LOVE SONGS OF LOLOBATA

ABOUT THE BABA

I rushed over to the black SUV that had just entered the parking area. Bray followed me at a faster pace. As soon as the car that was driven by Mr. Rodi stopped, I immediately pulled the middle door handle and entered the car. While Bray tapped on the driver's window until Mr. Rodi opened the window.

"Sorry, Sir. I'm allowed to come with Dad. Want to meet his grandmother Fifa" Bray said in a calm and friendly voice.

Mr. Rodi had a glance at me. But I didn't react to anything.

"I'm Firdaus Sanjaya, Fifa's friend."

Without waiting for Mr. Rodi's answer, Bray opened the car door and sat down next to me.

Mr. Rodi looks confused "How, Non Fifa?" he asked while looking at me.

"Just walk away, sir!"

Mr. Rodi returned the parking maneuver vehicle to exit the tavern.

"Is it okay to see your grandmother and uncle?"

"Make what?"

"Wind to know. Wouldn't our windfall be more if we were to establish the divine?"

Classical reasons. Bray, like grandma, likes things that smell classic. Old man taste.

"Better mas Bray rest. Tomorrow there's an important meeting."

"Today's meeting is more important."

I don't know what else to say. I can't categorically refuse or allow Bray to meet Grandma.

A lot of guesses ran through my head. I'm sure Bray must be wondering who my father's family is. He could already judge what my father's family looked like from the clothes I wore, as well as the facilities I received at the moment. As for her love statement, I did not take it seriously. It could be that she revealed that because she knew that I was not the ordinary poor girl she had met in the Lolobata forest. This new status I just found out makes it hard to be myself.

I admit he's the perfect guy but I never wanted to have him. I just love seeing her smile and charming look. Just like fans love their idol actors. Enough to get there. I don't want to get into trouble in a complicated relationship. Inhaling the morning air, eating freshly picked food from the source and hearing the singing of the birds was enough to make me happy.

"You look uncomfortable, Fifa. Did I scare you?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Why? Do you think I'll harm you?"

"That's possible. The queen died in front of me. While those on location and holding bows and arrows are just Bray's mas."

"You saw for yourself my arrow about the walnut, not the bird. There were other arrows darting at the same time." he argued with the same alibi.

"That's it. I don't want to talk about this anymore. I have given the death of the parrot. Whoever the killer is, it must happen by God's will. But I'm sure the killer is the same person as the baba killer."

Bray's speechless. Mr. Rodi seemed shocked by our chatter which contained a great mystery related to the death of his employer's son.

"For God's sake I'm not the parrot's killer. I was also in school in America when your baba was killed 4 years ago. Please believe me, Fifa! I wasn't that simple."

"I'm not accusing Bray."

"You're accusing me of killing the parrot. That means you accused me of killing baba too."

"It has. Forget that! There's no need to feel guilty for not doing anything wrong."

Bray tore his body down on the seat violently. I saw him take a deep breath and say Istigfar many times. Looks like pissed. If guilty why not just confess so that his life is more peaceful. I can't sue either because I don't have evidence.

"Hasn't our relationship been good all along? If I had valid evidence, I would have reported the murder to the police."

"You always say sincerely, but the proof of the parrot case is still a challenge to your heart."

Sure oes. At any time as long as I don't find out who killed my father, it's still a hoax. To find out who the killer is feels impossible. That event has been happening for too long. My father's body was already fused with the ground. All that remains are bones. There were no witnesses at the scene. From all aspects it is no longer possible to be traced.

"May I tell you the truth about something?" pinta Bray in a soft voice.

"About work?" my guess.

Bray did not answer.

"The conservation of the bird will continue to exist or there is no support from the Bray mas. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn and start this effort."

"Baba's little boy once carried me into the woods to look for amber. At that time we needed money for the treatment of my sick brother. We still encounter many kinds of birds, including halmahera angels."

Bray sat quietly listening to my story without interruption.

"For 3 days we were in the forest always treated to a different kind of bird song every morning and evening. The more here the existence of several types of birds is increasingly rarely found. That's why I support Bray's idea of conservation even though maybe our main goals are different."

I think Bray will refute or defend himself with my last statement. Apparently not. He was more interested in the story of the little boy who invited his father into the forest. "Great. A young child has learned the technical survival in the forest." he flattered enthusiastically.

I smile.

"You and your father never caught wild birds to raise or sell?"

"The words of baba, their singing every morning and evening are a form of gratitude and prayer to their Lord. Let them be free in the earth of God. We went to the forest just to get some resin and agarwood. That is if there is an urgent need. At that time baba wanted to bring my brother who was sick hot to the health center or doctor in the city of the district."

Bray nodded.

"Mas Bray knew what happened at that time?"

Bray shakes. I asked him a rhetorical question. Of course Bray couldn't have known because he didn't go through with it.

"Baba took me with her while carrying a lot of agarwood ties and amber bags on her hands and back. Our dog followed behind. I try not to complain even though my feet are sore and sore. All I did was because I saw myself the burden of baba was so heavy."

Bray grimaced as if seeing or feeling for himself how a little boy his father had brought into the forest. Walking far through a bush, stumbling on a rock or stepping on something that might hurt your feet is not easy. Especially for a little girl.

"Why would baba take you to the forest? Why don't you just stay home?" he said with a sad tone of pity for the little boy.

"So mom doesn't bother taking care of her kids. At home you have to do homework, take care of Afan who is sick and Fifi who is a baby. I was about 5 years old."

Bray nodded in understanding that Baba actually did not want to bother her little girl either. They all do it because they have to. And it was proven that because of the forging of my life I grew into an independent woman who was persistent in fighting for what I wanted.

"Baba can be quite a lot of money from the sale of agarwood and resin. But when on the way to bring Afan to the puskesmas, his life was not helped."

"Why don't you borrow some money to take Afan to the doctor?"

"Baba doesn't want to trouble others. After all, our villagers live just as simply. We rarely trade with money. Afan was treated by a healer. The habit of our villagers of ordinary sick people is given traditional medicine from foliage or essential oils by families or healers. Doctors and puskesmas far away in the town. Even the equipment and medicine he said was incomplete. Going to the puskesmas is the last initiative because the heat of Afan has not been cured for a week and at that time some other children who suffer from the same disease can not be saved with traditional medicine."

"Daeng Syarif never asked his father or mother for help. Miss Arifah must be very sad to hear this story, non Fifa." Mr. Rodi commented.

"That's how we live, Mr. Rodi."

"Daeng Syarif died unnaturally?"

"Because of the poisoned arrow." I answered briefly.

Mr. Rodi didn't ask anymore because we had arrived at my grandmother's yard. I stepped in followed by Bray and Rodi sir.

"Please sit down, Firdaus. I'll call Grandma Fifa. Hopefully he will still be able to receive guests.

Shortly after the two of us sat on the living room sofa, Gufron came over. He was surprised to see Bray.

"Hi, Firdaus. What the hell is going on here? know Fifa?" Gufron said hello first.

Bray reached out. The two men shake hands.

"Yes. I have a partnership with Fifa to manage the bird conservation in Halmahera."

Gufron smiled faintly. "This fifa is the son of Sharif, my papi brother. Sorry about this morning. I think you have found the right person. It's better to deal directly with Fifa alone. Since yesterday morning, the status of the pepper garden is his."

Oh so the transaction of buying and selling pepper gardens that don't so it has something to do with Gufron?

"What's wrong. I've apologized and given Juno some understanding. Close problem."

Gufron glanced at me cynically. A second later he patted Bray on the shoulder and pleaded.

"I'll rest upstairs first. Please continue to talk to my cousin. You're the guest tonight."

What other trouble is this. Gufron had been planning to sell the coffee farm, while Grandma had given me the rights to the farm owner's agribusiness shares the day before. Just 3 days at home grandma family conflict has made my head want to break. I who knew nothing was forced to get involved in the whirlpool of their conflict.