Jangjun stirred the cement and sand mixture. He became a construction worker at one of the construction sites in this corner of Bandung City.
Jangjun wiped the sweat dripping from his forehead using his dirty clothes. The sun is already hot. It was time for him to pick up Ryushin from his usual school, but this time he was still busy at work. Asking permission to go home for a while was not allowed by his boss.
Jangjun heard footsteps approaching. He turned. Uncle Jumali, Jangjun's neighbor who had asked him to become a coolie, ran over.
Uncle Jumali caught his breath for a moment before he said something to Jangjun. Something that made Jangjun curse himself.
"Hosh! Hosh! Shin, Jang!" said Uncle Jumali breathlessly.
"What's wrong with Shin, Uncle?" asked Jangjun as he shook Uncle Jumali's shoulder, impatiently waiting for the middle-aged man to continue his sentence.
"Shin! Shin, hosh, Shin fell from the stairs, hosh, and was hit by a log behind the building," said Uncle Jumali.
As soon as he heard Ryushin's wretchedness, Jangjun was like a madman. He ran like a madman. Jumping over bricks, bumping into cement sacks, walking down dirty streets where coral is everywhere.
Jangjun's mind was very messed up. Jangjun kept muttering "You should be fine, Shin!"
Jangjun's steps stopped when Jangjun saw the crowd of fellow coolies.
With trembling legs, Jangjun approached the crowd. Jangjun saw his baby weak and helpless.
Thick red blood dripped from Ryushin's head and nose. Jangjun's eyes filled with tears. His legs went limp.
Jangjun knelt beside Ryushin's limp body. Jangjun saw the eyes that used to greet him with a gleam were tightly closed.
Jaangjun kissed Ryushin's face heavily. Unable to speak, Jangjun was only able to hug the poor boy's body.
"SHINNNN!!!" shouted Jangjun with all his might.
Brugh!!
Jangjun felt something soft and had a strange smell touching his handsome, rough face.
Opening his eyes, Jangjun woke up stuttering. It turned out that he had just been hit with a stinky pillow, by whom.
"SHIN! SHIIN! WHERE IS SHIN! SHIN IS IT ALL OK? MEET ME WITH MY SON!" shouted Jangjun hysterically.
Snooze!!
Only the strange voice answered. Jangjun felt goosebumps all of a sudden. Is Jangjun at the slaughterhouse? Why is there such a strange sound?
Jangjun looked around. Jangjun was still in a cramped room in his rented house, apparently.
Jangjun was really grateful because it was all just a dream from the past. Jangjun lay back down and adjusted the blanket. A few seconds later, Jangjun heard the strange sound again.
Clap!
The lights suddenly went out. Lightning struck so hard. The flash of light penetrated Jangjun's room through the windows.
It was as if the heater couldn't keep him warm at the moment.
Tiaarrr!!
To be continued ....