LOVE SONGS OF LOLOBATA

SORE

Tired of struggling with Maudy's problems, we gathered in the middle of the afternoon to enjoy a warm jasmine tea and walnut bage together. My head is a little bit dizzy. The wounds on my face are still painful. I chose to sit leaning against the corner of the sofa listening to the light conversation between Fifi, mom and grandma. Grandma told me about Baba's childhood. While my mother told me about the joy of our lives while living on the edge of the forest. Fifi is usually chatty only chimed once in a while because the focus is ambiguous between chatting and watching Korean dramas on her screen.

"Last you came here with Sharif bringing 2 boys; Sofwan and Salman. Now there are 2 girls. You have never visited or reported since Sharif had a dispute with his father because he did not want to return to Makassar to help take care of the family business. Your husband is really stubborn when it comes to life choices. There's actually someone we sent looking for you when papa was critical. But that guy never came back. I thought my destiny didn't have to!female derivative!" Grandma commented with a smile and sipped her unsalted jasmine tea gracefully. I like to pay attention to grandmother's movements that are neatly arranged and pleasing to the eye. I recorded in memory and will imitate on other occasions.

"Our two sons were called God first. Sofwan is eaten by crocodiles while playing in the river and Affan dies from heat illness. While Salman is reckless to follow people because he wants to go to school in Java. Four years without news and we considered lost but 4 days ago thank God Salman returned home in good health. He graduated from college and got a placement in Jailolo. Actually the place of his office is still on the island of Halmahera but as a new employee his life is not yet established so just had to look at us. He promised to follow us here."

Grandma widened her smile, "Alhamdulillah."

"Fifa, please call Salman. We forget not to ask if he can get a leave or not." pinta mama.

The chaos of our minds since yesterday's events caused us to forget to contact Salman. Though there were some missed calls recorded in the call history of the number but I ignored it.

Without speaking I immediately took the device, dialed Salman's number and then I handed it to my mother to talk directly with her favorite son.

Mama is always excited whenever she talks to Salman. I'm happy to see my mother's eyes twinkle when I talk to Salman. That sight I have rarely seen since Baba died. A lot of mama's hopes seemed to appear after Salman returned.

Mom asked the news with a regular phone call. Next mama opened the contents of the conversation by pressing the external loudspeaker button so that their conversation we could hear together.

"How's Salman? Can you take a leave?"

"Yes. Salman can take a day off on Friday. Monday must return to service because there is an important thing that requires all employees to attend."

"Then you set out on your own Thursday afternoon. Your sister Fifa could be doomed again. We're in Makassar now."

"Innalallahi. What disaster, Ma? Didn't the other day get his best friend's arrow? Did Fifa get poisoned arrows, too?" Salman's voice is rising. He was worried to hear the word disaster. His mind may be guessing worse things than reality.

"Not with the arrow. Fifa clawed at a lunatic." Mama replied in a voice held back by the emotions that still enveloped her heart.

"May Salman talk to Fifa?"

"Don't talk first! Poor thing since then he has talked a lot. The wound is deep and still wet. It hurts to be made to talk. His mental state is not stable enough. Tomorrow, if you get here, you can hear the story directly from Fifa. Now he has to rest a lot."

After returning from the store, I didn't want to talk. Just listen to it to train my ears and feelings so as not to be too sensitive to the sounds that my subconscious brain reads as something "suspicious". I don't want fear to continue to haunt the subconscious that actually interferes with my activities.

I was silent but not alone. Here I am with the people I love and love. I feel more calm and comfortable. Opportunities like this are so rare that I don't want to miss this togetherness. Salman will soon join us. The mood must be more pleasant. The only man in our nuclear family we really expected his presence.

No. gabe. I refused in silence. I still want to stay in simplicity close to the baba's tomb. I want to continue my activities in the field of conservation and bird breeding. I still want to occasionally play in the river and go seclusion in the forest to calm down. I still want to relive the memories of my childhood of living a simple life on the edge of the forest with baba. If Fifi says I still refuse to move on.

Although I admit there is a mental disorder, I am not afraid of death. My subconscious just forces me to be always vigilant. Instead I was curious to find the archer who had killed my beloved baba and parrot. I wonder what the reason is for killing my beloved people and animals.

"Mala, you like to cook. Here you can help take care of the store with Mr. Tristan. While Fifa will help take care of the plantation while continuing college."

Mama looks still awkward and less confident with what grandmother has to offer. "I'm still confused, Mum. The way we cook here is different than in our village."

"Just the same. I will get used to it too. About cooking in the store there is an expert chef. Your job is more to supervise and if you can develop a new menu that customers like. If you want to keep weaving, you can take a weaving skill course or another course you like."

Mama still seemed to doubt her own abilities. But seems interested in developing yourself following a skill course.

Managing a store is not your dream. Probably never thought of his life this long. Mama's life just flows following the concept of simple life that was once taught by baba. Her dream was to go to heaven with her husband.

"My son Ahmad Syarif has been killed by a poisoned arrow. I don't want my daughter-in-law or granddaughter to experience the same thing. I don't think that the attempted murder incident the other day was Firdaus' target. It could be Fifa."

Mama nodded. Grandmother's guess is logical and probably true. But I who clearly saw the direction the arrow shot was very sure Braylah the target. I wasn't.

Yesterday's events turned out to be not only traumatic for me, but also for my family. They become more protective. Especially grandma. The incident was a reinforcement of his desire so that our family could live with him in Makassar. Gathering with family is fun but I'm not ready to leave Lolobata, the hometown I love. I still have unfinished dreams.

"Yes. Living in Makassar. More crowded. All facilities are. You can go to college and do what you want. Especially now that I have a lot of money." Fifi seduced me while glancing and smiling mischievously. A moment later he was back glued to the device he was holding.

"Tomorrow we go for a walk or shopping in the Mall, Kak. Don't just work. Brother needs healing. Most of the work is stressful and quickly old." added Fifi with eyes still fixed on the goal.

I glanced at Grandma with a smile. I mean, let grandma return Fifi's rant with wise advice. My grandmother smiled without saying anything. No comment's.

"If you're still shy, wear a veil is okay."

"really. It's okay to walk in the mall wearing a veil. Here people are not too foreign to see the veiled person. Some people of certain religious groups wear a veil in every activity outside the house."

Uh, why did the impression grandmother support the chatty child? This must be one way to persuade me to stay here. People of different generations and different characters can compactly support each other if the goal is the same.