LOVE WINARSIH

3. Journey

Winarsih was on the bus with utomo sitting to his right. They will arrive at the terminal. Throughout the journey they did not talk much. Utomo only occasionally pointed out a place they passed by and explained about the place a little.

Utomo who is quite often to the capital take care of the business of his parents, looks so proud when explaining the places he had visited.

While Winarsih who had just traveled far away from home, listened to Utomo's description carefully. Highlight his intelligent eyes were so enthusiastic despite looking tired.

When the bus passed through the ranks of oil palm plantations and rubber plants, the two became silent again.

Winarsih's mind again remembered when saying goodbye to her mother and Yanto yesterday afternoon. Even after spending one night on the bus, did not make Winarsih forget the sad face of the mother who stared at his departure riding an ojek by hugging a bag of tote perca.

Now Winarsih looked out the window with a drowsiness and the mind floated into the house. Have you eaten Yanto? What did you cook for your sister today?

Utomo looked at the back of Winarsih's head which was on his back. To be honest, Utomo still feels awkward and embarrassed considering what he has done in the former postal cottage last night.

He really didn't mean anything bad to his girlfriend. He loved Winarsih and wanted her to be his wife. It's just that he often can't help himself if alone with his girlfriend lately.

Winarsih realized what made Utomo so stiff and agitated throughout their journey. Must be because of last night. Winarsih. I swear he doesn't remember it anymore.

Inwardly, he had forgiven Utomo and himself. Do not want to drag on to feel uncomfortable with Utomo. After all, she still loved her lover like before. Although now Winarsih is a little worried if the pairing is too long with Utomo.

The journey from their village to the capital took almost 18 hours with a road trip that changed twice. Should be on a long journey, Winarsih can be spoiled with Utomo considering now they are free to date after coming out of the village.

In the capital, no one would recognize or forbid them from overt physical contact such as holding hands, hugging or even kissing.

But because of Utomo's awkward attitude, Winarsih so follow awkward and risi. Even while sleeping on the bus last night, Winarsih moved her head looking for the restless sleep support. He slept leaning against the wall of the bus until morning until his neck felt sore because he was too long in the same position for hours.

“We've arrived, Win.” Utomo took Winarsih's arm to stand up. He then walked down a row of bus seats that were almost empty while helping bring his girlfriend's patch of cloth.

Bus passengers disembark one by one through the front and rear doors. Winarsih who from the house was wearing a black skirt and long-sleeved red shirt looked wildly watching every corner of the crowded terminal.

Just that time Winarsih stepped on one of the terminals in the capital. Usually when taking his father for treatment, Winarsih only stopped by a small bus stop in the district.

Utomo held Winarsih's arm along the walk out of the terminal. His pace slowed to where several parked taxis were waiting for passengers.

“Ke address here can, Sir?” Utomo held out a paper to one of the taxi drivers they first met outside the terminal door.

Some time reading the writing on the paper offered by Utomo, the taxi driver nodded.

“This is not far away. Which carrying? Let me put it in the back" said the taxi driver.

“Bring is just a little, sir. It can still be on the bench. It's okay," replied Utomo who then opened the back door of the taxi so that Winarsih could enter immediately.

The taxi walked through the density of the capital, which was past noon. The stomachs of the two of them were actually very hungry, but the awkwardness within them had now turned into a sense of tension that overcame the needs of the hull.

Winarsih felt tense and enthusiastic as well as on the way to her employer's house. His heart kept wondering what kind of people would become his master in the future. What if he doesn't get good treatment there. Or what if he misses his family? All those thoughts came when he almost arrived.

As knowing the concern of his heart, Utomo grabbed Winarsih's left hand and grasped it.

“Kantorku later in Central Jakarta. Not far from where you work. Mess provided by the office for us is also not far from the house. In your employer's house there are many phones that can be used. You can call my phone if you have any need. I also have a special phone number in the back room used by the employees in the house. You don't have to worry. Take care of yourself, Win. Remember all the things I said that night. I'll wait."

Utomo further tightened his grip on Winarsih's hand. Winarsih turned her head towards Utomo and her lips pulled a warm smile.

Not long after the taxi they were riding into a large-sized housing. All the houses that line the right-left street are almost the same size with the same luxurious look.

A whole new life Winarsih saw a house that really looks like a palace in the films he watched. None of the street vendors he saw crossed the street. Along the road they traveled was very clean and shady.

The taxi stops at a large, classic-style white house that has eight tall pylons on its terrace. The fence of the house was almost three times the height of an adult man. With black color combination of gold and iron model is very complicated. The front porch of the house was not visible from the road because it was covered with a wall fence of the same height. In front of the wall fence overgrown with several palm trees that are located side by side with the sidewalk of the highway.

Utomo still helps Winarsih tote perca batik cloth bags. After paying the taxi fare, Utomo took Winarsih to approach the side of the gate next to the security guard post.

“Pak! Excuse me ...." Utomo called one of the guards who had just come out of the post on the right side of the fence.

“Ya ...? Can anyone help?” the security guard asked with his head slightly turned towards Utomo and Winarsih.

“I Utomo from Beringin Village; his friend Jaka from Cahaya Mas Group who already has an appointment with the owner of this house. Miss Amalia. I brought the prospective household assistant kitchen," explained Utomo on the security guard who seemed still reluctant to shift the fence.

Hearing Utomo's explanation, the security guard nodded and said, “Awhile I called in first.”

Shortly after, the security guard came back out of the post and approached the fence. This time the security guard was willing to shift his iron fence that looked so heavy. The veils in the guard's hand instantly protruded out as it pushed back the iron fence.

Winarsih saw that the open fence was more than enough for him to pass with Utomo. But the security guard opened it too wide.

“Sorry, Mom, Ma'am, can you step aside a little? Mr. Dean's car is soon passing,” said a security guard named Rojak. Winarsih glanced at the name embroidery attached to the security guard's uniform.

It turned out that the owner of the house was going to pass by, just deserved that the fence was immediately wide open, thought Winarsih.

“Pak Dean, his son Bu Amalia and Mr. Hartono. Who owns this house, Mr. Hartono. Yes but indirectly, this house belongs to Mr. Dean as well, hell.” Rojak grimaced towards Utomo who continued to look towards the road as if waiting for the arrival of the owner's son.

Winarsih continued to grimace while narrowing her eyes due to the glare. The sunlight at two in the afternoon shaded them all. His body feels sultry and sticky. His stomach was making a sound of hunger.

As Winarsih was looking down at the cheap flat shoes wrapping around her legs, a white SUV with the words RANGE ROVER entered the gate. Rojak nodded towards the car from the opposite side where Winarsih and Utomo were standing.

Deftly, Utomo pulled Winarsih's arm to slightly docked to the fence and make room for the car that was about to enter.

As Utomo pulled his arm, Winarsih straightened his head looking towards the car. He was curious to know how the shape of one of his prospective employers.

For a moment his eyes were fixed on the figure of the passenger man in the back seat. The man looked through the glass with him for a few seconds. Then the man looked back down facing one square object that reflected light onto the handsome face of the man.

Winarsih. How can the good looks, luxury and arrogance that seemed to wrap the man into one, can present a blend that is so perfect. Despite only a glance, Winarsih could already imagine how annoying her employer's child was.

Winarsih was amazed by the sight she had just seen. All this time he always saw Utomo as the most handsome man he met. But today Winarsih's belief has been broken.

Utomo who was standing next to Winarsih let out a long sigh as the white ROVER RANGE passed from before them and stopped right in front of the terrace.

“That's great, yes,” muttered Utomo.

“Abanya, Mas?” ask Rojak.

“Mobile, Sir.” Utomo smiled embarrassedly as he realized he had voiced his praise so clearly. Winarsih blushed as Utomo said what he thought was needless to say at the time.

It turned out that this Utomo included a man whose head and words were always the same, Winarsih thought.

“Come, Mas, Mbak .. That's Amalia's new home with Mr. Dean. Come with me.” Rojak walked ahead of Winarsih and Utomo.

After lowering his master, the white RANGE ROVER had gone by to the left side of the house.

“Sorry, Mom .. This is someone looking for Mom. Said Mr. Jaka's colleague from Beringin Village who wanted to drive the kitchen assistant.” Rojak slightly shifted to the side of the location so that his female employer could see prospective household assistants who were standing upright smiling sweetly. .

“You're the employee candidate? Can cook? What age are you?” ask Ms. Amalia.

Dean was still standing on the porch with his mother. Since then his gaze has not shifted from a tablet that he constantly scrolls and he taps.

“Twenty-one years, Mom,” replied Winarsih still with her sweetest smile. Both dimples on the right-left cheeks became a plus that afternoon considering his appearance was very disheveled.

“This is your husband?” search for Amalia while looking at Utomo.

“Not, Mom. We are still dating and are from the same village,” replied plain Winarsih.

When Winarsih said ‘we're still dating' Dean's probing views moved from Winarsih to Utomo. Then looked back at the lovers in front of him alternately.

“Twenty-one years old and unmarried. You are too beautiful to be a maid. Me, really, so less sreg. But yeah, that's it. It is very difficult to find a suitable work person today. Why are you still next to Mama?” Ms. Amalia who had been talking to Winarsih and Utomo now realized Dean's presence had not left her side.

“Ya already, Jak .. you bring only si....who is your name?” ask Ms. Amalia to Winarsih.

“Winarsih, Bu.”

“Iya. Yes, you have followed Rojak to the room below. The one on the left wing, Jak. Keep bringing it to the kitchen to be introduced to Mbah.”

Amalia shook her hands and went to hold her youngest son's arm.

Shortly before Dean walked next to his mother, the twenty-nine-year-old turned his head and looked sharply at Winarsih.

Utomo apparently caught Dean's sight wet just now and his face immediately turned sour.

“Nothing ... your employer's child is already so fond of you, Win,” sulek Utomo.

“How so? Kan, naturally, Mas. I'll work at his house. Mr Dean's time couldn't see me talking to his mother?" Winarsih sighed harshly. A little annoyed with the childish Utomo. “If you so continue .. You can be stressed, Mas. I will also be tired for a long time,” continued Winarsih.

“Have fought? If it is .. let me take it to his room Winarsih. For this time Mas-nya can deliver to the room; with my escort of course. But next time you want to visit, please contact me in the post or phone to the assistant special number in the back room. Later will meet with the Mbah," explained Rojak friendly to Winarsih and Utomo who only heard and nodded.

“Soal Mr. Dean ... Don't talk about it often. Dean's got a girlfriend. Real pretty. Typical city.” Rojak emphasized the word ‘khas Kota’ to convince Utomo who had just cheated on his girlfriend. The Banyan Village man was just smiling.

Not up to five minutes walk, they arrived in a very remote room on the left wing of the house. Although it looks very small, Winarsih is happy because the room will be occupied alone. Finally, despite having to be a housekeeper, Winarsih could have her own room.

Winarsih really hopes that the room will become her second home after a shabby room patch in Beringin Village.

To be continued