[Why... why did this happen to me??]
Wept already started to fall. My hands were covered by the blood. Blood from my foster family's corpse.
"Foster father... Foster mother...," I said. "AARRGGHHHH!!!!" Continued with outcry.
In the night, riots happened anywhere. My house was covered by fire. Not only ours but other places were also crushed. Anarchy as if be the perfect predicate at this moment.
At that moment, I spoke softly,
"Why... my family... died... like this...."
My stomach got felt burned. Burned with hatred and grudge. At this moment, I screamed,
"Where are that fucking Gods and Goddesses?!! Why didn't helped my family even though they were faithful servants to them?!!"
Unfortunately, none of them appeared. Similarly, my fellows and extended family weren't helped us. As if, they did threw their humanity.
At that moment, a young man suddenly appeared with white chausses and a midnight black doublet. He has a black felt hat on his cloudy gray hair. He stood before me and spoke lightly,
"Thou art want to get revenge?"
***
Before an incident...
Jakarta, August 7th, 2030. At 05:10 AM.
At dawn time, the skies with dark blue color appeared. Stars scattered between the horizons as if charmed by the beauty of the morose moon. Even though the dawn started blooming, the life of human beings began already, including mine.
After taking a bath, I wipe my black hair and tanned body. Along with that, I started wearing my school uniform. All of these activities were done in rushed conditions. Currently, I prepared everything for senior high school.
Before I went downstairs, my foster father said clearly,
"Tara! Did you already prepare everything?!"
"I did it!" loudly. "Only picked up my jacket!"
"Then, come here! You didn't want to be late because of traffic issues, right?!"
When I heard that, I went downstairs quickly. After going down the stairs, I saw the graceful woman was already preparing the breakfasts. With a warm smile and tied blonde hair, my foster mother said,
"Eat it, Tara. So, you didn't feel hungry until noon."
When I looked at the breakfasts, they looked delicious. My hand reached for the bread. Shockingly, my hand was hit with a wooden stick. Someone has spoken,
"Tara!" said assertively. "Did you forget what etiquette is before eating?!"
He has a bulk muscular body with a soldier uniform. With a sharp gaze, he intimidated me. Instead, the foster mother didn't care about it and started to check my hand. After checked up my hand, she turned to see him,
"David, you didn't even need to do that!" said regrettably.
"I knew," assertively. "I knew what I did as his father. Jean, as his mother, you always gave so much love to Tara until now. But, when he went into society, he must learn the ways of etiquette. Maybe, almost late to teach about it based on his age and my job as a soldier. But, at least, I did mine as a father."
The Foster mother as though as realized what he had said. At that moment, I realized what he had done. Realized that, I said to my foster mother,
"It's okay, Mother." smile while turning to see the foster father. "I aa... I'm sorry, foster father. It wouldn't happen again...," with a guilty expression.
He whose sharp gazed at the first place immediately sighed. Then, he spoke,
"You did know what you must do after that, right?" While rubbing my head softly.
After he gave me a hint, I sat and followed by the foster family. Then, I started leading the prayers,
"O Gods and Goddesses, bless our foods with Your unconditional love. May these foods restore our souls, spirits, and physics." After that, we started to eat these breakfasts. Eat solemnly.
After breakfast, we were prepared to go. When we were already on the motorcycle, my foster mother hugged me and said,
"Thank you for coming into my life. Even though you aren't my related blood child, you're still mine. My precious child. My strongest child!" with a gentle smile.
"Thanks, Mother...." I smiled back at her.
After that, we were going rushed away.
The morning breeze caresses every human being on the way. Vehicles started roaring at each other and making the road became busier. Foster's father rode the motorcycle fast and agile. Several places were already missed at the same time.
Finally, we arrived at the senior high school At 06:10 AM. The school started to crowded from every element. Although they were crowded, the vast schoolyard made activities of the shuttle became less cramped.
I alighted from the foster father motorcycle onto the ground. When I walked into the school, my foster father said,
"Did you forget about something, Besper Dewantara??"
I got chilled in the nape of the neck suddenly. With a clumsy face, I turned to see the foster father and said,
"So... rry... I didn't understand it.. ehe!"
Foster father sighed and said,
"Come here." At the same time, giving me a gesture with his hand.
Slowly, I walked to my foster father. When the distance between us was close, he alighted from the motorcycle and hugged me immediately. So tightly.
I was feeling awkward at the same time. Other people were curious about his behavior. But, the foster father didn't care about shit and other things externally. A few seconds later, he said,
"Always grateful to Gods and Goddesses," softly. "As a soldier who worships them, I always want to be along with you since a child if I didn't have duties. Teaching about everything I knew. Forgave me for my absences..,"
"Okay-okay!" I sighed. "I got that. Why suddenly you became a melancholy person? Did you get a prophecy from Anubis or Batara Kala?" while joking with my foster father.
If I said that, he always hit me with his hand as his form of annoyance. But, instead of being an annoyance, he smiled while saying,
"Maybe."
When I heard that, I got awkward and said,
"Whatever, I got to go. See you at night dinner, Father!" And I entered the school.
Many hours had left until noon already came. I ate at the cafeteria with friends. Suddenly, Andrew who has a bald appearance and is a bully came and said to me,
"Hey, a-spoiled-child! How does the feel of YOUR-Teletubbies-Hug? Warm like Joe-Wannabe-Mama?"
"Instead, cozier than Red-Hot-Joe-Replicant-Mama!" while cynical smiled.
"That's it! Let us have fun with our fists, shall we?!!" he snarled.
Meanwhile, a peer friend named Darko conciliation the dispute between us. He has black hair with an oriental face in Southeast Asia. With his hands, he said firmly,
"Hey-hey!" Darko sighed. "That's a normal thing. Keep it chill, dude!"
"He's a douchebag! I gotta punch him for his words!" angrily while being separated by other friends.
"Oh-oh scary~," said me. "My timbers! My pubic hair had shivered already~,"
"Stop it, Tara. Don't make him angry again!" he said firmly.
"Chill out, I'm just applying one-of-the-Principles-of-Tai Chi to him,"
"Great!" said Darko. "Let us get over this, shall we?"
Finally, the dispute between us was solved. Suddenly, Darko said to me,
"Tara, are you free tonight?"
"Ease, dude. It looked like you want a date with me, huh?"
"Hell, no, dude!" Darko annoyed. "I just invited you to attend the Goddess Ratih's event tonight!"
"Goddess Ratih's event? Would it appear?"
"Yeah, it would appear... the total lunar eclipse. So, are you want to join?"
"Hmmm," I thought for a while. "Okay, I'm in. But, just a few hours only!"
"Great! Call me if you arrive at the usual place."
At that moment, the bell rang momentarily. Every student started to go into their class. The class continued until it finished. Everyone was back at their home, including me.
After coming home, resting for a while, and being permitted by my foster mother, I went to the usual place. The usual place where we always met up. After a few minutes, I arrived at that place.
This is an eco-friendly park. The park was a place where people of all ages met up with each other. For your information, this park was invented by humans and Gods-Goddesses as "symbolic of reciprocity". I only knew from my foster father because the park was made based on an agreement between the elders with Gods and Goddesses.
In the beginning, there was friction. As time flew, people became accustomed to the existence of Gods-Goddesses, especially in their culture. Therefore, several groups established sects to worship the Gods-Goddesses. In return favor worship, Gods and Goddesses assisted in various governmental activities. It also changed the structure of government until now. Not only in Indonesia, but in other countries also experienced something similar. So, don't be surprised when Gods-Goddesses appeared on television stations until a cultural event.
When I looked around, many people were doing various activities. Every emotion met up like a liquid of grapes in the holy grail. Sky with orange-yellow color appeared on the horizon. Such perfect conditions while waiting evening.
Suddenly, I bumped up with a young man. Luckily, I saved him before falling to the ground. I said sorry to him. Instead, he's said,
"When the litters are overturned by the whirlwind and faces are covered by cloaks, the new republic will be troubled by its people. At this time, the reds and the whites will rule wrongly."
I was confused for a moment. When I was about to ask, he disappeared among the many people who passed by.
"What a weirdo person...." With an annoyed tone.
After that, I called Darko for confirmation. Later, we met up with other fellows and went to the event. Goddess Ratih's event is a theatrical art performance to commemorate a total lunar eclipse based on Indonesian mythologies.
We arrived on time and started to watch the theatrical event. This is the second time I had attended this event after being invited by my foster parents when I was a kid. Not only humans but also Goddess Ratih attend this event. Unfortunately, she sat in a different place.
Every audience started to watch the theatrical event. Players started playing in the garden of mini world. Every line of dialogue until action as if as spit out by the actor-actress. Emotions became fluid like blood in veins. The atmosphere became adaptable in every scene. All of my senses were hypnotized by their actions. It feels like a bond that gave me goosebumps.
In the end, the audiences who attended this event gave applauded. Unexpectedly, she came into the stage. On stage, she appeared as a beautiful exotic woman. With a gentle smile, she spoke nobly,
"What a fascinating dramaturgy~," while she clapped. "I, as Lunar Goddess, giving applauded to actor-actress who played the role with magnificent!"
After hearing that, the audiences gave a standing ovation, including me. In the middle of that activity, I looked at my watch and it was almost at time 20:15. Realizing that,
(Almost over. After this, it's better to return home immediately!) I muttered.
The climax of the event began. Goddess Ratih suddenly flies into the moon. Perfectly time, a red rakshasa named Batala Kala, ate Goddess Ratih when she was on the moon. Like a python that swallows up their prey slowly.
The Black-Red color shone in the sky. Like a dark who conquers the light, the moon already metamorphoses as if rebelling against divine law. Finally, we witnessed a total lunar eclipse in the sky in the evening.
But, the strange occurrences had started here. After long minutes, Batara kala didn't move and still ate the moon. One of the people who attended this event spoke,
"Is it just me or does this total eclipse moon have a long minute? Kinda a weird, honestly!" Said the woman to someone who attended this event.
"Yeah! Much longer than I had expected!" Replied the bald man with an astonished face.
"Yeah... based on Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency... a total lunar eclipse can last as long as an hour and three-quarters. But... this... it's too much!" Replied another woman.
Everyone who attended the event responded to this phenomenon with various reactions. During the debate that occurred, there was laughter from the sky and the laughter came from Goddess Ratih. At that moment, Goddess Ratih who had been eaten, appeared beside Batala Kala. She laughed and said,
"What an asinine being! Never and ever realized what happened in their face!" she sighed heavily. "That's why I never acknowledged humans in the first place!"
"Indeed, my dear!" he said. "Let us crush them until they became dust!" And he roared like a beast.
Everyone made a frightened face. Not only that, a bunch of rakshasas appeared before them. After that, Goddess Ratih spoke,
"From this moment and onwards!" she declared. "We, Gods and Goddesses, had abandoned humankind!"
Hearing that, everyone was shocked for a moment. But, when one of the audiences got eaten by rakshasas suddenly, everyone ran for their life. Ran as if like prey was hunted by their predator.
I ran after my fellows left me behind. With all of my strength left, I ran rushed. Fortunately, I escaped from being hunted by those rakshasas.
Chaos had resulted in the end. Lots of damage and countless corpses were laid on the streets. Shrieks echoed in the skies. These places were covered by gory and anguished.
***
"Thou art want to get revenge?"
"Who are you?!" I replied. "If you want to be a jester or kind of that, that's a jerk joke!"
"Thou art embodiment of fons et origo. Seed of the ego. Rorschach scherzo!" he replied.
"Who the fuck are you?!"
A young man with cloudy gray hair replied,
"Forgave for the late introduction," while clearing his throat. "Everybody knew WHO AM I!" Suddenly changing his tone became deeper tone.
Just speechless about what he wanted to say to me. Then, he said again,
"My name soared through the ages. Mine only whom to predicted everything became legitimated and true! What an extravagant gifted, isn't it?!" while walking with a straight body.
And that moment, he stopped and peered at me. Then, he said,
"I had many moniker names! But, one moniker gave me such goosebumps, and l lovely that name!" he spread his arms openly. "I, the seer of future, Nostradamus had appeared before you!" Bowed while giving a hat-tip.
Right now, maybe... fate brought us together in an unexpected turn of events.