Nariswari - Toll Road to Love
Katinting - Tethered Katinting

Again Lolo gave me a plastic bag filled with fish every time I was going home. I feel bad, because every day, catinting fishermen can only provide food needs, due to the high cost of BBM for the catinting machine. BBM is always going up. I secretly returned the favor to Ms. Sama for her sumbako and Lolo's education savings every time I and my friends visited - and that was the money Natan sent.

He is so unique. If Natan gives me flowers at the ATM and roses, June gives me crocodile bread, and she's a swipe of fish. Fresh sea fish with fishy smell.

And one day he found out, I used to give him groceries and school savings to catch C's, and then ask him. It made her smile all day.

"Same Mom's son has a crush on you, huh?" asked one of the friends who were counseling at the time we were building the village. Hearing him I immediately coughed.

"You're serious about him? He's a kid, you know!" Friends laugh.

I nodded, "Yes, he's a kid."

"Keep you want to be with him?"

I'm speechless. Confused answer.

"Yes, if you like it is also okay, he is a hard worker, must be willing to find panai money during the night, tides, even until the whale nyari he willing. Moreover, the problem of age is common, even grandmothers, there are married same perjaka ting-ting."

I laughed for a moment. And I want to feel like I'm snapping this wide eel of my friend. Then speechless. Duck. I don't know what I want! New life?

There were a lot of questions running through my mind.

Do I like that fisherman boy? Hasn't Lolo been my escape? Or will it be my new dream? Can I be happy with Lolo's simplicity and what he is? Then what does my family want to be like poor fishermen like Lolo who only capitalize on love and katinting?

I don't know either! May this not be revenge for having been betrayed by men.

I then shook my head quickly. Whatisthis? Why am I thinking stupid? Does Lolo like me? It could be that he is good for everyone to return to.

Saturday and Sunday, I'm off the surveillance project. Yes, I worked as an engineering staff at a small consulting firm near home, with a small salary. Fortunately, it could obliterate the transportation budget, and now there are no strange neighbors, and high gate neighbors. The project is also small, such as talut work, fences, fish ponds, warehouses, and simple houses.

The engineering staff in my city is multitalent, he can be a manager, planner, supervisor, drafter, and estimator.

Today I am in the village of Bajo, continuing our project that has been running two months ago, we distribute basic food, while documenting activities, also followed by mentoring, and mentoring activities. Running away from a consulting project keeps me humming. Especially visiting Bajo village.

I don't know today it feels like suddenly I will miss this sea village. Hence, I surrounded the houses connected by wooden bridges that screeched as these wooden planks were stepped on.

I heard the broken steps stop in front of me. From the wide, stocky soles of his feet and wrapped in flops. I recognised. Then I put my black hat on. Found his round face.

"This, Brother!" The round-eyed boy stuck out a white crackle, I began to look at the contents, there was a two-color candle ice, starting from the taste of white jackfruit with slices of jackfruit, and brown green beans mixed with brown sugar and coconut milk. Everything is perfect under the scorching mosquito net of Bajo village. This ice-ice is my favorite food since childhood, even Mamak used to make it often, to be sold in schools.

I glanced at the clumsy Lolo, he hugged sweat. I don't know how far he's looking for this stuff in the middle of Bajo village. The ice is also melting a bit.

"Continue?" tanyanya.

I'm nodding. Directly laugh. I also took the ice jackfruit flavor, then gave it the green bean flavor. Soon the young boy refused. Then Lolo threw a glance among the catinting-catinting tethered near the foot of the house. Clumsy behavior. I don't know what he wants to say. And I hope it's not that.

"I ... I ...." He took a breath. His behavior is like a person holding back a pee.

The brow threaded conical. He moved his hand squeezing the bridge handle. Funny behavior. Face embarrassed. Then-then

We stopped to see a flamboyant white car parked in front of us. Then get someone out of the car. He ran towards me. Crying out. And hold my hand.

My heart hurts to see it. So hurt. My chest raced strong. I also took a deep breath. Why is he here? This real?

So sick!

I thought time could be the antidote to my well-trained heart.

"I'm half dead looking for you. I thought you died in an earthquake, tsunami or liquefaction" he said with furrowed brows. I just kept quiet. Stare softly. "Sick nathan," he continued.

I'm mute. And he must be very sick. To the extent that Mimi came here, begged, and picked me up.

"I will take care of all our needs to return to Semarang."

I doubt I'm doing this. I swear I just wanted to refuse. But, given Natan's condition, and everything I've been through for a year in Kolaka, about natural disasters, people's poverty, illiteracy, moral formation, it's all very important, compared to my personal problems. With a heavy heart. I also decided to go back. But only a week, after that I will be sent home. Mimi is jealous too. And intentionally arranged everything.

Why can't Mimi do this alone? Do they suffer a punishment?

"I've never been this jealous. I have Nathan's body, but half of his heart you've brought!" whispered softly. And I don't care. I'm worried. Pity and anger come together. "She thinks you're dead, hit by an earthquake, tsunami or liquefaction" continued the beautiful and sexy girl in front of me. I was silent not responding.

I stopped, turned around, I forgot. Forgot that there was Lolo among us. Strange expression. Full of question marks. At first I thought she would be instantly enamored with Mimi's charm, but in fact she barely looked at her beauty. And for now, it's not Lolo that I think, now Natan is already hurting my heart and my mind, when I should have been able to breathe a sigh of relief.

I also lifted my black hat. Give it to Lolo. Her facial water was strange since then, like wanting to ask about Mimi and Natan, but she undone it. I say goodbye to him too. And do not know, if you can meet again and wade through the sea with the Bajo child.

He looked sad. Hugging my black hat. I also turned around. Now, it wasn't Lolo anymore who was worried. I have also set my worried face to seem calm. Unfortunately, failed.

Sometimes, I am even grateful to be the main character in the third person scenario, because with me on this Sulawesi earth. I can dedicate myself to society, which I didn't even do when I was with Natan. Just looking at the newspaper salesman, the begging old man, and the children busking in the line behind the gold car glass.