Waiting For Life's
CHAPTRE 18
It has been 3 days, now that Meli's fourth day is in Papua, she has done a lot during her time there. Meli and her other volunteers often provide counseling to residents who are in refugee camps both to reduce the many mosquitoes that cause malaria, what to do and how.
In addition to counseling and activities that usually volunteers do, Meli also hang out with the surrounding community especially
children who are still in school. Meli was close enough to the children there, Meli often taught the children to grow crops, make crafts and other useful and fun activities.
Ray has also spent much of his day mingling with local residents during babysitting in the area around the refugee camp. Ray is also close to children who are in refugee camps.
Sometimes Ray and his colleagues play together with the children who are there, playing but also educating. Ray always spread his smile that looks sincere and happy when together with the surrounding residents.
Ray's smile that can make Meli always fixated on enjoying Ray's beautiful smile, a smile that Ray rarely looks at anyone including Meli. Meli always felt like she knew Ray.
In recent weeks, Meli often had strange dreams, in her dreams she was always happy and calm beside someone who had the exact same posture as Ray. in his dreams even Meli always cooks food for men who are similar to Ray.
What Meli dreamed of was exactly the same as her and Ray's togetherness when Meli fell into a coma. Meli dreamed without seeing the face of the man, even until now Meli still dreamed the same thing every night.
Whenever he saw Ray, he would always remember the man in his dreams, but Meli did not want to
guessing if Ray was the one who was in his dream. Meli cannot lie to her heart she feels if she has fallen in love with Ray the person she just knew a few days ago.
“Now Liben, try to make a crane that has been made earlier”ucap Ray handed a sheet of origami paper in light blue color on a boy named Liben who at that time hit Meli accidentally.
“Sa don't know how to make this”Liben return origami paper given by Ray.
Ray took the origami paper back and handed it back to Liben.
A confused Liben accepts Ray's gift again, scratching his head.
“Now, Liben follow sa make his stork”Ray give a tutorial on Liben slowly then Liben followed step by step taught by Ray.
After his artificial stork so, Liben smiled happily he even stood up and jumped slowly to express his happiness because managed to make a stork from origami paper. “Yeaaay, thanks e kaka Ray”Liben then hugged Ray.
Meli smiled as she watched that, before long Meli got up from her seat and immediately picked up some cooking ingredients that she needed. Meli thought of making snacks for children who were making art with origami paper.
“Kaka, mo sa help us?”Maruna offers her help to Meli who is busy cleaning vegetables.
“Oh, may Maruna, please wash all these ingredients yes”Meli pointed to the material that is beside her.
“Good kaka”Maruna immediately rushed to wash all vegetables and some fruits that were on his side, while Meli made dough to make cakes.
“Kaka, aloe vera what do you do?”tanya Maruna lifted a medium-sized basin containing aloe vera.
“That, bring here please Maruna”
Maruna carried a basin containing aloe vera in front of Meli. “This kaka”ucap his serya sitting next to Meli.
“This separated the skin and its flesh”Meli split aloe vera into two then separate the aloe vera skin with its slimy white flesh.
“Oh like that, sa mo try”
Meli handed the knife and aloe vera to Maruna, Maruna received it happily. Maruna is known to love cooking and seems to have an interest in cooking. Maruna slowly began to separate the skin of aloe vera with her flesh neatly.
*****
“This is his snack”ucap Meli approached Ray and children who are still making art either with origami paper or drawing.
Meli put a tray containing steamed sponge cake, before long Maruna came carrying a tray containing donuts. Meli and Maruna put the sponge plate and tray next to Ray which is empty and safe. All the eyes of the children and Ray stared towards the food brought by Meli and Maruna with a happy smile.
“What is kaka?”liben asked with his bright happy smile.
“This spinach sponge, this carrot doughnut and this spinach donut”Meli introduces all the names of the food he just made with Maruna while pointing to the food mentioned.
“So take a drink first e”Maruna go pick up a drink that is still in the kitchen.
“Kaya dejavu ya”batin Ray who remembered when Meli introduced a variety of cakes and her vegetable sponge on her. Meli looked at Ray who was speechless staring at Meli expressionlessly. “Ka, ka Ray”Meli tries to resuscitate Ray who looks dreamy looking at him. “Ka Ray”Meli patting slowly Ray's shoulder.
“E..eh yes why?”her question was shocked with a pat on her shoulder.
“Ngga, ka Ray why, ko bengong gitu”
“Gapapa Mel, I'm good ko”ansi Ray smiled to Meli with a wide.
“Ka. Kaka should smile more”tukas Meli by raising both ends of her lips to make a smile.
“Why?”
“Kalo ka Ray many smiles and more expressive, ka Ray handsome, cool so” replied Meli who was not aware of him saying, she just focused on Ray who looks happy. “Eh, mom, mean
i,”
“Iya I will be more expressive again like that time”Ray recalled when Meli told her to be more expressive and smile a lot. Ray looked at Meli still with a smile, while Meli threw her face to the children who were eating the cake made by herself and Maruna.
“Where?, good to?”Meli asked while smiling to see the children eating her voraciously.
All the children gave their thumbs up to Meli while smiling happily. Meli feels the same happiness as the children, he feels happy to make them smile without burden and without fear even though there is still a lot of terror carried out by the rebels.
“Alhamdulillah if you like"
“Then this his drink”Maruna came carrying a tray with several cups and a large teapot containing fresh ice drinks.
“What is it?”ask one of the children.
“This fresh drink once” Replied Meli with a friendly smile, “This apple and orange juice mixed with aloe vera meat”soff Meli while pouring the drink into the existing glass.
Maruna also helped Meli to give glasses to each child. “Kaka, this one's got Ray's
to?”Maruni lifted a cup and was replied by a nod by Meli. “This is Ray” kaka drink
Ray watched the contents inside the cup carefully. “Oooh, coffee lidbuy”ucap Ray smile remember the thing that was made by Meli.
“Ka Ray, know this coffee its name lidbuy from where?”asked Meli who was confused, because after her who named it like that only herself and who knew was the closest person she had ever made.
“Oh, mmm. This I know from,”Ray confused to answer what.
Meli smiled, “Udah gapapa drink aja, maybe it just so happens that kaka nebak kept his answer the same”Meli took a piece of spinach sponge, a spinach donut and carrots and gave it to Ray.
Meli's smile faded when she saw the ring attached to the ring finger of her left hand. “Ka Ray, are you engaged?”ask Meli in my heart. Meli felt a strange thing in her, her heart felt claustrophobic.
“Meli, you ga papa?”asked Ray who was worried to see Meli speechless while holding her chest like a person who was short of breath.
Meli shook her head slowly and then went to one of the hills near the refuge. Actually, there are some volunteers who have returned home this morning after dawn, because indeed volunteers from the Kusuma company have a certain time limit.
Meli sat on a large rock on the hill. He still rubs his chest slowly which still feels tight. Unconsciously Meli shed tears from both eyes, “This cave why the hell, anyway, what is the relationship of the same cave ka Ray sampe cave so much yes try”ucap Meli monolog while looking at the beautiful and green scenery.
“What cave really falls in love with Ray?”. “New cave just know the same ka Ray, time yes already in love aja, ga clearly so”this time Meli hit his chest slowly that still feels tight.
“Astagfirullah O Allah, please calm the heart of your servant this”Meli pleads to the creator to eliminate the tightness in his chest.
After the tightness disappeared, then Meli again looked at the scenery under the hill that looked very green. Meli admires what is in Papua, in Papua there are so many beauties that deserve to be cared for and cared for as well as possible.
Meli recalled her dream when she was happy with a man who had a postru similar to Ray. Meli chose to close her eyes for a while before she opened her two eyes in shock. “Ka Ray!”pekik Meli was shocked when she saw her laughing with Ray in a park.
Meli got up from her sitting and tried to try to brush off what she had seen while closing her eyes. He tried to regulate his breathing to further relieve his heart. After feeling calm, Meli decided to return to the refugee camp.
But his steps came to a halt when he saw Ray who was suddenly already behind him right. “Ka, by Ray!”meli Keget and confused.
“You ain't papa?”asked Ray who was worried, the worry was visible from the look on his face.
Meli smiled then nodded, “Iya, I gapapa, just want to find air soon”, Meli replied lying to Ray.
“This is cool and the scenery is also good, I sometimes like healing here”Ray step forward to the front of the hill end to see the scenery presented.
Pay attention to Ray, “Healing?”
“Iya, if you say today's children are like, right cape work or school should healing” replied Ray smilingly staring at Meli.
“Iya sih”
“Soldiers also need healing after a day in duty”
Meli looked at Ray who was still smiling. “It is, the army is also a human ka, need a new name refreshing so soon”Meli also returned Ray's smile.
“Yesterday,”Ray stop for a moment, “That chat with you, the time of his wedding party mas Fad who?”asked Ray who was curious about Dion's old friend Meli as well as the person who first expressed his love for Meli.
“Who?”Meli tried to remember with anyone she chatted while at the wedding mas Fad. “Oh, Dion?”guess Meli and immediately embraced by Ray.
“That's my name is Dion, he's the first person to express his love the same I”Meli considering the time Dion expressed his love in front of a lot of people.
“Oh, is he your girlfriend?”
Meli shook her head, “No, she was never my girlfriend”, Meli smiled.
“Loh, he shot you yet?”
“Yes, but I don't have any feelings for him, I also feel uncomfortable and used to Dion at that time.
Ray nodded his head in understanding with Meli's explanation. “Oh yes, I was curious, how many are you ex?”ray's question made Meli laugh slowly while walking towards Ray's left side.
“I never had an ex, I was afraid to be in a relationship with men” Meli replied staring straight.
“Why fear?”
“Karna mamah I used to be betrayed by papah, until mamah so sick and died”Meli tried to hold back tears that want to come out again after stopping a few minutes.
Ray who saw that was immediately rubbed gently on Meli's shoulder while smiling sweetly. “But ga all men are just as rich papah you are Mel”. “Although not many men are loyal to their partners, but I am sure it is one or two mah”Ray trying to give enlightenment to Meli.
Meli smiles at Ray's words, Meli relaxes the calmness and relief as Ray speaks and gently rubs his shoulders. “Still yes ka”
Ray smiled and nodded in response. Ray and Meli see the beauty from the top of the hill together, sometimes they tell stories about each other's lives.
*****
"Ngopi bang"Sahat gave coffee to Mas Fas and also Rafli who was sitting talking and joking together.
Mas Fad smiled happily, "Wiiih, thanks Hat" said Fad sipping a little of his coffee is still hot.
"Thank you for the coffee" Rafli said, putting the coffee cup on the long table in front of him.
"You why the Hat, from earlier I was like her I was so blind to her face?"mas Fad was astonished to see the usual cheery face of Sahat now just speechless.
Evil shook his head, "Mas, I want to love you this"Sahat pulled out a few key chains engraved with a piece of writing. "This is for Fad mas, this is for Rafli, this is for Ray bang, this is for Meli, this is for Rani,"Sahat mentioned the name of the person who wanted to be given the hangers engraved with the names of each person.
Evil smiled, "Yeah, I love to carve mas, so I was thinking of carving a name on a keychain as a memento"the answer given by Sahat made Mas Fad turn to look at Sahat confused while Rafli did not so nibble his coffee.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, no one knows when we die"
"Bang, don't talk rich that's how it is"Rafli refuted Evil's words.
"Let's not say that Hat, we'll be safe"
"Kalo-kalo for example I died mas, Fli, it could be a memento of "Sahat tersemu while pointing towards the key chain held by Fad and Rafli.
"Yes, but I'm sure we'll go home together safe and sound, you have to be sure of that" Fad patted Sahat's shoulder and only in a nod and a big smile from the Evil One.
*****
Day 6 Meli volunteered in Papua. “Woii, diem-diem bae”Meli touched the shoulder of Gia who was sitting staring at the front of her which is a tree. “Why the hell?”.
Gia looked at Meli and smiled thinly, “Ga exciting yes kaga no dony” replied Gia who sdih because Dony had come home from yesterday.
Meli smiled, “Cieee, Gia kangen the same Dony, cie cie”Meli mocked Gia who looks sad and misses Dony's presence. “Gi, don't-don't you ama Dony dating again”
“Apaan sih Mel, yes ngga”
“Eyyy, yes also gapapa ko Gi, grotto ngedukah”ujar Meli smiled nudging Gia's shoulder which only blushed because of Meli's temptation.
“Eh Mel, it's not her doctor Karin ya”Gia pointed towards Karin who was walking to the refugee camp.
“Iya the doctor Karin”Meli nods her head looking at Doctor Meli.
“He wants nyamperin who?”asked the curious Gia.
“Ka Ray”gumam Meli when she saw Ray come out of one of the tents in the shelter and bring a bag of luggage Karin.
Meli held back the tightness again and again coming, Meli was not happy to see Ray behave like that to Karin. “What is his fiancee ka Ray, doctor Karin?”muttered Meli was still stroking her chest slowly.
“Lu canoe Mel?”asked Gia who started to panic when she saw Meli megelus chest.
Meli shook her head, “Ngga, ga papa Gi”Meli cave dodged with a smile.
“Meli?”Karin stood right in front of Meli with a friendly smile.
“Iya dok” replied Meli who looked at Karin and Ray who were beside Karin with a friendly smile as well.
“You're here?”ask Karin who is now sitting next to Gia.
“Iya doc, I became a volunteer from the papah” office, Meli replied still with her smile.
“Ohya, this is an invitation for you, we meet here so I love you directly You”Karin gave an invitation to Meli.
Meli took the invitation given by Karin with a bland smile, she grasped the adornment while holding back the tightness that re-appeared on her chest while reading the names of the two brides who were about to get married.
“Ohya, I've seen the news, turns out your stepmother is evil so you have the heart to kill you and fake your accident” Karin's speech makes Meli shocked because she does not know if the accident is the work of Lani, her stepmother.
“So. It was mama Lani”batin Meli who then woke up from her seat and passed away without a word.
*****
Meli had been walking for more than twenty minutes long, she was walking without a clear direction, she was just following her feet wanting to step where. Meli felt shocked and shocked when she heard two things that she did not expect.
First, Karin is Ray's fiancee who is about to get married.
Second, it was Lani who had sabotaged her accident and tried to kill her. Meli had opened her cellphone to read the news she was trying to get a difficult signal there. But somewhere he managed to get a signal and sure enough what Karin said, Lani was arrested upon arrival at the airport.
It was very unexpected that Lani would go so far as to act like that. Meli did not like Lani long ago but she always remembered her mama's words to not have prejudices hunt to other people.
The world revolves just as fate and a heart that can revolve according to what God wants, that is the message that always mamah his love for Meli. There are things that make her chest tightness, when she finds out Ray is already engaged to Karin and will soon be married to Karin.
Meli opens the invitation and looks at the photo when Ray and Karin do a procession of fiancee. Meli sat on the thick grass with an invitation that she squeezed firmly. His tears could not be endured anymore.
“Ka Ray, I like the same ka Ray, I love the same ka Ray and I'm comfortable the same ka Ray”ucap Meli a little yell in a place that is indeed quiet. “Hah”Meli was shocked when he saw 3 people emerging from the thicket close to where Meli was sitting with each one carrying a weapon.
“Follow us guys”all men with big bodies carry guns.
The frightened Meli just according to what the three men ordered by continuing to ask for the protection of the power. Meli was brought to a place she did not know. “Liben!”pekik Meli was shocked to see Liben being held captive in a small and dark room.
Liben cried but could not make a sound because his mouth was covered by duct tape. Meli was told to sit and then tied his hands and feet and his mouth was also in duct tape the same as Liben.
*****
“Pak, pa”a middle-aged man ran towards the TNI-Polri guard post with sweat pouring out and a panicked face.
“What's up?”ask a soldier who is on guard.
“So we saw a woman enter the area prone”ucap the middle-aged man.
“Whose woman?”
“Sa don't know, but she's beautiful, she's a woman who likes to cook” replied the middle-aged man.
The guard immediately reported his limitations if there was a woman who entered the rebel-prone area. It just so happened that Fad who received the message immediately coordinated with the others.
“Why mas?”ask Ray who just arrived.
“There are women who enter vulnerable areas Ray”ansi mas Fad panic.
Ray who heard it immediately reflected Meli in his mind. Ray immediately searched for Meli all over the place
displaced, Ray did not pay attention to the questions that Karin asked many times, he just focused on looking for Meli with panic and anxiety.
“Meli ga no mas”Ray report to Mas Fad, mas Fad who heard it was shocked and formed a team of 4 people including Ray to look for Meli carefully.
Ray, Sahat, Bima and Kuncoro immediately set out to find Meli after all the equipment needed is fulfilled. Ray leads his way of surgery, Ray and his partner are always on guard when stepping on his feet.
*****
meli tried to untie the rope in her hand by all means. Meli looked at Liben who was still crying in fear. Meli tries to untie Liber with both hands still tied.
Meli found it difficult because the bond made by the rebels was very complicated. “Yes Allah help your servant this”Meli pray in heart. Shortly after Meli prayed, she was finally able to untie the rope in Liben's hands.
Now, Liben is trying to open Meli's rope with objects around her. After a long time Liben tried his hardest finally the rope bond in Meli's hand was released but had not had time to untie the rope in the legs, two rebels entered the room.
“What are you doing?”ask a rebel angrily.
Meli and Liben shake their heads and pretend their hands are still tied. The rebels did not realize that the rope in Meli and Liben's hands was open. Meli kept praying that she and Liben would be safe.
*****
Ray and his colleagues are still walking slowly and quietly, nothing is released by Ray and his colleagues. They are always alert and alert to their surroundings.
Ray found some people standing around the stage house behind him. Ray told his comrades to get down and watch each movement with full alert.
“Bang, like his Meli was inside the house that”ucap Sahat who felt that Meli was held captive inside the house surrounded by many armed rebels.
Ray tried to observe for a while then nodded approvingly to what the Evil One said. “I think so too Hat, now you try to check to the back of the building ya”Ray ordered
It's bad to move.
Evil also accepts what Ray commands with full responsibility. Evil began to walk in a down position and continued to be vigilant around him. Evil seeing that there were two people behind the house, he thought about how to distract the two people.
“Bang, from the back door I saw there was Meli and Liben inside the house was being held”ucap Evil from his talkie-walkie, “I will distract them, I will divert their attention, brother and others directly take the position”sambung Sahat.
Ray who heard the words of Evil immediately responded, “Don't own Hat, the danger they all held weapons”Ray forbid what Evil wants to do.
But Sahat could not stand when he saw Meli and Liben being tortured by being slapped, even Meli's hair was grabbed by one of the rebels, Liben who was 6 years old was hit with a rattan. Only Satan saw that and he could not bear to let Meli and Liben continue in pain.
Evil decided to lure them to folus on his self. Sahat lay down to a place that could distract all the rebels from focusing.
“Kun, try your samperin Sahat, I fear he reckless”Ray told Kuncoro to follow Sahat to the backyard of the house.
Meli and Liben who were getting weaker due to torture from the rebels could only be silent, then Meli regained her spirit when she found out the guards who were around the house were gone, there was only one person standing guard that was in the front yard of the house.
Meli again tried to untie the rope in her legs and also Liben who was already weak. After all the ropes and duct tape were removed, Meli directly carried the increasingly weak Liben slowly walking out of the house through the back door.
“Hhah”Meli fell when he saw Kuncoro who suddenly came out of the bush behind the house.
“Meli, Liben”pekik Kuncoro approached Meli and also Liben who was still sitting limp on the side of the house.
“Duarr”platuk released by Kuncoro and about a rebel who knew it.
Ray and Bima immediately ambushed the rebels, they tied him up tight. “Meli!”yell at the sight of Meli who is very weak there are wounds on some of her body due to her torture.
“Bang Ray, let's go they're all heading home that”ucap Sahat with a slow and weak tone.
“Kun, sling Liben let's go up now”Ray points up the hill.
Kuncoro nodded and immediately carried Liben. Bima was behind Kuncoro keeping an eye on all around him. Ray memapah Meli slowly walked back to the evacuation, Ray's mind was anxious with the state of Meli and also Evil who was out of nowhere.
“Duarrr”, Duarr”, “Duaaar”three consecutive shots approached Meli and Ray who were walking. With Ray and Meli swiftly lay down while continuing to try to get away from the place.
After it felt safe enough, Meli and Ray woke up and walked slowly away more ignorant than that place, but
“Duaaar”one shot that the rebels released with Meli who was targeted.
But the action was failed by Ray who immediately hugged Meli tightly. Meli cries in fear in Ray's arms. Ray gently stroked Meli's fragrant hair making Ray comfortable.
Shortly after, several other members of the force came to help Ray and Meli, shooting at each other. After a long time, the rebels finally went away. Ray lifts Meli's body to bring her back to the refugee camp so that Meli is treated quickly.
“Mas, mas ken,”Rafli's speech was truncated when Ray hinted to Rafli silent not to open the sound.
*****
“Mak, Sahat unfortunately same time mamak and father, same Bonar also dear mak”ucap Sahat who has been drowned due to gunshot wounds and some arrow bows that stuck on his body.
Sahat still has the energy to take the cellphone that he deliberately brought. “Mak tell Bonar, so that he's the right school does not play around so that he can be an officer as he wants, Sahat will always pray his mak”
Evil endured the pain of his bullet shots and also the arrows carried by the rebels when he tried to distract him to free Meli and Liben. “Mak, pa, forgive Sahat so far not according to the words of mamak and father, sorry mak, sorry pak”Sahat stopped the voicemail, after sending her he felt already weak sangar, sorry mak, his eyes felt heavy wanting to close. Evil closed his eyes with a sitting position leaning on the large rocks in the jungle.
*****