LOVE SONGS OF LOLOBATA

FREE-HANDED

Early in the morning a black car with the logo of PT XY had parked in the yard of the house. Some of the neighbors were seen staring in full search. There is nothing strange about my home. Since yesterday afternoon we have been waving red and white flags, proof that we love this country. There should be nothing for them to suspect.

People's gossip about me and my mom hasn't stopped. Just subsided a little bit because lately they've run out of talk material.We consider gossip just the last wind. They seem to be tired of themselves. While from day to day we are just busy cultivating the garden, raising livestock and making handicrafts. What we did was not interesting to discuss. They only commented cynically when some of the neighboring children came to look at the aviary with amazed looks. Understandably, only we have a large aviary with a garden and a beautiful natural fountain pond.

Thank God our lives run without obstacles even though mama is no longer the wife of the village head. All of our daily needs are addressed together even though in our house there is no man.

Mr. Josi, the company's official car driver happened to be our good neighbor. He helped me put a cage with a pair of red-headed parrots in the back of the car. While I prepared some supplies, documents and food supplies.

"Fi, I borrowed your sunglasses dong."

"More. Watch not to be lost." Fifi handed over the sunglasses commonly used to take pictures with half-threatening eyes.

"If you lose buy again dong."

"Where are those glasses here. That's the city's glasses."

"I see that kind of glasses are cheap in online stores."

"The price is cheap, but the cost here can be ten times the price." complained Fifi with a sweet mouth.

I grin. Is correct. Items that look cheap in the online shop become expensive for us because the price is not comparable to the price of goods. Good thing maybe imported goods from China just enter directly at the port near here so that the price is not much different from the price on the island of Java.

I purposely wear a hat and glasses so that not many people recognize. Especially if Bray's brother comes. I could look at him in secret without being recognized. I planned everything well.

Arriving in the field, Hisham greeted me and immediately introduced me to Andi, an environmental service staff who was involved in discussions with him.

"This is Afifa Syarif, our volunteer Avian keeper. This miss is taking care of the birds that left the other day."

"Greetings to Afifa. I'm Andi. Thank you for taking care of the birds that we're going to return to their habitat."

"Kak Andi is also a member of the community of lovers of twisted beak birds?"

"No, yet" he replied with a faint smile.

"The living environment is not only focused on taking care of the birds, but all that concerns the living environment in which he is assigned." sambar Hisham said with a big smile.

Uh, I'm embarrassed.

"We have just confiscated male wake-wake birds that will be traded in the port area. His condition is a bit stressful. Miss is willing to take care of him?"

I immediately swerved. Male wake? Wow, I didn't expect to be given the chance to take care of a dream bird that I was looking for the other day to get lost in the forest. This offer is very interesting. Of course my reflexes agreed.

"I'd love to be trusted to take care of the Male Wake."

"Deal yes. Mr. Hisham later facilitated the retrieval of the bird at the office."

"Ready" Brother Hisham immediately sprightly with a respectful hand raised military style.

Andi laughing.

Andi's a cheap guy smiles but his eyes are a little naughty. Her stature is relatively small for a man's size. He's almost the same height as me. Skin clean and neat looking. Be fit to be a government officer.

"Have you been in Lolobata for a long time, brother?"

"New 3 months."

"The late baba knew Mr. Doni, the Lolobata forest police first."

"Pak Doni has now moved to Ternate."

"Sir Andi is a Maluku native?"

"No. I was born and raised in Makassar."

"Well, Bugis?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"My late babak is also a Bugis."

"Ohya? Still our blood apparently."

We laughed together. Perhaps because of feeling both have Bugis blood, Andi Ahmad Syarifuddin became more familiar and open to me. He turned out to be a biology graduate from a well-known agricultural institute in Indonesia and only last year was appointed a civil servant.

"Who's your babys name?"

"Ahmad Sharif."

"Without Andi in front?"

"Eitherway. I don't think so."

"Kok seems to doubt that. Don't you guys ever know the baba family tree?"

I'm shaking. I don't know. Baba has told me very little about her family and has never introduced us to her parents. Baba never came home. Baba says our grandparents' house is far across the ocean. We never had enough money to visit the village, but we always prayed for them.

"Never know who your grandparents are?"

I shook my head again.

How do you feel sad, huh? Andi smiled thinly. I think he pityes me who only knows the descendants of Bugis people but does not understand the genealogy of his family. Well this is me, Afifa Sharif.

The ceremony will begin soon. Andi said that he had to accompany the mother of the deputy head of service in his row with other government employees. He took down my number and promised to call me about the male wake bird that would be left to be cared for. While I stepped in at the invitation line.

The Aga and Ima cages are seen to have been at the front near the podium. The top of the cage has been tied in a red-white ribbon. Somehow the situation of the two, I could not see clearly from where I was standing in the middle of the citizen line because we were too far away.

After following the ceremony with wisdom, the event immediately continued with the release of a pair of parrots. My heart is waiting for that historic moment.

"Honorably, the vice regent and CEO of PT XY mining, Mr. Firdaus Sanjaya, was welcome to the front of the podium to release each of them a red head parrot or better known as nuri ternate. The bird with the scientific name Garullus loryus is one of the endemic birds in the Lolobata forest. These birds are rare and protected so they cannot be hunted and traded. Anyone who sees anyone hunting or trading without an official certificate, please report immediately at the local environmental service. In the spirit of independence, let us both witness the release of this rare bird back into its habitat."

The show host had invited the two honorable men. I who had forgotten the figure of the killer was increasingly unable to master the rapid pounding of my heart when he saw his sturdy step forward to the front of the podium. The steps are long and sure. He smiled wilfully with a look of eyes that swept across the entire audience still standing in the middle of the field, including me.

I don't think he's aware of my whereabouts. Maybe he forgot who I was because I was nobody and it's not important to remember. Friends aren't. Not employees. There's no reason for him to remember me. In addition, I wore a hat and was among dozens of citizens who were invited to attend this independence day ceremony.

My eyes continued to follow in his footsteps. Two SMU children in pascibra uniforms were assigned to hand over the two birds. Bray accepted it with a fluffy smile. Akh, even though it was not only aimed at me but it felt like the smile was piercing my heart until it leaked and throbbed faster. Though he was not holding a bow and arrow, but my heart was like an earth.

The straight-haired man with a smile full of charm was holding Aga with both hands. While the vice regent holds the Ima. As per the instructions of the host, the two respected people released the parrot together. A pair of red-headed parrots flew with the clapping of dozens of attendees who filled the field.

"Good way, Aga. Goodbye, Ima. Don't forget to visit me occasionally huh," I said softly while waving my hands at him.

For a moment I forgot that smile. My eyes followed the wings of Aga and Ima until the bird disappeared behind the trees. Freemen. Enjoy your freedom, Aga, Ima!

Half my soul flew off. I lost interest in watching the next show in the form of competitions and performing arts. I chose to avoid the frenetic independence day celebration which became the event of the annual festive people's party. Step by foot and go until you get to the river bank. I think it's necessary to be alone to neutralize my chaotic feelings.

I didn't realize anyone was following me, probably because it was too late for my heart to feel so unbecoming.

"Affia." Someone called out to me when I was sitting on a big rock by the river.

The straight-haired man smilingly thrust out a box that read Mama Lolobata Catering.

"Eat! I'll keep you eating."

I'm still fucked. Why is he following me? I looked in all directions. There's no one else. Where are the assistants and guards? Cook the CEO left alone without an escort. What dream is this?

"Who's looking?"

"Sir Hashim." I replied.

His feet still tread the earth. He's not a ghost and I'm not dreaming.

"He's busy taking care of the show." she replied with a plain face. Like no fault or sin.

He brought me another box I didn't want to touch. I still don't budge.

"Are you afraid I might be poisoned?"

Unanswered. I honestly wanted to say yes, but my lips couldn't.

He changed the box, "I switched it. Still don't want to?"

I'm still quiet. Dag dig dug, my heart is not yet about to beat normally despite all my might trying to neutralize myself.

"Then we ate this box together. Let if there's poison we die together." Now he's smiling. It still looks just as charming. Anyway, the curvature of her lips actually contained magic in my eyes.