Time passes like this. The year ended.....

"Huh? it already January???"

"...."

"Time flew by so fast. It's already time for my high school admission exam....."

looking at his result of last year's final exam, "Hmmmh!!!"

"I couldn't get the result my father expected of me... Even after reading all day and night, I couldn't get the result he expected from me... I... disappointed you father...Please forgive your ignorant son....."

Irwan's mother is a teacher of a school. She is also a private tutor. So she somehow managed to support the family. And also their uncle (mother's younger brother ) supported his family after his fathers' death. Irwan's uncle loved him, cause his uncle saw him grow up. And also uncle believed in him. After his father, his uncle was the one who cared for him the most.

He got admitted to a New School. It was a boys' school. After 2 months of classes, he didn't make any friends. He just stayed by himself... Not talking to anyone..... Cause most of those students were spoiled brats. Goon type, always making trouble..... Acting all high and mighty... And also he didn't want to talk to anyone, he just wanted to be alone.

If possible, he just wanted a good friend, a normal friend not some trouble makers. So he didn't bother to talk with them.

During this time he had a few ARGUMENTS with his mother for various reasons. His younger brother was getting spoiled day by day and becoming more and more like a goon and rowdy type, just like those rotten trouble makers from his school...

Irwan's younger brother also behaved like this with him. One day they had an argument and his younger pushed him [pushed Irwan] backward. He threw anything he found near his hand to Irwan... Mother called their uncle [mother's younger brother] and blamed Irwan for everything that has happened.

Irwan was thinking, (Why mom?..... It's clear that he, my younger brother was at fault here. You are still supporting him? Blaming everything onto me..... while I didn't do anything wrong? )

.......

Irwan asked his mother after she is done talking with her brother,  "Why did you blame me?"

Mother looked at him.

"You clearly know what happened. You clearly saw everything"

Mother then yelled at him, "Shut up. I said what I thought was right. If you don't like it, then just get the hell out of my house. You are old enough to earn your livelihood. I can't bear your expenses any more. Just get out of my house"

(...)

Irwan didn't say anything else and kept quiet cause the country they live in is a backwater country, getting a job at this age isn't that easy although it's possible, the payment would be far worse than the work he has to put in.

A few days later; Irwan was sleeping and just woke up. His uncle called on his mobile phone. He was looking for Irwan and wanted to talk with him for a bit.

Hearing his uncle's voice, for some unknown reason, his heartbeat skipped a bit. He was about to start crying, he calmed himself down a little bit and said, "Uncle, I just woke up now, I will talk to you later"

His uncle asked him why he sounded like this? Was he crying? He said, "No..... it's just that I woke up. I will talk with you later" And then he hung up the phone.

Irwan's uncle was worried about him. So a few days later uncle called him and said to him to go to the village. Uncle will send him money every month for his education and daily necessities.....

As uncle suggested he went to the village. He was admitted to a new school there. There was a big field in front of the school and a nice big pond beside the school. The area was open and the air was so refreshing.

He spent two years in the village. These two years of village life were full of enjoyment for him... He got the freedom he always wanted. He made good friends there in his new High school..... 

Everyone in his new school was curious about him. Cause people go to city from village to get higher education and to get a higher status...

This is the first time they are witnessing someone doing the opposite, coming to the village and admitting to a school there. They were a bit shocked. Still, most of them had good personalities. So he had a great time there.

He was able to overcome the pain he had buried in his heart...

Enjoying the sweet taste of freedom...

....

Irwan laying down on the grass of the field. The sky was a bit cloudy. He started talking to himself, "This feels refreshing..... Hmmm?...I.... am free now? Is this how it feels like to be free? Maybe....."

He then started thinking about something else. He kept quiet for a while. A few minutes passed by, he was remembering past events, his memories with his father,

"Father, Now I understand why you didn't give me any pocket money... cause you thought if you gave me money, I would use it in a bad way and thus become a bad person... If I were a free person as others, I would have become like those trash, goons....."

" I remember father, a few years ago when I stole some money from your pocket, you didn't say anything even when you noticed it. Rather you suggested me, not to get close with bad boys... with a gentle smile on your face, not yelling at me and yet making me feel guilty... I remember it clearly..... I never did this kind of thing since then..... I.. just wanted to become a good boy you can be proud of and wanted to earn your love even more..... But.... but you are not here today...."

Irwan's eyes become wet while thinking of these things and saying these things to himself.

"Don't worry father, even if your son is leading a free life now, you can rest assured that I would never become a bad person and will never forget you... I will become someone you could be proud of"

.....

A few days later, On a moonlit night, Irwan was playing games in his tab. He suddenly heard some wired sound. He paid no attention to it. He went to bed after half an hour. Some times later,

Shooo..... [Sound of something flying or jumping]

He thought he saw a shadow flew by outside...

!!!

"What was that?.... Am I imagining things?"

"Whatever... Let's just go to sleep."