Page 116 - B. Ing_Antologi Cerpen Xl-6

Love Beneath the Old Tree

By: Muhammad Aditya Pasha

In a small village on the banks of the Bengawan

River, stood a majestic old rain tree in the middle of a

field. The tree was not only a witness to the passage of
time but also held stories carved into every trunk and

root. One of the most well-remembered stories was about
Siti and Arman.

Siti, a simple girl who loved reading books, often
sat beneath the tree every afternoon. History books about

Indonesia’s fight for independence were her favorites.
She would always imagine how, on this very land, heroes

once risked their lives for freedom.

Arman, a village youth whose job was to deliver
harvests to the market, often saw Siti from afar. He

would often wonder how to approach the

intelligent-looking girl. With all the courage he could

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