Luccane
Chapter 39: The Life of a Sinyo

Luccane and I sat facing each other, looking at each other in silence.

Outside the rain fell quite heavily, adding to the atmosphere of shahdu that enveloped both of us.

"It looks like you feel at home here," said Luccane softly, sweeping my face with a glance.

"If Indonesia were not in this scope of time, maybe I would choose to stay here" I replied half-jokingly.

The condition of the city of Bandung before independence, the scope of time in which Luccane was still alive is indeed very different.

Motor vehicles are still few, the streets are empty and the houses of the people are also still far apart.

The layout of the city at this time also seems to me much neater and more relieved than in my lifetime, all narrow with limited land not to mention the congestion that occurs everywhere.

"In this age social inequality is very high. If in your lifetime the beauty you have will be very profitable, in this time I am even tormented because my face is similar to this European. The natives hate me so much, they often treat me harshly. Moreover, they are the original Dutch people, they always treat me as they please just because my mother is a native," Luccane said with a facial water that so implied the wound.

The gray cells of my brain looked far away, imagining how bad the treatment of the Dutch and the natives to the Sinyo and Noni who actually could not know anything like this Luccane.

For the lucky Sinyo and Noni, they can get a good education and a good job. Some were even sent by their Dutch fathers to continue their education in Europe. While for those who are unfortunate, of course, will be left to live abandoned.

Luccane smiled in mystery, taking a look at my right hand. "I'll show you how I was treated for what I did at all."

"Why should?" my many.

"For you to understand the reality of life at that time. Close your eyes, I'll take you to see my past."

On the count of three, again I was taken by Luccane to another dimension.

...****************...

The Flashback

"Go from here! Low-level human being, you don't even deserve to wear the honorary title of Young Master!" maki a Dutch man is so rude to Luccane who is still so young and knows nothing.

Little Luccane, who was at that time confused as to why he was treated so differently from Dutch children his age, could only be silent and obedient, leaving the restaurant where the Dutch Masters and Madam had gathered that day.

Poor thing, at that time Luccane was still an innocent seven-year-old boy where he knew what Young Master was. Luccane still does not understand what money is and how to manage finances as Papa always did to be able to produce so much wealth.

"Why are you treating him so harshly, Meneer? She was just a little child who knew nothing," one of the Dutch maids said a little loudly, causing Luccane who had taken a step out of the restaurant to stop his steps.

"He was the son of Mr. Willem's marriage to a stupid, disgusting Inlander!" deny the other lady.

"Don't you know that the boy's Papa is a gold mine for us? Treat him a little better, forget for a moment that he is a Sinyo."

Wound that is not inferior in now cut the heart of little Luccane, until the poor boy cried while stepping away from the restaurant.

After several meters of walking, there was a group of indigenous children who suddenly pelted Luccane with pebbles and rotten eggs blindly making Luccane shocked and scared.

"The child of the invaders deserves to die!"

"You better die or go home to your own country!"

"Based on the nation not knowing yourself, you should just go to hell!"

"Stop colonizing our country rotten Europeans!"

"You don't deserve to live in our country!"

The words and insults addressed to Luccane who was still innocent and did not understand what they said again could only make the child cry.

He really did not understand what had happened and what had been done by him to the point that so many people treated him so badly like this.

In his tears, Luccane continued to wonder in his mind what mistake he had made without thinking about his left temple which had started to bleed fresh from being hit by the sharp pebble throw from the native children earlier.

His life as a Sinyo aka Indo-Dutch descent never thought it would be very painful like this.

If he can choose, he also chooses not to be born into this world.

"Luccane, my goodness! You okay, son?" Sulastri, an ayu-faced indigenous woman who was the Mama asked so worriedly after seeing the left temple of the son just the wayangnya was bleeding a lot.

Luccane just cried, too sad to explain what happened to Mama. He did not want to hear the Mama become a mockery again just because he was a native.

Little Luccane's head just shook his head slowly, reluctant to answer the question of the mother.

Without a second thought, Sulastri took his son to the nearest hospital for medical treatment.

In silence, I saw all the events that happened right in front of my eyes like I was watching a scene in a movie.

I saw clearly how the face of a female nurse who seemed reluctant to do the handling for Luccane just because the mother of the child was a native.

It's cruel, just because of a speck of difference they're reluctant to look at others as they should.

With my entry into a different dimension of time like this, I could see firsthand how Luccane's life was going and could believe how hard he had to live.

Not to mention how the faces of the natives who still try to be friendly even though they are always treated no better than an animal by the Dutch make my feelings really painful.

Not to mention the indigenous parents who already have no other choice but to sell their children to the Dutch master to pay their debts that accumulate with interest.

I am grateful to have been born in a state where this country has become independent. Life has improved, although social inequalities also remain and are felt.

"Luccane, I want this back to be enough."

"All right."