Before 365 Days
70. Could Ndoro Kusuma still be alive?

"At Mr. Ruman's house there is an event, Mas. How could I be honest and make a crowd there," said Wulan.

"Yes at least you tell the same story, Mas, dong!" adam replied upset.

"Yes, I don't feel good about having to tell you there. This is what I told you, too" replied Wulan.

"Oh, don't argue. Dam, you listen to me first. Wulan's intention is also good," said Marsel.

Adam threw his face away in annoyance.

Bambang smiled at the behavior of Adam and Wulan.

"I continue not the story," said Bambang.

"Continue, Mas. I waited a while ago" said Wulan.

"Hem. Maybe it's true mbak, that's the face of Nek Jamilah," said Bambang.

"Mr Jamilah?" ask Wulan and Marsel together.

"Who is he, my mom?" ask Wulan.

"I don't know, I was just told by, Mada," Bambang replied.

"Mada's? Who else is he?" ask Marsel.

"I don't know either. But, he's the one who ate with you, Mas Marsel," replied Bambang.

"Well! Are you serious, Mas Bambang?" ask Marsel.

"Yes, I saw it. Maybe the person you said looked like a rose, it was Mada. And, Madam Wulan, when I saw myself talking, it was actually, I was chatting with Mada. Mada told me something," said Bambang again.

"Mada and Nek Jamilah that, satan?" ask Adam who was silent.

"Yes, you could say so, Mom!" reply Bambang.

"Why do you know the devil? You know a lot" said Adam.

"Okay, if told a lot, Mas," said Bambang smiling while scratching his head.

"Okay, I'm sorry, Mas Bambang. Maybe Mas Bambang is tired. But we need information, Mom! I want to marry a rose. I don't want anything to happen at my wedding" said Marsel.

"Yes, Mas! Please just tell me everything, what Mas Bambang, know," continued Wulan.

"Yes, yes, actually, Mada and I were also chatting about your marriage, Mas Marsel,"

"What's? Why could that be? Is there something he's after? Or ..." asked Adam to hang.

"Who is that actually? The occupants of Mr Ruman's house? Or ...."

"He does live there, Ma'am. But I don't know exactly where. Perhaps, in the mango tree near the mushola it's because he always asked me to go back,"

"Yes could be. When I first saw a person similar to the Rose, it was also there, Mas Bambang!" marsel said with passion.

"Yes, maybe, Mom! So actually, Mada was fond of you, ta ...."

"What! Like me? Why would he like me?" asked Marsel who returned glaring in shock.

Marsel did not think he liked the devil.

"I don't know, but ...." Bambang was silent for a moment he tried to remember every sentence ever uttered by Mada.

"Yes, I remember the phrase Mada, who said that he liked someone who wanted to get married. And he was jealous when his parents were about to throw a seven-day, seven-night party, so he dropped all the stuff in the kitchen. Mas Marsel, it seems, you need to ask this as well to, Madam Roses. I'm sure, the ones who feel awkward aren't just us. Bi Minah must have felt the same way, too" Bambang explained later.

"Yes, you're right, Mas Bambang. It may not be just the rose. But, Mr. Ruman knows something. If this is going to threaten the safety of her family, we need to ask her immediately, and resolve the matter before your marriage, Sel!" lang Wulan's.

"Yes, Ms. Wulan. Mada had said something earlier this morning, before he turned evil again. Nek Jamilah will exchange his soul for the Rose. I don't know what exactly is looking for, but, Mada already does not want to disturb he said," said Bambang again who made everyone stupefied.

"Soul exchange?" ask Marsel, Wulan, and Adam together.

"You have to ask again, Mada, Mas Bambang," said Marsel anxiously.

"I'll try. His current state is not possible, he is turning evil. I was afraid if it lingered with him," replied Bambang goosebumps.

The four of them were silent for a moment. They are engrossed in their own thoughts. The coffee served Adam until cold because they were too busy chatting to forget to drink.

"How do you know Mada?" ask Wulan back.

"Oh, I was living together with Ms. Saras. Mr. Ruman went to pick up Roses and Bi Minah at the hospital,"

"Who is sick? Why don't I know what's going on" said Marsel, not understanding.

"Bi Minah is sick, and the Roses look after her. Didn't I tell you from before,"

"Yes, but why, the rose didn't tell me,"

"That's why I don't know. Just ask directly on, Madam Roses," explained Bambang again.

"Already, continue again, Mas Bambang!" wulan said seriously.

"Well I thought, Mada that, Mbak Roses. He entered and opened the gate just like that. I stood guard on the terrace smoking and drinking coffee. From there I knew him. He asked for bitter coffee, I gave it to him. Since that incident, he likes me," said Bambang while scratching his neck.

"Oh, so because of that coffee. You can outsmart him, Mas Bambang. If only Mada, you give bitter coffee again, maybe he will change back well again," said Wulan with a smile.

"Of course, the battery doesn't know. He does not want to listen to me now" said Bambang feeling sad.

***

Roses are still ringing by the figure of Nek Jamilah who said, want to take the ari-ari again. In fact, the face of Nek Jamilah turned into the face of Ndoro Kusuma. The rose was terrified in her room.

He was confused, whether to talk about this to his parents, or just enough.

The rose looks bad. The sound of his hape ringing shocked him. Immediately, Rose picked up the e-mail she had placed on her bedroom table.

"Hallo, Mum! What a coincidence," said the Rose with a smile.

"What's wrong? Your tone looks nervous, War!" marsel said from across there.

"Yes, I, I want to tell you something. But I'm not sure if you'll believe it or not, Mom!" the Rose hesitates.

From across there, Marsel already had a hunch that, Roses must have experienced something strange also in his home. It's a good opportunity for him. Marsel immediately fished for the Rose, to tell a story.

"Tell me, War! I must believe what you're going to say" said Marsel.

"But I can't explain it on the phone. How about we meet,"

"Tonight?"

"Yes, Mom!"

"I'm not sure tonight. Your parents won't allow it. And my parents would have banned it. Just say it on the phone. Tomorrow, come home from work, I'll stop by the house,"

"Don't talk at home, Mum!"

"Why?"

"At home it's not safe. Not in the factory area. It's not safe either,"

"Why can you say that?"

"This is my hunch, Mommy! I feel, this has something to do with my return, or Ndoro Kusuma,"

"What! Ndoro Kusuma again?"

Marsel was wide-eyed to hear the name mentioned by the Rose. Could it be that the creature is still alive?