John asked "Were there any happy moments for Raden other than war?" He ask in curiousity think it's impossible that Raden's life is only full of war
Yanto thinking "Hmm...yeah he is but that's the first and the last...at that time....
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Indonesia
Papuan village across borders,28 May 2006
10.37 AM
Raden sat in the back of the car seat driven by Karram, "okey kids ,We take over the village, we can relax for a while" Karram said to Raden casually
Ray, who was sitting next to Raden, offered him chocolate, "want some,kid?" Ask Ray in a friendly manner
Raden accepted the chocolate until Yanto turned back to look at Raden seriously, "okay Raden ,listen...get relax this time no need to worry about anything, There will be no enemies here because we have taken over" he said in worries
"Hah! What a daddy figure huh?" Karram said in a mocking tone
"Shut it Karram, better than you who take this kid to the war" Yanto said in annoyed
"Dont blame me! This kid got the spirit to help you" karram said in chuckles
Until finally we arrived and parked in front of the house which was our basecamp, The four of them got out of the car. "Damn, my ass hurts from sitting in the car all day" Karram said in sigh while start stretching
"Come on lieutenant, I thought you had an iron ass" Ray said with a mocking laugh at Karram
They entered and were greeted by the other members of team 4. The person who stood up greeted them, his name is Karno "Heyy have a long journey?" He said until he started looking at Raden "hey kid you come here again, and ...Lieutenant are you serious about this again?" He ask looking at Karram cant believe bring Raden again
"Ah come on! Hes a veteran now, I know it's against the law but I can't refuse this kid wishes" Karram said with shrug
Yanto put his bag on the table, "this just gonna be a peace day..." He said then look at Raden "you wanna go around? Don't go too far," he said while handing him a bottle of juice.
Raden nodded and immediately ran out the room, In the village, Raden wandered around and saw many people busy rebuilding the village, feeling hopeless and hungry. Until one of the children ran into him and made Raden fall, the child was chased by 3 guys, Raden stood up and tried to catch up.
The boy ran through trees and houses until he was cornered in a dead end street. "Hah...! Finally caught you, brat!" One of the guy said
The child tried to take cover, "p-please ...im sorry!" He said with fear and trembling
The 3 guys started to teach him a lesson by kicking him, then left the child battered and bruised.Radan, who saw that from the top of the tree, immediately came down. "Hey you alright?" He ask in worried
The kid sit up and wipe his nose, "yah ...and who are you?" The kid ask in suspicious
Raden stretch out his hand "im Raden, nice to meet you" He said in a friendly tone and smiled
The child looked at Raden doubtfully and then shook his hand, "...Bahlul...nice to meet ya...you dont really looks from here and what with those weapon on your back? Are you a soldier?" he said looking at Raden in full curiousity
Raden looked at his AWP sniper, "ah? Sorry for that, and yeah im soldier...I'm from team-4 and our basecamp is near the workshop" he said
Bahlul very surprised "soldier? How old are you??" He ask looked at Raden with disbelief
"Uhh...12" Raden said Hearing that, Bahlul couldn't believe it even more "12?? I'm one year older than you then but really a soldier?? Arent you're too young?!" He said with full of surprise about Raden
Raden felt confused about how to explain it awkwardly. "I..uhh...Putting that a side, why are those 3 guys chasing you?" He ask
Bahlul sighed and rubbed his back head "nahh...i just stealing their food, im just hungry" he said until his stomach rumbled again
Raden heard that and immediately took chocolate bar from his pocket and gave it to him, "want some?" He ask
Bahlul felt bad so what could he do, he was hungry and took the chocolate bar, "thank you...Raden" He said he felt happy with that
Raden looked at the time, he had been out too long so he had to go back, "im sorry i have to go back, lets meet again later" Raden said immediately ran away
Bahlul was still sitting there watching him leave, he knew it was quite sad that he had to be alone but he hoped they would meet again.
When he returned to base camp, Raden was greeted by Karram, "heyyo where have you been kiddo?" He ask in a cheerful tone
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Raden's expression could be seen as happy, "i just made a new friend" he said
"Oh a friend ,thats a good news...and guess we got many snacks sent here!" Karram said invite Raden
Meanwhile...Bahlul had just returned home and saw his father who immediately stood up from his chair. "Where have you been...you...son of a bitch!" His father said angrily
Bahlul just looked down and didn't dare, tremblingly said "i-i...-" just about to say something but he was hit by his father who was very angry "shut your mouth! What a useless kid, We will start attacking tonight" his father said threw an AK-47 at him
Bahlul just held his weapon tremblingly, he didn't dare to question anything. "Don't ruin this and kill those soldiers...understand?" His father said in cold tone
Bahlul nodded then went to his room, he wanted to cry but his tears couldn't come out anymore because he was used to this pressure, His father joined the terrorists and was one of the leaders, He looked at his weapon and thought how Raden would see him...
Night fell, Raden was suddenly forcibly woken up by Yanto , "Raden! Wake up! We have to go now!" He said in a hurry
Raden just woke up looking out the window, a fire and screams even the sound of gunfire, He stared at this blankly thinking "what...happened.."
Yanto immediately shouted, "Raden! Hurry up!". Raden immediately moved down the stairs and saw that the others were already on standby.
"Raden! Get your eyes up! A sudden attack occurred" Karno said check out the window for the condition
Karram returns and gives Raden equipment, "get your gear ready kid, we have to get outta here" Karram said help prepare Raden's gear
Suddenly Ray entered the room quickly, "we have to go now! The terrorists have arrived here!" He said until running out again to check
Suddenly there was a call , "Team-4!, Team-4!, are you there?"
"Yeah were here? How the situation?" Yanto ask in serious
"This is Team-5!, Looks like we'll have to hold out until morning, copy!"
Yanto's expression was a little shocked by this plan, "what in the hell you talking about!?" He ask
"reinforcements will arrive soon, can't let them build another fort, Team-5 over!"
Yanto took a deep breath , "yep, we have to fight, get ready boys! Save as many citizens as possible! Team-4 move out!". Suddenly everyone moved out, Raden followed closely to Yanto.
They moved as quickly as possible to look the citizens who survive then suddenly, "2 o'clock!" Shout Ray who started aiming and shooting, Everyone immediately shot and looked for cover as best they could.
The explosion occurred in one of the houses in front, "dang it! They are so stubborn!" Shout Karram in annoyed. Raden looked around and found a way to help, his small body should be able to slip through the building easily "I will help from the side!" He said with confidence
"Becarefull there kid" Karram said worriedly
Raden quickly ran towards the burning houses, the collapsed cupboards blocked the way but his body was wide enough to pass through the gaps. Immediately he looked for a position and took an aim and shoot.
"nice shot Raden, Team-4 keep breaking through! Raden has made way! Yanto out" Yanto said on the call
While Raden was still trying to open the way, A boy behind him was sneaking up on him to kill him but the wooden floor made a creaking sound. Raden immediately turned around and took an aim along with the boy
Raden was surprised who came, "Bahlul?...why are you here!?" He ask in confusion
Bahlul held his AK-47 trembling after realizing it was Raden, "R-Raden...i-im sorry!, im part of the terrorist...my dad is the leader..." He said hesitantly
Before Raden wanted to speak, the house started shaking, indicating it was going to collapse. Bahlul quickly turned around and ran out and Raden tried to chase him.
They kept running past houses and fires. "Wait! Bahlul!" Shout Raden keep running, Bahlul kept running and kept running and entered the alley
Suddenly the wall collapsed blocking Raden, but he did not give up and looked for another way into the burning house, climbed the stairs and jumped out of the window onto the roof of another house.
Raden saw Bahlul running and he trying to catch up, Raden ran from the roof trying to get down but the roof suddenly collapsed make him fall, he quickly got up and tried to catch up again.
Quickly ran out of the house until finally Bahlul arrived where he was cornered because a large tree had fallen. "Just leave me Raden!" Shout Bahlul while looking around trying to find way
"We will leave this place!" Raden said trying to convince Bahlul until "well well what a friends reunion" Bahlul father jumped from a fallen tree behind Bahlul
Bahlul's father walks towards Raden but Bahlul tries to stop his father. Bahlul was kicked away by his father "get off! You useless kid! You should be ashamed of yourself for not being able to do a simple task!" Bahlul's father shout to Bahlul
Bahlul leaned against the fallen tree because of the kick, trying to move to protect Raden. his father look at Raden who feeling confused and shiver, "you're the one of that soldiers kid? What a shame you have to die here...kid or not, you still my enemy" he said while pointing his gun at Raden
Bahlul immediately took his AK-47 and shot but missed hit his father's left shoulder and arm, His father screamed in pain and then reflexively shot Bahlul in the shoulder, "fucking hell! Thats why i hate you!" He shouted in anger
Because he was distracted, Raden quickly aimed his AWP and shot Bahlul's father, shot him in the head.His father is now dead, Raden rushes to Bahlul who is lying down trying to close the wound on his shoulder, "hold on! Please dont die!!" Raden shout in panic and about to cry
Bahlul cried because of the pain but he was already starting to get weak, "im sorry Raden..." He said in weak tone
Raden continued to try to stop the bleeding, "dont say that! You nothing wrong, it's your father's fault!" He shout convince Bahlul that he did nothing wrong as long as he was still trying
Bahlul just stared at Raden weakly, "thank...you...my first friend..." Bahlul said before his eyes became blurry and he couldn't move, he died from blood loss.
Raden cried and stared blankly, "Bahlul! Wake up! If only I had come sooner! Im so sorry!!" He was still trying to pump his chest but theres no result, Bahlul die
The explosion occurred in the house next door knocking down another tree, Raden tried to drag Bahlul's body out of the fire. He tried hard, the heat continued to burn his body, Continue to pull Bahlul's dead body out of there
Raden scream "HELP!" , He tried to call but this flames and surrounding forest is interfering the signal, Raden did not give up and continued to drag Bahlul's body
Until the call "Ra- *Static* Where ar- *static* u!?" Yanto shout on the call in worried
Raden answered the call "I don't know! The fire is big ,i can't see anything where I am! Hello??! HELLO!!?" Raden said a little panicked, not knowing where to go
Until...Yanto came to pour a large bottle of water to open the way, "finally found you! Come on Raden!" He shout while start carrying Raden
Karno also came and started carrying Bahlul's body with Karram with a big bottle of water. "You're crazy kid! Haha! Thats cool" Karram said with spirit
Ray waited in front shooting some enemies who tried to attack until he saw Raden and the others return, "Lets go! We cant be here too long!" Shout Ray opened the way, they all ran out of the village and arrived at the reinforcement truck.
Karno met the medic and showed Bahlul's condition, the medic shook his head and said "...hes died...its too late..."
Raden heard that and immediately cried, he bowed to the ground and Yanto tried to calm him down.
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....."and thats how he lost someone again...The first friend after so long and also the last" Yanto said
John could only reflect on the incident and could imagine how heavy it was...