The Unsociable Drakuli Part 10
A pretty big bulldozer was slowly parked in front of the wall that surrounded the vast cemetery owned by the Drakuli family. The engine was equipped with a sound suppressor so as not to raise suspicion from Mr. Gali’s family, whose land was going to be demolished.
And led by Uncle Agus himself, the eviction team returned to the cemetery. With a guerrilla-style approach, they silently descended without making a sound. This time, the group had a stronger formation. More complete. More fit. More determined. (Most of them were actually just munching on the cemetery grass! They were hungry, I guess.)
Although Uncle Agus and his men realized that the cemetery inhabitants were not demons, but ordinary humans, Uncle Agus still included some powerful shamans whose abilities were considered greater than Mbah Jagal. Some of the shamans who joined had even been trained in notoriously haunted cemeteries. Tonight, Uncle Agus was determined to drive out Mr. Gali, who he felt had been too stubborn. In addition, Uncle Agus was pressured by the investors to quickly vacate the area because the construction of a shopping center would soon take place.
Kodir, who apparently had not been fired from his position, brought his trusted weapon that night, a sharp machete made in Cibatu. It was said that the machete had the power to ward off evil spirits. According to Kodir, the machete was an heirloom from his ancestors and could only be used once a year. That’s why in the past few days, Kodir didn’t use the machete to drive away Drakuli and Mr. Gali, whom he considered wandering demons. But now it was time for Kodir to use the machete. And tonight, Kodir really wanted to avenge his grudge against Drakuli, who had often deceived him. Especially now that Kodir knew Drakuli was not a difficult-to-defeat demon. Drakuli was just a teenager who didn’t have any martial arts skills. And Kodir was confident that he could defeat Drakuli. As a servant, Kodir had martial arts skills. And during that time, Kodir was rarely defeated by anyone, except by those who had defeated him. In short, Kodir was a skilled fighter, sorry, I mean a skilled warrior. Because since he was young, Kodir enjoyed traveling from one village to another to learn from people he considered powerful.
“And now is the time for me to prove the knowledge I’ve learned,” Kodir whispered confidently.
Kodir’s subordinates, who were skilled in martial arts, also seemed eager to avenge their grudge against Drakuli. They were really fed up with Drakuli always deceiving them, which often resulted in them being scolded by Uncle Agus.
“And now, don’t ever think you can mock me again. Now it’s time for you to die, you cemetery demon,” Dudung shouted as he adjusted his machete tucked in his waist.
Just like Kodir, Dudung and the others also brought their trusted weapons. Their steps were firm because they were confident they would win.
TONIGHT’S EPIC BATTLE
Tonight, there’s gonna be a massive showdown. A battle that’s gonna wreck the graveyard where Drakuli resides. The ground is shaking. That’s why tonight is gonna be the toughest test for Drakuli. Especially when you see the weapons brought by the hired shamans of Uncle Agus. It seems like Drakuli’s hope of facing them is slim. The shamans are no longer dealing with Drakuli using incense, broomsticks, or garlic. That’s old school. What the shamans are bringing now are Molotov bombs, cannons, Scud missiles, or similar weapons that can destroy anything they touch. They learned these techniques during their training in haunted cemeteries abroad. It seems like tonight, Uncle Agus really wants to drive Drakuli out of his lair.
“My patience has run out, so you better do your job well!” grumbled Uncle Agus, giving an ultimatum to his subordinates.
“Yes, sir!” his subordinates replied in unison.
“Now, you can start working!” Uncle Agus immediately gave the order.
The moon hung in the clouds. The cold wind blew. So, what’s gonna happen to Drakuli? Will he be driven away from his homeland tonight? The land that he cherishes so much because it’s his most precious possession. Ah, let’s not be pessimistic just yet! With the help of Lulu, Lupus, Boim, and Gusur, Drakuli seems ready to face any possible attacks launched by Uncle Agus and his cronies. Drakuli has prepared everything to confront Uncle Agus based on the advice of Lupus and Lulu. Well in advance, because they were sure that Uncle Agus would come back with even greater power, the kids set traps around the graveyard. The traps were designed perfectly. And because Drakuli knows the terrain so well, since he grew up in the cemetery, it’s not difficult for him to find openings for the traps. Plus, the kids are equipped with weapons that are just as advanced as those of Uncle Agus’s subordinates. It means they’re ready for battle!
That’s right. As soon as they passed through the main gate, Uncle Agus’s subordinates immediately saw black shadows darting through the bushes. The black shadows were agile, jumping around like circus monkeys. But they disappeared into the bushes just as quickly. They were all about the same size, except for one shadow that was twice as big as the others. That’s Pak Gali’s shadow, who, of course, is joining the battle tonight. And the other shadows are the kids. Unlike usual, tonight Lupus, Boim, Lulu, Kunti, and Gusur are all wearing black robes. So it’s not just Drakuli. That’s why, seeing these Dracula-like shadows, Uncle Agus’s subordinates are also getting nervous.
“Wow, now there’s not just one Dracula. There are many!” complained Kodir. “Maybe all the Draculas from all the graveyards in Jakarta have been called here!”
“Oh, they’re not Draculas. They’re just regular humans like us!” explained Dudung, trying to suppress his fear.
“How can regular people jump around like squirrels?” Kodir stubbornly argued. “I’ve seen Draculas a lot, Dung.”
“Where have you seen Draculas a lot, Dir?” Dudung snapped angrily, while also being scared.
“In martial arts comics!” Kodir replied nonchalantly.
Meanwhile, a shaman wearing ripped jeans and a metal-style haircut was busy setting up his Molotov bombs. And while chanting, “Ang, ngeng eng, ngok… Mi goreng mi godok, if your eyes are slanted, I’ll poke them! Brreett…!” The shaman then sprayed his Molotov with the steam from his nose.
TONIGHT’S EPIC BATTLE
Tonight, there’s gonna be a massive showdown. A battle that’s gonna wreck the graveyard where Drakuli resides. The ground is shaking. That’s why tonight is gonna be the toughest test for Drakuli. Especially when you see the weapons brought by the hired shamans of Uncle Agus. It seems like Drakuli’s hope of facing them is slim. The shamans are no longer dealing with Drakuli using incense, broomsticks, or garlic. That’s old school. What the shamans are bringing now are Molotov bombs, cannons, Scud missiles, or similar weapons that can destroy anything they touch. They learned these techniques during their training in haunted cemeteries abroad. It seems like tonight, Uncle Agus really wants to drive Drakuli out of his lair.
“My patience has run out, so you better do your job well!” grumbled Uncle Agus, giving an ultimatum to his subordinates.
“Yes, sir!” his subordinates replied in unison.
“Now, you can start working!” Uncle Agus immediately gave the order.
The moon hung in the clouds. The cold wind blew. So, what’s gonna happen to Drakuli? Will he be driven away from his homeland tonight? The land that he cherishes so much because it’s his most precious possession. Ah, let’s not be pessimistic just yet! With the help of Lulu, Lupus, Boim, and Gusur, Drakuli seems ready to face any possible attacks launched by Uncle Agus and his cronies. Drakuli has prepared everything to confront Uncle Agus based on the advice of Lupus and Lulu. Well in advance, because they were sure that Uncle Agus would come back with even greater power, the kids set traps around the graveyard. The traps were designed perfectly. And because Drakuli knows the terrain so well, since he grew up in the cemetery, it’s not difficult for him to find openings for the traps. Plus, the kids are equipped with weapons that are just as advanced as those of Uncle Agus’s subordinates. It means they’re ready for battle!
That’s right. As soon as they passed through the main gate, Uncle Agus’s subordinates immediately saw black shadows darting through the bushes. The black shadows were agile, jumping around like circus monkeys. But they disappeared into the bushes just as quickly. They were all about the same size, except for one shadow that was twice as big as the others. That’s Pak Gali’s shadow, who, of course, is joining the battle tonight. And the other shadows are the kids. Unlike usual, tonight Lupus, Boim, Lulu, Kunti, and Gusur are all wearing black robes. So it’s not just Drakuli. That’s why, seeing these Dracula-like shadows, Uncle Agus’s subordinates are also getting nervous.
“Wow, now there’s not just one Dracula. There are many!” complained Kodir. “Maybe all the Draculas from all the graveyards in Jakarta have been called here!”
“Oh, they’re not Draculas. They’re just regular humans like us!” explained Dudung, trying to suppress his fear.
“How can regular people jump around like squirrels?” Kodir stubbornly argued. “I’ve seen Draculas a lot, Dung.”
“Where have you seen Draculas a lot, Dir?” Dudung snapped angrily, while also being scared.
“In martial arts comics!” Kodir replied nonchalantly.
Meanwhile, a shaman wearing ripped jeans and a metal-style haircut was busy setting up his Molotov bombs. And while chanting, “Ang, ngeng eng, ngok… Mi goreng mi godok, if your eyes are slanted, I’ll poke them! Brreett…!” The shaman then sprayed his Molotov with the steam from his nose.
“Oh, so you’re scared too, huh, Im?”
“Yeah.”
Lulu and Kunti giggled.
“Shh!” Boim snapped.
The giggles from Lulu and Kunti made Uncle Agus’s group uneasy.
“What was that sound?” asked Njum, one of Uncle Agus’s group members intentionally placed at the front row.
“Probably a Kuntilanak,” answered the others, whose name was Ajo.
“Don’t be reckless, Jo,” said his know-it-all friend. “There are no ghosts here, you know that. It’s just regular humans who often roam around here, not ghosts or Draculas. But… who knows?” His friend shivered.
Hehehe… Lulu and Kunti giggled again.
Meanwhile, Lulu and Kunti aimed their chopsticks at Ajo’s neck. Slup! Lulu and Kunti blew with all their might. The needle bullets flew. And they hit Ajo’s neck perfectly.
“Ouch!” Ajo exclaimed. Before Ajo could realize what had happened, his butt felt a sharp pain, as if stung by a scorpion.
“Ouch! Ouch!” Ajo screamed in succession. Gusur and Boim giggled, then toasted. The needle bullets they blew with force hit Ajo’s butt accurately. But the toast made by Gusur and Boim was not accurate. It means Gusur’s hand flew to Boim’s face, just as Boim’s hand flew to Gusur’s face.
So, their faces collided.
“Im, what’s wrong with you? If you want to toast, it should be hand to hand. Why did you throw your hand at my face?” Gusur complained.
“And what about you? If you want to toast, look here, don’t turn away like that. Did you think your hand would land on my hand, huh? Your hand landed on my face too, you know!”
“Huh, landed on your face, Im? So we’re even then. Hahaha, let’s toast again, shall we?”
“No way!”
While Ajo was still in pain, screams of pain could be heard from Kodir, Dudung, and Uncle Agus from another direction. They rubbed their necks, trying to remove the needles that pierced their flesh by a few millimeters. Not far from their hiding place, Pak Gali, Lupus, and Drakuli also successfully toasted. The needles that pierced the stomachs of Kodir, Dudung, and Uncle Agus belonged to them.
Now, only the shamans remained untouched.
“This is thanks to the knowledge we possess, so those demons can’t hurt us,” boasted one of the shamans. But as soon as the echo of his words disappeared, the shaman suddenly screamed hysterically while holding his forehead, which was stung by a bee.
“Hehehe… feel it now, arrogant shaman!” snickered Drakuli from his hiding place while busy setting a marble on his slingshot. Lupus and Pak Gali also engaged in similar activities. Then… “Ouch! Ouch!” the screams of pain from the other shamans could be heard.
Uncle Agus’s group finally stumbled and ran away from their original location. They were all in a frenzy, trying to save themselves.
Kunti, Lulu, Gusur, and Boim burst into laughter from their hiding spot. Pak Gali, Lupus, and Drakuli joined in too. And their laughter grew louder when they heard screams of pain from Uncle Agus’s group.
“Hahaha… it seems like the sandbags we set on the trees hit their targets,” Drakuli exclaimed with joy. Earlier, while setting traps, the kids had placed sandbags on the trees. The sandbags were tied with a string stretched between the grass. So, when someone tripped over the grass, they would get hit by the sandbag hanging from the string. And the traps were intentionally set in areas that the people would definitely pass through if they wanted to escape the cemetery.
“And there are still a few more sandbags for them to enjoy, right?” Lupus said with a grin.
Pak Gali also smiled along.
“Let’s join Lulu and the gang now!” Drakuli suggested. Lupus immediately agreed. They quietly made their way to Lulu’s hiding spot.
Meanwhile, the eviction team was still dizzy from getting hit by the sandbags. Once they recovered, they intended to get up and leave. But as soon as they took a few steps, they suddenly saw black shadows hanging from the trees. The shadows seemed to fly and land from one tree to another. Then they heard loud cackling.
“Wow, they really are demons!” Ajo whispered as he prepared to run.
As Ajo ran, the others quickly followed. Even the shamans, who were dressed like metalheads, joined in.
Lupus laughed again.
“Hehehe… another success. The clothes we hung did their job well,” Lupus exclaimed. It turned out that the ghosts that the eviction team saw flying among the trees were actually clothes hanging from a string. The strings were shaken and pulled by the kids, making the clothes look like flying ghosts. It was quite effective, and the eviction team was terrified.
“Oh, Mr., I give up. I surrender. I just want to run away,” one of the shamans complained, followed by the others. “I’d rather become a shaman with children!”
They then fled, leaving Uncle Agus’s group in shock.
“Oh, what do we do now?” Kodir asked.
“Let’s run too. It’s better than being scared to death here,” Dudung suggested.
“But we might get fired by Uncle Agus if we do that.”
“Ah, who cares.”
“So, we’re running? Okay then. Ready… one, two, three…” As soon as they counted to three, Kodir and his group took off. They ran so fast out of fear.
“Hey, wait… Kids, wait. What about me? Please don’t leave me alone…! I’m scared….!” Uncle Agus shouted as he was left behind.
“I don’t care, take care of yourself!” Kodir yelled from a distance while still running.
“Kodir… I’m firing you!” Uncle Agus threatened, whimpering in fear.
“Whatever…! If you want to fire me, then fire me. I’m fed up working with you!” Kodir shouted back.
Uncle Agus, who was left alone, ended up crying and trembling in fear. The kids burst into laughter, which only made Uncle Agus even more scared. But the kids didn’t care. Armed with their own weapons, they bombarded Uncle Agus with marbles thrown from slingshots. Some even used blowguns. Uncle Agus was in a pitiful state at that moment. He cried and trembled, and it seemed like he even peed his pants. But with whatever composure he had left, Uncle Agus tried to gather himself and take a step forward.
The kids laughed hysterically and toasted each other. Uncle Agus continued to run without paying attention to his surroundings. That was Uncle Agus’s mistake. Because after running for a few steps, Uncle Agus’s foot got caught in a rope stretched between the bushes. Uncle Agus stumbled and his face got smeared with buffalo dung.
“Hahaha…” the kids laughed in unison. Then Pak Gali jumped out of his hiding spot towards Uncle Agus. Bam! Uncle Agus was face to face with the scary face of Pak Gali. Uncle Agus was terrified.
“W-who are you…?” Uncle Agus asked, stuttering.
“I am the guardian ghost of this cemetery,” Pak Gali replied confidently.
“Wha-what…? P-please… please… help!” Uncle Agus screamed in fear. “Don’t do anything to me, ghost, please don’t do anything to me!”
Pak Gali grinned.
“Do you still dare to evict this land?” Pak Gali asked. “No! Absolutely not!” Uncle Agus replied. At the same time, the kids came out of their hiding spots and approached Pak Gali. The kids scattered and surrounded Uncle Agus with their faces painted and wearing musty-smelling cloaks, resembling little Draculas. Uncle Agus became even more frightened and started begging for mercy. “Mercy, oh ghosts, I won’t ever dig up this land. As long as you don’t do anything to me…” The kids burst into laughter.
Thanks to their solid teamwork, the eviction team was eventually driven away. Uncle Agus was left running helter-skelter without looking left or right, bumping into things here and there.
Lupus and his gang, as well as Drakuli and his gang, cheered in excitement.
“Long live Lupus! Long live Lupus!” Boim and Gusur cheered, proud of Lupus for being their leader.
“Long live Drakuli! Long live Drakuli!” Lulu and Kunti shouted, not wanting to be outdone in praising Drakuli as their leader.
Pak Gali, who had been standing there the whole time, smiled sweetly.
“You sweet little rascals,” Pak Gali greeted with a trembling voice. The kids, who were just busy laughing and pushing each other while shouting, immediately stopped their activities. Gusur and Boim, who were about to carry Lupus, hesitated for a moment. But Lulu and Kunti ended up floating in the air because when Pak Gali spoke earlier, they were in the middle of jumping around.
The kids looked in awe at Pak Gali, who seemed to continue his speech. Lulu and Kunti took a deep breath. And they both fell at the same time. Pluk!
“Wow, we’re so happy, those bad guys have run away. But of course, the victory is not just because of Drakuli or Lupus alone, but because of our teamwork. So anyone who has helped Babe chase away those bad guys from here, Babe considers them heroes. Now, let’s all live, including Babe! Let them learn their lesson. Let them think twice before oppressing the little people,” Pak Gali said.
The kids screamed with joy.
“Yeah, long live everyone… long live Lupus, Drakuli, Babe, Lulu, Kunti!” the kids shouted enthusiastically.
“Gusur and Boim too, long live!” Gusur and Boim protested.
“Oh, yeah, forgot about that. After all, it’s always easiest to forget you two,” Drakuli replied.
Gusur and Boim were annoyed. Luckily, Kunti quickly shouted.
“Boim and Gusur too, duuuh!”
Gusur and Boim’s disappointment disappeared upon hearing Kunti’s gentle shout. Then Boim and Gusur toasted again and missed again. “Plak!” The others laughed as they saw Gusur and Boim holding their faces in pain. But a moment later, they joined in the victory shout. Their voices echoed through the twists and turns of the cemetery. Two owls who were busy chatting in the thick branches of a small sapodilla tree were startled. Then they flew into the night.
A moment later, Drakuli ran after his father, then stretched his arms above his head.
“Good friends, how about we celebrate this victory with a big party!” Drakuli suggested.
The kids stopped shouting and looked at Drakuli with surprised expressions.
“What do you think, agree? Why is everyone so quiet. Agree, come on!” Drakuli said enthusiastically.
The kids immediately shouted in unison.
“Agree! Agree! Agree!”
Their loud voices circled in the cemetery sky. Loud and low.
“Okay then, if you agree. Now let’s move to the front of my house!” Drakuli commanded, followed by a swift leap like a deer towards his house, which was about fifty meters away from where they were. Pak Gali followed Drakuli’s movement. And the other kids followed Drakuli and Pak Gali’s lead. They ran towards the front of Pak Gali’s house. Gusur, whose running ability was very limited due to his obesity, of course, was at the back of the line.
“Lulu, Kunti, wait for me, I can’t run anymore!” Gusur complained to Kunti and Lulu, who were running closest to him.
Lulu and Kunti’s response was less sympathetic. Even though Gusur was giving them a dirty look, and his breath was huffing and puffing like an angry buffalo. It would be over soon.
“Lulu… oh, Lulu… I’m gonna die!” Gusur complained again.
Lulu turned around and commented on Gusur’s running style, which resembled a pig. Sradak-sruduk.
“That’s what you get for being greedy, Sur. Now you can feel the consequences!” Lulu scolded Gusur instead of helping him. Meanwhile, Lupus, Boim, Drakuli, and Pak Gali had already reached their destination. Then Kunti followed. Then Lulu. Then… splash! Gusur fell into a ditch not far from Drakuli’s house.
“Help! Help! Glk, glk, glk…” Gusur pleaded for help. The kids just laughed uncontrollably.
“Gusur is showing off, just because he used to be a champion in high jump in elementary school, now he wants to show off in front of Kunti. Well, he got what he deserved,” Lupus mocked.
“Lupus… how could you, so mean!” Gusur cursed.
The kids laughed even harder. Pak Gali laughed the loudest.
“Hohoho… hoho ho…!”
Once they were satisfied with their laughter, the kids finally felt sorry for Gusur, who was almost dead tired. They all crowded around Gusur and dragged him to the bathroom. Gusur was drenched from head to toe. And the kids didn’t care even though Gusur was screaming from the cold.
“Come on, why are you making such a fuss? It’s not a big deal to take a shower once in a while, Sur!” Boim exclaimed.
“Yeah, you rarely take showers, Sur!” Lupus chimed in.
“Come on, guys, I’m freezing here!” Gusur whimpered, and the kids burst into laughter.
Luckily, the shower didn’t last long. Gusur was lent one of Drakuli’s other musty-smelling robes. Then the unique party made by Drakuli began. Lulu and Kunti were busy serving the kids. Well, because they were girls, the kids appointed Lulu and Kunti to be the busy ones. Although they protested a little, they eventually agreed to take on that noble task.
Drakuli spread out a mat in the courtyard. Lupus and Boim were busy making a bonfire. Meanwhile, Gusur was still shivering in the corner. The full moon shone beautifully in the sky. Pak Gali’s eyes were watchful, on guard, in case the eviction team came back.
After setting up the mat, Drakuli hurriedly went inside the house. Not long after, Drakuli came out in a rush, carrying a large vintage radio. Drakuli had owned that radio for generations. Since the songs played only had one tone. (Nowadays, there are seven tones!) And tonight, Drakuli used the radio to liven up the party.
“Pus, Im, help me carry this radio!” Drakuli shouted. Lupus and Boim, who were still busy with the bonfire, turned to look at Drakuli. They were surprised to see what Drakuli was carrying.
“Wow, what did Drakuli bring, Pus!” Boim asked.
“Buffet, maybe,” Lupus replied casually.
“A buffet that looks like a radio, but… a radio that looks like a guardhouse,” Boim commented.
“Yeah, the radio looks really heavy,” Lupus added.
But while Lupus and Boim were thinking, Drakuli had already called out to them.
“Pus, Im…!” Drakuli shouted. Eventually, Lupus and Boim hurriedly approached Drakuli, although they were still a bit confused about what Drakuli was carrying.
“What is this, Drak?” Lupus asked impatiently as soon as they got close to Drakuli.
“It’s a radio,” Drakuli answered, asking for Lupus and Boim’s help in lifting the radio.
“Huh, a radio?” Lupus and Boim were puzzled.
“Yeah, a radio, what did you think it was? Come on, let’s carry it over there!” Drakuli said, pointing towards the spread-out mat.
“Why does the radio look like a chicken coop, Drak?” Lupus pretended to ask.
“Well, it’s an old radio, it’s a family heirloom from my grandfather’s grandfather. In his time, this was how radios looked. Big. And if you want to know, there’s no engine inside this radio,” Drakuli explained.
“No engine? Then how does it make sound?” Lupus asked.
“The singers are directly told to enter the radio and sing there,” Drakuli replied.
Lupus and Boim burst into laughter.
“You’re something else, Drak!” Lupus said firmly. “What if we want to listen to a choir, won’t it fit? There are so many singers.”
“You’re believing it, huh,” Drakuli retorted.
“Actually, I don’t believe it, but I don’t want to be rude,” Lupus replied. “You’re the host, and…”
But Drakuli had already told Lupus to carry the radio to the side of the spread-out mat. So the “and” that Lupus threw didn’t really register in Drakuli’s ears. But…
At that moment, Lulu and Kunti also came out carrying a tray of boiled cassava and a pot of coffee with some cups.
“We’re partying now!” Drakuli exclaimed happily.
Meanwhile, Boim was busy flipping through the radio waves, searching for his favorite dangdut song. While Gusur wanted a jazz song. Finally, they agreed to play a minute of dangdut and the next minute jazz!
And that night, the kids truly celebrated their victory in their own way. The moon hung beautifully in the sky. The cool breeze slapped the trees, creating a natural symphony. Pak Gali successfully lit the bonfire that Lupus and Boim failed to light earlier. The mix of dangdut and jazz played melodiously in the pitch-black night. The kids danced, alternating between energetic moves and slow dances, while occasionally sipping warm coffee and chewing on the boiled cassava that Pak Gali had picked earlier in the afternoon. After lighting the bonfire, Pak Gali told Drakuli to bring out the provisions.
“Where’s the roasted chicken, and the cakes, and the chocolate you hid, Drak? Bring them all out.”
“Chocolate? Cakes? Roasted chicken?” The kids seemed really surprised. “Where did you get them?”
“Just the usual. It’s the result of Drakuli tricking the SDSB addicts who came to the cemetery asking for numbers!” Pak Gali explained.
Meanwhile, Drakuli quickly ran to get his hidden stash of food.
They started making the roasted chicken.
The kids were getting even more excited.
Lupus kept approaching Kunti to invite her to dance together. Luckily, Kunti responded happily. Gusur was no longer cold. In fact, that kid looked really happy. Even though his pants and clothes were still soaked and smelled like dirty water. While dancing, Gusur kept stuffing his mouth with boiled cassava. He danced with Boim as his partner. But Boim held his nose and it was obvious that he was annoyed to dance with Gusur, who danced clumsily, jumping around like a wild horse. Gusur was like possessed. But even though he was possessed, his focus on the tray of boiled cassava and other snacks never wavered. As soon as the boiled cassava in his hand was finished, Gusur immediately grabbed some scattered chocolates.
Meanwhile, Boim seemed to be trying to approach Lulu, wanting to invite her to dance. But Lulu was desperately trying to avoid Boim. It was clear that Lulu had become really close to Drakuli. They also danced together in a slightly separate spot. Boim was half frustrated.
Pak Gali was still busy with his roasted chicken. The aroma of the almost cooked chicken spread everywhere, piercing the noses of the kids. The kids’ noses felt tickled by the scent of the roasted chicken. But even so, the kids were still dancing like crazy.
The dangdut-jazz song has now been replaced with a metal song. The kids’ dance is getting even hotter. Boim doesn’t want to worry about Lulu anymore. Boim can finally enjoy dancing with Gusur, who still has a mouth full of boiled cassava. While raising three fingers and nodding his head. Boim and Gusur accidentally bumped into each other a few times because they were nodding their heads so closely, but they were already in a trance. At that moment, Lupus started leading Kunti towards a slightly separate and dark area. Mr. Gali just smiled. I don’t know what Mr. Gali was feeling. But at that moment, Lupus felt truly happy. Happy because he could dance with Kunti, who he had been chasing for a long time. Kunti, with her sharp gaze and sweet face. Kunti, who is mysterious but full of charm. And tonight, Lupus wants to express something hidden in his heart to Kunti.
“K-Kunti,” Lupus stammered.
Kunti looked at Lupus gently. Lupus held Kunti’s fingers in his hand. Kunti accepted it willingly.
“What’s wrong, Pus… why are you so nervous?” Kunti asked softly.
Lupus didn’t answer immediately, but instead smiled to himself. “What’s wrong, Pus? It’s not like you to be this nervous,” Kunti asked again.
Lupus finally gathered the courage to speak.
“I like you, Kun. I want you to… um… be my girlfriend. Will you, Kunti? Please say yes,” Lupus said.
Kunti once again looked at Lupus with a sharp gaze. Then she smiled gently. Lupus became a little flustered. His eyelids blinked rapidly.
Ah, Kunti didn’t say a word until Lupus became flustered. Then Kunti explained that she was happy that Lupus liked her. But if Kunti were to reject him, it wouldn’t be because she didn’t want to respect Lupus. Kunti couldn’t believe that someone as cool as Lupus would like her. Kunti rejected him only because she felt young and wanted to focus on her studies. Kunti wasn’t like other girls who could have boyfriends at her age. Kunti was aware that she was born into a less privileged family. So it would be naive for her to be busy dating like other kids in that situation. If anything were to happen to Kunti, people would just mock her. They would say she had no self-awareness, and so on. “Kunti’s situation is different from other girls, Pus. Will you understand Kunti’s situation?” Kunti said sadly.
Lupus nodded gently. Ah, it felt like the first time Lupus was rejected by a girl. But Lupus was happy. Happy because he finally got to experience how uncomfortable it is to be rejected by a girl. And who would have thought that Lupus, who was always so good at attracting the attention of girls, especially those from wealthy families, would be rejected by Kunti, who is so simple?
Lupus gently stroked Kunti’s hair, then smiled sweetly.
“Thanks, Kunti, you’ve taught me something meaningful. That not everyone always comes out as a winner!” Lupus said.
The gentle breeze caressed the leaves. Thin clouds drifted and partially covered the moon’s face. At that moment, the children’s laughter echoed loudly around the cemetery area. The party was lively. Mr. Gali was busy turning his chicken over the blazing fire. The aroma of grilled chicken spread everywhere.
After a song ended, Drakuli immediately approached Lupus, who was still engrossed in staring at Kunti. In another corner, Gusur and Boim were still dancing. Even though Drakuli had turned off the radio. Apparently, the two kids were so possessed that they didn’t realize the radio had been turned off.
“Lupus…! Lupus…!” Drakuli called out hesitantly.
Lupus shifted his attention to Drakuli.
“What’s up, Drak?” Lupus asked after a moment of staring at Drakuli with a puzzled look.
“Uh… there’s something I want to talk to you about, Pus.” Drakuli became more nervous.
“What’s the matter, Drak? Why does it seem so important?” Lupus asked, moving a bit away from Kunti. “If it’s important, just say it, Drak. Do you want to borrow money?” Lupus added.
“Ah, it’s not that, Pus. Let’s talk over there in the corner,” Drakuli said, pulling Lupus towards a slightly dark corner.
Lupus agreed, although his mind was still a bit confused.
“What’s up, Drak?” Lupus asked once they reached the designated spot. Lupus sat on top of a tombstone.
“Uh… well, Lupus, uh… well…”
“Well, what?” Lupus became curious.
Ah, Lupus didn’t know that night was a heavy night for Drakuli. That night, Drakuli wanted to ask Lupus for permission to date Lulu. Lulu, who already liked Drakuli, was okay with it. But Lulu suggested that Drakuli should also ask Lupus for permission. Lulu was sure that Lupus would allow Drakuli to be her boyfriend. Since they were close, Drakuli was also confident that Lupus would approve of him dating Lulu. That’s why, even though he was a bit embarrassed, Drakuli finally mustered the courage to talk to Lupus.
“So, Lupus, is it okay?” Drakuli asked anxiously. And Lupus’ answer was truly unexpected.
“Well, Drak, it seems tough. Lulu is my only sister, and I’m Lulu’s only brother. Meanwhile, my mom is still busy with her catering business. My neighbor leaves for work early in the morning. My sentence is starting to get messed up. But I just want to say, it seems like your proposal to be Lulu’s boyfriend can’t be accepted. Lulu is still young, Drak. And you too. You’re the same age. Besides, your cousin also rejected me. Yeah, I mean, let’s just remain close friends.”
“But if you want to date Lulu, not now. It’s better to go with Gusur. He’s available now,” Lupus said casually.
Drakuli was stunned, never expecting to be rejected so outright by Lupus.
Sadness pierced Drakuli’s heart. Without the knowledge of the others, Drakuli distanced himself from the group. He walked sluggishly towards a dark corner. The night wind blew cold. At that moment, Gusur and Boim realized that they had been dancing without music for the past few minutes. Gusur and Boim looked around.
“Hey, why isn’t the radio playing anymore, Sur?” Boim asked.
Gusur stared in surprise. And Gusur was about to turn on the radio again when Pak Gali waved his grilled chicken from the bonfire.
“Hey, kids, come here. Look, the grilled chicken is ready!”
Gusur, upon hearing Pak Gali shout about the grilled chicken, immediately changed his mind. Especially since the aroma of the grilled chicken was teasing his stomach. Gusur ran with all his might towards Pak Gali. At that moment, Lupus, Boim, Lulu, and Kunti, who realized what was happening, also followed towards Pak Gali.
“Long live grilled chicken!” they shouted in unison. They then fought over the grilled chicken. Pulling and pushing each other. As a result, the distribution became uneven. But they were happy to compete like that.
“Well, whoever is smart gets the most!” Lupus said. Gusur could only pout because he only got chicken feet and wings.
Luckily, Lupus was kind enough to give Gusur a piece of chicken thigh, since Lupus happened to get the most. Instantly, Gusur’s face lit up. And that night, the children enjoyed their meal of grilled chicken. They truly enjoyed the beautiful night. Especially when eating the grilled chicken, they played silly but creative guessing games.
“From far away, from close by, from the side, above, below, what object is it?” Gusur asked.
“Boiiim!” the children guessed.
“Yep, a hundred for all of you.”
“Gusur, don’t go looking for trouble, okay!” Boim grumbled.
“Boim, I’m just playing a guessing game, not looking for trouble!”
“Yeah, Boim, just accept it, Boim.”
Boim just pouted. But a moment later, Boim was immersed in the joy of the children again. But just when they were having fun playing the guessing game, suddenly from the big banyan tree next to Drakuli’s house, a scary black creature appeared, trying to scare the children. The creature grinned, showing its sharp fangs. Its eyes glowed red, and it snorted.
The children turned to look at the creature, but none of them were scared. Instead, they laughed and teased the scary creature, thinking it was Drakuli.
“Awww… Drakuli, don’t be like that. It’s not fun, not funny, and not scary. If you want to scare someone, not us!” teased Boim while waving his chicken leg.
Lupus also shouted loudly.
“Drakuli, you’re getting mad just because you got rejected. So old-fashioned, trying to scare us. Come down here!”
“Oh, it’s Drakuli. No wonder we couldn’t see him earlier,” interrupted Lulu. “Come down, Drak. We’ll run out of chicken!”
“Yeah, Drak. Come down, there’s still some grilled chicken left for you!” shouted Pak Gali.
“Yeah, Drak, come down. It’s not nice if you don’t join us in eating grilled chicken,” yelled Gusur.
Just as Gusur shouted, Drakuli suddenly appeared with a sad face because his request had been completely rejected by Lupus.
“What’s up, calling me? I’m feeling sad,” said Drakuli. The children were surprised and turned their attention to Drakuli. After a moment of confusion mixed with surprise, the children looked back at the tree. It turned out that the scary creature was still there, grinning fiercely, ready to pounce on the children.
Of course, the children were shocked and screamed loudly, then without thinking, they rushed into Drakuli’s house. Because it turned out that the scary creature in the banyan tree was not Drakuli, but a real demon.
“Wuaaa… help… help, there’s a monsteeer!” the children screamed, huddling together in Drakuli’s room. Including Pak Gali and Drakuli.
Hihihi…
