Nackal Duda
Conversations Under the Night Sky

"I'll buy it again if you like. Eat a lot!" I said while thrusting a plate containing large-cut fried chicken.

"Thank you, Om!" the eyes of the Dance sparkled only because of the fried chicken I bought. So easy he can be happy, so why do I find it difficult to feel happy and satisfied with what I have?

Dance smiled and her smile was so sincere. The smile on the face that was used to crying was the most beautiful smile and the most difficult to do.

Unconsciously I just watched him eat and finish my meal. Seeing him eat fried chicken greedily made me full.

Dance tidied up the old dinner plates and washed them. I forbade it and said someone would wash it tomorrow, but He insisted.

"Fear of Om rats if not immediately washed." so the reason Dance. Didn't know he was the one in this house is a cat and not a mouse?

I went upstairs where I put my sports equipment. I was lazy to exercise and instead sat on the terrace to breathe fresh air.

I lit a cigarette and started sipping it. Smoke cigarette smoke into the air while looking at the stars flashing in this clear sky.

"Sorry, Om. Dance make coffee for Om." Dance came to bring me a cup of coffee. The smell of coffee makes me powerless to refuse his gift.

"Thank you." I answered while receiving the cup of coffee that Tari gave."You're not sleeping?"

Dance shook her head. "Not yet sleepy." He unruffled then sat down on the chair next to me.

"I'm sorry I smoke." It's rude to smoke next to a woman, but I don't want to put my cigarette out. Let Dance go and leave me with my pleasure.

"It's okay, Om. Cigarette smoke and the smell of liquor are like the daily food of Dance life." she said in a bitter voice.

I sucked deeply into the cigarette and exhaled the smoke into the air. "You don't have any more relatives?"

Dance shook her head. "Only Mothers who Dance have. That's not real mother either."

I took a cup of coffee and drank it. Warkop specialty coffee tubruk. I liked. The smell of coffee is more pronounced and the sweetness is more natural. Unlike the coffee in the Mall which has many variations.

"So the mother you've been fighting for all this time isn't your real mother?" my many.

Dance nodded. "Said Mom, Dari used to be taken from an orphanage when she married her first husband. Then Dad got sick and died. Mommy remarried to the Father who now wants to sell Dance."

Really sad about his life story. Like the story in soap operas that mostly sell dreams.

"How does it feel to be alone in this world?" my question, more to myself...

"It feels... Blank. No one is protecting. No friends sharing. No friends to laugh with. All empty." replied Dance while staring at the stars in the sky.

"You know who I am, right? How is my free life? Why do you still choose to marry me and hang your life on me?" I turned off the cigarette butts and preferred to enjoy the coffee made by Tari which I have to admit tastes good.

"Because for me, marrying Om is better than having to serve a striped man."

"I'm a striped-nose man if you forget." I said interrupting his words.

"It's better to serve a striped-nose guy than a lot, right? So, if Om after marriage I still want to live free, I won't forbid. Treat me as you would, but please save me from having to serve many other striped men." said Tari firmly.

I'm silent. I thought about his words. Pity rules me. He will be sold and forced to serve a striped man who will treat him like an immoral woman. He will receive money from the slime business that he does not want to enter.

I remember the face He asked me to buy. She doesn't want to be a woman at night. His faith forbade him to sell himself.

"I'm a widower and you see the house right in front of this house?" I pointed at Tara's brightly lit house. "Where my ex-wife and her affair live."

"Why doesn't Om just go? I think Om has enough money to buy a new house."

I smile. It's so innocent of this kid. I don't like to move.

"Yes. I do have money, but if I move, don't I show them that I'm weak?"

"Oh... So for ego reasons that's why Om won't go. Yeah anyway. If I were Om, I wouldn't go either. I'll show you that I'm not weak."

"It's night, go to sleep!" I said.

"But Om hasn't made a decision about my future yet. I have to plan a backup plan if Om doesn't want to marry me."

"Reserve plan? Likewhat?"

"Hm... Get away from Jakarta, maybe?"

"Where are you? Do you have money to go?" my lips.

"Not having any money. Minjem same Om. I'll give it back when I have the money."

"Optimis. If in a new city you will meet people who are more evil than your stepfather how?"

"Yes I'm going to run away again. Running away until the one chasing me is a new life-seeking angel I can't run anymore."

Degs... His words were too mature for a girl his age.

"Sleep! I'll close the door later!" I didn't give him an answer. I lit another cigarette butt and enjoyed the night alone.

****

I went to the showroom after yesterday's failure because I almost bumped into Dance. There was a commotion in the showroom.

"Where is the owner of this showroom?" shouted a man who smelled alcohol from his mouth.

Security swiftly secured the fathers when I came. The fathers were screaming in front of my employees who gathered out of curiosity.

"Tell your boss, give me back my daughter! Or I'll report it to the police!" threaten the fathers before being dragged by security out of the showroom.

Now all eyes are staring at me. Fortunately it was still early morning, no visitors had arrived yet.

"What's wrong? Back to work!" I said firmly.

My employees disbanded and returned to their jobs. I climbed the stairs and headed for my room.

Just sitting in my big chair, there was the sound of someone knocking on my door.

Tok.dok....

"Come in!" I said a little louder to sound outside.

Cici who entered with a teasing smile on her face. "Hi Om! Who was it?"

"It's none of your business!" ketus.

"Om judges really. Want Cici service not to be more relaxed?" it was morning and he teased me.

"Not to!" I answered while turning on my computer.

"Why the hell Om? Usually if Cici service never refused? Is it possible that the father said it was true that Om had brought his daughter away?"

"It's up to you to think what. Come outside! I have a lot of work!" throw me out with a ketus.

Cici no longer protest. He knows that I'm in a bad mood, don't get upset. It could lose the money field later.

Now his stepfather Tari has gone to my office. The drunken man will sell Dance. Why do I feel so unbearable? Then should I marry her?

****

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