Residual Flavour
Etawa Goat

The gods did not answer Dave's question directly. The man held his chin with both hands resting on the dining table. For a moment he thought about the meaning and intent behind the question sentence that had just been thrown for him.

"I have no obligation to answer, do I?" The god asked back.

"Of course not" said Dave so casually.

"When we love, we can do whatever it takes to get the best out of him. Willing to step back, not to see his sadness. Love is not just about having. But it's also about letting go, before it gets hurt deeper."

This time, it was Dave's turn to be silent. Little felt slapped with the words of God. He who once left Deva, yet desperately begged to be forgotten. Yes, Dave's love may be selfish.

"Wa, why are you suddenly taking Deva off. After everything you've done? It feels so weird to just back off."

"I'm just thinking logically. I have the right to keep my own heart from heartache. I can't fight alone forever. Don't be stupid. You know for sure Deva's heart now still belongs to whom," God asserted.

"You know your heart still belongs to Deva, why are you taking Deborah into your life, Wa? The fight is not over, you have given up. Deva and I still love each other. However, how many things should we ignore for our sake? After all I was the son of a parent who destroyed his family. We can relate well like this, that's enough for me. Close not to having each other. I'm just making sure I'm there, in between the pauses when you ignore them." Dave took a deep breath at the end of his sentence.

"More or less, we're actually the same, Dave. Don't pretend to push me with Deva. You are obviously still expecting it. Fight harder, Deva deserves to live with the man she loves and loves." The god moved from his seat. Step into the room where Deva and Debora are to take the two to lunch together.

An hour later after the awkward and not-so-familiar atmosphere at the dining table was over. The four people with complicated relationships and feelings together head for an agro-tourism destination. Where, there visitors who come can see and even learn firsthand how to grow a variety of plants.

I don't know what Deva meant by choosing this place to be the first destination they visit today. The woman also directly chose a special area of cassava plants. The other three people just obey Deva's will.

"Who wants to go with nanem?" Deva gave a bundle of cassava stems about 20 centimeters long to Deborah.

"Byeah, it looks exciting." Deborah accepted Deva's gift with pleasure.

"I want two dongs, Tea," Deva pinta told the female tour guide who would accompany them while in the area.

Dewa and Dave follow Deva's steps - each asking for two ties of cassava stems to be planted. Then they watched the guide's directions carefully. Because it is not too difficult, the four are immediately compact to practice what has been taught by the guide.

This time, Deva and Dewa were in the same row right in front of Debora and Dave. Deva and Debora are on the right end, while Dave and the Gods are on the left. They will walk sideways bending stick the rod according to the distance marked by the manager.

"Sir," Deva hurriedly pulled out the stem of the part that had not been perfectly stuck.

The god looked at Deva's face which looked red and covered in sweat. Reflek, the man wiped the Deva sweat with the back of his lower arm still clean. It was as if he had forgotten his cold and indifferent attitude all along.

"Thank you, sir." Deva's face grew red with embarrassment.

Dave and Debora compactly turned her face to the other side. Choose to pretend not to see and leave Deva and the Gods alone there. Although uncomfortable, both still hope that what Deva plans can produce positive results. Right now, each other's feelings are being put aside. Dave, Deva, and Deborah, are debasing the ego and putting their own feelings aside for one purpose.

"Why did you choose cassava, anyway? There are still many other plants that are more challenging how to grow them. It's easy." The god went back to being determined to cover up the mistake he had just made. He shouldn't have cared about Deva's sweat.

"It's not that simple, sir. There are many life lessons we can take from cassava. It can grow anywhere and under any circumstances. Cassava teaches us great simplicity. He does not reveal the part of himself that many people are looking for. But try to mention the part of cassava that we can not use? The leaves we can eat, the stems can be for firewood, the skin of the tubers and the tubers we can eat." Deva paused for a moment, letting the Gods understand his long sentence.

"What do you mean? I was lazy to think. Don't wear cassava if you want to say something." The god spoke again. The man turned around, wanting to catch up with Debora and Dave who were washing their feet and hands in a natural bamboo shower near the exit of the cassava growing area.

"Often we overlook something simple. And instead replace it with something complicated because of our own standards. In fact, the essence of life is how we can provide many benefits to others. Not just using others. I'm sure you understand what I mean. What you think is good, not necessarily in the eyes of others the same. What you think is best, not necessarily for others." Deva precedes the steps of the Gods.

After that, the four of them went back to the goat farm, where they practiced milking directly. There the excitement began to happen. The clumsiness slowly melts away. God and Dave apparently have the same side of adult male delinquency. The chatter of the two men, even able to make Deva also Deborah turn her face and close her ears because of her own shame.

"Crazy, Dave. Just this time my virgin hand held this. Where has a goat anyway," the God's joke.

"Just take the exercise. I am often. But groaning doang," said Dave.

"Well, fuck you too, Dave. Patient groped." The god is still crouching while milking the goat even thinking negative thoughts.

"Grabbing in the sense of doing a circular motion to check for lumps around the patient's PD, Wa. To detect the presence of tumors or cancer. It's just a brain." Dave defended himself while continuing to focus on the white liquid holding tube in front of him that was almost half filled.

Deborah pulls Deva's hand to stay away from the two men who are still chatting. "Dev, it's tonight so, right?" tanyakanya.