
My name is Marvelino Gideon Armstrong, I'm 31 years old. I was born and raised in Jakarta, grew up in an environment that I thought was perfect. My life is mediocre, everything feels straight and running properly. Until I was in college in Amsterdam, I met Kimberly, a first love I find hard to forget. Kimberly and I have been in love for 3 years. Until the moment I graduated from college and finished my education, I took her to Jakarta, meeting my parents.
When I was 23 years old, my mom and dad were against me when I said I wanted to marry Kimberly, they wanted me to pursue a career first, a new family. I relented, and obeyed the will of papa and mama. I started my work in a remote area of west Java. I hold a factory as well as a rubber plantation owned by papa which he pioneered from small to large. Papa wants me to hold the factory because that's where his success started to have branches everywhere.
But it seems like life does not always go as smoothly as I thought all along. One day, Kimberly broke off our relationship without giving a clear reason. I was very angry and went back to Jakarta to look for him. However, when I arrived in Jakarta, I got a reality that was so bitter. Where Kimberly and Sean my brother are engaged and they're getting married.
I was so angry and so angry, I asked Kimberly why she did all this to me. She answered him very lightly, saying she knew Sean better than I did, and also her affection for me was not real, just the affection for a younger brother. I was so disappointed that I left home angry. I chose to stay in my old house near my rubber plantation. I'm comfortable living alone in this house, I love the friendly people. I don't know why I fell in love with this area.
For years I did not go home, because of deep disappointment. If I miss you, my mom and dad come to visit me. It looks like an ungodly child, but it is not that easy to forget a wound.
Once upon a time, a man and a woman came to my house. They said they wanted to sell their parents' house. The location is very strategic, located on the side of the entrance way out of the village. I'm a little interested, the plan is I want to make a guard post on that land. The next day I surveyed the location of the house. I went there with Toni, my personal driver.
When I arrived at the address in question, I felt astonished, because it turned out that the house was still inhabited by its owner.
"Is this really his house?" I asked Toni.
"Yes, sir" replied Toni.
"But why is it still live, keep it.. Who?" I asked while staring at a woman who was down drowning her face between her knees.
"I don't know sir, he's like selling rice, I'm trying to buy it, sir, all dig up information" said Toni.
"May" I replied.
Toni got out of the car, and walked up to the woman, as she looked up and showed her face I felt a strange sigh, something that I don't know what her name is. Very difficult to explain.
I kept watching the woman, until she headed for the stall. Toni was back in the car.
"Where's Ton? he owns this house?" manya curious.
"Not to know sir, later I try to ask, oh yes.this is the reason to buy how many packs?" ask Toni.
"Whatever, wholesale is also nothing. I saw his face as though he was tired. Kasian" I said spontaneously.
"Okay sir" replied Toni, then returned to the small shop.
Not long after that, Tony returned to the car.
"Well, buy everything" I replied.
After that he went back to the woman, not long before he brought a package containing food he bought from the woman. I watched her face from behind the car window, clearly visible, not this woman who came to my house yesterday. When the car was going to walk, the woman screamed her gratitude because Toni had bought her merchandise. I saw a beautiful smile on her face. I don't know why I like to see him smile. I felt so crazy at the time.
That night, I asked about the woman to Ilyas, the man who came to my house yesterday. Ilyas said the woman was Ratna, the older sister of Puja the woman who came with him yesterday. Ilyas said he needed money to pay for his sick mother's surgery. But Ratna did not agree to sell the house. I suggested that Ilyas return to negotiations with Ratna, because in any case, I did not want to buy the land in dispute.
The next day, I went back to the house, intending to meet and talk carefully with the woman, telling her the truth about the house being sold. However, in front of the shop, I saw him crying in the arms of a man. His face looked very desperate. I ordered Toni to steal listen, for some reason, I felt something was wrong. As usual, Toni bought rice for the woman.
"Where's Ton?" I asked when Toni got in the car.
"It looks like the man was a friend of his, sir, and...." Toni did not continue her words.
"And what? speak clearly" I'm kepo.
"I heard earlier that if Ilyas and Puja were cheating on me, Puja was the sister of the woman, and they asked for the right to the house because Puja was also the son of the owner of the house" Toni explained.
I was just hearing Toni's explanation. Not in vain I told him to eavesdrop, it turns out his ears are very sharp. Get ready, bonuses await you Ton!
There was a strange feeling every time I looked at her face, a clear look of fragility, sadness, and also despair that emanated on her face. It really looks sad! I smiled wryly when I found out that she was betrayed by her own husband and sister, exactly the same as I had experienced. How ngenes!
*******
In the afternoon, when I went to the kitchen, I saw Toni so greedily eating the rice she had bought earlier.
"Slow down Ton, choking later" I said.
"So, the rice is delicious sir" said Toni.
"What time?" manya curious.
"Yes, sir, try it. There's still that" point Toni at the white plastic package. I happen to not have eaten yet. I picked up the packet of rice, curious about the taste of the nasi uduk which he said Toni was very good.
When the first mouthful came into my mouth, I felt my tongue dancing with pleasure, because it turned out to taste good. The rice is savory, the spice fits. I kept putting mouth after mouth into my mouth, so I didn't feel like I was finishing it.
'Shit! it turns out that ngenes women's cooking is delicious too!' I smile to myself, like ODGJ is paying!