Ode To Latitude
Pink Envelope

Four days later, the Indonesian team will participate in the Korea Open S500 tournament. There were two more tournaments after, the Japan Open S750 and the Hong Kong Open S500. Latitude and the main squad are registered by the badminton association to participate in the tournament.

As always, before leaving there is a vacation time of one to two days for players to be able to vacation or visit their parents. That morning the players whose homes can be reached by road choose to go home with their parents, in addition to asking for blessing there are also those who make pilgrimages to the graves of ancestors and families. Lintang again did not come home, he only reported his departure and tournament schedule via video call to his parents.

That morning Lintang headed to the badminton arena where Mia trained, she got information from the assistant coach who is also a former national coach, who is now a coach at the place. Latitude put her bag, sitting in the audience stands while cheering Mia. Mia is of course happy, there is someone other than her family at the place and it is the new idol of badminton lovers.

Arimbi who had just arrived from the minimarket across from the training ground was surprised to see Lintang throw a smile at him while nodding his head. Arimbi sat beside Latang, this time he had no reason to run away or avoid the sturdy man in front of him. Both encourage Mia, Lintang even helps to bend Mia's leg when Mia complains of her ankle pain. Mia's breathing panted, while lying on the floor of Latitude bending her ankles. Latitude opened Mia's shoes carefully checking if there were any abrasions there and sure enough, there were small blisters that were bleeding.

The assistant coach instructed Lintang to rest while treating Mia's legs with the medicines available in her P3K equipment. Arimbi noticed the latitude painstakingly and patiently bandaged Mia's legs. Mia looked excited and resumed training. Lintang asks Arimbi for permission to take Mia for a walk, Arimbi agrees to Lintang's invitation as long as he goes with them.

That afternoon the three of them headed to the sports museum, Lintang explained the history of badminton and anyone who has carved sports achievements and the facts behind the Olympic games. Mia listened carefully while looking and reading the writings that were there.

“Wow Mia Audina” said Mia saw a photo of the 1996 Summer Olympic medalist in Atlanta, United States.

Mia enthusiastically told me about the origin of her name and her mother who is a badminton fan.

Not wrong anymore

“Where are you?” tanya Lintang ignored Arimbi's glaring gaze.

“Mama again work” said Mia.

Arimbi breathed a sigh of relief.

“Papa you?” ask the latitude further.

“Mia see here” said Arimbi origin pointed to whatever is around him.

Mia approached Arimbi, looked for a bit and then refocused on Latitude.

Lintang again explained other badminton facts he knew, and also informed Mia of the upcoming tournament.

“Om Latitude, I doain wish Om success and win in those three tournaments. Hattrick!” mia said excitedly.

Despite being uncomfortable with calling “Om” Lintang tried to smile at Mia's words. He had not expected to approach Mia was not as difficult as imagined. Little Mia is easy to get along with and can be a fun conversation companion.

“Sore later Mia there is English tutoring we can not be long here” said Arimbi interrupted the conversation Lintang and Mia.

Mia looked sad, time felt so fast when there was a lot she wanted to ask.

“Good, after my lunch between aunt and Mia rumah” said Lintang.

Along the way Arimbi was silent, he chose to sit in the back, letting Mia listen to the experience of competing the Latitude. Latitude also explains the non-technical obstacles that they often face such as changing weather and body condition adjustments which is why each athlete is used to bringing personal medicine that doctors recommend.

Danu frowned as a Ford Fiesta parked in the parking lot of his house. Arimbi and Mia get off the car followed by Lintang who offered Arimbi stop at his house.

The latitude runs closer to the terrace of the house. Danu looked, the middle-aged man who still looked dashing was wearing a t-shirt and shorts watching the three of them.

“Please enter” Arimbi allow Latitude to enter following Danu who first headed to the television room.

Arimbi hinted Lintang came to the room near the kitchen.

Danu turned on the television while Lintang sat awkwardly beside Danu, there was a sense of disdain that enveloped her heart when faced with Danu. Arimbi and Mia were no longer in the room. Only the two of them were accompanied by the sound of television.

Lintang is thinking what topics are suitable to talk about with Danu. If he asks Regata to be sure Danu can immediately tell him to go home, there is no way he asks who Mia's father is too brave.

“You've called Regata?” danu's heavy voice opened their conversation.

“But” reply Latitude with low voice. He's confused about what he'll call Danu, dad or sir.

“I send you the number Regata” Danu said. a second later Regata contacts logged into his Whatsapp messages. The fact that Danu kept her number made her quite calm.

“Regata is stubborn and prestige. I don't ask you to tell me, I'm sure you're both very mature to meet and solve your problems.” Danu said.

Lintang did not understand the direction of Danu's conversation, they had no serious problems to talk about, other than Lintang's desire to apologize for leaving Regata alone. But maybe also this is the root of their relationship problem which is like a stranger thought Lintang.

Five minutes later at 14:30 WIB, Danu checked the clock on her phone screen. He invites Lintang to lunch at his house, instead of refusing because he just ate, Lintang welcomes Danu's offer with pleasure. Today he wants to forget for a moment the menu and portion of the diet. Foods rich in spices, coconut milk, oily and anything served at the dining table tried one by one.

Arimbi is happy, Lintang has a lot of food portions unlike the people of the house, which often makes him upset with the portion of a little meal and tends to be picky menu even though the ability of the cooking is praised by all arisan mothers.

Danu and Lintang talks are no longer about Regata, but rather penetrated into the world of politics ranging from Kemenpora funds to the fate of athletes after retirement. Arimbi enjoyed the warm scenery in front of him. Lintang's face was more relaxed than before and Danu looked relaxed. Latitude is able to fly Danu, their chatter feels connected to each other.

Mia who was chewing pieces of apples and pineapples was occasionally consulted by Danu and Lintang although Mia did not know what was discussed, the little girl recorded new vocabulary she heard including political terms.

Before Lintang came home, Arimbi handed her a pink envelope. The childish-looking envelope is sweet-scented that can invite fruit flies to stick.

“Open if you have reached” said Arimbi replied to the confusion that appears on the face of Lintang.

After arriving at her room without changing clothes, Lintang opened the pink envelope that Arimbi handed to her. The envelope contained five handwritten sheets on colorful binder paper, the paper was very popular at school latitude. 

Latitude reading the title of the letter written in shiny black ink.

Ode To Latitude.