LOVE SONGS OF LOLOBATA

SUFFERING AND WOUNDS

Tofu and sambal dabu dabu mama's cooking is no match for taste. Even though it is eaten in cold conditions it is delicious immeasurably. Especially when the rice is still smoking, it is very special. Rice a plate full of ludes in an instant.

"You look hungry. A week in the woods eat what?"

"Anything that can be eaten. There's a burnt mushroom. There's fruit on the table. Anything that can be eaten, Fifa eats. But this morning Fifa had a good meal because she met a city person who was on vacation in the forest. Bread and eat spicy grilled fish rice."

"Ohya? Any town people vacationing in the woods?" My mother doesn't seem to believe my story. Sounds weird indeed. Rarely are there city people who are interested in vacationing in the forest that has not been used as a popular tourist spot.

"Maybe bored in the city."

Mama mangosteen.

After finishing eating, mama packed the bushel she brought. As long as I disappeared into the forest, my mom always came to this house with a bushel of food for me and put it on the table just in case I went home hungry. Mama swapped the bushel the next day with a different menu of food.

"From tomorrow on, don't worry mama anymore, baby. No need to go for days looking for resin in the woods."

I'm nodding.

"Do you still want to live here?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Then, let mama take pandan and hang him. If it's dry, Fifi'll drop you here. You're not going anywhere anymore."

Finished cleaning the food, mom came back to her house in the new village. Today my mother brought home 2 bushels. The food in the bushel yesterday must have been stale. It is usually used as chicken and duck feed.

After my mom left, I cleaned up and cleaned the house. There was no sound that accompanied me other than the sound of the impact of objects that I deliberately made myself to vent the rest of the annoyance that was still there. The usual sound of birds chirping perched on the old walnut tree beside the house did not hear at all. I don't know. Maybe my ears are insensitive because I still haven't fully controlled my disappointed emotions. I don't know how long I can be at peace with myself.

KWAK. Suddenly, a loud and heartbreaking scream came from the direction of the old walnut tree beside the house. That's definitely not the usual bird song I hear. I threw a broom from my hand and rushed out of the house to the direction of the sound.

I was surprised to find my beloved parrot who used to perch on the walnut tree fell from the branch of the tree with an arrow stuck in his body. While on the other side I saw Bray smiling contentedly on his horse holding a bow.

"SHOCK." My mouth was loudly and loudly rebuking. My heart beats so hard. My head is burning with fire.

Bray stopped smiling. His face changed. While Hisham's brother ran up to the fallen parrot and examined the body of the fluffy red-green talking bird carefully.

"Dead." he said while carrying my body with both hands.

I saw Bray's face growing pias. I don't know why. Is he afraid to see my anger? Or see the animal die? My first impression that adored him suddenly faded. He is no longer a bidadara in my eyes. Now he was a very cruel life-reviving monster.

I approached Hisham's brother. My nurse can't move. Quiescent. Lay helpless.

Hisham drew the arrow and the black blood flowed down the beautiful red green feather.

"You're killers. Be ready with your karma. The one you love will die by a poisoned arrow." I cursed Bray with my index finger and my eyes full of fire.

Bray's face turned pale like a corpse. He didn't say a word.

He came down from his horse and stepped gontai towards the walnut tree. Apparently he took a fallen walnut with an arrow drawn under the tree.

"You misunderstood, Fifa. I shot this walnut, not the parrot" he said in self-defense showing the canary still drawn by the arrow.

I don't wanna know. He was the only person I saw with my own eyes holding an arrow. There is no one else here except Hisham's brother who holds no bow at all. There is no way a horse can throw an arrow without a bow. He must have killed my spirit.

My tears are flowing down my cheeks. With a quick motion I grabbed my parrot body and then entered the house and closed the door tightly. I have to help her. Mana knows my spirit can still be saved His body still feels warm. I'll do my best to save him.

I waited for the miracle second by second. No matter Hisham's brother knocking on my door. They're killers. I would not be friends with cruel people who have no compassion for God's fellow beings.

Time pass. My nurse did not move. His body was cold and stiff. I started to feel sad and desperate. My nutrition was completely unsaved. He died in much the same way as Baba.

My heart's plump. So poignant.

Wh why? Wh why? Why did the arrows take the lives of my beloved people and animals?

At night Arfa, Mama, and Fifi came on different motorcycles. I don't know where to hear from. It's possible that Hisham's sister told me about this incident this afternoon to Arfa and Arfa told my family. They helped me bury Nuriku under our beloved walnut tree where we used to talk.

"Every living person will die, Fifa. We will experience it in time." said Mama while rubbing my back.

"Fifa knows that all who live must die. But it's hard to be sincere if the one we love dies in this tragic way." I sobbed while wiping away the melted tears that fell.

Mama kept rubbing my back. The oil lamp whose light was dim was almost dead blown by the strong wind.

"We've just returned to the village, Fifa. The light oil is almost gone. Mama can't leave you here alone."

Mama kept rubbing my back and trying to comfort me.

There was another motorcycle stop near where we buried my neck. I don't give a shit.

"Hey. Ngana is here. Arphae. Come home! Papa ngana is ill not visited. Arrogant girl stubborn ngana jenguk. What are the gathering nights here? Is there any kenduri?"

No one's saying. I knew it was a loud voice that belonged to Mama Arfa. I have already memorized that voice.

My heart is still grieving. Do not want to make small talk to people who come without saying hello. Neither did the others.

Mama Arfa never liked me. From the beginning. Ever since Baba was alive, Arfa was not allowed to play with me or my family. The reason for that was because we were descendants of immigrants who were considered arrogant because they knew more about agricultural and religious techniques. We are not like that.

"Go home, Arfa! Look at papa ngana who's sick." Mama patted Arfa on the back and spoke softly.

"What are you burying there? Baby?"

"Just a parrot, Mama Arfa. Someone shot Fifa's favorite bird this afternoon." explained mama with polite language and a soft tone.

Mama Arfa sneered and pulled her son's hand violently.

"Had mama said, don't go near that stubborn cocky girl. Wretched ngana later. The fucking carrier."

Arfa did not budge where he stood. Like a statue, his body did not move at all even though his mother continued to pull Arfa's hand.

Mama Arfa's mouth never stop saying the oath of absorbency for Fifa. The sound of the discord is not pleasant to hear at all. Fortunately, Fifa was sad. He did not care and did not want to reply to the words that made the ears burn. All considered the wind.

"Ngana don't be a bad boy. Come home! Follow the same mom. Ngana will be doomed if he continues to be friends with him. Ngana knows his family died unnaturally. Some eaten river crocodiles. Someone has a strange disease. The baba died by a mysterious baracun arrow. Now the villagers no one wants to accompany him. Everyone near him must be wretched. Come home! Papa ngana's sick because ngana won't come with us."

"Go home, brother! Poor sister Fifa is insulted constantly by ngana has a mother," Fifi whispered softly.

Very uncomfortable to hear the bad words of Mama Arfa. We don't want any commotion in this atmosphere of grief and hurt. Fifi encouraged Arfa to come home soon.

In my heart I wondered, was I really the one who brought bad luck to those closest to me?