Cakrawala High School, 2016
The sound of the school bell echoed throughout the building, signaling that class had begun. A teenager named Ali runs hurriedly down the school corridor. His uniform was rumpled, and he was breathing heavily. He knew that being late again meant punishment awaited.
Ali paused in front of the classroom door, catching his breath and trying to fix his uniform. He hoped that luck would be on his side this time. But as soon as she opened the door, all of her classmates' gazes immediately fell on her.
"Ali! Why are you always late?" the voice of Mr. Joko, the math teacher, sounded loud. He was standing in front of the blackboard, a look of annoyance on his face.
"S-I'm ... sorry, Sir. I have some business at home ..." Ali replied nervously, avoiding looking directly at his teacher.
Mr. Joko let out a long sigh, then glanced at his watch. "You're always late. You really don't like my class, do you?"
"It's not like that, Sir," Ali replied listlessly.
Mr. Joko gave Ali a cynical look. "Since I'm still teaching, your punishment will be handed over to Mr. Budi. Please go to him and tell him you're late."
Ali was stunned. All the students in the school knew that Mr. Budi, the school guard, was notoriously strict and unforgiving. A small commotion was heard from his classmates, some stifling laughter, while others looked at Ali with sympathy.
"Come out now and meet Mr. Budi. Don't try to run away, okay?" added Mr. Joko before refocusing on his math class.
With mixed feelings, Ali walked towards the small room at the end of the school where Mr. Budi usually was. When he got there, he knocked softly on the door.
"Come in," Mr. Budi's heavy voice sounded from inside.
Ali pushed the door and entered. The room was narrow, filled with old wooden shelves and the pungent smell of mothballs. Mr. Budi sat on a chair, looking at Ali with a cold stare.
"Why are you here?" asked Mr. Budi, his voice low and full of authority.
"I was late, Sir. Then Mr. Joko told me to ask you for the punishment." Ali replied, bowing his head.
Mr. Budi stood up, stepping closer to Ali. "Children like you must be taught discipline. Otherwise, you will grow up to be a useless person."
Ali stood stiffly, his body beginning to tremble. The air in the small room felt claustrophobic, and the walls seemed to cover him from all directions. Mr. Budi's usually cold gaze was now sharper, like the eyes of an eagle stalking its prey. Something was different-something that made Ali feel uncomfortable.
"Now, take off your shirt," Mr. Budi ordered, his tone flat but full of pressure.
Ali was startled, his body frozen in place. "But, Sir ..." her voice trembled, almost inaudible. Her heart was racing, like it wanted to jump out of her chest.
"Don't argue!" Mr. Budi suddenly snapped, his voice echoing in the cramped room. The man stepped forward, pulling Ali's shirt collar forcefully. His touch was rough, and the look in his eyes made Ali feel like a cornered animal.
Ali tried to resist, his hands reaching out to restrain Mr. Budi. But his small body was unable to resist the strength of the adult man. "Sir, please ... I promise I won't be late again," he pleaded in a hoarse voice.
However, Mr. Budi did not heed her plea. "Troublemakers must be punished," he said in a cold tone, but his sudden gentle stroking of Ali's hair made him feel even more disgusted. Ali winced, his whole body tingling at the touch.
"Sir, don't ..." He whispered in a trembling voice.
Mr. Budi said nothing. Only a look of satisfaction was drawn on his face as he continued to play on Ali's fear. Time seemed to slow down, and inside Ali's head, it all felt like a never-ending nightmare.
It was a day Ali could never forget. What happened in that room destroyed all her trust in adults. On the way home, Ali was speechless. His head was bowed, and his eyes were empty.
Yet, deep in his heart, something began to grow, a deep, dark resentment. He not only hated Mr. Budi, but also hated himself for not being able to fight back. In that darkness, a seed was born that would grow into a monster.
And it didn't happen just once.
***
Ali is now a grown man. His ever-present smile in front of others hides the bad thoughts within him. His childhood trauma continues to haunt him, burning the pain into vengeance.
He sought out the whereabouts of Mr. Budi, the man who had destroyed his youth. The old man was still the school guard at Cakrawala High School. It was easy to find him.
The day Ali was able to get his revenge was one of the happiest days for him. The look of frightened eyes, the strong smell of blood, and the sound of pain became a melodious song for Ali.
However, what should have been the end of revenge turned out to be the beginning of something darker. Ali found a strange satisfaction in seeing the fear on his victims' faces. That sense of satisfaction developed into an addiction.
The phrase 'Troublemakers must be punished' played over and over in Ali's mind making him believe that naughty children should be severely punished. If left unchecked, they would become a problem in the future.
Ali believed he was doing his 'duty' to discipline them. He was addicted.
Night after night, Ali transformed from a victim to a predator. The world became his stage, and fear was the fuel for his crazy games. He was no longer the victim. Now, he was the executioner.
Ali knew one day his behavior would be exposed, he realized there was a price to pay for this satisfaction. As long as he is still free to do whatever he wants, Ali will continue to do what suits his ideology, and no one can stop him.