What a Beautiful Divorce
62. Pinaka Request

Prapto looked at him with a questioning look.

Pinaka smile. A very sweet smile, with gentle eyeshadows adorned by her long hair fluttering in the river breeze.

"I feel like I'm going to be at home looking at your smile for over five hours, Pinaka," Prapto said. "What request? As long as you don't ask me to draw this river water to the end."

Pinaka laughed blushingly. "I love to eat river fish, Mas. If you cook river fish, I'm the one who spends the most. Later I will ask to teach Bu Intan to cook river fish, then we share two dishes."

"Ah, that's easy, Pinaka. Later if I can not fish or only get a little, I will ask the fish to Nimo and also Lapen Oscario and his two friends," said Prapto.

Pinaka shook his head, smiling. Prapto looked at Pinaka with a surprised face. "Why are you shaking" asked Prapto. "She said I'd give you a fish."

"I want the fish that Mas Prapto fished."

"There are you, Pinaka," said Prapto laughing.

"I'm serious, Mom. You don't want to?" Pinaka looked at Prapto with a sad look.

Prapto thought for a moment. When fishing with Nimo, Lapen, Taro, and Lennon, it is he who gets the least fish. Now he must at least get ten fish to cook Pinaka and split them in half with him. Prapto was happy to hear Pinaka wanted to cook for him, but he was also confused, how to get ten fish.

Finally Prapto nodded even though he was still confused. "All right, I'll work on it."

Pinaka's face is radiant. "Thank you, Mom," he said.

Mr. Oscar's voice said the race was about to start. Prapto then went to the riverbank and stood beside Nimo. Nimo gave the pass he had prepared to Prapto, and shortly after, the race began.

The race is going fierce. The murky surface of the river in the rainy season is suitable for fishing during the day. That is also the reason Mr. Oscar holds a fishing festival during the rainy season, where river water tends to be cloudy.

People appear to take turns lifting the fishing line. Although many can fish when pulling their fishing rod, but not a few also get pieces of wood. And there are also hooks stuck to the stone or river banks, which eventually had to be cut and replaced with new hook eyes.

The spectators of the race looked towards the edge of the river close to the forest door, they saw three children who had the most fish since. The three boys took turns raising their fishing rods to the point that the audience was wondering which of them got the most fish.

The three boys were of course Lapen Oscario, Taro, and Lennon. The spectators were amazed at the skill of the three companions in fishing, however, when viewed from how diligently they practiced; how the three boys went back and forth into the river to try the bait they made, no wonder these three boys got a lot of fish.

It was two in the afternoon and Prapto had only three fish. Another hour of the race will be completed and the fish obtained by the participants will be weighed to determine the winner. Prapto looked at his fishing buoy grimly.

"There is a request from Pinaka, Boss," Nimo said, laughing. "Then, the Boss should get at least seven more fish."

Prapto's face grew gloomy. "From morning I only got three fish, Nimo. The race is only an hour away." He scratched his head though it didn't itch.

From his fishing spot, Taro saw Prapto scratching his head with a gloomy face. He elbowed slowly Lapen's arm.

"What, Taro?" asked Lapen without looking. He focused on watching his fishing buoy.

"Uncle Prapto seems to be dizzy, Lapen. He kept scratching his head and his face was grim," Taro replied.

Lennon turned his head towards Prapto and Nimo. "Is this because Uncle Prapto only gets a few fish?"

"You know where it came from? Maybe Uncle Prapto is sleepy" Taro said.

"If the matter of getting a little fish, he would be able to ask for fish to Uncle Nimo and us. It's definitely not about sleepiness or about fish" Lapen said. His face looked serious.

"Then about what else?" Taro asked, and now he turned his head out of curiosity with Lapen's answer. Lennon also turned his head and looked at Lapen in a questioning manner.

Lapen put down his finger and stood up. "It's about love" he said without looking at Taro and Lennon, who now looked at each other with astonished faces.

"Sok knows you, Lapen," said Taro.

Lennon said, "Where do you know?"

"Please watch my balls, Taro, Lennon." Lapen then walked over to Prapto regardless of his two friends returning to look at each other. In his heart, Lapen laughed. He just wanted to talk and wonder why Prapto looks moody.

Lapen greets Nimo first then sits behind Prapto. "Uncle why?" ask her on Prapto, while looking at the bucket next to Prapto which only contains three fish.

Prapto. "I'm fine, Lapen," he replied. He looked back at the buoy.

Nimo beckoned Lapen for the boy to come closer. He then whispered about Pinaka's request to Prapto and Prapto needed seven more fish.

'It turns out my origin was right, ' Lapen thought. "Wait a minute, Uncle Nimo." Lapen whispered back. He then went to his fishing place earlier, and shortly after that he came back to the prapto.

"Wear this bait, Uncle Prapto," said Lapen, smiling. "To get seven fish in an hour I think I can, but Uncle moved fishing there." Lapen pointed to the left from where Prapto was sitting.

Prapto looked at Lapen for a moment, then he looked at Nimo. Nimo smiled, nodding. Prapto soon learns that Nimo must have told him about Pinaka's request and Lapen now intends to help him. He smiled and said, "Thank you very much, Nimo, Lapen Oscario."

Walking time. By three or less seven minutes, Prapto had got ten additional fish. His face was no longer moody and he waved at Lapen and Nimo with a laugh.

The fish obtained by the race participants were weighed. The one who gets the most fish is Lapen Oscario, the only grandson of Mr. Oscar. Lapen stood in the middle of the festival with a big smile, her shoulder hair fluttering in the afternoon breeze.

Beside Lapen stood Pak Ino, Pak Rodi's cousin, who apparently got more fish than Lennon and Taro. Then beside Pak Ino there was Lennon as the third champion and Taro as the fourth champion. There is still a fifth champion, namely a Kejora village youth who helped Prapto and Nimo harvest at night when experiencing water channel problems.

Mr. Oscar stood in front of the winners of the race. "Initially there were only three prizes for three winners" he said. He then turned to where Mr. Gumiro, Mr. Handoko, and Mr. Reynaldi Green stood. "But these three generous fathers donated additional prizes to two more winners. May they always be healthy and happy."

All the participants then donated the amount of fish they got. The fish were immediately slaughtered with a sharp knife, shredded, and smeared with seasoning. The fires in the furnace were lined up and then lit. After the fish had finished roasting, everyone present at the festival dined.

Pinaka smiled happily as he received the fish given by Prapto. "Thank you, Mas Prapto," he said. "I'll cook a delicious one."

Prapto laughs. "Together, Pinaka. When can I pick up the fish?"

"I'll just deliver, Mom, tomorrow. I want to visit your garden."

Prapto. "Our garden" he said.

Pinaka blushed. He then told Prapto to help Ms. Intan. When Prapto was about to approach Nimo, Mr. Oscar had arrived beside him.

"Sir Prapto. I was talking to Mr. Reynaldi Green, Mr. Gumiro, and Mr. Hann when we were fishing. There's something important we need to talk about. Tomorrow afternoon they'll be here. You and Nimo are coming, yes, to my house tomorrow afternoon" Mr. Oscar said.

"Okay, Mr. Village Chief," answered Prapto. He wanted to ask what would be discussed, but Mr. Oscar had already approached Lapen Oscario who ran towards him while lifting the gift envelope.