What a Beautiful Divorce
28. Advice from Mr. Oscar

And at dusk the weather was still raining. Mr. Oscar, who had been told by Prapto in a short message, immediately brought three cups of coffee that had been made by Bu Inari to his terrace table, when he saw Nimo came with a purple umbrella with a flower pattern, which was a flower, then followed by Prapto who wore a green raincoat.

"Drink first, Nak Prapto, Nak Nimo! Give up your cigarettes first!" said Mr. Oscar.

Nimo sat down first. After hanging his raincoat on Mr. Oscar's porch pole, Prapto then sat down. The three of them both sipped coffee and then lit a cigarette.

"What news, Nak Prapto?" ask Mr. Oscar after exhaling the smoke.

"Pak Gumiro said that his capital loan at a private bank, which had been approved, was suddenly canceled by the bank, Mr. Oscar," said Prapto.

Mr. Oscar and Nimo frowned.

"Why didn't Mr Gumiro try to borrow from another bank, boss?" ask Nimo.

"Timo's father's company is not a big company, Nimo. So, other banks are not willing to lend as much capital as Mr. Gumiro needs to cooperate with Kejora village.

"The bank also wants to lend capital to Mr. Gumiro because he is guaranteed by his friend who has a fairly high position in the bank" explained Prapto. He then sipped his coffee.

Nimo and Mr. Oscar nodded.

"There must be something going on, so that the approved capital loan was canceled suddenly. This could have something to do with the Flying Horse Corporation, Nak Prapto, Nak Nimo. So, it is not impossible that the CEO of Cuek has done something on the loan model Pak Gumiro initially approved," responded Mr. Oscar.

"Aretul, Boss," said Nimo, "who is your friend who has business cooperation with the Flying Horse Corporation, Boss? Even better if your friend often has meetings with Tristan. I suspect that it was Tristan, who in some way has played a big role in Pak Gumiro's capital loan cancellation."

Prapto was stunned for quite a while. Oscar looked at Nimo with a gesture of asking. Nimo shrugged her shoulders. They waited for Prapto to speak.

"My father," said Prapto lirih, "my father had business cooperation with Tristan and his father."

Oscar looked back at Nimo. They now understood why Prapto had been stunned for so long. Prapto's relationship with his parents, which had long been strained, was not good after he divorced Silvi, because his mother and father said they did not want to consider Prapto as their son again.

Mr. Oscar is no less wise with Mr. Dwipangga. He could understand what was raging in Prapto's heart right now. But Mr. Oscar would not ask if Prapto did not discuss it. Mr. Oscar would also not advise if Prapto did not ask him for advice. Nimo understands too. They sipped coffee and waited for Prapto.

"I miss them so much, Mr. Oscar, Nimo. But as I told you, Dad and Mom don't think of me as their son anymore" Prapto said, "I asked for your advice, Mr. Oscar."

Mr. Oscar breathed out his hornbill smoke. The Kejora village chief stared at Prapto for a moment. He said, "Often the old man will not lower their arrogance, Nak Prapto. They actually know they are wrong, but they feel ashamed to apologize to their children.

"But, however, in my opinion, Nak Prapto's problem with your parents is not a problem that should make Nak Prapto not visit them. Nak Prapto doesn't have to apologize to them, because you're not wrong.

"Just go to Nak Prapto's mom and dad and ask them about it. I think once you do, they'll either apologize to you, or they'll act as a sign that they're apologizing" Oscar said.

Prapto. "Thank you for the advice, Mr. Oscar. I'll go with Pinaka, sir, Nimo. Because I think he'll have an idea to beat up the CEO of Cuek, if indeed Tristan and the Flying Horse have a role in the refusal of Mr. Gumiro's capital loan."

"I agree with Nimo, Nak Prapto. Bring Pinaka! You're wearing my car tomorrow, but don't forget to check the fuel before you get home from Jakarta" Mr. Oscar laughed. Prapto and Nimo laughed.

"Thank you, Mr. Oscar. If tomorrow morning does not rain, I use Pinaka motorbike only," replied Prapto, "so as not to go home too late if Jakarta is jammed."

***

At night, before going to bed, Prapto called Pinaka. His first call did not get an answer, because Pinaka was boiling cassava given by Bu Intan, complete with a piece of paper that says how to boil cassava.

After a while, just as Pinaka was about to check his phone for ringing, Prapto's second call came in.

"Hello, Mas, Prapto. I didn't have time to pick up your phone because I was boiling cassava in the kitchen, my phone in the room" Pinaka said.

"You can cook, Pinaka?" ask Prapto.

Pinaka was silent for a moment. In the book she read, which was recommended by Bu Intan, a book that is contrary to the feminist understanding that so far Pinaka anut, a real woman must be good at cooking, at least cooking staple food. If you can't cook, you have to learn.

Pinaka wanted to say that he could cook for Prapto to impress, but he immediately shook his head quickly. He did not want to lie to Prapto who had drawn his heart. His respect for Prapto made Pinaka not want to get praise from Prapto by lying.

"Pinaka," call Prapto who thinks Pinaka's voice is not heard because the mobile phone network has a problem.

"No, Mas. Madam Intan gave me cassava. I asked how to boil it, and then Ms. Intan wrote on a piece of paper about how to boil cassava," Pinaka replied.

Prapto smiled meaningfully. "It's good that you're familiar with the village mothers of Kejora, Pinaka. Later you will also know women your age, so you will feel at home living in this village. I'm glad you want to learn to cook, Pinaka," Prapto said.

'Why is Mas Prapto glad I want to learn to cook?' ask Pinaka in my heart.

Pinaka did not answer his own question, but there was a happy feeling in his heart when he heard Prapto say that he was glad Pinaka learned to cook.

"Pinaka, can you come to Jakarta with me tomorrow? I need to meet the company leader who will hold business cooperation with Kejora village. I've asked Nimo for help to replace you in the library."

Prapto then explained what he would talk about with Mr Gumiro and also about the possibility that Tristan had a role in the cancellation of the capital loan.

"If you want to stop by your house, we can go there before returning to the village of Kejora" continued Prapto.

Pinaka was silent for a moment to think. Then he said, "I can, Mom. Don't stop by my house, Mas Prapto. I plan to go home for the weekend."

"Okay, Pinaka. Tomorrow morning I will be escorted by Nimo to the library. We're wearing your bike, yeah."

"Okay, Mom."