What a Beautiful Divorce
59. Weekend

"What's up, Nimo? You why? Take shelter first" Prapto said. He stepped to the boundary of the terrace and looked at Nimo with a astonished face.

"Here you go, boss. I need your help right away, boss. They were born."

"uh? Who was born, Nimo?"

"Father's goat boy, Boss. But the goat house collapsed because it was weathered. Thank goodness her newborn children are okay. I need help moving him to an empty cattle house in our garden, until Dad's goat house is fixed, Boss," Nimo said, laughing.

Prapto shook his head. "You surprised me, Nimo. Wait a minute, I'll grab a raincoat first.”

“Okay, Boss.”

***

Once at Nimo's house, Prapto immediately smelled the smell of goat on the terrace.

Mr. Dwipangga emerged from the house with his wife, Bu Kinasih. They both carried petromax lights and placed them near two mother goats and their children, which Mr. Dwipangga moved to the terrace of his house because the mother of the two goats collapsed.

“It's cool, right, Nak Prapto?” asked Mr. Dwipangga, laughing. “My goats stayed overnight in your garden, yes.”

Prapto laughs back. “It's cool, sir. No problem, Mr. Dwipangga, we have three livestock houses that are still empty. His son is six, Mr Dwipangga?”

“Yes, Nak Prapto. A pair for you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Dwipangga,” said Prapto. “Let us take care of them, sir, until a pair of young goats can part with their mother.”

Mr. Dwipangga nodded. “I would also like to ask for that, Nak Prapto. Thanks, yes.”

Nimo emerged from the house carrying four boxes of boards.

“Coated with plastic, Nimo, so that the goats do not get rained.”

Prapto laughs. “You have the heart once Nimo.”

“I forgot, Well, Boss,” replied Nimo. He laughed and went back home.

After the goats were put in the plank boxes, Prapto and Nimo went back and forth from the house of Nimo to their garden, delivering four boxes of boards containing goats.

“Completed too, Boss,” says Nimo. He lit a cigarette and sat on the porch of Prapto's house. “Tonight stay at my house, Boss. Mom cooking delicious fried noodles. Dad also asked me to take the Boss to stay at home.”

“Okay, Nimo. I'm hungry too. This weekend I will be going to Jakarta with Pinaka, Nimo. To his parents' house and to my parents' house.”

“I forgot to ask you, Boss. So, Boss and Pinaka are going to Jakarta to meet your parents. Means the Boss has already expressed love to Pinaka?”

Prapto lit his cigarette. “Already, Nimo. He nodded very sweetly and smiled very fiercely, more devastating than the waves of the seven oceans.”

Nimo shook his head. “Because of the one-ocean wave alone you must have drowned, Boss, let alone seven. Oh yeah, I was already cheering you on when you brought the caping, but the Boss didn't hear.”

Prapto laughs. “Iya, Nimo. But I'm grateful to have brought that caping. It was ‘kan rain, in the middle between Jakarta and Kejora village, I saw Pinaka pushing his motorny because it ran out of gas. Then I put that bamboo caping on him.”

Nimo laughs. “You're cool, Boss. Come on, boss, go home. I'm hungry too.”

“Come, Nimo! I lock the door first.”

***

Timo laughed reading the short message he had just opened. The message contained a screenshot of the chat Prapto sent to Subakti.

Nesia stopped the pace of her fried rice spoon. “Mas Timo?”

Timo looked at Nesia. “Iya?”

“Why did Mas suddenly laugh so?”

Nesia smiled. He then nodded. “When will Mas go to Kejora village again?”

“Pas fishing festival later. You're coming, right?”

“So, Mas. But I'm not fishing, yeah.”

“Cute only, Nesia. I'll get you a fishing rod later. But if you get fish, fish for me,” said Timo, laughing.

Nesia laughing. “Mas Timo stingy once.”

“No, coke. I am a philanthropist. I'll give you some fish if I get more. How about we finish our meal to the beach, Nesia?”

Nesia saw the phone. “Okay, Mas. Still four o'clock too.”

***

The day that Prapto and Pinaka are waiting for arrives. The weekend where they are going to Jakarta to meet their parents to say their wishes to get married.

They visited the Prapto house first. Bu Veni and Mr. Rohan beamed in his face to hear the news. Mang Kari and Bi Asih were no less happy. Without being asked by Bu Veni, Bi Asih went straight to the kitchen to prepare the dishes. Then they all ate voraciously in the pendopo while chatting.

Pinaka can see the happiness of both Prapto parents as well as the happiness of Bi Asih and Mang Kari. He was happy because he felt he was part of the Prapto family. Bu Veni was so excited to ask Pinaka and his son about their wedding plans.

“Later to bring the plates and glasses, Bi Asih. We chat first with Pinaka,” said Bu Veni, when Bi Asih was about to rise to bring the plates and glasses in the pendopo.

“Iya, Bu Veni.” Bi Asih sat down next to Bu Veni.

When are you planning to get married?” ask Bu Veni.

“After rice harvest, Bu” said Prapto. “About four months again, after Nimo married.”

“Nimo is also getting married, Prapto?” ask Mr. Rohan.

“Iya, Dad. With Arini, the village lady Kejora. He said he would come here later to tell Father and Mother, as well as to Mang Kari and Bi Asih.”

Mr. Rohan nodded. “Titip our greetings to his parents Pinaka, yes. Later we set the time to visit there.”

“Iya, Father.”

They chatted until noon. After that, Prapto and Pinaka went to Pinaka's house.

***

“How was Father's assessment of Prapto?” ask Esih to her husband.

“I think Prapto is cool, Mom. He is not being fake to impress us,” replied Mr Ramu.

“Not being fake how do you mean Mr?”

“For example, he's not pretended to be friendly to us, he doesn't pretend not to smoke when I ask, and he's simply saying that his profession is a farmer and a rancher. He was not prestigious, instead he said it proudly. He's also a smart guy, Bu.”

“Our assessment is the same, Sir,” said Bu Esih. “Our son greatly admires and respects Prapto. Obviously Pinaka loved her very much.”

Mr. Ramu nodded. He then grinned. “But there are still things I want to see from Prapto, Mom. I'll test it. If he escapes, I'll only bless him to marry our daughter.”

Ms. Esih frowned. “What is it, Sir? And how do you test it?”

“Things that most men don't have today, Mom. The thing that determines whether Prapto is a respectable man who will be responsible to his wife and child later or not. It will determine whether Prapto can lead the household or not. And it will also guarantee that Prapto can be a true husband and father figure.”

Ms. Esih was about to ask again, but she turned her head because she heard the sound of a motor at the gate. “That's Pinaka and Prapto coming, Sir.”