This Is It?

Chapter 44: Withholding

The roaring waves swept the beach. My heart also rumbles to look at the open sea without edges. I still don't dare to turn around and tell Mutia the truth.

There is no perfect secret, but I never thought about sharing this story with Mutia. It's better no one knows who I am.

Uh! Why am I over thinking this? I can say Mutia mishandled the word she heard. After all, who would believe if two souls could exchange bodies?!

This exaggerated thought is still hard to get rid of from my old life. Easy, Bagas!

I set my breath for a moment, then turned around to approach Mutia. There should be nothing to worry about. Precisely if I were to display that expression, then Mutia could have investigated.

Huh! But where is Mutia? I heard his voice coming towards me. Now, he just disappeared. Maybe I heard wrong?

My eyes went around looking for Mutia's whereabouts. Eventually, I managed to find his position.

Then, my steps swung fast. As soon as I got behind her, I immediately asked her a question. “What are you doing here, Mut?”

“I again help Ardi collect fallen coconuts,” he explained relaxed.

“Ardi?” I let out a sigh of relief. Right, there's nothing I need to explain. "Where is he now?"

“She just brought some of the coconuts that had already been collected. Why do you look so surprised, Gas?” mutia asked while looking at my mimicry.

I immediately realized to fix every wrinkle that coiled on my face. So I decided to go back inside the house.

“Gas, do you now have time for us to speak four eyes?” the door in a serious tone.

My feet stopped stepping. I tried to think for a moment about the topic Mutia wanted to talk about.

According to my hunch, this must be about Dita and Metha. Mutia tried to reconnect the conversation the other day that was not over.

Okay fine! I'm willing to listen to him. Counting to complete and compute Andy's narration.

“Ya, please,” I said without turning around.

Mutia walked before me. “Gas, sorry, don't you feel that there's something strange about Dita and Metha?”

“Any? What is so strange about them? They've got no good plans for me, do they? That's what you want to talk about?” I played the dynamics and intonation a little bit to make it sound restless.

“Gas, I hope you are careful with them.”

“Be careful because what? Just say directly what is the basis of you vilifying them.” This time, I raised my voice.

“I'm not trying to vilify them in front of you.”

“Keep what?”

Mutia sighed for a moment. “Dita and Metha want to kidnap you, Gas. They purposely approach you to find your weak point. Once you let your guard down, they'll take you somewhere far away. Dita pursues your love only to make you beguiled by her love. He doesn't really love you, Gas.”

I put my palm on the eel. I also pulled both eyebrows while widening both lips. The explanation Mutia left behind was so ridiculous.

“Haha...” tawaku. Not to be literate, but to hone his statement. “Dita and Metha want to kidnap me, and they want to ransom hundreds of millions or billions of dollars to my parents. Right like that?” my smirk.

Mutia tightened her face painting. “Gas...”.

“OK, okay. I trust. But, how do you know that?”

“I heard it myself from their mouths. When I accidentally saw Metha and Dita chatting in the House of Representatives. Originally, I wanted to approach Metha because there was something I wanted to ask about the technicalities of the group's workmanship. However, I first heard them talking about you, Gas. I also tried to eavesdrop on...."

I interrupted Mutia's explanation. “Thank you for your concern, Mut. But one thing you should know, I also do not like let alone love to Dita. Until now, the person I love from SMA is still the same.”

I passed leaving Mutia alone. I was afraid to dissolve in hope until it was difficult to guide the heart.

I don't know! Prestigious bluntly in my sanubaya. The desire to be with Mutia is still beautifully maintained. But I was afraid he would reject me again. Sometimes I can't read eloquently every code he's shown.

I lay my body on the sofa chair that barely lives a skeleton. I tried to do all Mutia said. My mind is still unable to accept Dita and Metha's plan to kidnap me as Mutia had said. After all, for what did the Poison Duo do such a thing? For them to taste this body? It was too wild to think about.

Also, if the goal is for money, I do not see Dita and Metha as materialistic. Their lives seem pretty good economically. And again, I am not a child who is easy to imitate candy, and then believe that the giver is a good person.

Akhhhh!!!

I closed my eyes to cool my head. Sometimes I don't know more soothing. Yes, since Mutia told Dita and Metha's main plan to kidnap me, my mind became worried about identifying the truth. I was suspicious of Mutia, but I was also shadowed suspiciously while compiling the behavior of Dita and Metha.

I opened my eyes immediately. I welcome the carefree bowl of Ice Sekemu that I brought you.

“Thank you, Mom. This is my favorite drink of all time. Especially if Mom made it.”

“Favorite.” Mother squinted her eyes, her forehead also shriveled. “In fact in Jakarta there are these ice sales? I think this will be the first time Nak Bagas cobain this ice.”

“Em... a.. there, Mom. But it is rather rare.” In fact, I have never found ice with a wide coconut shavings and sapodilla pieces like this in Jakarta.

I filled my mouth to look busy to talk to. My control is not good, especially when exchanging words with Mom and Dad.

She smiled at me and went back to the kitchen.

Huh! My adrenaline is being spurred on by various situations.

***

The sky is so beautiful. The moon is perfectly round surrounded by stars.

Maybe the scenery tonight can be witnessed also in various other places in the hemisphere. However, enjoying it in your own hometown is very pampering the eyes and satisfying the taste.

Two tents stood firm. The waves and bonfires also romanticize the atmosphere. Nature understands that we will tell you about tomorrow's plan while being grateful.

Hem! I hope time stops until I find the exact number of stars floating in space.

“Gas, how are our plans tomorrow?” Andy's disturbing my intimacy with nature.

I saw the clock on the phone. At 19:25. I took 5 minutes to gather fresh air while calling Dita and Metha – who were busy taking pictures – to quickly close. Later, Ardi came with a tray of coffee and warm tea.

“Good. Tomorrow, as per our discussion this afternoon, the next morning we join the service. After filial work, Andy, and Ardi will try to share with citizens the importance of throwing garbage in its place. Actually, in this village the people are quite orderly, but that is why we need to maintain or motivate their habits. For Dita, Metha, and Mutia, you guide the children to the mini library we created. The books available today are not many, but over time we will complete them. We can also open donations of used books that are still worth reading to class friends. In essence, we try to think of this village to become Kampung Literasi,” explained me.

“What are our plans not to be too high, Gas? Sorry, we're only here for a few days, right? Why do we also reach the serepot. Yeah, I know you mean well, Gas. But are we able in the future to control what we establish?” Metha is interrupting. His mouth is tuned to work effectively and efficiently - speaking only when necessary.

“Here we try to initiate kindness. As discussed with Mr. RT this afternoon, we did not come to form a bond or build a movement in a continuous manner, although we could have done that. In essence, here, we are here to share and learn. Next will be how after we leave, we can control from a distance. But even that is not an obligation for us. Wh why? Because Mr. RT is willing to be the supervisor of our activities in the future. He also said that what we do is very helpful to his duty as a community manager,” explained me (sook) wise.

They also fell silent. It seems like they were amazed by the verse of virtue that I was singing.

Before long, Mutia came carrying a tray of raw corn. “What has the division of duties begun? Sorry if I'm late,” he said melodious.

“Gue thought you were home. Anyway, what is it you're still here? You are not invited.” Dita throws a stark satire.

“Whose word am I not invited to? The proof is Bagas and Ardi just do not ngusir I tuh,” Mutia reply.

Dita standing. His face was tense with his lips slightly shaken.

“They don't have to ngusir you. You should know yourself. Lu tuh yesterday was only given a cane, not taught to be involved in this activity. I'm sure you here would just want to spread the same charm Bagas, right? Don't you think I don't know your cunning intentions! Lu pretended to refuse Bagas, even though you are very jealous will see me being the same Bagas,” Dita's voice rose two octaves. Her words nosedived – rummaging through my pleasures.

“I don't know what you mean, Dit. Obviously my presence here because Bagas just chat I made immediately gathered, division of duties. Why are you even talking about something else?” mutia firmly defended herself.

“True Gas he talked about?” ask Dita to me.

I'm nodding. It's just my professionalism. After all, the presence of Mutia I felt was quite meaningful. He's nimble to help Mom's work. Also, he is good at communicating with the citizens.

Dita approaches Mutia. He pulled out a cynical look for a few seconds. Then, unexpectedly, he pushed Mutia with one hand. Perhaps because he did not expect an attack from Dita, Mutia fell. The corn was scattered on the sand.

“Ka.... Are you okay, Mut?” Ardi swiftly helped Mutia up.

“Dit, you don't overdo it! If you're jealous, mending you pack your things, and you can get out of here tonight too,” said Andy impassively.

Dita reached for my hand. “Kok you diem aja Gas see I was snapped with your friend?”

Then, how should I? I wanted to slap Dita, but I couldn't possibly do it.

Hem, I'd rather be a fool like Metha who's sipping coffee than sticking out her hand to break up her best friend.

I pulled my hand out of Dita's handcuffs. Then, I chanted a fake shade blow to his ear. “You don't need to be excessively jealous like this huh, Darling.”

You rough girl! It is fitting that the beauty he has is not an attraction for men who roam around him.