The Nick's Life
Nick's Tactics

A Honda CRV stops in front of a cafe. From inside came a man wearing an ash turtle neck t-shirt combined with black chino pants. A pair of sunglasses perched on his face which made his good looks even more so. With a leisurely pace he entered the cafe then headed for the table located near the window facing the street.

“Ck.. where did you go anyway lo!” spray a man who was at the table.

Nick opened his glasses and pulled the chair in front of Arnav. His friend had an upset face. From the promised time, Nick was nearly an hour late. The person who made him upset just looked relaxed.

“Sorry, suddenly there is a temporary job. Lagian lo also know, Jakarta is jammed at this hour.”

Arnav just clucked. Because Nick asked to meet, he had to cancel a one-day date with one of SPG at the company where he worked. He took the brown envelope on the next chair and gave it to Nick.

“That's all the information I know about Azizah.”

Nick receives the envelope and opens it. His eyes moved reading some of the information contained in the sheet of paper he was holding. The girl's personal data, blood type to campus information and activities there are clearly stated.

“Lo really want to chase girls?”

“Pake day.”

“Not so bro. I'm afraid I'll just put the edges you're heartbroken. Not the same as Aziznya but the same as the bokapnya. I am sure 1000 percent if you are not the type you want to be a companion to his son.”

“That's a challenge for me.”

“Cih. pede crazy lo.”

“Have to pede. My time has to be stuck before I fight.”

Nick took his phone and called someone. Although only a short talk, but Arnav knew very well who his best friend was contacting. The man sipped a drink in front of him.

“Bro. deketin me same assistant lo dong.”

“Ranti?”

“Iya, Ranti. How many assistants do you have?”

“Ya time you want to deketin bi Ijah.”

“Monkey!”

Arnav throws Nick with an empty cigarette pack. The man only chuckled at the annoyance of his best friend. Bi Ijah is a housekeeper in Nick's mama's apartment.

“Eh tar kalo lo deketin Azizah keep asking ama bokapnya, you have khatam Qur’an how many times? Mampus lo! Let alone Qur’an, iqro aja kaga khatam hahaha.”.

“Hardly lo! I can earn a PEA salary! You forgot mommy used to be his late wife ustadz Harun?”

“Ah pan only three years right. You were a child at that time, sure you still want Arabic letters? I still love the hard difference between jim, ha, kho.”

Arnav laughed at his own words. Even though his father is a Pakistani Muslim, as well as his mother who was born as a Muslim, they lack religious education for their children, including Arnav.

“Before abi died, abi had sent the same message bang Farid to teach me. Since then Farid has always taught me. He also took care of me circumcision assisted ummi. Ngajarin I pray, njai same other lessons rich fiqih also aqidah.”

“Well why now you stayin?”

“Gue disappointed. As I again unfortunately the same ummi, it turns out ummi also left me. Ummi died of illness. Two years after that Farid moved to Malaysia after the same marriage there. I feel like life is not fair to me.”

Arnav. He who has been with Nick since Junior High did begin to feel the change in his best friend when he rose to ninth grade. Nick who is usually diligent in praying, suddenly looks ogah-ogahan. Even in high school, she had dared to try drinking, following in her footsteps as well as Denis.

“Ya at least you still have provisions yes to ngadepin bokapnya Azizah,” Arnav chuckles.

A woman dressed in formal attire brought Nick a drink. He puts a glass on the table, then pulls the chair next to Nick. Arnav looked lazily at the woman. If Nick hadn't asked him to meet here, maybe he wouldn't have set foot in the cafe where she worked.

“Hai Nick, how are you?” ask the woman.

“Good.”

“Says you've been working at Ambrossia Hill, as long as you.”

“Thanks.”

“Ngapain lo here? Just bother me with Nick, go there,” drive Arnav.

“Regularly, do not need to be firm. I'm here to nyapa Nick doang not want to see elo. Pede crazy lo.”

Nick was upset, if Arnav with the woman named Sevia was met there would always be a debate. While in college Arnav is dating Sevia, but they break up because Arnav gets caught while on a one night stand. Unfortunately the woman invited by the ONS is one of the friends hanging out in Sevia.

Annoyed by Arnav's betrayal, the woman confuses Arnav's behavior on both of her parents. Arnav is punished by the father. All the facilities were revoked, for a year the man could not do his hobby of fun-foya and ONS because he had no money. After graduation, his father returned all his facilities.

“Ok Nick, I go first. I can cry when I see people for a long time. Pull the buluk back here.”

Sevia wakes up from her seat and leaves Nick's desk without looking at Arnav. With a fierce gaze Arnav watched Sevia's back which moved away then disappeared behind the wall.

“Lo why is it still the same as Via?”

“So I have to be so friendly? Fuck.”

“Kan y'all broke up also wrong elo.”

“Emang wrong me, but his mouth was a bucket really use ngadu to my bokap. Forgot how miserable I was for a year because of him.”

“Ya should you be grateful, because she is on hiatus doing maksiatah hahaha.”

“Kunyuk base! Did you accidentally meet here?”

“Emang hahaha.”

Arnav snorted angrily at Nick who was laughing complacently at having pranked him. He grabbed his cell phone, car keys and his zippo from the table. He stood up to leave.

“Gue unplug, noh si buluk already dateng. Beware you, the information I gave you was not free.”

Arnav leaves Nick soon. Along with that a young man with long hair, wearing a t-shirt and jeans bellows approached Nick's table and sat opposite him.

“What do you need?” ask him pleasantries.

Typhoon or commonly called buluk is Nick's college friend. The man didn't finish college because he was exposed to DO. The campus issued it because of its presence which is below 30% during two years of college. Currently the Typhoon only works oddly. He always asked Nick or his friends to do field work.

Nick took the brown envelope Arnav had given him and thrust it into the Typhoon. Typhoon quickly opened it. His eyes widened to see the beautiful face of Azizah in the form of a photo fitting.

“Buset pretty nih chick.”

“Don't macem-macem lo! That's my girl candidate.”

“So I have to do?”

“Lo follow him, find out what his activities are, his hobbies, where he likes to go, who his friends are. Anyway all about him, you should know and report to me. Including about his bokap dia.”

“Lo told me to be a stalker?”

“You don't? A lot of nanya,” annoyed Nick.

“Okeh. As usual, DP..”.

“Gue transfer now.”

Nick took his phone and started transferring some money to his friend. The whistling typhoon saw the nominal that Nick delivered was quite large. He snatched Arnav's glass and gulped it down, then took the brown envelope Nick had given him.

“Gue unplug.”

The cyclone woke up and then left. Nick took a pack of cigarettes out of his pants pocket and slipped a cigarette between his lips. Before long, a puff of smoke filled the air around him.

☘️☘️☘️

A message notification came to his phone when Nick had just finished his shower. The cell phone on the bed. Typhoon sends a message to Nick containing a picture of Azizah being in a bookstore. Then another message came in which contained the location of the place where the girl of his puja was.

Nick quickly got dressed. He combed the origin of his hair that was still wet and then sprayed perfume on his body. Nick took his wallet, cell phone and car keys and rushed out of the room. With quick steps Nick walked out of the hotel through the employee's special door. Several employees who passed by him lowered their heads in a sign of respect.

Nick drives his car at high speed. On Sundays like this, Jakarta's traffic is not as heavy as usual. Nick quickly reached his destination. After parking his vehicle, the man rushed into a famous bookstore building throughout Indonesia and went up to the second floor.

Nick's eyes went around as soon as he reached the floor where Azizah was believed to be. With long steps he walked down the row of shelves. Then his eyes caught the figure he was looking for trying to reach a book that was located high enough. Nick quickly approached.

Iza tiptoed while sticking out her hand, trying to reach the book that was located far above her. Suddenly a hand picked up the book and gave it to him. The girl turned her head and was surprised to see the person who had helped her was Nick.

“This,” Nick thrust his book on Iza.

“Still.”

“Iya.”

“Maybe a soul mate.”

Iza lowered her head, trying to hide the red hue on her face as soon as she heard the man's words. Nick smiled a little, Iza's behavior made him even more anxious.

“It's done or want to go around looking for another book?”

“Udah. I'm waiting for a friend first, we want to discuss the thesis together.”

“I can temenin? Until your friend comes.”

“Hmm.. may if you do not mind.”

“Billah. You are not heavy.”

“What the hell.”

Iza smiled wryly at Nick's crisp chatter but it felt sweet in his ears. He walked towards the cashier's desk to pay for the book he had chosen. Nick rushes out his wallet and precedes Iza to pay for the book. The girl looked at Nick.

“I'm the one who paid. Consider this our introductory gift.”

“Ehem.”

Iza cleared her throat slowly to relieve her nervousness. After paying, the girl still wanted to drive around while waiting for Meta to arrive. This time he went to a bookcase displaying his novel. Nick, walking behind her, picks up the phone and sends a message to Typhoon.

To Buluk :

You know who Iza's friends are often with her?

From Buluk :

You know, his name is Meta.

To Buluk :

How you should prevent Meta to this bookstore. If you can make him cancel the appointment. I'll increase the pay.

From Buluk :

86

Nick put the phone in his pants pocket and then walked closer to Iza who was cool looking at the latest novel. His hand reached for a novel by a foreign writer. From the cover, it appears that the novel is not a romantic genre.

“You like mystery novels huh?”

“Iya. Asik aja, it became mengbawa groove follow-up nebak-nebak. Engg.. ka..mu eh I'd love to call what ya?”

“Call Nick aja.”

“But you are older, do not be polite if you directly call the name.”

“I'm not a complicated person with such seniority. Just call me Nick (call me Nick), be more familiar.”

“Ok, Nick.”

Iza smiled at Nick. For a moment the man froze to see Iza's sweet smile so sweet. Sweetness natural without artificial sweeteners. Nick grabs a new novel with the mystery genre and gives it to Iza. The two talked about the novel, which happened to have been read by Nick.

Meanwhile, Typhoons stood guard near the bookstore. His eyes scanned one by one the people who entered the four-story building. Then he saw a girl wearing a robe and a long hijab walking towards the bookstore. The typhoon threw away its cigarette then walked closer.

The typhoon beckoned to one of his friends who was with him. Quickly the man with the head of plontos approached towards Meta then grabbed the girl's bag and ran as fast as lightning. The shocked Meta fell silent for a moment and then shouted.

“Copet!! Copet!!”

“Where is the copy mba?” ask Typhoon.

“It to there.”

The typhoon immediately ran in pursuit, followed by Meta from behind. The Cyclone friend who took Meta's bag kept running into the alley. He continued to lure Meta away from the location of the bookstore. In a quiet place he took out a Meta wallet and took the money in it. Put the wallet back into the bag then throw it away. The man then went into one of the empty buildings there to hide.

Before long Typhoon and Meta as well as some people who helped catch up to the place where the fake pickpocket was throwing Meta bag. The typhoon picked up a bag that was lying near a pile of bricks and gave it to Meta.

“This is your bag?”

“Iya bang.”

Meta takes the bag from Typhoon's hand. He checked the bag. The phone and wallet are still in it. But Meta's body was limp as soon as he knew all the money in his wallet was gone.

“There is missing?”

“My money in the wallet is gone all.”

“Wadd. How anyway? Want me to drive you home?”

“Hmm.. don't know bang.”

Meta's body is limp, tired of chasing copets, all the money in his wallet is gone. For a moment the girl was unable to think clearly. Suddenly his phone rang. The girl quickly answered her call.

“Assalamu’alaikum.”

“Waalaikumsalam. Met... Where are you?”

“Oh me..” Meta looked around but did not know where he was.

“You're here not?”

“Sorry Zi. I'm out of pickpocketing. I want to go home, sorry.”

“Innalillahi. But you have no fare home?”

“I just take a taxi, then pay it at home aja.”

“Yes, be careful. Assalamu’alaikum.”

“Waalaikumsalam.”

Meta puts the phone in his bag and asks Typhoon to take him to a place where he can get a taxi. The man then guided Meta out of the alley.

🍂🍂🍂

Iza was silent after contacting her friend. Seeing the girl next to him daydreaming, Nick smiled faintly. Looks like Typhoon has managed to prevent Iza's friend from coming here.

“Why?”

“Oh.. ehmm. Said copet.”

“Where to pick?”

“Ngga tau.”

“Continue now how?”

“I actually want to discuss with him about the thesis, but he did not become dateng.”

“What if I help you. You went to communication school, right? Coincidentally I also took communication.”

“Know where?”

“It... from the book you bought earlier.”

“Oh.”

“Where? I guarantee you can be a good guide for you.”

“Ng..

Nick cheered inwardly, not in vain he hired the services of Typhoon if the results are satisfactory like this. He takes Iza to the cafe where Sevia works. In addition to the good food, the place also has a private open space facility at the top. Nick opens the door for Iza and enters through the next door. Before long his four-wheeled vehicle had rolled across the streets of the capital.

🍂🍂🍂

Nick gercep as well. Great approach is full of tricks. Thumbs for Typhoon, there is a sense of the problem.