Lutfi Gilang's

15. Dodit Mulyanto's

i

After the meeting Mas Beni invited me to negotiate for a moment. I was quite worried actually because he kept quiet during the meeting.

Is it possible that he disagrees with the story I'm about to tell? Or maybe he was observing to better know how the process and the end of the meeting was? Or vice versa, his brain conferred with other affairs like what I did before?

Either way, I don't care, because that's how mysterious Mas Beni is. Like the story he often makes. Aye! The stories of ghosts.

He once told me: "If you want to be a great writer, you have to be able to really understand the character you're making. And that goes for characters like ghosts, too, so you have to be able to think like a real ghost."

Hopefully from what he told me earlier, you can understand what kind of person Mas Beni is.

"Look at Mas Danu, there is actually a problem that Mas Danu should know" he said. "My invisible friend,"

I guessed right away that he was talking about ghosts. Maybe Mas Beni is working on a script like that right now. The story of a person who can interact with invisible creatures, such as indigo goods times. And maybe, accidentally, Mas Beni got that ability. Hmmm.

"tell you, if Mas Danu's partner has been replaced." She added.

"Huh?" I'm appalled.

"Betul Mas's. Mas Danu's partner resigned just a day before Mas Danu handed over the contract sheet."

"Why, is that Mas?" my many.

Mas Beni raised his hand, asking for a moment while stylized like a person who was being whispered. "Oh, hmm. Ja. Continues to? Ooh. I get it now."

I shut up, let him on his act. Yes, it is strange that Mas Beni became a writer instead of being a horror film actor. Acting is really good and natural!

"Say my invisible friend, the author of the Sheep of Bethina—"

"Male Goat," I interrupted.

"Ah, yes! Black goat—"

"The Goat Man, Mas." I interrupted again.

"Ah, yes it is! Goat Forest—"

I snorted, a little annoyed with his sense of hearing. Nay! I'm not mocking him as a budeg. You guys, you read it. He's....

"Huh? What the hell? What's wrong?" He's ambushed.

I shook my head, asking him to continue with the explanation.

Mas Beni took a deep breath, as if trying to move his distended stomach contents to the chest, so that his body was balanced. But no, it's clearly back to how it was. "We're going to the printing press" he asked, patting me on the shoulder.

I nodded in confusion with her teary eyes.

Ah, up until now, I still haven't been able to understand the way fat people think. Ups. I'm sorry Beni. He's....

🌹🌹🌹

ii

I reached the printing room after using the elevator to get to the bottom of the second floor, after the parking lot. There I immediately saw a pile of paper, and large tools of a book printer.

I was shocked after hearing Mas Beni shout: "Mas Dodiiit!!!"

"Do-dodits? Don't-don't...."

And as expected, the bearded man with long hair who had just approached us was someone who had once participated in the Stand Up Comedy race. Him, Dodit Mulyanto!

I returned his handshake.

"Why, you know, this is Fat Mas calling me kayak again yelling: 'Maliiying!!!'" mas Dodit said with its distinctive tone.

Mas Beni grunting. "I'm not fat, Mas Dodit. It's my stomach that's a little advanced." He stroked his stomach.

"Ooh.... Mas Fatut is not a lahiran yet? Kasian his son, loh Mas, has been almost two years ga born-born." continued Mas Dodit made me chuckle.

Beni looked upset. He turned his eyes away by crossing his hands on the pedestal of his stomach.

"Oh yeah, who's this Mas Beni bringing?" ask Mas Dodit.

He hit his head. "Until forgot. This is Mas Danu, who's not being written with RD."

"RD?" ask Mas Dodit. "RD what is SD?"

"RD, Mom. That, you know, Mas Raditya Dika." replied Mas Beni.

"Ooh.... R-A-DITYA, Raditya. Ordinary people who are not married?"

I chuckled again, as if remembering the Stand Up Comedy show Mas Dodit first.

"Eh, I have, Mas." said Mas Beni. "Mas Radit is married."

"Well, isn't President Singles anymore, now?"

Mas Beni responded to Mas Dodit's question with a headband.

"Well, what's the author doing to bother coming here?" ask Mas Dodit. "Not to nag because it's the wrong page again, right?"

We shakes.

"So, look, Mas, for the matter of Mas Radit who resigned—"

"Oooh, yes, right." Serobot Mas Dodit. "But I'm not Radit, I'm Dodit Mulyanto, who's new to the job and is the most important part of the company."

"Mas Dodit's an important man, here?" I'm surprised, not insulting. Again, I was shocked.

He's nodding.

"Emang, work on what part, Mas?" ask again.

"The master printed the book" he replied in a haughty tone.

"That's important?" asked Mas Beni in a mocking tone.

"Clearly!" mas Dodit's. "Ga will be a book if it's not printed. No one will buy if the book does not exist. And will not be paid if no one buys books. So, I'm the most important person here" he explained as he patted his chest like a hero challenging a villain.

"You can't find Mas Radit here. The house is not here Mas Beni, Mas...."

"Andu" I replied.

"Mas Danu" Mas Dodit said.

"No, no." said Mas Beni. "Mas Dodit just told me the reason Mas Radit withdrew, to Mas Danu."

"Ooh...."

"Mas Dodit can, right?"

"Can what?" tanyakanya.

Beni patted his wide eel. "Follow to Mas Danu the reason Mas Radit resigned. Did you just say, time has forgotten?" his gerrick.

"Yes, I forgot Mas Beni. I'll make sure who knows what the others are telling me. If I am wrong, who will take responsibility. Um, Mas Beni wants responsibility if I'm wrong?" Mas Dodit made Mas Beni flabbergasted. "Hayoooo's? Hayooo's? Can't answer, anyway." he added.

I chuckled again, even though this time because I saw Mas Beni was confused.

"Look at Mas Danu," Mas Dodit faced towards me. "Mas Radit canceled the contract because he was sick."

"What pain, Mom?" I'm nanya.

"Much, Mas. Fever fitting baby, cold fitting SD, cough fitting SMP, diarrhea fitting SMA, same dizziness after college." He explained that it confused me what to respond to.

"How come now, Mas Radit is sick again?" Mas Beni connect. "Didn't he have a wife?"

"You're sick, it has nothing to do with Mas Gendut's wife. Hence, Mas Fat married to know what it feels like to have a wife like how troublesome."

He grunts. "Tomorrow, who wants to be with me."

"Anyways, Mom, make an announcement."

"Announcement?" I responded to Mas Dodit's words.

"Yes, announcement: 'From the woman who wants to marry Mas Fat'."

I was intrigued to hear it.

"Ga need to write Mas Fat too, kali. Beni, that's enough" he said.

"Oh, yeah. Mas Beni whose body is fat because of the feeling of lairan as well."

I'm back comforted by Mas Dodit's laugh. Mas Beni looked even more upset.

"I just try to make Mas Beni do it" said Mas Dodit later.

"Yes, yes." said Mas Beni. "So, what's the pain, huh, Mas Radit?"

"Well, so I'm not Mas Radit's wife."

I flinched hearing Mas Dodit's words. And by my side, Mas Beni, groaned in annoyance. Before finally catching your breath. Trying not to get angry.

"Mas Dodit when was the last time you saw Mas Radit?" I'm nanya.

"So" he answered.

"Well, her?" Mas Beni connect.

"It's the meeting,"

"Mas Dodit knows how the meeting went?" I asked back.

He's nagging.

"Or who is it from?" I'm curious.

"From Boss. My boss, right, under him is Mas Anton."

"Ooh...."

"Yes. I think, anyway, Mas Danu try to write with others."

"Why, Mas?" ask again.

"Well, Mas Radit, he has resigned." he explained. "Well, try Mas Danu nulisnya with Mba-Mba aja beautiful, who knows someone who is a mate, right?"

Mas Beni. "Mas Danu has her own choice,"

"Oh, if that's it, make a backup, Mom."

"Reserve?" ask Mas Beni.

"Yes, who knows who was chosen, will be ready to replace him."

I gasped at Mas Dodit's words just now. Makes me remember something I forgot for a moment. But I could not accept Mas Dodit's advice to prepare a replacement for my lover, even though for most people it was a natural thing.

I want to be different from other men, I really don't want to be equated with men in general. Not only that, I once promised to be faithful, no matter what storm hit our relationship. And, the disappearance of Lutfi without a trace, was a storm that I had to go through, albeit alone!

Right, maybe Lutfi went to judge how much loyalty I had for her. After all, As long as we were in contact since X grade High School, never once had Lutfi betrayed me, never once had she deliberately been close to another man, and never once had she lied to me.

That, that's what made me change, made me have to be confident in our relationship, made me have to stay faithful no matter what the circumstances, made me have to always be strong with his departure.

"Mas Danu," called Mas Deni. "do you have a good night!"

I smile.

"Hayooo... Who else thinks, huh?" ask Mas Dodit.

"I want to meet Mas Radit first" I said.

He nodded, then gave me his home address and advice for me to bring a lot of garlic and sea salt as an antidote to the devil so that I avoid interference from the subtle creatures in his home Mas Radit, that place is haunted. Mas Dodit said.

I say yes and thank you, and then go while the brain talks about garlic that I like to only do for Vampires. Continues, about salt, if the customs of the Javanese people, every Friday night Kliwon must always spread salt around the house. And finally, about Dodit Mulyanto who works as a book printer in the company 0000.

Is he really working here? Is Dodit no longer a comedian? I mean comic. Or is there something else? Maybe I worry too much about things.