Jogja At A Time
19. Get Out of the First Trouble

Sigit takes the first break shot after winning logging. His punch violently broke the group of balls that were in the middle of the table. Balls 9 and 2 go into the hole. 

See the other ball position. A sigit chooses a line ball that favors his position. Targeting 11 balls without difficulty hit with the technique of track ball, making the white ball move backward toward the back while dismantling the 1st plain ball that blocks 15 balls.

Ball 15 is targeted open Sigit. Inserting into the center hole with a spin punch directs the white cue ball to the edge of the table. He was aiming for the adjacent 10 and 11 balls. 

Seti's chances of winning this game look tough. He just hopes Sigit fails at the 12 ball that sticks to the table. 

Balls 10 and 11 without difficulty inserted Sigit. The remaining balls are 12, 13, and 14 before he enters the black ball 8 to win the game. 

Doni looked tense looking at the position of 13 and 14 balls that were wide open. 

Sigit was preparing to aim for the 13th ball when suddenly Asri and Joe were seen entering the game table. The 13 balls he hit entered, but the white ball locked the 1 balls belonging to Seti. The arrival of Ratih disturbed his concentration. His face looked irritated, after Asri sat down to meet Seti.

Blows of the tire towards the selected 14 ball failed to hit the target. 

Seti uses the Sigit Foul. The open ball makes it easy to win the game. 

One by one without difficulty plain balls are inserted into the hole, until the 8 balls he aimed right into the hole he pointed.

Joe who dances gleefully adds to Sigit's anger in the second game. Seti makes a perfect break getting the line ball. Doing a safety shot, knowing the 8 balls are still locked ball 3 plain belonging to Sigit.

This time Seti's strategy worked. Sigit's tyre punch was legitimate, but no ball went in, and the white ball went wild touching ball 3 that locked ball 8.

The ball is all open. Seti attacked heavily by finishing off all the remaining line balls. Ball 8 is easily re-inserted towards the hole it points to.

"Double ... !" Feeling hot, Sigit asked for a double bet. Seti. Know Sigit will do a break shot. 

Game three Sigit increasingly can not control his emotions. He lost again.

"Double ?" This time Seti countered Sigit's challenge. And according to his predictions, Sigit served his challenge.

Break punch Seti perfect. Balls 14, 10, and 9 go into the hole. All the balls line up and 8 open. Make it easier to win this game without giving Sigit a chance to take a single hit.

Joe and Doni yelled happily from his corner adding to the heat of the Nusa Indah billiard table on Sunday afternoon. Several spectators began to swarm in interest at the din of the table Seti and Sigit fought. 

Sigit's tattooed friend seems to start provoking Seti's emotions, by repeatedly nudging him when he is about to start the fifth game.

"Ojo ngisruh dab ..." The resolute voice from the crowd of spectators shrunk the guts of the tattooed man.

Realizing that the voice came from a figure commonly called mas Gun increasingly scared Sigit and his friend when then mas Gun sat next to Asri.

Mas Gun is a very respected young man in Jogja. Not just for his courage. But because he was also close to the Mangun when he changed the Code kali village from a dig, criminals and prostitutes became a more humane place with typical Mangunwijaya architecture. 

Anyone would think twice let alone deny it if mas Gun had commented.

The game to five Sigit was getting more and more helpless. His break blow failed to give an advantage. This time, Seti won it again.

"Triple ... !" This time mas Gun mentally cornered Sigit. Invite him to raise the bet three times when Seti breaks ...

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

A joking and carefree voice sounded from the Mbah Jum stall. Sunday night it looked different. Mas Gun, Dibyo, Muji, Seti, Doni, and Joe sit around two tables that are made into one. Asri and Mbah Jum sat next to each other watching the conversation of the table.

Unbeknownst to Seti. Asri who stayed overnight at the Mbah Jum apparently told the problem of the stall to Mbah Jum. Hearing Asri's story, early in the morning he called his nephew.

Mas Gun is the nephew of Mbah Jum.

Still hiding about mas Gun, ... Asri let Seti go alone first to meet Sigit. 

"You must insist on watching. Apparently there was a Gun mas," Seti turned towards Asri.

"That Mbah Jum insisted on telling me," Asri hugged the chuckling Mbah Jum.

"Maturnuwun.... If there is no mas Gun can be another story," Seti turned towards mas Gun.

"Ah you guys, if there is a problem in Jogja do not hesitate to meet me at Kali Code. As long as you're fair I'll defend you" said mas Gun."But yes it is. Don't play gambling anymore." Further again.

Mas Gun apparently has often heard the closeness of Seti and the boarding boy from Mbah Jum. So that he did not think too much about Mbah Jum who was alone. 

Until this morning Mbah Jum suddenly just called him through his neighbor. Not thinking long he accompanied Asri and Joe when Mbah Jum told him to.

"This is for Gun's mas," Doni handed the envelope to Gun's mas.

"Weit opo iki ?" Mas Gun refuses the envelope Doni gave him. "Win how many you guys ?" Ask mas Gun again after knowing the contents of the envelope had something to do with the Nusa Indah billiard.

"Two million two hundred mas" said Doni.

"You'd better return this envelope to your opponent. At least he'll be disinclined by you."

"I tried it out. But Sigit refused it."

"Yes already. You guys keep it for shanty business. It's a shame that the stall was left closed too long. Just trading and college. Don't mess around anymore" continued Gun.

"Yes mas. We were stupid, though" Joe interrupted.

"Stupid but understands money ..." Mbah Jum makes fun of Joe.

Mbah Jum stalls are getting crowded with familiar banter. Seti occasionally steals a glance towards Asri who seems to forget his arrogance about Joko.

Tonight Asri is staying again at Mbah Jum, tomorrow morning he will immediately go to college to be delivered by Seti from there.

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

Joe and Doni sit in Seti's room. A glass of coffee and fried food from the Mbah Jum stall is in front of him. Seti still to Kali Code deliver mas Gun ... The clock on the wall shows at 10 p.m.

"Uh .. I didn't think Seti and Asri had come this far to help us Joe." Doni opened the conversation in the room. This time he enjoyed his cigarette.

"Didn't we know him for a long time ? That's why I asked you to meet him during a complicated field by you."

"Yes I was wrong" Doni admitted his mistake. "Now how do we repay Seti ?"

"I think we should hurry up and open Don ... Tomorrow I'm shopping leather to Shoping, you're shopping silver to Kotagede Don. This quiet week, you have to do your wallet and purse, so that after the road test again."

Not refuting Joe's words, Doni nodded his head. The cup of coffee in front of him was slowly gulped.

If there is the most delicious relief, of course, is after escaping the burden of problems in a way that is beyond expectations. Friendship and friendship is one way beyond that.

Doni will never forget that. His little heart promised to take care of all the friendships that lay in his regional distress ... 

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*Break shot: the first shot in a billiard game.

*Logging: bouncing a white ball forward. The white ball closest to the line will get a break shot.

*Track ball: hit the bottom of the white ball so that it will move backwards after touching another ball.

*Spin ball: punch to the left or right side of the cue ball.

*Cue: ball without number is white.

*Ban: edge of the rubberized billiard table.

*Ojo ngisruh dab: Do not make a big fuss in slang Jogja.