TWELVE DAYS OF LOVE

Finding Out: Hanging Out in a Coffee Shop

Morning, my third day in the village. Today is Monday, my three sisters have gone to school. After eating breakfast made by Mamak, I went to the front of the house just stretch my muscles are a bit stiff as well as breathe the morning air is so soothing.

My computer's motorbike is parked there. As long as I'm in the village, you'll let me wear it. While the father hitchhiked to Uncle Udi when leaving for the rice field.

Seeing the motorbike, immediately remembered the mission today. Being a detective again. Of course I have to move so early if I don't want to lose an important moment.

The moment of Grace fetches Cindai!

Mbremembem ....

The motor had rang, but just before my gas turned, Mamak's voice called out to me.

"Fadil ... Where are you going so early in the morning?"

"Walk for a minute, Mom. Just spin. Fadil go yes, Mommy."

Not even a chance to talk again, the gas I have set. Motorku.

I walked down the street in the hallway of Cindai's house, but not yet at her house I had stopped. In a coffee shop. Some people were sitting under the coffee shop.

For a moment I joined and sat down on one of the benches. Some of the men who were there for a moment looked at me, until a man greeted me.

"Fame?!" tanyakanya.

"Yes. Uh ... wait, you're Mono?"

"Yes, geez, Dil. Where the hell are you? Long time no see." Mono came up to me, we hugged.

"I work in the city, No. This is another holiday to the village. Lha you?"

"I had time to wander out of town, but it has been a year back to the village to take care of my father's rice fields. Uh, these are our other friends, remember? It's Pardi and Ucup." Mono pointed towards the other two men who were there.

"Yes, geez. Pardi's the goalkeeper, right? And our reliable Ucup back?"

My guess was right, they both smiled and also walked up to me. Back hug happens.

Mono, Pardi and Ucup were some of my childhood friends. We used to play ball together. I've always been the team captain. Joined in the village junior football team, we often face other village junior football teams in each event of inter-country sports tournaments. And our sworn enemies who will always meet in the final round are the team from Kampung Durian captained by Rahmat.

Oh, my goodness ... Grace! Could it be the same Grace that I am trying to find out right now?

Rahmat, the captain of the Kampung Durian junior football team, the team that always beat the Kampung Manggis junior football team that I captained in the final. Do I have to fight him now?

Fighting for a girl ....

Pip ...

The sound of a motorcycle horn passing by for a moment made us who were sitting there turn towards him. A pair of men in uniform were shaking. At first glance I saw their faces. Who was in front of a decent-looking man, and behind him was a sweet-faced woman.

Though at first glance, the woman looked at me. As our eyes clashed with each other, I stared at him sharply. As if demanding an answer, why he was piggybacking on it.

And her? Of course her innocent face was immediately flabbergasted, not expecting me to be there.

However, I caught a meaning from her eyesight. As if to explain something. But in an instant, his face changed. His lips clenched again, and he turned his face away from my sight.

Sadistic!

"That's the Grace. Ordinary ... just picked up Cindai to school together." I heard Mono joking with laughter from Pardi and Ucup.

"Yes, that's the Grace of doubt. She's already her teacher. Again Deket the same Cindai, both their teachers." Mono.

"Alamak ... is there no youth in this village, so that our village flowers are picked by young people from other villages?" Pardi suddenly replied.

"Can it is. We're all married. There is no single bachelor anymore. Unless you want to marry twice? Haha ...." Ucup also joked.

"The second marriage is the same as digging your own grave. My wife will definitely not let me enjoy the first night." Pardi returned to the manyun.

This time everyone laughed at Pardi's words, including myself.

"Eh .. wait a minute. Dil, you're not married yet, are you? Do you have a candidate?" mono asked me suddenly.

"I? Hmm ... not yet," I replied while shaking.

"Yes, already. What if you were the one who took Cindai? We're all more sincere if these village flowers fall into your hands than into the hands of that maggot's grace." Mono said while patting my shoulder.

"Eh .. Why me anyway? Hmm .. Besides, who knows if Cindai and Grace have liked each other and they have been in a serious relationship." I saw keki.

"That sling is the Grace. If I think they have no relationship. Anyway yes, as long as the yellow janur hasn't curved, there's still hope." Mono again said to me with complete confidence.

"Although the yellow janur is curved can still be ironed to make it straight again, Dil. Haha ...." Ucup.

Everyone who was there laughed again.

My thoughts are back on Grace and Cindai. How far are their relationships now? Right now the only two of them know because Cindai's mother doesn't know, and these friends of mine are just guessing.

But ... Didn't Cindai say yesterday that he already has a soul mate? Is it possible that he and Grace have indeed been in a relationship without anyone knowing?

Do I have to find out? But, how is it?

And ... Why should I know?

"Dil, you've been here a long time?" Mono's questioning voice instantly startled me.

"Huh? Oh .. yes, it's still a long time. Ten more days" I replied.

"Wah .. coincidence. Soon last night Maghrib you came to my house huh. There's a committee meeting for my sister Murni's wedding. You want to help?" ask Mono.

"Yes, you can, No. When is the wedding?" my reply.

"Tomorrow the day after."

"Lho, the wedding is tomorrow the day after tomorrow, how close is the meeting for the night?"

"Here is it, Dil. Apply today and get married tomorrow. People in the village without being asked will certainly be gathering gotong royong to prepare for the event. You're late in town anyway, rarely come home so never see a wedding in the village."

I'm just a beard responding to Mono's words. In my memory, coming to a wedding in the village was only a child. Just having fun with friends. At that time of course I did not understand about the wedding and a series of preparatory events.

But, is it true that weddings in the village are that simple? All I know from my married friends in town, a wedding preparation can take months. Draining energy, time and costs.

After a while, our conversation was over. Mono, Pardi and Ucup have been keen to go to work to their respective fields. I also drove my bike back home.

***