Null Existence
15. Beginning of Season
Rangga tidied the knot of the tie he was wearing while the elevator took them up twenty floors. He has smoothed his hair while in the parking lot earlier, his carrier is now neat jail.
Fortunately this suit I have not sold because it takes money, his mind said when he found the reflection of his figure in the elevator cabin.
He did think of selling his expensive clothes when he came out of the Bureau and started a new life, but then he paused because of course the goods will not be as easy as selling used pants in the Marketplace, in addition to the incriminating memento factor.
“I did not expect, Mas Rangga will absorb this. I did ask Dino a message to dress formally, but this is like I want to bring the Board of Directors, not Interpreter.” chirped the man next to him.
“Excess yes, Mas?” sahut Rangga, friendly.
“Ngga too, relax aja.” replied the man.
A clanking sound rang out and the elevator door opened. The atmosphere of the office welcomes both of them when stepping out of the cabin.
Geri, his brother Dino who picked up Rangga in the Lobby directed them down a row of tables to a large room across from the crowd.
Fukunishi Satoshi, Rangga can read from a distance the name printed on the plate in Kanji script on the door, under another plate that reads Director.
He waits for a moment at the door when Geri knocks and begs for permission to enter, before Geri finally gives a code to follow his entrance.
The first thing he did was to acquaint himself in Japanese, “Good Morning, introduce me Rangga, nice to meet you today.”
“Greetings, I'm Fukunishi. Please sit” Fukunishi nodded back to Rangga's bow.
“Mr. Fukunishi I pamit.” said Geri, before leaving both.
“I see you are quite experienced working outside Indonesia, can you tell me a little?” fukunishi asked as he flipped through Rangga's resume bundled up on his desk.
“I worked as an intern in Japan through the Internship Program, also while studying International Relations at the Indonesian Embassy, involved in several cultural projects in Osaka as well.”
“Oh, Osaka! Coincidentally Delegation who will arrive later tonight there are those from there,” muttered Fukunishi who was still researching the paper in his presence.
His slender glasses slightly sagged and his wide nose was set, his eyes slightly squeaking while reading, Rangga sat quietly waiting.
“Honestly, actually, I prefer candidates who have a normal certification level, JLPT N1 for example, old certificates that you attach in addition to expired, for example, the level is also below the usual requirements for a Business Interpreter.”
Fukunishi carefully assessed the figure of Rangga who looked calm in front of him, he then folded his glasses and leaned on the chair seemed to be weighing something on his head.
“People you will guide, are the leaders of this group of companies. Convinced of me, why should I bet reputation to you and not another candidate, Rangga-san?” challenge her then, her narrow eyes staring straight at Rangga.
“Without high input, in the next six hours you will find it difficult to find other candidates who have extensive work experience in multi-fields with native Japanese speakers, who are accustomed to interacting with figures from all strata to the highest management, understand about business management and with communication skills at least as level as JLPT N2 even though it is non-certified. In addition, I also know the place of the fun streets in Jakata, in my opinion Mr. Director Fukunishi.” replied Rangga, short, solid and confident.
In addition, my pay is still slightly below standard for this level of work, his inner.
“You are very confident, for people who do not complete formal studies and give official diplomas.” Fukunishi said as he folded his hands.
“I believe in my prowess, and I believe figures like you value performance and prowess more than a piece of paper.”.
Fukunishi mangosteen permeated Rangga's answer, his serious face loosened and now flashed a smile.
“Gue likes the elo style,” said Fukunishi in Indonesian mixed medok accent.
“Thank you, Mr. Fukunishi.” reply Rangga, also in Indonesian.
He was satisfied to win the challenge just now but enough in his heart just shouted his tempita.
The atmosphere slowly melted and Fukunishi began to talk at length about the background of the upcoming higher-ups and their agenda, including discussing recreational areas they might visit during the week.
He hoped to provide the best service for them and asked Rangga to succeed this. He has also compiled the details of the itinerary with some of his staff, Rangga will be involved as well, looks like Fukunishi wants to win their hearts.
“Let's have a discussion while I have lunch, can you drive?” invite Fukunishi while getting up to grab his draped suit.
“Can Pak Fukunishi.”
Fukunishi passed the BMW-dependent keys to Rangga before the two left the Director's room. The employees slightly bowed as they passed by, Geri gave a thumbs up to Rangga from behind her desk.
While in his mind Rangga calculate the potential coffers of money that he will get this week.
***
Rangga spent lunch with Fukunishi at one of the Japanese restaurants in the Kemang area, Nini had more than an hour glared at thousands of lines of financial transaction reports from dozens of spreadsheet files on her laptop until it felt sore.
He turned his face for a moment from the monitor screen even though his mind was still branching wildly, stunned at the back of his bench looking up at the ceiling.
His intuition said there was something behind the neat and flawless reports of Elsa and Dendhy's audit results for Swarnadipa, including sensitive documents from financiers both at home and abroad of this mega project.
His taste was like it was in the eye but his reality was still across the ocean, for a moment he began to question whether his suspicions were baseless or just the effect of mere enthusiasm.
Was she indeed too high in judging herself as Elsa put it? His mind began to doubt.
His phone clinks as his mind starts to fog, one message coming in from Nathan.
We haven't had dinner for a long time, I'll pick you up? – Nathan
Okay. – Nina
Nina slammed her phone lazily into the table, then back down her Laptop.she decided to surf on Youtube and popular overseas forums with various kinds of topics.
Scrolling through topics on investment and business, as well as discussions on forensic investigations and whistleblower sub-forums among recommendations of celebrity gossip stories for him to grapple with the video homepage.
His phone was clinking back, several lines of messages entered in a row at his Junior High School Alumni Group. He laughed reading the ridiculous messages, then scrolling up along the missed timeline.
One of her classmates posted a photo of her covering a meeting at the MPR Building, looking happy to pose with her junior reporter crew.
His wry eyes then sparkled when one idea sprang into his head, he tapped on the name and immediately called him.
***
Their relationship has been bland since a few months, since he learned Nathan had returned close to his former lover six months ago.
Even though the man had tried to explain and apologize, which he himself hesitated to accept, in the end he felt his enthusiasm for their relationship was receding.
He tried to give time in the hope that everything would return to how it was, because for three years dating was not the only event that triggered them to quarrel and even separate, because for three years, but this time he just wants to finish it all.
There was no anger or hate, but no love as much as three years ago when Nathan convinced him.
He had stirred his drink a dozen times and repeatedly tried to finish the steak he ordered.
He used to be enthusiastic to hear Nathan talk about work and family business that he managed. Now it feels like all of that is really uninteresting and boring.
He only occasionally replies with a smile as the topic moves on to the contract Nathan got in the mega project Swarnadipa. Oh, maybe it was also a factor that made her mood deteriorate, her inner self.
In the raging of his mind he nudged a fork and knife from the table. The restaurant waiter hurriedly offers a replacement for her but Nina refuses, saying that it is not necessary and she has finished eating.
Nathan pretended not to see the aura of intimacy implied from the look on his lover's face and connected the torch.
Along the way home the two barely spoke, Nina made small talk if it felt bad and besides that she was fine.
He took a deep breath as the red Lambroghini pulled over in front of the gate of his house, feeling it was the right time to say it all.
“I need to say something,” he said opened the conversation, Nathan turned off the car engine and stayed silent.
“I know these six months everything is different, I think it's because we're both busy working and I've you sorry. But it seems I was wrong,” Nathan as if he could read the situation.
“I don't want us to decide, please give a little time. I promise you, I’ll pay my due.” he continued.
“ But what if its doesn’t work?” Nina asked with a bitter laugh.
Nathan was silent this time, drowning in the leather seat of his expensive car. He had no answer to the question just now, nor any question that would arise from his family not knowing the cracks of their relationship and always asking when he would propose.
Nina decides for the family from this impasse and takes off her seat belt.
“Lusa there will be a ceremony for the inauguration of Swarndipa, all partners are invited, your office too. Mama-Papa must also be present, I hope we can still go together.” said Nathan Lirih, his eyes look clear.
“Alright,” replied Nina.
He did not carry out his intention, although it seems he and Nathan already know where their relationship will be anchored. He said the night before closing the car door and entering the gate of his house without turning his head.
One call came in shortly after Nathan's car left.
“Halo Friska,”
“Hei, Nin. Sorry to bother ya,” replied Friska across the phone.
“Ngga too, how to be?”
“Have I read the emails and materials you sent, my children also again research behind the reference material. It's like this big, you sure want to blow all this to the public?”
“Iya. I'm sure.” replied Nina, steady.
“When I meet, I will call again when and where, okay?”
“Okay, thanks.” Nina hung up the phone call and clasped her phone tightly.
This was the right thing to do, his mind solidifying itself.
***
Rangga and Fukunishi as well as several staff were on guard at Soetta Airport's international arrival hall. A few minutes ago the announcement of the landing of a Singapore Airlines plane carrying their guest of honor was echoed.
The cars are waiting.
Shortly afterwards a group of Japanese and Korean expatriates appeared to crowd the arrival entrance.
“That's them.” Fukunishi exclaimed, he and Rangga then rushed over to greet.
Rangga introduced himself while researching this guest of honor of theirs in his mind. Three executives in their sixties, two female staff, several bodyguards and their luggage carriers intersected like the Yakuza.
Fukunishi soon took refuge in those who appeared to be over the age of sixty, all three of them and their expressions combined with tired faces, indifferent to seniority and the rigid character of their culture.
Seen from the movement of his body back and forth bending and laughing expressively, they must be the bosses who were told this afternoon, while those who were sturdy and dragging suitcase bags were certainly the bodyguards of this group.
He recognized the Oni mask tattoo (Devil in Japanese mythology) biting Wakizashi (Japanese bathe) which was small on the backs of the palms of some of them. He threw a smile to the entire group after being introduced by Fukunishi as Interpreter.
The senior expats welcomed in kindly, while the guards looked stiff and indifferent. He recognized one of them as striking with a large head of plontos and the right eye slashed by a cut to the lower cheek.
Rangga put the wound on his face three years ago. Now, he was holding a smile on his face to laugh at what fate had found back to him.
Oni wa Soto*, he cried in his heart.
TL Note :
Taken from the phrase in the Setsubun Tradition, Setsubun ( ⁇ , division of seasons) is the name of the celebration as well as the term used in Japan for the day before the first day of each season.
Mixing the ceremony to drive away evil spirits at home with Mamemaki (throwing beans), Peanuts are thrown around while saying the mantra "Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi" (Satan to the outside, Luck to the inside)
