Children Light
TLC

Suryo sees his sister and Rara hugging while crying. He felt his eyes wet. Near them and hugged them both.

"Don't cry, don't cry. If you are still hungry you can take more food from the refrigerator. No need to cry. Oh naw...HAIFU is already a bad host. Oh...Oh..Oh..."

Suryo could not hide his smile. Wulan looked up fiercely towards the loudspeaker. Even Rara chuckled softly. The HAIFU voice that had been chattering in the same tone and was flat expressionless somehow made everything feel even more funny.

The water to boil the eggs has boiled. Suryo swiftly turned off the stove and closed the pot containing the eggs with the lid of the pot. Rara walked to the refrigerator again and picked up the cut papaya fruit and placed it in airtight boxes.

"HAIFU are you sure we can eat all this?"

"of course. Oh yes to your four-foot escorts unfortunately HAIFU has no record of ever having a special place to eat for them. But you can use the dishes on the refrigerator. The plate is useless. Never used. Don't use my master's favorite plates that you're now wearing for your four-footed companion."

Suryo looked at the plate they were using to eat pizza. The pizza turned out pretty good. Suryo didn't expect frozen pizza to be that delicious. For the plate he was wearing, he didn't see anything special. Even the dishes that Rara and Wulan were wearing were the gift plates of dish soap.

Curiously, he opened the cupboard on the refrigerator. Inside were several plates covered in thick dust. There are also several cup-shaped cups and saucers. All covered in thick dust.

"HAIFU these plates you mean we can use to feed our dogs and cats?"

"Rubber.really...The plates were never touched. HAIFU has no record at all of when the plates were ever used. So it should be used for them."

Suryo took three dishes from the top pile. It was given to Rara who immediately went to wash it.

"HAIFU. Maybe we could just use this bowl to feed our dogs and cats." Rara said as she lifted the plate and showed it to Suryo and Wulan.

"NOOOOO......CAN'T! HAIFU does not allow you to use your master's favorite tableware for your dog and cat. If that's your four-footed companion's name."

"They can eat on the floor. Don't mind this pretentious AI."

Suryo could see his sister was already irritated. And what irritated Wulan, his value rose in Suryo's eyes.

The eggs were peeled by Wulan. When Wulan would put it on the floor....

"TIDAAAAKK....OH...OH...NOOO..... The floor will get dirty. HAIFU is lazy to wear that dust cleaner. HAIFU does not want to waste energy before sunrise. PLEASE DON'T. Trust me, use those useless plates."

Wulan's hand came to a halt just before the egg touched the floor. While HAIFU continues to be noisy and nyerocos in addition to having to save energy, the floor is also dirty full of germs is not good for health and begins to decipher the various germs that he has traced from the internet.

Unable to stand the whimper and all the insignificant information that HAIFU spoke in a flat tone without his expression, Suryo hurriedly took the eggs and papayas, and, put it on a plate of sheba and milly who slowly ate it.

While Rara tried to give the black cat to eat the eggs that he had cut into small pieces.

Flop.flop...

In the sitting room, Aunt Yesha, Yeye, Nainai, Papi, Mami and all the people they had left behind appeared.

Suddenly the tiny house was full.

****

The air they breathe outside feels fresh. They all gathered on the terrace of the house of Aunt Yesha whose breadth exceeded that of her tiny house.

There is a large dining table with wood and eight chairs that surround it. Suryo, Wulan and Rara sat there with their families. Aunt Yesha and the people who helped them were all in the house.

sheba and Milly are out with them. While the black cat they saved by Aunt Yesha was asked to be left inside there was something Aunt Yesha wanted to talk to her about.

Rara is actually a bit confused as to what to try to talk about with a cat. But after everything he saw tonight made him obey he handed the cat to a tall man who could emit lightning from his hands.

Outside, the dim light from the lights are small hanging makes the atmosphere of the terrace of this house is so beautiful. Rara could hear the sound of waves not far away. They were near the beach.

"Sit down..." Nainai said as he raised his hand stopping Wulan who was about to spurt out all curiosity and all the questions that had been very disturbing him.

"Let Nainai tell you the story first, baby. You can ask as much as you can."

"Our family has been blessed with talent from a long time ago. We at TLC call it talent. As you can see, Nainai can direct energy to heal. While Yeye's main talent was to temper people's talents."

"Lt..." Mami touched the shoulder to stop Wulan before finishing what she wanted to ask. And motioned that Wulan would be silent first to listen to Nainai.

"Indeed can't be called a child. It's not very sabaran. It's a good thing my sister if I hadn't thrown it into the sea." said Suryo, grinning, Wulan made a glare and threw a sharp blade.

"Have been.has been going to continue what not?"

Suryo and Wulan instantly fell silent.

"It used to be like our parents too. Yeye and Nainai fought together against the daemon. Daemons are the monsters you see tonight. In our day, people like us are not many. Over time the number of daemons increased. It has also increased among talented people. Like Yesha and Hugh they are the generation below us. Yesha has the ability to detect talented children. We used to fight together. Teaching together."

"What made you stop?" ask Rara.

Yeye smile.

"In terms of fighting daemons. We have sacrificed a lot. Your daddy's our only son. How long we want children. And after nearly sixteen years of marriage, God finally bestowed your Papi. We are still continuing our fight against the daemon. With our loyal companion Min, we defeated many daemons. But they are not reduced. The more we win, the more they win. Until we finally met him. The most powerful daemon we've ever fought. He is different from other daemons who fight us blindly."

"No. That one is different. It has a strategy. And when we managed to corner him, he ran away. After that, we as usual just continue to fight other daemons. But this one daemon apparently never let us go. One by one on our team is falling apart. And the way he used not by fighting directly frontally. But he kidnapped people close to us. Lorelei, Nainai's comrade-in-arms must die at the hands of her own husband who turned into a daemon."

"So the daemon was originally also human like us. That's all we know after so many years of fighting them. Lorelei's husband who used to fight with us, before our eyes turned into a daemon and killed his wife who could not bear to fight her own husband."

Nainai shed tears.

"How can a human become a daemon?"

"So the powerful daemons we used to fight a lot of trickery. It offers eternal life in this world to man. Of course many would. We don't know the details of how Lorelei's husband could become a daemon. All we know is that after becoming one of them, he is no longer human. There was not a single fairy of humanity left in her. He killed his own son and wife."

"We started to study them. It turns out that to become a daemon a human must willingly surrender himself to be a daemon. Those who are forced, cannot turn into daemons. But those who are forced after death are turned into zombies."

"Nainai's joking! Zombies like the ones in the movies?"

"Where do you think the filmmakers got their idea from?"

"What happened to Lorelei and her family. Still haven't stopped us. We managed to exterminate Lorelei's husband. Yeyemu was seriously injured in the battle. But we still keep fighting. Every time we go to battle. Your papa we're going to church. For some reason while being entrusted to the church your papi is always safe. There's Min looking after your Papa too. Every time it is placed somewhere else somehow the daemons can always find your Papuans. Only in places of worship and sanctified can they not approach. Lucky there's a Min who's always reliable."

This time Nainai stopped and sobbed. Yeye hugged him and continued Nainai's story.

"That doesn't stop us from fighting. But we never met again with the strongest daemon that Nainai had told us about. Until your Papa grows up."

"But you know that Yeye and Nainai are superheroes?" ask Wulan

Papi smiles.

"Know...Yeye and Nainaimu always tell Papi all their adventures. Papi used to dream of wanting to be like them. But what power does Papi not inherit their talents."

"Your father has different talents. He's a technopath."

"What person?"

"Technopath is a person who is able to control and read the electrical signals around him. So Papi can only work behind the scenes."

"Mommy's just a regular guy...Before you ask. Your dad told Mommy everything before we got married. Only the son of an eco-friendly soap factory owner. Hehe."

"But your mom kept everything a secret without us asking for it. And for that I'm so grateful Emily." Nainai said as she looked at Mami affectionately.

"So what made you stop and hide everything from us?" ask Wulan again.

Yeye let out a breath.

"In the year of your birth, 2020 is a pandemic. The whole world is locked down. We investigated the beginnings of how viruses can exist and spread. At that time Papimu and his team who are Papa and Mama Rara as well as Mammu, began to successfully find a turning point in the success of developing chakra. We don't know for sure what happened but we do know how they suddenly so aggressively chased us."

"Either because of chakra or because of our investigation. But almost every time, we are overwhelmed. Their attacks came on end. Until finally we have to lose Rara's parents."

"You mean Yeye?" Rara did not expect at all her parents would also be called.

"Your parents...... " Papi choked. "Sacrificing their lives to protect the three of you."

"Didn't they die of covid?"

"That's what we said to avoid further questioning. But they actually died trying to get you to safety."

"We miscalculated, we thought that their main target was Papi to stop the discovery of chakra. So we did extra protection. While you two we leave it to Rara's parents. They took refuge in the same church where your papi used to take shelter."

"But it turns out, the strongest daemon that Nainai said was actually targeting you. He was so strong that he could even enter the church."

"Nainai..papa and mama Rara... They also have talents?"

"Yes darling. Your mother is one of the strongest of us. His main talent is fire. He can produce fire as hot as the sun."

"If my Papa?"

"Your father."

"Oh.... In other words papa Rara has no talent huh?"

"Your father is also good at technology. It also plays a big role for chakra make no mistake. Talent is unique. Everyone has it. How we develop it."

"It was after all the death of Rara's parents that made us take a decision. To retreat, simple life. Live like everyone else and that's what we really want for you."

"Far from the battle of life and death. Where you can relax school, get married, and have children."

"But why is that daemon chasing us?"

"Because if they have you, it will be easier for them to recruit us. They did this to our friends. Few could survive refusing to join."

"When we are aware and that you are also in danger. We'll be there soon. But we were late. The last thing we saw was your mother letting out such a huge fire to burn the daemon. The daemon was wounded and fled again. While your mother ran out of energy. He exerted all that existed up to the core of his life to expel the daemon. Your father used his body to be a living shield for you. When we arrived, there was nothing we could do."

Silent...

"Papa and Mama Rara...did they suffer before they died?"

Yeye and Nainai fell silent. Papi and Mami just looked at Rara. From their eyes. Rara knew she wouldn't like the answer to her question.

Suddenly from inside the house, Aunt Yesha came out.

"Rara we need you to come here."

****

R3 looked at those who surrounded him in confusion. Why don't they just leave it alone?

He stretched his body, and licked his whole body. He has to clean his body. He doesn't like to be dirty.

From that strange woman with black eyes that ngockeh nguan. And he did not understand what he was talking about.

"Return..remember your form first." it was spoken continuously while R3 just looked back at the woman in confusion.

What the hell is that. Who is he talking to.

"Is he trapped?"

"Looks like. This must be an accidental change."

"Why can't he go back to his original form?"

"Let's go. It seems he doesn't even realize he's changed."

Look back at them. Why do they keep looking at him. Is it possible they will feed him again? His stomach is still hungry. Where was the girl who fed him. Tell him to come back and feed him again.

He saw the strange woman coming out. And then back with the girl. Well.. great..good...it seems they know what he wants.

"Rara told him to go back to his human form."

"HUH?!?!?"

The strange woman chuckled.

"This cat is no ordinary cat. He was a man who transformed into a cat. But somehow he didn't want to go back to his human form."

"Aunt Yesha sure?"

"Convincedly sure. And I never misunderstand people's talents."

"But if he doesn't want to go back to his original form...."

"It's impossible not to go back. I know everyone whose transformation talents we have a complete record of them but this one I have never met. This must be his first transformation."

"Anyway would rather be a cat than a human being."

Ih..enak a man this one is talking. So the cat is delicious. The body is light, can jump high. And the man is to feed the cat.

"But how can Rara help?"

"You have a unique talent that I just met first. You have a strong connection with the animals around you. When I met you I saw how there was a common thread between your aura and your dogs. Perhaps if you were the one talking to the cat, he would be able to understand."

"We need to help her get back. Before he completely forgot his human soul and became a cat completely."

The girl looked at him gently. R3 looked back at him. The door behind him opened and the other girl who had also fed him came in.

"Ehmm...hai..ehm..want to eat again?" rara said while stroking her head.

Of course, he wants to eat again. Uhh..it feels good to be delusional. The strange woman took out a can from a big iron box.

From refrigerator.

R3 has never seen a refrigerator. Especially now in his cat's brain, he only knew it was a big box where the food was taken out. He smelled a good smell when the can was opened.

Swing her front legs to reach for the can. But the girl did not give the can to him. Dasaaar man.what would he want to try to show off food without giving it.

"You want this food? Let's change, remember your human form."

Huh.he thought he was a dog what would do anything for the pleasure of man. No way...

The girl again swung the can that turned out to contain the tuna in front of her nose. Ouch....R3 is hungry.

He looked at the girl with annoyance. Just give me why....He saw the girl's forehead wrinkled...

This time what he said was like filling his head, echoing and asking him.

"Remember your human form. The reflection of yourself you saw in the mirror, in the water before you became a cat. Remember yourself."

R3 stunned. Raised hand. He only realized why now his hands are small and filled with black fur. He looked around, he realized he was small, he had to look up to see the people around him. He was surprised what happened to him. What's a....

"Don't be afraid, come back. Remember your form, you're human."

The strange woman said softly. There was a power like electrical energy flowing into his body. It's like tingling. R3 tried to pick up that tuna can again. But he realized his hands could not be used to hold. He closed his eyes, remembered his reflection in the puddle water as he bathed in the compound. He remembered the shape of his hand. He remembered his feet. He remembers everything. His body felt him grow. And suddenly he felt cold.

He looked up and saw the girls panicking and covering their eyes. A large tall man suddenly came and enveloped him.

It's better he feels warmer now.

"Good to have you back ..mate!" The man said kindly and ruffled his hair.

Then he turned to the strange woman and said.

"Honey...why is your grandmother's noritake ceramic plate on the floor?"

****

Wulan could not believe his eyes. The cat was carrying and the timbang-timang slowly grew large. His front legs turned into hands, the black feathers that filled his body increasingly reduced until he finally became a young man.

The naked young man.

Wulan and Rara were suffocated together after realizing what they saw. After a while, the boy dressed as Uncle hugh lent him his clothes.

Uncle hugh's clothes looked dirty because the young man was much thinner. But not skinny cheeks, his average body is not fat tend to be thin. The young man was taller than Suryo but not as tall as Uncle hugh. Her hair was choppy and her skin dark. He looked at them with curious eyes.

Aunt Yesha asked the young man gently and slowly. The young man's name was as strange as code.

R3.

It tells me where it came from. And the story is no less amazing than what Wulan has seen and heard all night.

"A compound?" Aunt Yesha and Uncle Hugh seemed very interested.

"So basically until now you didn't know who you were?"

"I'm R3." The young man replied. The young man spoke a raw language.

"Yes you're R3, but you don't know who your parents are, where they are, how old you are and so on."

"Eh..old man? What'sthat?"

Suddenly Wulan felt sorry for R3. From the story, it seems that R3 never knows how to live human life outside the compound where he lives. He never felt the love of parents, friendship and so on.

Wulan felt very emotional when she heard the R3 story of how the only person she trusted betrayed her.

"That night, when I was caught. The same person who chased me all the way to your house was the head of that compound. He said it himself. He offered to join him. Where I will get great strength. But I don't want to. I don't want to be like him."

"You made the right decision, son."

Wulan was surprised he was not aware, apparently his family had also followed into the house. And Nainai immediately sat down beside R3 checking the state of R3 by touching his hand to the cheek of R3. While his other hand examined the pulse on R3's wrist.

Gently Nainai rubbed R3's cheeks and said

"You're fine, son. From now on you'll be safe."

R3's eyes looked glazed over and a tear gushed out from the corner of his eye.

"Why did the water come out of my eyes. Last time like this was when I saw the massacre. But this is a feeling I felt differently, at that time I was very scared. Right now, I don't know what I'm feeling but I don't feel scared anymore and my heart feels so cool, this feeling I don't want to forget."

Wulan's eyes glazed over. Nainai smiled, from the corner of her eyes, tears also flowed. He hugged R3 and patted his back.

"Remember always this feeling, son. This is when you feel happy."

"happy?"

Unknowingly almost simultaneously everything in the room nodded in agreement.

"Then how did you escape?" suryo asked in a voice that sounded so excited.

"I was so scared at the time. But I knew I wouldn't be able to fight that monster. I remember how the person I saw took the chair and hit the monster but the chair was the one that was destroyed. So I also took the chair, but I threw it in the window until it broke. Then I jumped out. The glass cut me. I felt very sick, but I had to keep running. They kept chasing me around the compound complex. I tried to get back to the watchtower but this time the door was locked."

"I could hear, their voices calling R3. And they seemed happy and enjoyed the chase. I was scared to death. When they approached I was really panicking. Suddenly I was able to jump over the wall surrounding the compound and jump out. I don't know what's going on, but this body feels so light. All I know is that I have to run away, I remember to keep running, through the morning, until the afternoon I was no longer strong. That's when the dogs found me. And bring me to you." He said at length while pointing at sheba and milly then looked at Rara with gratitude.

Rara smiled and wiped her tears.

"Batrix found you." he said.

Wulan could not bear to see him, Rara hugged him. He felt the loss again even though he knew Rara's loss must have been much greater.

Aunt Yesha had a serious conversation with Yeye and Papi in the kitchen. While Uncle Hugh seems to be teaching HAIFU about the concept of collection of valuables that are not used not because they do not like it but rather because they are loved.

His eyes met Suryo's. And somehow the sight of Uncle hugh showing his plate to the HAIFU monitor camera, made him laugh, Suryo seemed to understand what he was thinking. How they used the plates to feed the dogs and cats.

And Suryo laughs, his contagious laughter makes Wulan laugh and cry together. The startled Rara looked up and saw Wulan nodding towards Uncle hugh. Without further explanation, Rara knew what Wulan and Suryo were thinking. And he laughed too.

Nainai and R3 looked confused, not understanding what they were laughing at.

But with a laugh like that Wulan felt relieved.

Everything's gonna be fine.

Later on Wulan will know, how wrong he feels everything will be fine.