While people like Steven, still able to survive. My face is hot and embarrassed. I was really moved to see Steven and his life story.

It didn't take long, we arrived at our destination. In one of the house stilts are almost no different from other buildings around it, but this house looks bigger and spacious. The condition is old and worn, the walls of the board look old and a little hollow eaten by termites, the roof of the nipah leaves or something like that, the construction of the poles is rickety. Steven took me to sit on the porch of the house. I watched the building of this house. My eyes did not blink looking around. I feel in disbelief, in this rickety and old house, lives a group of unfortunate little children.

"Of!"

"Eh ...." I flinched and blinked. Awakening from the daydream.