BROMOCORAS
Know the World

Night crisscrossed the universe with its darkness. The former rain after Maghrib left the smell of wet ground matting. The conversation in the living room at Prastowo's house has just begun. The cup of coffee mugs that Sumiatun brews still puffs up the smoke and spreads the fragrant smell of its own ground coffee linked to the endless puff of cigarette smoke.

"So I hope Mr. Lek and Mr. Lek tomorrow can take the time to accompany me to visit Kyai Aminudin's house to accompany me to express my wishes, Mr. Lek." Ajimukti to Prastowo.

Prastowo sighed, "Of course, Mas. It's an honor for me." Sahut Prastowo.

Sumiatun only smiled considering how he hoped that Ajimukti could be with his daughter, Ajeng, but all was just a mere hope.

Shut up Ajeng eavesdropped on Ajimukti's chat from behind the living room wall. She could only sigh, then after that there was a smile rising from her tiny lips.

"How are you, Dul?" Prastowo then asked Dullah.

Dullah put his cigarette on the ashtray in front of him.

"Are you talking stale or what, Pras? Do we often communicate by phone? Emmm, or you're just looking for chat material." Tempted Dullah while chuckling.

Prastowo only then laughed, but his gaze slightly glanced towards Sobri.

"When are you going to propose to Ajeng, Bri? Aren't you merry with this Gus of yours?" Prastowo said while leaning his back on the back of the chair where he sat.

At that instant Sobri gasped and then swallowed his saliva. Dullah who realized the shock of his son could only hold back the laughter and patted Sobri on the shoulder.

"You're challenged like that just gonna be quiet, Le. Don't embarrass your father. The son of a Bromocorah iku sing gliyak ojo nglokro." Dullah encouraged Sobri.

Sobri smiled as she sighed.

"I'm hitching the bathroom, Mr. Lek." Sobri said making those who were there look at him in wonder.

"You are, Le. Talked and ran away." Mumbled Dullah.

Sobri did not reply, he then just stood up and waltzed away.

"Maybe Sobri is still clumsy, Lek. Just be patient." Sela Ajimukti.

Ajeng was still in place, leaning his shoulders against the wall while hearing the chatter in his living room faintly faint.

"Not good eavesdropping. Why don't you just go talk outside." Tegur Sobri who arrived was already standing behind Ajeng.

Ajeng slightly jumped and then turned to look at Sobri.

"Sampleyan just surprised me, Mas." Ajeng.

"Mass? Since when did you call me Mas?" Ask Sobri while smiling a little.

Ajeng slightly nodded. "Oh, I'm sorry. I mean, Kang Sobri." I was a little embarrassed this time.

"We'd better get ahead." Sobri then switched the conversation.

"Just take it, Kang. I'm just here." Sahut Ajeng.

Sobri then sighed, "Alright then."

Sobri grabbed a plastic chair not far from him and then took a seat opposite Ajeng.

"Well, how come you're even here, Kang?" Tanya Ajeng astonished.

"There's something I want to talk about." Sobri Sahut.

The wedge slightly frowned.

"Don't be curious, because I'll just talk about it." Said Sobri looking at Ajeng's facial expression.

"It's about you and me, too, brother. I think you already know what I'm going to talk about. Maybe it's time. What do you think?" Ask Sobri later.

Ajeng was still down, he was trying to manage his heartbeat.

"What do I have to answer, Kang?" Ask lirih.

"What should be your answer." Sahut Sobri later.

"What does that mean that the sampeyan is abusing me?" Tanya Ajeng made sure.

Sobri smiled slightly, "If you feel it should be. Why not." Sobri Sahut.

"I'm scared, Kang." He looked agitated this time.

"Fearful? What is your fear?" Ask Sobri.

"Oh, is this related to Gus Aufa?" Sobri asked in the end a guess.

Ajeng did not give an answer with his tongue, but from his attitude Sobri already knew the answer. He just then smiled.

"Sik, you know da' maa yuribuk ila maa laa yuribuk, leave what doubts you to what does not doubt you." Sobri later said.

Ajeng nodded then smiled.

"I have no doubt, Kang. I'm just scared." Say Ajeng once again.

"Fear it's because you doubt it, Dik." Sobri debated this time.

Ajeng sighed, "Alright then, Kang."

Sobri frowned, "Well what, Dik?"

"I'm ready." Say Shameful to shame.

Sobri smiled and then stood up.

"Where, Kang. Why did he leave?" Ask a little astonishment.

"I was just in the same corner with Mr. Lek Pras, Dik. Now I have the answer." Sahut Sobri while passing from before Ajeng.

Sobri returned between Prastowo, Dullah and Ajimukti. Grab a cigarette and start it.

"Have, Kang?" Ask Ajimukti later.

"Sorry, Gus." Sobri Sahut.

"Piye tho, Le. Mr. Lek is sick of talking you into the bathroom." Dullah said to Sobri.

"I also need a reference to answer, sir. No waton ngwangsuli." Sobri's law after that.

"What do you mean reference, Le?" Ask Dullah increasingly do not understand with Sobri.

Sobri smiled, put down his cigarette and turned to Prastowo.

"I'm going to propose to Ajeng, Mr. Lek. Nopo kintene dipun pangestoni?" Sobri asked Prastowo.

Everything in the living room immediately turned their eyes towards Sobri.

"You're serious, Le?" Ask Dullah to make sure.

Sobri smiled wryly, "The son of a Bromocorah must be firm, sir. Mboten pareng klemak. What about Mr Lek?" Sahut Sobri then sought Prastowo's defense.

Prastowo just then laughs, "Nek ngene Iki plek koyo mr'ane, Dul." Prastowo glanced at Dullah.

"Anak'e, Pras. Yes eleven twelve tho yo." Sahut Dullah chuckled.

"Then what, Mr Lek?" Ask Sobri then to Prastowo.

"Dik Ajeng has agreed, Lek. Stay Mr. Lek as his guardian Dik Ajeng." Reply Sobri.

"How do you want it?" Ask Prastowo then.

"Yes, I've, Lek. I have the answer." Sobri Sahut.

"Well, that's how I'm still being asked." Prastowo.

"So it's ours, Dul." Imbuh Prastowo turned to Dullah.

"Alhamdulillah, then when is the plan, Kang?" Ask Ajimukti who had just witnessed the happiness of two families who would later become one family.

"Not yet, Gus. I just fucked Dik Ajengnya." Sobri Sahut.

"Sing in nut sopo, Bri? You're a candidate for priest, not you manut Ajeng but Ajeng who should be your man." Sela Prastovo.

"If the concept is so wrong, Mr. Lek. That applies if later me and Dik Ajeng are halal. For now, my side is manning the woman's side because the woman has a guardian, she's different from the man who stands alone in the sense of having his own decisions." Sobri Sahut.

Prastowo nodded, "It would not be wrong if I was with your son, Dul." Said later.

"Alright, Bri. Indeed for that one me and sibune Ajeng need to be peeping again." Prastowo said later.

Sobri only then nodded.

"If it had been, Le. There's something you want to give me." Said Dullah later.

Sobri then frowned.

"What is that, sir?" Ask later.

Dullah seemed to reach into something from his pocket.

"Give this to Ajeng." Dullah gave her a ring which she only wrapped in small plastic.

"This?" Sobri slightly jerked.

"How did you prepare this?" Ask Sobri to astonishment.

"That's not what you buy, Le. It belonged to your mother whom your mother left to me. Your mother was wailing to give that to Ajeng. It's just that you need to know everything first. And now it seems clear. It's not wrong your mother left this same father. Your mother is sure." Said Dullah later.

Sobri observed it, then gave it to Sumiatun who was sitting next to Prastowo.

"Please, Miss Lek." Sobri said to Sumiatun.

Sumiatun only then nodded and smiled without saying anything. He wanted to feel like he was currently shedding his tears, but he could not. There was a sense of gratitude that he could not express at this moment.

Silent silent Ajeng who watched it smiled and then ran into his room. This time he did not doubt his choice.

"Allahumma innaka taqdiru wa laa aqdiru wa laa a’lamu wa anta 'allaamul ghuyuubi. Fa in ra'aita lii fii Sobri khiiran fii dinii wa aakhiratii faqdirhaa lii." Bisik Ajeng while sitting on his bed.

When Ajeng and Sobri were happy. Elsewhere, in one corner of the Hidayah Cottage, between dark and dim lights.

"On your own?" Reprove someone to the young man sitting among the darkness.

"Oh, you, Hexa. Sit here." Youth friendly speech that is none other than Manan.

"Continue. Looks like you're daydreaming." Then Hexa walked away.

"Sok knows you. Never mind, sit here, accompany me to coffee." Manan pointed at the small flask he had deliberately carried from inside the room.

Hexa smiled wryly, then sat not far from Manan.

"Smoking." Manan thrust a pack of cigarettes in front of him towards Hexa. Without a sigh Hexa grabbed a cigarette and lit it.

"You're not going with Guse?" Hexa asked after she sat down.

"No. They're on serious business and it has nothing to do with me." Sahut Manan's.

"Oh..."

"Are you not busy?" Ask Manan afterwards.

"Indeed, students like me besides making a scene pesantren, what else is busy?" Sahut Hexa indifferent and ketus.

"I see you're better than ever, yes, at least your attitude." Manan did not mean to praise Hexa.

Hexa smiled wryly. "There are times when a person should be able to put themselves. Is that what Gus Faruq said?"

"Hmmm, good."

"You been here a long time?" Ask Hexa then.

"Well, there's ten years." Sahut Manan is short.

"Does the nyantri have to be that long? Not interested in enjoying the world outside the pesantren?" Ask Hexa then.

"Why go out while inside is more guarantee." Sahut Manan's.

"What guarantees?" Hexa asked a little curious.

"Pesantren is not as small as your mind. You consider pesantren to be ancient, ndeso, udik and primitive. But it is precisely in pesantren taught what in the outside world does not exist. Outside you will only learn the world. But here, you will be taught the world and the hereafter." Manan's law was brief without complicating the capture of Hexa.

"How can you be sure outside you can't learn the afterlife?" Ask Hexa.

Manan smiled, "That's it, right?"

"Once upon a time take time out. You'll know how the afterlife is out there. Not everyone thinks only of the world." Sahut Hexa's.

Manan frowned, he was a little in disbelief, for the first time he saw a different side of Hexa that he had known all along. Hexa was far from her mind all this time.

"You speak as if you found the afterlife outside the pesantren?" Ask Manan later.

"No. As you know. I am bored of talking about it. The afterlife. As if it was his and worth talking about." Sahut Hexa's.

"Then?" Manan asked a little curiously.

"Yes, I want to be like this. No hypocrite. We live in the world, we need the world, we need the world, we need the world, we need the world to live our lives rightly." Sahut Hexa short.

"How about your afterlife? Is not life in this world only temporary, at most sixty years. In the eternal afterlife. How do you save your afterlife?" Manan said afterwards.

"Know the world to save the afterlife. If I had known the world, I would have believed that my afterlife would have survived. Although not completely safe." The Hexa ketus.

Manan frowned. "Know the world? Meanin?" Ask later.

"No point. You'll know if you've recognized him yourself." Hexa then smoked her cigarette last time and threw away her butt.

"Thank you for the cigarette. Excuse me. You just continue to daydream." He said as he stood up from his seat.

"Why hunt?" Tanya Manan did not mean to hold back.

Hexa did not reply, she just then waltzed away just like that.

"That kid, that's weird. Hmmm..." Manan muttered while staring at Hexa's departure.

Seriate...