That morning, Duren Village felt livelier than usual. The clear blue sky stretched above the main field near the village hall, where the annual greased pole climbing competition was taking place. Tall, slick poles stood ready to challenge the bravery of participants. Children ran around laughing, mothers laid out mats to sell snacks like klepon and lemper, while the men gathered in clusters around the poles, cheering for their favorite teams.
On the outskirts of the crowd, Boni stood quietly in a gray T-shirt and worn-out pants. He simply observed from a distance, not interested in joining the competition, let alone chasing after the plastic prizes dangling at the top of the poles.
"Bon! You're not climbing?" shouted Rio as he approached, wearing a faded denim jacket and flip-flops. In his hand was a reused water bottle now filled with iced tea.
Boni chuckled. "Sorry, I'm afraid of heights. I'd probably fall before reaching halfway. If I end up on the village news for crashing down, I'll be embarrassed for life."
"Coward." Rio teased. "But seriously, look at this vibe... the kids laughing, people selling food, everyone busy. If that palm oil project goes through, all of this might disappear."
Boni looked at the crowd with a somber gaze. This bustling scene was the true face of the village warm, lively, and full of laughter. "That's why we have to act now." he said quietly.
Rio pointed to a small wooden building near the field. "Yuni's waiting at Mr. Darto's coffee stall. Let's go before she gets mad."
Mr. Darto's coffee stall wasn't fancy, but it was where villagers often gathered. The small wooden structure with a tin roof offered the strong aroma of black coffee and the tempting scent of freshly fried bananas.
Yuni was already sitting in the corner, near a window facing the rice fields. She wore a green blouse and black pants, her hair loosely tied. Her chin rested on her hand as she stared outside.
"You guys took forever." she said as Boni and Rio sat down.
Rio laughed. "Had to make a dramatic entrance."
"Let's begin." Boni said seriously. "What's our plan?"
Yuni pulled a folded sheet of paper from her shoulder bag and spread it across the table. A simple map of Duren Village was drawn on it, marked with red and green points.
"We start with the lands that haven't been sold yet." Yuni explained. "If they get those, we lose our footing."
Boni pointed to one of the red marks. "This one belongs to Mr. Rahman, right?"
"Correct. He's still holding out, but the village chief's men are starting to show up more often. They're intimidating him."
"We need documentation." said Rio. "If they're using threats, we need proof."
"And we need more people." added Yuni. "Today I plan to contact Lilis. She just got back from Semarang."
"If she joins, we might get support from the women's group." said Boni.
Rio laughed. "The moms? That's the most dangerous force in this village."
Laughter echoed around the old wooden table, but tension lingered. They knew what they were up against wasn't a game.
Meanwhile, in the village office, Headman Rasyid sat behind a large desk. The walls were covered with documents and photos of his inauguration. Behind him hung a large map showing the expansion area for the palm oil plantation.
"Any updates on land acquisition?" he asked a man in black standing before him.
"There are still seven who refuse, sir. Including the land owned by Boni's family."
Rasyid raised an eyebrow. "Boni? That boy's back?"
"Yes, sir. And he's starting to rally the villagers."
Rasyid sneered. "A village boy playing hero. Let's see how long he lasts."
That evening, in a secluded corner of Yuni's family orchard, the trio met again. They called the spot their 'secret base.' Beneath an old durian tree, they sat on a mat, surrounded by the soft glow of an oil lamp hanging from a branch.
Boni flipped through his notebook. "Today we start mapping our strength. Who's with us, who's against us, the vulnerable spots. It's like playing chess, but what's at stake is our land."
"I'm still scared." he admitted. "But I'm more scared of doing nothing."
Yuni gazed at the lamp's glow. "We need code names for our missions."
"Missions?" Rio laughed. "What are we, secret agents?"
Yuni nodded seriously. "Let's make it fun. Like in movies. It'll keep us fired up."
Boni smiled. "Something like... 'Operation Protect Rahman'?"
"Or 'Durian Liberation Plan.'" Yuni added, giggling.
Rio stood, raising his right hand high. "For our village durians! For their glorious scent and sky-high price during harvest! I vow to protect them!"
Yuni mimicked Rio's pose. "Me too!"
Boni laughed but stood up as well. "Guardians of Duren... let's begin."
The following days were filled with activity. They formed a small team and divided tasks.
Boni went into the field, meeting farmers one by one, encouraging them not to give up. Yuni managed logistics scheduling secret meetings and printing flyers. Rio carried his old camera, capturing suspicious activities by Rasyid's men.
One afternoon, they visited Mr. Rahman's house. The sixty-year-old man greeted them with a tired smile and calloused hands.
"You sure you want to go against the headman?" he asked softly. "That man has ways to crush people."
"We know, sir!" Boni replied. "But we believe this land belongs to the villagers, not some corporation."
Mr. Rahman sighed deeply. "Then I'll stand with you. But be careful. Don't get burned."
The pressure from Rasyid's side kept growing. Water suddenly stopped flowing to certain lands. Some villagers lost livestock. Even threats were scrawled on walls. But the Guardians of Duren didn't back down.
Yuni distributed flyers discreetly. The messages urged unity: "This land is ours. Our children's future depends on it." Rio uploaded videos to social media. The farmers' faces were blurred, but their voices brimmed with determination.
Slowly, a ripple began to form. Some villagers who had remained silent started to speak out. Some regretted selling their land. Others began sharing intel about the acquisition team's movements.
One night, they gathered again under the durian tree.
Yuni lay on the mat, gazing at the sky. "Do you think we can win?"
Boni didn't answer right away. He watched the small fire flicker.
"I don't know. But I know what happens if we give up."
Rio tossed a twig into the flame. "Better to lose with our heads held high than to win by bowing down."
Yuni smiled faintly. "Tomorrow, we meet Lilis. If she and the moms join us, we'll have a force like no other."
Boni looked at his two friends. On their faces, he saw a fire no money could buy one that couldn't be extinguished.
"Guardians of Duren." he said softly.
"Let's protect this village."