Owner of Heart #1
Chapter 17
We stayed inside until we finished praying, and just came out to join us for dinner with the others.
The men have made a campfire that in addition to warming the body also to repel mosquitoes that are very much considering we are currently in the forest, so it is a natural thing. Not far from there has now stood a fairly large army tent that can accommodate everyone to sleep there, some of the soldiers were resting inside the tent in contrast to us who were huddled in front of the campfire due to the cold.
Citizens of Kubu seem to have slept to prepare themselves tomorrow morning gardening and even hunting. Except for the two houses that are still brightly lit where the artists are staying tonight which means like us they have not fallen asleep.
For dinner we cooked our mainstay food which is instant noodles! Thank you to anyone who has created instant noodles, Love you!
That night we cooked a huge amount considering we had to feed 10 soldiers, 5 Dinsos and 11 members of our own including Fadhil and Veny. While eating noodles we talk about the material we will give for tomorrow's lesson and anything we need to prepare.
We were still eating noodles when the artists joined us which of course with the camera on ready to record them. The standard questions for stale bases began to be thrown, the other friends seemed excited because they could talk to the artist directly, different from me who just sat enjoying noodles as if in my own world.
“Mas Yudha!” Bang Kamal called for the Lieutenant to make my spoon stop in the air for a few seconds before coming back to my senses.
“Bathing out, Mas?”
“Iya.” The lieutenant replied while sitting down to join us.
“Not cold shower this hour, Mas? We just got frozen.
”
“If it's cold there's Ayangnya here, just ask for a hug.”
Everyone laughed at Dony's temptation, which provoked temptations from others. And I was still speechless eating noodles in front of the campfire with my eyes fixed on the red of the fire trying to survive not to escape from it.
“Za!”
The deg!
I was silent, the Lieutenant called me out loud enough to make the atmosphere around suddenly quiet and I could feel that everyone was staring at us now. I slowly looked up at the Lieutenant who looked fresh with wet hair and was cool with his army's green jacket, and as usual every time I saw him my heart would go crazy.
“Mie is still there?” he asked while looking at me with the exact same look as when we made a video call almost a year ago. I saw a pot that had been empty but there were still a few packs of raw instant noodles lying not far from where I was sitting.
“There, but not cooked, want?”
“By deh, please yes.”
I nodded while putting my remaining noodle bowl a little.
“I'm the masakin, Key, you continue to eat it.”
“Nothing, Tea, let Kekey be.”
I turned my body back to the campfire while crouching in front of the portable stove that Fadhil had brought and started cooking the Lieutenant's noodles. Keep in mind! I cooked noodles for him not because of anything but because I felt sorry for him, he must have been cold after bathing in the river at night and must have been hungry because it seemed like the last time he ate it was lunchtime. So there's no harm in helping someone in distress?
“Thename Kekey-right? How come Yudha calls, Za?” Marsya sounded curious and I was also sure the others were just as curious to leave me speechless for a while.
“Name Key-za.” Kak Yoan answered the question by emphasizing each syllable as if teaching children and how to successfully make everyone nod in understanding. And I am very grateful to Brother Yoan for that answer.
They again talked about the impression of living with the people of Kubu for several hours.
“Gw think will stay the same tribe that is really primitive in the same year, they are quite advanced.” Ben spoke who got a word of agreement from another artist friend.
“They already have a TV, continue yes the residence is quite comfortable even though the mattress is still a thin floor mattress that is,” said Leona who again made everyone nod in agreement.
“They have a mattress, same pillow as a stretch more yes?” Brother Yoan asked expectantly.
“Make who?” Leona asked what Teh Vita answered.
“Make us, in there let alone mattress tiker no.”
“Masa? So how'd you sleep?” Leona asked in a surprised tone.
“Yes crushes the time of literacy,” I whisper to myself while stirring the noodles, but either my voice was too loud or the Lieutenant's hearing was sharp because suddenly I heard the Lieutenant snorting with laughter, beside me!
To my surprise I looked to the side, and yes! The Lieutenant is now sitting next to me facing a different campfire than me who is still on his back. But when did he move?
“Mas Yudha why laugh?” leona asked with her long voice.
“Engga, was about to sneeze but not so.”
“Oooh, followed by me,” said Leona in her typical spoiled tone to make everyone back to tease them.
Just hearing it made me roll my eyes while stirring the noodles with a little energy, and I somehow did that!
“Don't screw around stirring his cassian tar noodles dizzy.”
Instantly I turned to the side and it turned out that the Lieutenant was looking at me with a mischievous smile on his face! Irritatedly I glanced back and concentrated on cooking the noodles as if it required full concentration.
“Have been?”
I handed over the noodle bowl the Lieutenant received with a big smile.
“Still.”
I nodded as I sat back down – next to the Lieutenant– and took my already cold and fluffy bowl of noodles, saw it made me lose my taste and put it back.
“You again?” The lieutenant offered me some of the noodles, which I answered with a headband.
“Nothing to talk about.”
“Ada.”
I was silent not answering.
“We have to talk, now.”
“Not now,” I finally answered slowly while drinking warm water.
“When?”
“Nanti.”
From the side I could see the Lieutenant nodding in understanding.
“You bring more jacket?” he asked again with a full mouth that was answered by my arm.
“You will be cold, Za.”
I was silent and answered nothing.
“Let's use my sleeping bag aja.”
“Not need.”
“Do not be stubborn.”
“I'm not stubborn.”
“Then use sleeping bagku.”
“Tick same another.”
The Lieutenant fell silent until he finally finished his noodles very quickly.
“Can you have warm water?”
I looked around looking for a clean glass but couldn't find it.
“No clean glass.”
“Wear your glass only.”
Hearing that made me look at him, “Drink aqua glasses only.”
“Cold.”
“Pour water pack the glass aja.”
“Can't waste water.”
“Then the water is drunk first.”
“Kan water is cold.”
“Yes already, finished it just drink warm water.”
“Fear of bloating mostly drink.”
I took a heavy breath with my eyes looking at him sharply, but he just looked at me casually while raising his eyebrows.
“You two are having a storm what?”
As I looked around and everyone was staring at us, apparently unconsciously we raised our voices.
“Gelas,” my reply left everyone frowning in confusion.
“Glass?” ask Teh Vita who made me look at the Lieutenant.
“Yes, no clean glass huh?” The Lieutenant asked casually.
“Mas Yudha wants a drink? Just use my glass.” Leona thrust her glass.
“No need, thank you, I drink aqua glass only.. Ren, please, Ren, ask for one.”.
The Lieutenant took the aqua glass from Rendy's hands which sat down near the drink box.
“Pelit.” Whisper while drinking.
“Biarin,” I replied while drinking warm water.
“Aaah warm it.” I said loud enough triumphantly to make the Lieutenant cough with a choking cough. And for the first time I could smile after my meeting with the Lieutenant.
*****
