Bahagian 2 - Street’s Warmth
Saturday, March 26 | 0 comments
“We are here!” the boy said and let go of my hand. “Me and my friends lived here! Isn’t it amazing?!” he continued talking none stop while I just stare at the house. People here said this empty house is haunted because they say kids playing around at night and when they walk though the house, they heard laughing and crying but when they when inside, there’s nobody around.
While that, the Chinese boy said that there’re people rush into their home. They thought police came, so they hide and of course no parents, no rule. They are free to play outside in the middle of the night. Wow! Different stories in two sides.
“Lee! You have return!” A voice greeted. I search for the voice owner and found out it coming from another boy, the same age as mine and… Lee. His name is Lee, right?
Then, another boy with chocolate skin colour uttered, “Oh-My-God, Lee! Where have you been?” This person is a little taller and judging from his skin, perhaps he is an India?
Raising his hand next to his shoulder, he replied, “Yo, Azrul and Vikram!”
The three of them are like best friend or more just like brothers by the way they smiling? Do brothers to brothers smile like that? Who knows, I don’t have brothers but they sure looks like a one big happy family.
Suddenly, Azrul… Azrul, right? Looking at me curiously and stare at me from top to bottom. Is he a pervert or something? “Lee, who’s this bitch?”
“She is our new friend! Her name is… Hey, what’s your name?” Finally, he asks my name!
“My name is Ruzanna and don’t you dare calls me BITCH, Azrul!” I introduce myself with a smile and a glare in the same time.
“Ouch…” sounded Azrul.
Lee smiled and began to introduce his friends, “Okay, Ruzanna! My name is Lee and this is Vikram and this is Azrul. There are more I like to introduce! Let’s go inside!” uttered Lee and the four of us went inside the house. For me, it’s alright to walk into a house like this one because I already used to it. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover as I used to skip school or class if I’m too stress out; usually, I would go into a house like this one.
When I talked to Lee’s friend, I learnt many things about their life. There are many children live without parents or abandon by them and some of them run away because of abuse or more likely called sexual abuse. Their dad or uncle would rape them everyday. Poor thing…
It’s a good thing that Lee and some of his friends found them and helped them escape or called the police. If they refuse to call the police, Lee and his friends will take them. Although living at the street is hard but there is no more the hitting or abuse. They liked it better this way.
There are also some new born babies abandon in the street. Apparently, their parents leave them behind while the babies crying hopelessly; heartless creatures… Lee and his others tried their best to help the babies survive by picking them from trash can then, put them in front of a house, hopefully they can take care the child.
As for me, I should be grateful to have a mom and a dad. I could feel their love and care but its different now. They going to divorce aren’t they? I have to make sure and stop them if I could! “Umm… Lee, I have to go now…” I blurted to Lee who playing with four little children.
Lee stopped talking to the children and looked at me. “You’re leaving?” he said with a sad tone.
Not only for a few second ago, we had fun but I have to leave now… But not forever, right? “Yes, but I’ll come back.” I replied with a smile. Maybe I can share my pocket money with them. Oh, talked about money… “And the money you stole from me… You can keep them, I-”
“YES!” he cheered suddenly. Was the money he sad about or because of me leaving?
After a few minutes of walking, I reached my house. Mom and dad would be surprise to see me for sure! Looking back, I thanked Lee for volunteered to help me walking toward my home. He can really be a gentleman~
Lee only nodded and lends his hand with a smile. “Yes, sure. Protecting fee please~”
Okay, I took back what I just said. Is he really doing this for me or for money? “Don’t have any…” I said to him and walk away.
Walking towards the front room, I felt really excited! I wonder how my parents going to react? Before I knock the door, I heard something… My heart beats faster than normal like something going to happen soon. I move away my hand from knocking and lead my ear closer to hear what I just heard.
“WHAT THE HELL are YOU Talking?! Ruzanna is your CHILD!”
“NO! We’re wasting our money to find her! She was born at the street so, just let her return to the street!”
“What do you MEANT by THAT, WOMAN?! EXPLAIN!”
“Ah, sorry. My secret has slid away. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, I CLAIMED RUZANNA TO BE OUR CHILD TO MARRIED YOU! SASTISFIED?!”
“TCH!”
“AH! HOW DARE YOU SLAP ME?”
………… I am… an abandon… child? I began to ask myself whether it’s true or not that the people inside this house is my parents or not? Is it really, really true that I’m an abandon child? An abandon child… Abandon…
“Hey, Ruzanna~ Hmm…? What’s wrong?” asked Lee when he saw me leaving the house instead of coming in. He looked me with full of question in his face. But none of the questions can be answered right now… Even if I want to say something but I couldn’t… I want to…
“Ruzanna!” he called me once again and the same; I just stare at him emotionlessly. Out of blue, he hugged me really, really tightly like he understands me, like he knows everything by just looking at my face. “Ruzanna…” he whispered and continued, “It’s alright to cry…”
At that time, tears began to rolls down at my cheeks. I couldn’t stop crying. I felt really sad for the agony truth about myself. The parent that I loved is not my real parents. Plus, they don’t care about me anymore… I felt like I am really abandon but Lee is here beside me. He is standing here, hugging me and trying his best to comfort me. In tears, I heard he whispered gently to me, telling me, “Let it all out… I am here with you. Tell me what happen…”
[Bersambung…]
Labels: The Streets.
