The mountain climbing is not included in the list of activities that Alda likes. How beautiful the mountain and the magnitude of the challenges that exist, still cannot move the guy's interest to conquer it. So, if Alda is now in the ranks of children who want to cross Mount Geureudong, surely because there is something extraordinary.

It all comes from the failure of his first love. He fell in love with Anggi and invited the girl to knit the rope of love. But what answer did he get?

"I salute with your courage to express love. But you realize who you are and who I am. 'How easy are you confessing love?"

The answer not only meant rejection, but also humiliation. Alda is sassy loving Anggi who has everything while he does not have anything. But that does not mean Anggi can insult him so. How also Alda is a human who has feelings and self-esteem.

Alda is hurt, so hurt. To treat him he wants to try new things. So when Yan and his friends want to explore Geureudong he immediately enrolls.

"Do you want to come along? Don’t hear me wrong, yeah? "Yan asked with a smile.

"Yes, it's not wrong if your ears are still normal."

"My ears are normal. But not usually you want to follow up the mountain. Again broken heart, yes?" guessed Yan with sniper.

Alda just smiled while waving his hand in the air.

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Bireuen which is known as "the Juang City". In this small town they transit the bus to get to Takengon. Alda the first time to Takengon did not think that the way there tortuous and up and down. As a result his arrived in terminal is already limp.

"It's not how, Al," Yan said when he saw Alda sitting in a shop porch. Alda just winced while massaging the back of her neck.

To get to Geureudong with Yan and his friends. Alda is willing to sacrifice one-day lectures. They left from Banda Aceh early in the morning. Five hours drive to the town of Bireuen, Yan and three friends continue their journey to Takengn and arrive at Geureudong at five o'clock. They rested briefly and reported to the local village head. As usual, some residents escorted them to the foot of the mountain.

"Do not do the destruction in the forest and do not throw away plastic wrap at random," said one resident. Alda and his friends nodded and thanked them for their kindness.

Even as they begin. Past the grasslands, pierce through the jungle and cascade the fast-flowing river. Seeing the clear river water, Alda immediately ask for a break on Yan.

"Rest?" Looked at the boy with half-eyed eyes. "We have not taken an eighth trip!"

Yan's friends stared at Alda with a smile.

"I just want to wash my face," Alda said timidly.

"Yes, wash it. But do not be surprised later. "

"Why?" Alda looked at his anxiously.

"The water here is very cold."

"Oo .... Only that. I think what's wrong," Alda said with relief. Yan's friends on laughing.

After wiping his face and shivering astray, Alda speeds up his pace because Yan and his friends are not waiting.

"What time do we get to the top?" Alda asked in a low voice for fear of the sound of Yan's friends walking in front.

"Towards morning."

"So we do not sleep anymore?"

"Sleep well if you want. But we do not sleep anymore because want to tak pictures of sunrise. Anyway if we sleep we'll wake up late. "

"Sunrise here beautiful nope?" he asked again.

"You can see for yourself later. But now it's better not to ask a lot. The journey is still far enough, still a lot of stamina and energy needed."

Alda was silent. But it does not last long. A few minutes later he came back to his voice when he realized his position was at the back.

"Yan, can I walk in front of you?" Yan shook his head while giving Alda space to pass him.

"Have you ever heard about Geureudong?" Yan asked Alda as they were resting on a fallen tree.

"Not yet. But you do not have to tell me it's horrible," Alda said to Yan's friends smiling.

"The story is not horrible, but touching. There used to be a young boy named Hamid called on his mother to apply for Hasnah. But the proposal was rejected because Hamid was a poor young man with nothing. Not only that, Hasnah's parents also insulted Hamid and his mother for daring to apply for their daughter.

Hamid and his mother were hurt. Hamid wanted to avenge the humiliation but did not know how. In that dream the father asked Hamid to come to Mount Geureudong to take the Buluh Perindu. "

"Buluh Perindu?"

"Yes, a flute. Hamid went straight to Geureudong Mount with his mother's blessing. He got the Buluh Perindu after being meditated 44 days 44 nights. "

"And then?" Asked Alda who became interested in Yan's story. While other children who have heard dozens of people's stories just silent.

"Up at his house Hamid blew the flute. Soon afterwards Hasnah was crazy about her. Eventually Hasnah's parents had to marry Hasnah with Hamid because every night their daughter was always calling for Hamid. "

Alda stunned, remembering the fate of her love is not much different from the story of Hamid. Ah, if only two Buluh Perindu in Geureudong Mount....

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UNTIL at the peak at three in the morning, they immediately set up a small tent as a backpack and so on. The exhausted Alda instantly stretched her body regardless of the sight of Yan's friends.

"Would you wake up before sunrise?" Yan asked.

"Yes, please wake up," Alda said with his eyes closed. For some time he fell asleep until he woke up when he heard the sound of the flute in the distance.

Alda hurriedly got up and confirmed her hearing. Sure enough. The sound of the flute sounded faintly, but very real.

Alda stepped outside. He sees Yan and friends battling water. Regardless of th,em Alda continued to move toward the sound of the flute. As if there was a force that pulled his steps to keep walking away from the tent.

Until the place, behind the darkness of Alda saw a young man sitting on a boulder while playing the flute. For a moment Alda drifted into the flute's voice. Until then the young man stopped when he noticed his presence.

"The sound of your flute makes me wake up," Alda said with a friendly smile.

"Forgive me please..." he said softly.

"It is okay. I'm just happy," Alda came over and sat down in front of the boy.

"Wheres the others? I mean your friends?" He asked in exchange.

"I am alone."

"Well, you must be a brave man."

"I was born and raised here. So what should I be afraid of? "

"Oo ...." Alda nodded. "Oh, yes. We have not met. My name is Alda, "he held out his hand before the young man.

"I'm Hamid."

"Who?!" Alda looked surprised.

"You heard it."

Alda does not believe it. But the grip of Hamid's hand was just as real. Could this be a dream? Alda silently pinched her own hand. Oh God, he felt sick.

"What do you hold is Buluh Perindu?" Alda asked then.

"Yes. It is with this Buluh Perindu that I have Hasnah become my wife. "

"Our fate is almost the same," Alda said brittlely.

"You mean, your application was rejected and you were insulted by the parents of the girl you love?"

Alda shook his head, but certainly not clearly visible to the young man who claimed to be named Hamid.

"I was insulted by the girl I love."

"Then use this flute, the girl will surely be crazy about you," Hamid held out the flute he held in front of Alda.

"You ... ..you give it to me?" Alda asked incredulously.

"Yeah, I do not need it anymore. Hasnah is willing to be my wife. "

Alda picked up the flute with trembling hands. Although it was proven that all this is not a dream, but Alda feel the need to pray that this event is real.

Yan and three friends were surprised to see the extraordinary stare of Alda on the way home. He walked with wide steps, but his breath did not gasp at all. He did not even break even though they had halfway through the journey.

"Can you power from where?" Yan looked surprised.

Alda just smiled. When someone's friend Yan asks for a break. He felt the wind to respond to their attitude when he left.

"Break? We just covered half the journey, " he says.

"No need to hurry. Al, we are not pursuing something, "Yan responded.

Alda then sat with them. Yan and his friends are discussing the results of their shoot that they will take in a natural photo contest. Little Alda is not eager to comment. He just wants to get home quickly and try the power of Buluh Perindu which is now in his backpack.

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ARRIVED at his house at midnight, Alda flung open the backpack and took out Hamid's flute. It turned out that the flute was still intact in its place, not disappearing as Alda feared on the way home.

Without even thinking about the sleeping house people, he started to try the flute. At first his voice sounded fals because the location of Alda's lips is not in the right position, also because his fingers are less nimble in penetrating hole after hole. But after trying several times, finally Alda puffs began to be pleasant to hear.

Once satisfied, Alda lay down on the mattress. His lips brushed a happy smile because soon Anggi would be crazy about him.

Ah. Alda .... Alda if you knew that the "Hamid" you met at the top of Geureudong was just a foolish youth, you would have thrown the flute away. The flute is just the ordinary flute made by the young man to work on superstitious people like you.

If you knew it was, Al.[]

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Buluh Perindu

Sebenarnya panjat gunung tidak termasuk dalam daftar kegiatan yang digrandungi Alda. Bagaimanapn indahnya gunung dan besarnya tantangan yang ada, tetap saja tidak bisa menggerakkan minat cowok itu untuk menaklukannya. Jadi kalau sekarang Alda berada dalam barisan anak-anak yang hendak menjalajahi Gunung Geureudong, pastilah karena ada sesuatu yang luar biasa.

Semuanya berasal dari kegagalan cinta pertamanya. Dia jatuh cinta pada Anggi dan mengajak gadis itu merajut tali kasih. Tapi apa jawaban yang ia peroleh?

“Aku salut atas keberanianmu mengungkapkan rasa cinta. Tapi kamu sadar enggak siapa kamu dan siapa aku. ‘Kok gampang-gampangnya kamu mengaku cinta?”

Jawaban itu bukan saja berarti penolakan, tapi juga penghinaan. Alda memang lancang mencintai Anggi yang punya segala-galanya sementara dia tidak punya apa-apa. Tapi bukan berarti Anggi bisa menghinanya begitu rupa. Bagaimana juga Alda adalah manusia yang punya perasaan dan harga diri.

Alda sakit hati, dan terluka. Untuk mengobatinya dia ingin mencoba hal-hal yang baru. Makanya ketika Yan dan teman-temannya ingin menjelajahi Geureudong dia segera mendaftarkan diri.

“Kamu mau ikut? Enggak salah dengar, nih?” tanya Yan sambil tersenyum.

“Ya , tentu saja nggak salah kalau telingamu masih normal.”

“Telingaku memang normal. Tapi nggak biasanya kamu mau ikutan naik gunung. Lagi patah hati, ya?” tebak Yan dengan jitu.

Alda hanya tersenyum sembari mengibaskan tangannya diudara.

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Bireuen yang dikenal sebagai kota juang. Di kota kecil inilah mereka transit bus untuk menuju Takengon. Alda yang baru pertama kali ke Takengon tidak menyangka kalau jalan kesana berliku-liku dan naik turun. Akibatnya sampat terminal dia sudah terkulai lemas.

“Ini belum seberapa, Al,” kata Yan ketika melihat Alda terduduk di sebuah emper toko. Alda hanya meringis sambil memijit-mijit tengkuknya.

Untuk bisa ke Geureudong bersama Yan dan teman-temannya. Alda rela mengorbankan kuliah satu hari. Mereka berangkat dari Banda Aceh pagi-pagi sekali. Lima jam perjalanan mereka tiba di kota Bireuen, Yan dan tiga temannya melanjutkan perjalanan ke Takengn dan tiba di kaki Geureudong pukul lima sore. Mereka beristirahat sebentar dan melapor pada kepala desa setempat. Seperti biasa, beberapa penduduk mengantar mereka sampai kaki gunung.

“Jangan melakukan pengrusakan di hutan dan jangan buang bungkus plastik sembarangan,” kata salah seorang penduduk itu. Alda dan teman-temannya mengangguk dan mengucapkan terima kasih atas kebaikan mereka.

Pendakian pun mereka mulai. Melewati padang alang-alang, menembus utan dan menyembrangi sungai yang berarus deras. Melihat air sungai yang jernih itu, Alda langsung minta istirahat pada Yan.

“Istirahat?” tatap anak itu dengan mata setengah melotot. “Kita belum menempuh seperdelapan perjalanan!”

Teman-teman Yan menatap Alda sambil senyum-senyum

“Aku cuman pingin cuci muka saja,” ujar Alda malu-malu.

“Ya sudah, cuci sana. Tapi jangan kaget nanti.”

“Kenapa?” tatap Alda dengan wajah cemas.

“Air di sini dingin sekali.”

“Oo…. Cuma itu. Kirain ada apa,” sahut Alda lega. Teman-teman Yan pada tertawa.

Setelah membasuh mukanya dan mengigil sesat, Alda mempercepat langkahnya karena Yan dan teman-temannya tak menunggu.

“Jam berapa kita sampai di puncak ?” tanya Alda dengan suara pelan karena takut terdengar teman-teman Yan yang berjalan didepan.

“Menjelang pagi.”

“Jadi kita nggak tidur lagi?”

“Tidur juga boleh kalau kamu mau. Tapi kami nggak tidur lagi karena pengin motret sunrise. Lagian kalau tidur kita akan terbangun kesiangan.”

Alda mangut-mangut. “ sunrise disini indah nggak?” tanyanya lagi.

“Kamu bisa lihat sendiri nanti. Tapi sekarang lebih baik nggak usah banyak bertanya. Perjalanan masih cukup jauh, masih banyak stamina dan tenaga yang dibutuhkan.”

Alda langsung diam. Tapi itu tidak berlangsung lama. Beberapa menit kemudian dia kembali bersuara ketika menyadari posisinya berada paling belakang.

“Yan, bolehkah aku jalan di depanmu?” Yan menggeleng-gelengkan kepalanya sambil memberi ruang pada Alda untuk melewatinya.

Kamu pernah dengar cerita tentang Geureudong?” tanya Yan pada Alda ketika mereka sedang beristirahat di sebatang pohon yang tumbang.

“Belum. Tapi kamu tak usah cerita kalau mengerikan,” sahut Alda membuat teman-teman Yan tersenyum.

“Ceritanya tidak mengerikan, tapi mengharukan. Dulu ada seorang pemuda kampong bernama Hamid minta pada ibunya untuk melamar Hasnah. Tapi lamaran itu ditolak karena Hamid seorang pemuda miskin yang tidak punya apa-apa. Bukan itu saja, orang tua Hasnah juga menghina Hamid dan ibunya karena berani melamar putri mereka.

Hamid dan ibunya tentu saja sakit hati. Hamid ingin membalas penghinaan itu tapi tidak tahu bagaimana caranya. Dalam mimpi itu sang Ayah meminta Hamid datang ke Gunung Geureudong untuk mengambil Buluh Perindu.”

“Buluh Perindu?”

“Ya, sebuah seruling. Hamid langsung naik ke Gunung Geureudong dengan doa restu ibunya. Dia mendapatkan Buluh Perindu setelah bertapa 44 hari 44 malam.”

“Lantas?” tanya Alda yang mulai tertarik dengan cerita Yan. Sementara anak-anak lain yang sudah puluhan kali mendengar cerita rakyat itu hanya diam saja.

“Sampai di rumahnya Hamid meniup seruling itu. Tak lama kemudian Hasnah tergila-gila padanya. Akhirnya orang tua Hasnah terpaksa menikahkan Hasnah dengan Hamid karena setiap malam putri mereka selalu memanggil-manggil Hamid.”

Alda tercenung, teringat pada nasib cintanya yang tak jauh beda dengan cerita Hamid. Ah, andai saja ada dua Buluh Perindu di Gunung Geureudong….

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Sampai di puncak pukul tiga pagi, mereka langsung mendirikan tenda kecil sebagai tempat menyimpan ransel dan lain-lainnya. Alda yang sangat sudah kelelahan langsung merebahkan tubuhnya tanpa menghiraukan pandangan teman-teman Yan.

“Kamu mau kubangunkan menjelang sunrise nanti?” tanya Yan.

“Ya, tolong bangunkan,” sahut Alda dengan mata terpejam. Entah beraapa lama dia tertidur sampai kemudian terbangun ketika mendengar suara seruling di kejauhan.

Alda buru-buru bangkit dan menegaskan pendengarannya. Benar saja. Suara seruling itu terdengar sayup-sayup, tapi sangat nyata.

Alda melangkah ke luar. Dia melihat Yan dan teman-teman sedang menjerang air. Tanpa menghiraukan mereka Alda terus melangkah ke arah suara seruling itu. Seolah-olah ada kekuatan yang menarik langkahnya untuk terus berjalan menjauhi tenda.

Sampai si suatu tempat, di balik kegelapan Alda melihat seorang pemuda duduk di bongkahan batu sambil memainkan seruling. Beberapa saat lamanya Alda hanyut dalam kemerduan suara seruling itu. Sampai kemudian si pemuda berhenti ketika menyadari kehadirannya.

“Suara sulingmu membuatku terbangun,” ucap Alda sambil tersenyum ramah.

“Maaf…” sahut pemuda itu pelan.

“Tak apa-apa. Aku malah senang,” Alda mendekat dan duduk di depan pemuda itu.

“Dengan siapa kemari ?” tanyanya berbasa-basi.

“Sendiri.”

“Wah, kamu pasti seorang pemberani.”

“Aku lahir dan besar di sini. Jadi apa yang mesti kutakutkan?”

“Oo….”Alda manggut-manggut. ”Oh ya. Kita belum berkenalan. Namaku Alda,” dia mengulurkan tangannya ke hadapan pemuda itu.

“Saya Hamid.”

“Siapa?!” tatap Alda kaget.

“Kamu sudah mendengarnya.”

Alda tak percaya. Tapi genggaman tangan Hamid barusan terasa nyata sekali. Mungkinkah ini sebuah mimpi? Diam-diam Alda mencubit tangannya sendiri. Ya tuhan, dia merasa sakit.

“Apakah yang kamu pegang itu Buluh Perindu?” tanya Alda kemudian.

“Ya. Dengan Buluh Perindu inilah aku mendapat Hasnah menjadi istriku.”

“Nasib kita hampir sama,” ujar Alda getas.

“Maksudmu, lamaran kamu ditolak dan kamu dihina oleh orang tua gadis yang kamu cintai?”

Alda menggeleng, tapi tentu saja tidak jelas terlihat oleh pemuda yang mengaku bernama Hamid itu.

“Aku dihina oleh gadis yang kucintai.”

“Kalau begitu gunakan seruling ini, gadis itu pasti akan tergila-gila padamu,” Hamid menyodorkan seruling yang dipegangnya di hadapan Alda.

“Kamu….. kamu memberikannya padaku?” tanya Alda tak percaya.

“Ya, aku enggak membutuhkannya lagi. Hasnah sudah bersedia menjadi istriku.”

Alda mengambil seruling itu dengan tangan gemetar. Meskipun sudah membuktikan bahwa semua ini bukan mimpi, tapi Alda merasa perlu berdoa semoga peristiwa ini benar-benar nyata.

Yan dan ketiga temannya kaget melihat stamina Alda yang luar biasa saat perjalanan pulang. Dia berjalan dengan langkah-langkah lebar, namun napas nya tidak megap-megap sedikitpun. Bahkan dia tidak mintak istirahat meskipun mereka telah menempuh separuh perjalanan.

“Dapat tenaga dari mana kamu?” tatap Yan heran.

Alda hanya tersenyum. Ketika seseorang teman Yan meminta istirahat. Dia merasa mendapat angin untuk membalas sikap mereka ketika berangkat.

“Istirahat? Kita baru menempuh separuh perjalanan,” sahutnya jumawa.

“Nggak perlu buru-buru. Al, kita tidak sedang mengejar sesuatu,” Yan menaggapi.

Alda kemudian ikut duduk bersama mereka. Yan dan teman-temannya memperbincangkan hasil pemotretan mereka yang akan mereka ikutkan dalam suatu lomba foto alam. Sedikitpun Alda tidak bernafsu berkomentar. Dia hanya ingin cepat sampai di rumah dan mencoba keampuhan Buluh Perindu yang kini berada dalam ranselnya.

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Tiba di rumahnya menjelang tengah malam, Alda langsung membuka ransel dan mengeluarkan seruling pemberian Hamid. Ternyata seruling itu masih utuh di tempatnya, tidak lenyap seperti yang dikhawatirkan Alda dalam perjalanan pulang.

Tanpa sempat memikirkan orang-orang rumah yang sedang tertidur nyenyak, dia mulai mencoba seruling itu. Mula-mula suaranya terdengar fals karena letak bibir Alda tidak pada posisi yang tepat, juga karena jemarinya kurang cekatan dalam menetupi lubang demi lubang. Tapi setelah mencoba beberapa kali, akhirnya tiupan Alda mulai enak didengar.

Setelah merasa puas, Alda merebahkan tubuhnya di atas kasur. Bibirnya menyungingkan senyum bahagia karena tidak lama lagi Anggi akan tergila-gila padanya.

Ah. Alda…. Alda seandainya kamu tahu bahwa “Hamid” yang kamu jumpai di puncak Geureudong hanya seorang pemuda yang iseng, kamu pasti akan membuang seruling itu jauh-jauh. Seruling itu cuma seruling biasa yang dibuat oleh pemuda itu untuk mengerjai orang-orang yang percaya tahayul seperti kamu.

Seandainya kamu tahu itu Al.[]

Cerpen di atas pernah dimuat di majalah Anita Cemerlang nomor 24 tahun ke-18 tanggal 8 – 17 September 1997.

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