The Forest Behind the House
29. Stories of the past
Papa also told me how until the agreement could be created. That incident has been a long time. A time when the king was still in power by fully leading the kingdom. When the oath is still true every one is spoken. That's when this deal was made.
The king's beautiful son, fell in love with papa's great-grandfather. Unfortunately, love sees neither physical nor treasure. The great-grandfather rejected his love for the king's son because he already had a mooring of heart. That heartbreak was just a country girl born with a mediocre face and a simple life.
Knowing his love was rejected by his great-grandfather, the king's son was ashamed and felt extremely humiliated. He was unable to stay afloat because the rumors of the refusal of great-grandfather were increasingly widespread.
Because of the prolonged shame he could not bear, the king's son decided to end his life by hanging himself on a teak tree beside his own bedroom window.
Knowing the cause of his daughter hanging herself was the refusal of his great-grandfather, the king did not accept. He also cursed the great-grandfather and the whole family lived a life of unwilling death. Life is very tormented, while death does not want alias very difficult.
Because the king's oath was proven, great-grandfather was blamed by all family members. Grandfather was ostracized from the family, even he was tortured because he was the cause of all the difficulties that occur in the family.
Not only that, the woman he loved also received the same treatment from his family. Not being able to withstand all that, the woman he loved died by suicide.
Sad, disappointed, hurt, hurt, to bring a deep revenge. Grandfather came to see the king. He asked the king to take back the curse he had made. And he gave a heavy sentence to the family that had made him lose the woman he loved so much.
Somehow, the king was willing to agree to what his great-grandfather asked for. But, all of that with conditions that are very impossible for great-grandfather to carry out. The great-grandfather was asked to revive the dead king's daughter.
Not out of thought by the great-grandfather, the impossible demand he still managed as well. He was given five days to do so. If he does not succeed, then the child he loves will be killed for the reason of disappointing the king.
His name is also a kingdom, the king is free to do any law. Including laws that are very impossible and unreasonable. Instead of wanting to let go of the heavy burden that great-grandfather had, he instead added to his heavy burden even heavier.
The great-grandfather did not manage to revive the dead king's daughter as he had been. But, because the baby was in the custody of the king, great-grandfather offered an even more impossible thing.
If the king is willing to release his son, the king will be made an immortal king. The king's daughter will also come back to life but in the form of a subtle creature. So did the king and all the members of the kingdom. The great-grandfather also promised that every first son born of his offspring would be made the husband of the king's son.
The king agreed to the treaty without a second thought. He released his great-grandfather's son with pleasure. My great-grandfather kept his promise. After the child was detached from the king, the kingdom slowly disappeared from their sight. Not only did the palace disappear, the entire village, it also vanished like it was swallowed up by nature. All that remains is the wilderness.
"That's the story," said the father as he wiped the tears that slowly descended from his two eyes.
"Has any member of our family been the victim of this promise, Pa?" ask Irfan quickly, cut out Budi's words.
"That's .. already."
"Who?"
"The gate of your father" answered my mother.
"So, you actually have a brother?" ask Budi.
Papa could only nod slowly. He did not want to remember the dark past. But no matter how he covers it, still, it always appears in memory.
"If they can, why do they still want your brother to fulfill the agreement?" asked Irfan still remained with a stifled rage.
"Everything has become a covenant, Irfan. Whether it can or not, still, the name of the agreement we still have to fulfill," said papa.
"No. I don't agree if you're the fallout from great-grandfather's stupid agreement."
"Irfan!"
"Mama! Are you willing to lose your mother's child?" asked Irfan annoyed with the clash of mama just now.
Mama was silent without a word, only tears were the answer to what Irfan asked just now.
"You don't agree but you just let it go" said Irfan increasingly upset.
"Fa. We have no other way but to keep our promises" Budi said, holding back his grief. Although his heart was upset, but he still tried to calm down at this time.
