SHORT STORY

Alive in Bandung

Claudia Liem was a Chinese girl who had smooth skin, her nose was like a Barbie, her eyes were slanted, length hair and^th years old after her mother got accident, it was really hard time and no one could cheer her up. She never became herself after the accident, it made her feel so down and did not become enthusiastic anymore. Her mother knew that she was introvert person, never got along and was also not easy to share everything to other people around her, but after her mother passed away, Mr.Liem as her father always said that “you should live with someone else”, and forced her to talk with them even you would get hurt. They would help you when you got trouble in your life someday.
her height was 165cm. her attitude was good, she was friendly and always carried with other people around her, she lived with her father because her mother passed away when she was 6

Jakarta,July 25^th 2000

“Dad, I am going to go to work” she smiled

“Have you eaten? I have already prepared it for you dear...” He told her while he was watering flowers in the yard.

“Yes, I have dad… I’m going…” she said and got in a taxi that she had already ordered.

On her way, she saw a very clean street but was reluctant to be seen by people because they were so busy to see it. When she saw it, she thought something that she had never imagined before. She wanted to be herself again although It was never seen. However, it was very comfortable to feel. Someone called her.

            “Rang…Rang…Rang”

            “Hello. It’s me Claudia... “

            “Where are you? Our boss really wants to kill you Clau!”

            “What happened?

“Your assistant... She made a mistake, she edited that screenplay! It must be accepted by the director soon! Because…… ”

            “Really? 15 minutes again. I’ll be there. See yaa.”

She massaged her head briefly then thought about the street which was like her. She was tired of gossip, conflict, problem and drama which were made by herself and also people around her that never knew her closely. Sometimes becoming a good and cheerful person was not the best thing, it could kill you slowly if you was not comfortable with it.

“I will change everything that I want to…” she grasped her hands.

At Creative Production.

            She got out of the taxi. Actually this season was not good for health. The wind blew hard, and the sky looked cloudy. It looked as if it was about to rain, but it did not come. It was very annoying to some of the employees and including her. She walked to the elevator to the right of the office entrance. The building was established in 2000 precisely. She was very happy to work in this place because of her passion and was really interested in her world. Her office was on the 16th floor with glamour interior that she worked as a supervisory script that handles some of the stories that should be filmed.

“Do you want some?” Daniel offered her some cookies that he had brought and a cup of coffee.

“No, thanks... I should take over Jane’s work as soon as possible” she came out of the lift.

“I have bought this one’s for you babe...” when they arrived at 16^th floor and the lift closed, he followed her to go to her office but she did not allow him.

She walked to her office, her face could not be described. She felt so tired, anxiety and has negative thought on her mind. Her job partner was always friendly and talked with her before starting to work. They did chit chat and gossip, as usual.

            “What happened to our new script project?” she asked.

            “Sorry Miss, I can explain it” Jane bowed her head.

            “What did you do? Explain it to me” she tried to be patient.

            “I just want to make it better, but our director cannot accept it” she cried.

She sat at her chair and played her finger, her assistant always became confident with her work and often, she never touched his job but his assistant always did all her work but none of her work was done well. She really wanted to mad at her and also kicked her from this company but she had not an authority to do, because her assistant had many chances to work in this company. The fact, her dad was the head of this company. She had reminded her to watch out again, so her assistant had not made some mistakes that gave her backward.

            “Do you want to be me?” she was tired.

            “No, I didn’t mean to……”her assistant replied.

“I know… you can take my position if you wanted. But this position is my life. I don’t have any if you caught it from me... if you wanted all of my friend you will take them. I’m willing…” her eyes flushed and immediately came out of the room. His eyes were glassy and watery.

She went to a cafeteria, there was full of people who wanted to lunch. She ordered french fries and orange juice. She sat in front of the window that could see a good view to take her mind rest. She thought about some worries that she would take, after she changed, it would work or not and did it be okay? Or would everything change and become worse or better? What if she changed, everyone would be surprised or she would be dead forever and saw the lord.

She was stuck in her mind and still confused to choose, she wondered what she should do. It all felt like gray, in this life there was a person who liked her and also hated her. Will life always be this way? What if I go back into my old soul, my dream and only my solitude?

She scrolled his twitter and read some retweets from her school friend. She read something very peculiar. She was curious and checked that account. When she read and saw those tweet she thought a brilliant idea.

Should I change my body with others that has the same aura?

“Hey, we meet again! Have you done your lunch?” Daniel asked her.

“Uhmm… As you can see...” she replied him.

“Yes, I see your french fries was gone. You just eat french fries only? Don’t have more money to buy some of them?” he joked.

“It isn’t your business Daniel. Stop bother me” she was mad.

“So, do you have twitter account? Awesome, you already changed Miss Liem! But I miss the old of you” he sat in front of her. “What are you interesting about now?” He glanced at her cellphone. ”Wow... Superstition! Do you believe it? I know you didn’t… And… I hope you can’t believe in it! Never!” he gave me advice and also a very suspicious word and he made me curious of his words.

“Why? It can be true… we never know the fact of life” she added and leave him alone.

            “Wait… where you will go! We are talking!” He shouted.

The day after she met Daniel and talked about superstition that she discussed, she felt so confused. And wanted to go to a shaman’s house. Her head was full the thought of magic that Shaman shared in twitter.

How will our soul move to other body when they died? Is it real?

            Early evening, she went to Shaman’s house and made sure what he wrote about. She caught her dad’s motor cycle to go there because it was too far and the road unusual to pass. She was so afraid but she had to change his life like she wanted.

The place was very humid, the air was cold the tree towering. There was no lights and very dark, lots of large-eyed birds scattered. And she left her motorcycle behind a tree she entered and walked into the area, how lucky she was because she brought a flashlight on her cellphone that will help her way.

“Do you have any purposes go to here” someone asked me suddenly and made her startled.

“I’m just curious about Netizen’s statement in twitter…” she said and observed his eyes.

“Oh, do you want me to take your death here? Am I wrong?” he pretend like it was usual.

            “I don’t mean it. I just……” she think something.

            “Just want to go around from others body?” he joked.

“I don’t really mean it. I’m tired for something that already happened to me. I just want to be someone else and want to be me so naturally.” She looked so sad.

            “What does it mean? You want to be free?” he walked so closer.

            “I am not in this way sir…” she played her flashlight.

He walked through Claudia’s way, and he told to follow him down the cobbled and rocks of dangerous path. That man was carrying a torch for his directions. He only used a black shirt and trousers under the calf. He looked rather creepy and weird. His face was not visible clearly, his hair was strange and rather longish. His voice was as heavy as holding back something. He told him never to look back because you have chosen this path.

The atmosphere was getting tense. She liked in a mountain that was very far from the city. The cold air began to pierce his bones and there was many very frightening bird, until she felt like some people were following her, she wanted to look back but Shaman said she should not look back would be more dangerous.

She thought about it twice before she went here. It was the only way to get her free from other parasite.

            “Where will we go sir?” She asked.

“You want to be free right? We are going to a place where will find your happiness” he walked slowly.

“Finding my happiness? Do you know what I mean?” She was really curious.

“I see your eyes Miss” He took something under the mossy rocks.

He gave her a small bottle, and the color of that water was purple. He got it from the stone slit he had seen. All the strange questions queuing up in the head for questioning, but seeing his eyes alone made her afraid. The man said if she wanted to move to other body that she wanted, she must drink the potion. But the conditions that must be obeyed, she can never return to his original body and must seek the same aura with his original body condition. He said it, as if Claudia will die and will not be able to meet his original body again.

            “Why cannot I go back to my body? Is it impossible?” She hugged her body.

“Because you need other body and your body will be cremated, everyone thinks you're already dead. Since you were here.” He said.

She was shocked with all that he said. She was confused and could not think anything else, what she should do with this current situation. She had died a few hours ago, although she had not yet taken the potion but entering this area was a choice for desperate people and the mountains were known as the mountain of the god of death.

            She had no choice, he must drink the potion and immediately looked for the body of the dead people, and she must find her new body during 2 month.

After he took the potion. Her original body was sprawled in front of the house with blood covered in her mouth. She was out of his original body. She cried and screamed at her tragic body like that. She has chosen a big mistake in his life. Her dad came out of the house, as usual he made sure that his favorite motorcycle was safe in front of the house. But her dad was instantly unable to say any word he was shocked and almost recover his heart. He screamed loudly until the neighbors heard and approached father.

“My dear… what happened to you…? She is still alive right?” My dad cried and Daniel hugged him.

“She was died Mr.Liem… I have to bring her into your house” he carried me into the house with a lot of blood splattered in his mouth. And He felt that Claudia was around him and He saw him behind her room while he cleaned her mouth with a woof.

“Mr. Liem, We will pray to her tomorrow… I have already cleaned her mouth” He said. And her dad just looked him with sad eyes.

The next day. Claudia’s body had been lying in the coffin, he was wearing his favorite white dress and wearing cloth-made shoes. In some parts included pearls for the way went to the god’s place and some of the money already packed into the crates to equip her wealth in heaven. Chinese people always did this ritual before the body was cremated.

Her father was crying hysterically and all her closest people were saddened by the sudden departure of Claudia. Before everyone known that he was fine. Just her who known why she went without given some signals were usually seen. But only Daniel who did not look so sad, he pretend like everything was okay.

            “I can see you behind me Miss Liem” he mumbled and she was shocked.

 2 MONTH LATER

             It had been almost two months since her body was cremated. She always visited some hospitals, and also funerals in in Jakarta to find the body that suits to her, but the result was always nil. She must find a suitable body. Now, her friend was just Daniel. She did not even know why Daniel could see her soul. Maybe, when he was a kid he never lost in the mountains but he forgot what mountains, which he remembered Daniel cursing on a stone wall. It make a sense that he can see Claudia’s soul.

            “I am curious. Why can you see my soul?” She asked.

“Maybe, I've been stuck in a situation almost identical to you. But I'm not stupid like you” He walked into his office room and she really wanted to kick his ass.

She walked into other room, she really missed her office room that she deliberately designed. But at this time the room has become Jane’s. And all the editing parts mostly she never did, she even painted his fingernails and handed them over to Sheila a junior in my campus.

“Have you finished seeing see your favorite former room? “He said slowly. “I know what you have to do, I saw many places to find other body to be yours… and we must go to Bandung” He read some articles mystics on online magazine.

“Bandung? Are you kidding me? Why should we go there? What is going on there?” She laughed.

“Some people believes that there is a mystic’s place that will solve your problem. We have to go there soon! If you don’t want to leave everything you had” he looked so serious.

“Really? Can I disappear and my soul becomes dust instantly?” Her face can be described.

After Daniel took a few weeks off, they went to Bandung to find the places listed in the articles that he read before. Some questions were eager for Claudia to ask Daniel but the intention was vanquished. He must find a body that corresponds to Claudia’s aura.

When they were arriving in Goa Belanda Goa jepang.  They felt a very strange aura. It was too hot and stuffy. Daniel was almost short of breath. And they walked toward the lips of the cave, he saw the red light coming out of the cave while a small bottle lying next to the cave wall. Daniel immediately took the small bottle, inside the bottle was a small letter.

They opened the bottle which contained a small piece of paper that had a message for Claudia. When she read the inscription on the paper, they had a clue to find a suitable body for Claudia so that he could live again and live the life he wanted.

2 days later.

They headed for a village in Kidul, the village was a clue that Claudia would find the body. When he got there, Daniel immediately searched the house of a grieving citizen, the road was gilded very far and not as easy as they imagined before. They reached the house, a man with a height and face almost identical to Claudia who was lying lifeless in the living room and his family was weeping over him.

            “Excuse me? Do you know my son?” Grandma said.

            “Yes, I’m here for give deep condolences for your son” Daniel hold her hand.

            “Thank you, who are you?” She asked with slowly voice.

“I’m his friend Grandma “Daniel replied. “I have my own business, Sorry I’ve to go and he left hasty.

After leaving the man's house, they were silent and did not talk about anything. They had their own thoughts.

            “Should I be him?” She asked with empty eyes.

            “We still have another one, don’t be sad “He said.

Almost late night, the streets were deserted and dark. Daniel immediately headed for his lodging in the city. During the return home from the man. Claudia was just silent and maybe he thought of the body she would use.

The next day, they visited an old hut and they heard the voices of some people who laughing off. The hut just stood alone at peak of the road and not many people passed through this hovel. After they peek behind the gap. They had tortured a woman, and that woman looked unconscious. They looked like they did nothing, just laughed and danced like a person who did not commit a crime. Claudia and Daniel goose bumped see it, this was not like the devil but maybe more than that. They were very cruel.

Daniel doubted whether the body was a clue to Claudia finding her body, but it was very dangerous if she took the body and Claudia entered her body. And what would have happened if Claudia had made the body for her, maybe her life would not have survived like before. Daniel glanced at Claudia as if she knew what she was thinking.

“I hope you cannot take my body, they are so demonic, they will kill you whenever you go, I’m so blessed God called me like this” She said to Claudia, but Daniel cannot see it.

“But I have to be alive! I don’t want to be like this. I must find my way to be alive soon! It’s mostly 2 month before I will disappear” Claudia said and She felt so down, that girl already left.

            “I don’t know what I’ve to choose Daniel” She hugged him tightly.

            “We should go before they caught me” he held her hands.

They went a place where they had already visited in Bandung to spend their vacation together with their families. Even though they were not closed since they were children but Daniel was the only boy that wanted to be her friend because Claudia never got along with others and He knew it. They saw a Bandung’s view in the hill and there was a lot of flowers and Claudia liked it.

            He was concerned about Claudia’s restless, he had not seen Claudia like this so long, and her restless face the same when her mother gone. Her eyes were blank and he always played her fingers.

“You know, it’s been a long time we did not visit here… you always go there to take a flower and you inserted the flower between your ear” he looked at the garden and she just be quiet.

“Should I be him? Or should I go to heaven with my mom? I don’t have any chance… it mostly 2 month” she said.

“I want you be yourself again if that’s possible” he stared at Claudia in the deep, his tears almost dripping too clearly visible sadness radiated in his eyes.

“I hope you’ll forgive me for involving you in this very complicated situation. I am so sorry… I shouldn’t have chosen this path” she cried.

“I don’t mean it, I don’t blame you, and for last!! You don’t have to feel guilty for everything that you’ve done. I want you to be that woman I guess that woman is beautiful than you hahaha and I promise I will protect you as much as I can, even though my life will be at stake, just believe me!” he said and tried to hide his tears, and she smiled.

They also became closer and told the childhood moments that they had not talked about for a long time. Claudia was much closer and never needed friends and she tried to trust Daniel this time, he had been good and help her in this very difficult situation.

In the afternoon, they went to the old shack and looked for where the bodies of the women they found, they settled in front of the door and she was still there, and Daniel told Claudia to enter the woman's body before those bad guys returned.

Claudia immediately entered the body of the woman by reciting the mantra that was contained in the bottle that he took in the Goa Belanda Goa Jepang. When she entered the body it was very bright light, Daniel fell and fainted. The power of the mantra was very strong and true, the people can move wherever she wanted as long as it had the same aura with the body that she will use.

“Who are you?!!! Do you want to take Hana go away from here? “He asked with red eyes and he looks like devil.

“Uhmm… I just curious why she is here… And she died… You know it? “He asked, his face pale but he spoke firmly as he turned to Claudia if she had finished.

“Do you want to play with me Brave man? HAHAHAHAHA” He stared at him so incisive.

“I don’t mean it… I just want to help her… “He added.

            “She don’t need your help… she already died… and I killed her” He replied.

Some of the men tried to beat Daniel but he avoided, and Daniel tried to defend himself because there was no one there who would help him, luckily he was good at fighting since elementary school, he entered a martial school until the final level.          

Daniel had got beaten from a bearded man, he was tirelessly and hit him right in his heart until he was unconscious. Two people left behind him who tried to trick Daniel, but they were not success. He used a rope to tie his neck but failed instead of their own being trapped. Suddenly Claudia woke up and she did not remember anything, she just mumbled her mother's name and it all came back like a newborn baby.

-End-