What a Beautiful Divorce

55. Happy Afternoon, Pinaka

Pinaka had just finished closing the library door, when his phone rang by a phone call on Silvi's behalf. He put the phone to the table and continued making tea. The phone from Silvi rang again. Pinaka sighed and then took his phone.

"Hello" said Pinaka, hesitating.

"Hello, Pinaka. Good afternoon. It's me, Silvi."

"And I'm Rini, Silvi's friend and living witness to Silvi and Prapto's divorce."

Pinaka frowned. Why would Silvi have to call him both with Rini?

After making small talk, Rini and Silvi take turns telling Pinaka about the reason Silvi and Prapto divorced, based on the essay they had designed.

"You serious? It can't be like that Mas Prapto. During my stay here, Mas Prapto was not what you told me, really," Pinaka said.

Rini's laughter was heard across the phone. "Before Silvi was married to Prapto, Prapto was impressed like the most loyal man in the world, kok, Pinaka. But after they got married, I knew best. How often Silvi cried telling me about Prapto being unfaithful to her. Now Silvi is crying beside me.

"We care about you, Pinaka. We just don't want you to feel the same grief as Silvi. Know it? Since her marriage to Prapto, Silvi has been a frequent visitor to psychologists. If you don't believe it, it's okay, Pinaka. But I hope you consider our advice. I hung up the phone, yes, because Silvi is crying right now. Good afternoon."

Pinaka put the phone down.

***

Rini and Silvi laughed.

"You heard me, didn't you, Sil? Pinaka asks, then he says that he doesn't believe Prapto is what we told him. That's a sign Pinaka believes a lot in our essay."

"really. Your plan is great, Rin," Silvi said.

“Tangis fakeumu also great.”

***

Prapto brought his coffee glass to the terrace. He sat and looked at his yard. The dim morning was slowly illuminated by the sunlight, revealing the form of trees and leaves that danced slowly swept by the morning wind.

Prapto smiled at the first bird chirping that morning. He lit a cigarette and took a harmonica.

"What a joy you seem to be, boss. Early in the morning was playing harmonica" said Nimo, who had just parked his bike. "Is there coffee for me?"

"There, Nimo, in the pot. Just heat it up when the coffee gets cold."

"Thank you, Boss," Nimo said, smiling. Then he went into the house.

***

"Finally it's done too, Boss," Nimo said. He sat down in the front seat of the kitchen garden.

"Yes, Nimo. Hopefully the rice will grow fertile later. How long will the rice be harvested?"

"Four months, Boss. We'll harvest with Dad later."

Prapto. "And after the harvest you will marry Arini."

"Yes, Boss. We'll invite Mas Timo and his fetish that his hair is carried."

"Nesia's name, Nimo," said Prapto, laughing.

"By the way, Mas Timo, really, never put on his smart-ass face again, huh, boss?"

Prapto laughs. "Yes too, yeah, Nimo. Maybe at that time he reflected when he put on his wise-looking face, then he was ashamed of himself."

Nimo laughs. Then he sipped coffee.

"Oh yes, Nimo. Evening, yes, we go to the house of the Village Chief to buy fish. I'm going to the library to have a chat with Pinaka" Prapto said.

"Yes, boss, just afternoon. Already have a plan when to get Pinaka married, Boss?" Nimo straightened his seat.

"Already, Nimo. Last night I called my parents and Mang Kari talked about it. They both said they didn't have to wait long if indeed I already felt compatible with Pinaka."

Nimo nodded. "Yes, boss, they're right. Did the boss go to the library to declare love to Pinaka?"

Prapto laughs. "There's just you, Nimo."

"Yes, right, last night the boss discussed marriage with your parents and Mang Kari."

"It could be, Nimo. If I wait for us to be rich first, it might be a long time and I'll hear more singles from Mr. Oscar and his grandchildren" Prapto said, laughing.

"Yes, Nimo." Prapto then looked at the house board. "Again, even though my parents' house and Pinaka's parents' house are not in Kejora village, I'll have this cool board house. Yeah, I'm leaving first, yeah, Nimo. Thanks for your advice."

"Yes, Boss."

***

Prapto parked his bike under a shady tree in the library yard. He arrived together with Lapen and his two companions.

"Hi, Uncle Prapto!" greet Lapen and Taro. In the middle of them stood Lennon. The boy smiled and greeted Prapto.

Prapto. "Your tumbens just came to the library at this hour?"

"Yes, Uncle," replied Lennon. "We were looking for suitable wood to be used as fishing rod."

"Isn't your fishing rod that was good yesterday?" ask Prapto.

They walked together to the library terrace.

"Yes, Uncle. But we read in the book there's a better mesh than the one we used yesterday" Lennon said.

"We're the main candidate who will win the fishing festival, Uncle. Of course we have to wear a good mesh," Lapen added.

"There's a prize?" ask Prapto.

"She, Uncle. Grandpa said, the three anglers who get the most fish will get the prize. But there are prizes too, really, for non-winning anglers like Uncle Prapto and Uncle Nimo later" Lapen said. The boy then moved his eyebrows.

"You underestimated me, Lapen Oscario.” Prapto laughs.

The three friends laughed too. "Yes, Uncle," said Lapen. "We go in first, yeah. Get Aunt Pinaka, right?"

Prapto laughed again. "Well, you're right."

Soon, Pinaka had emerged from behind the library door. Unlike usual, where he would say hello to Prapto when he saw it, Pinaka now just silent.

"What's the matter, Pinaka? Long time put on a pouty face so sweet you can disappear later."

Pinaka looked at Prapto. "I'm okay, Mom. I'm not sweet."

"You had a fight with your mom and dad?"

Pinaka.

"Then why is your face pouting like that?"

"I told you, Mom, I'm fine" Pinaka replied. He then sat on the terrace wall of the library, in front of Prapto.

Prapto, who did not understand why Pinaka was pouting, chose to be quiet. He lit a cigarette and looked at Pinaka's face.

They kept quiet and looked at each other occasionally for a long time, until Pinaka then said, "Mas Prapto don't have to visit me again to the library."

Prapto stared at Pinaka right in his eyes. "I don't like to talk meander and ramble like this, Pinaka. Tell me, what's up?"

"There's nothing, Mom. I go in first, Mas," said Pinaka. Then he went into the library.

Prapto shrugged his shoulders. He got up and rode his bicycle to Nimo's house.

***

Arriving at Nimo's house, Prapto and Nimo go straight to Mr. Oscar's house. The Kejora village chief was taking care of the flowers and plants in his yard.

"Let's go to the pool" asked Mr. Oscar. "You choose the fish yourself. I'll give you a bonus."

Nimo and Prapto choose the fish they like. All fish amounted to forty tails including bonuses given Mr. Oscar. Twenty ornamental fish and twenty fish.

Prapto and Nimo gave money and thanked Mr. Oscar. They then cycled to the garden while each carried a bucket of fish.

***

Prapto stepped onto the porch of his house carrying hot coffee and a book he had borrowed a few days ago in the library. He lit a cigarette and looked at the rain for a moment. Then he opened the book. But, unfinished he read the first paragraph, Prapto's phone clanging.

Prapto grabbed his phone and looked at the notification menu. A text message from Pinaka. After reading the text message at a glance, Prapto closed the book.