AUTHOR: INDONESIA HERO
Tag: HARD CITY
^^^In Jakarta, the dream will begin. All relationships with people begin. Many unexpected encounters occur here. Jakarta is a home and a city that will always be remembered.^^^
Arriving at Soekarno Hatta Airport, Jakarta. Kahar was treated to a view of the capital that he had only seen for the first time. This is the first time Kahar left his hometown, Selayar, South Sulawesi.
At the door of the domestic arrival, Kahar issued a piece of paper with the name and address written:
Uncle Samsul, Jl. Easy No.888a, RT.03/RW.08, Rawamangun, Cec. Pulo Gading, East Jakarta City, Jakarta Special Capital Region 13225
0895-4233-3333
The phone number and address that Kahar stopped by next. Uncle Samsul, his mother's older brother who has lived in Jakarta for a long time.
Uncle Samsul has pitted his fate first in Jakarta as an online motorcycle taxi driver and lives in modest boarding houses near Garuda Nusantara University. He misses his family in his hometown. Kahar's arrival was welcomed with open arms. Kahar will stay with him during his education. Uncle Samsul has also promised to pick up Kahar at the airport.
30 Minutes Kahar waited patiently until the red matic motor came. The figure of a paro-aged old man with the scent of the sun came towards Kahar.
"Don't Muzakar?" tanyanya.
"Uncle Samsul?" answer Kahar's questions.
"Yes." Yeah." Kahar came to hug his uncle who he had not seen for a long time. The last time they met was when Kahar was in elementary school.
Tears re-create a long-time family reunion. Uncle Samsul seemed to be treated with his missus with the land of Sulawesi. With a smile, Samsul's uncle immediately invited Kahar back to his boarding house.
The journey was full of traffic jams, Kahar was surprised by the condition of the capital. It should have taken an hour, now it should have been a little more patient on the road.
"I've only seen Jakarta jam on television, it turns out it's true."
"Welcome to Jakarta."
...****************...
The new Kahar looked still awkward and scared. How not, he was first separated from his mother in a small town to pursue his dream in Jakarta. Uncle Samsul realized that Kahar was feeling awkward, trying to start a conversation, "How's your mother doing?"
"Okay Uncle" replied Kahar.
"It's been a long time that my uncle has not seen him. Not even uncle can recognize you at first." Uncle Samsul took out a red cigarette and set it on fire.
"Is it because my scales are starting to wane?" kahar's words are interspersed with laughter that marks him as having made peace with his shortcomings.
"It's a little nasty that uncle laughs along." Uncle Samsul threw smoke into the sky. A little smile painted.
"Uncle's bored is close to your college. You don't have to pay for transportation, uncle has been here for years. If you need anything, never hesitate to say," said Uncle Samsul.
Kahar smiled and nodded. He was relieved that uncle looked kind and friendly. They keep chatting about college and life in the big city, while occasionally being accompanied by a cute uncle's pet cat named Opan. Kahar felt more comfortable and not awkward anymore. He feels very lucky to be able to stay at the boarding house of Samsul's friendly uncle and help him adjust to his new life.
...****************...
The class will start in one month. However, the re-list has been opened, which is what makes Kahar come faster to Jakarta. Kahar enthusiastically prepares everything needed. After breakfast, Kahar leaves for the campus on foot. The distance of the campus with the cost can be reached only 10 minutes walk. Good thing Kahar thought, he could save money.
By the time we got there, humans had been in long lines snaking. The signboard reads "Relist Line". Kahar knows what to do. Alone he marched, not long after which five to ten men lined up behind him.
Tiring re-registrations, three hours in line and a lot of confusing photocopying documents. Fortunately, Kahar's patience has been nurtured for a long time. Kahar is now half-officially a student. He was curious about his college building.
"Would I go to school first?"
Kahar walks alone in the park of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences. He saw a beautiful and spacious building. There is also an interesting laboratory. He also saw some students talking in the park, just a little. Because the lecture is still on holiday, the condition of the park becomes as clean as possible. In the middle of the faculty garden, there is a pond and above the pond there is a bridge commonly referred to as a kertapati bridge.
"Enough for today" said Kahar, turning away from the faculty. He's getting ready to go home.
"Pleasehaven!" shouted a woman. Kahar. He immediately ran towards the source of the sound. He saw a girl drowning. The people around the pool just screamed and recorded without any effort to help.
Without hesitation, Kahar immediately jumped into the pool after putting his bag and cell phone away. He swam very fast, before the girl actually drowned, Kahar managed to pull her to the edge of the pool. At first people were anxious because the girl did not faint, but Kahar was able to provide first aid so that the girl regained consciousness.
Although the girl initially looked surprised and scared, she finally calmed down after Kahar explained the incident earlier.
"It's better" replied the girl who turned out to be named Clara. His body shivered, the stairs were icy cold, his eyes kept looking at Kahar who saved him.
"Thank you, if I may know, what's your name?" clara asked, putting her hand out.
Kahar greeted the hand with a warm handshake. He smiled even though he was cold. Friendly, he introduced himself as Kahar Muzakar from the department of marine science. Clara seemed happy, she also came from the department and this was her first year.
"It's funny to be acquainted with such a condition."
"According to our majors not far from the sea" Kahar laughed.
Kahar lent his jacket to Clara who looked paler. The eyes of the little girl who had long hair and white skin looked puzzled. Red lips are easy as if to say something but hesitant.
"You sure?" ask Clara.
"Yes, just borrow it, I'm used to wet conditions like this." replied Kahar. He noticed her soaking wet self. He hasn't been like this for a long time.
"But you can't go back to your place under such circumstances, can you."
"Totally so."
"Come by my place for a moment."
Kahar could not refuse Clara's invitation. He was actually just a strong-witted stifle withstanding the cold. Clara immediately stood up, talked to her friend and said she was really fine. Clara will return home with Kahar on Clara's motorcycle.
Because of the wet conditions, they both became the attention of people passing by, fortunately the state of the campus was as clean as possible. They continue to be looked at when heading to the motorcycle parking lot.
"You used to take a motorcycle?" ask Clara.
"No." Kahar went straight up to the back seat of the bike. Clara took a deep breath and said, "I think it's more embarrassing than drowning in a pond."
...****************...
Clara and Kahar finally arrive at Clara's boarding house located quite far from the campus. The mixed innocence that made Kahar again exposed to shock culture. Clara's room is on the third floor, top floor.
On the first floor, Kahar saw rooms with high-shelf shoes and bottles of liquor. Riding on the second floor, the smell of medicine typical of the hospital filled Kahar's nose. And, on this third floor there was only Clara who settled down. "The news on this floor is haunted, the demons are even afraid to stay. That's why it's cheap."
Clara's only been living in this cabin for two months. He came first from Kahar because he knew Jakarta better.
Clara, who was wet, went to the bathroom located inside, while Kahar opened his top and noticed that his body still had scales on his back. The body is 170 Cm high and has a proportional weight, clearly displayed in the round mirror of Clara. The torn bread Kahar trained on reflected in the mirror was suddenly covered in a towel thrown without Kahar's knowledge. Kahar was shocked and immediately closed his body.
"You seen him?" kahar panicked to Clara who was covered in white towels all over her body.
"I just look at your belly" replied Clara and picked up a plain black t-shirt and training pants.
"Here, just wear this one when you're in the shower."
"You didn't see my back, did you?" ask again Kahar make sure.
"No" he answered lightly.
Kahar felt a little bit comfortable just alone with the girl he just knew who was only covered in a towel. He immediately took a shower and wore Clara's clothes. Kahar looked awkward as he exited the bathroom, he was nervous to see Clara who had changed into a pink long-sleeved shirt.
"I'm going home."
"Where's your kosan?" clara asked with a smile as if she had forgotten the incident that almost took her life.
"Near campus, I forgot the name of the street," Kahar replied in a slightly stammering tone.
"I'll take you." Clara immediately took the motor key. This time Kahar hesitated to accept the sweet girl's invitation.
"Not yet, thank you."
"Come on, it's a hard city, Bang."