Promises From the Past
Countrymen and water demons

Walking Soldiers on the outskirts of Cambridge....

The atmosphere felt as usual, young men and women walked to campus in tandem while indulging in intimacy, or the traffic jams in crowded office hours smoothly without the need for mutual honks.

But the attention of the soldier was on one person who looked agitated, the man turned left and right in front of the information board, rather he was looking at the road map.

In the hands of the man holding a dictionary of a hundred billion Indonesian English along with translations, Choosing one word at a time for him to read until composed sentences.

Soldiers feel familiar, Asian stature, slightly black yellow skin, a shorter body than Native Americans and also a confused face.

Until he walked past the man, his speech was clearly heard with a distinctive language like the Tegal man's accent.

"Ow .... This way, I don't know where to go."

As a person who upholds the third precept of Pancasila, (unity of Indonesia) to uphold the principle of brotherhood of fellow Indonesians in order to remain one in the single bhineka Ika and also as long as it does not harm him, he said, of course the soldiers are willing to help.

"Mas... You look confused, is there anything I can help you with." Said the soldier greeting.

"Yes, yes, yes, I'm confused..." Answer stammering.

"No need to speak English, I speak Indonesian now."

The man was surprised... "Ah sorry, I'm too dizzy with this 100 billion dictionary, so...."

Instantly he fell silent, staring at the Soldier like a noble human being sent when no one cared.

"Thank you, at last, there's finally a countryman and an Indonesian water demon." He said with gratitude.

"Decide." The soldier gave an additional.

"Yes free."

The soldier smiled to himself, for quite a while he had not spoken to a unique person like the man in front of him now.

"So why do you look confused about what's going on." Ask Soldier.

His face was now becoming more and more complicated, like wanting to cry but embarrassed that he was a man... "I came here to work, but... But.. I took a cab to this address, my money was almost gone when I paid the argo."

Soldiers try to see the purpose of the man..."How much you pay."

"123 dollars." Sad that he answered.

"Huh ?... Do you know... The distance from the airport to this place, just two kilometers and you pay 123 dollars, you're definitely lying...." Strictly again with his head shaking.

"Well, I feel strange, since the beginning I was invited to go around in circles."

Soldiers took Ryan to sit down, bought two canned drinks and gave them to him.

"Don't you have a cell phone or something." Ask the soldier back.

"No, as I know, by the time I get to the address, the boss says there'll be someone to pick up later. But I'm like a lost man now."

"I can see that."

Soldiers do not feel that this man is a bad person, because his innocence in talking like a lost and confused Javanese to ask for help.

"What's your name."

"I'm Ryan... Ryan Alfaiz." - Ryan." He introduced himself too.

Ryan shook Soldier's hand tightly, yes it's not strange, because he doesn't know anyone, doesn't know left or right, and it is impossible to ask for help while speaking in English only still has to use a dictionary.

"Why did you come to America ?."

"On that matter, I was actually asked to be the personal bodyguard of the rich family's son who lives here."

"Hmmm, you deserve it."

By looking at the thick jacket that covered his body, others would not realize that he had such a strong physique as once had military training.

It's just that Soldier was quite impressed by the strength of his hands when shaking and also the large backpack he carried looked very heavy.

"But at the end of the day I, who had no idea about life in America, thought that there could be no bad people trying to deceive me, but I was warned to be careful." Complain Ryan himself.

"You're too naive, anywhere, whether it's America or Indonesia, there must be people who are looking for profit the wrong way, what else see your look like a hick, you must be their target." Reply Soldier said the truth.

"That's true, I trust others too much."

"Only, you're still lucky now, what's missing is only your money, maybe later, if you're not careful, your kidneys and internal organs can be lost as well." Not that Soldier scared Ryan, but that's what happens when bad guys need a lot of money.

Looking at the clock on the phone already showed at 9 am, it was already in the service hours of Soldiers, but he was able to find an excuse for helping people who were lost.

"Unfortunately I can't take you to this address, but I can point it at."

"That's okay, as long as I can get to my destination, I'll walk." Ryan replied with conviction.

"Are you sure, the distance is up to forty kilometers. If you walk, you'll be there by afternoon."

"Don't worry, I'm used to it."

"All right."

Soldiers were really impressed, the forty kilometers distance with carrying heavy backpacks was a troublesome thing. For the people in the military training or even the high-class Assassins it was indeed not a problem.

But still, if not for the reason to practice, the Soldier refused to walk for forty kilometers especially carrying a load on the shoulder.

Seeing how desperate Ryan was, there was little guilt that on his way he would get into trouble. However, Soldier is not a bad person who will let his countrymen and the Indonesian water demon trouble, as long as he does not make it too difficult.

"I'll lend you some money, so it can help you not walk."

Ryan gave a firm hug...."You're a good man, thank you, I'm so grateful, I will definitely repay you, brother."

"There's no need to overdo it, even if we've just gotten to know it, you're still the sister of the water demon." Soldier replied uncomfortable with a fellow man's embrace.

Askar explains Ryan's travel to use public buses, where the destination is Millis District, an elite residential area.

Feeling blessed by the help of the Soldiers, Ryan shook his hand tightly filled with gratitude.

"If we meet again, I'll give you your money back, no.... I'll definitely come here and look for you, soldier." He was so sure when he made the promise.

"Just relax, don't take it too much as an obligation."

"No, debt is an obligation that must be paid off, so don't worry."

"alright... If you want to see me, I'm at Harvard." Soldier Saying.

Until the bus arrives, a wave of hands takes Ryan away and Askar continues the journey to campus to work.