Bila Malam Bila Rindu

Bismuth Labuni, seorang jejaka persis Tomok. Kacak, bergaya, cool dan 90s kids rambut belah tengah. Bismuth Labuni juga amat meminati lagu genre Kugiran Masdo dan sering dilihat berbaju bunga-bunga menyelusuri lorong-lorong di Pasar Seni. Pemakaian Bismuth Labuni sering dipertikai rakan-rakan kerana terlalu kerap mengenakan fedora berwarna krim dan kacamata hitam walaupun ketika melakukan kegiatan dalam bangunan (indoor).

“Bismuth Labuni, Apa yang kau kejar dalam hidup ini?” tegur Terry, rakan serumah Bismuth Labuni.

Hujan renyai lembut menghempas bumbung rumah Bismuth Labuni. Rumah semi-d tiga tingkat persis rumah anak dato’ yang dibelikan oleh bapanya 3 tahun lalu dikongsi bersama beberapa rakannya yang lain yang mana tidak akan muncul di dalam cerpen ini. Ketenangan hujan renyai petang yang dinikmati Bismuth Labuni sambil menyangkung di jendela tingkat tiga retak dilontar sapaan rakannya.

“Hidup kau bilang, Terry? Apa makna hidup kalau aku tak punya tandatangan Kugiran Masdo, Terry.” Balas Bismuth Labuni.

“Astaghfirullah. Bismuth Labuni, kau tak cuba untuk mengejar redha Allah?!” bentak Terry.

“Apa ni Terry. Kau cuba nak main-main atau penulis takda idea apa yang harus kita borakkan?” Bismuth Labuni selamba mempersoal sambil melemparkan renungan dendam terhadap penulis.

“Probably the latter, Bismuth Labuni. Sebelum ni kita rilek ja borak yedak?”

“Ya lah tu, Terry” Jawab Bismuth Labuni ringkas, mahu menamatkan perbualan yang tiada hujung tiada pangkal sebentar tadi.

Bismuth Labuni mengeluh panjang. Bismuth Labuni mendongak memandang langit yang kian gelap. Terdapat sesuatu yang mengganggu Bismuth Labuni dengan ketibaan malam. Lebih tepat, ketibaan bulan purnama. Ia bermula sejak setahun lalu. Bismuth Labuni pernah mengesyaki dia adalah serigala jadian tetapi nyata itu semua hanya sekadar perasaanya saja. Bismuth Labuni berpaling dari matahari yang kian membenam dan masuk ke kamar. Bismuth Labuni penat dan merasa aneh tetapi diendahkan untuk menenangkan hatinya.

Setiba di kamar, azan maghrib berkumandang. Bismuth Labuni mengenakan baju melayu dan kain pelekat, lengkap dengan fedora krim miliknya yang kian lusuh. Bagaimana Bismuth Labuni sujud adalah di luar pengetahuan penulis.  Bismuth Labuni terus membentang sejadah dan mengangkat takbir. Bismuth Labuni tahu ini masanya syaitan mula berbisik memberi tahu rahsia-rahsia dan perkara yang dia lupa. Sebelum ini Bismuth Labuni kuat tetapi entah kali ini dia tewas. Bismuth Labuni menghentikan solatnya dan terus ke kamar Terry.

“Anak haraaaaaammmm!!! Album “Selamat Tinggal Pujaan” aku dekat hang rupanya. Dasar anjing!!” jerkah Bismuth Labuni.

Dilihat bekas cakera padat album Kugiran Masdo di penjuru kamar Terry, kelihatan sedih dan bersendirian. Bismuth Labuni teringat malam purnama setahun lalu Terry pernah meminta album tersebut untuk dibuat halwa telinga. Nyata perasaan yang dirasakan sebelum ini adalah rindu yang mendalam terhadap cakera padat tersebut.

Sejak dari itu, Terry membenci Kugiran Masdo dan menjual baju Kugiran Masdo yang tak ori di pasar malam sebagai tanda rebel.

Summoner : A Sneak Peak

I woke up at 6. Pretty early I think. The clock rang annoyingly as usual.

"Alex! You better come down here or I'll smack your face so hard your friends gonna call you Pancalex!" My sister called out. I would have taken those words, except for the fact that I don't have any friend, dear sister. As I was dilli dallying, she called me out again.

"In 5 minutes!" She screamed again. I sighed.

I got up from my bed and lightly stretched. I made my bed and noticed it was raining. She's going send me to school today then. At least I won't have to play with Crognut. Nice name eh? He's a bulldog. A vicious one at that. The pie store let him around chainless. It's a free country anyway. He'll always try to chew my hand whenever he have the chance. I can't go to school without passing through the alley near the pie store, his usual spot. But oh well, I was born athletic. It's as if I was born for this. I was born this way. A little exercise won't hurt.

I picked a black Harley Davidson's shirt with a black slim fit jeans paired with a white belt. Loosen my hair a little bit and I was ready to face the world..

I came down and saw my sister serving breakfasts. She's quite a good cook to be honest. You know flipping stuff on the frying pan? Yea she loves doing that. She thought it was cool when she first saw it on TV. Mom was still around by then. Now? It has been years since mom passed away. Mom died in a car accident when I was five. Mom's corpse was never found. The car crashed and exploded to bits, so I guess nothing were left but flames, the car pieces and our memories of her.

Mom were the one who have been taking care of us since we were born. Dad was never around. He ran away a year before mom's death. Naturally, I consider he's dead. Deserted by your biological father is not a good feeling. After mom's death, my sister is all that's left.

"Oh not as annoying as usual. Had a rough night?"

She always understand. I always have this particular nightmare since the day mom died. It was a really weird dream.

It was night. kind of blurry dream, like having flashbacks you'd see in movies. I could see two figures having a fight. The first thing I noticed was my mom. Another one was my dad. Or I assume so. My sister threw away all of his pictures. I don't really remember how he looked like so yeah...

My mom, she was quarreling with my dad. Then, all of a sudden, she started to scream. She covered her face with her left hand and she placed her right hand on dad's chest. Horns started to sprout from her head and her right hand turned into a monster-like hand. By monster-like I mean it was black with sharp fingers. Or probably talons. There were some glowing red stripes too mind you. It's dark but I could see shadows of her hand thanks to the moonlight and the red glows. Dad stopped talking to her. He looked stunned and scared seeing mom like that. I mean who wouldn't be scared seeing your wife suddenly mutate to such creature. After a sudden pause, both of them looked at me. My dad screamed and my mother laughed psychotically. Everything went chaotic. My mom tried to grab me but I managed to run away. I ran and ran until I saw this faint light - It grows brighter, so bright that it started to hurt my eyes so bad that I turned my sight away. Bad idea. I saw mom behind me as she tried to grab me. I panicked. She mumbled something but I couldn't make out what she was saying. Something about "Accept your destiny" kinna thing? Fantastic.

Her face was no longer human- but I concluded that she's mad. I mean, monsters are scary and they're always mad. Moms are supposed to be scary when they're angry too- right, yes but this is like WAY scarier.

She managed to catch up and wrapped her right hand around my delicate little neck. At that point, a blackout will follow and I will wake up. The same dream. Again and again. I hate dreaming that as much as I hate my life.

"Finish your breakfast. No school for today"

"Oh? The car broke down?"

"The car is okay. I'm the one who's broke. And ah we'll be going somewhere. I mean you"

"Something more important than school? Sounds fun."

"Oh trust me this one is a matter of life and death" She teased. Or at least I thought she did.

"So where will we be going?"

"Oh you'll know" She grinned.

Right after that, the rain suddenly stop. When I said suddenly, I mean it. All the downpour just vanish. Sun showed it self so suddenly that I freaked out. It was way faster than my sister's mood swings. Like changing the weather flashcards to another flashcard, except for the fact it's the real weather.

"W-wait a minute. The rain-" I couldn't finish my sentence.

"Uuh the rain what?" She looked at me in disbelief.

"No I mean like- so sudden.."

"It's only early in the morning and my brain is playing tricks. Great. Goodbye sanity :)" I whispered in my head.

"Okaaay..."

"Stop acting all weird, you wont be attending school today. Practically." She said, smiling.

"What do you mean practically? I'm losing my sanity and you playing words with me won't help"

"Aww come on. This is your day alright? I promise!"


We had our breakfast normally. At least for the last day. She took her car key and hurriedly start the car.

"Aye dream boy! Hurry up or you're dead!" She yelled.

"I'm coming!" I took my red hoodie and wore it on my way. I hit the lock on the doorknob and closed the door.

I jumped in her BMW Z4. I don't know where did she got the money to buy that car but it's totally awesome! So awesome that I can't describe it with words. But there was this weird feeling. It feels as if there were something galloping at the front of our car. I never have the guts to ask.

She drove her car to my school, which is weird. She insisted that I don't have to attend school but she drove me to school anyway. Weird. But I kept my cool and just go on with it.

When we arrived, She brought me to Mr. Dragvard's office. Mr. Dragvard is my homeroom teacher by the way. He's the cliche weird mysterious teacher you'd see in any school. White long hair and dark circles under his eyes. We went in and I raised my hand and greet him "Good morning Mr. Dragvard."


He's not a very welcoming person so he started to talk to Sheila instead. Oh didn't I tell you? My sister's name is Sheila. Top student in college. Working as a chef in a famous restaurant. 5"9'. Blonde hair. Loves to wear sleeveless shirt and navy blue slim fit jeans. Wear spectacles since she was 15. Not that much of a geek though. I don't know what they were talking about. Don't think it concerns me anyway so I excuse myself and went out.

I took a walk around school trying to experience on what it feels like for not attending class while in school. I went to the laboratory. Rumors said there are ghosts in there. I looked through the door's glass out of curiosity. Nothing seemed to be abnormal inside. When I was about to turn away, I saw a figure inside moving. It was probably the teacher or some naughty kids breaking into the class to steal some chemicals. I ignored it and walked away.

Mr. Dragvard called from the end of the corridor so I sped up to meet him.

"So Alex Drain. I need to ask you this. Since when did Crognut try to bite your hands off? And what type of color you favor the most?"

Well, this is rather weird. I never told anybody about Crognut chasing me. If it was my friend who told him that was way impossible because I walk to school alone. And not to mention I was always alone( The no-friend-at-all thingy). Probably not Sheila since she never really care.

"Uh. Where did you hear that?" I asked to be sure.

"Answer my questions Mr. Drain!" He snapped. Which was weird for such random question he asked.

"Okay okay. Gee. Relax. That dog chased me since uhhh.. about 2 years ago? And I favor lots of color. What about it?"

"Oh no. This is bad. Real ba-" I didn't manage to hear him finish the word.

There was a hand that grabbed my left shoulder from behind. It pulled me so hard I think it dislocated my bones. It felt like half of my body was going to tear apart. I'm not over-reacting but whatever that grabbed my shoulder was nothing normal. Pain surged through my left arm. I couldn't see anything. I tried to scream but I didn't manage to let out any voice. Everything was too fast for me to be alarmed about my surroundings. Everything was distorting before it went dark. I blinked and suddenly I was in this endless-rainbow zone. It was too colourful I thought I was about to get seizure.

"Whoa whoa whoa! Where-? Who-?" My voice seemed to be working again but it doesn't seemed like there was anybody to answer it. Or maybe it's just that didn't hear the answer. More like I can't. There were thousands of voices trying to speak once at a time. I heard moans, gasps, begs, curses and a lot words that I couldn't understand. I assumed there were different languages, all around me.

I turned my head left and right but I saw nothing. I floated without directions. It was like I was in space but filled with rainbow colors instead of dark blue sky and stars. I can tell there's oxygen. I was breathing reaaally heavily from the panic.

"Oh goodness brain. What are you doing. I'm tired of your imaginations already." I thought. But these unknown zone seemed so real. But nothing is real about endless=pit-of-rainbows anyway. The voices were starting to annoy me. After a couple of seconds, my chest felt heavy. It felt like a big bad bull is sitting right on my chest. My breathing started to get harder. My sight was getting darker. The pain was excruciating.

"Alex!" I open my eyes in shock. Mr Dragvard is standing right in front of me.

"Whooaa uh. What?" I was confused. No pain. I touched my left hand. Nothing. It's all good. I was back at school. I was really considering mental hospital by now.

"Right when I am talking too!" He cursed while punching the air. Not sure if it was meant for me though.

"I want you to stay home for the whole week. I will not accept any excuses. Do the opposite and you will be expelled, not from school but from.. uh.. well nevermind. Nothing. But just don't do it!" He warned me with a fist and went back to his office.

Well I thought students are punished for skipping class but this is like the other way around. What's wrong with him anyway. Can't tell if he's just weird or what. Not that my day wasn't weird already. So I went to find my sister and I found her in the cafeteria munching her donuts. Apart from the weird 'dream' I had while talking to Mr. Dragvard, everything went normal for the rest of the day.

Si BerakSerak

"Jangan kau pergi ke tandas tu malam-malam buta. Ada benda lain guna waktu malam" Ujar Cik Yah ke anak saudaranya Razman untuk kali yang ke entah ke berapa ribu. Panas telinga Razman.
"Orang tahulah Ocik. Alaahh"

Razman tahu bahaya tandas itu. Itu bukan sembarangan tandas yang hanya berisi najis. Kata orang ada emas terbenam di bawah timbunan najis. Tandas itu letaknya lebih kurang 200 meter dari rumah Cik Yah. Sebab emas itu lah Razman pulang ke kampung.

Razman kaki judi. Kalau ada peribahasa tubuh judi nescaya lebih sesuai buat Razman jika mahu dibandingkan denga peribahasa kaki judi. Apakan daya tak ada peribahasa sedemikian. Manakan tidak. Pagi petang siang malam berjudi. Macam-macam jenis judinya. Tikam nombor. Mahjung. Poker. Namakan. Apa sahaja jenis perjudian pasti ada Razman. Gelarannya di KL Razman Tak Ada Pedoman atau singkatannya RaTAP. Meratap la jugak dia kadang-kadang bila kalah judi.

Dua hari lepas Razman kalah teruk. Selalu sahaja nasib menyebelahi dirinya tapi entah kenapa hari itu Razman rasa serupa Bad Luck Brian. Kekalahanya tiada penghujung. Razman hilang semuanya. Dari hujung rambut ke hujung kaki. Keliling pinggang yang dulunya bertali pinggang penuh intan berlian hasil judi kini cuma tinggal tali yang dibuat dari batang pisang.

"Eleh tali ni lagi bagus buat tali pinggang. Tahan lama." Katanya berseloroh setiap kali ditanya perihal tali pinggangnya yang cukup eksotik.

Razman belum serik. Dia mahu berjudi lagi. Dia mahu menang besar. Kalau dia berjaya dapatkan emas di dasar tandas itu dia mahu pertaruhkan semuanya. Dia mahu kaya-raya dengan mudah.

Sedang si Razman asyik merenung langit sambil berangan diiringi lagu Kalau Aku Kaya nyanyian Altimet dan Awi Rafael, datang Cik Yah menyergah.

"Eh engkau ni balik kampung buat apa? Kau nak korek tandas tu cari emas nak buat judi pulak?"

"Takda ah Ocik. Orang penat la nak mempertaruhkan nasib. Nak menikmati pemandangan kampung haa. Indah permai. Macam Ocik ah. Senang mata memandang" Ampu Razman.

"Eleh engkau ingat Ocik nak makan puji kau tu? Bukan Ocik tak kenal engkau. Perangai serupa setan"

Adaaa saja cercaan Cik Yah. Razman masih berfikiran rasional. Dia diamkan.
"Kalau aku kaya nanti aku tak belanja engkau makan steamboat engkau tengok la." ujar Razman dalam hati.

Hari sudah petang. Malam ini akan dimulakan misi mendapatkan emas yang telah lama Razman rancang. Razman persetankan Asar dan terus menuju ke bilik untuk berehat sebagai persediaan malam ini.

"Eh nak pergi mana tu? Lepas Asar tak elok tidur. Orang kata nanti jadi bangang"

"Ah orang penat ah Ocik. Orang nak tidur"

"Ah lantak engkau lah. Engkau dah la memang bangang. Tidur lepas Asar makin bangang jadinya. Pergi lah engkau"

Emas yang terbenam di dalam tandas itu bukan boleh dikorek senang senang. Kata orang, bila malam menjelma si peminta emas perlu tunggu di dalam tandas tu. Tunggu penunggunya si BerakSerak. Berunding dengan si BerakSerak dulu baru bila sudah beroleh kebenaran baru boleh mula mengorek. Kata sesetengah orang beri sedikit darah untuk si BerakSerak. Tunggu sampai si BerakSerak keluarkan najisnya. Najisnya itu lah emas sebenarnya. Pengotor betul!

"Persetankan si BerakSerak. Aku nak emas aku. Dia dengan najis dia boleh go to hell" Berseloroh Razman acah acah band muet nya level 6.

Masa yang ditunggu Razman telah tiba. Pukul 3.07 pagi. Masa setan riuh membuat perkara celaka.

Perlahan Razman keluar dari Rumah Ociknya menuju ke tandas yang kedudukanya menghampiri hutan semak.

"Mampus engkau lah setan aku nak emas aku" Bisik Razman sambil membuka pintu tandas untuk masuk. Elok dikopaknya daun pintu tandas tersebut Razman gelabah. Satu susuk tubuh kurus berambut panjang sedang duduk bertinggung dengan tangannya di lutut sambil memandang mangkuk tandas.

"Cu nak apa malam malam buta kacau atuk berak ni?" Ujar susuk tersebut dengan suara serak serak basah. Sedap suaranya kalau perempuan pasti sudah boleh menggoda penulis.

"Si-si-si BerakSerak!" Razman menggelabah. Dalam kegelabahkambingnya itu Razman tendang kepala si BerakSerak.

"Ce-celaka aku nak emas aku jangan kacau aku la!" Jerkah Razman dengan nafasnya yang terasa berat.

"Aduuh sakit ler cu. Nak mintak barang mintak la elok-elok. Bangang ke engkau ni?" Tanya si BerakSerak mungkin sakit hati lebih dari sakit kepalanya ditendang. Penunggu pun ada maruah.

Teringat Razman akan kata-kata Ociknya petang tadi. Mungkin ada benarnya dia bangang sebab selalu sangat tidur petang.

"Eh cakap orang setan pulak. Dia yang setan" Balas Razman selamba.

"Ya lah nah lah. Engkau korek lah. Ada kat bawah tahi ni. Nak korek ada syarat. Korek kena pakai mulut. Kalau pakai besi dia ada chemical reaction ha karang dia jadi tahi ja tak jadi emas"

"Eh pandai kau nak ajar aku chemistry hekeleh. Pergi mampus la! Aku korek pakai penyodok ni. Penat aku bawak dari KL sampai sini lepastu tak guna tau!" Kata Razman yang sememangnya bangang subjek Kimia.

"Engkau ni eish adab mana adab. Celaka ajaaa yang keluar dari mulut kau. Kerabat aku suka la engkau orang perangai macam kau. Perangai setan. He he he he he he"
Sepuluh saat si BerakSerak mngilai terus dia hilang dari pandangan

Razman menghela nafas lega. Hajatnya sudah tiada halangan. Terus dikoreknya lubang tandas tersebut. Makin dikorek makin dalam. Tanpa sedar hari sudah pagi. Razman persetankan.

"Asalkan aku dapat emas aku. Dah dapat aku shoot terus balik KL"

Razman terus menggali. Dan menggali. Dan menggali. Tanpa henti

"Mana Razman?" Keliling kampung Ocik cari tetap tiada petunjuk. Razman hilang. Telah dicari namun tiada berjumpa. Telah dicari di tandas yang menjadi obsesi tetap tidak ditemui.

"Dah balik ke KL agaknya. Bertuah punya budak. Boleh pulak dia tinggal kereta dia depan rumah aku. Menyemak betul!"

Di dimensi satu lagi Razman masih lagi menggali dan menggali. Tanpa henti. Razman sudah jadi hamba abdi si BerakSerak untuk menggali, meluaskan lagi ruang tahinya.

Tamat

Aiman

Terlelap si Aiman menunggu kepulangan bapanya. Acapkali pulang pasti dibawanya permainan untuk Aiman. Entah kenapa malam itu lewat sungguh bapanya pulang.

Rumah Aiman tidak besar. Hanya pondok buruk beratapkan kayu. Kayu bukan daun pelepah atau apa. Cuma kayu. Rumah buruk itu lah tempat dia bermain tempat dia tinggal bersama bapanya. Aiman sudah besar. Umurnya hampir mencecah 15 tahun. Sungguh begitu Aiman cukup suka bila bapanya bawa pulang permainan untuk nya.

Malam itu entah. Lain benar perasaan Aiman. Bagai akan ada bala yang akan menimpa dirinya. Tiba-tiba dia terdengar orang bersorak di luar rumahnya. Hairan juga si Aiman kerana depan rumahnya mana ada pernah kedai mamak tempat orang bersorak ketika menonton bola. Hanya hutan buruk yang bapanya pun pernah kata "Literally takda apa la Man rumah kita ni.". Yang ada cuma hutan semak samun yang menjadi tempat permainannya sejak kecil. Aiman musykil dan takut. Segera dia ke almari buruk yang hampir roboh di sudut bilik dan bersembunyi di dalamnya.

"BAAMM!!" Kuat daun pintu rumah Aiman ditendang pendatang biadap. Rumah buruk itu bergoyang seperti mengikut hati Aiman yang turut sama bergoyang dek tersentak.

"Mana kau setaaann!!!" Jerit satu suara garau yang Aiman macam pernah dengar dan agak kenal.

"Si penghulu kampung ni. Dah tua tua pun ada hati" agak Aiman.

"Kau tak boleh lari ke mana! Penjaga kau kami dah penggal kepala dia! Kami dah letak kepala dia kat tengah padang sana" Jerit lagi satu suara yang tak pernah Aiman dengar.

Berduyun-duyun bunyi kecaman dari para pendatang biadap. Aiman geram. Hatinya panas. Aiman rasa seperti mahu bertukar menjadi hero avengers yang Aiman pernah tengok di TV, The Hulk. Tapi Aiman bukan The Hulk. Aiman lebih dari itu. Bapanya pernah pesan "Kalau ada yang datang tak beri salam kau buat lauk ja Man. Bapak pun bukan selalu ada rumah nak masak. OK?" "OK abah. Tarahal"

Aiman dah tak tahan. Lapar dan dahaga pun sudah mula bergelora. Bapaknya tinggal ikan kering ja di dapur. Tu pun yang belum masak.

"Dasar bapak tak bertanggungjawab" Bisik hati kecil Aiman.

Nafsu makan menguasai jiwa. Aiman buka pintu almari perlahan-lahan. Aiman lompat. Lompatan Aiman berhenti di tengah udara. Umpama belon. Aiman terbang perlahan menuju ke pintu rumah.

Aiman ketawa. Hilaian tawa Aiman kerana lagak manusia di depannya yang cukup lucu. Ada yang membawa obor. Ada yang bawa lampu suluh. Ada yang gemuk. Ada yang pendek. Ada yang macam papan yang memang tak selera Aiman tengok.

Makin ditenung makin Aiman geli hati. Aiman mengilai lagi.

Pendatang biadap tunjuk berani. Dihala satu tangkal ke hadapan
"Mati lah kau anak setaaaannn!!!"

Hilaian Aiman terhenti. Peluh pendatang itu menitis. Matanya bertembung dengan mata Aiman yang merah menyala dari tadi.

"Haih bodoh betul" Bisik Aiman.

Sudah lah salam tidak diberi. Lagi syirik percaya akan tangkal. Perlahan-lahan Aiman membesarkan mulutnya. Selesai membaca doa makan, tamatlah riwayat pendatang-pendatang itu dibaham Aiman.

Tamat.