What a Beautiful Divorce

53. The Truth in Bread Paper

Prapto threw his body into a long chair in the living room of his house. "Damn, another tired of gardening night-night turns out, Nimo."

Nimo laughs. They had just finished putting the harvested vegetables and fruits into the bread paper. They are assisted by Stepen and two friends who also help them harvest.

"Indeed, Boss, especially if it rains. Thank goodness we had two friends and Mas Stepen was there to help. Otherwise, maybe we won't sleep tonight, boss."

Prapto straightened his seat and lit a cigarette. "By the way, Mr. Oscar said Mas Stepen likes to garden those nights just a joke or is it true, Nimo?"

Nimo sipped his coffee. He lit a cigarette and said, “Those jokes, Boss. The half is right again. Stepen likes to go to his garden at night. He put a garden light in his garden. He likes to read or chat with Lastri and Lapen in the garden at night.”

“So apparently. Installing garden lights in the garden seems like a cool idea, Nimo.”

“Quiet, Boss. We'll install.” Nimo then turned to Prapto. “Bos, have you thanked Pinaka?”

Prapto. He took his cell phone above.

“Halo, Pinaka.”

“Halo, Mas Prapto,” Pinaka replied from across the phone.

“I interrupt your sleep?”

“No, Mas. I just went to bed, just finished reading.”

Prapto laughs. “Pinaka is already a nerd now apparently.”

“Yes, there you go, Mas Prapto,” says Pinaka, laugh.

“I called you because I wanted to say you were beautiful, Pinaka.”

Pinaka was silent for a while, only Nimo's laughter could be heard.

“You're blushing, Pinaka?” connect Prapto.

“What the hell, Mas, my face is flat, really. Even the nights ragged.”

Prapto laughs. “I want to thank you for Strawberry Field Forever.”

Prapto smiled at Pinaka's laughter across the phone.

“Same-sama, Mas Prapto. I helped Lapen and his two friends to find the book. Good luck, yes, Mas Prapto.”

“Hopefully, Pinaka. Well, you sleep. Good night.”

“Goodnight, Mas.”

After closing the phone, Prapto stared at the ceiling. Nimo watched him while frowning.

“Bos!”

Prapto is smiling now.

“Bos!” Nimo half shouted.

Prapto. Nimo asked, “Why are you staring at the ceiling while smiling like that, Boss?”

“Beautiful Pinaka Voice, Nimo. His typical laughter from the kahyangan made me unable to stop smiling.”

Nimo shook. “Iya, Boss, yes.”

***

The long-awaited morning by Prapto and all the villagers of Kejora arrived. The morning where all the crops will be transferred into the building container, then the results of the plantation will be separated in part to be processed into food by the women of Kejora village.

Prapto and Nimo stood looking at the pile of bread papers containing their fruits and vegetables.

“You only opened it, Boss,” said Nimo. His voice contained anxiety.

Prapto. “No. You alone, Nimo.”

“You alone, Boss.”

“My hands are hard to move, Nimo,” says Prapto, no less anxious.

“Moreover me, Boss.”

“Let us alone!”

Prapto and Nimo turned their heads to hear the exclamation behind them. At the door of the house the boards of Prapto, Lapen, Taro, and Lennon stood with sure faces.

“Open it alone Uncle both do not dare,” says Lapen.”

“Oooh, we already had a hunch that the two of Uncle would not dare to open the bread paper, so we came to help,” Lapen replied.

Prapto and Nimo looked at each other.

“Don't brag, Lapen. Come on, quickly open the bread paper!” Mr. Oscar appears while holding a smoky pipe.

“Do not believe if Lapen started his words with ‘oooh’, Nak Prapto, Nak Nimo, it means he is making up or joking,” said Mr. Oscar. “Come here was my idea, because I suspect you guys must be afraid to open those bread papers.”

Prapto, Nimo, and Mr. Oscar then face Lapen and his two friends. The three boys were holding the ends of the bread paper in front of them.

“Open your eyes,” said Mr. Oscar. “You must be strong.”

Prapto opened his eyes. The ends of the bread paper began to be pulled by Lapen and his two friends. The vegetables and fruits that were inside the bread paper began to appear slightly. A cold sweat descended on the foreheads of Nimo and Prapto. While Mr. Oscar, the shell fire was extinguished because it was not sucked.

Time was slow at Prapto's house. The bakery paper pull by Lapen, Taro, and Lennon seemed so slow.

All bread packs are open. Lapen, Taro, and Lennon got up and stood beside Mr. Oscar. Mr. Oscar came forward to check. He took a turnip and papaya and examined the surface. Mr. Oscar then close his nose to smell the aroma of papaya and radish.

Prapto awaits Mr. Oscar's examination with anxiety. “How, Mr Village Chief?”

Mr. Oscar stood up and turned around. He ignited his shell that had been extinguished.

“Congratulations, we did it.” There was a haru tone in the voice of the Kejora village chief.

Lapen, Taro, and Lennon cheered. They look so happy. “Congratulations, Uncle,” said Lapen and his two best friends.

“Means the four fathers also managed to harvest,” Prapto said.

Mr. Oscar and Nimo nodded. “Come, we collect all these fruits and vegetables to the building of the container!” bring Mr. Oscar.

They then put fruit, vegetables, and livestock into baskets and took them to the holding buildings assisted by Lapen, Taro and Lennon.

In the building, where the men gathered to bring their crops together, everyone congratulated Prapto, Nimo, Mr. Sumakir, and three other fathers. They then separate the crops to be processed into food, which will be delivered by Nimo and Prapto to homes that will be used as a place to process food.

***

That afternoon, under the cloudy sky, Lapen, Taro, and Lennon ran towards the village hall, after they saw the head of an American-style black truck in the distance.

“Gumiro's grandfather is coming, Gumiro's grandfather is coming!” shouted Lapen and his two best friends together.

The face of the Kejora villagers in front of the village hall was beaming. This afternoon, the results of the plantation and their processed food will be sold.

Mr. Gumiro, Nimo, and a man who was toting a laptop bag got off the truck. The man who was carrying the laptop bag greeted Oscar and Prapto, who were standing next to the truck. He introduced himself as an employee of Mr. Gumiro. His name is Tresno, thirty-six years old.

Tresno then approached the table and opened his laptop. Timo, who saw Tresno open the laptop, immediately went to the holding building to record the loading details he would provide later on Tresno. While Mr. Gumiro and Mr. Oscar chat while paying attention to the loading of the results into the truck.

“Congratulations, Mas,” Pinaka said on Prapto. They went around to record the sales of Kejora villagers.

“You are meritorious, Pinaka. By the way, what kind of processed food did you make with Arini?”

“We make cookies and chips, Mas. Mas Prapto later had to try it, it was really delicious. It turns out to be true said Bu Intan, cakes and chips made from natural gardening are much tastier than those in supermarkets.”

Prapto smiled looking at Pinaka. The woman's face became even more beautiful when she told a cheerful story. “Do you also want to have a garden, Pinaka?”

“Welcome to, Mas. I want a home here too. But it seems like it is still a long time, I will collect money first, at least half, the other half of it must be Dad wants to add.”

“You can have a garden and a house here without buying it, Pinaka.”

“Mas serious? How to?” ask Pinaka, curious.

“Married to the Kejora village farmer, then you will have a garden and a house here. If you want, I'll nominate you to him.” Prapto lit his cigarette.

“I don't want to, Mas,” replied Pinaka briefly.

Prapto laughed seeing Pinaka's face that suddenly turned sullen. He knew Pinaka was upset that he was not running for himself. “Yakin don't want to? His name is Prapto loh.”

“Eh!” Pinaka stopped his steps. He stared at Prapto for a moment, as if he could not believe what he had just heard.

Pinaka's face flushed red as Prapto smiled sweetly at her. He turned his face quickly and walked ahead of Prapto.

***

Pinaka scrolled his phone looking at the photos he had taken with Bu Harni, Bu Intan, Arini, and other Kejora village women while at the village hall. Her eyes glanced at the top of the phone screen, hoping Prapto would send a short message or call her.

Pinaka smiled at Prapto's words and sweet smile as they chatted at the village hall earlier this afternoon. He then grabbed a cookie on the table. But, not to mention Pinaka's hand to the cake jar, he turned his head because of the short message.

Pinaka sighed because it turned out that the short message was not from Prapta. He read it and scrunched his forehead.

“There are things you should know about Prapto, Pinaka. You should know why he and I are divorced. By: Silvi”