AUTHOR: INDONESIA HERO
COLLABORATION: RESULTS, DEBATE, AND TRAVEL
...18 December 2026, To the diary....
...Today the world cup final will be held at night, uncle Samsul has said not to come home until tomorrow. I hope he stops gambling, the old man is very good, but his fate in gambling is not good. The final match between Norway and Asia, Japan. What a surprise....
...I still vividly remember the day where my feet first wetted the sea of Piyambak Island. A memorable and scary experience. After returning home, Clara fell ill for seven days.
...
...Two months since training on the island of Piyambak. As Clara and I continued to train, Clara also practiced using a katana found in Piyambak, Clara learned from a former national athlete. I'll tell you more about him....
...In these months I also noticed the relationship between Zico and Isma getting closer, understandably said Clara, a new couple. I also wonder why Clara has been talking lately about dating.
...
...Our hard-earned money has been more than enough as an adventurous capital later, but I'm not sure to involve Clara further....
...I was finally able to get the results from Professor Setiawan's research after waiting for a few months. Professor Setiawan promised to give the results later in the day after the lecture was completed....
Kahar focused on writing his diary in front of the marine laboratory while waiting for Professor Setiawan. Kahar wrote the book based on Zico's advice. He said, writing is a confiding friend who will not betray. Kahar has really caught the poet.
Afternoon in front of the lab, Clara said she would follow when her affairs at the rectorate were over. Without the presence of Clara, the atmosphere was quiet and desolate. There was only Kahar himself sitting on a long bench located beside the laboratory entrance. The sun was already high laughing at the clouds, so that the light that was crammed dazzled the eyes.
Kahar awaits Professor Setiawan who is perfecting research on the scales of fish that grow in the skin of Kahar. This research is very interesting for Kahar because the scales of this fish may be a clue to the identity of Kahar. Professor Setiawan who is one of the leading professors in the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine so respected by his students promised to give the results today.
Kahar felt a little nervous as he waited for Professor Setiawan. However, Kahar was also very curious about the results of the research to be given by Professor Setiawan. Kahar hopes that the results of this study provide an overview of who Kahar is.
After a while, Professor Setiawan finally came out of the laboratory with a face filled with satisfaction. Kahar felt very happy because he could get the results of the research that had been waiting for. Professor Setiawan gave the results of his research to Kahar kindly and with a smile.
“This is so crazy,” Professor Setiawan said in an enthusiastic tone. Professor Setiawan's eyes looked at Kahar with such astonishment.
“Is the result known, Prof?’ ask Kahar.
“I haven't finished researching your scales one hundred percent, but the discovery that your scales' DNA is the same as the DNA found in ten thousand year old ancient bacteria buried in ice sheets in Antarctica. This could mean that you, Kahar Muzakar, may not be a human being,” explained Professor Setiawan.
Mata Kahar refused to believe it. His tongue trembled to start talking. Sweat began to wet a little corner of Kahar's body. Kahar did not believe every phoneme that jumped out.
“How could this possibly happen, Professor?” kahar asked in a tone of disbelief.
Professor Setiawan smirked at Kahar. “I know this sounds absurd, Kahar, but the results of this study I have repeated many times and the results are always the same. Your skin scales do have the same DNA as the ancient creatures found in Antarctica.”
Kahar still felt disbelief. He could not imagine how his skin scales could be the same as the DNA of a creature that lived thousands of years ago. Professor Setiawan feels that Kahar still needs time to process this information. He asked Kahar to go home and think about this discovery calmly. “We can meet again tomorrow and talk about this further, Kahar,” he said.
Kahar agreed and went home confused. He did not know what else to think about this discovery. Does this mean it has a connection to an ancient creature found in Antarctica? Or maybe it's just a coincidence? Kahar doesn't know the answer, but he knows that he should discuss this with Professor Setiawan again tomorrow.
As he was about to turn his gaze away from the laboratory, Kahar saw Clara and Isma who were walking towards him. They looked cheerful and seemed to have just finished their affairs at the rectorate.
“Kahar!” greet Clara and Isma from a distance.
Clara who today uses a green shirt with a jacket looks very stylish, while Isma uses a plain T-shirt that says ‘Viva La Revolution’. Kahar stopped his steps, waiting for two of his friends to approach.
“So how's your business?” ask Clara.
“Good, all done, Bang,” reply Clara so excited. “you yourself, how did it go?” ask Clara.
“What result do you mean?” sahut Isma asked Clara a question. Clara flinched, she forgot that there was Isma.
“Nothing, I was just doing research with my Professor, this is not an interesting thing to talk about,” sambar Kahar switched the conversation. Isma nodded not asking much more.
“This is your Kahar, let's go home,” take Clara. Clara agreed and then pulled Kahar's hand away from the lab. Kahar pulls away closer to Clara.
“The results are beyond reason,” whispered Kahar.
...****************...
On campus during the day after the final semester exam, the atmosphere felt very quiet and quiet. Many students have returned to boarding after completing exams, so not many have been seen wandering around the campus. However, there may still be some students who are still sitting around in the campus garden, looking relaxed and enjoying the atmosphere of a shady day. Some students may also still be busy with collecting and submitting final assignments or their thesis. In some places on campus, there are sounds of people talking or laughing, adding a cheerful and crowded atmosphere even though not as much as before the test.
It was a fitting calm for Kahar to discuss his next plan with Clara.
Kahar and Clara sat on the campus park bench enjoying the beautiful afternoon after finishing taking the final semester exam. They talked about some of the things that happened during this semester, but Kahar seemed a little confused and unfocused. Clara finally realizes that something is troubling Kahar, and she asks what happened.
Kahar let out a long sigh, then said, "I don't know how to tell you this. I wanted to say this a long time ago and I'm afraid that you'll be angry or clueless."
"What makes you so confused, Bang? You can talk to me about anything" Clara said softly.
"Well, I'll say it honestly. I can't take you to South Sumatra" Kahar said in a low tone.
Clara was shocked to hear Kahar's words. "Why not, Bang? We've been planning that trip together for a long time."
"I'm scared. I'm afraid that you'll get hurt or something bad happens to you there. I don't want to lose you" replied Kahar with tears streaming down his cheeks.
"But Bang, I feel that I should take part in this journey with you, as part of your journey of life. I don't want you to feel alone" Clara said in a sad tone.
Kahar and Clara were involved in a long debate about travel to South Sumatra. After much consideration, Kahar finally decided to go alone.
“No, Bang. You stay here.” Kahar once again asserted his argument.
“I've been practicing using katana, you don't need to worry.” The crying started to fall. Kahar shook his head. His eyes said no. Clara was deeply saddened by Kahar's decision, and she could not help her tears falling on her cheeks.
"I will always love you. I just want what's best for you" Kahar said in a weak tone.
"I'll always be waiting for you, Bang. Take good care of yourself there" Clara said in a sad tone. Kahar kisses Clara gently before Kahar starts talking again.
"I know you just want the best for me, Bang,” Clara said with tears still running down her cheeks. "But I feel that I should take part in this journey with you. I don't want you to feel alone in there."
Kahar finds it hard to say no to Clara, but he knows that he has to think about Clara's safety above all else. "I'll try to understand. But I have to be sure that you'll be safe there. I don't want to lose you."
Clara nodded with tears still running down her cheeks. "I'll be fine, Bang. I will always wait for you and miss you.”
“I've missed you.”
Kahar hugged Clara tightly, feeling a deep pain in his heart. He knows that Kahar must go alone to South Sumatra to solve the mystery of Kahar's father's disappearance, but he does not want to leave Clara. However, he knew that he had to do it for the sake of his family and for the Clara he loved.
Finally, Kahar let go of his embrace and stood up. "I have to go. I'll be back as soon as possible. I will always love you" Kahar said in a weak voice.
Clara nodded with tears still running down her cheeks. "I'll always be waiting for you, Kahar. Take good care of yourself there and remember that I'm always by your side."
Kahar kissed Clara once more gently before leaving. Clara fell silent on the spot, watching Kahar leave with a heavy heart. He felt unprepared to release Kahar, but he knew that he had to make room for Kahar to do what he had to do.
After Kahar left, Clara fell silent on the spot, feeling lost without Kahar by her side. He feels that Clara should be strong for Kahar, but he doesn't know how. He could only pray that Kahar would survive the journey and return to him as soon as possible.
...****************...
Kampung Rambutan Terminal. The atmosphere of the morning was sad, for the first time Clara had to part with Kahar. The two men had to separate. Kahar has also lied with Samsul's uncle and his mother that he went to South Sumatra for academic research purposes.
This was the first time Kahar had gone to South Sumatra, and he had no idea what was going to happen there. He had harbored a dream to meet his father's coordinate point, but now he felt that the dream would come true.
"So this is farewell?" ask Zico who delivered Kahar's departure.
"I'll be right back."
Clara who came to deliver just kept quiet and kept holding back her tears. Clara was speechless, she had exhausted her grief yesterday.
"Don't let anything bad happen to you" said Clara.
Kahar let out a long sigh, then put his bag into the bus that would take him. He felt a little relieved after making sure that all things were fine for him to leave behind. Kahar's stuff is safely on the bus and he's ready to go.
Kahar glanced at his watch, then felt surprised to know that the time to leave was near.
"I really should go." Kahar immediately got on the bus.
"We're going to keep Clara here" Isma said of winning Clara.
Kahar decided to sit in the front seat of the bus, so that he could see the view outside the window more clearly.
After a few minutes, the bus finally left for South Sumatra. Kahar felt a little relieved after knowing that his journey had already begun. He had no idea what was going to wait for him, Kahar's plan was already unfolding out there.