TRIBAL SABUNG
Chapters. 38 - About Malik -
Right in the parking area of the Uni Harum building, the tourist bus stopped. The kids are starting to get noisy and want to get down. A middle-aged woman with pursed lips and glasses immediately stood up, ready to give instructions. Ms. Donna, the 1-A homeroom teacher in a loud voice, caught the attention of her protege.
“It is expected to come down regularly, then directly line up. No overtaking each other, nor getting out of line after this. Understand, kids?”
“Phot, Mom!” all the children answered simultaneously.
Ms. Donna went down first, then the right row followed down to the last bench. After that, the left row went down regularly. The sky descended from the bus and the blue bead had already bloomed in awe at the Fragrant Union building.
This building is almost as large as the United States of Nusantara, minimalist form with a blend of black and white. Large and wide glass is placed on the front. It looks like a giant helmet but is longer. The clumps are also neatly trimmed. There are trees with thin leaves planted in several places, so it gives the impression of beautiful. The sky instantly fell in love with this guild environment.
Satisfied to notice around, the teenage boy immediately joined the ranks. Then guided by their respective homeroom, they entered the main lobby.
Walls and ceilings are ivory white with many lights embedded on top. The floor is brown like wood, it looks clean. The first class of the Academy students were escorted to the training room of the champions.
A large and spacious room with white walls and moss-green floor. There are already some champions who are practicing sparring, basic training, and warming up.
A young man about twenty-five years old approached the study tour group. The man had a tall, filled body, and his muscles were already perfectly formed. The sky secretly provides the value of a coach.
“Good morning kids, introduce. He is one of the Fragrant Union Champions, Kak Setio.” Miss Donna introduced.
“Good morning, sisters!” sapa Setio cheerful.
The children returned a passionate greeting.
“As long as you are here, I will accompany you and answer your questions.”
“How does it feel to be a Jawara?!” one of the children asked excitedly.
“Did Kak Setio have met with Benjamin?!” The other child asked.
“How can I enter the United States?!”
More and more children are asking questions. Making Setio slightly overwhelmed to answer. Meanwhile Ivano quietly pulled Sky back to the back row. The teenager began to whisper, about to continue their conversation before being cut off due to Yatna's presence.
“Ale won't believe this,” Ivano bit her lower lip, as if impatient to tell a story. “According to the information I got, Sabung Tribe is actually a dangerous game in the underworld.”
The sky immediately stopped Ivano from speaking further. “Can you explain first, what is the underworld?”
Ivano almost patted his forehead, forgetting that his sidekick was too innocent. “The underworld is a place of corrupt people, full of crime. Such as money laundering, fraud, illegal goods trading transactions and much more. Our time will not be enough, if I have to explain one-on-one!”
The sky immediately elbowed Ivano as the tone of her friend's voice rose. Fortunately, no one was interested in the content of the conversation. The whole child is more interested in asking and hearing the story of Jawara Uni Harum.
Ivano again said, “Intinya, Sabung Tribe is a type of game played by ten players and divided from two teams. The Sabung Tribe spectators were mostly the rulers in the underworld. They make the game as a show of wealth and ownership of the strongest players.”
“What do you mean by ownership of the strongest player?”
For a moment Ivano fell silent, hesitating to say it. “This sounds cruel, because the point is like ale and beta cockfighting each other. Let the two chickens attack each other until one dies or loses. But the difference, not a pitted chicken, but a human.”
“You mean..., they collect Jawara to be pitted and death is a punishment if lost?” The sky asked for a goal.
Ivano also nodded slowly, both of them gulping. God, they don't realize that their lives have been nearly threatened. The sky suddenly remembered Sarda, the kidnapper three years ago. The man was also about to sell Ivano and Sky to Sabung Tribe. And last time, Ivano's father also wanted to make his son play in the dangerous game.
“Crazy..., how crazy!” The sky was completely blown away.
***
A hard blow floated, slamming a teenager to the ground. His white cheeks were red, the corners of his lips were torn and bleeding. The thick-browed teenager immediately sat on his knees, not daring to raise his face.
“How dare you embarrass me!” a loud crack was thrown from a middle-aged man in a white shirt and black material pants. “Mau put where face, Father! already making a fuss in front of many people, even going home without bringing rank one!”
“Ma-forgive me, Sir! Malik is wrong, Malik is guilty!”
The boy immediately prostrated himself under the feet of the father, apologizing. The loud crackling made him flinch, growing more frightened.
“Why are you so different from Hayan, your brother?!” The long leg brushed off Malik's hand, almost hitting his face. “You can only embarrass the family, not the talent! and just make a headache.”
“Log into room! don't go out and introspect yourself!” The middle-aged man opened the door of his study. Calling the butler who has worked for his family for decades. “Do not feed him two days!”
The old man bowed respectfully. “Good, Big Master.”
Malik remained silent on his father's velvet carpet. His hands clenched tightly, trying to hold back the tears. She won't cry, Malik has vowed never to cry.
“Young Master. Come, I'll take you to room.”
“No need,” Malik immediately stood up, walked out of the workroom of the father.
Walk through the long, quiet and cold passageway. His eyes were red, his cheeks were throbbing painfully, and his heart was wounded for the umpteenth time.
“Malik, you're bleeding!” a young man approached her with a worried look.
He is Hayan Waruk, the eldest son of the Waruk family and the elder brother of Malik.
“Dad hit you again, this time what's the problem?” Hayan asked worriedly.
“This has nothing to do with sister. Leave me alone,” Malik stepped away from Hayan.
“Can't, at least let me treat your wound.” Hayan followed, about to grab his sister's hand.
Malik brushed off the hand, his teeth clenched tightly. “Go! it's all because of brother! I'm tired compared to you constantly!”
“Malik is not true. Dad was like that because he expected a lot from you. Because you're talented, you're great!”
“Every day, every month, every year I try but it's not enough!” Malik laughed, a drop of tears finally falling. “I've been trying to develop myself, I'm tired! and brother is just like father, not willing to understand me.”
“Malik is indeed the way dad loves us. He just wants the best for us!”
The teenager once again brushed off Hayan's hand. He was fed up with this family, fuck the pride, Malik could not even have a sincere friend regardless of his status. All of this life feels fake.
Suddenly the figures of Sky and Ivano flashed across his head. Two teenagers the same age as her but very different. They became Jawara at a young age, one of the best union heirs in Indonesia. Another is just an orphan, but their friendship looks strong.
Malik envied.
He also wants to have friends who can be happy and sad together. Not a friend smiling full of falsehood. Or follow his words like a subordinate.
Continues…