I decided not to be "filial" to my father anymore. My first act of defiance was to apply for a job at a grocery store located near my house. I applied to be a cashier, and I was accepted. The salary I earned was enough to fulfill my daily needs. I no longer wanted to receive money from my father. He asked me to stop working. "Devanada Wicaksana's son works at a minimarket? You're embarrassing me."
I didn't care what he said and kept working as a cashier. I was even more active in going to the gym and exercising. The gym where I signed up had some punching bags, Rose. And the punching bag was my favorite place to exercise. I wanted to build muscle and become physically strong. The only reason I did that was because I wanted to defend myself and my sister from the beatings of that lecherous man I called father. Off course, I was studying to enter medical school next year. These were probably the times when I developed the most physically and emotionally, Rose.
Then, 10 months passed quickly. I stopped working as a cashier and studied even harder because the "battle for the university seat" was so close.
My body was already strong and full of muscle. And actually, I was quite amazed at my physical changes, especially my face. Often, when I look in the mirror, I wonder:
"Me, Reiner, is this really me?"
I think I look older than other 18-year-olds. My face is very firm and masculine, especially my jawline. In fact, before I visited the gym, I had a round face and chubby cheeks. Rose, you love my eyes, which you say are as blue as the ocean. However, did you know that there are flakes of blue in your brown eyes too? a blue that is bluer than the color of my eyes. It's called partial heterchromia. And you said you like my blonde hair, which you said is yellow like a lemon. Our skin colors are basically the same, but yours is much paler than mine. It's a bit strange because you're often in the hot beach area, and I live in a city known as the coldest city in Indonesia, which is cool and rarely exposed to sunlight. Ah dear, I'm sorry; I'm too proud of my physical appearance. However, I am very grateful to have been born with this physique. Back then, when I asked you,
"Rose, what made you fall in love with me?"
You answered : "First of all, honestly, because you are handsome and tall."
After saying that, your cheeks turned red, and you covered your face with your palms. I was grateful that I was blessed with a physique that could make you fall in love.
Okay, let's continue the story. I applied for scholarships at many different places. However, I was only accepted in two places. First, a scholarship for poor student from the government and a scholarship for the smart one. For poor student? Yes, you read that right. I made the certificate and other requirements myself. Father was really angry with me, Rose. His reaction was similar to when I applied for a job as a cashier back then:
"The scholarship is only for people who can't afford school. Do you want people to think I'm poor? You're now more embarrassing than your sister."
Again, I didn't care. Applications for the university entrance examination were opened. And I reached the peak of my defiance. I applied to the medical school in my town, not the medical school on the yellow campus. And I was right; I was accepted. After getting a seat at the university, a huge burden on my soul disappeared, Rose. Everything felt like it was going to be. And my father was furious about my decision. He'd threatened not to pay for my tuition if I enrolled at a college other than the yellow campus, but now I had two scholarships. The scholarshipz guarantees that I won't be charged a single tuition fee. So I don't have to worry about not being able to pay my tuition fees anymore.
When I revealed that to him, as I expected, my father was furious. He was about to slap me, Rose, but I managed to grab his hand before his palm landed on my cheek. My 190-cm body was much taller than his. and he looked scared and shocked. Look at the look in his eyes. The savage monster who always hurt and beat me, my sister, and my mother was now looking at me with fear. It felt strange, but I felt an immense sense of satisfaction when I saw that frightened look in his eyes.
Then I released the grip on my hand and said to him,
"Ever since you started torturing my mother and sister, I am no longer your son. Thank you so much for letting me stay in this house all these years. I really thank you. I am not your child anymore. Please don't expect anything from me. I am leaving, and I am taking Hattvika with me."
After that, Hattvika and I packed up our things. I didn't forget to take Roxelana's painting with me. Of course, there was no way I was leaving my most prized possession in our hellish home. I then moved into the university dormitory, and Hattvika moved into the boarding house around my dormitory. The money I saved from working as a cashier was enough for six months' rent and food. Hattvika didn't go to university; she worked part-time as a shopkeeper, just like me.
"You don't have to worry about me," she said.
And I thought, this is the first time Hattvika looks free and happy. That's what I thought at the time.
On the first day of classes, I met my cousin Noramaya. She was apparently studying here too. She was on the committee for the campus introduction program for new students. Sh's my senior now. You already know Noramaya, Rose, but let me reintroduce his character in this book. Noramaya's full name is Eleonora Maja Kristiansen. We share the same surname because she is my cousin. My mother brought Noramaya from Europe because she was an orphan, so Noramaya was adopted. Although our homes were a bit far apart, Nora and I saw each other very often during our childhood. We grew up side by side. And she often visited my house to play. She didn't visit my house anymore after Mother left. From that point on, I didn't know how she was doing. She was a genius who was also very witty. She wasn't ambitious, and she was just the way she was. It was rare for her to be serious. She jokes around a lot. Noramaya is quite beautiful, in my opinion. She's very tall (you know, about 180 cm). Wow, right? She's like a titan compared to other girls. Her eyes are brown and big and round, and her nose is curved like the beak of a bird. She had fair skin and reddish-brown hair. Her hair was always in an untidy ponytail (only neat during class). Her face was half Caucasian and half Indonesian. And she wears glasses. minus 3.5 and cylindrical too. Ah, she did look tomboyish.
Noramaya immediately took my arm. And to her friends, she said :
"This handsome boy is my cousin."
Her friends said :
"That's so cool."
"Can he speak indonesian?"
"This handsome boy looks nothing like you."
That was my first day on campus. Six months later, my life was still safe and sound. Until I learned a dark fact that brought sadness back to my heart. My sister, Hattvika Kristiansen, was six months pregnant.