You're (Not) Different

After that, you met your childhood friends. You talked a lot about how your parents decide to move to the city. Then, of course, as you predicted, they shocked and felt sad because you would separate---physically---with them. But you and your childhood friend promised that you will communicate through online media. Yeah, promise was a promise, maybe like a bubble gum, sweet just in mouth then threw after become bitter. Or maybe like a chocolate; sweet and give impression after being eaten. Who knows; but you believed that they would keep friendships.

A few days after that, you were on the way to Jakarta. Through the wide sea like a sailor, under the sprinkling of night light in the sky, you leaned on the barrier and muttered. "Is the city good? Can I get some new friends? Will I be accepted?"  You'd been here for two days; then tomorrow, you would reach that city. Oh, don't forget if you got frustrated because there was no signal in the sea. You just kept waiting until arrive at the destination. So far, throughout this trip, you just saw people that were same as you---unless there were several different people.

The next day, on schedule, you arrived at morning. The sea-scented morning breeze seduced the nostrils. "Hey, Norman, there are lots of luggage still in there. Back inside. Help papa. And brought that. Mama will keep an eye on our luggage from here." Your mom instructed you to help your papa because there was many luggage that your family brought---except your childhood because you carried that in your memory. After moving a lot of luggage out, a pick-up car came and of course the car brought your family luggage.

You and your parents left in another car. You sat beside your mom in the back seat, and your papa sat in the driver's seat talking about city life---where your papa had lived in this city before you were born. When your mom is also talking to your papa and the driver, you opened your phone and texted to your childhood friends that you had arrived.

'Really? Give me a picture of Jakarta. I think that will be beautiful and modern, right?' That's the words from one of your childhood friends. You remembered when you hadn't looked out the window. When I looked out the window, there was the splendor of this city. Yeah, this was how the metropolitan city that is the capital. A series of skyscraper buildings decorated the magnificient of the city. This magnificence was not spared from the noise of running machines.

"Norman, you haven't forgotten that you were born here, have you?" Your mom interrupted your daydream.

"Of course, Mama always told me about that." You gave a soft smile while answering your mom. Then, you looked back at the window. The views of this city were absolutely stunning, but you felt anxious about what your school will be like. You thought about whether you would be accepted and how different you were from the people here; considering you'd seen people here very different from yourself---physical appearance. You were deep in thought the whole way while looking out the window.

After several hours of traveling to your new home, your family finally arrived at a medium-sized rented house. The house is not as big as yours in the village, but enough for three people, including yourself. The building was light green with a blue fence. As soon as you entered, there were several rooms inside; two of them were your parents' room and yours. "Yeah at least I still had a private room." You nodded and uttered. You truthfully appreciated something called privacy, including privacy for yourself.  Then, you and your family started putting things in the house and tidying it up.

After the event put and tidied things into the house, you rushed to your room and lay down on the tiny bed. You then checked your phone and called your childhood friend. "How's Jakarta?" Said your friend from the cell phone. "Not bad. Many magnificent buildings are accompanied by noise. Nothing like the silence there." You answered your friend's question. Your eyes stared up at the ceiling while gently massaging your temples---feeling a little dizzy from the trip. You kept talking with your childhood friend without forgetting to tell him how the people here looked different from you. 

When you were busy calling your friend, your mom called your name loudly; that's normal for you because that's typical of the people in your area. You immediately ended the call with your friend and came to your mom. "Why, mama?" You asked your mom. "Tomorrow you will go straight to school because the school will soon be holding exams."  Your mom answered your question with a hint of enthusiasm on her face. "Really, mama? This is so fast! I don't even know about Jakarta." Your eyes widened, and you were shocked. "You don't need to worry about that. Papa will take you to school tomorrow and show you the way." Your mom answered, plus a thumbs up from your papa who was calling relatives.

After that, at night, you started tidying up the school supplies that you would bring tomorrow. After that, you touched the place where you lay down; devoted all your thoughts to what will happen tomorrow. You surrendered everything to time; hoped time can provide the best answer. Then, your eyes closed---let time worked as planned.