Real Friends

source of image: www.factretriever.com

I entered to a room full of people. It was Madeline’s party. I felt some girl whispered behind me asking why I’m here. They shut their mouth as I look back at them. But, their silence told me the truth that I was the one they were just talking about. I really wanted to tell them that Madeline invited me two weeks ago. Of course, that was before it happened.

My eyes glanced to the others wishing there were anyone that would say “hi” to me or someone that I could come over without get judged. I continued my walk to find Madeline. She was the one who insisted that I had to come to her party. Yeah, Madeline was the one who still wanted to be my friend. Or I thought so.

And, there was Madeline standing in the center of the room. I was smiling when I thought she looked at me. But, she actually she was smiling at our senior named Lily. She didn’t recognize my presence. So, I waited until she finished talking Lily. Maybe, she didn’t see me, yeah, of course, she was my best friend and the only one I have this time. I stepped to the table and took a bottle of coke. I came back to see her and stood near the stairs—she couldn’t see me where I was standing right now.

“I couldn’t believe she came to your party after what her dad did.”

“Neither do I,” I heard Madeline reply. “Did you see the news yesterday? Her dad is already designated as suspected for the bank corruption.”

“Yes, yes, I saw it,” said the other girl. “Even it becomes hashtag in twitter. She is really shameless coming to your party. Did you invite her?”

My heart pounded as I waited Madeline’s respond. My eyes were full of water.

“No, I didn’t.”

I decided to get out from Madeline’s house. I didn’t know what she said three days ego to remind me I had to come to her house for the party. And the silly and naïve me came here because she said so. And, now I knew I didn’t deserve such a party. I was wondering whether I deserve to have a real friend. Just one, I didn’t hope for many. 

__________

Inspired by Real Friends - Camila Cabello

Our Table

Every time we came to this café, we’ll choose this table. It’s located beside the big transparent window near the door. We used to call it our table—or I’m used to. If someone has already sit on that, I can’t help myself but keep staring at them, wish they will leave the table sooner since it supposed to be ours. And, you will gave me distraction by asking me several question about my day or just flattered how beautiful I am today, and of course—you’ll add to makes my smile wider—you’ll always look beautiful every day, you say. If it didn’t work, you’ll say how you miss me until you hope we can meet every second.

I know that’s cheesy, but I’m kind of missing your cheesiness rather than this silence that strangle me I can’t breathe. Strangely, I wish we didn’t get this table today just to hear the words came from your mouth that you are missed me a lot like I did, do, and will.

I was wondering whether you miss me. I was also wondering whether you would miss this café, especially this table.

Our love for that special table is because this is the first time we met in this table. At that time, all the table is full. That was the time I caught your eyes. Without hesitation, I asked you to sit with me. Yes, you’re the stranger one. And that was the time when I felt stranger to my self—I just dumped by my ex. Sitting together at that seat, I told you about my story. Yeah, that was our first time to meet each other. But, it was easy for me to tell you everything like you were my best friend. More than that, I felt like we are created to be a complete package.

And, I felt the same, tho.

But your gaze hit my heart. You peer at my ring on my finger.  I stumble and fell from the highest place called ours—our love, our moment, our table. There is no room for them.

You got a call but I know that was from her. You told me you have to leave. Of course, she asked you to come to her. You did not need to explain she was sick. I’m the healthy one should be understand, yeah, I kept saying to my head. I have to understand. To you, I smiled wryly and say that was not a big deal for me.  Even though, that was.

And, now, as I watched your back I wish I could say more words like we used to do. I wish I could run to you and said I missed you a lot. And, I still loved you.

Apparently, that was not just my imagination. And you wouldn’t know how relieved I was that you hug me back.

“Thank you,” I said to your shoulder, before you came to your wife.

________________

terinspirasi dari lagu Di Atas Meja oleh Payung Teduh

Favorite Book All of the Time

(source of image: me)

I'm used to love Harry Potter book series. I've already read those book several times, including English and  bahasa version. I also read the additional book of the Harry Potter series such as Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them by Newt Scramander and The Tales of Beedle The Bard. I even read the screenplay The Cursed Child and Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them.Yeah, no doubt I’m a big fan of Harry Potter. However, if I want to talk about what books that my favorite all of the time, probably I will show you Sirkus Pohon by Andrea Hirata and A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. 

(source of image: google)

 
When I was reading the first chapter, I don’t have any idea what Sirkus Pohon tells about. There is no synopsis or excerpt of the book behind the book. I just let myself enjoy the writing style and the storyline. And, it’s a REALLY worth reading. Hirata can tell such painful scenes or plot in different way and they are turn out to be such a humor. The characters in the book are also unique. And not to mention, the writing style of the author is also really unique. It’s rich of diction, but structured in simple way. I can say this book is really refreshing. Reading this book is like eating a fresh of mangos. I love it!

(source of image: google)

 
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman is a book that I put on my unputdownable book. It’s hard to ignore this book until I can read the whole book (eventually, I don’t continue read this book after the first chapter. And that was my biggest regret. Seriously, if you feel this book is not your worth reading type as I felt before, just go to the next page and the next page). Yeah, at the first time, I feel like Ove is such a mean man. However, after reading the pages to pages, I understand why he becomes such grumpy man. And, actually, he is a loveable soul who will help anyone, including the stray cat. Reading this book makes me cry, smile, laugh, cry, smile, laugh, and you start from the previous. IT’S A WORTH READING!!

Both of these books is my go to book whenever I feel like want to read something but don’t have any idea what will be fun to read. I also will pick this book when I’m down and need some laugh.

Favorite Indonesian Young Adult Novel

(source of image: google)

So, the challenge for today is writing about my favorite Indonesian young adult novel. When I read my challenge for December 7^th, several titles of recent novel that I’ve read pop up on my head. I’m thinking about Welcome Home, Rain by Suarcani. I like the writing style and how the writer tells the reader the storyline. This book is one of the unputdownable book since the first time I read it. However, I think I would tell you about Galette, a young adult novel written by Fainy Wong.

Actually, the novel is already on my scoop since months ago. I’ve never read the author’s works before even though the cover looks cute.  I still did not give it a try since I have a long list to read. Then, when I want to read a young adult novel, I come to this novel. Before reading it, I did not read the synopsis (on the back cover) or review in the goodreads which gave me no expectation for this book. However, it turned out to be really good! I was enjoy the way the writer told the story line. And the character is really strong—it’s not a kind of strength that they can beat someone easily. It’s like you really know the characters well. Also, what’s make me interest the most is since the character is an entrepreneur. I love to read about a creative characters in the novel as they inspire me to be creative too.

Here is the synopsis of the novel:

Odile tahu bahwa keluarganya di ambang kebangkrutan dan harus menjual segala aset untuk bisa bertahan. Tapi ia menolak menyerah pada keadaan. 

Ganesh tahu hatinya selalu dipenuhi dendam dan prasangka terhadap ayah yang telah menitipkannya di tengah keluarga Odile. Dendam yang membuatnya selalu marah pada keadaan dan memutuskan pergi ke Paris untuk mencari jawaban. 

Kirana tahu bakat seni sang ayah mengalir kental dalam darahnya. Tapi ia tidak tahu harus berbuat apa. Sifat penakut, pemalu dan kikuk telah menyembunyikan potensinya rapat-rapat. 

Ketiganya tumbuh bersama, menghabiskan masa kecil hingga remaja di taman kecil di belakang kafe Galette. Namun seiring waktu, masalah di kampus, problem cinta, dan pencarian jati diri membuat jarak di antara mereka semakin menganga. 

Ketika kafe Galette terancam dijual dan hanya ada satu kesempatan untuk mempertahankannya, ketiga sahabat itu akhirnya melihat di mana hati mereka berada.

Note: this post is actually posted yesterday as my December 7th writing challenge. But I got trouble connection to upload it.

Thoughts on Because This is My First Life

(source of image: google)

Well, I just watched Because This is My first Life. The drama tells about a woman in 30 years who lives with a man who later becomes her husband. If you read that premise, probably you will think how cliché and cheesy the storyline would be. BUT, believe me, the drama is the BEST DRAMA ever I’ve watched. Let me tell you my detail opinion about this drama. I’ll start by the cover. As you can see, from the cover we can see two main characters that looks really awkward and conservative. It’s not like other dramas that there is a man with tuxedos and a woman who holding hands each other. The cover itself already shows us that this is about two awkward people (I would say they have unique personality) and NORMAL that it feels so real. Actually, the one that really catch my eyes is the cat that hold by the man. How come a man who looks serious has a cute cat (no judge here hehe). It’s just that I can’t imagine and I am curious what the role of the cat in the drama lol.

Next, we move to the opening. The drama is opened by the female main characters childhood life


(you can watch the first episode in this link.)

Disclaimer: You probably don’t like the spoiler episode before you watch by yourself. However, TRUST ME it’s really worth! You won’t regret watch them since they are really good.

The female character is an assistant writer. I’m always interested in movie or drama that tells about writer. And I felt strongly encouraging to continue watching this movies since the first issue that brought by this drama in the first episode is about patriarchal family. The female character has to leave her house because the house will be owned by her brother.

Then, we will come to the part or I would say the first plot twist in the dramas. Both of the female and male characters didn’t know that their housemates do not have similar gender with them.

Okay, I will stop telling you about the story line. But, there are several issues other than patriarchal family that takes my concern in this drama. First, parents tend to have desire that their children would get married to someone who have a good background (family, occupation, and education). After getting married, their desire will be growing to be a need to have a grandchild. Second, marriage is a system in human society that will secure someone from others judgments. Third, a house is symbolized as human social class. In east countries (I don’t know about the western), having a good house is important for the woman. Fourth, there are still women who would be seen as inferior in working place even though she has a good position in that company.

At last, I like everything about the drama Because This is My First Life. The actors can act really well that I can feel the chemistry between the characters. The story line is really good (spoiler: the writer can trick you in some parts :p). And I like how this drama can make me laughing, thinking about life, and sad. Also, the soundtrack is really good, tho.

Additional spoiler:

December Writing Challenge

(source of image: pinterest)

So, my friend, Ica gave me an idea to start writing English in blog in order to improve our English writing skill. We will make a challenge. We decided that we will make a blog post with similar topic every week. However, I feel like I want to challenge my self more. Therefore, I made a list of my every day writing challenge in December. I will start in December 5th and end it in December 31th.

5. Favorite korean drama
6. Breakfast
7. Young adult Indonesian book
8. English fantasy book
9. Muse to write
10. Wake up in the morning
11. Childhood memory
12. Favorite book all of the time (feat Ica)
13. Indonesian musical video
14. Live and Alive
15. Pet
16. Self-love
17. Painful/ unforgettable memory
18. Indonesian poem book
19. Short story based on popular song
20. Recent favorite movie
21. Viral things
22. Mum
23. Narration/ thoughts of you by your things (as they were alive)
24. Place that you want to visit
25. Local favorite food
26. The best day ever in your life
27. The most you hate
28. Short story/ thoughts of recent Indonesian popular song
29. Skin care review
30. Skin care review
31. New Year Resolution

[Review Novel] Pulang karya Tere Liye

Pulang adalah novel Teri Liye yang pertama saya baca, meskipun saya sering melihat di jajaran rak buku utama di toko buku gramedia banyak tertampang novel-novel Tere Liye yang berlabel best seller. Dan saat saya selesai membaca novel ini, saya mengerti kenapa karya Tere Liye bisa menduduki jajaran buku bestseller. Novelnya keren banget >.<

Awalnya, saya pikir novel ini akan berkisah tentang seseorang perantau yang bernama Bujang yang tidak pulang-pulang. Dia menjadi anak durhaka dan kemudian tertimpa akibatnya. Seperti dongeng klasik malin kundang yang sering dijejeli kepada anak-anak agar tidak durhaka kepada orang tuanya. Apalagi settingnya sumatra, dan ada nama Bujangnya. Saya sudah curiga novel ini juga mengangkat tentang Sumatra Barat. Bujang adalah panggilan untuk anak laki-laki yang masih muda, namun sampai tua biasanya juga akan dipanggil Ujang atau Bujang. Lalu juga ada kisah tentang merantau--yang saya tangkap dari sinopsis di belakang buku--lengkap sudah asumsi saya bahwa ini settingnya di sumatra barat. Saya sengaja tidak membaca review dimana-mana agar nggak bias, tidak terpengaruh dari orang lain, hehe.

Betul saja kecurigaan saya. Latar belakang Bujang, si karakter utama, berasal dari Talang. Talang adalah salah satu daerah di Solok. Yang mana saya tahu di Solok banyak sawah tadah hujan makanya ada lagu "bareh solok lamak rasonyo".

Tapi kecurigaan saya hanya berakhir disitu saja. Pada halaman-halaman selanjutnya saya menemukan bahwa novel ini bukan hanya menceritakan tentang seorang anak laki-laki yang merantau dan tinggal jauh dari orang tuanya. Tapi lebih dari itu. Novel ini menceritakan tentang shadow economy, dunia hitam dimana karakter Bujang masuk dan menjadi pelaku utamanya. Seperti menonton film action, saat Bujang menghadapi musuhnya saya ikut menahan napas, saat mereka menang di pertempuran saya ikut senang.Tere Liye mampu mendeskripsikan dengan baik sehingga kita bisa seperti menonton film saat membaca bukunya. Riset yang dilakukan oleh penulis juga semakin memperkaya novel ini sehingga menjadi semakin menarik untuk dibaca karena terasa nyata. Saya juga suka dengan ending dari novel ini yang tidak maksa. Tapi saya penasaran dengan kisah cintanya Bujang yang tidak disinggung di dalam novel ini walaupun dia sudah berumur 35 tahun di akhir cerita. Atau hanya saya yang tidak ngeh karena penulis menceritakannya secara tersirat?

Pulang mengandung banyak pesan moral yang tersirat dan tidak seperti menggurui. Ada nuansa islaminya, meskipun dalam novel ini karakter utamanya tidak menunjukkan diri sebagai orang yang alim. Novel ini bukan menceritakan tentang bakti kita kepada orang tua. Tapi lebih daripada itu. Tentang hubungan manusia dengan penciptanya. Sejauh apapun kita melangkah, kita tetap akan kembali kepada-Nya. Kita tidak bisa mengingkari. Itulah defenisi pulang yang saya dapatkan dari novel ini.