Childhood Match
A Couple of Engagement Rings

Today, after school. As usual, Gendhis helped his mother complete the task at home.

"Mother... Already eaten?" Bu Sari asked her daughter.

"Already, Mom." Gendhis answered while washing the dishes.

Bu Sari was taking firewood from the back of the house, then arranged it in the mouth of a furnace made of clay. He took a match and lit it.

"What would you cook? Let Gendhis get ready." The girl offered help.

"No, Nduk... Last time Bu Party here, he said you want to go the same latitude as Pak Argo." Said Ms. Sari.

"Where, Mom?" Genphis was a little curious.

"Mommy doesn't know where, but she says she wants to take Gendhis to find the equipment for the engagement." Replied Bu Sari while lifting a pot of water over the furnace.

"Wedding?" In his heart murmured. He just remembered that a few more days were the day of his engagement with a male figure who had been paired to be his soul mate.

He felt like he had just played together yesterday with Lintang and his childhood friends. But soon, the man will officially become his fiancee. How happy his heart. Her cheeks blushed, her eyes twinkling.

"Already, Nduk. Let Mother continue. You get ready, soon the Miss Party will come." Ms. Sari took a bunch of white mustard that Gendhis was going to wash.

"Good, Mom..." Genphis answered and left her mother.

Born into an able family, Gendhis parents always taught him about simplicity. Moreover, Bu Sari, even though there is a gas stove in his kitchen, he cooks more often using a furnace. In addition to more efficient because firewood in the field is abundant, the taste of the food will be better if cooked using a furnace. That's what Bu Sari answered whenever Gendhis suggested his mother cook using a gas stove. Sometimes they use the gas to warm food, or just make instant food.

After taking a bath, Gendhis immediately wore a long, maroon-patterned dress with not too many flowers. Compatible with pink phasmina hijab. Make up that is quite natural also seems soft it makes Gendhis look more beautiful than ordinary days.

A few minutes later, the voice of Bu Parti called out from behind the front door.

"Gendhis... Are you ready, Nduk?"

Gendhis and Bu Sari opened the door.

"Yes, Miss Party... Let's..." Gendhis gently greeted his future mother-in-law.

"You're so beautiful, Nduk. Let's leave. Afraid of a sloth." Bring the Party Bu.

"Good, Mom." Gendhis came out of the house kissing his mother's hand and said goodbye.

"Gendhis go first, ma'am. Assalamu'alaikum..."

"Waalaikum... Careful, Nduk." Bu Sari seemed happy to see her daughter who will soon be officially engaged to the man of choice of Gendhis great-grandfather. What became their family's will was soon to be accomplished.

"We're leaving first, Miss Sari." Continue Bu Parti bamitan.

"Yes, Mum... Careful." Ms. Sari smiled kindly.

In the courtyard of the house, Lintang and Pak Argo sat waiting for Gendis and Bu Sari from inside the black pajero sports car. Gendhis and Bu Parti walked towards the car. Lintang then turned on his car engine, preparing to descend along the Sumbing peak road to the shopping center in Magelang City.

*****

The first time the black pajero sports car was aimed at was a place in the Nambangan area. The place was named "Dewi Mayang" famous wedding makeup sanggar in Magelang City. Although it comes from a village that can be said to be far from frenetic, but when it comes to taste, Lintang is never wrong to choose.

"Please, can be seen first the sample Mas Lintang. We also offer packages at affordable prices with good quality." Said Mbak Dewi, the owner of the makeup studio while presenting a wedding photo album he took from the glass cabinet.

"But Ma'am, we'll take a look." Answer Latitude while opening sheet by sheet photo albums.

Gendhis was still aghast to see so many wedding dresses plastered in glass cabinets. Very luxurious and elegant.

While sitting in the living room, Mr. Argo, Ms. Parti, Lintang and also Gendhis looked through the photo album.

"Please have a drink, sir... Mum..." Said Mbak Dewi while offering warm tea that he just took from the kitchen, along with some snacks.

"Yes, Mommy. Thanks, so it's a hassle." Reply Bu Sungkan party.

"Oh, don't bother, Mom. Let me take our other wedding packages for a moment." Mother Goddess went to leave the living room.

Gendhis whispered to Madam Parti.

"Mom. After all, Gendhis and Mas Lintang just wanted a fiancee. Wouldn't Gendhis have dandan himself." Gendhis lirih.

"Gendhis... Ndak papa darling. This is the set latitude anyway." Answer Miss Party.

"Gendhis..this is the best bridal makeup in Magelang City. You choose what you like." Add Latitude.

"Or we'll find somewhere else if Gendhis doesn't like it, Lin... " Argo sir who had been silent earlier spoke up.

"Oh. Let Genthis choose." With a look of gloat, Gendhis also agreed to the wishes of his childhood mate.

Finally, they agreed to choose the color of army green shades for the engagement later. Starting from the dress that Gendhis will wear, until the decoration was filled with the favorite army color Lintang. It is common knowledge, Lintang's desire to become a TNI soldier can affect everything related to it, including the choice of color decorations at the engagement later.

The second place they went to was located in Chinatown, a row of shops along Jln. The young man who was in the center of Magelang City. From shoe stores, bags, some clothing stels, knickknacks, hijabs, toiletries, makeup supplies, to ups. Including a set of prayer tools also fruits. Mr. Argo, Miss Party also Lintang left all decisions to Gendhis to choose him.

"You want, what else to add?" Ask Bu Parti while carrying plastic containing hand-drawn equipment into the trunk of her car.

"Already, Mom. It's been a lot. Gendhis house is not enough later if added again." Gendo answered jokingly.

"Heeemmm." Madam Party smiled.

"Now where are we going, big lady?" Canda Lintang on Mother when her black car came out of the parking lot.

"To Mustika's shop, Nang..." Answer Miss Party.

After a few minutes of walking, Lintang parked his car back in front of a complete jewelry store in Magelang City, which was near the red light of the entrance to Rejowinangun Market.

"Aren't we buying everything, Mr Argo?" Ask gendhis innocent.

"We haven't bought an engagement ring yet, Nduk." Ms. Party immediately took the girl out of the car.

It didn't take long, they were already able to find some jewelry sets for Gendhis. Bracelets, necklaces, to a pair of beautiful and elegant engagement rings. They knew very well, if told to choose for themselves, the girl would definitely prefer to go home empty-handed. Therefore, Lintang and Bu Parti are the ones who have the biggest share in this mission, besides Pak Argo who is an ATM machine running of course.

Gendhis heart was happy. Of all the items chosen for her that afternoon, the ring was the one that most made her heart very touched. That ring will be a symbol of their love bond, until the time comes in the guarantee later.

After getting tired of buying the equipment, Lintang took all the passengers of his car through along the road Gatot Subroto, South Jurangombo, South Magelang. When passing in front of the Military Academy, Lintang reduced the speed of his car, while looking at the Gendis from the mirror on the ceiling of the front of his car. Gendis seemed to smile and nod while understanding the gesture of her childhood soul mate. The latitude stopped his car near the entrance that read "MILITARY ACADEMY".

"Why stop, Nang?" Ask Bu Parti while looking to the right and to the left.

Nervous latitude, while putting both hands on the steering wheel of a car that has stopped. She turned her back to the back of the car where her boyfriend sat with her mother.

"What's up, Latitude? Why stop here?" The party still doesn't understand.

"Bu Parti, Mr. Argo.the 6th president of Indonesia used to study here..." Gendis said the stale base opened the conversation.

"Then, do we now want to visit Mr. President that means?" Ms. Party still can't read her bachelor's mind. But certainly not with Mr. Argo.

"That's not what Gendis meant, Mother..." Clear Latitude.

"Then?" Miss Party is confused.

"Bu Party, Mr. Argo... If the Father and Mother approve, allow... after graduating high school later, Mas Lintang wants to continue his education here." Gendis tried to explain.

"Had you guessed..." Mr. Argo spoke up.

The entire car just fell silent as if it knew the answer from the strong-minded man.

"If you want to continue here, please! You may. But don't expect me to pay for your school!" Mr. Argo started to bleed.

"Eh... I mean, I said that..." Ms. Party tried to calm her husband.

"Lintang... who will continue the business of the Father? Who takes care of the farm, Father? You as the only boy of the Mitro Dimejo family should already know this." Continue Mr. Argo.

"But, Sir..." Lintang tried to explain but Mr. Argo stopped.

"Lintang, from the beginning you still disagree. After all, our family has had enough money. Even our abundant crops will not run out even for your grandchildren later. So, why should you go to school here."

"But it's not about the money, sir. This is the Lintang dream, the Lintang ideal since childhood." Latitude Speech.

The debate between the two is getting heated.

"Father knows...!" Resolute Mr. Argo.

"Then why do you still disagree?" Denying Latitude.

"Once no, still no. And you don't want to talk about this anymore." There was anxiety from Pak Argo's eyebrows that he could not reveal to anyone.

He remembered his childhood where he always played with his brothers. Actually Mr. Argo has two siblings, Mr. Dhe Aryo and Mr. Dhe Anto. When Mr. Argo was seven years old, he did not really remember when his eldest brother went to military education. All he remembered, he was very happy to see his brother become a TNI soldier.

Until finally Pak Dhe Anto was assigned to a remote island in dispute and a ceasefire accompanied by rebellion. Not even a year of happiness Mitro Dimejo family, suddenly happiness was taken with a very deep sorrow. Mr. Dhe Anto was one of the victims killed in the incident. That's the biggest reason Mr. Argo forbids his son to be a soldier.

"Already, Nang. You follow what the Father says. After Gendis graduates High School, you'll get married." Ms. Party tried to cool the warming atmosphere in the car.

Hearing the word "married" Gendis gasped, happy and worried that his ideals of becoming a teacher would be dashed.

"Mother.we will have discussed this problem, if after graduating from Gendis High School want to go to college first." Latitude.

"Marriage school can be, Nang..." Add Bu Party.

Gendis who had been silently observing the conversation with her parents finally spoke up.

"Mr, I'm sorry that Gendis interfered. But, should not Mr. Argo give Mas See the opportunity to continue his education here?"

The latitude seemed to get a cool breeze hearing Gendis' speech.

"Son, it's not that you're disagreeing. You're just..." Not done Mr. Argo talk, Gendis cut with his soft words.

"Just Mr Argo is worried?" Ask Gendis.

Mr. Argo was silent as if he was the answer to his favorite daughter-in-law.

"Either what Mr. Argo thinks and fears about Mas Lintang, but believe me... Mas Lintang will try his best in his education. Without having to ignore what Mas Lintang's responsibility to his family." Gendis tried to persuade.

Mr. Argo is still silent.

"And about our marriage, we can postpone it until Mas Lintang finished his education. And we will try our best to keep what Mr. Argo and Ms. Party have entrusted to us." Gendis.

Madam Party nodded her head, smiling, holding the fingers of the girl sitting to her left. No one understands the best wishes of a child except his mother.

"Well, if that is your decision. You can only pray for the best." Finally, Mr. Argo was devastated to hear Gendis' speech that night.

"Alhamdulillah... Thank you very much Father. The latitude of the promise will learn earnestly so as not to disappoint you." Lintang said while kissing her father's hand.

"Save your thanks to Gendis. Let's hurry up and have dinner and go home. It's not nice for Mr. Ratno and Ms. Sari to come home too late." Said Mr. Argo.

Lintang smiled, looking at her lover's face with full of joy, gratitude, happy also proud to have a prospective partner live as good as Gendis.

The last destination of the night trip was the "Bu Tatik" restaurant in the Mertoyudan area. The popular restaurant with fried chicken menu is quite familiar in Magelang. Time was getting late, they then rushed home to the top of Sumbing. Cold air slammed into the body, the night fog grew thicker and visibility was getting closer. Lintang carefully drove his car to their home.

*****