Prologue II

The alarm ringing loudly, managed me to wake up from the dream world.

With my whole body still drooping limply, I forced myself to get up. I slowly open my dry eyes. One of my hands grabbing my phone on the small table. I look at the screen there and got a flickering light, showing the time which is already at 06.00 o'clock. I swipe up with my fingers immediately to turn off the alarm. I take it away the power supply cable from my phone after charging over a night.

I begin to position myself sitting on the side of my bed, still with my eyes half closed. This mouth immediately yawned hugely.

"I'm so lazy to go to school!" I grumbled and ruffling my blonde curly-hair.

My hair is like my father's hair because he is American and my mother is Indonesian, exactly Javanese. So, I have mixed race between American-Indonesian. That is why my hair is blonde.

Suddenly a thought crossed in my mind. My eyes are unknowingly widened.

"No! I have to take the advantage of today's opportunity!"

That feeling of enthusiasm is able to make my soul which is have not been collected before and instantly gathered quickly.

I am dropping my feet on the floor.

Before heading to the bathroom, I have to tidy up my bed which is mess like a broken ship. After that, I step my feet into the bathroom to take a bath with warm water and do not forget to bring a dark blue towel.

20 minutes later, I come out from the bathroom with a towel under my body. My curly hair become straight for a moment. However, it does not long last because in a few minutes later, the curls will be back.

"Grow to the sideways, not down!"

That is the principle of my hair.

I walk to the wardrobe which my uniform is neatly stored. A short-sleeved white shirt, brown trouser, and a school tie with brown and orange stripes that I have made it up.

I study in a popular private high school in West Jakarta.

Every day, my school always wear different uniform. On Monday and Tuesday, all student wear white shirt and brown trouser for men and brown knee-length skirt for women. On Wednesday, we wear scout uniform — a light brown shirt and dark brown trouser for men and dark brown knee-length skirt for women with a red and white tie tied with a 'ring' made from rattan wood. On Thursday and Friday, all student wear Batik shirt with all kind of motifs — from any part of Indonesia — and with brown trouser for men and brown knee-length skirt for women. With so many different uniforms every day, it creates its own diversity and excitement. It also increases the discipline of all student in obeying the school rules.

I do not forget to take my cell phone, carry my backpack that already waiting for me on the revolving chair, and my gray jacket because Indonesia is in the rainy season right now.

I go out of my room. Then, my eyes meet my father on his formal clothes, complete with his perfectly wrapped tie. His golden hair is combed neatly with pomade. Suddenly he looking at me up and down.

"My son already growing up!" He patting my shoulder and show me a warm smile on his face.

I smiled at his words.

"Let's go to the dining room, Dad!" I said.

Then, my father and I walking together towards the dining room which is located on the same floor, 1st floor.

There is mother who still preparing for breakfast. Her floral negligee displays a distinctive figure from her. Her gaze turned to the two of us that just come into the dining room briefly. Her focus return to the tableware on the table.

"Finally, father and son just came out from the cave!" she said with a lopsided smile on her face.

Her face looks tired and sleepy. However, for the sake of her husband and her son, she willing to get up early before the sun appeared.

Before sitting in a chair, I put my backpack on the sofa in the living room. Then, I take an empty seat in the dining room.

Mother give us a plate of bread with a half-boiled egg in the middle and scattered herbs that giving a beautiful impression.

"Make your own drink," she said to us.

"Alright, Mom. Thank you!" I said with a smile on my face.

"Okay," she replied.

One of her hand stroking my hair.

"The price of cutting hair in salons near here is going expensive since a week ago," she continued in a different conversation suddenly.

"Later, Mom. I am still comfortable with this thick hair," I said.

"If I were you, I'd shave it off," Father said while he eating his french toast.

"Yes, I'll cut my hair in next weekend by my own self," I said.

Before I'm starting to eat, I do not forget to bring a drink first.

"Dad, what do you want to drink?" I asked him, before heading to the kitchen.

"A cup of hot tea, please."

"Okay," I said.

After that, my feet step into the kitchen, not far from the dining room.

First of all, I am making a cup of hot tea for him. Then, a glass of water for me.

"You're in love, aren't you?"

Suddenly mother's voice startled me who still drifting between sugar mixed with jasmine tea. My action stopped.

"Mom, you surprised me!" I exclaimed.

She smiled at me while washing the dishes in the sink next to me.

"You're always smiling today," she said.

My heart beats stopped.

"N–no, I'm not smiling," I said, a little bit nervously. I feel like I am being interrogated by the police.

Mother chuckles softly. The sink faucet turned off. Her hands were dried using a small towel.

"Don't forget to introduce herself to me!"

Her hand stroking my hair again. Then, she leave me alone in the kitchen.

I sighed, followed by a line of smile because of the way she treated me today. I refocus my goal in this kitchen which is to take a glass of mineral water and bring a cup of hot tea for father and heading back to the dining room.

Back in the dining room, I put a cup of hot tea on his table.

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome, Dad!"

Breakfast activities were back together. The sounds of clinking and scraping of plates and knifes could be heard clearly in the dining room this morning.

Mother sitting down in a chair next to dad — with her eyes on the news program on the television screen in the living room that is attached to the dining room.

"Due to the rain last night, a number of points in the streets in Jakarta were flooded …," a reporter explained excitedly delivering the latest news to the audience.

"Flood … always happens at the beginning of the month!" said mother.

I just listening to the content of the news on the television.

A couple minutes later, my food is not left at all in the white plate in front of me. I put the white plate and the glass immediately into the kitchen sink.

I am heading back to see my parents to say goodbye before going to school. Then, I grabbing a pair of shiny black shoes and a pair of white socks. After that, I get up from the sofa with my backpack on my back.

"Dad and Mom, once again I'd like say goodbye before I go to school," I said while my right hand waving at them.

"Take care, Dev!" He said while response to my wave.

"Yes, take care yourself, honey!" she exclaimed. "I already put your meal in the front pocket of your backpack!"

"Alright, Mom! Thank you!"

I walk out of the house towards my bicycle that already waiting for me in the garage — near my father's car. But before leaving, I have to open the gate first. After the white fence wide open, I begin to steer my bicycle backwards. Arriving outside the area of the house, I close the fence again. Then, I can go to school in peace.

During the journey to school with a bicycle, the road is not congested at all. However, the asphalt soil around the road is still wet because of the rain last night, made the road slippery.

The morning air is getting cold. The smell of rain water still smells fresh.

This is what I like when the rainy season comes.

After going through some turns, I am arriving at school. Some students from different grades are walking to the school area with their friends. However, there are also alone. There are also some teachers who just arrived.

After I park my bicycle in the parking lot which is provided by the school, I am walking towards the school gate.

There is a 'Welcome' greeting at the school entrance, welcoming all of us who just arrive here.

Step by step, I do not realize that I arrive at the stairs, leading to the 3rd floor where my class at.

Suddenly someone with black-haired, grabbing my collar. Near the hydrant beside the stairs, Alan and his four friends appeared.

Now, they surrounding me.

His face close to me with his fingers like he is trying to rip my collar.

"So you're Devin, a guy who close to Ayse, huh?"

"What do you mean?!"

Cannot believe what I am going through right now. My happy feelings were ruined by Alan, a popular boy because of his good looks among the girls in this school.

"DON'T PRETEND THAT YOU DON'T KNOW!!" he snapped.

"Listen, loser! Don't ever get close to Ayse!" he continued with an angry expression on his face. "She's mine!"

His gaze is really piercing.

"HEY!!!"

Suddenly I heard the sound of several boy shouting at Alan and his four friends.

Their face turn into a panic look towards the sound from their left side.

"Keep that in your brain, loser!" he continued.

Then, they run away and leaving me alone.

After Alan and his four friends leave me, Rey, Udo, and Rangga find me here.

They are my gang named, 'The Lazy Children. But, Wants to be Successful'.

Their gazes staring at me and suprising.

"Are you okay, bro?" Udo asked me. Concern has show off from his eyes.

I nodded. "Yes, i am okay."

"How insolent they are! We will avenge their actions!" Rey exclaimed in annoyance while looking the direction which Alan and his friends were running.

"Don't," I interrupted with a small smile on my face. "I am fine, they're just bluff me anyway. I am not scared at all."

Well, i just lied to myself.

"Ah, okay if you say so," said Udo. "If they dare to do anything with you, tell us or just tell right to the principal."

"Alright, Udo. Thanks," I said. "Thanks guys."

"You're welcome, mate!" Rey patting my shoulder.

"Um, what's that?" I asked. My attention right to Rangga with a cardboard box in his arms.

"Oh, about that box," Udo looking at Rangga briefly. "The student council need for funds for the school's anniversary event in two weeks next."

"So Rey and I helped Rangga to sell french fries around the class," he explained.

"You know, other student council members are lazy to do this. They just being a member, but no work," Rangga said.

"It's okay, mate. I know what you feel," Ray patting Rangga's back. "Life is hard."

Rangga's face pretending to cry. He said, "I know, mate."

"By the way, it's good to looking for a girlfriend from all classes," Rey said. "Right, Udo?"

Udo stepped on Rey's shoes immediately.

"My new shoes!" cried Rey.

"Do you want to join with us?" asked Rangga to me. "You can look for another girls in each classes. Absolutely it can fixing your mood!"

"No, bro. I want to go straight to the class," I replied.

"Oh," Rangga said. "Or do you want to buy it?"

"Only Rp5,000 for a pack."

"I am still trying to save my money. Sorry," I replied him again.

"You don't need to apologize, just relax!" Rangga smiled.

"Well, let's go guys!"

"See you, Devin!" They waved at me.

I waved at them back.

Both of my feet step back into the classroom, not far from my current position.

In class, I take my seat immediately, two seats from the back — on the  right side near the window. I take off my jacket and put it behind my chair.

I sit there until the time of my first lesson, Geography.

I am trying to focus on today's lesson, despite the unpleasant incident that happened to me.