LOVE THE EXPATRIATE
12. Visiting the Ancestral Land
After Medan, the last city that Edward visited was Makassar. It makes no difference like in previous cities, the man also applies work visits according to company standards in this city. Get acquainted with all employees and check the sales balance sheet. But there was something special about Edward when he first set foot at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport.
The island is the birthplace of Opa-Omanya and Uncle Maweru. The Opanya family was forced to leave Manado and emigrated to England fifty years ago, when the political situation in the city was volatile. His opinions included members of organizations that actively criticized the government of the time so that it was included in the list of people sought. At that time Opa and Oma only had one child, namely Uncle Maweru. After several years living in Manchester, then his mother was born then followed by Aunt Bella, his mother's sister.
Although they have been in Europe for decades and become British citizens, their families still maintain communication with families in Manado. Especially with Aunt Dora, her mother's cousin. Opa and his oma have also returned to Manado several times.
And today Edward will visit his mother's family, after his work in Makassar is finished. Aunt Dora was very happy when she found out that her niece had served in Indonesia and would visit her.
Edward only realized that the distance between Makassar and Manado was very far. Makassar is located on the peninsula to the south of Sulawesi island while Manado to the north. From Makassar to Menado about an hour away by plane. When he reached Sam Ratulangi Airport, Edo, the man's distant cousin had been waiting to pick him up.
It was dusk when Edward arrived at Aunt Dora's residence. Their house is located on a hillside in the outskirts of Manado. The middle-aged woman immediately hugged him. Also the children of Aunt Aunt Dora, a distant cousin. Although they often communicate through video calls, but this is the first time they meet face to face.
“Welcome back home, Edward. God bless you, my son.” he said.
“Thank you, Aunt Dora.” reply kissed the woman's cheek.
“Someone wants to meet you.” said Aunt Dora as her gaze shifted to an old woman who just came out of the room. He was hobbled by one of his cousins.
“Heels Oma Margareth. Brother of Opamu, Edward.” Bright Aunt Dora.
Edward hugged the old woman. Margaret was crying in her arms. In order to see Oma Margareth tired, he led the old woman to sit down.
“You look like your opinion when he was young, Edward. But you're more handsome and dashing. That must be you inherited from your papa, right?” margareth said, rubbing Edward's cheek.
“Thank you, Oma Margareth.” said Edward smiled.
That night they dined together to welcome Edward. Aunt Dora cooks tinutuan porridge served with grilled skipjack fish and smoked pork rica seasoning. According to Edward, tinutuan looks like chicken porridge that he once ate in Jakarta, but the difference is that this porridge is more creamy. When serving is also not given topping suwiran chicken and crackers, but enjoyed with skipjack fish or smoked pork. When cooked, this porridge is mixed with spinach, sweet corn, and sweet potatoes..
They ate while chatting familiarly. Every now and then they prank Edward with silly questions.
“Do you already have a lover in Jakarta, Edward?”
Everyone laughed at the question of Uncle Rudolf, Aunt Dora's husband. While Edward just smiled blushed while shaking his head.
“You've traveled around the country. You must have known that Indonesian girls are beautiful, right?” ask Uncle Rudolf again.
“Yes. This country woman is indeed beautiful and graceful, Uncle.”
“So what are you waiting for, my son? Or do you want Aunt to match up with Manado girl?” said Aunt Dora chimed in.
“I haven't thought about getting married, Auntie. I still want a career.” said Edward.
“Marriage and career are not two things that contradict each other, my son. You can do it at the same time. Look Edo!” said Aunt Dora as her gaze turned to her cousin.
“Edo is even younger than you. But look now, he already has two cute kids.”
His cousin was just grinning while coolly skinning his burning skipjack.
Why is this dinner so talking about marriage and my future wife who knows who and where? Edward's grunt in heart.
“And of course have to be smart to cook like this appointment.”.he said again while glancing to his wife on the side.
Now it's Aunt Dora's turn to blush. She nudged her husband's waist and made everyone laugh except Edward. The man was simply stunned to hear Uncle Rudolf's advice earlier.
When he had laid his body in the guest room of Aunt Dora's house, he was still thinking about what was conveyed by his aunt's husband. He has known some women here. But to be a lover?
Mikaila? She doesn't even want to be tied to a man for the rest of her life.
Anjani's? Far from his expectations.
Sarah's? He just met.
And the first impression he got from the girl was; closed.
Sarah seemed to be setting limits with herself. Edward doesn't know why he is. But what the man felt, the girl's aura was extremely powerful affecting him. Edward recalled his conversation with Purnomo when they ate at Jalan Kesawan yesterday afternoon.
“Pak Purnomo, after I did monitoring at eight outlets, it turns out there are some women who wear veils like Sarah.” said Edward.
“Ouh yes? Miss Sarah never took off her veil, she is a devout Muslim.” Purnomo said while nodding at the waiter who delivered the order. They ordered fried kwetiau and satay.
“Yes as long as it does not interfere with its performance, I assume it is not a problem.”
“If I may admit, Miss Sarah's performance was excellent. She graduated from beauty school in Jakarta and worked as a supervisor at a major cosmetics company. Therefore we have no qualms about hiring her as a beauty analyst.”
“On her clothes and veil, I don't think it hinders her activity. And there's no company regulation that prohibits it.”
“Yes I agree with you. I also saw how yesterday he served customer.”
“Justeru in my opinion, she is a girl who has a principle of life and a firm character. Doesn't that fit with our brand's mission, Mr Edward? Realizing the desire of women who want to explore their character.” explained Purnomo.
Edward just nodded.
But the man was still curious about Sarah's words. About the reason the girl was reluctant to go for coffee with him. Could he be disinclined by his girlfriend? Could it be that his lover was a jealous man? He will ask if he will make another working visit there.
He tried not to think about the girl anymore and decided to go to bed. Because tomorrow morning Uncle Rudolf promised to take him to visit Tomohon. There was something he wanted to show Edward at that place.
AUTHOR NOTIFICATION
Due to technical mistakes made by the author, it has been up a double episode (double episode). So to avoid confusion of comrades readers and avoid overlapping stories, after this episode please go directly to episode 15.13 Visit the Ancestral Land (2).
Do not reopen episode 13.13 and episode 14.14.
Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your attention.
Greetings Author
