Baby Amber
Who's Mother

The baby I named Radit crawled around my legs, which had been standing by the closet. As if asking me to carry, Radit struggled and tried to stand by one of my legs. That ice-cold hand was stuck to my calf which happened to be me just wearing knee-length pants. Just so I pulled my leg firmly and made Radit just fall to the floor. She's not crying. Only the gaze of the eyes that did not mean anything, as well as a grinning smile as if it had mocked me for having managed to scare me. I looked up when I heard Ratih's voice scream.

"Mas." with a red face he came up to me and immediately picked up Radit who was sitting right in front of me. Suddenly the baby was crying, whining as if he was asking for help.

"D-Dik." call me shrewd. I'm shaking. Obviously what Ratih saw was not what he had expected. I wanted to try to explain, but I knew it would be useless. Ratih loves Radit too much.

"That's it. Ratih knows, Mas Hadi can't love Radit. Ratih was aware, Ratih could not give the same offspring Mas Hadi. But that's not how it works. If you can't accept Radit's presence in our midst. Hadi did not torture Radit. He's innocent." Ratih said at length.

"Bu-not that, Sister. I just..."

I haven't been able to continue my words, Ratih immediately left me to take Radit with him. The baby looked at me with a smile that didn't know what it meant. I goosebumps every time I see Radit smile.

*****

At the restaurant, Ibra tried to give an explanation about the understanding of baby amber.

"So she's not a human baby?" tanyaku. Ibra.

"No, Sir. It says here that he's a spirit baby. Or it could be the spirit of a baby who died while in the womb of his mother." explained Ibra.

"Then, can we find out who this baby's mother is? Who knows can help get rid of it or maybe bring it home. I'm afraid Ratih is in danger." I said begging Ibra.

"Depends, sir." she answered briefly. I just scrunched my forehead. Honestly, I don't understand anything like this.

That night, my mind was completely confused. I sipped black coffee and a cigarette on the porch. Unlike usual, I am not a man who likes to smoke. It's just that, right now I need some calm to think.

"What do I have to do with this kid?" I muttered alone. If I have to take care of him, he's not a human child. If I have to throw it away, how?

Srreeekkk .. srrreeekkk ...

A voice breaks my daydream. I looked towards the source of the sound, curious. Who's this midnight sweeping. There will not be no food vendors around the house if it is late like this.

"Sprreeekkkk.. srreeekkk ... srreeekkk..."

My hair stands on its own. The cold felt so strong. No one's passing by. I thought someone might be walking by dragging the slippers he was wearing. But there's no one outside the fence.

"Oooeeee..."

I rushed inside when I heard the cry of the baby. Radit doesn't usually cry that hard. Usually he only whined, but this time his cry was so loud that it woke Ratih who was asleep.

Sasshreeett ...

A white shadow flashed quickly outside our bedroom window. Radit who was crying was instantly silent. He turned to the origin of the voice and shadow that had just passed by.