Protest and Aftermath

Three landlords closed all the doors before Iwan, Bayu, and Agatha can get out. Breakfast served, an oriental fried rice in a big bamboo basket with a touch of over hard eggs and meat floss. Things have calmed down and talk restarts. Those landlords still offers power, money, stocks, and spouse; but no accord have been reached. Talks continue to no avail, tension keeps rising, and things can get out of hands anytime soon. Before that happen, Iwan, Bayu, and Agatha are allowed to go home; but there’s one thing that they will always remember for eternity.

“Listen here, Indra spill too much info, so it can’t be helped. You know that those fires are no accident, we know you’re few of many conspiracy theorists. But your theories sure are solid, it’s only a matter of time until we gather enough evidence and crush you all. Not to mention Indra spill the plan to disqualify people that are deemed dangerous. Since you know too much, please keep your mouth shut. Never utter this info and testify the truth to the media or any platform. We knows your address and family members.”

“Really?”

“Wan! Aren’t you afraid of death?”

“It’ll be regrettable if I’m compromised now.”

“Just say that you’re afraid dude.”

“Let’s see, Iwan Himawan. Your parents live at Pakisan village, Cawas district, Klaten regency, Central Java province. Bayu Cahya Sanubari. Your parents live at Nglindur village, Girisubo district, Gunungkidul regency, Special Administrative Region of Yogyakarta. Agatha Sekarlangit, your parents live at Bangah village, Gedangan district, Sidoarjo regency, East Java province. Now that you inquire this information, it’ll be better to keep your mouth shut right? Or should we eliminate your families as well?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Silent means agree! Thank you for your cooperation! You may go home now.”

Fear strikes them to the core, but they still want to put up a fight. With the power of conspiracy theorist, anonymity, and hopefully other people, a huge demonstration should suffice. A campaign has been launched online, Iwan, Bayu, and Agatha goes anonym to spread the truths. Voice recording is more than enough of a proof to sway the people, students moves fast and contact the trio. Planning a demonstration is no easy feat, but it’s doable with enough support. All that’s left is whether the participants have enough control over themselves to not get angry.

After students, artists, celebrities, and the common folk join the demonstration. It slowly grow online and with the divine blessings of algorythm; it spreads like wildfire. Younglings are not afraid with some encouragement, that’s exactly what happened to Iwan, Bayu, and Agatha. They know the risks, the life of their parents and themselves could gone any moment if they expose themselves. But for the sake of spreading the truth and be known as the pioneer, it can’t be helped.

El Niño still hits hard, the sun is unforgiving, yet the populace march onwards toward the city center. Everyone wears traditional clothing, surjan, jarik, and kebaya. It starts with a peaceful action of tapa pepe. In order to do this, they walk slowly while squatting toward the Indra’s residence at Timoho. Once they have arrived, they sit cross-legged while putting posters and arts as a form of protests.

“Abolish the Land Utilization Commandment!”

“It’s useless to cover the truth!”

“Don’t betray our trust.”

“Demolish those illegal homes!”

“Money is a tool of transaction, not a symbol of wealth.”

“Having a thousand friends is not enough, but an enemy is too many.”

“Please sir, it’s not too late to fix all this.”

“Yogyakarta is no longer comfortable.”

“Please keep this region special.”

“Take some break sir!”

Those are some out of many posters that exist there. But an action is still not enough, even though they are dried and toasted for six hours, it yields no result whatsoever. As the demonstration only grow stronger on social media, the wish to start a real action instead of sitting in silence flourish. Next week, more people take out to the streets, filling every buses, trains, and boats. This time Iwan, Bayu, and Agatha become the main protagonists of this demonstration. Paraded like a hero, with a powerful background music and chants of the people. The three of them has created a speech, Iwan’s vocal chord is ready to read it outloud.

“Good morning everyone, I thank you all for supporting this movement. As you all know, Yogyakarta is no longer comfortable, fires, new homes outside the legal zones, and our leader is silent. He keep his silence while his people is barking! Questioning his decision and policies! Especially Land Utilization Commandment! That commandment may exist above the paper, but we will never acknowledge it! Our normal lives are disrupted, we’ve live in perfect comfort for years. But he makes profit from our discomfort today. As his friends, the three can only say… Get well soon Ndra! Your threats are useless, we are not afraid! I repeat, we are not afraid!”

BOOM

An explosion sound, followed by water cannon showering the people. Their clothes are heavier with a body harder to move with; tear gas flying and smoked the whole area. Agatha and Bayu is nowhere to be found in the midst of chaos. In the end Iwan was captured by a droid.

“Wait, just chill!”

Such words won’t work as his head is hit with a hand. His concussion is quite serious, so he’s unconscious for now. In the meantime, he’s transported into a car and carried far away. His words of encouragement ended up spelling disaster for everyone. Iwan is rather lucky, others are lying lifeless on the street, some manage to escape, some disappear into thin air. Maybe transported as well? No one knows for sure, but thanks to his action, his parents won’t be able to sleep tonight. Droids hidden between the locals at Pakisan, ready to strike his parents anytime soon.

“Once he is awake, interrogate him! Don’t probe his memories, he’s no robot! Do your best, I'm counting on you!”

“Yes sir!"

“Good afternoon Iwan, please don’t interrupt me. You know when you messed up, this will happen. Yet you still do it, how smart can you be? Your parents can die anytime now, droids have patroled the village. In my command, they’re gone. You understand?”

“Yes sir.”

“Luckily, with your status as Indra’s friend, he forgive you. What a lucky guy! You can be free under one circumstance, let go of everything. Identity, friends, parents, family, and possesion. Your browser history is empty now, so you should be fine! One thing to remember, you mess up once more, you’re done. You understand?”

“Yes sir.”

The media tells that the trio are dead, two of them are, but Iwan survives. His parents weep for him day and night for several years until his mom is ill. With longer hair and beard, he’s selling fried rice in his bicycle. One night, he pass his old home at Pakisan. His dad come out with two bowls, wishing for boiled noodles.

“Two boiled noodles please.”

“Yes sir! Your wife seems unhealthy, may I know what happens to her?”

“Our son died, she still weep for him until now.”

“I see, would she like to be healed?”

“Healed? Are you a healer?”

“Yes.”

“It seems she don’t mind.”

“Very well, I’ll heal her after I’m done cooking.”

Warm boiled noodles calm the cold night, when she is healed, she realized one thing.

“Are you my son?”

“No ma’am, I’m Mulyadi. An average seller, my parents live at Pakem.”

“I see, your energy feels the same like my son.”

“My deepest apologies, but if you don’t mind, would you like to consider me as your own son?”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course ma’am!”

“Okay then, welcome home son.”

“Thank you mom, I have to continue my journey soon. Many people await my fried rice.”

“Go, be careful son.”

“If you have time, would you like to go fishing with me?”

“Of course sir!”

As he move his bicycle forward, he can’t hold streams of tears flowing through his cheeks. He thought that his mother might notice his true identity, he’s reunited with his parents. But he don’t want to expect highly of this theory. After tears dry off, time for screams and cry of joy.

After all that life simply continues for Iwan. Years of living alone with no spouse and children still make him a peaceful guy. Working on an orphanage, helping kids learn, taking care of them, and take them to explrore the environment are the greatest happiness he can ask for. God has bless him for sure, that blessing continues even 50 years later. A healthy and strong body; white hair, slightly tan skin, and barely any wrinkles visible shows a sign of good life. Today he will meet one of the orphanage’s child who’s sick. Unfortunately, he enters the wrong room.

“Oh, my apologies, I’ll head out. Huh? Indra Purnamasidhi?”

“That’s me.”

“The former governor?”

“Yes, what’s wrong?”

“Do you remember me?”

“No, I don’t.”

“I’m Iwan Himawan.”

“Iwan… You look so young…”

“Thank you, I still consider myself as a kid you see.”

“Forgive me.”

“No need to be so dramatic, I already forgive you since long ago.”

“How can you cope with it? You’re not stressed?”

“I’m angry at first because Bayu and Agatha died. I found their bodies on Code River 2 days after I was freed.”

“I never told my underlings to- cough”

“No need to talk so loud, take it easy!”

“How can you face such hardships?”

“I nearly summoned a persona, luckily my neighbour stopped me. Then I started selling fried rice at night with my bicycle, I reunited with my parents and they think that I’m their son. With enough money, I travel the world with tight budget. It’s really fun, you should travel the world once you’re discharged!”

“I don’t think that’s an option. I can feel my impending doom. By the way, how can you be so relax? I thought I’m cooked when you entered the room.”

“Put it simply, relationships are complex. But my life will go on with or without you.”

“That’s really wise of you.”

“No, I still have ways to go, but I must ask you this. How many enemies do you have? Your reign ended within a week after our protest.”

“Plenty, I still don’t understand. I did the right thing, I felt that it was right. But…”

“No one is your enemy until you forced them to become so… Instead of this heavy and deep chat, let’s play chess!”

“Oh, ICBM gambit? You’ll lose.”

“We’ll see.”

“Check! Hahaha!”

“Not so fast.”

“Ouch.”

“Do you think God will forgive me?”

“Of course Ndra, you’ll be fine!”

“Castling done!”

“…”

“Checkmate! Yes! Oh… Rest in peace, my friend.”

“Sir, there you are! Yoga’s room is this way!”

“Coming!”