Null Existence
9. The Hero of The Story
“Young Master Rangga, ten years have passed. All the grudges that smolder just get rid of it, the Great Family of Wijaya is waiting for you.” said the middle-aged voice.
“Hah?” said Rangga, cengo.
“As the eldest son of the heir to the family, you have the right to inherit trillions of dollars in inheritance. Your grandfather also betrothed you to the youngest daughter of Indonesian Real Estate conglomerate,”
“How Many Trillion?” ask Rangga.
“Nine Hundred Trillion!” firmly, followed by a soft coughing sound.
“Many also tuh. How many glasses will you buy Bobba Tea?” Rangga sipped Boba Tea in his grasp and thrust Mineral Water into Raisa.
The girl downed the contents of the bottle and coughed again, Rangga patted his back gently, trying to help. The two were enjoying a Saturday afternoon break, sheltering from the heat of the day under the shade of the canopy.
“Can ‘treat all the offices in the three building complexes deh,” Raisa replied after wetting her throat. “The name also fantasizes, do not giggle dong Mas.”
“Mbak Raisa often watch Korean dramas yes, the fantasy is like that.” asked Rangga.
“Call Raisa anyway, don't use Mbak. If that was just from the Online Novel, the story is a bit halu anyway, hehehe.” Raisa gave a short laugh flaunting her neat, chubby teeth.
“This is in the works you know, I do not ethically call names. We also have different levels,”
“Hmm, no kali Mas, I'm still junior. Very formal anyway wear ‘Mbak’, make males.” reply Raisa, as if taking.
Their office actually only works a special half-day on Saturday, even though the office hours have been dissolved, as is the custom of other building residents, he said, they often spend Saturday afternoon chatting in a small garden on the Roof Ridge.
The two sat next to each other on a long bench. Shady wind blows.
“If only..” chirps Rangga.
“What if?”
“If only as much money as before really exists, pay deh the cost of repairing an office car.” replied Rangga with a look of laughter, smiling wryly. Recall the office sedan that was covered with wounds in the underground parking lot of the Building.
“Yeah, so be serious. Who just joked, you know,”
“Haha.. Yes, I understand that Mbak Raisa means joking.”
“Huu, still called Mbak again,” said Raisa, pretending to scatter.
Unsurprisingly, the opening was also a two-level green plastic food container containing pieces of Black Forest cake, and chicken nuggets on the bottom window that he had been holding.
“Cobain deh me who made,” bargain to Rangga, roll out the two containers on the empty space bench between the two of them.
“Tumben has no rice,” asked Rangga while plucking the Black Forest a piece and devouring it.
“Again want to take this,” Raisa smiled observing Rangga who greedily tasted the second piece.
“Enak you know it,” comments Rangga, Raisa blushed blush.
“Nih serious?” ask Raisa
“Iya seriously kok, this is very good taste...” timpal Ajo who unceremoniously plucks the Black Forest pieces in the container and without hesitation directly devoured it.
Following a deliberately contrived expression while enjoying the last piece he bribed, the look on his face seemed to seriously taste the snack he had just as heavy. Pacing like a culinary expert who is now solemnly considering the new treats he enjoys.
“Raisa, I like the Blackforest you make, it tastes good but not too sweet, the texture is soft. The composition fits as we expected for this level of challenge. You qualify for the next round!” exclaim Ajo pointed to Raisa, imitating the jury comments of a popular cooking contest, complete with its distinctive sumatera cloak.
“Ih reseh nih si Bapak. Maen comot-comot aja,” grumbled Raisa. Rangga clapped his small hands while Ajo chuckled.
Ajo then took a seat on the bench next to the bench that Raisa and Rangga used, opening a small bag containing a plastic container.
“Bby dong we join nyicip, time si Rangga doang can.” Ajo.
“Ngga can anyway. Special Pak Ajo banned nyicip,’
“My turn, banned. If Rangga could, cheat Raisa favoritism. Make jealousy tau,” chirped Ajo, while still focusing on his lunch.
“Waduh, that's not the boss either. Gossip again nih aki-aki,” protest Raisa, misbehavior.
“What gossip is gossip?…No, the cheeks are so red, Sa. Hot weather huh?” ajo Goda.
Rangga pretended not to hear and continued sipping softly Bobbba Teanya glass.
Six months is more than enough time to recognize the habits of his superiors who are this prank hobby.
Ajo smiles at the knot observing the results of his snickering, Raisa who is increasingly misbehaved and Rangga began to calculate the number of flower motifs on the canopy trellis.
Finally he could not help but laugh at one mouthful and choke it.
Ajo looked as if he was drowning, his face stiffened, he pointed at Raisa's drinking bottle but the girl was reluctant to share.
Rangga sprightly gave his drinking tumbler directly in the throat runs out.
“Sukurin tuh, quality..hihi” Raisa giggles.
“Tega, Raisa. If I why-napa later who will try to match you the same Rangga,” said Ajo after his chest is gone and his face slackened in relief.
“Keep aja tuh, quality again later.”
“Seru really this is like, what is it, Mr Ajo?” the friendly admonition of a petite woman, with shoulder-length hair and glasses hanging from her nose.
“New lunch, Ms Julie?” raga SAPA.
“Iya nih, just perfect Mr. Rangga.” answer .
Among the more than one hundred employees in the Office of Elsa and Partners, only Julie who called Rangga with the designation ‘Pak’, a testimony of how professional and non-biased he appreciated fellow employees.
Even though his position there is quite vital, the Accounting Manager who oversees dozens of admin staff and the financial pulse of the company whose value is quite fantastic.
Fashion everyday tends to be simple, not as bright as Bu Elsa or as glamorous as Bu Mey.
Carrying is firm at work, but very friendly outside office hours.
Rangga has great respect for the dedication and hard work that the mother showed with this one son and daughter.
“This is Ci Julie, I again disturb people dating this, ga's real patience like waiting for Sunday night.” said Ajo while deliberately looking flickering towards Julie.
“Oh yes, I joined here aja,” Julie replied.
Rangga moved to sit next to Ajo and let Julie sit next to Raisa.
“Kok so move his seat, Mr. Rangga. I'm so not good loh.. Sorry yes, Ms. Raisa” joked Bu Julie, follow-up flirting with both.
”Eh, I'm so disturbing people dating as well, Mr. Ajo. We moved a few times, huh?”
“Ayo Bu,” Ajo immediately as if he would rise up to transport his supplies.
“Do not dong Bu, here aja.” Raisa persuades Julie who pretends to move to sit down. Ajo grinned the horse at the end of his stool.
Rangga resigned only to be used as a guyonan material, Julie followed amusedly observing the reaction of Raisa who keki.
“Yes already, I did not so move.” said Julie, kalem.
Rangga was watching the last class schedule this week that was inserted in his Whatsapp chat group, while Ajo, Julie and Raisa chatted about office issues. Then the fad checked the savings balance in his online account, his,
Rp 4,850,000,- remaining. Less is even for the odd-numbered next-semester payday.
The case of the car that needs to be replaced by the paint has not been found out how to solve it. It is likely to await Monday's verdict, given that both Elsa and Mey are absent today.
In his mind, Rangga was already preparing to find a new job.
Other options may be to quit college or take a semester off first. Returning to the profession of Ojol was the easiest option he thought of.
One thing is certain he was reluctant to owe, especially to a handful of acquaintances that he had so far.
“Love is just love, life and death to you Suddenly Ajo hummed loudly.
“Maybe all tanya..” Raisa join and become a duet.
“...you answer,”
Rangga subconsciously closed the chunk of the song's refrain lyrics, even though his mind still remained glued to his cellphone screen while leaning against the canopy pole. Repeatedly he scrolls through his internet banking page without a clear purpose that ends up only reloading the same nominal, as if at a certain period of time the balance will magically increase.
Ajo, Julie and Raisa clapped boisterously, plus two more people walking past them.
Ayu the Receptionist and Amanda who is Julie's direct representative in Finance, and complete both are beautiful figures who always managed to make the heart of Rangga race, Nina.
Electrical waves whistle every synapse that records last night's events in Rangga's brain. On the other hand he immediately realized the reason Ajo suddenly sang.
The two have not had time to meet or just meet face to face since morning, although today Rangga was able to reply flatly to a short session of exchanging their views.
The usual shock of his being defeated by his regret for his hilarity this morning, he had promised himself to live a normal life without trying to touch aspects of his past again.
But last night he failed. Momentary emotions lead him to chaos that he hopes does not widen.
Nina was just throwing a smile at Julie and the others, she looked indifferent as if Rangga was invisible there. That figure just passed through it.
Of course Rangga himself realized, during the tenure of six months employed here too, they almost never communicate. Little thought that Nina would say something because of last night's mistake was now nothing more than despair.
Who are you, Rangga? His inner.
“Every night like in a really rame group yes, about Bu Dyah missing...You guys the difference of the road or how the hell happened, sir?” ask Julie to Rangga.
“I also don't know Bu. Simple anyway, I lalat.”
Both Ajo and Raisa were watching closely for a momentary change in Rangga's attitude.
***
“Pak Ajo this stove is amazing yes, can aja nyari momentnya.” jelap Julie who has finished with her lunch.
“Little by now, Ci. Let there be amorous spices in our office,” Ajo laughs short interrupts the gust of cigarette smoke.
“Yes Mr. Rangga, the greget dong! Come on, hold on Bu Raisa.” Julie clenched both hands like she was cheering the race.
"This one is mah, not like the one in the movie Ci. Sok cool doang, romantic no," chirped Ajo.
"Hahaha, time anyway. Write a poem dong let it melt Miss Raisaanya." joked Julie.
"I can doang Bu nyoret, ga poetic kayak in the film" said Rangga, trying to dismiss the attack.
Raisa who is now being talked about is excusing to go to the toilet. Rangga responded wrongly with his laughter.
Again associated with that jerk movie, his inner protest, his,
“I'm just friends, Mom. Nothing more,” replied Rangga, diplomatically.
“Rangga mah, the antics are the same Mr. Princess ma'am,” Ajo put an index finger to his lips, pretending to be expressing a great mystery to Julie who he is obliged to keep his confidentiality. Rangga scratched his temple which was not itchy.
“Yeah, start it. Don't I be the gossip material again dong Bang, not my good same Bu Dyah.”
“Hmm, si Doi. Well, it's natural who isn't. But like, I agree with Ms. Raisa aja deh..’ said Julie.
Rangga just a smile just responding to the fight plan by these two superiors. If Raisa were with them, the atmosphere would be more awkward.
Apart from the silly rumors that often appear in the work environment, dynamics like this are very enjoyed by Rangga, if you have to leave on Monday, at least there are mementos for him.
Actually Rangga himself is not numb or so innocently unable to read the attitude, actually reading the gestures is one of the things he learned while active duty.
It's just that he didn't think he had any close ties to anyone in consideration of his past. He likes to have friends and co-workers who are familiar, but there is a visible boundary line that he draws between the outside world and his own world.
Even if lately there is little hope to bring others through the boundary, the hope is only linked to someone.
“Bu Dyah is heavy, Mr. Rangga. Well, not want to die in hope anyway, if I really talk about what it is. But yes, if you want to try hard, nothing. As long as you are ready to hope, ready to be disappointed as well. After all, like a movie, the main character there,” this time Julie gave her short advice.
“Iya, we continue this is just a figure yes Ci,” kelakar Ajo.
“Iya, Hahaha..” Julie followed laughing, as well as Rangga even in a little sneering at the advice earlier.
Main Cast? Inner Rangga.
Even if he is the main character, surely now he is in the story of a love tragedy that claps one hand. Percis pungguk who misses the moon.
He was the main character who had lost from the beginning. Surrender. Even before the battle began. He had accepted fate only to question the feelings of his heart.
I'm the hero of the story, don’t need to be saved It's alright, It's alright, It's alright, It's alright…
The soft vocals of Regina Spector hummed in Rangga's mind.
