Everyone in this world must have their difficulties in life, as well as Kai. Since her father had laid off three years ago, her mother had to work hard as a chip seller and help other people with their homework.
This is a life that Kai's family never imagined, but it's not like life is full of surprises; there are always surprises every day.
Kai's mother became a chip seller and then sold them to swords at the grocery shop and school canteen, although at first, Kai was very embarrassed to carry a large plastic bag every time she went to school. However, it hurts even more when she sees his mother, who has to work hard alone to support her small family.
"I'm here to help carry it," said Diga every morning.
Kai happily shared a sizeable plastic bag divided in half with Diga.
"Have you ever thought about whether life's difficulties are a pleasure too."
Diga furrowed his brow.
"Pleasures that other people have never even felt, even though from this difficulty we will lead to happiness. Try if we are happy, it will lead to trouble," Kai said, his eyes staring at the road.
Today they both decided to go to school using public transportation because Diga's father is still on duty, and the driver is on leave because his son is getting married.
Diga was silent, trying to digest Kai's words.
"Hmm, disagree on the last word. It's not that when we're happy, we'll be in trouble, but no one knows about life. In my opinion, when we are happy, we enjoy it; when we are difficult, we must welcome it with boisterousness," said Diga.
Sometimes wishful thinking makes us fall into an abyss called expectation; we are not wise in putting our dreams. Do not measure the existing reality; let wishful thinking be a motivation to go to the next life; no need to overdo it.
"I remember that, Ga. When I first entered high school, I was bullied by the daughter of our middle school friend because I'm selling chips now," Kai said again.
Diga immediately turned to Kai, trying to widen his ears to accommodate his words this morning.
"I was bullied because the driver was always picking me up back in middle school and now selling chips. Why people are so bad?"
Diga stopped his steps as if there was a tightness in his chest every time Kai told him about his life because he couldn't do anything to help his best friend. Only a loyal ear to hear his complaints and small kindnesses he can show.
"Yes, the answer is because they never feel what other people think. Imagine that you are an astronaut; many people want to go to space because it is easy to see astronauts there, even though long before this astronaut had to learn, understand the risks that would occur when he flew into space, "explained Diga.
"Who wants to know the long process? They know it's easy for astronauts to go up into space," said Diga.
The 02-way public transportation to school had arrived, and they immediately boarded because the clock was already at 06.15. When they just put their bodies on the public transportation seats, there are mothers who immediately see the chips they brought.
"How much is this deck?"
"Five thousand, ma'am," Kai replied with a big smile on his lips.
"I want five, yes," repeated the mother.
The smile on Kai's lips kept breaking, making Diga's heart happy because he saw that his best friend's sales were selling well.
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Yes. Sell it, yes, "repeated the mother before she went down.
* * *
At school, Kai went straight to the cafeteria to leave his chips with Mrs. Asih. Mrs. Asih is the only seller in the canteen who wants Kai to leave chips.
While in the canteen, he met Nanang, who was having uduk rice (one of the typical Indonesian foods usually eaten in the morning for breakfast). Kai can only lower his head because the shame is still there whenever she meets someone she respects.
"What are you doing?" Nanang asked; apparently, he didn't know Kai likes to leave chips in the school canteen.
Suddenly, Dinda, a classmate, was very annoyed with Kai because he saw Nanang, who always approached him passing by.
"Sell the chips," he said, looking away from his annoying face.
Kai kept quiet and left because she didn't want to fuss with his classmates.
* * *
Kai also helps his mother earn money by doing schoolwork for lazy rich kids like Putri, who always uses his services.
Diga doesn't know yet because Kai always hides it. After all, if he finds out, he will be furious; moreover, what he helps is a human princess who has bullied him all out.
"Have you done my job yet?" asked Putri in an annoying voice.
Kai immediately took out a picture book that he had filled with pictures of landscapes, complete with color gradations.
"Good. How many?" asked the Princess.
"Fifty thousand," Kai said.
Even though Kai is a part-time worker doing other people's assignments, she charges his assignments at a high price, knowing that his work will get good grades.
"Kai is trying to work on question number 5," said Mrs. Marni, a math teacher who is very killer at this school.
Kai casually walked to the blackboard in front of the class and immediately worked on the problems; she easily did not take tutoring or anything to make his classmates fascinated by Kai's intelligence.
"Yes, ma'am," said Kai.
It didn't feel like the recess bell had rung; as usual, she must have immediately approached Diga to help finish the lunch that his mother had brought.
When he arrived at Diga's class, he saw a crowd of men surrounding Diga; Dimas was seen inside.
"What are you doing?" said Kai, who had just arrived.
Dimas just looked at Kai, annoyed, and immediately left.
"What are you doing, people?"
"Don't be angry. Eat sushi," said Diga while feeding sushi into Kai's mouth.
"I was annoyed at the canteen. When I wanted to deliver the chips to Mrs. Asih, there was Dinda and Nanang," Kai said with his mouth filled with sushi.
The class atmosphere was quiet then because the second break was time for snacks in the canteen but not for the two of them he preferred to spend what was available.
"Why?"
"Kak Nanang asked why in the canteen, and Dinda immediately shouted when I was holding out for chips," said Kai.
"Continue? Embarrassed? Embarrassed in front of Nanang if you sell chips?"
Kai immediately fell silent with Diga's words as if he reminded himself of the morning conversation.