Around Us
Chapter 24: Reality
Harmonious, a word that everyone dreams of living life. Whether in a family environment, friendship, or work. Harmony can refer to relationships with others as well as with oneself – balance between logic and feeling.
Although my relationship with my father was less familiar, but it was never thought that one day he became so tempramental that he made a palm stamp on my cheek.
How to educate him hard? Yes, but never before resorted to violence.
I took a seat in front of Dad. Sadrah, hoping that my story can be a helper of the rising puff of anger.
Just touched the sofa, Dad immediately fired a question, “You actually went where and from where? What did you do to get home in a slum?”
Patience and calm. The fire cannot be extinguished by fire either. “Arya to the bookstore, keep coming home. But the road was jammed. So...”
“Daddy mean why can you leave the motor at the funeral?” My voice still shocked my heart.
I set the rhythm of the breath for a moment. “That problem – just want to go home – Arya see Adam sitting alone in a saung. He kept calling Arya, and we talked for a while upstairs, in the courtyard of the banyan tree in the tomb. I see, Dad,” my aura is pounding.
“Adam?” Dad polotized me.
“Iya.”
“Adam where?”
“Children of Mr. Yusuf, whose home is behind mushola.”
Dad kicked the table pretty tight. “Arya, which Adam?”
In shock, my position shifted a few centimeters and my body trembled. “Adam village boy here, Dad. Arya's little friend who used to play here often also.”
“Dad seriously asked. Don't mess around!”
Seeing Dad's emotions getting explosive, I kept my distance. I also noticed that Dad's hand was showing a bad signal.
“Arya is serious, Dad. Do you think Arya is lying? Does Arya need to call Adam here or are we now at his house?”
“Arya!!” Dad called my name until it felt like it was resonating in the ear.
“Daddy is angry like this because it does not like Arya playing with Adam again? Well, Arya is big. Arya knows the limits. Even before, when Arya played with Adam, Arya remained Arya. Never Arya neko-neko,” I complained bitterly with a trembling voice.
I got up from the couch. Unexpectedly, he pulled my shirt collar. Aplaaaak!!! A slap landed again. This time, it was my left cheek turn that had to withstand “their rebuke”.
I can't hold it anymore, my eyes are full. The hardness of Dad's palm that landed on my cheek hurt no more than the words he spoke and the change in nature he showed. It feels so painful.
"Well, how fatal was Arya's mistake in Dad's eyes until suddenly I slapped Arya again? Is there no tolerance in me? Arya talked to Adam for a while. If because of the negligence of Arya ninggalin motor so aja, Arya admitted wrong. But why lately every Aryan made a mistake, in the eyes of Dad as if Arya committed a big sin that needs purification or punishment,”. Asking for clarification on which part of my speech or attitude had sparked his anger.
"Dad has already delivered to you. Not a motor that I'm worried about, but you”, he snapped, “Again, your attitude and behavior are getting stranger and weirder.”
“Any part where, Yah?”
Dad let go of his grip, but his gesture still scares me. “You just said you met Adam your childhood friend. You want to use that story to cover up a lie?”
I repeatedly breath. Many times I tried to take off the pain that began to wrap my heart. “Should how Arya asserts if Arya is not lying?”
“Arya, Adam – your friend was – passed away a few years ago. How could you have met her just now?” Dad put his index finger on my head, “That's impossible. Don't you remember that? Dad slapped you twice because you were getting clumsy, not clear. Talking about things that are beyond reason continues. Your brain seems to be filled with delusion.”
"Well...."
I didn't give you a chance to say more. “You're actually why so much hallucination like this? Some time ago you also had time to say Mak Iroh died 2 times. Last afternoon, Bahri came here to see you. He said he wanted to say thank you, because you helped push the waiter who was at his house. Since when have you been an indigo? Have you lost your mind and consciousness while in Bandung? Huh?”
I lowered my face for a moment to discuss with my conscience. If I keep quiet, the situation won't clear. If I keep answering, it's like I'm the one who triggered the fight. I will strengthen my heart to be stronger.
"Arya is conscious, Dad. And if Arya says it's true, you'll believe it?" my words are smooth and slow.
"Daddy send you to college so that your reason goes.” Dad's tone of voice started to drop a little, “The magical things exist, but our dimensions and they are different. Mak Iroh is dead, and the dead are already in the afterlife. Adam, too, has been dead since you were Junior High. And you keep saying that after talking to him, there's proof? Where do you think it's not just your imagination or your mind?"
Imagination? The wreath? I experienced it for real. The evidence? Hem, stop.
Susana was silent for almost half an hour. Maybe Dad's tired of running amok too. I closed my eyes, hoping for calm.
Byaaarrr!!! My memory brings to me one sad memory. Adam died in 2011. At that time after school, Adam took me home with a BM (Tax Car or stop an open tub car that drove, with the aim of hitching a ride). I realized the act was dangerous, so I refused. I also prevented him from coming. My gut says something bad will happen to us if we go on a BMW.
Unfortunately, Adam insisted on going home in such a ridiculous manner with the rest of his friends. His wish I could not ban in any way. I came home feeling sad.
In the afternoon, the police came to my village looking for Adam's parents' house. Then, the news spread that Adam fell from the truck he was trying to ride. Adam slipped, because he was less agile with the speed of the car. His body hit the asphalt. He was also run over by another truck that was behind the truck that he “begal”.
Adam suffered bleeding from a fall and was crushed by a truck. He died instantly on the spot.
I opened my eyes. I looked at me more calmly. Why did I forget about Adam who was gone? Dad thought my explanation was impossible.
When I met Adam, I was a little strange to see him. His body was thin, his face was somewhat pale, and his posture was still that of a Junior High child. I can be hypnotized and chat with him like two old friends who so full did not meet.
My tears are back. I really feel fucked.
“Yah... You can not believe the same Arya, but please do not nekan Arya like this!” I said to throw silence.
“Your nekan's father? Dad was very worried about you.”
“So, this slap?” point me to my left and right cheeks, “And the hurtful words coming out of Dad's mouth are a form of concern for Arya? Can't you show it lovingly? Or maybe, I'm just venting the burden to Arya. If true, Arya always waited for Dad to tell stories and tell stories about life”. The words just came out boldly from my tongue. A satire if affection should be expressed in a romantic way.
“Arya!!” shouting Father.
I closed my eyes. I promise I won't fight back, even if I get hit harder. If it can release the burden in Dad's mind, I sincerely become an impingement. I murmured in my heart.
However, I chose to get out of the chair. He went into his room, and I was pensively clueless. Why did all this happen? The advantages that I have actually began to erode little by little the calmness of my life. I thought, I'll just know enough. Apparently, this is a test for me.
After crying in the living room, I moved to my room. Sleeping, it can help release and temporarily forget everything that just happened.
As I closed my eyes, someone knocked on my window. I got up and checked.
“Lu scolded again by your father for playing with me huh?” tanyanya moody.
“Adam, our nature is different,” welcome me furious.
“What do you mean, Yes? I want to play with you, he said you said to the house. Can I stay in your room tonight?”
“Please, whoever you are, you are just a genie who is incarnated as Adam. You tried to tempt my faith, right?” I started to get angry, because I felt played.
“It's me, Yes. I'm really Adam.”
“Adam died a few years ago. Just go! Just go! Go now!” my shout drove him away followed by closing the window quite tight.
Immediately I recited the Verse of the Chair to ask Allah SWT for help so that the genie figure that resembles Adam no longer harasses me. Huh! I almost got hooked for the second time.
Then I heard my door open. From his footsteps, I'm sure it was Dad. I immediately lay on the bed and closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep.
Justright. Dad approached me. Looks like he came to check out the noise I just created. Ah, no! I forgot to control the sound. I'm trying to be as natural as possible to sleep.
Unexpectedly, Dad whispered a sentence that almost woke me up.
“Sorry Dad yes, son,” he said after kissing my forehead. It's a very rare thing, even the first time he's done it as far as I can remember.
After apologizing, he left. My father was very difficult to guess.
I was happy to hear her soft words, but I also did not want to speculate more. May tomorrow be all better.
The next morning, I woke up with pain running through almost the entire body. Last night I was able to withstand the fatigue and rigors of Dad's punch. However, it is only temporary. When sleeping, the body acts with all the touch received to collect it into an uncomfortable feeling (pain, sore, and bruise).
“Have dawn prayers, Son?” greet Dad when I go to the bathroom. His words sounded so polite in the ears.
“Udah, Well,” I replied.
“What breakfast are you having?”
“What's up, Dad.”
After the bathroom, I went back to my room to shake my body. While Dad was wrestling in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
I'm glad Dad's attitude is getting softer, though that also makes me even more confused. It's like a sign that I have to think of a surefire way to get Dad to maintain that attitude.
All day I just lay in bed. Rest while evaluating yourself and reflect on all the phenomena that occur.
My thoughts wavered when I heard someone knocking on the front door of the house. I tried to let it go for a second, thinking maybe Dad would open it. But his voice was still repeating and getting louder.
I came out of the room, shocked to find it was dark. Huh, is it night? It feels like the turn of time is so fast.
I see Dad's not home yet. Tumben once Dad taught till night. I open the door.
“Adam,” call me make sure the person who is sculpting in front of me. He was wearing a white shirt and blue pants. Why is he still bothering me? “Dam, we are different in nature. Please don't bother me anymore!” My love.
I closed the door. He quickly held back so strongly.
“Yes, why did you upset me. I just want to play with you,” groaned.
“Please go! I need another break. I also want to own.”
“Yes, I can explain what you've been through. Please open the door, I'll tell everything to lu.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lu is still wondering right about the incident that befell your friends? About Yuli Tea, Nining, and Mas Bimo. Also about Mak Iroh, Ende Sumi, and I who can be present again in front of you. I can help you to live a normal life if you want,” he explained.
I'm still gamang. “Where did you know about them?”
“Because in another world, I met them. If you don't believe me, let's get out. You see for yourself here,”
I was provoked by curiosity. I opened the door and looked across the street. From a distance of about 10 meters, they threw smiles at me. Yes, they are the – that Adam mentioned, except – Mas Bimo also visited my house.
The view I saw was so amazing. “No, not possible.” I tried to dodge their real visit in front of my eyes.
“Yes, if you think we're dead, you're wrong. We are still alive, but in another dimension.”
I looked more closely, ”Lies. I can feel who you really are. Go!”
“Yes, horrified I was”, persuaded Adam by pulling my hand, “From you suffering here, follow us. Somewhere in the world you live in now no one believes the same you experience, right? Even your father doesn't want to hear your story first. He's even acting brutal with you. Now he can slap you, right? Come on, yes, come with us! In another dimension or in another world, we can live as we please. Quick Yes, we go from here.”
“It was just a fantasy, just your trickery in order to master myself. Yes, right?” gusarku, ”Tintukkin your original form! I'm not afraid of you all!”
They also approached while sticking out a hand sign of wanting to attract me. “Close with us, Yes,” say they simultaneously.
They are not real people. I ran inside. But because I was too focused on seeing them, I hit the wall. Bruyuk!!! My vision became dark.
“Yes, wake up Yes! You why?”
I heard my voice calling me. I opened my eyes immediately. With the blooming breath, I watched the surroundings.
“Why you, Ya?” Dad's face looked worried.
It turns out that I had a dream. It's still day. Why am I on the sofa in the middle room? This morning, I laid my body in my room. How did this happen?
Dad put his hand on my cheek and forehead, “Your body is so hot. We go to the doctor now yes.”
I did not respond to Dad's words, because I was busy studying my dreams. First, it all feels real. Second, maybe my dreams are just a manifestation of the ecstasy and reality that has been in my daily life for some time now. I closed my eyes to stop the sharp questions in my life.