Mukhalis: Hero of Bentala
11. Cenderawasih Padepokan
Everything was silent on the spot, gradually starting to whisper to each other. Their faces felt strange, enchanted, and even nauseating. Suluh lowered his head deeply willing to accept all the consequences that would be received. Every now and then he glanced at the man who was still frozen in front, the old frown next to his eyes wide open unable to find a word.
"What the fuck?" shouts break the silence, igniting the commotion.
"Yes, why are you here?" hardik those who don't know where it comes from.
"How can a deformed body get a recommendation?" the sound of slurs could be heard clearly penetrating into Suluh's ears.
"Get out of here!" remove the Cenderawasih student candidates who seemed to be cheering to pull Suluh from there.
"You'll only inflict disgrace on this school!" the sentence was continued with a soft laugh.
"He must have stolen a letter of recommendation from someone else" the man rattled with an expression of hatred. "Only a fool would give the letter to a disabled child!"
His originally cracked heart was mocked in a public place and was suddenly ignited with anger when he heard Rahayu being scorned. He lightning-fastly looked back, watching the new learners united in support to take him down. At once the wrathful look turned grim, not believing that they all agreed not to accept the Red.
One by one their faces were agitated, full of hatred and mockery. Even one of them roughly pushed Suluh's body to leave immediately, not wanting to linger. Everyone expects it to disappear. With the exception of Satia who did not comment anything, put on a mere sympathy.
"Wait what else?" pekik the young man in line behind Suluh. "Go from here!"
He pulled Sulah violently, making the man almost toppled over. But it even enlivened the atmosphere, uproarious while continuing to lambast. The torch soul was as if it was shattered, its eyes were slowly puffed up and its heart was pounding in pain. In the minds of Suluh imagined the words of his parents who loved him, Rahayu and Arnadi who believed him, and Sabrina and Sekar who accepted what was.
While the dream that is in plain sight, it drops it to the bottom of the nestapa.
"Sir, shouldn't he still be tested for his abilities?" satia's exclaim broke the crowd.
"Huh? What's for?" the man next to the young man. "What can he do?"
"You know that the recommendation letter is not a joke," Satia said, making them silenced. "He must have an advantage we don't know about."
"Yes, you're a young man" said the man in Satia's line. "It should be so."
The teacher turned to the colleague next to him who was still silent, too bad to make a decision. Suddenly from behind a large wooden gate towering patterned bird of paradise, appeared grandfathers with long white beards equivalent to his stomach. The aura released really makes anyone salute, one of the elders of Padepokan Cenderawasih whose glance was directly addressed to Suluh there.
"What is this Master Winasura?" exclaimed the grandfather occasionally turned to the man who was in front of Suluh. "Why is it so long?"
"Chairman Ardiyasa," the big-bodied man leaned in greeting. "You know who this kid is."
The grandfather did not budge but the spotlight was centered on Suluh. "Yes, what's wrong with her?"
"He has a letter of recommendation," Winasura said giving the paper to the elder. "What kind of decision should I make, Master?"
Everything was suddenly quiet and tense, especially for Suluh who tried to rise from the slump. He looked at Guru Ardiyasa whose irises moved to read the script in the inner heart, occasionally diverted to children who were not desired by most prospective student candidates. He then rolled up the piece and then approached the boy who was misgivings not a bitch.
The sentence immediately turned the uluh mimic into a hopeful one, responding to the call by pouring out a radiant face, "Okay, Elder!"
Most of the people there are stuck, silent to believe that children with disabilities are given the opportunity to enter. Even in the tail row they were heard whispering, second-guessing the mysteries listed in the letter that made the elder receive the Reed. No, not yet. Suluh must be able to prove that he is able to pass the test and that is what makes them more interested. I am curious about what a special needs child can do.
In a vast arena that looks beautiful, all the quota of Cenderawasih students gathered. They were disciples who escaped immune endurance such as splitting beams and other physical exercises. But for Suluh who had the letter, he was diverted and stepped into the next stage of martial arts. At this point, the fate and future of Sulah will be determined.
All eyes looked at the place, both the seniors along with the elders were enthusiastically watching and wanted to know the abilities of the new students. Especially a special child who attracts attention. The young man who dedicated himself to martial arts when his body did not support it was truly an unmissable performance. Everyone was curious about what Suluh was capable of demonstrating.
With the direction of the hand, Suluh was asked to come forward by Elder Ardiyasa then ordered another disciple who turned out to be Satia. A lively applause from the audience enlivened the event, as if witnessing a terrible event. A smile imprinted from Satia's friendly face, slightly made Suluh feel upset. They looked at each other among the Elders of Ardiyasa, giving distance to each other.
"Ten, if you can't tell us your skills, your letter of recommendation is unacceptable" the grandfather said in a voice echoing all over. "For it is written on this paper that you have a natural talent in martial arts."
"We here just want proof of that," Ardiyasa's sentence forced Sulah to swallow the saliva many times. "Are you ready?"
The torch should be self-assured, should be confident. He trained only to be able to go this far, not wanting to disappoint those who believed. Especially Rahayu and Arnadi. With an ambitious look, Suluh nodded steadily while linking his forehead. "I'm ready."
"What about you, Satia?" now the grandfather turned to the brunette.
"I'm willing, Elder" Satia said without a doubt.
"All right, salute!" shortly after Ardiyasa gave the cue, the two children bowed deeply.
"Take a stance," this time they arranged a counterclock, the eyes of both Suluh and Satia interlocked together to spread a serious sense. "Start!"
They both walk around slowly, keeping each step alert. The conditions around them seemed to drift with silence, concentrating on everything that would intertwine. Satia, who saw the opportunity, immediately gave a rounding kick with a sudden speed, making Sulah have to hold it with both hands.
The power given by Satia felt so great that it made Suluh slightly shaken. The child hastily focuses himself even though he can hear the belittling voices. More to the dropping of the dignity of the torah. The young man tried to ignore and continue to concentrate, this was an opportunity that should not be wasted.
Satia again launched an attack but this time with a palm, leading right to a teary face. The torch can read the movement trying to catch, warding off the blow. But he did not realize that when Satia launched her hand, the man's leg also gave a kick. As a result, Suluh was fooled and accepted the nausea that forced him to rest on the plains.
Rioting instantly blared in the hall area, they shouted furiously, slammed into Satia's expertise. Various insults then called out to Suluh, making fun of and questioning the authenticity of the recommendation letter he got. This is inhumane, Suluh can not support at all be treated like garbage.
"Shut up!" snapping the elder Ardiyasa suddenly made the crowd become silent. "Still not. You're still not focused."
"Really!" tukas grandfather seemed to provide motivation to Suluh. "Are you really not serious about fighting for the great opportunity that lies before you?"
No, not at all! Suluh would never forgive herself if she gave up. Should try hard, I should be able to prove that he is not a weak man. Must fight even though the world seems to press, not giving a possibility. Emotions continue to burn, triggering the adrenaline of ambition that will not be released. The torch then rose again, rejecting the destiny that craved its collapse.
It was at that moment that the elders who were on the balcony sensed that there was something from within the body of Sulah. Something very powerful.
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