"I'm human too. I have feelings. I... I... just can't express them. Why won't anyone come near me?" His heart cried out, yet his eyes couldn't shed a single tear. A myriad of emotional scars surfaced within him until finally, exhaustion overtook him, and he fell asleep.
Years passed, and Revan always lived alone, even during elementary, middle, and high school. No friends, no teachers ever wanted to approach him. By the time he turned seventeen and graduated high school, he decided to leave the orphanage and live independently.
"Ma'am, I want to leave the orphanage and start living on my own," Revan said in his usual flat tone to Ms. Ratna.
"Oh, great. Why didn't you leave sooner? It would've been easier for everyone," Ms. Ratna replied with a sarcastic smile. "Oh yes, here's some money. Consider it a farewell gift from me." She threw a white envelope containing 500,000 rupiah onto the floor.
Revan remained silent, slowly bowing his head to pick up the envelope without saying a word in return. He immediately turned and walked toward the storage room, which he had long considered his home, to gather his clothes and belongings.
When Revan opened an old wardrobe in the corner of the storage room, his eyes scanned over a few items he had kept since childhood. Among a pile of books and worn clothes, several small wooden boxes were hidden beneath layers of fabric. Carefully, he pulled them out and opened the lids.
Inside, there were bundles of money he had saved over the years—his savings from elementary to high school. Every day, since he was little, Revan had diligently saved five thousand rupiah. Whether it was a portion of the allowance he received from caregivers or leftover money he found around the orphanage, he quietly set it aside without much thought. It was his way of holding on to something that was entirely his own.
For twelve years, he had saved without stopping. By simple calculation, his savings amounted to approximately 30 million rupiah, including the money Ms. Ratna had just given him. It was a significant amount for a boy who had never experienced parental love. But to Revan, the money was more than just numbers—it was a symbol of his resilience, a small victory in a life that had often felt beyond his control.
Revan stared at the stacks of cash briefly before carefully placing them back in the wooden boxes. Despite its value, the money never brought him the happiness he longed for. Yet, seeing the fruits of his determination gave him a quiet sense of satisfaction.
After ensuring everything was packed, Revan closed the boxes and placed them into a bag he had prepared. Without a single farewell, he walked out of the orphanage. No one came to see him off, but for the first time, Revan felt a flicker of freedom.
With his savings, Revan boarded a bus to another city, found a cheap room on the outskirts, and bought a mobile phone. The boarding house was located in an old building that looked somewhat rundown but was safe enough and far from the crowds. The room was small, featuring a folding bed, an old wardrobe, a small desk for writing or using his phone, and a small bathroom and toilet. The walls were peeling in some areas, and there was a slight unpleasant smell in the room, but it didn't bother him. For him, the important thing was that he could live alone, away from other people's interference.
With the money he had saved, Revan didn't need to work or worry about food. His funds were sufficient to cover his needs for several years. His life was simple: eat, sleep, and use his phone.
One year passed, and Revan fell into a monotonous routine, rarely stepping out of his room. The virtual world became his solace, offering a brief escape from his isolation.
Through his phone, Revan read novels and comics, often about heroes overcoming great challenges. He found solace in their stories, connecting deeply with the characters. Someday , he thought, just like the heroes in these tales, someone will come—a hero who understands me, who knows what I feel without me having to say a word. It was a hope that never faded, even though he knew it existed only in fiction.
I'm sure that hero exists... They will definitely come someday...
But one evening, as Revan was engrossed in watching a movie about a hero who ultimately defeated his greatest enemy, his phone suddenly shut off and wouldn't turn back on. Revan felt anxious, as this meant he couldn't order food through apps as usual. His body felt weak from hunger.
With frustration brewing inside him, he held the dead phone. Why now? Why does it have to die when I need it the most? he thought angrily, feeling frustrated.
However, after a while, hunger began to overpower him. He realized he had no other choice. With a heavy heart, he mustered the courage to go out and buy food himself. This would be the first time in a year that he left the house. He had to confront his fears.
I have no other option... You can do this Revan, his heart whispered, trying to calm him. It's just stepping out for a while. There's nothing to be scared of.
After a moment, he gathered his courage. The first step felt heavy, but slowly he approached his room door. As he opened it, the fresh outside air greeted his face, though fear still haunted him. He paused, staring at the outside world he hadn't seen in so long.
But as his feet touched the ground outside the house, something unexpected happened. Right beneath his steps, a dimensional rift suddenly appeared, forming a large, gaping crack as if the world was breaking beneath him. Before Revan could comprehend what was happening, he fell into the chasm. It felt like sliding into an endless abyss, his vision filled with starlight shimmering like shards of broken glass. His body felt weightless, but his consciousness began to fade, until he was finally thrown far into another world that was entirely foreign to him.
When his consciousness returned, the world felt empty. All of Revan's senses seemed to disappear, leaving him in profound silence. He tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids felt heavy, as if held shut by tape. In his head, sharp pains throbbed, like cracks in glass being repeatedly struck by a hammer.
"Why is it so hard to open my eyes? And why does my head hurt so much?" he muttered in a flat voice, devoid of emotion, even though the pain in his head was very real.
Unable to fight his limp body, Revan decided to remain lying down. The surface beneath him felt strange, slightly rough and thick, with a cold sensation slowly spreading to his skin. He tried to gather his strength, waiting for the pain in his head to subside and his senses to return.
Slowly, the feeling returned. A gentle breeze brushed against his skin, carrying the scent of flowers and fresh green leaves. The sounds of birds began to emerge, mixed with the chirping of insects and the rustling of leaves stirred by the wind. This... grass? Revan thought. His fingers touched the surface beneath his body, confirming what he had just felt.
Revan slowly opened his eyes, allowing the soft forest light to enter his vision. The sky above was blue, adorned with towering tree branches. "What kind of forest is this? How did I get here? As far as I remember, I just wanted to go out to buy food... and then..." He paused for a moment, trying to recall. "Ah, right. That strange hole. I was sucked into it, and when I regained consciousness, I was already here." It was hard to tell whether this was the same world as before or an entirely different one.
Though confusion still enveloped him, Revan tried to calm himself. He slowly stood up, brushing off the remnants of leaves stuck to his body. His gaze shifted around, searching for clues. Not far from where he stood, a large tree towered high, much bigger than the others, with roots sprawling like giant snakes.
Maybe there's something there… he thought. Quickly, he began to run toward the tree, navigating through the bushes and avoiding small animals scurrying around him.
Upon reaching the tree, Revan stopped for a moment, bowing his body as he tried to regulate his racing breath. "Hah... hah... hah... So tired," he muttered with heavy breaths, "this is the first time I've run this hard."
After a few deep breaths, he straightened his body and looked toward the large tree in front of him. However, he was immediately startled by a face that remained expressionless, fixed on what he was seeing.
I didn't really notice it earlier because I was so tired, but what is this? he thought. This tree is bigger and taller than I imagined. Also, how can there be a door like a palace gate attached to its trunk?
Before him stood a gigantic tree, towering as high as a thirty-story building, with a trunk as large as Monas (a famous monument in Jakarta). A large, majestic green iron door was embedded in the middle of its trunk. The door was almost hidden by the entwining roots that encircled it, while strange carvings adorned the edges of the door, seemingly emanating a mysterious aura.
Revan stared at the tree for a long time. A mix of emotions surged within him—admiration, calmness, curiosity, and... something else. There was a warm feeling, like an unexplainable bond. As he was lost in his thoughts, a soft, soothing voice suddenly echoed in his ears.
"Come in," the voice said, sounding like a mother speaking lovingly to her child.
Revan was startled, he immediately looked around. But there was no one there except himself. Is it this tree that's speaking? he thought, then dismissed it. Impossible...
However, the voice sounded again, soft yet firm.
"For now, I'll go in first ."
Unconsciously, he stepped closer to the large door. As his hand nearly touched the doorknob, the door opened by itself, slowly, as if inviting him in.
Revan stood frozen for a moment, his body tense with the shock spreading through him. Without realizing it, he stepped inside, as if something was guiding him. Once inside, he held his breath, his eyes shifting around with an intense yet still expressionless gaze.
Before him, a large room emitted light like crystal, reflecting a dazzling brilliance that felt almost unreal. Although his heart was filled with admiration, Revan's face remained blank, showing no reaction whatsoever.
This.... Must be another world.