Romance In Makara Orange

Friend or Foe

Friend or Enemy

The Politics lecture in South Asia this time talked about the role of caste in politics in India. Vira and her classmates watch a documentary called India Untouched which tells how humans are compartmentalized in rigid social stratification in a society called caste.

In the film it is described how people live, school, marry and work what has been determined by the caste. No one with a low caste can level up into the upper caste despite trying hard work.

Perhaps when compared to Indonesia, perhaps rigid social stratification is only few and more flexible. For example, rich people will tend to marry fellow rich people, people with certain ethnicities or tribes will marry with the same ethnicity and tribe. But that's just mostly, it doesn't have to be. Many people who used to be poor can get rich because of hard work. Social stratification movements occur a lot and there are no social sanctions given by the community for the changes that occur.

The task given by Mba Evi, his lecturer was very easy. Just make a reviewer with additional journal material that has even been given. The deadline given to write the recension is about three days and through the e-learning system. So Vira does not need to rush to work on it, just open a laptop and send it over the internet.

At least working on a proposal for a Trouble Choice Seminar course and working on a reviewer task can eliminate the loneliness left behind by research.

This Thursday Vira can come to Senayan a bit at noon about half-nine in the morning. No need to chase the train by jostling with the rupiah fighters in the morning. Mr. Herman since last Monday with the other Commission 3 went to study appeals to the Netherlands and the UK related to the revision of the KUHAP and KUHP. Mr. Faisal and Mr. Ruth, Mr. Herman's wife, also participated.

“Bu Fatmah, that student from IISIP who is also the same intern Mr Herman koq does not look?” vira asked when she found him alone in the office.

“Yesterday came Monday morning Mba Elvira, had met with Pak Herman and Pak Faisal before flying to the Netherlands. The plane will be at night so the next morning you enter first to take care of the departure file,” replied Miss Fatmah.

“Bu Fatmah not follow?”

“Waah, I am the administrative staff of Mba Elvira, her work is correspondence. Mr. if the service abroad always ngajak Pak Faisal with Mba Putu, but because Mba Putu again leave replaced with Mother Ruth.”

“What's the name Ma'am, that intern from IISIP? The internship schedule is not with me huh Bu?”

“The name is Asep, Asep Sodikin. It came yesterday on Tuesday Mba Elvira. Not fitting the schedule Mba Elvira yes?!”

“Sepi ya Bu here. Temen me in Commission 1 that expert staff it up to 4 people loh Bu trus apprentice students are also many!”

“Father is not too fond of many Mba Elvira now since stroke. So you no longer want to be the Chairman of the Commission, do not want to be too crowded, and the food is taken care of the same Miss Ruth.”

“Bapak has a stroke why Bu Fattmah?” ask Vira curious.

“Mba Elvira don't tell anyone. Promise to Mba! I don't feel good about his personal life Mr.”

“Eeh do not Miss Fatmah, do not need any attention. I'm so not good to have asked the same Miss Fatmah.”

“Nothing, here I am a story. But don't be tipped off in front of Mr. Faisal, I'll be homelin. I know Koq Mba Elvira can keep a secret.”

Vira was silent sitting at her desk, watching as if Bu Fatmah was so eager to tell Vira.

“The father suffered a stroke because of her husband Mba Lydia, her first child who made Mba Elvira. Her husband has killed Mba people,” said Bu Fatmah excited.

Vira was surprised not to play. “What's Mom? Killing people? Ah right?”

“True Mba Elvira. My father has a lot of company. That's Mba Lydia and her husband. There is a problem of the time to free the land of residents for his company project, eeh I don't know much of the story, but she said her husband Mba Lydia was hiring people to kill activists who belain citizens there Mba Elvira.”

“Truly Ma? Koq yah spooky anyway!”

“That's why Mr. Trus suffered a mild stroke until two months leave.”

“Her husband Mba Lydia free what caught Bu?” ask Vira.

“Caught Mba Elvira, but she was imprisoned for only a short time. Mba Lydia then asked for divorce.”

“The Hermannya sir is okay-why aren't ya Ma'am? Doesn't that mean it's the same case?” ask Vira

“Ya Not Mba Elvira. But once there was an NGO from where it said that you as the owner of the company must be responsible, but yes just a moment, not rame.”

Vira fell silent. Pensive to think about it because of how big it is to imagine the face of Ganindra shady and Mba Lydia, a beautiful independent woman who was introduced to him at the Plaza Festival last Friday.

“Mba Elvira promise yes don't tell anyone, I don't want to be nagged by Mr.”

“Hahaha. Vira promise!”

There's not much Vira does in the office these days. The list to be done from Mr. Faisal was not too much either. Bu Fatmah was busy checking the incoming letters and labeling them with different colors in each letter.

Checking chat messages on his phone. None of Kosa, it seems that this research with Matsuoka Sensei keeps Kosa very busy. He saw several group messages and from someone who was deliberately not opened to read.

“Bu Fatmah will be out for dinner at what time?” vira asked to break the silence in this space of only two people. The analog wall clock has shown at eleven past five minutes.

“I did not eat at Elvira Mba Canteen. Ms. Retno, her admin staff Mr. Ismail from the 7th anniversary Commission, bring lots of yellow rice. I'll be there later. But sorry Mba Elvira, I do not rhyme yes because it is limited.”

“Eh, it's okay Ms. Fatmah. I used to eat alone koq Bu!” vira then lets himself drown in front of the computer.

Suddenly there was the sound of the door being knocked and then it appeared in front of Vira and Miss Fatmah, a tall and beautiful female figure who had just become the subject of their conversation.

“Eeeh, there's Mba Lydia. Koq here Mba? You will again be served out with Mother and Mr. Faisal,” greet Bu Fatmah who was surprised to see the presence of this figure.

Lydia smiled. He went to Miss Fatmah and then hugged her with a kiss on the right and left cheek.

“I miss you a lot Bu Fatmah [i miss you Bu Fatmah]!” lydia said with a sumringah tone.

“This is for you, blueberry cheesecake, your favorite. Not much, just one slice for your dessert after lunch [It's mom's favorite cheesecake blueberry, not a lot of it's just a piece for Mom's lunch cover],” he continued while giving a small glossy white paperbag.

“Ah, don’t mention it [don't think of Bu]!”

“Mba Lydia want to pick up the stuff you missed? I didn't order anything to Mba!” said Ms. Fatmah.

“I just wanna take her out for lunch, is it okay [I just want to take her, okay]?” lydia asked while pointing towards Vira.

Lydia's words made Vira who from earlier only saw to be shocked. Koq could be. I don't know what made Lydia take her to lunch without wind or rain.

“Bby Mba Lydia. Go ahead! Mba Elvira doesn't have much to do either! Isn't it Mb Elvira?” asked Bu Fatmah to Vira who was dumb earlier.

“Eh, yes Miss Fatmah. I can koq Mba Lydia,” replied the powerless Vira refused Lydia's request.

“I will wait until your work over [i wait until your work is done].”

“What's Mba, I can go now, won't Bu Fattmah?” vira's question was answered with a nod of Miss Fatmah.

“Okay, let’s go then [Alright, let's go]!” take Lydia who stands with her small black bag with crocodile skin.

Vira didn't ask where Lydia would take her to lunch. He just follows. Lydia's driving her own fancy sports car. The way Lydia drove the car amazed Vira. The woman is independent and strong, reminding Vira of her sister Natha. He saw himself when mem⅕compare with himself who does not have the guts to drive a car and even make his own SIM.

Lydia takes Vira to Plaza Senayan. He took Vira to the fourth floor, to a Korean Japanese restaurant that served me a menu of yakiniku, grilled meat. It seems that Lydia had already reserved this place because now that it was in lunchtime where almost all the restaurants were full, Lydia easily got a table in the private room.

“Do you like barbecue? This place serves good wagyu. I also like their tofu and kimchi [You like barbecues? This place provides delicious wagyu meat. Tofu and kimchi are also delicious],” Lydia explained.

Vira nodded. It doesn't matter where he eats. In his mind there was only a curiosity as to why Lydia had brought him to lunch. Lydia asked what menu she chose and somehow her appetite dropped dramatically when looking at the menu list. Finally Vira only ordered tofu soup with spicy Korean-style flavors that cost the same as a kilo of beef in the supermarket.

Vira doesn't know what Lydia ordered. He saw two restaurant staff serving several dishes in front of them that contained cuts of meat with a tinge of fat that spread out in equal proportions. There are three plates containing meat of different cuts and thicknesses. There is also a plate containing salad, kimchi and spicy tofu soup ordered. The staff helped turn the grill on to be ready for use.

Lydia smiles at him and lets Vira eat. The tofu soup was spicy and it tasted quite good. Lydia started flipping through her grilled meat and then gave the first cooked piece of meat to Vira. This makes Vira clumsy. He could only smile as a sign of gratitude.

“I have no sister and maybe this is how it feels to have lil sister [gue has no sister and maybe this is how it feels to have a sister],” Lydia said with a sincere smile.

“Mba Lydia why take me to lunch? Mb Lydia need something for me to work on?” finally Vira dared to ask.

Lydia laughed crisply. “I just want to get to know you better [Just want to know you more],” Lydia replied casually.

Vira was not inexhaustible with Lydia's answer. Recalling her first meeting at the Plaza Festival, Lydia behaved with a strange and probing gaze. While today was full of hospitality and he said he wanted to know Vira better. I don't know what his purpose and purpose is. Where in this world, there are people who suddenly invite good and expensive food just to be able to know it. Bizarrely.

“You must be thinking that I am weird or something like that [You must think I'm weird],” as if Lydia could read Vira's mind.

Really at first it was so stiff to talk to Lydia who always uses English. Sometimes it takes a long time to answer because of the difficulty of deciphering his words. But throughout the meal, Lydia continued to invite Vira to talk about various things and make her feel comfortable.

“Are you dating someone [are you dating right now]?” ask Lydia suddenly.

The question that made Vira almost choke. Rush to take a glass containing warm green tea to drink.

Lydia looked at him as if waiting for an answer from him.

Vira nodded. “Iya, I am in a relationship with someone.”

“Is he your classmate [same classmate]?”

“Sama senior in majors,” replied Vira honestly.

“Sorry Mba Lydia, I think the question need not be continued when it comes to my personal affairs. I feel uncomfortable talking about it,” Vira said bluntly.

It was unexpected that Vira just made Lydia laugh. “I am sorry Vira, so sorry to make you feel uncomfortable [Sorry Vira makes you uncomfortable].”

Lydia seemed to easily make the liquid atmosphere return. He saw that occasionally Lydia checked her phone like something was waiting for.

“Mba Lydia is busy huh?” ask Vira.

“No..no... actually I asked Gani to come here. He had a meeting at morning near here. Is it okay for you? [oh no koq, actually I brought Gani here because he had a meeting around here since morning, is it okay?]”

“Nothing koq Mba,” replied Vira who until now still do not understand why he had to deal with the two children of Mr. Herman Sasongko.

Soon the door to the private dining room opened and Gani, dressed in a black shirt and suit, entered the room. Looks neat.

At first Gani smiles at Lydia but is a bit surprised when she looks at Vira.

“Ada Vira is here?” ask Gani rhetorically who does not need to be answered.

“I feel sorry for her to stay at Dad’s office alone [love Vira alone in the office].”

“Gak alone koq Gan, same Bu Fatmah.”

Lydia laughed at Vira's rebuttal. “You know what Vira? I like you. We can be good friend [You know Vira, I like you and maybe we can be good friends].”

Lydia then looked at Gani and Vira alternately. “I am sorry to leave you both because I have a meeting this afternoon. Is it okay? [Sorry I have to go because there is a meeting, is it okay?]”

Both Vira and Gani are shocked to hear it and can only see Lydia stepping out of the private dining room with her leather-based bag of culture. They looked at each other clumsily with the situation that had just happened.