Win-Win Solution

"Do you really want to help me?" Lathifa looked into Satya's eyes.

Satya took a deep breath. At least, he could feel the girl's concern if it turns out he was just bragging. He understands that.

"I don't think I have a choice, Lathi," said Satya trying not to offend the girl. "After all, I have my own life. And here, I don't know… this era might be more pleasant or let's say, lush forests, clean seas, clear rivers… but, I wasn't born to enjoy this atmosphere, Lathi. I hope you understand how I feel right now."

"I may not understand what your world is like," Lathifa said. "But at least, I can sense a bit of something that makes you feel uncomfortable. I'm just afraid if it turns out that you only think of a way to return to your world and then ignore me, and I… I will return to a long wait that may never end until death comes to me."

"Hey…" Satya got up from the rock, kneeling on the ground in front of the girl. He touched her shoulder gently. "Don't say like that!"

"But this is not a trivial matter, Satya."

"I understand," said Satya. "And I think, even a fool will understand, everything related to the turmoil of government, kingdom, of course, there will be big consequences behind it. I understand, Lathi."

"And you still want to help me?"

"Why not?" Satya took a deep breath. "Even though I sound like—well, nonchalant, I want to go back to my world. And if it is true that Kencana Ireng is my ancestor, it means that all of this has been planned. Like it or not, I have to do all this, helping you, then find a way to return to my world."

"Thank you!"

Lathifa dropped her body onto Satya's body, and Satya hugged the girl with raging feelings.

*

Before leaving the hut with Lathifa, Satya took the time to put his underwear and shorts back on, then covered them with batik cloth on the outside. Thus, he hopes to be more comfortable whit walking.

They left the southernmost region towards the north, through the sea pine forest on the west side because they did not want to meet the two rice soldiers earlier, or the other soldiers if they had to take a walk on the east side.

The small area at the southern end was united by a narrow and long landmass to the mainland. The presence of so many sea pines, and other trees such as sea hibiscus, and sea pandanus is enough to provide convenience for Lathifa and Satya. At the very least, it would be difficult to see them from a different angle.

"Hey," Lathifa grabbed Satya's hand, leading him to hide behind a shady tree. Then point in one direction.

Satya smiled. By now, they were already on the mainland, and at that time they saw a resident's hut. At the back of the hut, in the direction where Lathifa and Satya are now, there is a clothesline made of bamboo sticks. It was on the clothesline that they saw several pieces of men's clothes that Satya could wear.

Of course, Lathifa intended to steal the men's pants on the clothesline.

"Wait here," whispered Lathifa.

And when the girl was about to leave, Satya held her hand.

"Why?"

"Let me take the pants," whispered Satya. He smiled with a wink in his eye. "I can't bear to see a royal princess have to steal a piece of pants."

"You!" Lathifa held back her smile, she patted Satya's shoulder lightly.

"Wait!"

With careful steps—without sandals or shoes as with Lathifa herself—Satya approached the clothesline.

He looked here and there. It seemed the hut was deserted, maybe the owner was out in the fields, or fishing in the sea.

After making sure the conditions around the backyard of the hut were quiet and safe, Satya took a pair of pants, and then returned quickly to where Lathifa was waiting for him.

"I got it!" Satya said with a big smile.

"Quickly, put it on!" Latifa whispered. They hid behind the thick tree.

Satya just opened the batik cloth that was wrapped around his waist.

"Hey!" Lathifa stuttered, she immediately covered her face with her palms.

Satya smiled. "Relax," he said as he showed his waist down to Lathifa. "I've put my pants back on."

Lathifa smiled and shook her head. Meanwhile, Satya was wearing the pants he had taken from the clothesline earlier.

The trousers were black, more like the pants of the silat fighters in Satya's world. A baggy pair of trousers with a tie at the waist similar to a cloth rope.

Satya just smiled. While wearing the pants, he looked at Lathifa's face which was slightly blushing.

"What is it?" Latifa frowned.

"Haven't you seen everything on my body before?"

"Hey!" Lathifa turned her blushing face away, hiding her smile. "I just don't want to put you in an uncomfortable state, like this morning."

Satya chuckled. "I know, thanks for that. But, you are the exception."

"Are you seducing me now?"

Satya only responded with a slightly raised shoulder and a smile with a thousand meanings.

"Never mind," said Lathifa to divert the topic of conversation which made her cheeks even redder. "Let's continue."

Satya nodded, the batik cloth that he previously used to cover the waist to his knees, now he uses like a long scarf around his neck. After that, he followed Lathifa.

*

They walked far enough, and Lathifa also Satya arrived in a crowd, like a traditional market where traders and buyers prefer to exchange goods.

Satya was quite amazed to see all that. They still use the barter system, he thought.

Indeed, some used copper or silver coins, but that seemed to be only a handful. Only for those who may have a higher economic level, the rich people at that time.

As Satya looked up, he realized that it was now late afternoon, and the sun had reached its final third.

"Hey," Satya closer to Lathifa. "Is my ancestral home still far away?" he whispered.

"We have to get out of this market area," said Lathifa. "To the northwest."

"Is it still far?"

Latifa nodded.

"Then," Satya tried to avoid someone carrying a sack of cassava. "Sorry, sir," he said to the man, again he moved closer to Lathifa. "Hey, how about we go late?"

Lathifa frowned at the handsome face on her left.

"I mean," said Satya trying not to laugh to see the look on Lathifa's face. "Where would we stay if we weren't there yet?"

"We can sleep anywhere, Satya."

Satya's eyes widen. "You're not kidding, are you?"

"Don't tell me you're afraid to sleep outside?"