Lutfi Gilang's

15. Old Friend

Outside, I found the Director sitting in the back seat of the car. He opened the door and told me to come in. I followed it without a word. Then the car drove at a moderate speed.

"So, why did you drop your charges?" my many.

"Didn't that make you happy?" The director asked back.

I let out a breath. "Time is not right,"

"Is there a problem?" ask again.

I'm shaking. "I want to know the truth." I asked.

"Dodit Mulyanto explained everything, he put a letter and a suitcase of a hundred of your herbs on my desk. Then send greetings to Wasito—"

"Wasito?" ask me to interrupt the Director's explanation.

"Yes. Old people, marketing department. You know?" He asked back.

I'm shaking. "Continue" I asked.

"It was this Wasito who spread the video of you coming out of my room with your suitcase, then took all the money in my office. Make people think you stole it." added the director.

"I didn't think it was the news" I said.

Director berdehem. "It's also often in novels, isn't it?"

I nodded in agreement. "Where do you know Wasito's mastermind?"

"Good question!" he said a little exclaiming. "I deliberately postponed dividing the salary early in February on the grounds that the company's money had been stolen. And, stupidly Wasito even wear new clothes. Ha ha ha, he's buying all the bikes." Director explained.

"Maybe he's got a side job," my mistress.

"Of course that's the reason he used" said the Director. "The police have investigated it, and the result is. Yeah, you know for sure."

"Hmmm.." I muttered.

"Your money is with me now" he said, "your craft?" pinta Director.

I took five books from the backpack and handed them to the man by my side.

Shiny moaning. "You finished it?"

I'm nagging.

"In fact, I thought you were just making a skeleton and a few chapters." added the Director.

"I don't believe it myself either" I said, confirming the statement of the man by my side.

"What's the secret?" tanyakanya.

"Confidential?" I asked back.

The director responded with a nod of his head.

I muttered before finally saying: "Say, I got a severance."

"Pesangon? From whom?" ask the Director later.

"A Ustadz," I answered. "he gave me advice to pray. He said, if I pray, my problem will be God's problem." I'm explaining.

"I don't understand the context,"

"For example, if I pray to Allah, it will make my business easier."

"Hmmm.... So you did it? Shalawat it?"

"Ah," I say. "always, every time you want to sleep and just wake up."

"And it's proven?"

I nodded to answer the Director's question. "The result is on you, isn't it?"

Director berdehem. "Who's Ustadz's name?"

"Yusuf Mansur" I answered.

I saw from the windshield, the Director's face was shocked. "It was a fortune to meet him,"

"Ah," Noddle.

"I only gave you one book. Why is it five?" ask Director.

"I bought it" I replied.

"There's a transaction in there?"

"Hmmm...." Call me "every weekend."

"It's interesting, are you writing your daily life in this book?"

"As you may have guessed."

Seringai Director glittering. "So, what's the genre?" ask Director.

"Action, mystery, romance, comedy." I replied.

"Is that not excessive?" He's just another.

"You can ask your three editors to check it out" I responded.

The director put a smile on his lips then said: "It looks like you've changed a little,"

"really?" I'm nanya.

"Yes. Is there anything interesting going on in prison?" guess it.

"Ah," Call me. "very interesting thing."

🚶🚶🚶

The director didn't take me to the company, he took me to the mesh so I could rest because I just got out of jail. And I agree with that. As long as I was behind bars, I could never relax. There is always something stressful going on and happening. More than that, the bed in my living room a few days back only made my body ache.

"There's something I need to ask you" I said after getting out of the car.

"Ask, I have plenty of free time for you" said the director.

"When you first gave me the book, did someone text you?"

"Hmmm.." muttered the Director long enough. "it seems like nothing."

I'm bowed. Thought it was impossible if Lutfi deliberately sent the letter to the Director.

"Aah!" the director surprised me. "I remember. When I was just about to get into the rutan, I was humming, and there was a woman helping me, but I didn't see her face."

"Woman! He might be Lutfi! Ah, that must be so. He deliberately put his letter in the Director's luggage. Fortunately, he slipped his letter in the book that the Director would love me. And fortunately, I received the book from the Director." cried my heart overjoyed.

"What's wrong?" ask the Director later.

I'm shaking. "Thank you for everything, I'm happy to work with you." I said as I hugged, mimicking the Japanese style of greeting or apologizing.

"There is no need to be so formal" responded the Director. "I'm still who still bothers you a lot."

"That's no big deal, sister Geta."

Smile sparkles. "Quick find your Lutf, I'm waiting for you to get married."

"Ah," Noddle.

He closed the car door and told the driver to start the engine. Moving the car wheels. Get out of front of me.

After the black-colored lump of iron vanished from my sight, I entered the stuffy habitation room. Probably shut down as long as I move rooms. But, at least, this was much better than having to be behind bars.

After opening the windows, improving the air circulation, cleaning my luggage, bathing, and changing clothes, I lay down on the bed. Padded, comfortable. Things I find hard to get. Once I thought it would feel more comfortable when I could sleep in my own home. Yeah, the house that Lutfi and I built together. In terms of design and interior I mean. Not making both. No. gabe. Of course there's a handyman behind it.

I shut down, breathing in the brain that can't stay still. Thinking about many things, but still focusing on Lutfi. Even until I got out of jail, there was no news from him.

Where are you now? What the hell is going on? Why did you just leave? What wrong? What makes you disappear without a trace?

Before I got deeper into my subconscious, my ears heard my smartphone ring. Kuraih and answered the phone from an unknown number.

"Hello Mas" said a voice there.

"Who, huh?" my many.

"Pass," replied the voice there.

"Basuki?" I'm repeating. "Basuki Tjahaja Purnama? Uhok?"

"Pst! Basuki, koh Ahok! This Basuki MTs.... Gobas, Gobas." respond to the sound there.

"Oh.." I finally said after remembering. Achmad Basuki, who is often known as Basuki or Gobas is my student who is one level at a time a school with Aditya Yuda Kartika during MTs. He is also a member of the Wanabakti Work Unit. Often helped me and Lutfi in various activities, such as: teaching scouts, walking to the beach, walking to the hills, photo competitions, and many others.

"How are you?" tanyaku later.

"healthy. Mas Gilang, how are you?" He asked back.

"Alhamdulillah, be healthy" I replied.

"Oh, yes, I heard the news, Mas Gilang was imprisoned. What really?"

"Yes,"

"Can't you?"

"The business."

"Oooh.... free when, Mas?"

"It's only been a few minutes."

"Oooh.... about busy ga, Mas?"

"Why? Wanna play?" many guessed.

"Come by, tar me sharelok." I responded.

"OK, Mum. Take this number, it's a WA number, really."

"Sip,"

"Wait a minute, Mom?" her door.

"Ah," answered.

🚶🚶🚶

Half an hour passed so short, that then the sound of the door being knocked. There were no greetings, so I opened it right away thinking that the person there was Basuki, the man who had just called me. And it's true. He came as promised, but he wasn't alone. In front of him stood Dimas who was wearing a scout jacket while saluting. On the back, the tall man in the white shirt that I soon found out he was Adit. Basuki was wearing a blue shirt with a black suit.

"Come in" I said cheerfully and asked them to sit wherever they wanted after I rested at the side of the bed. "But really, Bas? Where are you going?" ask a few minutes after the three are cross-legged beside the mattress.

"Yes!" Basuki was surprised while scratching his head. "He he he... It's a habit of kayak gini."

"Oh, change style?" ask again.

Basuki replied with a nod of his head, keeping a grin on his face.

"What work now?" I'm still nanya.

"Detep at PT Tenma Cikarang, but... thank you, the part is not hot-hot. He he he," responded Basuki.

"So the Assistant Manager?" I'm guessing.

"Well, how do you know, Mom?" asked Basuki with a surprised face.

I slightly turned my lips. "From when?"

"The beginning of the new year, it's new. Still cute. He he he.." said Basuki.

"Well, where are you even here? How's work?" ask again.

"There is no one to hold, Mas." replied Basuki.

"Thank God. Keep going, you Dim?" ask me about Dimas.

"Oh. He he he.. yesterday abis from the top. This clean jacket stays,"

"Ga need to show off your activities yesterday as well, times." said Basuki.

"Patience, patience. don't be envious." ledek Dimas.

"Hmmm.." murmured Basuki. "that's it, which is a lot of free time. It's not like me. Maite. Not rich, not rich." he lamented.

I was intrigued to hear Basuki's words just now. "Do you have your own restaurant still a scout?" ask me about Dimas.

He's nagging. "Alhamdulillah, Mother. Now go to Kwarnas,"

"What part?" Basuki.

"Humas" replied Dimas.

I smile to respond. Adit's Face. "You Dit? Besides having a cafe, any work?"

He flinched, his face looked pale, then said stammeringly: "Do-lecturer,"

Hearing his confession left me flabbergasted. So were the two men by his side.

"Seriously, Tut?" ask Basuki.

I need to tell you, if Adit also has a nickname like Basuki, namely: "Ketut". Unfortunately I can't explain to you how the chronology of him got the call, and what it means. Just like I didn't tell you about Basuki's nickname, "Gobas". If you are really curious, you can ask the person directly.

Hp number?

Hmmm. But if Instagram and Facebook you can look for it. Find aja—sorry, said the editor can not you know, for now. So, find out for yourself. He's....

Okay, continue.

I really didn't expect Adit to be a Lecturer. I mean, he's 3 years under me, I also just graduated in December last year—ya, even though S-1 college has to wait a year. Plus, Adit just went to college after a year's work. So, how did he become a Lecturer?

"Yes" Adit replied a moment later.

"What did you do graduation?" saut Dimas's.

"No, not yet" Adit's bell.

"Well, what do you mean you're a lecturer?!" asked Basuki a little shouting.

"So gini, on my campus it's again a shortage of lecturers. Well, students who are active organizations and their GPA values are high—minimum three commas and above, it is. Asked to teach new students." said Adit explained.

"Well, you mean pinter, dong?"

"That's good," said Adit, answering Dimas.

"But, it's also a selection, right?" I'm guessing.

Adit nodded his head.

"Well, yes, thankfully, it's pinter" Dimas said in a statement.

Adit simply replied with a faint smile.

"What semester is it now?" my many.

"You need four meters, Mas." she replied.

"You are a fourth semester already a lecturer, have your own cafe as well. Basuki, now Assistant Manager. Dimas, already so the Kwarnas have their own restaurant as well. You've changed a lot." I said arguing and proud of their achievements. "Your appearance now is also not se." I know they're surprised. "It's different with me. I'm gini, gini aja. Malagasy—"

"So, that's what's changed!" exclaiming Adit snatched my sentence.

"Turned an ex-con?"

He didn't respond to my talk. His eyes turned withered and only dared to look down.

"Mas, how about it, Mas Gilang who has taught us a lot before" said Dimas. "Not just in scout activities, doang. But daily too" he added.

"Yes! Really, really!" exclamation Basuki. "Mas Gilang has changed our nature a lot, our way of thinking. So we have a clear purpose. Well the proof is that right now, our lives are more focused."

"Yes, Mas. No way we can kayak now, without a share from Mas Gilang." continued Adit. "Ga maybe we forgot the same services of Mas Gilang first. We're not nuts that forget the skin."

Honestly, hearing the words of the three of them made my heart tremble. At least reduce the various kinds of regrets that have happened to me. Not only because I was once imprisoned, but more importantly to my fiancee who disappeared without a trace. Yes, my fiancee, Lutfi Nurtika.

"Good words. I believe now, you really have become a lecturer." I said flattering as well as trying to be literate.

"I can speak normally also because of Mas Gilang," said Adit.

"That's just wondering if you want to say thank you?" my many.

"Both, he he.." said Adit.

I exhaled while patting both thighs. "So, what's your business here?"

"Yes!" Basuki again exclaimed. "Sampe forgot. He he he. we would like to welcome Mas Gilang who just came out of prison. Keep going...." Sentence ceased. Both sets of Basuki's eyes were directed towards Adit.

"I'm sorry, Mas. I have accused Mas Gilang of cheating, have not jok Mas Gilang, also spread slander. ....The slander that put Mas Gilang to prison." said Adit while making his head lower. Almost like a prostitute.

I haven't responded. Throwing a glance at Dimas.

"I've clearly explained everything to him, but Adit still nganggep if he who has made Mas Gilang imprisoned." explained Dimas.

I grunt. "Dit," call me.

Adit raised his head and there were tears on his face.

"Reverse my money" I asked.

"Did?!" Adit, Dimas, and Basuki were shocked almost simultaneously.

"Well, how about some money, Mom?" ask Basuki.

"I was also asked for money while apologizing in prison." said Dimas.

"What are you doing, Mom?" ask Adit.

"Tablet compensation. It's your fault, not mine." I said.

"Oh.. i-iya, yes, Mas. I'll be back later. Through the bank, huh?" bargained for.

"Whatever, the important thing is to come back" I said.

"I promise, Mom!" emphatically.

"There again?" my many.

"Udah, that's it, Mas." replied Basuki.

"Are you empty today?" ask again.

They nodded compactly. Then Dimas spoke up: "We've been hooting this week to help Mas Gilang,"

"Yes, who knows what else we need, we're ready to help. Kayak first. He he he.." continued Basuki.

"All of you as an apology" Adit added.

"Hmmm, what an interesting offer." I said. "But, drink first. Want coffee?"

"Byeh, Mas!" saut Dimas spirit.

I believe coffee is the most appropriate choice, especially for those who are tired after hiking to the mountain yesterday.

I got up from the bed, grabbed a bag of greaseproof paper that was only a quarter and brought it to the cook. Take the grinder and then wash it and then pour the contents of the greaseproof paper bag into it. I was surprised after seeing a piece of paper there. I grabbed it and opened the fold.

"Here...the message from Kusnadi!"