Saimo and Parlan
Back at the rear guard post.
One of the security guards, tall and broad-shouldered with a beard covering his face and tattoos on his arms, was named Parlan.
Parlan: "Hey, Saimo! You see those five intruders?"
Saimo, also large and muscular, with curly hair and a pockmarked face, replied:
Saimo: "Two men, three small-built women."
Parlan, a former market enforcer at Kramat Jati Market, smiled mockingly.
Parlan: "Do we even need weapons to deal with them?"
Saimo: "You mean shooting them with our pistols?"
Parlan nodded, his eyes staring menacingly at Giono, Karsiyah, Ngatmo, Rani, and Rina.
They didn't pay much attention to how huge Giono actually was.
Saimo: "No need! I can take them myself—they'll be like flour!"
Parlan chuckled, and the other guards joined in, underestimating their opponents.
Legi, big-bodied with wide slanted eyes, a thick mustache covering his lips, and curly hair, whispered to his friend:
Legi: "You know when Saimo and Parlan beat up the cops at Kramat Jati Market?"
Triman, also tall and broad with straight long hair and a clean-shaven face, whispered back:
Triman: "You mean the cops who acted tough to secure the market?"
Legi: "Yeah, that's right."
Triman: "And then?"
Legi: "Those cops ended up like chicken porridge."
They both snickered.
Legi: "But, man…"
Triman: "What?"
Legi: "In the end, Parlan and Saimo got arrested."
Triman: "And then?"
Legi: "When I visited them in prison…"
Triman: "What happened?"
Legi: "Their faces looked like mung bean porridge."
Triman: "Meaning?"
Legi: "They got beaten up by angry riot police inside prison."
The two laughed again.
***
Giono the Big Guy
Meanwhile…
Parlan and Saimo were still discussing how to take down the intruders in front of them.
Parlan: "You see that big guy?"
Saimo looked where Parlan was pointing. His eyes widened. Looking closely, Giono was tall and broad, with a military-style crew cut and bulging arm muscles. He had the unmistakable bearing of a soldier.
Saimo's courage started to fade.
Saimo: "You mean the one with the rifle on his back?"
Parlan: "Yeah, him."
Saimo: "And?"
Parlan: "He'd be a good match for you."
Saimo: "Are you kidding? He's as big as you!"
Parlan nodded again.
Saimo: "Did you see his fist? It's the size of a durian."
Parlan nodded once more.
Saimo: "What if that fist smacks my head?"
Parlan: "Your head will turn into fried bakwan."
Parlan chuckled. Saimo gave a weak smile.
Saimo: "Better you handle him instead, Lan!"
Now it was Parlan's turn to be shocked, because deep down he was also afraid of Giono.
Parlan: "Don't mess with me, Mo."
Saimo: "You scared?"
Parlan grinned awkwardly.
Parlan: "Let Legi and Triman gang up on the big guy instead."
They eventually agreed not to use pistols, putting them back into their holsters.
Apparently, they were also afraid of being charged with murder.
***
Arm Wrestling
Still at the rear gate post.
Karsiyah: "Mbelgedes! What are they whispering about?"
She pointed at the twenty security guards led by Parlan and Saimo.
Ngatmo: "They're talking about us."
Rani: "Look, they're putting their pistols away."
Rina: "Maybe they want to fight barehanded."
Seeing the security guards holster their pistols, Giono took the rifle off his back and set it against the guard post wall.
Giono: "They want an arm-wrestling match. Wedus!"
Ngatmo put away his small throwing knives.
Ngatmo: "Fine, if they want a match."
Karsiyah put her ten marbles back in her pocket.
Karsiyah: "Mbelgedes!"
Rani and Rina also set down their throwing knives.
Rani: "Are you scared, Rina?"
Rina: "Are you scared, Rani?"
They both laughed cheerfully.
Finally, the two sides faced each other without weapons.
Parlan: "Come on, let's smash them!"
The twenty security guards advanced.
Karsiyah: "Mbelgedes! Let's slap their faces!"
Giono's group moved forward.
***
The Fistfight Begins
Mariana and Broto had arrived at the guard post.
Mariana was startled when she recognized the intruders.
Broto: "Giono! Madam!"
Mariana: "You insolent man, Giono!"
Mariana clenched her jaw, her eyes glinting sharply. Her hands tightened on her paper fan.
Mariana: "Don't expect me to forgive you this time, Giono!!"
Broto didn't dare meet her gaze, his face tense.
They watched the clash about to erupt between Parlan's men and Giono's group.
Mariana: "Who's the fool leading the security team?"
Broto: "Parlan and Saimo, Madam!"
Mariana: "Even armed, they'd still lose."
Broto: "You mean, Madam?"
Mariana: "Forget fighting Giono—even the twins would be too much for them."
And sure enough, before she even finished her words—
Slap!
One security guard was sent flying backward by Karsiyah's slap. His cheek swelled instantly.
Thud!
Ngatmo's kick landed in another guard's stomach, making him double over in pain, feeling the urgent need for the toilet.
Bam!
Thud!
Two guards were knocked away by Giono's punches and kicks. One had a bleeding, swollen mouth; the other clutched his wrenched back.
Slap!
Smack!
Rani dropped a guard with two sharp slaps. His cheeks ballooned like he'd been stung by ten wasps.
Thud!
A front kick struck another guard's chin, sending him sprawling. His jaw seemed to be misaligned.
The four guards groaned in pain.
To be continued