Bulan Cakduh
2
the Duel
&
the Wedding
(I)
The moon shined so bright, Dayang can see her own reflection on a puddle below.
She stopped to see herself fixing her hair with a worn out hairband made by her aunt. The moon reflected on the same slightly murky water she was pondering. Dayang looked up to see the perfectly round lit moon and then back to the reflection. She spoke,
“The moon looks so precious up there. It’s so perfect meanwhile here on the face of earth, it’s a horrible mirage that manipulates with your mind and took advantage of you. Same goes for the people who turn a blind eye from the truth, people who do not have concise heart at all. They do not deserve to have all the wealth and praises…especially me.
Dayang’s own words reminded her of her father’s fate. His life was not meant to end that way. They were supposed to live happily and away from this land, far away. Just the two of them. But because of the actions of those greedy humans, Dayang’s whole world turn upside down. Her strength wasn’t enough then…she wasn’t strong enough to stop them. Dayang’s tears streamed down on her cheeks when she relived that tragic day. The day she had to watch the light of her life cried, begged for mercy and still got sentence to death.
The day where her father died at the hands of his own brethren, Maharaja Shah Kalang Raktti. She still remembered the cruel words coming out of his mouth, bragging and announcing her father’s ‘wrong doings’ and had betrayed the emperor. At that time, she didn’t know her father was a royalty. For all her life living as a normal family; never had any hints or signals given to her telling she has a royal blood flowing within her. Course, they caught a lot of stops when going to the market place to buy fishes and spices or head down to kebun to harvest the fruits and vegetables. Mostly it’s the people greeting her father and giving him foods and stuffs. It was a peculiar sight to see as if her father was a hero in his past times. However, a day in a time of when came near senja, that was when she felt most loved from her parents. The three of them would hang around at the porch and watch the sun sets along with the flying ‘Wau’s accompanying the warm sky to say goodbye. Never questioning or ponder about anything else. It was just the three of them and Dayang’s favourite part of every passing day.
Little did she know, her father was a prince of Tanah Melaywasi and the most rightful emperor to the throne. Unfortunately, death has another plan for him or more specifically, his own younger brother, the current Maharaja of Tanah Melaywasi.
“Why does the universe just easily decides your fate like that, father? It’s not fair. Why? If only…if only I were much stronger than I was, you would be-”
KrraAk !
“Who goes there!? Reveal yourself!
Something interrupted Dayang before she can finish her thought. She fastened her cloth over her mouth and took out her badik and aim at the sound coming from. She positioned herself as a bunga pesilat on the ground and prepare to attack with her badik, a shining sliver colour knife gleaning off from the moon’s light and pristine batik crafted at the back of jati wood. It looked majestic in Dayang’s hold. Dayang tried keeping her eye out for something to attack but the trees blocked her view from seeing further. Suddenly, a hand is reaching out then two hands being seen under the moonlight. The hands had long and prim fingers, it was so beautiful and unscathed. Dayang was almost distracted by it. Not long then, a pair of golden flowers knitted shoes was seen outside of the shadows along with a snippet of a royal yellow colour robe flowing under the command of a night breeze. The person behind the shadow immediately stopped when they saw Dayang in full view. They hesitated to speak and constantly looking elsewhere but Dayang.
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Dayang was in a dilemma of agitation and worrisome because the person maybe an innocence bystander or one of the Istana’s guards. But then again, none of her guess fit the attire of the person’s wearing. Never in her life has seen such expensive looking silk of clothes. She asked again,
“Who are you?! What are your intentions beyond the Istana Luwasangkah at night like this?”
“No need to threaten your weapon at me…I simply saw someone tying up their hair in this forest here from afar and…wanted to see the person.
“The person?” Dayang thought if she had saw someone on her way here but she was the only one. The person answered her in the gentlest voice before she can say anything.
“It was you.”
Dayang was speechless, didn’t think she would be seen by anyone with her clothes perfectly blended with the night and now this person claimed they saw her even knew what she was doing.
‘Oh great, Just great, Dayang. Such a mastermind! Not only you have exposed yourself in the middle of the operation, you just jeopardize the whole mission and your teams’ safety. Now I have to eradicate the evidence if it means…killing him. Now that I listen closely, his voice sounds familiar.’
Before she could plan out her murder, the person stepped out and surprised Dayang with their words and appearance.
“Or maybe…my guess was wrong.”
Putera Hamzah stepped out from hiding with a smirk plastered on his face and spoke in a drastic tone as a royalty. He swiftly grabbed his keris from his robe and the two of them staring each other like standoff. For Dayang, he was the most gorgeous man she had ever saw in her years of living on Tanah Melaywasi meanwhile for Putera Hamzah, she was the most intriguing encounter he had seen in his lifetime.
“But of course on a night like this, anyone can be mistaken a graceful woman as a killer dweller.”
He smirked at her. Ironically, Dayang was too bothered by Putera Hamzah’s appearance to understand his previous words. He was impossible to look away. From his soft golden hair to his perfectly made lips, everything was captivating. Dayang kept her eyes onto him for a while before snapping back to reality. It was the keris that Putera Hamzah was holding gained her consciousness back. She gripped her badik tighter and questioned him,
“W-who are you?”
“Aren’t I suppose to ask YOU that? What are you doing here near MY castle?!
Putera Hamzah’s tone drastically change and move on closer towards Dayang. Dayang moved back in sync and watched his movement. She didn’t answer his question nor backing down. She stood her ground strong while carefully planned to attack him when something caught her off guard.
‘His castle? What does he mean by-…Oh no, is he what I think he is?”
The look on Dayang’s face says it all. Putera Hamzah understands that look so well, he likes to tease his victims. He playfully kept on switching his keris from his hands to another, gradually closing in on Dayang who was blind to see early on. That the person is,
“I’m guessing you’re aware of who I am, however, allow me. I am Putera Hamzah L.William Shah, the son of Maharaja Shah Kalang Rakti. It is time for you to explain your planning on being here near my castle grounds…or get ready to face me and my wrath.” Putera Hamzah flipped his keris and say those lines to appear skilful and threatening.
’Oh I see it now…this pretty boy is that son of gun’s murderer. Alright, if he wants a showdown, then I’ll give him a REAL showdown.’
Dayang scoffed at the thought Putera Hamzah’s attempt at scaring her and believe it, she has seen far worse than a higher status man pointing a keris at her face. As she gradually felt the courage over herself, she gingerly stood up and never letting her badik out of her sight.
“Oh, forgive me, Your Highness. It seems I have upset you and here you are, throwing your tantrum and acting all smug. Well then, I too have no choice but to offer you the path to death.”
Dayang angered Putera Hamzah up until he had to take off his robe, leaving his yellow gold short kurung and white silver line pattern on the sleeves and his green emerald, white sparkling laces kain pelikat over his yellow gold kurung pants. He may look sharp but Dayang has gotten over his appearance. They both are neck and neck under the night sky, the sound of nature witnesses the tension between them.
Putera Hamzah strike first towards Dayang. He thrust his keris straight at her face. Dayang blocked him with her left hand and kicked his gut. He falls on the ground but quickly stood back on his feet and reassemble his strength onto his keris. The fall made him chuckle. Apparently, Dayang was not joking. So, Putera Hamzah decided to take it up a notch.
‘Oh, it’s one of those fights, huh? Okay then warrior, show me what you made of!’
Putera Hamzah grunts and swings his keris towards Dayang, almost cutting her face open. Upon missing his target, Dayang rolled back and kick off the keris up to the sky, leaving Putera Hamzah with an aching hand. She quickly pushed Putera Hamzah to the ground but he managed to caught on his feet and end up kneeling. Dayang held him down by stepping on his shoulder with one foot. The keris was seen to be falling back down gracefully and Dayang caught it with the blink of an eye.
“Never underestimate a woman when she’s being challenge especially when a warrior.”
“Ahaha, oh please. I would not dare to do that. Especially when she is a woman…Say, what makes you think you’re winning?”
Putera Hamzah swiftly turn the tables with his other hand snatched his keris back and pushed her forward. He pinned her against a tree by locking her hands together and smiles sinisterly. Dayang grunted on impact. His keris was so close to touch her retina. Dayang having a hard time gaining control of her badik while trying hard not to get stab by ‘Prince Charming’.
“Haha…just give in and surrender yourself, you bewitching warrior.”
Putera Hamzah used one of his charm tactics on Dayang to caught her off guard. Luckily, Dayang’s already immune by it.
“When Hell itself condemns my goddamn body!”
She headbutted Putera Hamzah as hard as she can and made him fall to his ground. The fall was so sudden, the keris got knocked off from his hands. Dayang quickly kick it away from him and straddle over him and locked in his arms. She got her badik right on his throat.
“Apologies Your Highness but it seems like…our fight ends here. I’ll be sure you send the emperor a message. A ‘head’ful message.”
Putera Hamzah is grinning sheepishly while Dayang is staring down hard at him. She was confused by him but still not enough to let her guard down. They both are panting hard and aches were felt everywhere. Putera Hamzah is on the verge of getting slit in throat, has the time to slick his hair back over and stare at her perversely all while looking at Dayang with deep and intense eye contact. To Dayang’s surprise, it affected her greatly. She was slowly losing the grip of her badik. His tone of seriousness surprised Dayang. It came out of nowhere.
“You’re feisty,” reach out his hand over her face mask and gingerly untie the cloth.
“Stop it! Whatever it is that you’re doing!”
To this point, her fighting spirit already gives in. The look that he gives was already unbearable to her knees but now, she has to face his eyes under the moonlit sky, alluring her to let him go.
“I like it.”
He whispered, the cloth falls off on him and Dayang’s eyes and her tied up hairbun was unveil under the moonlight. Dayangs’ eyes were revealed and to her shock, Putera Hamzah just stopped resisting. Gradually, Dayang has lost her grip and let go of her badik. She rested her arms on both sides of Putera Hamzah. They both share an intimate gaze of looking at each other’s eyes closely and gently as they could. Putera Hamzah could not continue of his plan to charm Dayang and though it seems, the plan backfired; he is now the one who is charmed by her. Her eyes, her gaze, the glimmering shine of her sweat dripping down her chocolate skin are tempting Putera Hamzah on another scale. Her beauty was just shown only partly, what if she unveils her whole beauty?
‘I’d lost myself immediately…’ he thought.
Unknowingly, his right hand was already on the back of her head. He looked at her and she had her eyes close. She was waiting on him, waiting for him to do something…the next ‘crazy’ thing…
‘What the hell am I doing? Why did I let him do that? I’m such an idiot for closing my eyes! Now, he’s gonna think I’m mad!’ Dayang cursed in her heart.
‘She is crazy on letting me do this…Why did you let me do this, warrior? Is this one of your plan to kill me…or are you waiting on me?’
Assuming Dayang is not gonna attack him very soon, he took the advantage to run on her back then pull her closer. Dayang opened her eyes due to the sudden closure. They are face to face distance. The sound of their heartbeats echoed the night. Somehow, they ignored the symphony of the heartbeat and waiting on one another to do something. They both felt like they are stuck in time under the witness of tonight’s moon.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to eradicate me, warrior?”
Putera Hamzah broke the silence with his gentle and soothing voice. Dayang was affected greatly and did not dare to respond. She lost on the hands of his sweet manipulation and his seductive look. Dayang lost her will to fight against his voice and exposing herself to a great danger of death penalty. She must kill him now but she can’t. She doesn’t know why. The thought of her hesitating herself of killing a prince who is merely playing with her feelings is ridiculous and terrifying at the same time. Luckily, she got some words out.
“I-…no…I can’t-”
“What? What is it? Say it out loud, or else I’ll…”
Dayang was scared when Putera Hamzah was betting her dignity on the line when he locked in his grip and they are a step closer to crossing the line between a warrior and a prince. A kiss is his threat and the bet is her spelling out her feelings on this night that is happening now. Dayang does not want him to know the possibilities of…her falling for the enemy is true or does he succeeded on manipulating her minds to capture her? Not betting on thin ice, she kept quiet. It made Putera Hamzah grew his curiosity even stronger and at last,
“Alright, if you don’t say it then fine…...but you’re gonna make me regret this.”
A small whimper was uttered then silence was heard.
***
In a kitchen of Dayang’s house, Cik Siah was brewing a coffee while ordering her nieces on the cooks.
“Don’t leave the stew unstirred, you’re gonna ruin the broth! Masak lemak is crucial to never let it unstirred to make sure the oil does not break out during the boil! Don’t you understand?!” Cik Siah continued with her commands and hand gestures while drinking from her coffee.
“Yes, Mak Siah…”
All seven nieces responded and nodded to avoid getting an ear pulled from her. Suddenly, a knock was heard on the back door.
“Assalamualaikum...Aunty Siah? May I allow myself in or do I have to marry with somebody?
After making the whole kitchen laughs, Chandra allows himself through the kitchen with a captivating smile and two bags full of sweet potato and green beans on both sides.
“Ah, Cik Siah. These are some greens that I have from my corps and figured I had one too many in our house already. Ama told me to also send you the sweet potatoes. They’re outside. I’ll grab them for you.”
“Oh how sweet of you and your Ama. Thank you, Chandra.”
“No problem, Aunty”
Chandra just smiled and drop the bags to bring in the sweet potatoes outside. The nieces are not paying attention at their work anymore as soon as the beautiful man was announcing his presence there. His figure and looks are very articulate and astonish to look at. He is the most gorgeous farmer ever existed in whole Tanah Melaywasi.
“Oh my lord, Chandralavik is just something else, isn’t he?”
“I agree; he is nothing like the other men in this village.”
“Kind, strong, handsome, AND a gentleman…”
“Not to mention, his muscles at that! I mean, who could ever resist his chocolate abs, am I right girls?”
The nieces are gossiping and drooling over obvious hunk in the kitchen. They laughed and shrieked at the second oldest niece of her explicit comment. The noise caught the glare from Cik Siah and she managed to shut them all up. The kitchen duty was once again continuing where they left off. The situation made Chandra chuckle at the sight of those girls. All of them noticed him and Chandra replied them with his sweetest smile. They all melt at the same time.
After ignoring the fangirls, Cik Siah invite Chandra to the living room and asked if he was some tea.
“Oh no, thank you Aunty. I’m good.” Said Chandra while scanning the whole room. His eyes are searching for someone. Cik Siah saw him and spoke while sitting down on the floor.
“If you’re looking for her, she’s not here.”
“Oh pardon, Aunty?”
“Dayang, right? She’s not here. She’s still at the shore, catching the fish in the middle of the night, I mean, honestly…she is a woman for godsake! Being alone near the sea doing tough work is not a woman’s duty. She should be here! In the kitchen! Helping me! Dear lord…”
Aunty Melda complaining about her youngest niece, Dayang but still doesn’t know how to solve this one on her own. Aunty always has a soft spot for Dayang; she can complain all she wants but in the end, she still welcomed her back with a concern face and a warm embrace. Cik Siah has been worried of her ever since Dayang’s parents are gone. She promised to take care of Dayang as her own. Now, she has all grown up and it’s harder to protect her after that. Cik Siah just prayed that Dayang’s parents are there, looking after her closely. Chandra understood the feeling but did not know the truth, only Cik Siah knows where she truly is. Cik Siah looked outside through her window before continuing.
“Well, she’ll not be back at this time around. That’s for sure. Lately, she has been working too hard on herself and as her aunt, I can’t help but want her to let her do the work here at home! There are a lots to be done which are much safer and less energy needed; though being as stubborn as her father and bold like her mother, I can’t blame it all on her wanting to work hard for this family. It’s my fault for spoiling her too much.”
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“Ahaha, I don’t fault you Aunty. Dayang is an attractive woman who keeps other people being on their toes. I would also be worried of her and wish she can just stay be home by my side forever.” Chandra spoke, with a bit of sorrowful look in his eyes.
“Oh my, is that a love proposal I hear? Seems like you are asking for her hand in marriage, Chandra?”
Before he realized it, he was blushing from the sudden snarky counter from Cik Siah. His brain was obviously too much in his head that everything just slipped up at once. He was not prepared what to say next and just stumbled on his own words. Cik Siah just stare at him fumbling and staggering to say anything. She whispered to herself,
‘Good luck getting out of this, lover boy!’
“Oh what?! Er, no no no Cik Siah! Y-y-you got it all wrong! I-I was just-…I was only-…Ahaa look, you see I was just-”
“Relax, farmer boy. I’m just playing with’cha! Hahaha! Don’t get too serious now, you might get cold feet just by the mention of your marriage…soon.”
The word ‘soon’ has got him blushing hard on his cheeks. His ears were red as tomatoes and he try to hide his shy face away from Cik Siah. He is fidgeting on his clothes, waiting for the redness to simmer down. Then, somebody knock on the front door. Cik Siah gave a soft chuckle before going towards the door and spoke,
“Now, now you can go back and remember to say thank you to your Ama, now yeah Chandra?”
“Huh?...Oh, yes right.” As Chandra about to head off to the kitchen, Cik Siah opened the door and was shocked to see the person standing at the front door,
“Dayang! You’re back so soon? What happened and why do you look so messy? Have you caught any fish? Do you want tea?”
Dayang came in looking exhausted and messy with dirt all over her face and her hair is all over the place.. Cik Siah combed her hair with her fingers and caress her face to wipe off the dirt. She came in with a salam.
“Assalamualaikum…*pant* Mak, I’m tired so ask questions later, okay? But no, I didn’t catch any fish. I’m sorry *yawn*…I promise I’ll catch siakap fishes tomorrow.”
Not noticing Chandra stood still to greet her, Dayang just walked past him and plopped down to her bed in her room. Cik Siah apologize on behalf of her behaviour but Chandra didn’t mind and head outside. With one last look at the door, he smiled and mumbled something under his breath before he took his leave.
“Huh…siakap, eh?”
-End of Chapter Two-
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