Trust Me, Okay?

Wanted

The news has spread across the peninsula. The government has released a longlist of people wanted. Many of them are related to the rebellions that have happened in the past two years. Despite the long list, many are still in low-rides, not being able to be identified. Unfortunately, Ghaafar Lee's identity is blown up. His escape from his detention in Singapore somehow made him quite high on the list, being one of the most wanted people by the police.

Ghaafar Lee. not wanting the other members of the White Mask joining this unwanted bandwagon, has a plan in mind to get them far from British radar. For now, he has to hide them first before moving on with the plan he had in mind. Therefore, he brings them into a village far from the centre of Malacca. A Malay village deep in the forest, to be exact with. There, they all are very safe. Gratefully, the others cooperated with him and just followed suit with all his instructions.

One night, they all assembled together, just like how Ghaafar Lee had requested.

"I will make this very simple." Ghaafar Lee inhales his breath. It is hard for him to explain his plan. "You see, the government has released a wanted list. Many of the people, even for having different ideas, were listed." He said. "Many, as well, have been caught and sent to jail. Some were even hanged to death," He elaborated further. "Malaya is no longer a place for people like us." He ends his words there.

"Your point?" Master Amir is now very curious about the points Ghaafar Lee is trying to make with them. The latter is not being direct with what he is proposing right now, "I do not understand." Master Amir stops it there.

"Yes, Lee. Just say it. There's no need for you to phrase your words like the so-called statesmen." Suri Kenanga is on the same side as Master Amir. They want Ghaafar Lee to be direct with his words.

"Okay! Okay!" Ghaafar Lee is now calming them down. "We'll book tickets to sail towards Sumatran Island. There, we'll start a new life!" He said it very directly this time, not wanting to hide his plan anymore.

"What?!" Master Amir is very clueless now. "Our fight is not over yet!" He disagreed with what Ghaafar Lee had just suggested. "We promise to protect this land with our life!" Master Amir argues further.

"Sometimes, fighting doesn't mean waiving swords and bearing arms. We can also fight from afar. In current days, we have to be smart to win wars. Just look at how the British had colonized us for so long. Although they started with violence at first, they continued to rule over us for centuries due to their dirty but smart strategies. They made us feel inferior! They made us feel stupid! They made us feel uncivilised!" He intervenes. "Yes! Fighting them is the right path. However, how much more bloodshed has to be done? How many more families have to suffer from losing their loved ones? We have to play it smart to kick them out!" He is now very rational in his arguments although is very much emotionally-toned. "Those who are strong mentally will win. A rifle might kill a few Englishmen but being psychologically-smart will rid them off forever. So, the best way now is to retreat and find a way to fight them from afar." Ghaafar Lee ends it there. He tries to convince them with his best capability. "Don't worry, I will make sure that each one of you is safe! That's my promise." He said further.

"But, isn't this too risky to even think of?" One of the men there asks him. "We have faced enough to even risk it this way." He said.

"Because you have faced enough, I want this to be the last one. No more death-risking missions after this. Take this as my way to pay back everything you have given me." Ghaafar Lee answers him.

"Will you be with us as well?" Suri Kenanga asks. By looking at her facial expression while saying that, it could be seen that she doubts it. "We don't want to lose you again. It's me myself. I don't want to lose you anymore!" She exclaims.

"Trust me, okay?"

***

"What are you doing, Kenanga?" Ghaafar Lee asks Suri Kenanga as a way to approach her, who is sitting by the river bank. She is staring at the flowing river without showing any expression. Probably thinking about what will happen to them soon. They are leaving this land, where they were all born. This land, where they learnt to live. This land, where they fought with their life for freedom.

"Hi, Lee..." She replies to him short. He in an instant sits by her side. She does not react at all. The same goes to him. They are both sitting together, side by side, in silence, inhaling the fresh air from nature, listening to the peaceful sound of the flowing river. Nature might be the same everywhere it is on earth. But the feelings would be different. Being far, although just a couple hundreds of miles, would feel very much different. That is what is called patriotism, the love and passion towards one's birthplace. "What makes you so confident about this, Lee?" Suri Kenanga suddenly asks.

"A bird will only stop flying when its wings are broken. While a man will stop moving whenever he wants to." said Ghaafar Lee, still not looking at Suri Kenanga.

"What do you mean by that?" Suri Kenanga looks at Ghaafar Lee. She is very clueless with what he had just told her. "I don't understand." She said with her confused facial expression.

"You will understand one day, Kenanga." Ghaafar Lee answers her. He, this time is very silent compared to what he used to be, talkative and argumentative.

"No, I won't. And even if I do, will you be the person to tell me?" Suri Kenanga asks him. She is still not very much satisfied with the reply he has just provided her.

"We'll see." He answers short. There is nothing for him to answer anymore. The best is to be silent now. It is only a matter of time. "You surely will understand one day, you are the smartest lady I have ever met." He said.

"Fine! And if I don't, you will be a dead man, Mr. Lee!"