Hikayat Merah SerongMangsa (The Tale of Red Sideway Victim) - The Nose

"Father... why is my nose different from my brother's?" asked Merah, the King's whoreson.

"It's because you are special, my son" answered the King as he watched his youngest observing himself in the mirror, his reflection an image of discontent and shame.

Merah's nose.

"Well I don't want to be special!" he snapped, "Hijau, Pocong, Hitam, Perak, Arbi... they're always making fun of me. Calling me names. Calling me GTT! I hate it, I hate it, I hate it."

"What is GTT, my son?"

"Who knows?! I don't know!" Merah sobbed, clearly the brotherly taunts had gone too far. He was feeling angry and ashamed of himself.

"Tell me. What does it mean?" the King spoke with a soft calming empathetic tone.

Merah turned to face his father. He looked up and said, "Got Tiny Testicles."

Hearing that, the King almost broke into a hysterical laughter, but for the sake of his favorite bastard, he suppressed it by turning away and pretended to cough. He knew his elder sons were capable of making caustic remarks, but he could never fault them for their creative ingenuity. Once he got over the cough, he composed himself, put both his arms on Merah's shoulder and said, "Look here my son," he chuckled and immediately looked down, almost giving himself away, "if you feel so profoundly about changing your nose, I know of someone who can help. In fact, I am sure he can fix you up before the Royal Testi... I mean, Royal Ball."

"You'd do that for me father?"

"Of course... you are my favorite ball... I mean boy... boy! Favorite boy."

"Thank you father." Merah was so happy he hugged his dad, who by then was teary eyed from holding back the urge to laugh.

Got tiny testicles... genius!

******

The Royal Ball attracted the who's who of the kingdom. They came from all over the land, as far away as Joe Hur, the kingdom's last southern bastion.

The aristocrats in attendance for the Royal Ball.

But it was different that year because it coincided with the unveiling of the new prince, as was customary when the prince hit puberty. Every one came to witness for themselves the truth behind the rumors that the King fathered a child.

They came to pay homage to their just King.

As the guests waited with bated Ron Smilan Tjuh stinking breath, finally, along with his brothers, Merah stepped out to the balcony to a rousing reception from the gallery at his coming of age gala. The crowd cheered at the new prince as he waved at them.

The titular prince final unveiled.

"He looks just like the King," some remarked.

"OMG! What a ravishing red royal!" some cooed.

Merah was overjoyed. He was pleased with his new nose and none was the wiser, except, of course, those in the know. And Hijau Tertituar knew.

"You may fool them, brother... but you ain't fooling me. One day, they will find out who you really are. I'll make sure of that," Hijau whispered his threat to Merah.

Merah's face changed. He should have expected that from his brother, especially on such a special occasion as the Royal Ball.

"Oh, by the way... we made fun of the size of your balls and you went ahead and got a nose job? Brilliant, my brother. You have truly redefined the meaning of stupidity," Hijau's parting words were as incisive and hurtful as his sword play.

With that, Merah relapsed into his pre-nose job depression.