5. Forbidden Fruit

The sweet melody of the “Kicir-kicir” song wafted gracefully from the portable radio that Warih carried to his daughter’s school. The man had just picked up his daughter’s report card for the second quarter; she was still in the fourth grade. Alongside that, he also gathered another report card for the child of a fellow parking attendant.

Sipping on his orange juice in the area with trees near the school, the man kept humming happily and dancing around a *Batak boy named Togi Johanes Purba. He chuckled from time to time, noticing the annoyed expression on Togi’s face as he felt embarrassed by the man’s antics.

“Why are you so into the ‘Kicir-kicir’ song?” Togi asked, turning away in embarrassment and facing the trees.

Back then, Togi was in the fifth grade, a year ahead of Warih’s daughter, Mala. Since Gabe Purba, Warih’s colleague in the illegal parking, declined to fetch his son’s report card, Warih, sympathizing with Togi’s situation, stepped forward to visit Togi’s class that morning and assist in collecting the report card.

“You didn’t know? I played this song for you,” Warih replied, laughing once more. “You look disappointed because your dad didn’t want to show up. I just wanted to lighten the mood for you.”

“What’s this song about?”

“It’s a Betawi song meant to bring comfort to those feeling down,” Warih explained. “It also serves as a source of encouragement, inspiring people to lead more diligent and joyful lives. Typically, while waiting in the parking lot with your dad, I enjoy listening to this song while sipping on coffee. It’s my all-time favorite tune.”

“Is that why you always carry a radio and batteries around?”

Warih nodded. “This song has a way of making me happy whenever I hear it.”

Although the man tried to be cheerful for Togi — whom he had known since the child was born– Warih then fell silent when he saw the boy looking down with a gloomy look. Mala’s father then decided to join Togi on the side of the garden wall.

“Do we still need to wait for Mala here? Is she still talking to her homeroom teacher?” Togi asked casually, hoping to divert Warih’s inquisitive gaze away from him.

“She said it would only take a moment. Mala will be here later,” Warih replied.

“Mala’s smart; she’s always at the top,” Togi muttered with a tinge of envy on his face. “If only I could make it to the top 20, my dad would already be expressing his gratitude at home.”

Warih chuckled. “Your grades might differ a bit from Mala’s, but there’s one subject on your report card that consistently stands out. You’re good at math, aren’t you?”

“Ah, it’s pointless to keep getting one A if you always end up with a B or C in other subjects,” Togi replied with a note of pessimism. “Sure enough, when I get home, Dad will still come around and beat me with a broomstick again.”

“You might be a bit mischievous and lazy,” Warih commented, “but from what I understand, folks who excel in math are usually smart. They say those good at math have strong logic. Perhaps you could be like Mr. Habibie if you put your mind to learning?”

“I can’t possibly build a plane like Mr. Habibie,” Togi remarked.

“You will never know your future. You could be as successful as Mr. Habibie, or… from what I know, Batak people are good in law. Perhaps you could become a judge, prosecutor, or lawyer?”

“No one in my family has achieved that level of success,” Togi replied, shrugging his shoulders.

“If someday you become a lawyer, you might be able to help me if something goes wrong, with affordable legal fees,” Warih suggested.

Togi suddenly looked down in shame. “If I were a lawyer, I would provide my services for free to compensate you for the money you paid earlier.”

This time, Warih suddenly fell silent as he remembered what happened when he tried to retrieve Togi’s report card from his class. After glancing at the child beside him once more, he let out a sigh.

“I thought your dad didn’t want to come here because of something else, but it turns out it was because you used your monthly school fees,” Warih muttered.

“Do you realize that your dad is naturally upset about this? He works tirelessly on the streets to earn money for your education. He may not have gone to school, and he may not be highly educated, but he envisions you, his son, achieving success and not ending up like him.”

“When he’s angry, he likes to hit me! How am I supposed to succeed if he keeps hitting my head?” Togi said, keeping his head down and scratching his hands. “If he doesn’t hit me, he’ll just stay silent like this… he won’t come to school if I get caught causing trouble.”

“It’s not because he’s neglecting you, but … it’s because he’s just too embarrassed to be called to school all the time because of your actions,” Warih said, defending Gabe. Mala’s father then took a deep breath again.

“Your dad is going through a tough time. Just two days ago, a motorcycle went missing, and he was asked to pay compensation. If I were your dad, facing difficulties, and then learned that my child used the monthly school fees to the point where the report card was at risk of not being given, I would also be very angry.”

“I’m sorry you had to cover the cost. When I have the money, I’ll repay you,” Togi said, a hint of embarrassment concealed beneath a layer of pride, almost appearing like annoyance.

“Did I ask you to repay it?”

Togi looked up at Warih with a surprised expression. “You don’t want me to repay it?”

“No need.”

“Why? You don’t have much money.”

“Just consider it as a loan with interest, and you can repay it once you become a lawyer and find success.”

Seeing Togi look guilty, Warih laughed. “What kind of troublemaker offers to reimburse the person who lent him money? What troublemaker feels guilty for inconveniencing people?”

“If it weren’t for the fact that we have different beliefs, I’d be delighted if you became Mala’s soul mate,” Warih continued, half-jokingly, as he noticed his daughter approaching them from a distance.

“Togi, you’re a smart, kind, and responsible kid. It’s just that… maybe you’re still in your mischievous phase. I think your attitude is still normal because your brain is still curious about many things in the world.”

“It’s okay to be naughty once in a while.” the man continued. “They say, the world is round. Those who choose to walk too straight may never fully embrace and rule the world.”

Togi smiled emotionally at Warih’s words. But a moment later, he immediately displayed his annoyed expression again.

“Who wants to be with Mala?! I don’t want to be with her! I’d rather be her brother!” said the boy as he glanced at Mala, who was half-running towards them with a cheerful face. “I’d rather be your son, Mala’s brother. That way, she’ll be safe at school.”

“That’s an interesting offer,” Warih muttered with a smile. “I already consider you my son. And since you’re feared by your friends here, Mala will be safe. Then it’s a deal, you’re my first child!”

“Deal? You English snob!” teased Togi as he hopped to the ground, seeing that Mala was already with them. “Shall we head straight home?”

“Don’t you want to join us for shaved ice?”

“No, you want to celebrate Mala winning first place in her class,” Togi said, a bit reluctantly.

“You’ll also clinch first place when you’re in junior high school later,” Warih said, promptly pulling Togi’s arm to follow him.

Mala suddenly laughed at her father’s words. “Togi? Top of his class? I think that’s rather impossible, Dad! Togi is a troublemaker and likes to skip class.”

Togi shot Mala a glare. “Enjoying life like me is better than being a front-row student! You teacher’s pet!”

“You’re just a troublemaker in school!”

Mala stuck her tongue out at Togi. In a moment, the two kids dashed off, chasing each other in front of Warih, who still carried his old radio box.

“Mala, Togi, don’t run around like this when we reach Bundengan Raya. There are many cars passing by, it’s dangerous!” shouted Warih to remind the two children, as he followed them towards Jalan Bandengan Utara Raya.

Neither Togi nor his daughter, Mala, paid any attention to him. Instead, the two children continued to run around and headed towards Bandengan Raya with laughter.

“Mala… Togi… be careful!” he shouted again from behind the two children.

Togi, who was being chased by Mala this time, did not hear the sound. As he reached the Bandengan Raya road area, he suddenly heard the screech of brakes in the distance – along with the reflexive shouts of people urging him to move away. When he turned back, his body froze.

In the distance, an overloaded truck could be seen swerving. The truck was sliding with a body position that suggested it was about to roll over – and it was rapidly approaching Togi, who had just noticed it.

Shocked, Togi couldn’t move from his spot and stood rigidly with a horrified look on his face. The boy then tightly closed his eyes, realizing that the heavy construction materials from the truck would soon fall on him. Surprisingly, his body was suddenly pushed forcefully to the side behind him – until he hit the wall of one of the nearby shophouses.

When that happened, Togi immediately heard a loud thud, mingled with the hysterical screams of people and Mala beside him. Time seemed to stop spinning for him for a few moments, until finally, Togi’s eyesight returned.

The boy was stunned to see Warih… now lying on the side of the road with one leg that had been crushed by heavy concrete, all to save the life of a person who wasn’t even his own child.