BROMOCORAS
Towards the Competition

The morning sun bias began to touch the earth. Fragrant steam leftover dew last night becomes a distinctive aroma accompanying a bright morning. Cigarette chicken also chirping birds began to sound loud in the ocean.

A Range Rover Sport car has been parked in the courtyard of the mosque. Several people were also seen standing not far from the parked car. From a distance they seemed to be talking.

"Buddy hearts there. If you've reached the manager of the cottage or directly to me." Kyai Aminudin said that morning.

"Yes, Pakdhe." Sahut Faruq flat.

"And you're Nak Aji." Kyai Aminudin focused his gaze towards Ajimukti. "I and all the managers of Pondok Hidayah put great hopes on you in this competition. Remember you brought the big name of our pesantren." Kyai Aminudin.

"Yes, Kyai. I'll try as I can." Ajimukti.

"Your sister's not ready, Ruq?" Kyai Aminudin asked immediately then turned to Faruq.

"At least, Pakdhe." Sahut Faruq flat.

Kyai Aminudin simply shook his head and then sighed heavily.

"That's right this is what Gus Faruq said last night?" Ask Dullah who is waiting for Ajimukti's departure.

Ajimukti just shrugs his shoulders.

"Well, it'll be very effective this apert." Temptation Dullah a little giggling.

Ajimukti just turned his head then slightly sneered towards Dullah.

"Don't beat it, Mum?" Dullah just keeps teasing Ajimukti.

"Sstt. What the hell, Lek. Not good to hear Mr. Yai." Bisik Ajimukti with aba aba index finger attached to his mouth.

Dullah just giggled again.

Shortly from the side of the mosque connected with the ndalem Kyai Aminudin, the, Habiba accompanied Uminya out by wearing a maxi dress made of polyester patterned cutting that is asymmetric with floral motifs combined with a hijab in line with the color of the clothes he wears as well as clean white trousers, making the only princess Kyai Aminudin looks graceful and feminine but still stylish for the appearance of a Ning, - daughter of Kyai.

For a moment all eyes were on Habiba. So did Ajimukti and Dullah. Dullah who saw Ajimukti for a moment stunned it spontaneously nudged Ajimukti and made it a little wrong.

"It's true, Nduk?" Ask Kyai Aminudin later.

Habiba did not answer only a faint smile that he threw at his brother. Then his gaze was fixed on one of the figures standing not far from before him. A young man wearing a holster patterned batik gunungan combined with a cream-colored cocoa shirt with a little combination of black and black squat. From the young man's face was a smile so distinctive.

"We're leaving now?" Ask Faruq then.

Ajimukti just nodded lightly.

"Just remember my message!" Again Kyai Aminudin advised Faruq.

Faruq only replied with a slight nod. Then step towards the car. Having previously said goodbye to Kyai Aminudin as well as Ajimukti.

"Be careful, my mother. Don't be groggy." Said Dullah later.

Ajimukti just squinted one eye and then went into the back seat of the car. While Habiba was sitting on the front bench next to Faruq who was driving.

Not long after, the car came out of the gate of the mosque leaving some people who were still standing there looking at their departure.

The road this morning was pretty busy. Then the vehicle is enough to make Faruq pull the gas pedal. Occasionally Faruq steals a glance towards Ajimukti through the rearview mirror of his car. Ajimukti since from Pondok Hidayah was just silent. So did Habiba who also chose silence.

There was no conversation between the three of them. Silent and silent. Only the sound of the sound from outside the car filled the stretch of their journey. Faruq was aware of this awkwardness.

"Kang Aji rest first no papa. Anyway, it's still pretty far away. I guess we'll be there in an hour and a half." Faruq said trying to dilute the tension.

"Yes, Gus. Thank you." Thank you." Say Ajimukti brief.

"You've been fucked up since, Ba? Why?" Tanya Faruq turned to Habiba.

Habiba is nervous. His momentary misbehavior made Faruq want to laugh but was held back.

"Emmm, it's okay, Mom. Confused about what to say?" Habiba looks very awkward.

"Yes talk to that Kang Aji." Faruq again tried to really melt the atmosphere in his car.

Suddenly Habiba shakes. He did not know what to talk to Ajimukti. On several occasions Habiba and Ajimukti did meet and chat, but it was only by chance passed by. But this time it was different, somehow had to start a chat like what and how Habiba was suddenly confused. For a moment Habiba could only wipe his forehead.

Habiba momentarily saw the plastic package that had been prepared Uminya to be taken on the road. Suddenly, Habiba curled his lips. Habiba immediately grabbed the plastic package. Grabbing one bottle of bottled drinks.

"Drink, Kang. If it's thirsty." Habiba said a little trembling while thrusting the bottle towards the back bench. According to Habiba this will be the beginning of their conversation.

"Sorry, Ning. I'm not used to drinking bottled drinks." Sahut Ajimukti slightly bent his body. "This is my mineral drink." Further.

Habiba suddenly turned pale. Suddenly he felt ashamed for offering wrongly. He put the bottle back into the plastic bag and was seen scratching his forehead.

Faruq who witnessed Habiba's strange behavior could only hold back a laugh while continuing to control his steering wheel.

"Possibly small." Habiba apparently tried to cover up his embarrassment for offering wrongly.

"Thank you, Ning. I happened to have breakfast. So it's still a little full." Sahut Ajimukti again makes Habiba confused and really do not know how to start the chat with how else.

And once again Faruq who saw that could only hold back his laughter. Habiba who glanced at Faruq's expression began to put on his upset face.

"Kang Aji and Lek Dullah are one house in Jogjanya, Kang?" Tanya Faruq then tried to look for chat materials.

"Continue. Lek Dullah is the brother of his mother or of his father Kang Aji if I may know?" Ask Faruq then.

Ajimukti is actually getting confused by Faruq's question.

"Lek Dul Lek's wife is my mother's sister, Gus." Ajimukti replied that he did not mean to lie, but in fact Dullah's wife still had a sibling relationship with her mother.

Faruq nodded softly, "Emmm, so be it."

"Have married?" Ask Faruq then.

"Already, Gus. His son is almost my age." Ajimukti.

"At Jogja too, Kang?"

"Yes, Gus."

Habiba just silently listened to Faruq and Ajimukti chatter. Faruq several times gave the code to Habiba but Habiba did not know what to do.

"Sorry, Kang. If I may know. How can Kang Aji speak Arabic, Kang? Kan said Abah, Kang Aji is still a Diniyah santri." Ask Habiba then who seems to have found the right question to join the chat. "I'm curious about this, Kang. No idea what it means." Imbuh Habiba again.

The deg! Ajimukti swallowed his saliva. It was not because Habiba who arrived asked that question. But more to Habiba's question. There is no way Ajimukti is frank about his true self.

For a moment Ajimukti just scratched his forehead. Makes him look like a confused person. Without Ajimukti realized, his movements were noticed by Habiba since earlier from the front rearview mirror.

"Anu, Ning. How about it." Ajimukti made himself seem like a confused person replied.

"It used to happen to be my time at Junior High School in Madrasah. Because the closest home." Ajimukti breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully the answer choice is right.

"Well, but if the school in the madrassa has not been able to read the Qur'an, Kang?" Ask Habiba straightforwardly.

Again Ajimukti was made aghast by the follow-up questions of Habiba.

"That's anu, Ning. Because I used to lack enthusiasm if I was reading. Actually said not at all can not. But it's still a grotal gratul, Ning." Ajimukti sounded his sigh. "It was fitting to enter the pesantren yesterday I started from the right beginning. Let it really be mastered. Not just can." Continue Ajimukti later. I hope Habiba is confident in this answer.

"My coat is with Kang Aji. Does not master Arabic reading but can master Arabic. Rarely is that, Kang." Habiba inexplicably praises Ajimukti that way. Make Ajimukti really wrong and a little nervous.

Faruq once again just smiled. Maybe his mind was relieved finally Habiba found also the screw material.

"If Lek Dullah?" Ask Habiba again.

"I mean, Ning?" Ajimukti pretended not to know even though he actually knew the meaning of Habiba's question.

"Emmm, that is, has Lek Dullah not been able to read the Qur'an?" Habiba.

"Oh, if Lek Dullah is the same, Ning. Know a little bit of the letters. But also not read it well. You see, in Jogja also learn if it fits in the routine, Ning." Sahut Ajimukti chose the right reason.

"Oh, so." Habiba just nodded slowly while thinking about asking what else.

"Let's good, Kang." Habiba then said.

Faruq who heard Habiba's words just now for the umpteenth time seemed to move his lips to hold back a laugh.

While Ajimukti himself who heard that could only nod slowly. It felt like there was something rustling on the inside of his body.

"Thank you, Ning. Just do it." Sahut Ajimukti while rubbing his own palm.

After Habiba's speech, the atmosphere is now back to silence. Habiba no longer knows what to ask or say. Faruq was just a smile at the silly behavior of Habiba next to him.

Long enough they went back into silence without any more chatter. Only the activity of their body movements that repeatedly switch positions that make the atmosphere in the car is not too tense. Even until finally they arrived at a large parking lot. There are various car brands that have lined up neatly in the parking lot that has been provided.

Then the people dressed in santri style look wherever they look. Quite a lot indeed. Soon they will be among the crowd.

Faruq turned off the roar of his car engine once he had chosen a parking lot that was quite shady under a catapult tree that was pretty much embedded in the parking lot. Then get out of the car followed by Habiba and Ajimukti.

Faruq was seen stretching his hands.

"Alhamdulillah be there." Faruq lirih.

Ajimukti tidied up the scabbard. Before Faruq finally patted his shoulder.

"We'll go there first, Kang!" Take Faruq while pointing in one direction.

Faruq walked side by side with Habiba, following Ajimukti behind them. For a moment they choose a seat that is quite shady not far from the parking lot.

Before long Faruq stood up from his seat and for a moment turned his eyes to Habiba and Faruq towards him.

"I re-register first to the committee. You guys wait here for a second. Talk first." Faruq said then stepped away.

For the umpteenth time Ajimukti felt that there was something rustling and creeping in his inner body. He just narrowed his hands between his thighs.

While Habiba also looks nervous and does not know what to talk about. He just continued to play the straw from the bottle he was holding with his lips.

Silence, and only the sighs of their heartbeats were heard in the crowd and then the people who were milling and passing in front of them.

Seriate...