Chapter 5. Four Friends and One (Chaotic) Plan
1948 Words
Tatang said to Wawan, "We watched it together on YouTube, Wan."
"It's on YouTube, Tang. I want to see it live," Wawan replied.
"Come on, I want to see it live too," Tatang responded.
Jems then asked Simon again, "So what, Mon? Can we come?"
"Yeah, sure. But each of us has to pay for the tickets," Simon replied.
"Yeah, of course, Mon. Tickets are ordinary; we want to buy them too," Wawan offered.
"Yeah, sure," Simon replied, looking happy.
"Okay, Jems will buy them later," Tatang said to Jems.
"Why me, Tang?" Jems asked, confused.
"You have the most money, Jems," Tatang replied.
"Don't you, Tang, have the most money?" Jems continued.
"Yes, that's right, Tang. Your house is like a sultan's house," Wawan added.
"The house is like a sultan's, but the person is just ordinary," Tatang replied, smiling.
"Simon should also have a house and a car like you, Tang," Wawan continued.
Meanwhile, Simon and Jems were engrossed in their phones, not listening to Tatang and Wawan's conversation. They seemed lost in their own worlds, while Tatang and Wawan continued to joke and tease each other.
"Simon has a lot of money, but he saves it," Tatang continued. "Where does he save it? Two weeks ago, when he just got his salary, Simon asked me to take him to the ATM. After leaving, his face was frowning because he wanted to withdraw money, but he only took out four hundred thousand." Wawan laughed, glancing at Simon again.
"That's because I just paid off my debt to my friend, so my money is gone," Simon answered Wawan, who was still focused on his phone.
"So what, Mon? So you want to use my bones as collateral so your loan can be paid out?" Jems asked, equally absorbed in his phone screen.
"I told you, I don't even know what to use as collateral with your bones, Jems. Because that's a lot of money," Simon answered, placing his phone on the table.
"So, what should I do, Mon?" Wawan asked seriously.
"Aii, I'm also confused, Mi, if it's like this. And there are only a few weeks left," Simon complained.
"Can anyone help me, Simon? I feel sorry for his disheveled look," Wawan said to Jems and Tatang.
"If it's a million or two million, maybe I can help," Jems answered.
"Yeah, me too, if it's two million, we can try," Tatang continued.
"But whether there is or not, I still have to go home," Simon responded.
"Oh, you're the only one coming back, Mon? We all wanted to go with you," Wawan responded to Simon.
"Yeah, that's what I meant, Wan. By the way, who said one million or two million?" Simon asked Wawan.
"Well, Jems and Tatang," Wawan answered.
"So four million, so my round trip ticket money is safe," Simon said with a serious face. "Now then, Jems, Tatang, you two have already said two million each, go transfer it to Simon." Wawan said to Tatang and Jems.
"Then why didn't you, Wan?" Tatang asked Simon, curious about his friend's reaction.
"Well, I didn't say that I could get a million or two million," Wawan replied, trying to defend himself with a smile.
"Okay, Mon, WA your account number here, I'll transfer it now," Jems said seriously, seeming to want to help.
However, Simon remained silent, giving no response. He was busy fiddling with his phone, seemingly not paying much attention to the conversation. A few seconds later, a WA notification appeared on Jems and Tatang's phone screens.
"Hey, I just WAed you the number," Simon said, still looking at his phone screen.
"Wow, you're fast, Mon!" Tatang chimed in, impressed by Simon's speed.
"Who wouldn't be fast, Wan, when it comes to money, especially if it's free money. Why don't you do it too?" Simon replied teasingly.
"It's easy for me, Mon. You won't expect it later; I'll transfer it," Wawan evaded, trying to look relaxed.
"Okay, I'll wait, now Wan," Simon replied, waiting for good news.
"Ready, Mon Simon!" Wawan replied enthusiastically.
"But I didn't accept the voucher, now Wan," Simon added, remembering his bad experience.
"You're really traumatized by vouchers," Wawan laughed.
"How could you not be traumatized, Wan? You gave me a voucher once, but it had expired!" Simon explained, his face showing lingering annoyance.
"Is that really the story about the voucher, Mon?" Jems asked suddenly, interested in Simon's story.
"Yeah, really! When I wanted to use the voucher, it turned out to have expired. Oh, how embarrassing!" Simon explained, recalling the awkward moment.
"Besides, you, Mon. Didn't you read the voucher first when you accepted it?" Wawan defended himself.
"You too, Wan. Look at it first before giving something to someone," Jems interjected.
"But that's it, Mi. So I got to know the cashier at that time," Simon smiled, remembering the moment.
"You're really bold, Mon," Tatang asked in surprise, not believing Simon's courage.
"Do you think I'm not normal? I still like women too!" Simon defended himself, feeling the need to explain.
"But the problem is, Mon, there haven't been any women who have dared to like you," Wawan answered briefly, making everyone laugh.
"But there will definitely be, later!" Simon answered with full hope, although a little hesitant.
"Is that Windya, Mon?" Jems asked teasingly.
"Oh, enough already, Mi," Simon didn't want to continue. Jems understood perfectly because he knew the most about Simon's relationship with Windya from beginning to end.
"So what, Mon? It's still a long time, right? Your grandmother's been buried?" Wawan asked suddenly, changing the subject.
"Actually, my grandmother's been buried. Less than 2 months left, right?" Simon answered in a listless tone, looking unenthusiastic.
"So, no, Mon? About collateral, so I can get a loan from my bones?" Jems asked, curious.
"Well, that again, Jems. I don't think I have any. Just combine the four of us with our kidneys; it won't be up to 2 billion," Simon answered while observing Jems, Wawan, and Tatang.
"I really don't want to, Mon, combine the four of us with our kidneys. Yes, if not exchanged with Jems' kidney," Wawan explained, laughing.
"Who would want to exchange a kidney with you, Wan? Your motorbike often breaks down, let alone your kidneys and lungs," Jems replied, not wanting to lose.
"What's clear is that my kidneys have never been used for clubbing or going to massage parlors, Jems," Wawan added, trying to defend himself.
"Ah, that means your kidneys are tacky; you don't socialize enough and don't have enough experience," Jems replied lightly, making everyone laugh.
"Leave it alone, my kidneys," Wawan replied briefly, not wanting to bother.
"Eh, you, Mon. Where have your kidneys been used and for what?" Tatang asked Simon seriously.
"Ummm... wait, let me think about it, okay. But what's clear is that my kidneys are definitely virgins, Tang," Simon answered, trying to be serious even though there was a smile on his face.
"And you, Tang? What have you been doing with your kidneys and lungs?" Simon asked again, curious.
"What's clear is that my kidneys and lungs have never been made into coto or soto," Tatang replied, laughing.
"someone asked again, what's the difference between coto and soto?" Simon said with emphasis.
"What's the difference, Mon?" Wawan asked, also curious.
"Ededede, I said, don't ask," Simon replied again, feeling a little annoyed.
Not long after, the atmosphere suddenly fell silent. They were all focused on their phones. It turned out that Simon sent a WA to Jems to go home together because he didn't bring enough money, afraid that the motorbike taxi fare would be too much. Meanwhile, Wawan also sent a WA to Simon to say goodbye to Tatang.
"Jems, we'll go home together, okay," Simon's WA to Jems read.
"It's rare for you to want to go home together; I didn't bring a vehicle," Jems replied, a little surprised.
"Yes, I know. You took an online taxi here," Simon replied again.
"So?" Jems replied briefly, still curious.
Before Simon could reply to Jems' WA, Wawan's WA suddenly came in. "Mon, let's go back," Wawan's WA to Simon said.
"Come on, I'm about to go back too," Simon's WA to Wawan replied.
"I'm hungry; Tatang only served me coffee and fried food," Wawan replied, complaining.
"But it's enough to fill my stomach," Simon replied, trying to defend himself.
"What kind of stomach filling? No, I'm full, yes I have stomach acid," Wawan replied, still dissatisfied. "Tatang, he has a lot of money, but he's stingy. Serve McDonald's or pecel rice," Wawan continued, feeling annoyed.
"I already ate before coming here, so I'm not too hungry," Simon replied, trying to explain.
"I was hoping we would eat here," Wawan replied, disappointed.
Suddenly, Jems' WA came in. "So before leaving the house, eat first, and bring extra money," Jems' WA advised.
Wawan and Simon were shocked and confused as they stared at each other. Suddenly, Tatang typed. Wawan and Simon were still staring at each other, waiting.
"Ooh, is there anyone hungry?" Tatang WA asked, realizing the situation.
It turned out that Wawan had WAed the group, and even more stupidly, Simon hadn't realized that they had been WAing in the group.
"Yee, why are you the i***t who's been chatting in the group, Mon?" Wawan asked Simon, laughing.
"You were the one who WAed me first, so I replied anyway," Simon replied, feeling innocent.
"Actually, from the first time Wawan WAed the group, I already knew, but I just kept quiet," Jems interjected, trying to explain.
"Why didn't you tell me, Jems?" Wawan asked, feeling a little annoyed.
"I was also WAing Simon," Jems replied, defending himself.
"So, what are you doing, Tang?" Wawan asked Tatang, curious.
"Reading your WA in the group," Tatang replied while pointing at Simon and Wawan.
"So what we were secretly arguing about earlier was actually..." Simon hadn't finished speaking.
"Yes, it turns out the conversation moved to the group, huh," Jems interrupted, realizing the situation.
"Wan, how's your stomach acid? Still?" Tatang asked Wawan, pretending to be worried.
"Well, still. They offered coffee and fried snacks, like offerings from people on patrol," Wawan replied, complaining.
"I was waiting for you guys; they were already served inside," Tatang replied, feigning innocence.
Simon, who already knew and was close to Tatang's family, wordlessly went straight into the house towards the dining room.
"Well, the kid said he wasn't hungry; he just barged in," Wawan watched Simon as he stepped into the house.
"Do you believe it? Simon has already eaten since he came here?" Jems asked Wawan, skeptical.
"Whatever he says, he trusts people," Wawan replied, shaking his head.
"Come on, come in and eat; your stomach acid will flare up," Tatang teased Wawan.
"Hey, you already have stomach acid, Tang," Wawan replied, not wanting to lose.
When Simon was in front of the dining table, he immediately took a spoon and tasted each dish, mimicking a judge on a cooking show.
"What kind of food is this? It doesn't look good?" Simon said after tasting one of the dishes.
"Hmm, this again, fried chicken but it's like fried flip-flops, tough and tasteless," Simon continued, as if complaining.
The last dish in the corner revealed various vegetables. "Why are there so many leaves on the dining table? The host must be lazy, serving people raw vegetables, telling them to cook it themselves," Simon said again, laughing.
"That's vegetables," answered Mrs. Tatang, who suddenly appeared behind Simon.
It turned out that Mr. and Mrs. Tatang had been near the dining table, perhaps because they were so hungry that Simon hadn't noticed their presence.
- Writer
