"But, it's still a bit far, Juna. We're getting there, it could be soaking wet. You could catch a cold." He says.
"Then, who is the idiot who made a skipper like me like this?"
"Me."
"Smart. So, now uncle must find a solution," I said then.
Uncle Junet is silent. He was completely silent. As if he didn't care, now the drizzle was getting bigger.
"How about we stop for a while at Kokom's house? Her house is close, across the street," Uncle Junet gave an idea.
If I remember correctly, Kokom is one of the many women Uncle Junet wants to approach. She is a widow in this village. How could Uncle Junet give me such a bad idea? Stop at the widow's house? What did people say after that?
"Why, skipper, uncle... why is it raining?" I looked at the origin of the voice, apparently, it was Arni who greeted me while rushing towards us. "Well, the motor can't start, can it?" he asked then after seeing Uncle Junet's ugly motorbike sitting in its place.
"Yes, Arni... the motorbike is still angry, it seems. Even though the drizzle is quite heavy. The house is still far away," replied Uncle Junet.
"Then, what if the skipper and uncle stop by my hut? It's not big, really. You could even call it ugly. However, it's warm enough to stay in.
"Is your husband at home?" I asked. Arni and Junet's uncle looked confused. "I mean, I don't want it if your husband isn't home. Later it could be slander."
"I don't think so, you expect if your husband is not at home," joked Uncle Junet. But I ignored it.
"Yes, skipper. Incidentally, Kang Muri had just returned from the garden. So how? Please if the skipper and uncle are willing to stop by."
"Uncle Junet said, yes. So I had to stop by your house."
I walked ahead of them. While Uncle Junet was half running after me.
"When did I say yes, Arjuna?!" he shouted. But I just ignored him.
*****
"Wow, wow... I'm really happy that skipper Arjuna is willing to stop at my house. I must have dreamed last night that I was hit by a star." Muri smiled broadly, then he sat in front of me after offering a handshake.
"Sorry to bother you. The rain makes me have to find shelter." I answered.
Muri waved his hand. "It's okay, skipper. I'm happy instead," he said. "Arni! Make this Skipper Arjuna and Junet coffee, you know. Don't forget, take the boiled sweet potato out too!"
I didn't expect it at all. If Muri is a light-hearted person. A bad husband to his wife. Because outside, in his circle of friends. Muri is a person who likes to joke
After Muri's command, Arni came out in a hurry. Bringing three black coffees along with boiled sweet potatoes whose smoke still seemed to be billowing. I didn't realize, I swallowed my saliva because I wanted to. It was raining eating boiled sweet potatoes while drinking coffee, is the most enjoyable thing that can be done at this time,
"skipper... don't hesitate," said Muri.
I immediately took one, then I ate it even though I had to blow it first.
"It's hot, skipper... It's good to be rubbed with both hands. Let the skipper's body also warm when it rains like this." Arni gave an idea.
I followed her words. The warmth of sweet potatoes began to spread from the palms of my hands, then to the cold nerve points of my body. "You are really smart. It works, you know." I said. Arni seemed to have a smile on her face.
"You two look good together, how old were you when you got married?" Now, Uncle Junet made a sound. I don't care anymore, because I'm more focused on these sweet potatoes, before Uncle Junet's mouth devoured everything.
"Wow, if that's far enough, Net," answered Muri while leaning his back. Then, he started to light a cigar and smoked it. "About ten years, huh?" Now, he threw the question at him. his wife. I glanced at Arni, and she nodded.
"Yes... at that time, I was still twelve years old."
I almost choked on Arni's words. Then, I drank coffee which apparently I forgot that it was hot. Arni rushed over to me, took The coffee in my hand, and then replaced it with water. I'm sure her hand was hot. But, I didn't feel it.
"The coffee is hot, skipper." She said. I nodded.
"marrying a little girl?" I asked.
Muri instead laughed. "She's beautiful, believe it. Well, skipper... even in this village, Arni is the most beautiful woman. And I'm proud to be able to marry the most beautiful woman in this village," he said. Now I glanced at Arni from top to bottom. I swear I don't know where her beauty lies.
"Also voluptuous, Muri. You're really good at choosing a wife," added Uncle Junet. He is really smart when you see a woman's silliness.
"You married Muri for love?" I asked then. Arni does not answer. She just looked down without a word
"Answered. Then people think I forced you to marry. Basically, this one woman."
"Yes, I love him, skipper," replied Arni then.
Honestly, I felt something was strange. The love that Arni said to Muri sounded different from the love that their mother said to their father. Even Arni's eyes for Muri, are much different from the mother's view of their father. Is it possible, that love is different for everyone?
"Oh, where are your children? Why can't they be seen?" I asked again, trying to lighten the mood.
"Oh, Ningrum and Narko, after all, skipper? Both are studying inside. Wait a minute, let Arni call them. By the way, I just found out, you know, that you know my children too," said Muri in a tone that seemed strange. Full of inquiry and cold.
"Earlier, I met Ningrum by accident. She looked for her mother in the garden. So, I had a little chat with the cute girl."
"Oh."