Ode To Latitude
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Lintang's defeat in the quarter-finals again invited scorn and criticism of netizens. Unrelenting hate speech filled PBSI accounts. No one wants to understand that his opponent is a veteran player from China who despite being three-headed remains a tough opponent for young players. Amid the pros and cons of Lintang defeat, a shocking news emerged saying that Lintang committed immoral acts impregnating his ex-girlfriend, and refused to take responsibility for his career in the world of badminton.

The news dragged the names of many parties. The distraught latitude was clearly the one who suffered the most. There is no solid evidence but the chronology described in the anonymous account thread is exactly the same as the time he was called back to the national plate for the second time after degradation.

The hashtag #bannedlatang is trending the number one topic today. In a desperate situation, Lintang was forced to withdraw from two tournaments after the Korea Open on the grounds of injury. The first flight that morning, brought Lintang back to the homeland via VIP lane and security without known media crew.

Regata bit his fingertips, his hands trembling. Since the early hours of the morning his phone kept ringing and many messages came in from unknown numbers. The terror made him unable to think logically, fortunately it was right at that time with his holiday so he did not need to ask permission on the personnel.

“Halo ma” voice Regata restrained while whispering, even in his own room he felt fear.

“Darling you're home now, papa bought you a ticket. No need to care about your work so that papa takes care of” said Danu who immediately grabbed the phone once Arimbi knew calling his daughter.

“Ready of your clothes. Bi Nina already love severance and the house justin aja first. Don't think the others immediately you prepare, Mr. Revelation has asked you to take you to the airport” Danu said quickly.

Regata doesn't have time to shower and dress up. He put in things he thought were important. Masks, goggles, hats, hoodies, jeans, and sneakers bandaged his body. Not long after Mr. Revelation came to pick him up and they left the house in a closed state, only the porch lights and side lights of his house were left lit.

Pak Wahyu did not say much, along the way the man passed the unusual route through Regata to the airport. Regata with Pak Wahyu was escorted by a sturdy male officer who could not be separated from his earphones. He took Regata away from the crowd of passengers to a small plane parked at the very end, away from the other plane.

“Hati-hati” whispered Mr. Revelation before Regata said thank you and say goodbye.

During the flight Regata felt unsettled. He had already changed his mobile number and frantically deleted all of his personal accounts. He received no calls other than his mother's and father's numbers.

The man who was with him at the airport accompanied him on a flight to Jakarta. He handed her a rice box and a small letter saying that the food was safe to eat.

Regata had no choice but to trust the pilot, the co-pilot and the man before him. He opened the mask and devoured the food. During the trip Regata did not dare to close his eyes. Just in case not to let your guard down.

After the plane he was boarding landed, Regata got off the seat not followed by the man who drove him to the airport but the man only asked him to follow the direction of the officer who had been prepared to pick him up, passing through a special passageway that was extremely quiet even if he was killed in that passageway no one would be able to find him

The one-way hallway reminded Regata of the way out of the cinema, leading him to the parking lot where he had stood a figure he had not seen for a long time.

“Om Bobby!” pekik Regata restrained.

The man who was greeted by Bobby only nodded at a glance, asking Regata to follow him up to the car and move carefully to leave the place.

Regata's face was full of questions but he restrained himself, Bobby was different from his other aides, the man kept many of their family secrets. Bobby dropped Regata off on the road that passed through the weed fields behind his house. There is a sign that says Land belongs to a paguyuban who somehow never take care of land that is quite large. Bobby carries Regata's small suitcase and backpack, letting Regata hold the end of his shirt while dodging small trenches along the way. The field looks beautiful in the afternoon, dragonflies and other small insects fly around Regata and Bobby.

“Come quickly!” bobby says he made Regata speed up. They arrived at a gate that had three layers of doors. I don't know what the door means but Regata suspects his father had calculated this possibility before.

Bobby handed Regata a backpack and suitcase asking the girl to immediately lock the gate from the inside while Bobby himself passed away the gate to his car park.

“Ata” said Arimbi whispered when his only daughter arrived in the family room of the house.

Seen by Regata, Danu, Arimbi and Mia stood there anxiously. Regata ran to hug Mia who looked confused. It seemed that the little girl was not allowed to move outside the house until the rumors subsided.

“Tnight you will return to Jogja” Danu said staring at Arimbi, and Regata. According to him, his current home-in-law will be a safe place for the three people who are very worried about him.

Regata denies it, but Arimbi prevents his daughter's actions.

Regata refused. He had no desire to eat even to close his eyes was impossible. The rumor was even more crazy, coupled with his mother's confession that the letter in the pink envelope had reached Lintang's hands.

Regata stared at the faces of his parents asking for an explanation of how the secret that was kept in the meeting could be revealed very clearly. He alternately leads the explanation to his father and mother both shaking their heads and confessing that they do not know, their eyes convince Regata that it is not Arimbi and Danu who are the culprit.

Regata looks frustrated. News on television throughout the day revealed rumors about Lintang's relationship even former coaches and clubs where Lintang trained one by one revealing Lintang's past behavior. While the PBSI has not made an official confirmation as if it was silent on the incident.

Exactly at ten in the night, Arimbi, Regata, and Mia arrived at Nanggulan Kulon Progo, Arimbi Village. Regata observed a limasan house in front of which there was a large courtyard, around which the house grew banana and mango trees and several other types of trees that Regata did not know.

An old woman greeted Arimbi and conversed in Javanese krama. He looked at Regata and smiled, his face was clear. The woman's teeth had blackened, her hair was white and her path was bent.

“This is My Princess, do you remember?” ask Arimbi to Regata.

Arimbi asks Regata and Mia to put their luggage in the room that has been prepared by the Princess. The room was darker than Regata's shadow. Not having bright enough lights, high roof tiles make Regata a little afraid if anyone falls while they sleep.

Arimbi tells the story of Eyang Putri is the youngest sister of Regata's grandmother, aka Arimbi's mother. Eyang putri was once a shaman who helped childbirth in the village and chose not to marry. When Regata was a toddler he was often brought to this place to be massaged by the princess Eyang with all kinds of village herbs specially formulated by the princess Eyang.

“While we stay here until dad lets us return to Jakarta” whispered Arimbi.

Regata tried to close his eyes, while Arimbi was still chatting with the princess's eyes. I don't know what they say is clear everything is in Javanese.

At five o'clock in the morning Arimbi shook Regata's body telling him to get up. With half-closed eyes Regata sat on the bed and waved the mosquito net. He saw Arimbi shed tears.

“Why ma” asked Regata to wake up Mia who was sleeping next to him.

“Dad, a-yah arrested for embezzlement case of capital city” development said Arimbi.

The world felt turned upside down.

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