The Injured
Friend Forever

Every afternoon, Iyan was always happy to sit under the mango tree until the Maghrib. Rion will not question anything or ask about this and that to Iyan. Much less did he know of Iyan's privilege. He also heard from Radit and Echa that the mango tree was the residence of Iyan's invisible friends.

"Jo, why didn't you tell me about you in your life? I never covered anything from you, but you seemed to cover everything from me" added Iyan who was engrossed leaning his body on the tree trunk.

"Why am I telling you? I'd rather be like this" replied Jojo who was sitting on a tree trunk swinging his legs.

"At least we know how Jojo was alive? I'm the only one who was given a life time for two weeks still remember what I felt," said Devandra.

"I just want to know, Jo. I don't mean anything" replied Iyan.

Jojo was silent for a moment, his gaze staring straight ahead. Bamboo shadows, wooden beams, brooms, and iron crossed his head. A pile of soil that made him scream very loudly.

Only silence was created, Jojo did not want to talk at all. Until the smell of jasmine invokes makes Dev, Iyan and Om Uwo looking for the existence of the mother.

"Tell me, Jo. It was time Iyan and the others found out. Who knows if they can help." Mother's soft voice made Jojo shed tears. Iyan flinched when he saw Jojo crying. Usually, Jojo is the one who watches Iyan cry like this.

Jojo was still unmoved, his mouth as if frozen. Mother's warm embrace made Jojo's cry even louder.

"Jojo misses Mamak." The words that Jojo put out.

"Jojo is a boy who was physically abused by his father." Iyan was silent hearing it. He began to study just how fit Jojo wanted to be friends with him. Their fate is the same. The difference is, Iyan was verbally abused by her biological mother.

"When Jojo was a submissive son, always helped his father in the garden and never played like a child his age. Is that right, Jo?" Jojo nodded as well.

"His father was very fierce to him. Little mistake Jojo did, will be hit by his father. At first, his father used a small bamboo. The more here her father gets more brutal," she explained.

"It's Mom, Jojo's scared."

Iyan deeply felt the fear that Jojo felt. More than five years to know Jojo, this time Iyan saw Jojo like this.

"Fight your fear, Jo," added the mother.

Seeing Jojo like this makes Iyan, Dev and Om Uwo look pity on Jojo. A kind-hearted child and always a protector to whoever Jojo considers family. It turns out that during his life he experienced something very sad.

"Thank God you are Iyan, you have a good father. Look at Jojo. Every day she must have been hit with bamboo and broomstick." Iyan stared at Jojo with very sad eyes.

"Why did Jojo die, Mom?" ask Om Uwo.

Mother did not immediately reply, she stared at Jojo's face for a moment. Until a little nod Jojo gave.

"Batched his father with a big block and also a thick iron." The gadget Iyan was holding fell just like that. While Dev and Om Uwo already shuddered in horror at imagining it.

"Why did his father beat Jojo's sister, Mom? He said Jojo's brother wasn't naughty" asked Dev.

"The devil-hearted biological father was caught making out with a woman in the garden he was working on. In fact, at that time Jojo just asked what you were doing? However, Jojo's father immediately drags Jojo and takes him into the forest. Jojo, who is a submissive child, did not dare to ask or let go of his father's hand that was being ignited emotions. Pain in his wrist Jojo doesn't even mind."

"When he arrived in the middle of the forest, his father immediately picked up a thick wooden block and slammed Jojo's body to the ground."

At that time ...

Bugh!

A big beam hit Jojo's body on the right. Not a single letter came out of Jojo's mouth. There was no ringing and no pleading not to hit him. Jojo let it go because he's used to it.

"Children don't know they're lucky!"

The swing of the beam continued to hit the body until Jojo could not wake up again. Blood had already gone out of Jojo's mouth and nose. However, Jojo can still smile towards his father.

"Well, jo-jo a-pa, P-pak?"

"You son of a bitch! If, your mother didn't conceive you, it's certain I'd divorce that woman" jojo's father's circus.

Jojo did not cry hearing the evil words of his father. He replied with a smile.

"Are you challenging me?" sergeant Jojo's father.

Jojo's smile meant that he was challenging the devil-hearted father. In fact, Jojo is showing that he is okay even though the father treats him vilely.

This time, Jojo's father took a thick iron. Jojo's murder was planned. In the middle of the forest is the place of execution.

Bugh!

Bugh!

This time the iron hit Jojo's stomach. Jojo's eyes widened and his mouth gaping withstood the pain. Not only twice, the iron punch continued to hit Jojo's body until it sounded like a broken wood on Jojo's body.

"Sa-sa-kit, P-pack."

The last words Jojo could say. His eyes were hard to open. His body could no longer move. Seeing Jojo dying, Jojo's father immediately pulls Jojo's soft bone-like body into the large hole he's prepared for. Jojo could still see when his father put him in a hole like a carcass. Even though his body could not feel anything.

The hole was slowly filled with soil. It was like Jojo was screaming, but his voice was choked. Jojo could only resign when the land began to pile up. The light that Jojo still saw now turned dark because his body had been buried in the ground. His chest became so tight and tight that he found it difficult to breathe. His breathing began to sting before long Jojo closed his eyes for all eternity.

#off.

"Until now Jojo is still hanging around like this because he wants to meet his mother. She wanted to tell her mother that she was okay."

Iyan wiped the watery end of his eyes. It was a pain to hear it. Dev has gone nowhere.

"That's why Jojo wants to be friends with you. The fate of you and Jojo is not much different." Iyan nodded in understanding.

"Patience, Jo." Om Uwo gently rubbed Jojo's head.

"Don't be sad, Jo. I will always be there for you" Iyan said.

Before the Maghrib prayer, Iyan entered the house. Before entering he washed his feet and hands first. Just as Iyan closed the side courtyard door, Aleesa pulled Iyan's hand over to let him crouch down.

"Dev, ana?" whispered Aleesa.

"He went home first" Iyan replied, lying slightly as she rubbed Aleesa's head.

While at the dinner table, Iyan did not seem to enjoy the food tonight. Iyan stared at his right. Usually there's Jojo there. However, this time Jojo did not exist.

"Why, Yan? Is the food bad?" ask Echa.

Iyan smiled as he shook his head. After dinner, Iyan immediately went inside his room. Calling Jojo's name, but Jojo never came.

"Mother" called him.

But my mother also did not come. Iyan chose to sit on the desk chair. He took a picture book and a pencil. His hands began to scribble the picture book. Scene of Jojo being tortured by his father. Iyan's handstreaks look like vivid pictures.

"So bad is your father, Jo," Iyan murmured.

Iyan leaned his body against the chair. He remembered his first meeting with Jojo.

"You who? Why are you here?"

"I'm Jojo."

"Can we be friends?"

"You're my helper, Jo. If, no you maybe I'm dead" Iyan said.

A knock on the door sounded, Iyan immediately turned his head towards the door. Her brother and sister-in-law were there.

"Can we come in?" Iyan smiled.

Echa approached Iyan who was sitting on a desk chair. He gently rubbed the head of the sister. However, Echa's eyes are squeaking when looking at the image Iyan drew.

"Here are you drawing? How to get the picture." Iyan nodded.

Radit looked into the picture book. Radit's frown upon seeing the image Iyan made.

"Like living the picture," Radit said.

"That's a shadow of Jojo when Jojo died" he explained.

"Jojo?" reset Radit.

"Temen Iyan is always with Iyan" he replied.

"He died from being hit?" ask Radit.

Iyan's face turned into a wistful one. "Is there a father who was cruel to his son?"

Radit and Echa looked at each other. I don't understand what Iyan said.

"This is Jojo and this is his father" he points to the picture.

"His father mukulin Jojo said Jojo naughty. Though Jojo is not naughty, Jojo is a good boy. The proof is that he was still smiling when his father kept beating him" Iyan explained.

"So, the way your friend died is tragic?" ask Radit.

"Yes. Jojo's murder was premeditated by his father from far away."

"It's beams and iron. His father hit Jojo using these two objects. Whatever pain Jojo did not make a sound. He only smiled even though his body was already helpless. All of his bones were broken and his mouth and nose had been spitting out fresh blood" Iyan explained.

"Jojo was buried alive by his father." The words Iyan spoke made Echa's eyes widen.

"Now Jojo is not here. Iyan was sad because he had just seen Jojo cry for the first time" he lamented.

Radit rubbed gently on Iyan's back. "Jojo must be back" Radit added.

Many times Iyan called Jojo, but Jojo never existed. Calling Dev is the same. Calling mommy too mom never came. Iyan chose to run his eyes.

The next morning, there was no Jojo next to him. Usually the typical smile of Jojo that welcomes the morning.

"Jo," call Iyan.

Again Iyan had to swallow the disappointed pill. Jojo did not appear despite being called. Iyan went downstairs to the dining table. Aleesa was staring at the glass door that connected to the side yard.

"Sa's sister, eat first, son." Calling Echa made Aleesa approach the bubu.

"Did you see Jojo?" whiskey Iyan. Aleesa.

Aleesa and Iyan enjoyed a heartless breakfast. The two of their friends were really not here. After school, Iyan rushed to the mango tree. Only Om Uwo was there.

"Dev and Jojo are back?" Om Uwo shakes.

"Mother took Jojo, but didn't know where. If the Dev must be in his papih house again," explained Om Uwo.

"Jojo will come back no more, Om? Iya. afraid Jojo will go ninggalin Iyan," he said.

"Jojo must be back. Maybe now I'm taking Jojo away to cheer Jojo up." What Om Uwo said is true. Iyan tried to believe.

One day ...

Two days ...

Three days ...

Jojo leaves Iyan. Dev never came to the house making Aleena a little moody.

"Where are you, Jo?"

Iyan remembered the bracelet Jojo had given him. A black bracelet.

Wear this, even if I'm not next to you later. You will be protected by wearing only this bracelet. It's also a bracelet for our friendship.

"Jojo," heeled.

A week without Jojo. Dev came back two days ago. At first Iyan thought that Jojo would come back with Dev. Jojo has not yet returned. Asking my mother is just a smile that I give her.

"It's been a long time since you left me, Jo."

Sadness increasingly enveloped Iyan's heart. The presence of Jojo is able to make the days of Iyan colorful. Jojo is part of his life.

When Echa came, Iyan immediately hugged the body of the brother. She shed her tears in her brother's arms.

"Why are you, Yang?" ask Echa confused.

"Jojo hasn't returned yet. Dev is back." Iyan's words sounded very sad.

Echa understood the sadness of her sister. Jojo is Iyan's first best friend. It was always next to Iyan even though almost everyone could not see it.

"Iyan kangen Jojo" he said.

Echa brought Iyan to sit in the living room. The father who had just brought the triplets into the living room looked at Iyan confusedly. Echa just shook her head signifying that don't ask too many questions. Aleesa immediately hugged Iyan who was crying. Aleesa knew very well that Iyan was missing his best friend. Just like her who missed Dev so much when Dev left.

"Jojo must be back. Like you, Jojo cannot live without you. Brother sure, Jojo and you are destined to be complementary friends despite the different nature." Rion understands the direction of Echa's talk.

"Don't cry, you're a man. Keep waiting patiently, don't be whiny. You have to be strong, even if Jojo doesn't come back you have to be able to accept it. In reality your nature and Jojo's nature are different." Iyan further tightened his embrace towards Echa. Echa widened her eyes towards her father.

"Don't cry, the Jojonya won't come back. Where would Jojo be friends with a whiny man, "tease Echa.

"Iyan is not a crybaby. Iyan just miss Jojo." Echa tightened her embrace. How sincerely Iyan was friendly with supernatural beings.

After dinner, Iyan went straight into the room. A sense of loneliness is sweeping through Iyan's heart. However, Iyan tepis with the gadget in his hand. A little can take away his longing for Jojo.

The blow behind Iyan's ears made Iyan snort in annoyance. Usually it's the work of a dwarf ghost like tuyul who often goes into Iyan's room and defiles Iyan. However, it did not dare to pierce the Iyan family's money.

"My work is using illicit money. I'm not gonna spend any of your hard-earned money."

That's how the little creature works.

"Shut up, Bhol," he jolted.

The blow was increasingly making Iyan furious and put down his gadget. The distinctive smile of the creature Iyan longed for was obvious.

"Jajo!" Iyan immediately hugged the body of the friend.

"Where are you going? Don't stay with me." The last sentence Iyan spoke made Jojo's smile curl up perfectly.

"I've met Mamak. I was invited by Mamak to go back to where I came from." Iyan's face turned into a wistful one.

"But .. I don't want to, I want to accompany you until you meet someone who genuinely loves you and can take care of you."

Iyan's eyes glazed over hearing Jojo's words. He smiled at Jojo.

"Friends forever." Iyan reduces her little finger greeted by Jojo's little finger.

"For ever" replied Jojo.