Ode To Latitude
Jakarta

Early in the morning, Regata and Bi Nina were already noisily in the television room. They were both busy preparing for Mia's needs. Today Mia will go to Jakarta with her sports teacher Pak Hayon to replace her art teacher who is having family affairs.

“sttt” said Regata hinted that Bi Nina was careful to prepare her drawing equipment so as not to wake her sleeping little daughter.

“The plane leaves at 09.00, at 07.00 aja he built” whispered Regata.

At exactly 07.00 am Bi Nina went up to wake up Mia who turned out to have tidied up her blanket. Mia took a shower and got ready. Today he feels happy, soon he will set foot in the capital of Indonesia's most important race tomorrow he must try his best.

Regata, Bi Nina, Mia, Mr. Hayon, and the principal left for the airport. Along the way Regata tried to melt the atmosphere while chatting with the headmaster, hiding a sudden longing in his mind. The first time since eight years passed, Mia will be in Jakarta for one week.

“About the airport?” a chat came in on Regata's phone.

Regata skimmed the pop up that appeared on his phone. Message from dr. Dappers. Three days ago Genta left the city, he could not take Mia but asked to be notified if Mia would leave.

Mia and Mr. Hayon got a boarding pass, before the plane they were about to board departed, Mia hugged Regata tightly. In that embrace, Regata let go of all her worries and anxieties. In his heart, Regata offered a prayer to the power to keep his daughter safe on the way.

“No need to win, just come back safely” whispered Regata while kissing her daughter's head.

Mia waved her small hand and disappeared among the sea of people at the airport. Regata is back moody, one week in front of his house will be deserted.

“You boarded a Bu” flight Bi Nina reported to Arimbi, Grandma Mia who was worried waiting for the arrival of her daughter.

Bi Nina acted as if the phone came from her family caring for the husband at home as Regata approached. Bi Nina has established herself to help her small employer achieve dreams, of course with the support of Arimbi who promised to build a small shop for her in the village and provide her business capital. Despite that help, Bi Nina goes back to her childhood where she aspired to become a singer. His ideals got scorn and scorn from members of his own family. His confidence is gone, his dreams are gone. Bi Nina finished high school, got married, had children, and ended up being a housemaid. His ideals disappeared just like that even challenged singing in the condition of people Bi Nina could not afford. Her dream was broken in the middle of the road, and she did not want Mia to experience the same.

****

Mia set foot at Soekarno Hatta airport. Awe was clearly drawn on his face. The airport was huge, bigger than the airport in which he lived. He saw people milling about at the airport wearing only casual clothes, where people would dress up neatly to the airport. Why do people have to dress up at the airport? Mia's thinking this isn't a formal place. Sleeping clothes are more comfortable. He saw a child his age even carrying a doll.

Mr. Hayon held Mia's hand tightly, lest they separate. While Mia was busy looking at her left right, paying attention to the state of the place.

The board reads “Kontingen Drawing Contest Yasindo” Publisher welcomes Hayon and Mia at the airport. There were already two teachers and students who joined them. The driver and the representative of the committee who came to pick up said that they were both the last contingent while the others had arrived yesterday.

“Tok, tok, tok” a knock on the room door ends Mia's and dr's phone. Dappers. Mia opened her room, looking at Mr. Hayon and an old woman.

“Mia” said the old woman hysterically hugged Mia and tried to carry her. Mia was a little rebellious because she didn't want to be carried.

“It's Oma dear, mama kamu” said Arimbi while wiping his tears with tissue.

Mia looked at the old woman her face was exactly Regata, her mother.

Arimbi took her phone making a video call with Bi Nina. The two women talked for a while and then both cried. Mia wondered in her mind, why are these two people crying? No one fell, no one got hurt, should they cry?

“Oma” said Mia slowly meant to calm her Grandma. Arimbi again shed tears hearing the long-awaited granddaughter call Oma.

“Why cry?” ask Mia.

“Because Oma kangen dear, after so long we finally met”

Arimbi almost tells Regata's story, but undoes his intention because his grandson must prepare for tomorrow.

“Tomorrow to run out of the race Oma want to take you to a place” said Arimbi happy.

Mia was certainly happy, there was no reason for her to suspect this woman because Bi Nina also knew Omanya. Mia can't wait for tomorrow, the race and the streets.