LOVE SONGS OF LOLOBATA

JIM

I just ignored the trash talk with my ex-stepfather. I didn't tell my mom about this. One thing I need to make sure, Mama will not refer to a man she never loved. It was just that request that I told my mom while we were away in the coconut grove. Another problem I keep myself so as not to be a burden on my mind.

In the afternoon, the village head came back to our house. I didn't want to meet him on purpose. Mama met him on the front porch accompanied by Fifi. While I eavesdropped on his chatter from the front room where I held a pandan and weaved it into a mat.

"Sa would like to refer to pe ngana, Mala. Sa promised not to interfere with Fifa's business to marry when and with whom."

That's clearly a lie. He said that this early this morning, but after a few minutes he said he wished I was the mistress of the mine boss to make his life prosperous. Where can we go again. It was obvious that the man was intending to sell me to a rich man.

"Sorry, I don't want to talk. Better to marry someone better than me."

"But I still love pe ngana, Mala. Tarada who can replace the position of ngana in the heart. Every night I regretted the decision that night. Longing and loneliness a tormenting feeling." My voice sounded groggy.

It's nonsense. I smiled at the bullshit of the braggart. Where there is love, longing and loneliness. Lies. Every night he slept with his wife. I trust Mama Wen's words more. He wanted to refer to his mother because she was rejected by the young widow next door. Haha. Hopefully kapok. It's getting older, not enough money but wants to have many wives and mistresses.

"I'm sorry, I want to spend the rest of my life with the kids. I cannot love my father. If forced, she cannot be a good wife. Many other women are prettier, younger and better than me."

"But they don't have Mala."

I want to hear the old man woo mom. Tombal all.

Thankful my mama can no longer be consumed by her zombie seduction. His love is only for Baba. Forever only for baba. Of course I am happy to hear that my mother continues to refuse to refer to the village head.

The village chief came home empty-handed. Not just once. Every afternoon he stopped by the house to bring a variety of food. Bread, beans, corn and other foods were brought as souvenirs to win the heart of mama. Mama and Fifi never tasted it. Usually in the morning the food was taken to the garden for breakfast people who work to process copra. Sometimes I take it for our bird or cattle. Anyway, we do not want to eat the food he gave. Although we in front of him accept, but do not want to taste.

The copra's fumigation is complete. Mama had sold copra to the besiegers and paid the salaries of the workers who helped harvest and cultivate it into copra. Mama has also sent rice to mama Wen as she promised. Now the collectors do not pay copra in cash, but directly transfer to bank accounts. This new habit is more profitable for those of us who are worried about money storage problems. Lately there have been several cases of theft when new people receive money from the harvest in the village.

Fifi now plays the role of a cashier mama. He tells every bank transaction that information goes into his account and takes money at an ATM machine near his school if needed. The money in those savings was only used to pay for electricity, and Fifi's school fees alone. While for daily needs we rely on garden results in the yard, livestock and the sale of handicrafts.

Today I'm getting ready to go to Bray's office in a neat shirt, trousers and a matching veil. Last night I made a notice to Hisham about my planned arrival.

According to the news that is always updated Brother Hisham, the notary deed has come out and the process of making a large aviary has begun to run. Same with vet and keeper recruitment.

Fifi drove me on a motorcycle to the security guard post. There I had to hand over my identity card. They exchanged it for a visitor's necklace and project-standard safety equipment such as helmets, safety shoes and special vests as workers in the region wear. While choosing the right shoes, I was asked to wait until Hisham's brother picked me up at the security guard post.

"Hi, Fifa. How are you?" hisham's feet stumbled upon me. He looked tired this afternoon. Hot air. It looks like he walked quite a distance towards the security guard post.

"Good, Brother"

I'm a little awkward with the company's protocol. I'll just follow what the plot of the instructions were told by the security guard. Everyone in this neighborhood seems to be wearing the same safety standards. Most wore the same uniform that Hisham was currently wearing, a long blue shirt with a silver stripe on his arm. They smiled and lowered their heads as they passed Hisham's brother. It made me also reply with a smile anyway. Only one or two people waved from afar or greeted Hisham with stale basic questions.

"This is the activity in our office" said Hisham, opening the glass door of a 2-story building with a lot of glass that clearly shows the activities of people in it. The building looks tiny when compared to the building with a chimney located behind it. Even so, the design looks more aesthetic than a large building on which there are large tanks and chimneys. There is a tropical garden in front of the building. Inside there are also plant pots that look refreshing to the eye.

"In the office space safety equipment can be opened, but if out it still has to be used again. Ngana can put it in the visitor locker that is there. Don't forget to take the key to be safe."

I'm following the protocol that's in place at this office. I see some office employees do not use standard project safety equipment. Unlike the person who went back and forth outside the building earlier. All of them were wearing project standard safety equipment. I put my helmet, safety shoes and vest in the locker that Hisham showed me, locked it and put the key in the bag of pants I was wearing.

But uh ... why doesn't Brother Hisham do the same?

"Sa just take ngana to the room Bray mas. Next must be back in charge of overseeing furnace activity at the factory. Sa this is a field guy, Fifa. All in this office is management, personnel, general and financial."

"That's why Hisham didn't accompany me to see Bray?" many doubt. I hope I don't meet this man alone.

"Tara, Fifa. There will be a secretary of directors who can help you if you need something. Administrative files and veterinary and keeper applications are all still in that secretary."

Owh so yeah. I think Hisham's brother was the assistant who took care of whatever Bray's interests were and followed him wherever he was. It turns out that he was a field employee who served in a nickel processing plant that was located separate from this building.

I hesitated to follow Hisham who stepped firmly and with long strides. Insecurity and fear enveloped me. Is it possible to face the young boss' magical power alone?

"Good day, brother Jim. This is Afifa, who's going to take care of the new bird conservation foundation."

Brother Hisham introduced me to a clean-skinned man who was well-dressed. There was not the slightest tangled line on the clothes he was wearing. Her hair is also very well-groomed. Because of his flawless neatness that he is very suitable to hold the status as secretary of directors. His work may also be very neatly arranged appearance.

"I'm Jim, secretary to Mr. Firdaus Sanjaya."

"I'm Afifa Sharif."

"Please sit! Please look forward to it, Sister Fifa. Mr. Firdaus has a guest. We can talk first about the application for the foundation personnel who happen to still hold me."

"I went back to the furnace, Jim. Titip Fifa." Hisyam immediately returned to his job site.

"Thank you, Brother Hisham." I said. Looking at him with an unwilling look. Anxiety and insecurity made his body limp. I just want to follow Hisyam.

"It's okay with Jim." Brother Hisham patted me on the shoulder with a smile.

I'm nodding.

"Why does it look pale? Not having lunch yet?"

"It has. Probably just not used to it in the cold room."

"Would get used to the AC room. Jim is just like a polar bear. Tara never got sun." Hisham laughed as he walked away from us.

"Are you really cold, Fifa?" ask Jim kindly.

I smiled, turning my eyes away from Hisham's brother to my opponent now, Jim. "No. It may just need some adjustment. It's so hot outside."

"Wait a minute! I'll order some warm tea on the OB. Hopefully help you adjust to the air here. My AC is also adjusted at normal temperature of 24 degrees."

Jim picked up a flat object used to tune the air conditioner. He showed me, the temperature has been adjusted to 24 degrees. A little later he called someone ordering hot tea and biscuits.

Well, so not feeling good. My words even trouble Jim. I don't know if my face is so pale that he has to bother treating me this well. All I'm praising from Bray's secretary's job is to be deft but flawless. Salutes.