LOVE SONGS OF LOLOBATA

ANGEL DANCE

Lately the parrot is increasingly rarely perched on the walnut tree. My days are getting quieter. Moreover, all the residents have moved to a new village. No one to talk to. The cotton thread that accompanied me spent my time was up. Woven fabric brought Fifi. He said it sold. I don't know how much it costs, I never know and I never try to know. While cotton trees do not flower this season because too much rainfall falls. Most trees have a rotten trunk. My heart is getting worse but I still strengthen my heart to survive in the hut relic baba. By ourselves.

Yesterday Deya visited my hut with a face folded. As a friend, there was no look of kangen on his face even though we hadn't seen each other for a long time. I don't think he thinks I'm a friend anymore. He no longer came as a friend.

“Arfa often to your house huh?”

Reading her less-than-pleasant gurgle, I smiled as I tried to give a slightly convoluted answer. “Not really. He's busy working, De. I only have Sunday off. That's also he used to bring resin or agarwood to the city.”

Deya nodded. Jealousy bias covered his face. I don't know if Deya knows exactly what Arfa's daily activities are or not. He should have known because Deya was the best eye ever. Every activity of Arfa did not escape his vision.

“He rarely goes home.” he said flat.

“All workers should stay in mess.” I replied in an equally flat tone.

“What's that way modern people work? All the time have to work?”

“I think it might be so.”

Deya pursed her lips. I saw his hands clenched. I'm trying to cut myself off because I don't feel I have anything wrong with her. What right to be angry with me.

“The villagers have stories, he said Arfa often comes here. They plan to raid you if you are still often alone with Arfa.” he complained with a increasingly wry face.

Masabodos. I just smiled faintly in response to him. I've heard that story word of mouth. Maybe that story also makes Arfa meet me less and less. It'sit's okay. I think it's good for us. I don't expect people to actually raid me. We were really pure friends and never did anything weird. He came to take me to eat and talk. No more than that.

“Yesterday the Arfa family has proposed to me.”

“Alhamdulillah.”

Really am. I'm glad to hear that news.

“I hope from now on you stay away from him.”

“I never tried to see him, Deya. But I can't resist if Arfa comes to see me. As you know, I and Arfa have been friends since childhood.”

Deya sneered. “Arfa thinks of you more than friends. You must stay away from him, because his status is now Arfa is my fiancee.” Deya said with round eyes reddish. His eyes are like they're gonna pounce on me.

I nodded slowly. I understand my position. Not good men and women are both adults, especially he has been engaged to other women.

“Because I'm happy here.”

“Because you can be alone with Arfa?”

“No. I'm not what you think. We're just friends. My decision to stay at my baba house has nothing to do with Arfa. You don't deserve to accuse me of that. You know for yourself, if I want Arfa has proposed to me to be his wife.” I replied cynically. I deliberately showed off my smile because I was offended by his words that smelled accusatory. I just wanted to remind Deya that she doesn't deserve to accuse me like that. Jealousy is okay, but logic has to work.

“I am here for the sake of my babaku.” firmly I then. Loud. I put my face on her so Deya could understand my seriousness.

A red gush filled Deya's face. I'm sure my words must have offended him and embarrassed him because he knew if Arfa was here and given the choice would definitely choose me. I don't want to dispute but he first accused me of being that cruel. Did he forget that I had pushed Arfa many times to propose to him?

“Munafic. Just wait! Soon people will kick you out.”

I'm shaking.

“If you do not want to join your mama moving to a new village, you should join a tribal group living in the middle of the forest only. This land is a concession land for nickel mines. Sooner or later they'll kick you out.”

“You have no right to set me.” hardikku with a loud tone, firm and fierce.

Deya stomped her feet. His eyes returned my gaze with equal sharpness. No other conversation after that. Deya left with all her disappointment. I don't know why my heart feels empty. Is solitude makes me not care what other people feel. Even my own feelings I don't care.

After Deya's arrival, I always tried to avoid meeting with Arfa. Every late afternoon I deliberately went away from my hut. That's all I can do, 'cause Arfa usually comes at noon. I know, he's dedicated and loves his job at the company. There was no way he would sacrifice his job just to meet the stubborn girl who repeatedly rejected his proposal.

Despite losing friends, I never lost my mind in finding ways to entertain myself. Usually I go to the river bank to find fish or just sit staring at the vegetation of the watershed, rocks, fish and play water. Sometimes I go into the woods looking for tall trees I can climb. I put a cloth swing on a sturdy tree trunk. The swing is a place to hide while relaxing the most comfortable. I can enjoy the whispers of the wind blowing on the leaves and branches of trees. If lucky on the tree I can see a herd of apes twitching from one tree to another while voicing a typical primate cry that sounds loud. Not infrequently seen there are birds passing by flying while squeaking like a love song. But the most special of all is the presence of the Angel Halmahera, a beautiful bird from heaven.

We call the bird of Halmahera weka. It is a medium-sized bird of paradise. The female weka is brown-olive, smaller in size and has a longer tail. The male bird crowned with purple and purple-pale shiny color. The distinctive color of her chest protector is emerald green. The most striking characteristic is the two pairs of long white feathers that come out bending from its wings and the feathers can be upheld or lowered according to the wishes of this bird.

Weka man is good at dancing. There is no music that accompanies the dance other than a gust of wind that moves the leaves and branches of trees. The male weka flaps its wings with a beautiful rhythm and movement. Occasionally male weka do flying attractions such as swooping and spinning in the air like a fighter. The attraction is done in order that the male shows off the beauty of his fur on the female weka his target. His eyes looked lovingly. Duh, how romantic.

I like to watch her unique dancing. Don't ask how beautiful the dance is. All my life, that's the most beautiful dance I've ever seen. The event is very rare because the number of birds endemic to the island of Halmahera is not much. In addition, beautiful dance is created for love, not an everyday habit. I who have often climbed to the top of a tall tree just 2 times had the opportunity to see the dance of the halmahera angel. Once upon a time with baba at the bird monitoring area of the national park. The next lucky break happened last week. With all my might, I immortalized it in my memory to recollect its beauty when I felt lonely. Unfortunately, although the romantic kebangetan this type of bird is not a type of monogamous animals. They are animals that like to change partners.

Thank God I enjoy my simple life happily and gratefully. I have never felt hunger despite having to live alone on the edge of the village bordering the river and the dense forest opposite it. Rice that grows wild in rivers, yams and sago trees have provided nature in more than enough quantities. I also never run out of vegetables that are planted in the garden around the baba heritage house that I always take care of every day. There's a chicken that I sometimes take eggs for side dishes. Now, I am also good at catching fish in the river and making smoked fish as a food supply. Really am. I live my days happily despite living away from the crowds.

 

Thank you for being faithful to read ⁇ 😘