CHAPTER I
GRAY GUY
“Mom, Dad, I’ve to go now” Fajri is going to go to school. He carries his backpack and holding his motorcycle’s key. His parents are having their breakfast at the dining room.
“Have you had your breakfast?” His father reminds him. Mrs. Anna, his mother takes no action. She enjoys her breakfast.
“Not yet, Dad. I’ll have it at school” Fajri kisses his father’s right hand.
“OK, this is for you to buy breakfast.” Mr. Arya gives him some money.
“Thank you, Dad.” Fajri walks to his mother. “Mom...” His mother just give him her hand without saying anything to him, she’s looking at him at glimpse.
“Take care, my boy” Mr. Arya smiles to him.
“Always”
*****
It’s 6.15 in the morning. Fajri runs his motorcycle to Jakarta Chemical Analyst Senior High School (JCASH). It takes about 15 minutes from his house to school by motorcycle. The class will start at 6.30. This is his second grade at that school. He’s clever, smart, easy going and hard worker student. He always gets an excellent point for every subject.
Fajri is an ordinary teenager who grows in a rather unharmonious family. He’s not Mr. Arya and Mrs. Anna’s only son; he has a sister and she’s older than him, Vecky Anindita Mandala. She’s still studying in Yogyakarta.
*****
The traffic is crowded today. Now is 6.35, Mr. Koko, a security guard of Jakarta Chemical Analyst Senior High School, is about to close the gate, but suddenly Fajri comes.
“You must be Fajri. Hmmmm, teenager...” said Mr. Koko while closing the gate.
Fajri drops his blue grasshopper on the parking lot. Silent. He looks at his mobile phone.
Reminder : Organic Exam
Alkana’s substance. Chapter 3 and 4
Gosh, I’ve an organic examination today! How can I forget this? Fajri is walking to his class.
“Only pencil and eraser are allowed on your table. If I knew that one of you is cheating, you will be failed!” Mrs. Wijaya said to the whole class while transferring the examination paper and answer sheet.
The footsteps are echoing in the silent school’s hallway. That’s Fajri.
I must be late and Mrs. Wijaya will not receive my silly excuse. Hmmm... Let’s see what she will do to me... Fajri smiles.
He has just arrived at his class; XI-1, a whole class is silent and they are busy to think how to answer each question correctly.
“Sorry I’m late. May I join your class, Ma’am?” Fajri asked his teacher.
“Why do you come late?”Mrs. Wijaya looks unpleasant.
“Heavy traffic, ma’am.” Fajri replied
“Huh... Ok, but there will be not any additional time for you, young boy. Now, go to your chair and do it” said his teacher with her high pitch.
“Thank you, ma’am”.
*****
The first subject today is about organic substances in chemist.
He reads the test paper point by point. Like usual, he always does the question which is interesting for him. And now it’s about the kind of alkana’s substances.
17. Write all the isomer of hexane (C6H14) include their name
Then he writes on his answer sheet.
17. CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3 : N-Hexane
CH3-CH (CH3)-CH2-CH2-CH3 : 2, methyl-pentane
CH3-C ((CH3) (CH3))-CH2-CH3 : 2, 2 diethyl-butane
CH3-CH ((CH2) (CH3))-CH2-CH3 : 2, diethyl butane
CH3-CH (CH3)-CH (CH3)-CH3 : 2, 3 diethyl butane
The examination takes about 90 minutes for 20 questions. After all students finish answering each point, Mrs. Wijaya takes their answer sheet and leaves the class.
“Fa, do you have Panic! At the Disco newest song?” Bintang, his best friend asks him when they are back to their seat.
“Not yet, have you?” Fajri excited when they are talking about their beloved band.
“Of course I have. I’m a big fan of them” Bintang smiles while holding his mobile phone. He opens some menu on it.
“So am I, send it to me, please” Fajri takes his mobile from his pocket, smiles to Bintang.
*****
It’s 16.30 when Fajri arrived home. He has an organic lab work subject that spent about 3 hours on a big and complete lab. He opens the locked front door. As usual, no one home, only him. He’s the first at house.
This 185 cm boy enters his room in the second floor. He is laying his thin body on the bed for a while before he decides to take a bath. He is looking for his mobile phone on his trousers.
Hey, Bunny... how’s everything? Have you finished your class? Fajri types a short message for his lovely sister.
The relationship among them is very close. Fajri always shares everything to Vecky and so does her, there’s no secret between them.
Fajri starts to play Owl City’s song on his CD player. A beautiful song fills Fajri’s small room. He grabs his towel and goes to the bathroom inside his room.
After he took a bath, he spent his time by doing his organic report on the terrace.
His mobile is vibrating. A new message from his sister.
Amazing! I will join with 2 of my friends in The Best College Student Competition. And I have to prepare for it; I want to be the first winner so that I can get my post graduate degree at Sorbonne University. And how about you, brother? Fajri smiles, he’s so happy knows that his only sister is chosen to join the competition.
He replies, Wow! That’s great! Wish you will be the first winner, sister. When will you go here? I’m longing for you, sister J
*****
They are gathering in the dining room, having their dinner. “How was your school today, my boy?” Mr. Arya opens the conversation. His mother is serving macaroni soup for his father.
“Just so-so, I forgot that I had an organic examination this morning. But I did it the best I could.” Fajri smiles to his father.
“How could you do your best if you just spend your time for the internet, game, and hang out with your friend?” Mrs. Anna said angrily to Fajri.
“Mom, he can do the best he can. Look, if he’s a lazy boy, he couldn’t get a good score for each subject.” Mr. Arya said calmly.
Fajri just smiles, his mother is still deafening in a silence. “Mom, there will be a routine meeting among parents for each student in my school. Will you come for me, please? Because I think dad couldn’t come because he has not much free time in his routines” Fajri asks his mother.
“No, I won’t. Next week I have to meet my client. You know that my business is growing so fast. And I don’t want to miss any chances at all.” Mrs. Anna said without looking at Fajri’s face.
“Yes, mom. I understand.” Fajri bends his head down and finishes his dinner.
“I will, boy.” Mr. Arya is tapping his only son’s left shoulder, smiling at him.
“Thanks, dad.” They continue their dinner. Silent hung between them.
CHAPTER II
ABSENT
Today is weekend; Mr. Arya and his wife are watching morning news on the television. Fajri is in the kitchen, takes a glass of orange juice after he had a little exercise.
“Boy, what will you do today? Will you join us to go to the computer exhibition this afternoon? I think I need to buy a new and complete printer for us.” Mr. Arya said from the living room.
“Dad, please. Don’t waste our money to buy a new printer. We have already had the oldest edition and it still works.” Mrs. Anna shows her objection.
“Mom, we need a copier machine and scanner. If we had to buy it one by one, it also wastes our money more than if we bought a complete printer” Mr. Arya is still on his decision.
Fajri empties his glass of juice. He is walking through his parents. “I agree with you, dad. And I have nothing to do today, so I think I’ll join. Besides that, it’s been a long time we don’t go together again.” He smiles.
“But I won’t! I just want to stay at home. Running my online business.” Mrs. Anna is leaving them in the living room.
This teenager is looking at his father’s face. Mr. Arya draws a tired breath. He sits beside his father’s, watching the morning news. The fifty years old man is drinking his coffee.
“Dad, I feel like I’m not an important part for mom. She won’t come to the daily gathering on my school and now, she won’t join us. Is it because of me?” his voice was flat and emotionless.
This wise man looks at his son’s eyes. Smiles. “Fajri my boy, let me tell you something. It’s not because of you. But she’s busy with her work.”
“Ok, I know it. When will we go to the exhibition, dad?” Fajri tries to hide his disappointed. He smiles to his father.
“Can we make it at 11 am?”
“Yes, sure. But I want to take a bath first.”
*****
Today is Tuesday afternoon on September 8th, the Jakarta Chemical Analyst Senior High School has their annually event. A meeting between the school committee and the whole student’s parents. They will discuss about a new program for the next school year.
Mr. Arya is still busy with his works. He is editing some articles that will be published tomorrow. Suddenly the alarm from his mobile phone is ringing. A reminder that he should have to go to Fajri’s school to attend the meeting.
He is looking at his watch, 12.30. It means he has 30 more minutes to join the event. This attractive man takes his car from the parking lot and drives his red horse to Halimun Street where that school is located.
The traffic is not really crowded this afternoon because the rain was pouring down about half an hour ago. He runs his beloved car as fast as he can.
It takes only 15 minutes from his office to his son’s school. Before he enters the school gate, he stops his car on the Javanese restaurant near there. His stomach was singing a hunger song. He recalls that because this morning he woke up late and he only got a sandwich on his way to the office.
After he finishes his lunch, he comes to JCASH. When Mr. Arya entered the dome, the meeting is about to begin. This big room is full with the parents of JCASH students. About more than two hundred people are attending the meeting most of them are women. Five people as a representative of school committee are sitting in the front.
The meeting is talking about the scholarship program for every student who gets an excellent score for the productive subject, such as microbiology, organic and inorganic chemist, pharmaceuticals, and physic-chemist subject. And this program will be running until the next three years. For the students in their last years, they will be sent to the Nathaniel University in Yogyakarta which is the best university for everyone who will be a good scientist.
CHAPTER III
HUNCHED
Seven months after the annually meeting, Jakarta Chemical Analyst Senior High School will have a night for charity and will donate the fund for one of the teacher who suffers from brain cancer. Each student should come to that event with their parents. Today, the school committee delivers an invitation for the JCASH parents.
Mrs. Juliana is standing in front of the students in XI-1 class. Calling the students one by one based on the students list. Fajri is chatting with his mate, Bintang. They’re talking about the newest Bintang’s collection.
*****
Fajri and Bintang have same collection and hobbies. They like to play guitar and collect them. Bintang has 3 electric guitars and 4 acoustic guitars. Fajri has only 2 electric guitars and an acoustic guitar. Besides that, they also like making their own music.
They have their band called The Citizens. The Citizens consist of Fajri and Bintang played electric guitar, Rangga as a vocalist, Didi as a drummer and David as a keyboardist. They are in the same class and they have the same genre of music, pop-rock music.
*****
“Andrea Bintang” Mrs. Juliana called his name.
“To be continued...” He’s smiling to his best friend, takes his invitation.
“Don’t forget to give this invitation to your parents” said Mrs. Juliana.
“I will, ma’am. Thank you” he smiles and walks to his seat.
“Hey, Dude. Who will come to the charity’s night?” Fajri is asking his friend.
Bintang keeps silent. He is looking at the invitation on his right hand and takes a deep breath. “I don’t know. My father is very busy with his works, and he is happy with his new family. Maybe I won’t let them know about this event.”
Fajri feels pity to his mate; he is tapping Bintang’s back. “C’mon, Dude. You can come with my family. And it will be very nice. We can go together there.” Fajri smiles.
“Thank you, boy.” Smile arises on Bintang’s lips.
Bintang rented a small room near his school on Kusumanegara Street. His mother was passed away after Bintang’s born. He never knows how his mother was. He just knows his mom from his father. If he missed his mom, he just takes his mom’s photograph from his wallet.
His father is an owner of Adam Smith’s Publishers which publishes an international best seller novel which will be published in Indonesia.
Bintang doesn’t want to live with his parents because his father has a new wife. And it makes Bintang decided to stay in his rented room. He doesn’t want to live with his step mother.
*****
Dinner time is a time where the Mandala’s family shares what has happened on their life today. On the dining table, Mr. Arya as a father sits on the front line. His wife sits on his right and his son on his left. If Vecky in the house, she will sit beside her mother.
Now they are ready with their dinner. “Hmmm... delicious. Did you make it, mom?” Mr. Arya asks his wife.
This 45 years old woman smiles. “Of course I did it. I went back home early today, so I could cook something for our dinner.”
“Thanks for the delicious meal, dear. By the way, what about your business?” Mr. Arya asked to his wife while enjoying his dinner.
Fajri enjoys his meal and gets rid of what are they talking about. He has to finish editing The Citizens’s music after enjoying his dinner and sent it to some of radio station in Jakarta.
“I have so many new customers. And I believe that I can reach the entire target so that I can take us to Singapore for holiday.” She’s excited.
Mr. Arya smiles, “That’s great. Wish that you can reach your target. And what about you, my boy?”
Fajri stops for a while. Drinking his water. “My school will have an event, A Charity’s Night. We have to go there and donate some money. And it will be donated to Mr. Lukman, one of my teachers, to help him. He suffers from the brain cancer.”
“When it will be held?”
“On April 21st at the school hall, dad. And I wish Mom and Dad will come.” Fajri looks at his parents.
“What the hell event is that? Money, money, money.... They know that making money is very difficult, don’t they? Or it’s just your way to get our money so you can buy a new guitar or for your hell band?” Mrs. Anna said angrily.
She’s a typical of stingy woman. She rarely spends her money for charity. But she will spend her money for the cosmetics, jewelry and fashions.
“I tell the truth, mom. I’m not a liar. I never ask money from you to buy a new guitar, or anything else. And I have the invitation. I’ll show you!” Fajri gets mad with his mother. He goes upstairs to take the invitation. He’s very sick that his mother always said the bad things about him.
“Mom, you shouldn’t say that to our son. He’s not a liar. And it will hurt his feeling.” Mr. Arya tries to make his wife understand that Fajri is not a bad boy.
Mrs. Anna keeps on his mind, “A perfect liar” she’s murmuring.
*****
“This is the invitation and I never tell a lie to you, mom. And one thing that you should know. I’m not a liar and I’m not a bad boy. I never ask you for money to fund my hobby.” Fajri gets angry and puts the invitation on the living room when Mr. Arya and Mrs. Anna spent their time to watch a movie.
Mrs. Anna’s face turns red. She’s very angry with his son. “Fajri! I couldn’t stand with you! You never do anything for this family. You’re such a jerk! You always waste your money for your hobby. Buying guitar, making music and never spent it for a good things. And now, look! You’re so tiny now. You lost a lot of weight. And I’m sure that the money we gave is just for buying drugs.” She’s standing from her seat.
The old man who sits beside her is hugging her. “Mom, believe him please. He’s not like what you think. He’s spent his money for his school. Look, he never asks some money for books, lab tools and other stationeries. He uses the money that we gave for it. So, please don’t ever say that he’s a drug user or even a liar. He’s our son!” Mr. Arya tries to make his wife calm down.
“Take it easy, Dad. Okay mom, I will do the best for you. I won’t spend my time in this house anymore. So that I will never bother you. And I will never ask for money again from you, mom.”
Mr. Arya is standing beside his beloved son. “Fajri, please don’t go from this house. I want you to be still here. Spend our time together.” He tries to persuade his son.
Fajri smiles, “No dad, I’m okay and I will show you that I can make my own life. I will pack my tools and go away from your life, mom.” He’s looking at his mother. But his mother is ignoring him.
She’s still silent. Fajri goes to his room. Mr. Arya is just standing like a statue on his feet.
“Yeah, that’s better for us. And I believe that you couldn’t survive. I believe if you run off your money, you will come here again.” Mrs. Anna is shouting to Fajri.
“No, I won’t!” He replies while entering his room.
He’s packing his tools on his travel bag. He brings his school uniform and his school tools. He’s typing something on his cell phone.
I feel so sick with mom, tonight I decide to go away from this house. I want to prove her that I can do anything and I’m not like what she thought.
He sent that message to Vecky and Bintang. He continues tiding his tools. He also put his guitar on the special case, his beloved electric guitar. Suddenly his cell phone rings, he grabs it. A new message:
Why? What did she do to you? And where will you go? Have you thought about it twice? Vecky replies his only brother’s message.
Fajri sits on his bed. Typing something on his phone.
She said that I’m a drug user; I always spent the money that she gave for my guitar and for The Citizens. I thought about it wisely. I don’t want to bother her anymore. Maybe I want to stay at Bintang’s rented room for several days. But, please believe me that I’m not like what she thought about me.
He’s ready with his travel bag, his guitar case and of course the key of his blue grasshopper. A thin boy with his big travel bag and guitar case, going upstairs. He sees his parents are debating about Fajri’s decision.
“Dad, mom... I want to go now. Mom, I’ll show you that I can be the best son that you ever had. I’ll prove it, mom.” His mom is still on her decision. She gets rid of what her son said.
“Fa, please don’t do that! We love you so much. Your mother is not serious with her words.” Mr. Arya tries to pursue his son.
Fajri just smiles and still stares at his mother. “I said I won’t stay here anymore.”
His mother smiles sarcastically. “Yeah, that’s good decision.” She said.
“Boy, I trusted you. I believe that you will do the best. And it’s for you. You can use it for rent a room.” He gave Fajri some money.
Fajri doesn’t receive it. “Thank you, dad. But I’ve my own. Don’t worry about me. I can do it by myself. Bye, dad.”
He leaves his house. Go to his best friend house, Bintang.
CHAPTER IV
RUN AWAY
“Hey, buddy. I want to spend overnight in your room. May I?” Fajri is on the phone with Bintang. He’s at the gas station on the way to his friend’s house. He still remembers what his mother told him. He wants to stay at Bintang’s room for several days.
“Yeah, of course. My door is always open for you.” Bintang said happily.
“OK, I’ll come in 10 minutes.”
“Take care”.
*****
They are in Bintang’s rented room on gang Bedjo now. “Welcome to my small world, dude” Bintang smiles and opens the door for Fajri. Fajri punch his friend’s head while entering that small room and lean his body on the mattress.
“Bin, I want to go away from my parent’s house. And I wish I could spend my time here with you. But after I have enough money, I will rent my own room, so that I couldn’t bother you anymore.” Fajri told his purpose.
“Hey, take it easy, Fa. We’re friends so; I’ll always be with you and don’t ever say that you’re bothering me. I’m glad that you can share everything with me. And that’s what friend is for.” Bintang smiles to Fajri.
“Thank you Bintang. But I couldn’t stand my mom anymore. She hates me very much. Treat me like I’m such a jerk and I think I’m not his son. If it was true, so who’s my mom?” Fajri tells what’s on his mind when they are watching TV on Bintang’s small room.
“Fa, I know that you are so sick in your own house, about your family. But where will you go? What will you do there? And if she’s not your mother, then why she’s care about you? Do you remember when you were a child, you always cried when you needed something and she gave you everything you want? I know that now you feel that she does not love you anymore, but have you ever asked to yourself that what you have done for her?” Bintang gave his opinion.
“You never know what she did to me, Bin. She is always mocking at me and saying her dirty words.”
“Okay, Fa. I can feel what you felt. As your best friend, I always support you. Whatever you will do, I always be with you, but you have to be more responsible of what will you do. You’re not alone, my man.” Bintang smiles.
*****
The Charity’s Night for Jakarta Chemical Analyst Senior High School will be held this evening. Mr. Arya is on his bedroom, he is holding the invitation that Fajri gave a week ago.
Fa, what are you doing now? I’m longing for you. But finally, tonight we can gather again. You, your mom and me. Mr. Arya takes his deep breath. Smiles.
“Dad, let’s have our breakfast.” Mrs. Anna is entering their room from the kitchen.
“What’s that?” she is standing next to her husband.
Mr. Arya smiles. “Mom, today is a Charity’s Night at Fajri’s school. We can go there together. It must be a great moment. Besides we can spent our money for the charity, we can also gather again. It’s been such a long time we don’t gather again, yeah eventhough Vecky’s not here.”
“Oh, that event.” His wife looks unpleasant.
“Will you go with Fajri and me, mom?” Mr. Arya asked his wife.
Mrs. Anna is about leaving their room. “Sorry, I can’t make it. I have so many things to do. My client wants me to send the catalogue and some of them will come here tonight to and buy the jewelry from me.”
“Mom, please. Come for Fajri.” Mr. Arya asked his wife. But Mrs. Anna is leaving him alone in their room.
I will never attend in Fajri’s event. Mrs. Anna goes downstairs.
It’s two in the afternoon. Mr. Arya, Fajri and Bintang are in the coffee corner on the City of Heaven Mall. They are talking about the Charity’s Night that will be held this evening.
“Yes, dad. I will come to that event, but Bintang must go with us.” Fajri looks at Bintang and smiles.
“Yeah, of course. Bintang, you have to come with us. I’ll pick you up at seven. And you have to look great this evening.” Mr. Arya smiles to them.
Bintang smiles, “Yeah I’ll, Mr. Arya. But I think Fajri will look messy.” He is laughing.
Fajri pulled Bintang’s arm. “Hey, I’m more handsome than you. “
They are agreeing to go to the charity’s night this evening without Fajri’s mother, Mrs. Anna.
*****
After several months he stays at Bintang’s room, today he decides to have his own room. He rented a small room near school. It only takes 5 minutes walking from his rented room to his school. But it will take 15 minutes from Bintang’s rented room.
He fulfills his needs from the money that he gets after helping Bintang’s father and selling all his collection. But his father always transferred some money for his son to fund his school fee and also his tools for school. He always meets his father twice a month outside. He doesn’t want go back to his parents house, even his father and his sister always persuade him to stay back home.
Everytime he is longing for his parents, he always looks at their photograph from his cell phone. A photo when he was a child. They were very happy. When he looks at that portrait, he drops his tears. He is feeling empty and realizing that now he’s alone. Without any family members with him.
He couldn’t help himself that he is longing for home. A place where he can share anything with other family member. A warm hugs, kisses and attention from his parents. But he can’t feel it anymore from his mother.
After his mother has his own business for about 10 years, she doesn’t care anymore of what her children do. She just gave them some money to fulfill they need but she never knows what her children really need.
Fajri and Vecky only get full attention from his father eventhough Mr. Arya is very busy with his job as an assistant director of Gazette International. He always spent his time after he gets back home for his child.
Mr. Arya always keeps in touch with his children. Everytime Fajri needs him, he always asks Fajri to see each other outside his house. Eventhough he has to take his time to meet Fajri, but his children is very important for him.
*****
It’s a final test week on his second grade. They have to do so many examinations. They are preparing for the chemist-physics subject. While other students are busy to recall what they had studied last night, Fajri chose not to do the same thing like his friends. He sits on the bench and chews his bubble gum.
What should I do after finishing study here? I don’t want to stay here any longer. I want to have my own world. I’m so sick of all the hell things happened. I have to go from this city and start my new life independently. But where should I go?
The bell is ringing, all the students entering their class to continue next examination. Fajri throw away the bubble gum that he was chewing along the break time. But he continues to chew another bubble gum while walking to his class.
Mr. Gatot a director of microbiology laboratory walks around the class to make sure that none of his students are cheating. He is Fajri’s favorite teacher because he is kind of a friendly and easy going teacher but he is a rather strict teacher.
Fajri started by answering a question about the procedure of atmospheric distillation
5. The procedure of atmospheric distillation: the sample which will be tested has to be distilled first by heating process according to kind of the sample. The Initial Boiling Point (IBP) is a temperature when the first distilled water drip from the condenser pipe. And the Final Boiling Point is a highest temperature during the distillation process.
Then, he continues with another question and writes the answer on his answer sheet. Mr. Gatot is standing next to him and smiling at him.
He’s clever, but he has so many troubles in his age. About his family, his own trouble. He’s a tough boy...
The class ends at 12.30, Fajri sits on the parking lot. He is chewing his bubble gum while waiting for his best friend, Bintang.
Bintang comes, “hey, dude! You must be late again today.”
“Yeah, you know why I was late, Bin.” They are smiles.
“So, where are we going now?”
“I want to have a new notebook for doing our school project and also for doing what your father’s asked me to do.”
Bintang silence, then he said “you can use my laptop anytime you want. So it will be better if you save your money for very important things.”
Fajri is tapping his best friend’s shoulder. Smiles, “no, buddy. You’re so kind to me. You always help me everytime I need you. Now, trust me, I can do it better than before.”
“OK if it is better for you, where will we go? At book store or electronic center?”
“What if we go to Cyber Park?”
“That’s great. C’mon. Don’t waste our time.” They smile to each other.
Then they are wearing their jacket and helmet. Fajri rides his blue grasshopper and Bintang also rides his scooter to Cyber Park to buy a new notebook for Fajri.
CHAPTER V
THE GIFT
Today is September 22nd at 01.15, Fajri is sleeping on his small room when Bintang came. Fajri never locks the door when he’s sleeping. Bintang is not alone. He comes with Mr. Arya and Vecky. They bring a rectangle box covered with a beautiful paper and also a birthday cake with 17 candles on it. It means this is his first day on his 17.
They walk carefully so that Fajri couldn’t hear their footstep. These three people are in Fajri’s room. Mr. Arya and Vecky drop the rectangle box beside his TV table. Bintang is trying to light on all the candles.
Vecky covered his beloved brother’s head with the blanket that he uses. His brother couldn’t breathe, “Help! I cannot breathe. Hey, please let me out. What do want from me?” Fajri is breathless and moves his body.
“Surprise! Happy Birthday, Fajri..... We love you!” At the same time, Vecky drops the blanket from his brother’s head; Mr. Arya turns the light on and Bintang with the cake which is full of the candle.
Fajri shocked, something warm flows on his heart. “Thank you all. I love you too.” He smiles. He hugs his sister that sits beside him after that he hugs his beloved father.
“Where’s your warm hug for me?” Bintang said in his serious tone while walking close to his beloved friend.
Fajri smiles,”Hey, I’m normal. I don’t want to hug you, dude.”
They are laughing.
“Shut up this candle, boy. But you have to make your wish first.” Bintang said to him.
Fajri closes his eyes, making some wishes for his life. God, thanks for everything, thanks for Your blessing, and I wish I can get my warm family like I used to have. Amen. Then he opens his eyes, blows the entire candle lit.
They enjoy the chocolate tiramisu cake together while they are chatting to each other.
“Fa, you can open that box.” Mr. Arya summoned on his son, smiles.
Fajri takes that box and opens it. He’s so amazed when he knows what the thing inside the box is. A sophisticated gadget for him. A gadget where he can make his own music, make his task and also can connect with the World Wide Web. That’s the thing that he always wants from several years ago.
“Thank you very much, dad.” He hugs his dad. Mr. Arya smiles.
*****
Today is Sunday, Fajri celebrate his birthday with his small family --- his father, his sister and also his very best friend–- they are gathering on the Japanesse restaurant on the Heaven City Mall.
His father can join with them because he told his mother that he has a project on Semarang and will be back home on Sunday evening. His sister, Vecky specially comes to Jakarta for his beloved brother only. And she will take the fastest train on Sunday evening too, so that she can prepare for her study the next day.
They are very happy there. Talking about funny things, the atmosphere feels like they are in their own world. Laughing, joking, are heard from them.
This is the most valuable moment that Fajri needs. He never felt this atmosphere before. He just remembers when he was a child; he has his own party in the biggest restaurant in this city. All of his friends filled the room; his happy family is like the happy family in the world.
But now, there is no mom with him. Something lost from his life. Deep in his heart, he really wants his mother to join them. But it seems so impossible. He remembers that his mother is always busy with her business and never care about her children.
Fajri tries to look very happy in front of his small family. He hides all the pain that he feels.
CHAPTER VI
THE OTHER SIDE
Today Mrs. Juliana, one of Fajri’s teachers, gives the invitation for every student who will graduate this year. She is standing in front of Fajri’s class, calling the student’s name one by one. Fajri is sitting in the corner of the class and listening to his favorite song from his I-Pod. He doesn’t listening to what his teacher’s said.
“Fajri” Mrs. Juliana calls him, but he doesn’t come to the front of the class to get the invitation for him. He’s still tapping his toe on the floor.
Randy, one of his classmates, is tapping on his shoulder. “Fajri, Mrs. Juliana calling you. Pick the invitation, guys”. Fajri pulled out the earphone from his ear, walking to the front of the class to get the invitation.
There’s no more lesson for the last year’s students. They come to school for taking the invitation or just to hang out with their friends. While others talking about their plan after they graduate from that school, Fajri is sitting alone on a bench and put himself trapped on his mind.
A silly event with so many fake smiles on everyone’s face. He is looking at the invitation on his hand. Being the best student because of my intelligent? I don’t need it at all.
*****
Fajri decides to go to his parents’ house to make them know about the graduation ceremony.
It’s 19.30; Fajri is closing the gate and driving his motorcycle to the garage. He finds his father’s car there.
He enters the house from the back door. He sees his parents are sitting in the living room, watching news programmed.
“Evening Dad, mom...” Fajri enters the room. Mr. Arya looks so happy that his beloved son comes again.
“My boy. You come in again!” he approaches his son and hugs him immediately. His wife is still busy with her TV programmed.
Fajri smiles. “Yeah, dad. I want to deliver my graduation ceremony’s invitation.” He takes the invitation on his post-man bag.
Mr. Arya smiles, he looks so happy and doesn’t care what his wife does. “Ok, but let’s have our dinner, son. And we will talk about your biggest event.” This man is sitting in the dining room, but not with his mother.
“Fajri, tell me about your school progress. The graduation ceremony will be held next month, right?” He stops his dinner for a while and begins to read the invitation.
“Hmmm... I should tell my manager first to have a permission not to come on Thursday. Because I have an important event that I have to come. At Krakatau Ball Room, Horizons Hotel.” Mr. Arya said to Fajri.
“You don’t have to come, Dad. That’s an unimportant event.” Mrs. Anna said sarcastically while watching TV.
“Mom, this is our son’s event. He will receive a charter for the best student on his graduation. We should be proud of him.” Mr. Arya looks at his wife and smiles.
“Mom, Dad, if you don’t want to attend my graduation ceremony, it’s OK.” Fajri is drinking his water. “I just want to deliver that invitation. And I’ve back now.” Fajri is about to leaving them.
“No, you can stay here. Please. I want you to spend this night here. It’s been long time for you not to stay at this home again.” Mr. Arya says from his seat. Fajri’s stops his step. He’s thinking of his father’s suggestion.
“OK, dad.” He’s smiling to his father and going upstairs to his room.
“Son, remember, I’ll come to your great event. Have a good sleep” his father smiling at him.
Fajri stops his steps. “Thank you, Dad.” Mr. Arya nodding his head, smiles.
He enters his small room which he was longing for; he is playing the music from his laptop. He tries to browse some new song from his favorite bands. Then he continues to search Panic! At The Disco’s newest song. After he gets the result, he starts to download their new song.
While waiting for the downloading process, he is playing a game and chatting with his friend on his laptop. After finishing download the songs, he transferred it to his I-Pod.
Suddenly Fajri heard his parents are quarrel to each other. “Mom, please come to Fajri’s event.” His father is trying to persuade his wife.
“No, I won’t. What for? To see that our son is the dumbest student in school? I have so much important things to do, Dad” his mother said angrily.
“Mom, he’s a clever boy at his age. And, I can’t stand why you hate him so much? What was his fault?”
“Dad, listen. I didn’t expect him to be my son. I want a little girl again in this family. But He gave me him. And he only spent our money for the hell things!” Mrs. Anna’s voice deeply.
“For God’s Sake! What kind of mother are you? It’s His gift for us. You just only focus on your business and you never know what he wants. He does not only need our money, but he needs our attention too. Do you know that?”
“I hate him. Look what he was done. He’s kind of rebellious boy. Never knows what I want him to do. He’s a trouble maker! I don’t want to talk about him anymore. I’m so sleepy.” She leaves his husband alone in the living room, entering their bedroom.
The sound of comedy show’s still heard from the television. No more debating between Mr. Arya and his wife.
Oh God! Why you should send me to this family? I never expected by everyone, even my Mom. Fajri is frozen on his chair. So many messages are waiting on his messenger. He closes all the pages on his laptop and turns it off.
He lay down on his bed. Still thinking of what he has heard from his mother. He feels like his world isn’t worthy anymore.
*****
“Thanks for this charter. It will be the best present for me. Thanks for my entire teachers, my parents and also my friends.” Fajri says from the podium after he receives the charter for the best student.
He walks back to his chair, “Very good speech, boy” Bintang said from his chair, next to Fajri.
“Just an awkward speech.” Fajri smiles.
The ceremony was end. While other students are busy talking about their own plan, Fajri just standing at the corner of the hall. His father is talking with Bintang’s father. His mother is busy with others.
“I wish we had so much time to talk again, Mr. Soemargo.” Mr. Arya ends his conversation with Bintang’s father.
“Yeah, me too. Thanks for a great talk with you, Mr. Arya” Bintang’s father smiles and shakes hands with Mr. Arya.
*****
They are on their way home with his red horse. “ Fajri, what will you do after this?” Mr. Arya opens the conversation.
Fajri, sits on the back side thinking for a while. “Ummmm.. I don’t know exactly, Dad. I just want to show someone that I can do the best. “
“Our little rascal will have his dumb life, Dad.” His mother said rudely.
“Mom, please. Stop calling him with that name. His name is FAJRI!” Mr. Arya fired his wife back.
Silent during their way home.
CHAPTER VII
HOTHEADED
After finishing his school, he decides to make his own life by helping Bintang’s father on his business. He doesn’t want to stay in his house again because he doesn’t want to see his mother again.
A lovely morning with the bird’s whistle and fresh air. Fajri is walking down to the terrace on his small room. It’s been a long time I can’t feel this atmosphere again. I want to feel this feeling every day. He stretches his thin body.
After taking some fresh air, he is going back to his room and making his own breakfast. His eyes stick on a newspaper. It was published two weeks ago. He takes the newspaper from the shelf and drinks his coffee. He reads the headline which was printed in bold:
Your Attitude is influenced by the Environment
He reads every line on that article. There, he finds that family have the main function to influence everybody’s attitude. He stops at that point. He is trying to remember that his world was different from his past. His mother always has negative thinking of him just because he’s kind of a rebellious boy. But his action was very normal like other boy in that age. Eventhough he’s rather naughty, but he’s still spoiled boy.
He needs his parents’ attention at that time, but he doesn’t get it from his mother. He remembered when he was on his fourth grade elementary school. When his mother has just arrived from her office after running her business, he hugged his mother immediately after she entering the house. Mrs. Anna then pushed his body and made him fell down on the floor. His mother ignored him and left him alone there. Besides that, there were so many things that his mother did which hurt his feeling.
He puts the newspaper back to the shelf. I’m sick of my family. I think I’ll hang out for a while to relax my mind.
*****
Fajri closes the door and locks it. He walks to the garage and takes his motorcycle. He decides to go to City od Heaven Mall.
After riding his blue grasshopper for about 10 minutes, he arrives at that mall. He is entering the coffee shop. Ordering a meal and beverage. He is sitting on the corner of the coffee shop. While waiting for his order, he is looking outside the mall.
He sees a young boy, at his age, is standing in front of exit door. He is wearing a uniform of one of the famous sport’s shop in this country. Everything looks very normal. But he has a tattoo on his left arm and it couldn’t be covered with his polo shirt.
“Cool...” Fajri amazed.
“Excuse me, cold cappuccino and toasted peanut bread.” Said the waitress while serving Fajri’s order. “Is that all, sir?”
“Yes, thank you. May I have the bill?” Fajri replied.
“OK, wait a moment, sir.” The waitress smiles.
*****
It looks cool. A big tattoo on my arm. Hmm... I’ll make my own tattoo now. Fajri smiles, then he drinks his cappuccino. But mom hates everyone with his or her tattoo on their body. But, hey... Why do I have to think about her? She doesn’t care about me anymore. It’s my own life and I have rights to live my life.
After finishing his bread and his cappuccino and also the bill, he goes to the tattoo studio in the same mall.
He has to take the escalator to the third floor where the tattoo’s studio is located. Fajri enters that booth. A bit dark inside the studio. He sees so many kind of tattoo’s picture are hanging on the wall.
“May I help you, boy?” Said man’s voice behind Fajri.
Fajri’s surprised. “I want to have my first tattoo. Can you make it for me?” Fajri replied.
“Of course, come in. Have you got the design?” the man said while entering his work room. It’s like a surgery room at the hospital. It’s too bright inside.
“Can I have a dragon or a couple of dragon from my back to my left upper arm? But not more than my elbow. I don’t want my family know about my dragon.” Fajri explained.
“Yeah, I understand, boy.” He replied. His body is almost same as Fajri, but he has so many tattoos and some piercing on his body. But this young man is still looks attractive with it.
It really hurts Fajri, feels like more than a thousand needles entering every inch of his back and his arm. The most painful part is when he colored Fajri’s tattoo with a special needle. Fajri drops his tears to hold the pain on his body.
After taking about three hours Fajri makes his first tattoo, he fells satisfy with the new thing on his body. He is standing on the big mirror.
I think a piercing on my tongue will make me look good. Then he comes to that man again.
“Buddy, can you make a piercing?” said Fajri to the man who made his tattoo. He is busy tidying up his tools for making tattoo.
“Of course I can. Do you want to have a piercing too?” The man smiles to Fajri. He’s same as me... He must have some problems. He’s kind of good boy. He just wants to show anyone that he wants to feel free. I can see it from his eyes.
“Let me have one on my tongue” said Fajri happily.
Not long after that, Fajri has his new piercing on his tongue. He feels that he’s a perfect guy for himself now. He couldn’t stop smiling. After paying the entire bill, he decides to go back to his room.
*****
It’s 8 o’clock in the evening now.
“Such a tiring day, what about you, buddy?” Bintang asked to Fajri when they are in the Lesehan Bu Inggi to have their dinner together. It’s near to Fajri’s room and tonight Bintang decides to stay overnight at Fajri’s room.
“A great day for me, I think” Fajri smiles to Bintang.
CHAPTER VIII
COFFEE SHOP
To hide his dragon from everyone, Fajri always wears long sleeves shirt, so that they cannot see his dragon. Besides that, he never wears his earrings on his tongue when he has to work and with his beloved persons on his life.
On his last meeting with his father, Mr. Arya asked Fajri to go back to their house because Vecky will stay with them in the next two months. Fajri was so pleasant when he knew that his only sister will be back here again. But he is still on his mind that he won’t be back home before he can show his mother that he can be like his father.
“My boy, I want you to stay at our house again.” Mr. Arya said with his deep voice when they meet at a coffee corner one afternoon.
“Dad, you know that I won’t stay there again before she realizes that I can be like you. A very sucessful man on my field. Yeah, I know that what I do now does not match with my skill. But I believe, someday I will be a good scientist.” Fajri is looking at his father’s eyes deeply.
“Yeah, I know it, son. But please, I want my family gather like we used to be.” Mr. Arya’s eyes were filled with pain.
Silent. The middle-age man who sits in front of Fajri is looking at him. Fajri knows that his father never expected his family become like this. It’s very hard for Fajri to make a decision. He doesn’t want to make his father gets upset with him but on the other hand, he doesn’t want to meet his mother again.
Mr. Arya takes a deep breath. “OK Fa. If you don’t want to go back home, it’s OK. I know what you have in mind.” He smiles to the young man in front of him. But he drew a tired breath.
“Dad, please. You know that I can’t stand mom. She always keeps on her mind that I’ll never be a good son. But you have to know that I love you, I love her and I love Vecky too. I love our family.” Fajri is breathing heavily on his chest.
“I can’t stay there anymore. But I promise, I’ll spend my weekend at home.” Fajri smiles to his father. Two of them are smiling to each other.
“Thank you Fajri. Oomph... By the way, Vecky decided to go back here again and she will seek a job here too. Have you heard about it?” said Mr. Arya while drinking his coffee latte.
“Yeah, she told me two days ago. I really miss her.” Fajri shows his anthusiazm.
“Would you mind picking her up in her rented house in Jogja?”
“I’d love to. But I don’t want to change mom’s mood. You know how she is like, dad. And I think it’ll be better if I come back home when she arrives here.” Fajri hopes his father will understand what he means.
“OK, but you must stay overnight for several days, boy.” Mr. Arya smiles.
*****
Two days after Fajri met his father, Mr. Arya and his wife are going to Jogjakarta to attend Vecky’s graduation ceremony. They are very proud of her because she gets a cum laude for her study in Scholastic International University in Jogjakarta. She finished her study on international public relationship.
Vecky couldn’t come home straight after her graduation ceremony. She has to wait for her certificate and other important documents. So, Mr. Arya and Mrs. Anna decide to go back first. But when she’s ready to go back home, they will pick her up.
CHAPTER IX
WELCOME HOME
“Assamamualaikum. Fa, what will you do tomorrow?” Mr. Arya is on the phone at 7 in the morning. He is talking with his son.
“Wa’alaikum Sallam, dad. Tomorrow? Hmmm... Nothing. Just editing some cover for some new novels that will be published next month. What’s up, dad?” Fajri is still on his room. Lying on his matress.
Today is Friday. Like usual, he comes to Adam Smith Publisher’s at 10 in the morning, so he can spend some of his morning time at his room.
“We will go to Jogja to pick your sister up. Would you mind joining us?” Said Mr. Arya while taking today newspaper on the gate.
“Last night Vecky called me, she really wants me to go with you to pick her up. But sorry to say, like what I said before. You know that I don’t want to make my beloved mom getting mad when she meets me. Besides that, I have to do my task. I’m so sorry, dad. I can’t make it.” Fajri replied in his disappointed voice.
His father takes a deep breath, “OK boy, I know it. But promise me that you will stay overnight in our house straight after we arrive home. Deal?” Mr. Arya tries to show his happiness to Fajri.
“OK dad, I promise I will.”
*****
They just arrived at their house. Vecky smiles when she’s in front of their house. Mrs. Anna throws her arms around Vecky’s shoulder. “Welcome home, dear.” Mrs. Anna smiles. Vecky smiles to her.
Mr. Arya followed walking after them.
Mbok Nah, their maid who was there since six months ago, is trying to take Vecky’s goods from their minibus and take it to Vecky’s room.
*****
It’s almost 6 in the evening. Vecky enters her room that she used to spend her time there several years ago. Everything is still on their place. The light green room in the second floor of Mr. Arya’s mansion is one of her favorite place. She remembers two years ago when she was on her holiday and decided to spend her time in this city. That was the last time she back home.
She takes a deep breath. She is standing in the middle of her room. Smiles. Then she’s lying on her bed which is covered with pink bed sheet.
Hey, where’s my boy? Hmmm... I want to give him a surprise. She wakes up from her bed. Walks to Fajri’s room.
Vecky and Fajri’s room is in the second floor in this house, but their rooms are separated by the open air room, such a balcony, which is usually used to put some sport goods.
She’s walking soundless to his brother’s room. She opens the door carefully.
Cracks.....
She opens Fajri’s room. Vecky is peeping inside the navy blue room. She gets no one there. She opens that door wider than before. The smell of Fajri’s favorite perfume fills that room.
“Hello, my boy. Your beloved sister is in the house again...” Vecky makes sound, hopes that her brother will come from his place.
Silent.
She sits on the Fajri’s bed. All the stuff is on the right place. Gosh! I forget that Fajri isn’t here anymore. How come I can forget about him? Hmmm... It will be better if I call him now and ask him to stay here and spend his time with our complete family. That sounds great. OK, I’ll call him now. She takes his mobile phone from her pocket. Makes a call to Fajri.
*****
Mr. Arya, Mrs. Anna and also Vecky are in the dining room. They are ready for their dinner.
Mrs. Anna looks so happy because her beloved child is here again. A perfect child for her who always makes her proud of Vecky. For Mrs. Anna, Vecky is a child who is kind of an independent and mature child at her age, smart, and also she’s kind of an obedient child. That’s because Vecky was spending her elementary to senior high school at the dormitory, like what she wants, in Bandung. Then she decided to continue her study at Scholastic International University in Jogja.
Mrs. Anna is about to put the rice on her husband’s plate, but Mr. Arya refuses it. “Wait for a moment, mom. We are waiting for Fajri. He promises that he will come tonight. I’ve called him before.”
She is back to her seat, feels disappointed. They are chatting to each other while waiting for Fajri.
Suddenly Fajri comes from the back door and puts his jacket off and his backpack on the chair in the kitchen. Vecky is so happy that her brother finally comes.
Fajri walks to the dining room where his family is waiting for him. He kisses his dad and mom’s hands. Then he takes a seat next to Vecky. Then they are enjoying their dinner.
Mr. Arya, Vecky and also Fajri are so happy. But not with their mom.
CHAPTER X
HOUSE OF THE HELL
It’s late at night when Fajri and his sister still chatting on the balcony. Fajri shares everything that happened in his life. Sometimes his face is getting so happy when he tells his fantastic experiences. Sometimes his face is getting flat when he tells about his monotonous life and he gets very angry when he tells about his mother.
As an oldest child, Vecky tries to give him support and let him know that everything happened in this world is on His control and He wants to make us realize that someday, there will be a day where we will find our eternal happiness. But we have to be patient for waiting that moment and do the best as we can.
Fajri is looking at his watches. It’s 2 in the morning. “Hey, it’s 2 in the morning. You have to take a rest, sister. I know that you’re very tired, so much things that we have to do tomorrow. We can continue then after we have a sleep. Let’s go back to our rom.”
Vecky smiles, Fajri is right that she’s so tired after a long trip from Jogja to Jakarta. “OK, we will continue then.”
They are walking to their own room.
Vecky enters her room, turns the light off and goes to bed.
*****
Fajri is laying his thin body on the bed. He is looking at the ceiling. He couldn’t sleep tonight. He is still thinking about what has Vecky said to him. So many things are on his mind. Can I fix this? After all the stupid things happened in my life? About what mom said to me? What should I do then?
He tries to close his dark brown eyes, but he can’t. He takes his i-Pod and tries to play some songs. Beautiful rhythms come from the earphones on his ears. Not long after that, The Animal Song from Savage Garden can hypnotize him so that he falls asleep.
*****
Mr. Arya is watching morning news on the living room. Mrs. Anna, Vecky and their maid are making breakfast for them. But Fajri is still on his room. He’s still on his dream.
Mr. Arya drinks his tea. “Mom, is Fajri there?” Mr. Arya said from the living room. He doesn’t have to scream because the living room is closed to the kitchen.
“Who cares about him?” Mrs. Anna said while cutting the carrots.
Vecky is looking at her mother immediately. She stops washing vegetables. She gives the vegetables that already washed to Mbok Nah.
“I’ll call him, dad.” Vecky goes upstairs.
Knock...knock... knock ...
Vecky is knocking Fajri’s room. No answer. Then she tries to open the door.
“Fa...” Vecky is about to enter his brother’s room. She sees that his brother is still sleeping with the earphones on his head and his i-Pod still playing a song.
Huhhh... boy... She walks to the window on the corner of Fajri’s room and opens the curtain that covered the glass window. The shine of the sun is running to his room and jumping to his face up.
Fajri scratches his body on the bed and tries to cover his face with his pillow. Vecky smiles when she is looking at his brother. This beautiful tall young woman is walking to his brother’s bed.
She shakes her brother’s body while whispering to Fajri’s ear. “Morning, dear. Wake up... we are waiting for you.”
Fajri moves his body, tries to open his eyes. He looks at his sister at glimpse. “I’m so sleepy; let me sleep 5 more minutes.”
“Hey, it’s 12 now. C’mon hurry! You said that you have to finish your work.” Vecky makes a white lie. She doesn’t want her mother getting angry with Fajri.
Fajri jumps from his bed, he’s in a hurry. “Gosh! Why don’t you said before? I must be late!”
Vecky smiles when she knew that her brother’s panic. “Dear, it’s 8 now.” She is laughing.
Fajri holds the pillow on his bed and throws it away to his sister. Vecky tries to escape from the flying pillow.
*****
After they had their breakfast, Fajri, Vecky and Mr. Arya are on the terrace. They are talking to each other. They are very happy that they can gather again. But Mrs. Anna is still busy with her routines. She doesn’t want to spend her time for the stupid activity like what her husband and her children do now.
Fajri feels so thirsty and goes to the kitchen to take some glasses of orange juice for his father and his sister. He sees his mother is busy with her works. He doesn’t want to disturb her.
*****
It’s 1 in the afternoon. Fajri is on his room. He is tidying his tools and putting them back on his backpack. He’s ready to go back to his wonderful small room to finish his works which he has to submit tomorrow.
Suddenly Vecky and Mr. Arya are standing in his front door on his room. “Hey, come in guys. What’s up?” Fajri smiles to them.
Mr. Arya takes a seat on the only chair in the corner of his room. Vecky is sitting in the side of Fajri’s bed. Fajri stops his activity. He looks at their face one after other. They look so sad. This tall young man on his blue denim and his polo shirt then sits beside his sister.
“Bunny, what’s going on?” He’s smiling at her. Vecky just gives him a little smile. Silent.
“Dad...” Fajri looks at his father’s brown eyes. He gets confuse. He doesn’t know what happen to them.
Mr. Arya takes a deep breath. “Fa, I know that you are not feeling homy when you’re here. Maybe I’m not the best father for you. I couldn’t do much when your mom mocking at you. But I believe that you are the best son that I ever had.” Silent for a while.
“Fa, please. Don’t go away from here anymore. I want to spend the rest of my life with my whole family. You and your sister here, with me. With your mom also.” He said in a deep voice.
Vecky holds his brother’s hand. “Don’t go again, boy.”
Fajri looks at his sister’s eyes and also with his father. “Dad, Vec, I really want to stay here with you all exactly. But I know and I realize that mom doesn’t like me at all. She never expects me. So, let me do the best things and I will let her knows that I can be like you, Vec. Be an independent and more mature than now. You know that I’m so tired of being like this. She always compared us. She always thinks that I can’t live independently.”
“But I promise that I’ll be back here. For you, all. For us, for our happy family.” Fajri smiles. Vecky hugs him immediately. His father smiles when he sees his two children.
*****
After fajri finished tidying his goods, three of them go downstairs. Fajri is approaching his mother on the room that she always uses for doing her works. She’s about to reply her customer order.
“Mom, I want to go now.” Fajri is standing next to the fashionable woman on her blue t-shirt.
“Hmmm...” Her eyes still sticks on the monitor.
Fajri arises his hand. “Mom...”
“If you want to go now, just go. Are you blind? I’m busy right now! Don’t disturb me. What do you want from me? Money? How much do you need?” she is scowling at Fajri.
“What kind of mom are you? Do you realize that every second in your life is just about your own business? Do you know how our family is? A big No! You never care about us. About your husband, about Vecky and me! You are not alone living in this world, Mrs. Anna Veronica! And the last thing that you should know, I don’t need your money at all!” Fajri couldn’t help managing his feeling. Then he leaves that woman.
“Shut up your putrid mouth!” Mrs. Anna is getting angry to his son. She grabs a flower vase near her.
Mr. Arya runs to his wife and tries to stop her. Mrs. Anna is about to throw the vase to Fajri. Her husband holds her hand. But it’s too late. Mrs. Anna throws the vace to Fajri.
Prang...
A flower vase which is made of a crystal hits Fajri’s back head. He’s bleeding on his head.
Mrs. Anna smiles. You have to get that.
Mr. Arya hugs his wife and drives her to their room. Mrs. Anna is still murmuring. Vecky is running to his brother. She’s crying. Fajri bends his body down. Holding his back head.
“Let me heal your wound, Fa.” Vecky tries to help her brother to stand up and drop him on the sofa.
Vecky is pouring the antiseptic on the cotton to cleaning Fajri’s wound. A fresh red blood is rivering from Fajri’s back head. Then she tries to cover her brother’s head with the bandage. She is still crying.
“Don’t be sad, Vec. I’m OK.” Fajri smiles while holding the pain on his head.
“You have to stay here until your wound is getting well.” She asked his brother.
Fajri looks at his sister eyes. “No, Vec. I’m tired of what she has done to me. I’ve to go back to my real life. This is not my place.” He tries to walk to the garage.
Vecky can’t stop Fajri. She knows Fajri well.
“Believe me that I’m OK and I can live my life.” He smiles to Vecky and puts his helmet on his head.
“Please tell dad, I’m back to my real world. To the place where I should be. And I will always love you all.” Fajri is about to leaving their house.
“I will. Take care, boy.” Vecky is waving her hands up.
Fajri runs his blue grasshopper slowly because the pain on his head is very painful.
I promise, I never back there again. I just want to back there for my father and also Vecky. Not for that devil.
A painful afternoon that he ever had.
CHAPTER XI
PAIN
Fajri doesn’t go back to his room. He goes to the hospital to have some medicine for his wound. When he opens the helmet, it’s full of blood. The bandage on his head is fully red. He drops his blue grasshopper on the parking lot and goes to the registration room then moves to the emergency room.
He gets seven stitches on his head and he has to take some medicine. After paying the entire bill, he decided to go back to his small room.
*****
Fajri is eating his dinner alone inside his room while watching TV.
So hear this please, watch as your heart speaks up endlessly
And look for the skies as the sun goes down
Reach out my hand and I’ll make you mine
Everything... Everything’s magic...
The song of Angel and Airwaves is playing on his phone. That’s the sign that someone is calling him.
Incoming call
Family: Father
Those words appear on his mobile phone.
“Hello, Assalammualaikum, dad.” He picks up his phone.
“Wa’alaikum sallam, Fa... Are you OK now?” Mr. Arya is worrying his son.
Fajri smiles and tries to hide the pain. “I’m OK, dad.”
“I’m so sorry for the incident; I know that you hate her so much. And as your father, I’m so sorry. I can’t protect you better. I’m not the best father for you...” Mr. Arya shows his feeling. He’s so sad.
“Dad, there’s no need to worry. I’m OK. I’m fine... You don’t have to feel guilty of the incident happened today. That was my fault. But I hope that you know why I did that. I just want to make her know my feeling. And at that time, I can’t help controlling my emotion. But trust me, dad. I’m really OK.” Fajri tries to make his father doesn’t worry about him anymore.
Mr. Arya sinks on the dark silent. Something feels like a heavy thing squeezing his middle age body. “I’m so sorry.”
“Hey, dad... Take it easy... I’ve already got a medical treatment. I have seven stitches on my head... And they also gave me some medicine. They said that medicine will decrease the pain I have.” He is grinning, feeling the pain that he has.
“Alhamdulillah... I always pray for you, boy. Have you taken the medicine?” Mr. Arya reminds his son.
“I‘m not finishing my dinner yet, dad.”
“OK, enjoy your dinner. Don’t forget about the medicine. And have a good rest. Get well soon, dear.” Mr. Arya is about to end the call.
“Thanks, dad. Assalammualaikum...”
“Wa’alaikum Salam.”
Click... The call is end.
CHAPTER XII
DECISION
Monday morning at Adam Smith’s Publisher...
Fajri walks to his room. A white bandage is still stay around on his head. He’s not really well.
“Fajri, what’s wrong with you, guy?” Freddie, one of his friends is asking him when he enters his room.
“Hehehe... I’m OK, dude. A little accident... Hey, let’s rock our project. Come here, I want to show you what I have already done with the cover of The Hollow’s novel.” He’s so excited to show Freddie his work.
*****
“Fa, would you mind having lunch in our favorite place?” Bintang asked his friend.
“OK, but I couldn’t go with my grasshopper. Don’t ask too much, because I’ll tell you later.” Fajri explained.
“I’ve got the point. I’ll pick you up at 12.15. See you, boy.”
*****
Bintang and Fajri are on Bintang’s sport car. They are on the way to the City of Heaven Mall, to have lunch on Caramel Corner’s coffee shop.
After about 10 minutes they have to cut the heavy traffic, they arrive at that mall.
“So, Fajri my man... tell me what’s going on?” Bintang opens the conversation while waiting for their order.
They are sitting in the corner of the shop so they can see a heavy traffic outside from their seat.
“Yesterday I was at home because Vecky’s here.” Fajri starts to retell the incident yesterday afternoon.
“She’s finished her study and decided to stay back home after she spent almost all of her time far away from us. She tries to seeking a job here. And my father and she want me to stay in the house. I want to make them happy, then I decided to go there and stay overnight with my family.”
“Excuse me, sir. Hot coffee latte and hot chocolate. One toasted chocolate bread and one toasted butter bread. If you need more, please call me. Enjoy your meal.” A boy in the same age like them is serving their meal.
“Thanks.” Bintang replies.
Fajri drinks his chocolate and spreads his eyes to the other side of the mall. He sees so many people are standing around in the robotic exhibition.
Fajri tells the incident that makes him has seven stitches on his head while they are enjoying their lunch. Bintang listens to his friend. Bintang knows what he has to do.
After Fajri tells Bintang about the reason why he has a bandage on his head, Fajri bends his head down. He has to make a decision. He has an idea to go away from this city. Leaving his family and making his own life in another city.
“Don’t be sad, my man. I’m always here for you. Anytime, anywhere. I can’t help you much. But I will always support you.” Bintang is tapping Fajri’s shoulder. Trying to make Fajri feels better than before.
Fajri smiles. “Do you know what’s on my mind?” He asked Bintang.
Bintang bewildered. “Not at all. What?” He drinks his coffee latte.
“I want to tell you something. I decided to leave this city. I want to make my own life outside this town.” He shows his satisfied smile.
Bintang shocked. “What? Are you kidding me? Where will you go?”
“No. I’m really serious. Now, listen to me. I want to go outside this town then I want to spend my whole life there. I will be back here if I missed my father, Vecky and you. But I haven’t tell this to them, except you, buddy.” Fajri is getting more enthusiastic.
“OK, then tell me how will you keep survive there?” Bintang gets a bit worry about his friend.
“I will work there and rent a small room again.” Fajri’s smiling.
“Tell me if you need me. And I’ll help you as I can.” Bintang smiles to him.
CHAPTER XIII
MOVING ON
Fajri, with his great desire, really want to go away from Jakarta, the city where he spends almost all of his life, to live independently. He feels that until now, his father still treats him like a child. Mr. Arya always gives everything to him. But Fajri wants to make his family understand that he can be like his sister, live independently.
It’s about 18 months for Fajri working at Adam Smith Publisher after hedecided to make his own life; he feels comfort with his job. But he wants to resign from there because he wants to try something challenging in his carrer besides he wants to reach his strong desire.
All employees of Adam Smith’s are busy with their own work. Now, Fajri is in front of his screen on his room. He is trying to get some fresh idea for his new project. He opens some website on it. But he gets nothing. His head feels so full. Then he decided to open his social network account.
He finds Randy, one of his friends when he was at JCASH on his account. Randi is online now with his nickname Run_dy, Fajri wants to have a chat with him.
Fajri : Hey, what’s up dude? Still remember me?
Run_dy : Yeah, of course, dude. Where have you been?
Fajri : Just spent my time here, working for Adam Smith Publisher. What about you?
Run_dy : I’m working for NuMilk company, but I’m still continue my study here, on Nathaniel University.
Fajri : Amazing!
Run_dy : Just so-so. But I’m getting tired working here. I want to try something new. I just spent my time here for checking the document and making report for the qualified product which will be distributed.
Fajri : So do I. I’m tired working here too. I want to try something new.
Run_dy : Why don’t you join me here? As I know that you’re very interested working in laboratory. It means that you can join with us.
Fajri : Yeah, I’d love to. May I call you for further info?
Run_dy : Of course you can, but call me around lunch time. Enjoy your day...
Fajri closed the chat room. He’s smiling.
I will try my fortune now, hope that everything will be better than today.
*****
Two months after Fajri sent his application to NuMilk Company, he thinks that he’s not qualified for the position as laboratory assistant at that company. Even, he has already gone to that company in Jogjakarta to do the test. He is getting hopeless. He wants to live his life by himself, but he feels so sick with his mother.
Everytime he goes back home, she always treats him badly and ignores him. She pretends that Fajri is not there when he’s home. That hurts Fajri a lot.
Fajri is sitting on the bench in Green Pyramid Garden near his office in one afternoon where many people are busy with their lunch, but not Fajri. This nine-teen years old guy is still day dreaming. He is thinking about his further life.
His mind spreads when his cell phone is ringing. The number that appears on the screen shows that someone from another city is calling him.
Fajri smiles when someone out there talking to him via phone call. Happiness is drawn on his face.
“Yes, sir. I will. Thanks.” Fajri ends the phone call.
That was from NuMilk Company. They want Fajri works there and Fajri must be there for about two more weeks.
He decided to let his father and Vecky know about this happy thing. He calls his father and Vecky and asks them to meet Fajri at Warung Tenda which is not too far from Fajri’s rented room after their office hour.
*****
“Hey, boy. You look happy today. What’s up, guy?” Vecky is scratching his brother’s head when she has just arrived with her father.
“Have a seat, and I’ll tell you great news.” He smiles at them.
They are sitting on the corner of that traditional restaurant. A bit crowded here. “Have you gotten your order?” Fajri asked his father and his sister.
“Yeah, already. Now, please tell us about your great news.” Mr. Arya smiles, he’s curious.
“Listen, I want to work for NuMilk Company in Jogja in the next two weeks. It means I can show Mrs. Anna Veronica, my beloved mother that I can live independently and I will prove that my life is very wonderful to live.”
Mr. Arya and Vecky are speechless and shock. Don’t know what to say. They want Fajri here, but this handsome guy is right. They know Fajri’s feeling to their mom. They don’t want let Fajri feels more pain that Mrs. Anna gave.
“Hey, what’s wrong with you, dad? Vec?” Fajri gets confuse.
Vecky smiles, “That’s very very great news, boy.”
“Are you sure with your decision to leave us here?” Mr. Arya added.
“Absolutely, dad. No need to worry about me. Believe me that I can do this.” He smiles.
“I believe that you can do this because for me, you are very responsible guy. Do all the best for you, my boy.” Mr. Arya gives his meaningful smiles.
“Thanks, dad, Vec. I love you all.” They are smiles.
*****
Fajri resigns from Adam Smith Publisher, today he is there for tidying his goods from his room and say farewell for his entire partner on that office. Most of his friends feel sad because Fajri is a kind of low-profile guy and gorgeous young boy who will resign from there.
Tomorrow, Fajri will go to Jogja. He has a morning train ticket. Tomorrow is Saturday and Bintang decided to accompany Fajri to Jogja until he gets a rented room there.
*****
Fajri, Mr. Arya, Vecky and also Bintang are on Pasar Senen railway station. The train that will take Fajri and Bintang to Jogja will be arriving here at 8.
CHAPTER XIV
NEW AIR
It’s been three months that Fajri works for NuMilk Company in Jogjakarta. There, he rented a small room in Seturan, near his new office. He has new friends who are very kind to him. But since Fajri works there, Randy was lay off from there and works for Star Petrol in the off shore and decided not to continue his study at Nathaniel.
Fajri feels that his life is more colorful than before. He is so happy because he can work on laboratory which he is longing for. He works as an assistant director of microbiology laboratory there.
The salary that he gets is better than when he worked as a cover designer in Adam Smith Publisher, that’s because he can give so many contributions on his job. He can fulfill all his needs from the salary that he gets, besides that he can also save his money to see his family in Jakarta.
Everytime his father call him, he always asks him to spend his weekend with his whole family. Fajri promises to his father that he will meet them again when he gets his days off so that he can stay longer there.
*****
He’s not alone to do his works. He has a partner, a beautiful and perfect girl for him, Renata. She’s 19 years old girl who comes from lower class family, but she’s smart, independent, kind, easy going, low profile and adroit girl. It makes Fajri fall in love with her in the second week they work together.
Fajri tells Vecky that he’s in love with his partner. “That’s great, boy. You have to play it cool and keep on the rhythm.” Vecky is happy knowing that her brother finds his love there.
Besides Vecky, Fajri always tells his feeling about Renata to his friend in the same division with him, Tama. Same as Fajri, Tama is a new employee there. He always supports Fajri to be Renata’s boy. But Fajri is afraid that Renata will refuse him.
Fajri wants Tama to be his match maker so that he can be Renata’s boy. Tama agrees that he will be their match maker.
*****
Dinner time at Mr. Arya’s mansion.
“Dad, will you accompany me to my friend’s daughter wedding?” Mrs. Anna asked her husband.
Mr. Arya takes some water, “When it will be held?”
“This Sunday, will you?”
“I will” He holds his wife’s hand. Smiles.
Vecky smiles when she is looking at them.
They continue their meal. But suddenly Vecky is asking her father. “Dad, have you heard good news from Fajri?” She smiles.
“Not yet. Please tell me, dear.” He’s looking at his beautiful daughter.
“Fajri is in crush with his partner in NuMilk. She is Renata. But Fajri is afraid that she doesn’t love him.” Vecky tells everything that Fajri ever told her about his feeling.
Mrs. Anna looks unpleasant. She’s busy with her dinner, doesn’t care about their topic.
“Hahaha... My boy... everything needs sacrifice, and so does love.” Mr. Arya is laughing when he knew about Fajri.
Suddenly Mrs. Anna wants to know about her son who she never meets him for about three months. “Where’s Fajri now? Why he doesn’t here again?” She asked them with her flat voice.
“Mom, finally... you care about him too.” Mr. Arya and Vecky feel so happy when Mrs. Anna wants to know about Fajri.
Mrs. Anna just gave them a mysterious smile.
Mr. Arya takes a deep breath, smiles and starts to tell everything that he knows about his beloved son. “Now, Fajri lives in Jogjakarta. He works for NuMilk Company. He works there for about three months. He gets his beautiful life there and he finds his love also.”
After Mr. Arya and Vecky finished telling Mrs. Anna about Fajri, they smile to each other.
“Finally, he goes away from my life. Thanks God, You make him realize that I don’t need him at all.” Mrs. Anna smiles, she’s so happy.
Mr. Arya and Vecky looks at each other.
She still hates Fajri. Mr. Arya said to himself.
CHAPTER XV
RUSTY TRASH
After several months Fajri shows to Renata that he loves her, he becomes curious because Renata shows that she doesn’t love him. One day, in their lunch time in cafeteria, Fajri sees that Renata sits on the long chair alone. She’s enjoying her lunch. Not like he used to be, today he’s entering the cafeteria by himself, Tama, who always there everywhere Fajri goes to, is sick, so he has to take a rest for several days.
After Fajri gets his lunch, he wants to take a seat close to Renata. He wants to ask her whether she loves him or not.
“Excuse me, Rene. May I have a seat?” He asked Renata, she doesn’t realize that Fajri is behind her.
“Yes, of course.” She smiles.
They are continuing their lunch. Fajri opens conversation. “Rene, may I ask you something?” Fajri feels that his heart will jump to his feet. He’s so nervous.
“Yes, go ahead.” Her blue eyes make Fajri frozen on his seat. His tongue was tied in a knot. He never felt like this before. This is his first time he is falling in love.
“Hmm... I want to ask you...” Fajri couldn’t breathe.
Damn, what happen to me? He’s angry with himself. C’mon Fajri, you can do it. Get your love...
Fajri takes a deep breath. “Rene, I think that you have known about my feeling from Tama.”
Renata doesn’t understand about what Fajri is talking about. But she’s still listening to Fajri and looking at his eyes.
“Rene, I love you. Ok... You can call me crazy, but that’s true. Would you be mine?” Fajri holds Renata’s hands, but she takes her hand.
Renata gets confused, “Sorry Fa, I know that it will hurt you. But I can’t. I have someone in my live.” Renata bends his head down. “And he is Tama. Two weeks ago he told me that he loves me. And we promise to keep our love to each other.”
Fajri shocked, he has nothing to say. It likes a thousand thunders struck his body. He feels like a bird which flies in the turbulence.
“I’m so sorry, Fajri.” Renata added. She stands and goes away from Fajri.
*****
Fajri tries to make himself realize that love doesn’t mean that we can have it. If we love someone, and the one who we loved doesn’t love us, we have to feel happy that we have love for loving someone eventhough it’s very hard for Fajri.
When Fajri at his works, he tries to look like nothing happen with him. Everything seems very normal for everyone except Renata. Fajri doesn’t gets angry with Renata and Tama because Tama was stabbed him from his back by being Renata’s lover.
Fajri shares his sad love story with Vecky and Bintang.
*****
A month later, Fajri gets his day off for two days. He wants to go to Jakarta to meet his family that he was longing for. He gets Friday evening train ticket to Jakarta.
Today is Thursday morning and he goes to work like he usually does. But after he finished his works, he decided to go to Ramai Mall to buy something for his family. In NuMilk, he does his job like every day.
He has to check today’s product, checking whether the milk that will be distributed contain Escherichia Coli in a normal limit or not, because if it contains this bacteria in a high concentration, it will cause diarrhea for everyone who consume their milk, and he also has to know today’s product contain enough Lactobacillus Lactic which is very useful for human. Besides that he has to make a report about the concentration of those bacteria.
Today, NuMilk want to produce a million little box of milk which is made for children because they want to join the annually event that will be held for celebrating World Children Day in Monday. So many things that Fajri has to do today. Do sampling for a hundred gallon of milk and make report for it.
Fajri is busy because his senior manager believes him to manage this project and he has to prove it. Because he’s so busy doing his project, he couldn’t enjoy his lunch. He spent all his time in laboratory and he has to work overtime there.
It’s 9 in the morning, Gosh, I’m late. Fajri has just woken up from his sleep. He went back to his rented room at 10 last night after finished his report which he will submit to Mr. Buyung, his senior manager. He’s so tired. He feels like his back bone is broken.
After he feels that he’s ready to go to NuMilk Company, he runs his motorcycle which the company lent for him. Because after he finished his job today he will go back to Jakarta to meet his family, so he brings his backpack and some clothes on it.
“Morning, all.” said Fajri when he entered his room. Tama’s there, working with his computer to process some data.
Tama is looking at him. “Morning too, you look so messy today. When did you finish your work?”
“Around 9.30 after I finished my entire task. But the report that I have made here, haven’t been submitted yet to Mr. Buyung.” Fajri answered while walking to his booth slowly.
Fajri and Tama are working in the same room but their room is separated by a weighing room which is covered by huge glasses.
“Have you finished all, dude?” Tama asked him.
“Luckily, yes.” He’s smiling to him. “I will submit all the report to Mr. Buyung first.” Fajri leaves Tama on his booth.
Tama is grinning.
*****
Hey, where’s my document? Last night I put it here. Fajri realizes that the document he made last night is in his drawer. And it is still locked. But now his drawer is empty, nothing’s inside.
Calm down, Fajri. Check your computer and believe that it’s still on it. Fajri turns on the computer and tries to find his important document. Suddenly the phone next to him is ringing. Line 4, it means Mr. Buyung is calling him.
Fajri picks up the phone while searching his data on it. “Yes, sir?”
“Fajri, please come to my room and give me the yesterday report.” Mr. Buyung said to his employee.
Mr. Buyung is a kind of humble man. He is in the same age with Mr. Arya. He likes Fajri very much because Fajri can show him that he is a perfectionist young man, besides that he’s very kind to Fajri. It’s because he ever had a son named Dika, who passed away when Dika was 5 because he gets leukemia. If he is still alive, he is in the same age like Fajri now.
“OK, sir. I will.” Fajri’s eyes still stick on the computer screen.
*****
At lunch time...
“S***, where does it disappear? What the hell of this?” He is screaming to himself. He still doesn’t find his document even for the raw ones. Now, his booth is like a cracked ship in the stormy seas. Papers are everywhere. Everything is so messy.
Fajri doesn’t realize that Mr. Buyung is standing on his door for a few minutes ago before he knows that he is there, with him.
“What are you looking for, Fajri? May I have the document?” Mr. Buyung is approaching him.
He gets stutter. His face turns pale like a dead man. “Umm... sorry sir. But frankly speaking, I lost the data that you asked me to give you.” Fajri bends his head down. My world will end soon. I was making him upset with me. But that’s all not my fault. I did it well last night.
