Jogja At A Time
10. Malioboro

Saturday evening Seti sat in a small window beside Joe. Forget for a moment a busy week with campus practicum with all the theories of text book.

Doni is invisible. A day at the boarding house, busy cutting the skin, create a new pattern for the wallet to be marketed.

Lapak twice a meter was busy holding his merchandise on the edge of Malioboro which was jammed. Cars, motorcycles, rickshaws, and andong spilled filled the road that was not how wide it was. 

"I want to go to Asri's place" Seti put his mouth closer to Joe's ear.

Malioboro uproar with the promotional sound of loud songs from each store, the sound of the cry of support every lap, and the sound of, and the urate battle of bidding prices from field buyers requires anyone who talks to get close or scream a little.

"Take Asri to Set's stall." Joe was a little screaming.

"Try later. I haven't been to Mantrijeron in two weeks." 

Joe assented. Seti then stood up, walking across to approach the Denok in the parking lot in front of the Natour Garuda hotel.

Looking up at the slightly starry sky. The beginning of the rain that has wetted Jogja several times had made Seti hesitate to the Mantrijeron kost which is quite far from Malioboro.

If it rains, Seti plans to spend the night accompanying Joe on his lap. The sky seems friendly. Unduringly the Denok darted towards Mantrijeron.                             

...----------------...

Kost Mantrijeron looks a little crowded. A pair of men and women were sitting next to each other chatting near the entrance. The other pair were somewhat hidden as Seti approached

"Seti mbak, meet Asri." Seti answered an intercom voice asking for the purpose of his arrival.

The woman who was chatting near the door glanced briefly at Seti. It seems interested to hear Seti mention Asri's name.

"Sit down first" said the woman kindly.

"Thank you, I'll just wait on the bike." Seti stood away. Disturb the conversation of each couple. Besides not knowing all the residents of the Mantrijeron boarding house.

The woman who offered Seti a seat earlier diverted her chatter again with the man beside her after Seti moved away.

Looking at the left right for a while on the terrace, Asri smiled faintly seeing Seti who was looking for waving from the courtyard.

"Whoever is As," a teasing tone came out from the woman by the door earlier as Asri walked over to Seti.

"Friends ma'am," Asri blushed shyly away, approaching towards Seti.

Standing face to face, Asri's simple smile and makeup teases Seti closer, then regrets it.

 "Chat outside yuk As, if you want." Seti felt bad Asri stood lingering in the courtyard.

"As soon as I took the wallet and shoes first." did not refuse Seti's invitation, Asri turned into the Mantrijeron boarding house to take the wallet and shoes in his room. There was a sound of temptation thrown towards Asri when he went outside again approaching Seti.

Beware towards the woman who had teased Asri. Seti opened his introduction before leaving the Mantrijeron boarding house with Asri.

...----------------...

"Where are we ?" ask Asri in the middle of the Denok pace.

"Malio."

"I've never been there." Asri's voice sounded happy, hearing Seti take her to Malioboro.

"There's a nice place there to talk," Seti still hides about Joe's stall. I want to surprise Asri.

"Cracker ?"Asri curious. Little laugh trying to guess.

"nothave. The usual hangout. Look at the traffic guy. Who knows if we met Purwokerto's friend,"

"I thought angkringan," Asri laughed again. Getting curious.

"You're happy hanging out in angkringan ?"

"Origin with you," 

"Later to go home we'll be hanging out again at the place yesterday."

The conversation above the Denok stopped. The traffic jam began to feel entering Kotabaru. Be careful Seti looking for a way towards Malioboro.                               

...----------------...

Crossing Malioboro, looking towards the North while waving his right hand asking for the road towards the motorbike and passing cars, Seti's left hand tightly holding Asri's hand. 

"Know him As ?" point Seti towards the field that looks crowded in front of him after crossing.

Following Seti's hand pointing at someone. Asri muttered, "That's Joe right ?" still a little hesitant, he tried to guess the figure appointed by Seti.

"Yups, let's just quietly get closer." 

Joe turned his head towards someone who patted him on the shoulder. "Asriiiiii ..," he exclaimed in excitement. "Sit down," his hand thrust a ringklik towards Asri shortly after his shock dissipated. Didn't expect Seti to actually invite Asri to his stall.

"Well be the boss now." Asri teased Joe. His eyes looked around staring at the stall.

"Where's this Joe ?" asri asked realized that Seti was suddenly not among them.

"At least buy a drink. It's also a nongol" replied Joe. Understand Seti's habits.                 

...----------------...

Seti appeared in the middle of Asri and Joe's conversation about Jogja, the boarding house and their respective campuses. Three cups of hot chocolate and a box of bakpia he was carrying were placed on a small table in the corner of the stall. 

"Drink As. I'm sorry a lot of people when I went to buy it" Seti said.

"Where do you think you are." Asri's hand took a cup of hot chocolate that Seti extended towards her. Tasting it a little. Relief was seen on Asri's face which was highlighted by the street light. I was glad that Seti was next to him again.

Joe stood up, letting Seti take his seat and then went back screaming seducing the passing buyer.

Joe's stall looked pretty crowded that night. Joe's broad smile and screams seemed to captivate visitors. Two people approached.

Approaching eight o'clock at night, the Malioboro sidewalk is getting lively.  East side of the Lesehan warung with the sound of jrang jreng street pengamen guitars in line looking for change. In the West with a shout of each of Jogja's special trading stalls.

Interested in the way Joe wooed the buyers, Asri stood closer. Fuse also offers the bracelet and necklace monel duster it.

I didn't expect anyone to respond. Asri is a little awkward when some male travelers are interested and stop observing the knick knacks it offers. Maybe also just want to observe the beauty of Asri up close.

Joe and Seti who were polishing the purse laughed happily to see Asri smilingly showing off a piece of ten thousand of his success selling two monel necklaces.

"Suit you so SPG this stall As," teased Joe. "Ask what salary ?" he said again while chuckling.

"Gombaaal .." exclaimed Asri still smiling cheerfully, handing the money over to Joe. Sitting again next to Seti who is still cool polishing the trading wallet.

"You are also trading." Seti flattered Asri.

"That's coincidental. Maybe Joe's windfall too." Asri looked towards the cardboard in front of Seti. Want to know the leather wallets ethnic motifs that look beautiful stacked in it.

"I want to know your hostel," Asri switched the topic. I wonder where Seti lives.

"Now ?" Seti was a little surprised. Didn't expect there would be that question from Asri.

"You think ?"

"Not now. It's been too late. Tomorrow morning how. We're fishing in Timoho. If we can, we'll cook at my hostel. I'll introduce you to a friend and one with a hostel."

"Promise you." 

"Yes definitely. I'll pick you up at nine in the morning."

Nodding, Asri finished the contents of the chocolate cup that had cooled down. His face looks more sparkling enjoying the sensation of Malioboro week night.

Seti put his finished polished wallets onto Joe's merchandise shelf. Wipe it with a chicken feather duster to make sure there is no dust attached.

Joe asked the clock to Seti. The joy and joy of forgetting time. Remembering the Mantrijeron boarding house, Seti turned towards Asri. "I'd better take you back first As. Don't let me spray Yem again" Seti said after seeing the clock on his watch.

"But still had time to stop by angkringan yesterday right?" Asri stood up from his seat. Realizing the time Seti reminded.

" Hahaha, come if it's your wish." Set hurriedly stood up. Screaming goodbye to Joe who then approached.

Seeing Joe tuck a sheet of five thousand into Seti's pocket, their closeness was increasingly understandable Asri. 

The pleasure does not have to be only about what is obtained, but rather how to get and share it. In Malioboro Asri gets his first pleasure. 

Asri clasped Seti's hand tightly as he left Joe's field watching from behind. There was satisfaction in his heart about his first stopover in Malioboro with Seti and Joe.                          

...----------------...

Nine o'clock less than a quarter Seti and Asri arrived at the Mantrijeron boarding house. Fortunately it did not linger in angkringan. Just order ginger tea and four slices of grilled glutin.

A little pushy, Asri invited Seti to sit with him for a while on the terrace "Thank you Set. I was happy at Joe's stand. Later if it's back from Purwokerto I'll stop by again. Just walk from the station."

"Together."

"How many people are you Set ?" asri continued. Still curious to know more about Seti's hostel.

"Three rooms only. Simple but good for learning."

"The starlings don't have a hostel ?"

"Yes your host ... There's Yem, "Seti's laughing."Good one who has a hostel. You know tomorrow."

Asri laughed hearing Seti mention Mbak Yem. Both chuckle.                  

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*Andong: a four-wheeled pedicure drawn by two horses.

*Gombal: worn cloth in Javanese.