LOVE SONGS OF LOLOBATA

EARLY JOURNEY

Half an hour after dawn, Andi Syarif and his rental car driver had arrived at the courtyard of the house. Mama immediately rushed to welcome him while bringing a dus of souvenirs such as bagea cake, walnut halea, nutmeg sweets and tumbu cakes he bought yesterday from the market.

"Titip Fifa yes, Brother Syarif. Say hello to Hasan's grandmother and uncle. Do not forget to call the Fifi number once you arrive in Sofifi, Ternate and Makasar. We don't want to lose a single bit of news about Fifa."

"Ready, Mama."

"Jaga Fifa is fine. He's never been anywhere. Mama has brought anti-sickness and oil. Help him if there's anything on the way."

Andi smiled at the excitement as well as the anxiety of my mother releasing me to travel far for the first time. A long line of commands and advice slid from his lips. Mama kept warning Andi not to leave me for a second. Must guard. Even if you had handcuffs, maybe you would handcuff my hands with my distant cousin's hands in order to be inseparable. Reasons for worrying drunk, lost and lost repeatedly thrown. Mama also reminded Andi of my stubborn character and said it was hard to guess what she wanted.

"Not until he's lost sight. Do not make him angry because usually if angry he will do unexpected actions to avoid us. He can run away, hide or whatever he can do. You have to take care of your child."

This morning mama was much more chatty than a parrot. It's not what it used to be. Because my mom is the most patient person I've ever known. Never fight back when you're cursed and don't talk much if you don't need to. How important was I to my mom to that worry? I went with someone my mom trusted. Moreover, Andi Syarif is actually playing a big role in linking back friendship with the baba family. Wouldn't that be enough to convince her heart that her daughter would definitely be fine?

"Mama relax! Fifa will be fine during the trip." I said with a smile on my right and left cheeks.

"You were lost when you were invited to the market."

I laughed, "Fifa was a little girl, Ma. Fifa is big. If you do not know the way home, just go to the police station or koramil ask the help of the fathers of the state apparatus to be escorted to this village."

"You should always follow your sister. Don't be stubborn. Makassar is far away. You have to traverse hundreds if not thousands of plantations, villages, forests, and oceans."

"Good, Ma." I'd better let it go so that the problem doesn't get longer.

Mama again approached Andi and returned to warning, "Remember ya, Brother Sharif. You have to take the responsibility of bringing Fifa back home with nothing less."

Andi nodded. A little frightened at the serious threatening expression of mama.

After saying goodbye, kissing her hands and hugging her and Fifi, we got into the rental car laughing at her absurd behavior.

"Mama ngana so very dear pe ngana, Fifa. Worrying too much until it turns into a fussy not a bitch."

"Sa tara thought so too." I still chuckle at the unusual behavior of my mother.

"Sa sense given a heavy burden is very careful de have a girl. If there's anything, Mama will kill me. Hiy, horror."

I shrugged my shoulders while laughing. Feel valuable because my mom is worried about me that way.

Suddenly I remembered baba. My busy life made me forget I hadn't visited her grave in a long time. I have to say goodbye to Baba too.

"Sister, can you stop by for a while at the new village TPU?"

Andi looked at her watch and looked at me to say no.

"Our time is limited, Fifa."

"Please! 5 Minutes only. Sa hasn't said he has baba." I pleaded with a clear face and cupped my hands together.

Andi looked at my hopeful face. Finally giving up, "Hm, all right. No more than 5 minutes."

I nodded with a head nod.

The day is not yet bright. The sun has not yet appeared at the horizon. Only its rays of crowning seemed to decorate the clear sky that morning. I hurriedly approached a tomb with a stone headstone bearing the name of my son, Ahmad Syarif. While Andi was escorting behind me.

"Assynrass, Baba. Fifa came to visit Makassar to meet Hasan's grandmother and uncle." I said as I squatted on the side of his grave.

There was a lot of grass growing on his grave. My hands automatically plucked the grass while chanting prayers in a soft voice. Andi also helped to help uproot the grass and guarantee my prayers.

A cold wind blew the branches of coconut and nutmeg trees around the tomb area. Without interest. Without rose water. I had no preparations at all to visit Baba's tomb. It's a spontaneity. Actually I'm ashamed to say no respect for baba. I feel guilty because my busyness makes me forget to visit the tomb of baba until overgrown with a lot of grass like this. It has been more than 2 months I dissolved in my work without taking the time to visit it at all. Worse yet I began to ally myself and adore the man I thought had killed the baba with his poisoned arrow. I really don't understand how my heart actually takes sides. Plin. Sometimes I feel like I don't know myself.

"Prophe, forgive Fifa!" I asked while cupping my hands. I feel like I've turned into a bad boy. Forgetting the kindness and affection of baba.

The applause on my back immediately made me realize that my promise was no more than 5 minutes. We couldn't go long on pilgrimage at Baba's tomb.

I'm standing. The grass above the tomb is not finished I clean all. Too rushed. Truly, this is the greatest omission in the history of my life.

"Fifa go first, Ba." That's all I can say with tears already falling.

Andi grabbed my shoulder and took my step outside the cemetery. He also opened the door and closed it when I was perfectly seated. While he entered the other car door.

"Where don't punish yourself, Fifa! Baba must be happy and bless your trip to meet grandma and uncle who never had time to introduce."

"I forgot. It hasn't been a long time and take good care of his grave." I answered him with my own mind.

"Baba must understand the busyness of ngana. After all, the tomb is only a visible symbol on earth. Baba has actually moved to heaven and heaven is not in the ground."

I scrunched my forehead. The tomb is only a visible symbol on earth. Right too. Bodies embedded in the earth do not go to another realm. Time will make the body reunite with the ground as the beginning of human creation. From the ground and will re-integrate with the ground.

The car drove back across the rocky road until it met the asphalt road which is the only district road to the provincial capital which is about 4 - 5 hours away by normal speed.

True said mama, the trip to Sofifi was far away had to cross gardens, hills, seaside and villages.

"Why don't we get on a plane from Buli airport, brother? That's the day that Dr. Hans came from Buli airport."

"Let us enjoy the complete journey: land, sea and air." Andi replied with a smile.

"Airplanes from Buli are more expensive huh?"

Andi was even whiny. The sign is right my guess. Travel from our village to the outside area is quite expensive because there is no public transportation route that the schedule is certain. Black license plate cars that usually take passengers until the provincial city does not want to walk before it is full to be unreliable from the time side. That's why we have to rent a vehicle.

The driver drove us straight to the fast boat dock to the city of Ternate. Crowded atmosphere. The sun is high until the heat feels stinging the skin.

"Where do you want to have lunch, Fifa?"

"Tara."

Andi bought 2 bottles of cold drinks and 2 bread packs of chocolate.

"It's better to have stomach first. Ngana's not used to getting on a fast boat, is she?"

I didn't answer. I grabbed the bread offered by Andi and then ate while sitting swinging my legs in the waiting chair.

"Where are you taking anti-sickness medication?" ask her with a soft face.

"Tara." I replied with a brushed hand.

"What's wrong. Just prepare the second alternative that mama prepared, wind oil." His smile was even more stingy.

I'm thieving.

"A lot of people don't get drunk on land, but drunk on the sea or the air."

"May not." I replied casually.

"Why not afraid of heights?"

"Manalah fear. From a small sa taught baba to climb a tall tree in the forest to see birds or pick fruits." I replied a little nyolot. Upset being a plumbing material.

"Oh yes, I forgot about Tarzan's son." Andi chuckles.

It's nice babaku spelled Tarzan. Spontaneously I hit his arm tight. Unfortunately, Andi has broken my habits. Instead of avoiding he was ready to hold his biceps muscles firmly until my bones felt like they were about to fall out like they had hit a rock.

He laughed while I was busy shaking my sick hand.

"Make him not hit an old brother. Said the Javanese, kuwalat you." Andi chuckles at me in pain.