Dewi kembali ke desa leluhurnya di Tana Toraja dengan perasaan campur aduk.

Dewi returned to her ancestral village in Tana Toraja with mixed feelings.

Di stasiun bus, hujan turun deras, menyentuh tanah dan dedaunan.

At the bus station, heavy rain fell, touching the ground and leaves.

Aroma tanah basah menyambutnya.

The scent of wet earth greeted her.

Di sekelilingnya, rumah-rumah Tongkonan berbaris rapi dengan atap khas yang menjulang ke langit.

Around her, the Tongkonan houses lined up neatly with their distinctive roofs reaching towards the sky.

Adi, adiknya, datang menjemputnya.

Adi, her younger brother, came to pick her up.

Wajahnya ceria.

His face was cheerful.

"Selamat datang, Kak Dewi!

"Welcome, Kak Dewi!"

" serunya sambil mengangkat payung untuk melindungi mereka dari hujan.

he exclaimed while lifting an umbrella to protect them from the rain.

Mereka berjalan bersama, melewati sawah yang hijau dan subur.

They walked together, passing through lush and fertile rice fields.

Rina, sepupu mereka, menunggu di rumah.

Rina, their cousin, was waiting at home.

Keesokan harinya, desa sudah sibuk dengan persiapan pesta panen.

The next day, the village was busy with harvest festival preparations.

Para lelaki membawa kerbau untuk disiapkan dalam acara adat, sementara para perempuan menyiapkan makanan tradisional seperti pa'piong dan ayam goreng rempah.

The men brought buffalo for the traditional ceremony, while the women prepared traditional foods like pa'piong and spiced fried chicken.

Dewi mengamati semua itu dengan rasa kagum dan sedikit asing.

Dewi watched all of this with admiration and a bit of unfamiliarity.

"Kenapa Kak Dewi kelihatan bingung?

"Why do you look confused, Kak Dewi?"

" tanya Adi sambil sedikit tertawa.

Adi asked with a slight laugh.

Dewi tersenyum tipis.

Dewi gave a faint smile.

"Sudah lama aku tidak di sini.

"It's been a long time since I was here.

Aku merasa sedikit terasing," jawabnya.

I feel a bit alienated," she replied.

Rina mendekat dan memeluk Dewi.

Rina approached and hugged Dewi.

"Tidak apa-apa, Kak.

"It's okay, Kak.

Kita di sini untuk membantumu.

We're here to help you.

Ini adalah warisan kita.

This is our heritage.

Kita tahu Kak Dewi sudah terbiasa dengan kehidupan kota, tapi tidak ada salahnya mencoba kembali mengenal budaya kita," kata Rina dengan lembut.

We know you are used to city life, but there's no harm in trying to reconnect with our culture," Rina said gently.

Dewi memutuskan untuk ikut serta dalam persiapan.

Dewi decided to participate in the preparations.

Dia membantu Rina memasak dan bahkan mencoba mengenakan pakaian tradisional.

She helped Rina cook and even tried on traditional clothing.

Perlahan-lahan, Dewi mulai merasa lebih terhubung.

Gradually, Dewi began to feel more connected.

Dia sadar bahwa meskipun ia hidup di kota, akar budayanya tetap penting.

She realized that even though she lived in the city, her cultural roots remained important.

Malam tiba dengan cepat, dan saat hujan masih berderap di atas atap, dimulailah puncak pesta panen.

Night fell quickly, and as rain still drummed on the roof, the peak of the harvest festival began.

Semua berkumpul di balai desa.

Everyone gathered at the village hall.

Tua-tua adat mulai berpidato, menyambut musim panen.

The village elders began speeches, welcoming the harvest season.

Saat itulah Dewi diminta untuk berbicara.

That's when Dewi was asked to speak.

Deg-degan, dia melangkah maju.

Nervous, she stepped forward.

"Saudaraku, aku tahu sudah lama aku jauh dari desa ini, tapi aku belajar bahwa warisan kita adalah bagian dari identitas kita.

"My friends, I know I have been away from this village for a long time, but I have learned that our heritage is part of our identity.

Kita harus menjaganya," katanya, suaranya bergetar namun tulus.

We must preserve it," she said, her voice trembling yet sincere.

"Tidak peduli di mana aku tinggal, aku akan selalu bangga dengan Tana Toraja.

"No matter where I live, I will always be proud of Tana Toraja."

"Keluarga dan tetangganya bersorak, memberi dukungan.

Her family and neighbors cheered, offering support.

Dewi merasa beban di dadanya sedikit terangkat.

Dewi felt the burden on her chest lift a little.

Dia menemukan bahwa kebanggaan pada budayanya tidak membuatnya kehilangan diri, melainkan memperkaya hidupnya.

She discovered that pride in her culture didn't make her lose herself, but rather enriched her life.

Malam itu, di bawah hujan yang masih setia mengikuti mereka, Dewi tersenyum.

That night, under the rain that continued to accompany them, Dewi smiled.

Dia mungkin tinggal di kota, tetapi hatinya tetap di desa ini, di antara keluarga dan tradisinya.

She might live in the city, but her heart remained in this village, among her family and traditions.

Melalui pengalamannya, dia mampu melihat bahwa identitasnya terbentang luas antara masa lalu dan masa kini, sebuah jembatan yang baru saja dia bangun kembali.

Through her experience, she was able to see that her identity stretched wide between the past and the present, a bridge she had just rebuilt.