What a Beautiful Divorce
23. Threats and Offers

"So you were born in Jakarta, Pinaka?"

"Yes, Mas. Have you ever been to Jakarta?" ask Pinaka.

Prapto did not immediately answer because at that time a female waitress came to serve their order.

After thanking the waitress, Prapto turned to Pinaka. "I was born and raised in Jakarta, Pinaka. Just four months ago I was living in the village of Kejora."

Pinaka nodded while scooping his tofu. "Oohs. So, Mas Prapto, a new resident of Kejora village, yes," he said, then bribed.

For a while, they ate without speaking.

"Yes, I'm a new citizen. I know you asked me to meet because I wanted to ask you why Kejora villagers wouldn't sell their crops to your company." After saying that, Prapto bribed his last yummy.

Pinaka who was swallowing food immediately choked on hearing Prapto's no-nonsense words first. Pinaka grabbed the iced tea and drank it quickly while looking at Prapto who was now smiling amusedly looking at him.

"Ti .. no, Mas Prapto," Pinaka replied as he pretended to stir his tofu.

Prapto then put on a serious face while still smiling. He said, "Your eyes can't lie to me, Miss. You must want to dig up information from me. Don't be surprised, you'll be choking again" said Prapto, "I want to ask you something."

Pinaka's face turned a little pale. There was fear and shame in his heart. But, more than both of these feelings, Pinaka felt a sense of awe at the man who dared to talk to her without the carelessness, without being intimidated by her beauty, without being intimidated by her, which he often uses to intimidate men when talking.

"Sorry, Mas Prapto. Can I spend the rest of the time? I could choke again if Mas Prapto asked him now" Pinaka said.

Prapto laughs. "Recycle first! I'm going to go out smoking a little while waiting for you to finish eating, Pinaka," he said.

"No, Mom, just smoke in here! The fan above will make your cigarette smoke not hit me" said Pinaka quickly. But then he regretted saying so, because his words showed how Pinaka did not want Prapto to go even for a moment.

'Shit! Why am I being such a fool?' pinaka said in his heart.

Prapto lit his cigarette. While waiting for Pinaka to finish eating, he thought about his conversation with Mr. Oscar before leaving for Keladi city earlier.

***

After giving the keys to his motorcycle to Prapto, Nimo first advised his best friend to meet Mr. Oscar.

"I suggest you go to Mr. Oscar's house first before you go to Keladi, boss."

"What's wrong with Mr. Oscar, Nimo?"

"It's okay, boss. But the boss will meet a beautiful woman. Mr. Village Chief can give you a little suggestion, so that Pinaka who might have been interested in you is becoming more interested."

"There are you, Nimo," said Prapto while wearing a headgear commonly called a helmet.

"Boss, I'm serious."

Nimo looked at his boss with a look that showed no joke at all. Prapto immediately understood that his best friend was not joking. He knows Nimo well. Then he said, "Well, Nimo. I'm going to Mr. Oscar's house first. Thanks for your advice. I'll buy you a cigarette."

Arriving at Mr. Oscar's house, Prapto who was shy to ask for advice was not necessarily difficult to string words, because the wise Mr. Oscar was immediately understood by Prapto's intentions, Prapto, when he noticed Prapto was wearing dark jeans and a shirt.

"Don't be silly, Nak Prapto!" said Mr. Oscar, "Don't accuse me so immediately! What if it turns out Pinaka is only paid to refuse your crops? She was wrong, but now she's not your girlfriend or your wife, unless Pinaka is your girlfriend or your wife, and she does, and then you have to kick her.

"Indeed, Pinaka is wrong if he wants to be paid to cheat. But, if you're interested in her and you can make her interested in you, respect you, and then love you, then she'll be a good woman for you. She'll be a real woman. Wh why? Because he doesn't want you to hate him and dump him" Mr. Oscar said.

"But, she seems to be a feminist, Mr. Village Chief," Prapto said.

Mr. Oscar again raised his hand which was holding the pipe.

"If you like a woman, even though she's a feminist who's been a feminist for fifty years, you can make her a real woman, Nak Prapto. Because of her love for you, she will become a real woman and the feminist indication within her will disappear altogether.

"If she's in love with you, she'll do what makes you comfortable with her. She'll learn to cook for you, she'll be considerate, she'll be loving to you, and so on. And more importantly, he's happy to do the things that make you comfortable.

Prapto nodded with an excited face. "Please teach me, sir, how to get the woman I'm approaching to be interested and respectful to me, and then to love me" she asked.

Mr. Oscar smiled. "This way. You ..."

***

"Mas! Papto!"

The words of Mr. Oscar who was being imagined by Prapto stopped because of the voice of Pinaka who called him.

"Yes, Pinaka?"

"My food is over, Mom. Thank you for waiting. Let's talk again!"

Prapto. "I won't tell you why the Kejora villagers won't sell you the crops. Even if I say, my words will have no effect. The Kejora villagers will not change their stance even if offered a price increase, even by car.

"I know, Pinaka, my garden contains no chemicals, why do you say my garden contains chemicals?"

The beautiful and intelligent Pinaka is out of her mind. He seemed confused thinking of an answer. He felt that the man named Prapto would not be able to be invited to compromise or be persuaded by money, as Pinaka's previous plan.

Pinaka surrender. He had not even made an offer but Prapto seemed to know what he was planning. The feeling of interest and respect for Prapto that grew in Pinaka's heart made the girl deep, 'Fuck with Tristan. Fuck the money.'

"Sorry, Mas Prapto. I ..."

Pinaka then smoothly recounts that he was paid by Tristan to refuse the results of Prapto's planting. Pinaka also honestly said that he did not know why Tristan asked him to refuse the results of the plantation.

Pinaka again regretted his words. He said in his heart, 'Duh, what am I to be such a fool? Ouch, Pinaka!'

Prapto. He then lit another cigarette and smiled at Pinaka.

Pinaka blushed as Prapto's smile looked even sweeter to him. Pinaka's heart is pounding. He then lowered his head.

“I understand, Pinaka, and it's according to my guess,” said Prapto, “now, I have a threat and an offer for you.”