TINI SUKETI
11. Self Proof

That night Tini could no longer peek the contents of the envelope. He was already upset with Maisaroh. With all her courage, Tini took the ojek to return to the chicken coop costs. He held his bag tightly in front of his chest. Worried about being robbed or begal whose news is rife.

“Chicken coop dwellers, yes?” The voice of a man sitting on his motorbike, was heard greeting as Tini crossed the entrance of the alley.

Of course Tini didn't answer that. He felt it wasn't important. Wherever he lives it doesn't matter. Those guys are just idle motorists. What does this have to do with chicken coop?

After paying for the taxi he was riding earlier, Tini hurriedly pulled out the key from her bag. Then he opened the door to the room. Almost all the lights on the terrace were turned off. All residents want to save electricity. The only illumination in the boarding yard was just an inadequate bright white light.

As if afraid that his room was suddenly broken into by a stranger, Tini quickly locked it. He threw the body on a thin mattress covered by a built-in sheet he got from a closet in the corner of the room.

Tini instantly unzipped her bag and reached inside. With a curious look he took out the brown envelope that he had obtained from the results of reaching into Mr. Alie's pocket.

With her heart pounding Tini began to open the envelope. His hand groped inwardly and pulled out a wad of money with the distinctive scent of new money. The usual money he can smell every one of the dates. That's in twenty thousand.

Tini's eyes were stunned for a while as she stared at the bundle of money that was in her grasp. Deftly he opened the money binders, then began to count.

“Wah, five million. I have varicose veins standing in the factory for five months to get this kind of money. It turns out Pak Alie's bird, although the kisut is expensive.”

Tini gulped and then put the money back in. In his mind, he put Mr. Alie at the top of his priorities, as a person he can focus on making money in the city. As long as Mr. Alie doesn't ask him to open his pants, it looks like listening to the man tell a story won't bring harm. Tini has made her resolve.

It's been two months Tini's been at the chicken coop boarding. Not much work. He only came to karaoke when Mr. Alie asked him to come. He decided to exclusive himself at the hotel's entertainment center. And during those two months, he had fought four times with Maisaroh.

First, the woman still harasses Tini with orders to stay away from Mr. Alie.

“You don't have to go in anymore. Bener-bener did not appreciate senior,” Sergah Maisaroh at that time.

“What are you? His wife? His kid? Really hold the bird Mr Alie? Let me help you say.”

Maisaroh and Tini were broken by Mr. Binsar who was kneeling his forehead.

Then, the second time, Maisaroh accidentally hit Tini in the bathroom. The woman drops her lipstick and says that her lipstick is broken because of Tini. He asked Tini to replace it.

“You change this! You are, right, rich! Got from Mr. Alie too must be a lot. Very ticklish! Treat the old kids. Even eat alone,” hardik Maisaroh.

“Change your lipstick? Yeah, emoh! You're looking for it because of it, really. Now plus I have to treat the old kid. The work of bird sniffing also want to be taxed? Your life is not too restless about the situation of others. Keep agitated you!” Tini answered Maisaroh's words casually. The more days his ability to serve the words of people the more honed because of Maisaroh.

For the third and fourth time it was almost the same. Maisaroh is concerned with the little things. From starting Tini who does not want to serve other guests, to Tini who is considered not to follow the working hours of other lady escorts.

Sultry about it, Tini approached Maisaroh while they were dressing up in the karaoke bathroom.

“Mbak Saroh,” call Tini. “I am indeed a village person. Dateng from a village far from the frenetic city. Definitely Mbak Saroh kayak that too was once. Before Madam Saroh became a senior, he must have been a junior. I should have to, nih, Sister Saroh that I can appreciate as an elder here. Is it hard to appreciate others? Not to me difficult. I can appreciate people, really. But, it's not the guy who's acting like a mama gini. Mr. Alie it—maunya me who ceemenin. If he calls me, he asks me to come, yes, I'm coming. If I can't, he won't come. Mr. Binsar knows too. So, what's the problem for Mama? My income? Mama want to take some? Lah, Ma'am who? The government simply does not charge taxes for those whose work melonte.”

Since then, Maisaroh prefers to be quiet in each room with Tini. That woman doesn't talk much anymore. Although, his face was still cynical. Sometimes grunting, pretending as if he would spit into Lanta, if Tini passed in front of him.

The behavior of Maisaroh is really like a woman who envies seeing her neighbors buy the latest furniture or vehicles.

In the third month Tini worked as a lady escort, one night he rushed to come because Mr. Alie called him. Should have been that day, he didn't come in but Mr. Alie was already a priority. The man didn't give money to every meeting. Tini began to study the attitude and nature of Mr. Alie. The man sometimes just sits because he wants to be accompanied to talk. For that service, sometimes Mr. Alie gives him money, and sometimes not. But for the bird swiping service, Mr. Alie still gave Tini the service money. Amount varies. Depends on duration of the swab.

Once a week Mr. Alie did not ask Tini to wipe the bird. This makes Tini nervous because he has sent most of his money to Evi to apply for college. As for suddenly offering to wipe away the bird, Tini considered impossible.

Tini studied the attitude of Mr. Alie who did not want to be billed. The man will be more royal to give money, when Tini does not ask for it. And logically, again Tini justifies the man's attitude. Any human would be more upset when charged. Who initially want to give, may turn upset and undo the intention because it seems forced.

Tini arrived at the side door of the hotel and just paid for her taxi. As he hurried up the stairs, his tail caught a ten-year-old boy sitting on the bottom step of the stairs. With trousers and a very simple t-shirt, the boy looks uneasy biting his fingernails.

Intrigued by what the boy was doing, Tini paused for a moment and turned her steps.

“Dik, it's night. It's almost nine o'clock. What are you doing here? Wait who?” ask Tini. He looked at the boy carefully, from top to bottom.

“I'm not feeling well anymore, I want to eat fried rice. I have money with my mom, but I don't want to eat alone. I want to be with mom. So, I wait for mom to come home, Ma'am,” replied the boy.

“Your mother works inside? In what part? Her name?” Tini was really curious and momentarily forgot about Mr. Alie who was waiting for her.

“Ibook his name is Maisaroh. My mom said she worked in the restaurant. Which brings food. He said he could get out soon. So, I have to wait here.” The boy clasped his hands hugging his knees.

To Be Continued