LOVE SONGS OF LOLOBATA

RESPONSIBILITIES

Ten minutes passed. I turned to see Fifi had snuggled up in bed. Very quickly he fell asleep. It was only ten minutes ago that he ended the conversation with a smart conclusion. Fifi's right. This family rarely takes the time to have a heart-to-heart conversation. The majority of the actions were done on the basis of his own preconceived thoughts. Undeniable. I am too. A lot of preconceptions filled my head, especially about Gufron. We never sat down to talk about our problems.

Tut tuutt. Gawaiku. I took it from the top of the nightstand.

Video call from Bray. I closed it because I was in my pajamas and was getting ready to go to bed. Not worth a video call. Although the heart wants to look at his face, but I still think sane.

Looks like it's gonna be a habit for Bray to call me in the middle of the night. I feel like a kind of kuntilanak living in the middle of the night.

A second later my gaze sounded again. This time it was a voice call from the same person.

"Generic, Fifa. Ready to go to bed, are you?" A hoarse voice like the Angel of Halmahera was heard again. Friendliest. Not angry at all even though I refused the video call just now. It seems he can understand.

"Wa'alaikumsalam's chat. What's up Bray?" I don't know how many times I've received calls from him but my feelings don't just subside. I've always been stubborn whenever I have to deal with it.

"It's still busy?"

"No. I'm getting settled into sleep."

"Heavy sleep?"

"Little."

"Then the conversation can be more relaxed, right? Your voice sounds heavy and stiff. I never meant to intimidate."

I don't know. I can't relax with this guy. Always groggy and wrong. Either because he's the big boss or because I admire him too much. The more the day of admiration is not turned into ordinary but increasingly into. Especially because of his more friendly and caring attitude.

"I just finished an important meeting and the results are encouraging."

The news has nothing to do with me. Masabodos.

"Tuesday tomorrow I will escort the international ISO assessment team to the mine site."

I started to put my ears in. This has something to do with the foundation.

"Have you returned to Lolobata?"

"God willing. I'll be back Monday morning from Makassar."

He's not talking. Just a sigh of relief was heard and the shadow of his smile flashed across my head.

"Does it have anything to do with the arrival of the appraiser team with the foundation?"

Bray chuckled, "For this time nothing. I have not seen you in a long time. I haven't had time to review our aviary either."

My kangen? Our aviary? What nostalgia there is with the aviary is that it claims in our word. There's just. That simple sentence made me hug my pillow even tighter. I can't deny, right now I also want to meet in person and hug her body like I'm hugging this pillow.

"I just opened the video you sent. May I have some original videos of the unedited Halmahera Angel? Suddenly I got the idea for a special documentary video for Bidadari Halmahera. It is also good if the videos are sent to a professional video maker so that the editing quality is better and added to the English narrative. Can make a green company campaign material."

What exactly does he want to say the quality of my edits that I sent was ugly, huh? Or does the video inspire to make the campaign video more interesting? I don't know. Lately Bray has been flattering me. Never complained at all. Understand that there is a slight delay in my work progress. Although minimal experience I try hard to do the task with full responsibility. No matter how much time I spend.

"A video about Halmahera's Angel will be reproduced, Bray?"

"Yes. I think the Halmahera Angel is an endemic bird in the typical Lolobata forest area and is not found in other areas. Character unique. Although still a family of birds of paradise that has long been known to the public, but I think the appearance of the Angel Halmahera is unique and more interesting than Cendrawasih. It's a shame that not many people know. Especially now that his status was rare. We need a campaign so the world knows and cares about its sustainability."

Agreed. Not many people know this unique bird. It can only be found on the island of Halmahera. It is appropriate to make a documentary video of its own. Gratitude can be popular and attract the hearts of many people participating in the conservation and preservation of the bird from the threat of extinction.

What is clear is that I think the Angel of Halmahera looks like you, Bray. His appearance is attractive and good at captivating the hearts of others. His voice was hoarse but soft to the ears. I smiled to myself. In my head the Angel of Halmahera is Bray.

"If you rent professional video maker services do not half-and-half, Bray mas. Ask the videographer to come directly to the aviary and take pictures themselves so that more choices of images that match their creative concepts and imaginations. In addition, the quality of their video images must be better than the shots produced by ordinary people like me. I'll help you draft the narrative."

"Greats. So much better." Bray replied firmly and enthusiastically.

Um, this is the first time my idea has been praised by Bray. Very glad. I took the goose feather pillow and placed it on my lap. One hand holds the device. The other hand hugged the cushioned pillow.

For a moment we were silent to each other. It seems our conversation has run out. But not willing to put the device back on the nightstand. What else do you want to say?

"I'm waiting for the file. Have good night. Don't forget to pray and have good dreams."

Ah why does it have to end anyway? Idiotically. I've never had many interesting words to lure people into long conversations. I am a boring girl.

I put my gait on the nightstand and then I turned off the lights so that no light would disturb the eyes. Bray's shadow still flashed through my head. His hoarse voice and words that are increasingly sounding sweet in the ears. May I wish I had it?

She belongs to Maudy, the beautiful girl who has everything. I'm not her rival though now I'm not a poor outback girl anymore. Maudy is still not on par with me. He has the power to bind Bray just for her. The proof until now Bray still can not release the engagement with him.

I don't know where to take my race. The more days I have it harder to forget him. I began to realize that my heart was carried away by the flow of life's journey without direction, just flowing like water.

The move of the grandmother to a rental house near the store is not as troublesome as people move house. We all left home with happy and hopeful hearts. It was just like when I was going to stay at the villa for a long time. There's no burden. Suitcases of clothes and other items we arranged together quickly in a rented car. While we were following the car in a black SUV that Rodi was driving. There is absolutely no troublesome furore.

The atmosphere of the new home also feels warmer. With a smaller room we met each other more often and greeted each other even though sometimes with just a smile. I kept sleeping with Fifi in the room that had a balcony overlooking the beach on the second floor. Grandma slept accompanied by bi Ika in the master bedroom near the living room. While the husband and wife of Mr. Rodi and bi Siti sleep in the back room. The house still leaves one guest bedroom right next to our room on the 2nd floor. No need to worry if there are relatives or colleagues who visit and stay at our place.

"Mommy sure you'll stay in this house?" Uncle who took the time to drive us looked doubtful. He looked at every corner of the room with a small look. The whole room was clean.

"Related."

"Why not just stay in a coastal house?"

"Too big. Operating costs are high. I just need a comfortable place to live, not to be gallant. The contract period for coastal tenants is still a few months away and they have said they are willing to extend the contract period."

Uncle lowered. "I'm sorry Hasan, Mom! Hasan can't give her the best in Mami's old age."

"Urus is your wife and child. I'll be fine with the granddaughter and the house assistant. Don't be shy about visiting here. Remember that! You have a mother and a niece who should be your responsibility."

Uncle nodded. He glanced at me sharply and hinted with a blink of an eye to let me out of the room to speak with four eyes.

"You have to take responsibility for Grandma's life. You heard he had nothing but retirement savings."

"Ready, Uncle. As long as he lives, his rights and needs will come first from my rights." I replied firmly. I was ready for this responsibility. I want baba to be proud because I love the woman who brought her into this world.

"Don't make him lack let alone suffer. Make sure all food, clothing and health care needs remain premium quality. Remember that! Premium quality. Not the standard of OUTBACK TRIBES."

Oh turns out to be as low as that uncle's assessment of us to have to affirm the word tribal hinterland. My mother is a descendant of the Lingon tribe. But my father was his brother, a Bugis nobleman who had a college education. Doesn't she realize that I'm her brother's son?

I gulped and exhaled slowly to speak calmly. "Although not always at home with grandma, but I promise I will monitor the condition of the grandmother every day. Fifi's going to transfer schools to accompany grandma here."

I returned my uncle's petty gaze resolutely so as not to be bullied anymore.

"Your sister can't go out at night. The girl should be able to maintain the dignity of the family. You have to realize your grandmother's not just anyone."

I'm nodding.

"Uncle will only be here until next semester. The new school year will step down from the principal. Our family will be living in Jakarta."

I already know from Grandma. Looks like uncle's family will indeed leave the responsibility of looking after grandma to us. I accept that responsibility with all my heart.

"You should pay attention to the plantations that are bequeathed to you. If you can't manage it, it's better to sell it."

"There's a Mr. Taqi who manages."

"Don't believe as hard as a paid person like Taqi. Cheated on you later. Ever since your grandfather died the plantation never made a profit. That's why it was sold to Gufron yesterday."

I smiled cynically. Unfortunately I first knew that the plantation business was profitable but the money was misused by Gufron for other businesses. I checked the evidence validly. But I don't want to talk about it right now. Could be long business while tomorrow morning I have to go back to Lolobata.

"Now the plantation is my responsibility, Uncle. Thanks for the advice. I will consider." I replied wise-ass.

I just swallowed the uncle's sentence without debating. I'll prove later that I'm capable of taking responsibility for this family with something real, not rhetoric or nonsense.