Namoras
Story of Rio

Rio immediately aligned his steps with Sugeng when he saw that Ameng, Acong, Timbul had already first entered his official house.

After being in the house, he immediately allowed his guest to sit down while having a little low-key pleasantries.

"Please sit down. Understand potluck. I can't buy my own house yet. So, well this is how it is," said Rio humbled.

Indeed, the official house he currently occupies is not so big, when compared to the house owned by Ameng, Acong and others. Moreover, the mansion belongs to Tigor in the elite community of Kemuning city.

"Alaaah.., take it easy you're Rio! Kind of don't know what you were like when we were under the bridge of Lake Putri. Remember when your brother was sick with wet lungs because every day colds, rain, slow eating, sometimes a day not eating because there is no money to buy food? This is much better than being under that bridge," Sugeng replied trying to encourage Rio.

"Yes, too, bang. I should be grateful," Rio muttered a little regretfully.

"Namorah. What would Namora eat, son?" Rio asked while stroking the child's head.

"Namora won't eat, Uncle. Uncle Ameng said that Namora's father is better than Superman. Better than Spiderman. What yeah?" Ask the boy. His eyes were trying to ask for an explanation expectantly. Hopefully Rio will agree to the question. Because, if Rio shook his head, he would definitely be very disappointed after he had been proud of the explanation from Ameng.

Namora was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief, and smiled while Rio nodded as a justification sign from her question just now.

"Yes. In the eyes of the law, maybe your father was a criminal. But, in our eyes, your father is an angel," Rio replied later.

"Eye law?" Namora did not understand. Because, in his mind, he imagined that the law was a man who had eyes, mouth, hands and feet.

"Explain to him lightly, Rio!" Pinta Embul who knew that Namora would be very difficult to digest the words from Rio just now.

Rio knows about it. He soon explained to Namora what the law was.

"This is my son. The law was the same as when Namora was in school. If Namora does something wrong, Namora will receive punishment from the homeroom teacher. Nah. Namora's father did, too,"

"Then, Uncle.., if dad's good, why did he go to jail? Superman did not go to jail. Spiderman also did not go to jail. They always fight with the bad guys,"

"Your father is the same. He also fights bad guys. It's just that your father wasn't a movie star like Spiderman and Superman. Supposedly, Namora should be proud of having a dashing and brave father," Rio praised his brother who was currently behind bars.

"But why go to jail? Did you steal chicken eggs?"

"Hushy. Who told you that?" Ask Rio.

"Diaz, Dudul and Ruben. Rudi also said that. He said Namora was the son of an inmate. The chicken egg thief's son," replied the boy with his mauge. He did not know why his father was in prison.

Namora looked seriously put up her ears. He wanted to listen to everything that his father's sister would say.

Rio looked scooped up his face that was starting to go crimson. It was also seen that his eyes were currently reddened like there was hot coals hidden behind his gaze.

In fact, he no longer wanted to recall the dark memories he was trying to forget. But, it seems like he can't escape from pursuing Namora who wants to know why his father went to prison.

With a long sigh, Rio started the story decades ago to Namora. "Namorah. You see this house. This used to be the home of your late grandfather, your father's father, and also your uncle.

In this house, we were born. In this house we were raised. Although uncle was not in school at the time, but your father remembered every incident in this house.

At first, our family was a very happy family. Your grandfather who worked as a police captain is very affectionate towards his family. However, everything was wiped out in a blink of an eye when a group of Gangsters on behalf of their gang by the name of the Skull Gang came to attack this residence and killed your grandfather, as well as your grandmother. My uncle was almost six years old and your father was ten years old.

The fall of your Grandpa and Grandma at the hands of those criminals changed our once happy, well-to-do lives, and the compassion that was forcibly snatched away. Do you know what our lives were like after that?" Rio asked Namora.

Namora doesn't know what the answer is. He could only shake his head while waiting for the continuation of the story that his Uncle was about to tell.

"Your father and uncle are forced to become refugees. Hiding from the target of a Skull gang member, then becoming a vagabond.

Your father was beaten by a security guard when he was caught stealing milk and bread in a minimarket. We haven't eaten since a few days. My uncle kept crying for food. Your father couldn't bear to see uncle crying, so he ventured to steal."

Rio wiped his tears that suddenly dripped. Likewise with Ameng, Acong, Timbul and Sugeng. They clearly knew and felt the suffering that Tigor and Rio went through at that time. Because, they both departed from the pit of poverty before getting a decent life like this.

"Then, what happened to Namora's father, Uncle?" Ask the boy to know.

"Uncle does not know for sure. But, obviously, when your father came back where he left uncle, his lips were already broken and bleeding. Same with his nose. His face, hands and hips were bruised.

To fill an empty stomach at that time, your father and Uncle were forced to scavenge leftovers from garbage cans near the restaurant in the Slum alley. We escaped with just one shot. Rise up, then take revenge for your grandfather's death. The debt of life must be paid with life, too,"

back Rio picked up some tissue sheets, then he wiped his tears. Although at that time he was very young, but he could feel what kind of bitter memories he went through with his brother.

Because of revenge, the pain of loss, the pain of suffering from the child of a police officer suddenly had to wrestle with the rigors of the world of the streets. That's what booked Rio's determination to become a member of the police force and quell the syndicate on behalf of the Skull gang.

Seriate...