"Have you registered online yet?" Mr. Vincent asked the woman who had brought the documents needed to make a passport.
Passports and visas are mandatory requirements that must be carried when traveling abroad. No exception for French citizens who want to visit Indonesia. Because, Indonesia enforces mandatory regulations to have a residence permit that is in the law. 6 of 2011 article 48 paragraph (1). Therefore, Mrs. Jesseline asked for help to arrange for a passport as soon as possible.
"It was last night." Mrs. Jesseline answered with her eyes and hands busy checking her file again.
The files needed when making a passport are Identity Cards, Family Cards, Birth Certificates, and many more. Mrs. Jesseline seemed grateful because when she intended to leave her house a few days ago, she brought all the data with her. In fact, previously he had no plans to settle abroad.
"Are you done, Jesseline?" asked Mrs. Eveline, holding her best friend's arm.
"Looks like it's done. Last night I also prepared well," said the woman wearing a thick black fur jacket.
Mrs. Eveline then nodded her head. Then, immediately invited Mrs. Jesseline and Shakira to enter the office that was already in front of them. However, before that, Mr. Vincent did not forget to say hello and asked his bodyguards to wait until Mrs. Jesseline's flight process was later.
"Les gars, attendez ici et assurez-vous qu'il n'y a rien de suspect," whispered Mr. Vincent as he approached the bodyguards who were standing tall beside the cars they used earlier.
"Oi, patrons!" answered the bodyguards in unison.
Their demeanor as bodyguards is very fitting. Usually, when people are chatting, they will give different expressions to respond to the other person's words. In stark contrast to the bodyguards who are very consistent in maintaining that serious and scary facial expression. Indeed, Mr. Vincent was never wrong in choosing all of them.
After that, Mr. Vincent immediately followed the steps of his wife and Mrs. Jesseline. He really hopes that his friends can help in the process of making Mrs. Jesseline and her child.
Just about to enter the passport-making building, suddenly Mr. Vincent's eyeballs found the figure of his friend standing near the entrance. Turns out, he had been waiting for a while.
"Sorry I'm late," said Mr. Vincent as he hugged his friend's body, who had not seen each other for a long time.
In the past, the two of them were close friends who both liked to travel abroad. They also both have high aspirations. And thank God, this time they were reunited with the condition that they had assumed an equally important position.
The longing between them was then slightly healed by the meeting. In fact, they never thought they would meet again.
In fact, they were both young men who had good foreign language skills. They are not only fluent in Indonesian, but also in many other countries' languages. Because, in the past they always studied together and had the hope of traveling the world.
"It's okay. Incidentally this morning I also intended to come earlier than usual," said the man who turned out to have Leonard Horowitz's full name.
He is a man who has a slightly fatter body portion than Mr. Vincent. Understandably, Mr. Vincent can have an ideal body because of the demands of his job when he was still in quarantine. And after marrying Mrs. Eveline, her body looks even more ideal and well-groomed.
"You're still as skinny as I am, aren't you!" said Mr. Leonard with a big smile.
Even though they both have high positions, the vibes of their friendship are still the same as they were ten years ago. Still like to joke and tease each other.
"My wife is really good at keeping my body ideal. Every time I want to eat a lot, she always reprimands me," said Mr. Vincent, which immediately made those who were there burst out laughing.
Feeling uncomfortable with Mrs. Jesseline, who seemed eager to immediately apply for a passport, Mr. Vincent finally stopped the warm conversation with Mr. Leonard.
"Come on, ma'am ... I'll take it straight to the employee on duty," said Mr. Leonard, who was still using Indonesian. After meeting Pak Vincent, he forgot to ask whether the woman beside him could use Indonesian or not.
Mrs. Jesseline and Shakira immediately followed Mr. Leonard's steps.
"We'll just wait here, ma'am," said Mr. Vincent, pulling his wife's arm.
In a building like this usually only interested people are allowed to enter. This is because the office clerk really maintains the order and condition of the room, which can be considered a bit private.
"Oh, okay ..." said Mrs. Eveline who immediately sat on the waiting chair provided.
Inside the room, Mrs. Jesseline has been well served by the employee on duty. There was also Mr. Leonard who accompanied him until the process was complete. Starting from the interview process, taking photos, taking fingerprints, and also paying.
"Fais-le aujourd'hui, oui. Il a un intérêt soudain."² Mr. Leonard whispered to his employee.
If Mr. Vincent had not requested, Mr. Leonard would probably not have assisted in the process of making Mrs. Jesseline's passport. Because, indeed, making a passport has its own procedure, which is not only one day old.
The employee who handled Mrs. Jesseline and Shakira's passport then nodded her head. He understood what his boss meant.
After making the payment, Mrs. Jesseline was invited to wait a few hours first. Because, there is still a process of checking and others.
"Hopefully this is the best way for us, dear," said Mrs. Jesseline to her daughter, who seemed to be thinking about something.
Shakira's face looks so sad ever since. There was something in his chest that made him feel tight.
"Shakira can tell Uncle Fajar or not, ma'am?" asked Shakira doubtfully.
She was a little afraid that his mother would be angry when he saw that his daughter still insisted on contacting Fajar. In fact, it wasn't really Mrs. Jesseline who didn't like it, but Shakira's father and extended family.
Mrs. Jesseline then smiled as she lifted her daughter's chin which had been subdued. However, he will still allow it.
"I'd feel even more guilty if I didn't let you, honey," said Mrs. Jesseline gently.
Hearing this answer, of course, a sweet smile instantly appeared on Shakira's face. She, who for days did not dare to tell Fajar, took his mother's hand.
"Thank you, Mom!" said Shakira many times.
She immediately went to the cellphone which she had put in his thick jacket pocket. His eyeballs swiftly searched for an application that could be used to send a message.
Instead of sending a message in the form of writing, Shakira actually sent an audio that was quite long in duration. It turned out that she had prepared the audio since last night when his mother ordered him to tidy up his things. At that time, his hunch was that she and his mother were going far away from France. And it turned out, right. Mrs. Jesseline decided to move and settle in Indonesia with the hope that her life would be much better there.
'Hopefully Uncle Fajar will listen to this audio soon,' Shakira thought as she placed the flat object on her chest.
To be continued ....