Perahu Kertas chapter 1-2 , English Version

the paper boat 1 

The road turning There was no reason to leave Amsterdam on summer. This was the best time for biking around Leidseplein and Dam Square while enjoying sunshine that was an annual heaven for the dwellers. He just still wanted to seat in the edge Blomendahlwith canvas and portrayal tool, or enjoying koffieverkeer din a café at 9 Straatjes starting from morning until evening with hissketch book. While emptying the last line of his book from a shelf which hanged beside bed mate, same question since the last week repeated on his head: my age is just eighteen, but why I feel so tired for these all? The door in his back was rattled. “Nee , Keenan, Don’t burden your suitcase with the book! Let your Oma sends these all to Jakarta.” Keenan showed smile, he canceled cleaning away his books. His heart was disturbed. Hisgrandma’s saying seem like he would never come back to this home anymore. Keenan knew that this situation was gonna be happened. The miracle was the only cause that can cancel hisreturn to Indonesia.A few years ago, Keenan hoped and prayed for a miracle will come but it wouldn’t.Only once in his life, hearing his Mom praised hissketches that he sent, without giving any additional utterance that imply his could stay any longer in Amsterdam, accompanying his grandma who was fighting to not be sent into an old folks’ home because reputed too old to live alone. Painting alone in a bench nearby Vondelpark, growing up became a painter as many found in this city. The miracle that Keenan had had, having a date of expiry. It was only for six years. His parents quarreled one week before finally deciding that was Keenan, their elder daughter, allowed to go abroad. Isn’t his Mom was born and livedhere as a painter and at last he went to Indonesia and stopped being a painter? Keenan doesn’t know what the problem is. How come, his parents, the source of talent that flows in hisblood, want to stop what runs in hisblood? Dad worried about if Amsterdam would pep up the art in his daughter. Why do you scare? Keenan once asked. It is because of your brain is too clever to be a painter only, his dad replied. Finally Keenan repeatedly asked himself. Should he start to “sabotase” his marks in school to make his father believing that he was wrong? But luckily, before it happened, Mom and Dad agreed that he would study in Amsterdam for six years only. More than two thousand days passed, and Keenan felt that six years was as quick as his wink. “Maybe be this is what you should bring, vent ,” Grandma gave two books 2500 LatihanSoal UMPTN, “just learn these in the plane!” “Ok Oma.” Keenan took those thick books and planned to leave them under his bed after Grandma left. “I wait you in dining table, ok.” That old woman stood up, clean away her crepe paisley-dress, tightening her hairpin in her thick and gray hair, she smiled. The wizened of her face didn’t reduce her beauty. My grandma has much resemblance with Mom. Keenan was suddenly yearning after his mom. It mad his return to Jakarta wasn’t such a nightmare anymore. “Omahas cooked?” “Bruinebonensoep and kaasbrodje , as what you oderred, Omakannietferget , vent. Oma keeps a promise.” The first night he came to this home was a winter and the heater was in damage.Oma cuddled and in fold him with a thick blanket. They both kept staying in the sofa. They waited for morning. The first time they felt so close like a best friend that watched over each other.On that night, Oma promised won’t cry if Keenan must go back to Indonesia, and Keenan did same without knowing how hard to keep that promise. Keenan had a look at his Grandma that walking up into dining room. She always kept smiling, seem like a friendly. Her footstep was still steady although it became slower in the last year. From a door gap which wasa little bit opened, Keenan saw his grandma tidying up the table cloth. Grandma sat on her seat by seeing on the red-bean soup in the front of her. Although it was not clear, Keenan could see his grandma eyes shed tears. Quickly grandma wiped them away from her eyes. Keenan closed his door; the room appeared to be blurring. He many times tried to close his eyes, but the tears couldn’t stop falling down. Jakarta, July, 1999 … The girl with a small body never stopped moving, sometimes jumping, even her feet kicking the air,whereas her activity was only packing the books into a cardboard. The girl kept dancing. She used earphone, the song was “new wave”, her brother’s collection. She just graduated from Senior High School last month, but her favorite songs were same with a person who graduated from Senior High School last 15 years. Everyone said that theKugy is only an up-to-date from the outside but inside she is out of date.Kugy always ignored the people that lecture her. She was proud of herself. She kept saying that, excepting the fashion, 80s are cool and genius. “Karma-karma-karma-karma-karma Chameleon ... you come and go ... you come and gooo ...” Kugy shake down a book while she was looking at above. She fighted to not look at the mirror because seeing her shadow only made she been horselaugh. How bad! She whispered. She was amazed. From the outside, her young sister, Keisha, knocked the door. After a minute, Keisha wasn’t patient anymore, she started hammering on the door. “Kugy!Woooi! A phone call for you!” There was an adult voice from the behind, “Kak Kugy”, with a stress on it. Keisha saw to her mother. Her Mom never felt bored to remind her to call her old sister with “kak”. Unfortunately, Kugy’s behaviors made her become not suitable to be called as “Kakak”. The door in front of Keisha was full with stickers. Kugylooked at Keisha with one half of her earphone hang down.Kugy been opting asking her mom rather than answering the telephone. She looked at her mom and asked“Mom, what about if I change my name become Karma? It’s still begun with K. So, it won’t break ourfamily’s rule.” Keisha also saw her mother with a despondently gaze by saying, “Look Mom, she is strange.” Her mom shrugged the shoulders while continuing reading. “Having five children has confused to call the name correctly, moreover when one of them changed the name, how complicated! Just change it later, after I’ve got old, senile. So, it won’t influence much. Karma, even Karno, it’s all up to you!” I was amazed Keisha. She just realized where Kugy’s strange behaves come. By using excessive British accent, Kugy answers the telephone. “Karma Chameleon speaking. Who’s there?” A minute passed, the answer upon the other side, “Gi, I’m Noni. Who else will call you? Queen of England?” Hearing Noni’s voice, Kugy’s eyes was suddenly glittering. Noni was her close friend since she was born. She was the only who has waited the longest for Kugy’s advent in Bandung.She wantedKugy arrived soon. Noni was an overbusy when knowing thatKugy’s will come to Bandung, seemed like a committee of government authority reception. She prepared everything, looks for a rent house, prepared for pick-up service, and instead made a list of the order of the first week. In short, Noni was its busy section. “So, will you come? If won’t, I will give your room to other.” Noni’s voice was screeching piercingly. It replaced Boy George voice which was toning down in Kugy’s ears. “Calm down, madam Noni! Legalization my STTB to school hasn’t be done yet.” “Ha. Everyone did it several centuries ago.How bad!” “It’s impossible. STTB just arose in my brother period in school….” “When you start packing, Gy? The books that you have, just sent them to Bandung by package, you don’t need to bring them by yourself. Eko has a small baggage only.Your books won’t enoughto get there. You just need to bring the cloths, ok. Train ticket has bought or hasn’t? It has been sold out.Regrettably, you should buy it to the calo , sadly for the money.” “Non, you are much talkative than my Mom while in three in one, seriously!” “I don’t care what the problem is, next week, you gotta arrive in Bandung! Before using it to pick you up, Eko’s car has been serviced in car shed. It’s to prevent the trouble that may happen on the way to railway station. We will go to shop center to buy your needs after your coming. About your room, I’ve cleaned it several times. All are well settled.” “But, you are also diligent as diligent as my servant while in three in one.” “Mad!” “Churlish is also!” “Yes, you are!” “Ish, how terrible I am!” Noni was suddenly laughed. “Why do you bane yourself?” “I feel so, why do i?” Kugy was laughed too.“To economize your energy, you’ve helped me much, and I know that you are sick of these. You handled Eko and his Fuad which often striking.” “Correct, I prefer to choose go dating with bicycle rather than that yellow Fiat.Fuad is more often strike than kombi makes new generation.” “Ahaha, it’s in serious condition! It will be better if Fuadcouldbe born, you may be a Fiat breeder.” Kugy laughed like a drain. Komba and Kombi was a couple hamsters belonged to Noni and her boyfriend, Eko.This couple never stopped giving birth till then Eko and Noni had had a new profession as hamsters’ seller. “Well, text week I wait you in Bandung. Don’t forget: STTB, KA (KeretaApi )ticket, packing, package your books, the umbrella that once you borrowed, my jins jacket, it’s still with you, isn’t it? And then ….” Kugygave a slip her telephone from her ear. She waited Noni’s voice becoming soft by changing TV channels. “Gi, have you noted all? Kugy?” Kugy got the telephone hurriedly. “Yap, I’m handling! See you next week!” While the telephone ended, Kugy bubbled with laughter by herself. This one best friend was amazing indeed. While her family even wasn’t busy with her going to Bandung for studying. Noni settled almost everything well and sincerely. Since both of us were children_ everybodysays, Noni seemed like taking care of her young sister_ beside we both are in the same age. Noni, an only child and Kugy, coming from a big family, were best friend which keep in touch since they were in the kindergarten. Their fathers worked in the same company and the relation between each family has been good since first meeting. They were always appointed for the same jobs unconsciously. Noni and Kugy grew up together and lived in the same site. They moved from one city to another city almost in the same time: Ujung Pandang, Balik-papan, Bontang, and last was Jakarta, when in senior high school. In that year, it’s the first time the both were separated. Noni’s father got pension and choose to spend his life in Subang while Kugy’s father kept staying on Jakarta. Although Noni seemed adult and tidythan Kugy, but honestly Kugy had strengthand Noni didn’t have. Kugy has known what she wants since she was a kid and for what she liked, Kugy would change amazingly. Her decision to choose Sastra Major was as the result for reaching her dream to be a fairy tale writer. Her choice to study in other city was the result of her fantasy to live and stand alone.Out of her behaviors which were completely spontaneous, Kugy has planned her futureripely. She knew the reasons behind all of her actions, and she was serious in achieving her dreams. Starting from elementary school, Kugyhas started saving money. All of her saving was used for buying fairy tale books. Starting from “cergamstensilan” until the most expensive classic fairy tales, she had. Her invest being increased well.She rented those collections and the positive impact was the books increasing more and more. Cap it all, Kugy became the only and the youngest owner of colportage in her complex, and the grumpiest too.Just like the predator in the jungle, she chased on the “naughty” payments with her mini cycle till the payments gave her book back, she wouldn’t stop chasing. Kugy would be serious in doing a job which could help her in reaching her dream.Kugy was the chairman of magazine redaction in her school. She dares to chase public figures whose come across her for being interview with a nimble and professional trick. The information she got, wouldl be written in as serious topic formed article. She wouldfollow all kind of writing contests in the magazine diligently.Kugy would do it hardly and seriously. She would fight a lot to get the victory. Incredibly, Kugy had known the jury usually used in contest and she had known what is liked or disliked by them too. Not all of people think fit of fairy tale writer was a dream.Kugy has known about this too. Day by daykugy had realized that the dreams which were going to be fit must be the dreams that could give a big incometo the life. Being a tale writer wasn’t one of them. This was the cause that supportedKugy to be enthusiasm in reaching her dream. She wanted to give evidence that she could stand alone from the books and the writings. In her room which was combining with colportage in up stair. Kugy arranged the beams of her dream. One day, she wouldn’t be a tale’s collector anymore. She would write her own tale although its way was so complicated.

 

2 Moving to Bandung 

 Jakarta, August 1999 “Where is Keenan, Ma?” asked that boy uneasily. His well-built body which was at the age of fifties dressed by plain the shirt and sporty. He made the oppressive step to and fro lastly. “Sleeping, none else!” his wife answered calmly. Her concentration was riveted on mixing two cups of coffee milk in front of her. “It seems like we care much more about UMPTN announcement than he does.” Her husband cursed. “That’s the newspaper is coming.” His wife screamed while hearing the paper rubbing on the door. As in match, both were run hurriedly to the door, directly opening the middle page which is full of name lists. “Here it is! His name! He passed!” her wife screamed loudly while pointing one name. Between believing or not,that man convinced his self by re-checkingmany times. It was clear. Only one name was written there K-E-N-A-A-N. It was clear. “Let’s arouse him.” He screamedimpatiently. “Ops, no, don’t do that! Just let him rest well, in lately he didn’t sleep enough.” Her wife stopped him while smiling.“At least, he makes us happy today.” Actually, Kenaan had known everything. It was impossible to close his ears from even the lowest voice in this small house. By cuddling and holding his knees, Kenaan mused in his bed. Keenan asked himself: “Is it a mistake that he doesn’t feel happy like his parents do?”Has he satisfied for achievement making others feel happy? Is he in balance grief for treason he did to himself?” In front of canvas, Kenaan eyes were glued.She got the blank paper as the only answer. * Two turns from Kugy’s house, there was a river. Although it was efflorescent,but it never been stepped up as we saw in other rivers in Jakarta.Kugy had realized something, wherever she lived in, there was flowing water beside her house. It seemed like there was something which hopped that she kept continuing her habit. Kugy never forgot how that habit began. At the time, her family was still living in Ujungpandang. Her house beyond the seawas made young Kugy spent the whole day in the beach.Karel, the eldest brother, is h first person who telling her that her zodiac was Aquarius. The symbol was water. Young Kugy was daydreaming that she sent by Neptune’s God to live in the earth and she had to report everything happened. She sent her first report since has been ableto write.Kugy folded the letter and thrown it into the sea.Almost every noon Kogy came to the sea and thrown her letters which told about the stories or pictures for Neptune. Kugy was protest a lot while her family planned to move to another city. It would mean no sea anymore. The whole day she kept silent and angry. Finally, Karel explained her that wherever there was water flowing, she could send the letter. All of water’s flowing will be ended on river. It was Karel statement at the time, while wiping away the tears on Kugy’s cheeks. “The rivers will be ended on the sea?” Karel nodded. “The pond water will be end on the sea?” Karel once nodded. “The gutter’s is too?” Karel nodded again. Finally, Kugy believed. Now, she has been apart from the sea and her family kept moving. She had to live in a place which could help her to send the letters to Neptune. It included her house in the Jakarta. But, this habit had been loose gradually. An adult Kugy realized that there was no Neptune’s god. The letters she had sent arriving on the sea in chip of micron and it was useless, even never arrived there.But, Kugy couldn’t explain the real deep inside of her heart that she still wanted to believe in. She couldn’t explain how her soul was in peaceful while those boat papers flowing in the water. At morning, she stood up in front of that river. The noisy of children in that village was so clear but it wasn’t disturbing her. She kept looking at the dark water under her feet. Slowly she took something on her pocket. It was a boat paper.Kugy was forgotten when the last time she flowed the boat paper on there. It was too long she had forgotten her duty as a water spy. She didn’t know what the reason was, that river raised her spirit to write again. A short letter: Nus, I moved to Bandung. I’ll find my stream. See you later. Coincide with the rocks, hooks, leaves, and everything that fallen down by small hands beside her, a boat paper was flowed freely. * A Junior High School student with a curly hair was slowly run and hurriedly entering his rail fence of his house which was in white. He was a firm. He has a sharp face with skin but being signed and a bit red because of sunshine. It made him looked like a tourist who lived on front ofKuta beach.Beautiful houses placed in green land in Jakarta Timur seemed lonely.That boy looked around uneasily. He could breathe freely while seeing his parent’s car in garage. His steep came slow down while opening the door. “Ma, Keenaan hasn’t left, has she?” He asked immediately. His mother smiled and made head movement, “Not yet. But, you have to bathe first to get allowance to accompany your brother to the station.” Keenan came out of his room while smiled seeing his young brother in dirty and wet of sweat too. “Although caked with dirty, Jeroen still has many fans Ma.” Jeroen was blushing. His mind was flying out to the letters and photos which often put into his bag by girls atschool, and he was trying to guesswhich letter had been found by his brother. “Luckily you were not here Nan. I was like personal receptionist in answering the calls for him.” Mom was said abruptly. Mom watched on her sons who are 6 years different in age and realized how different they both are.Jereonwas an extrovert, athletics,diplomatic, social, and active in organizations, resemble with his father. Beside Keenan, who was an introvert, gentle, didn’t like a gathering, and much loved quietness and painting, was resemble of her.Although the both were different, they kept caring and admiring each other.Jereon admiringKeenan, he was his first idol and Keenan love his young brother much more than everything.Jereonseemed like a broken heart when knowing that Keenan should go to Amsterdam, and now, he had to let his brother continued his study in Bandung. “Ma, I wanna take off for a day,may I? I also wanna meet Mas Eko.” Jereon whined. His request was refused gruffly by his father and now he tried to convince his mother. Unfortunately, his mother kept making head movements. “No, you may not, Reon. You must attend the school.” “Are you sure that Ekowill pick me up, Mom? Keenan asked. “Of course yes, I am. I called Eko by myself. What’s the matter?” “I don’t recognize his face anymore, and he may don’t recognize too. The last time we met is when I was a student of elementary school.” Jereon suddenly screamed, “Look Mom, if I am with Keenan, I can tell him which one Mas Eko is.” Their mother was smiled seeing their effort to get allowance.Ekois their cousin who since Senior high school had studied in Bandung and now, they would study in the same university. When studying in elementary school, before coming to Amsterdam, they both were a close friend. This was their first meeting after being separate for so long lime. “Your reason is reasonable, Nan. But, I’ve told Eko to bring your written name with him. So, even though you both don’t recognize the face, you will meet each other.” Mother answered while glancing to Jereon. There was a sound of door opened. Father came out from there with shirt complete by its tie. He asked permission from the office for accompanying his son to the station. “All of your things have been well prepared, Nan?” father asked while taking the car’s key on the table. “Yap, it has, Pa.” He stood up beside a travel bag. “Just it?” “Others will be packaged to Bandung later.” Mom answered while seeing on the boxes full with paint tools in the corner. His father inhaled. His countenance couldn’t be hidden. It was seen so clear by Keenan. There was a sad atmosphere in that room. Each person did their own activity without saying. Bandung August, 1999… There was no other best feeling than staying on the blanket while drizzle in outside. It was Kugy’s principle.Lying in bed the whole noon while having a nice dream was Kugy’ mission on that noon.Unfortunately, she forgot to lock the door. The gleam from the outside entered her dark room. A quick steeps and a loud voice broke the quietness that covering Kugy like a pupa. “Gy, wake up! Accompany me!” That blanket which piled up didn’t budge. “Gy, Eko has arrived. Fuad couldn’t be turned off.It will be strike. Let’s hurry!” No other way, noni was in pitch. She had to take an extreme action. Quickly Noni pulled the blanket and spattered water on the glass beside bed to Kugy. Kugywas run of it and flustered.“An Attaaaack!Invasion private-rooooom!” “Don’t be over! Wake up!” Kugy was sat insincerely with one eye opened and dowdily hair. “Non, because of our room will be next-door for at least four years, I tell you one important rule, ok. Take arrest in noon is one of my sacred moments. Especially, it’s rain! You even should enter my room by your knee and sungkem to bed spring’s legs before coming to my bed.” “Let’s we pick up Eko’s cousin to the station! He’ll arrive at 5.p.m. Which cloth you want to wear? I’ll prepare it for you,” Noni seemed like don’t care with Kugy’sspeech. Both of Kugy’s eyes were opened. “Wait, why should I accompany you? He’s Eko’s cousin. You are Eko’s girlfriend.So, why should I get involved?” Kugy shouted out despondently. “Because, Fuad is always strike, if it happened again, we need somebody help to push it forward.” Kugy gapped, “So, I’m woken up from my holy sleep for reserve to help if fuadstriked? Only?” “Yes, of course.” “How rude, impolite! I’m reputed as car’slaborer?” While complaining, Kugywoke up. “Which cloth you want to wear?” “This one!”Kugy pointed the cloth used by her.A knickerbockers, batik , which had been pale and a blouse written “Lake Toba”, seemed like a dust-cloth. “Yah, don’t be angry Gy! Don’t mope like that!” “Oh, nope! I just dress based on my caste! A car’s laborer. Let’s go!” said Kugy while taking her jacket on hanger. Noni watched her friend uneasily. Kugy’s hair rose up and seemed like a half bouffant. Her cloth was in tatters.Jins jacket she wore, which stolen from Karel before coming to Bandung, was too large. Above all, her strange turtle watch, never loosen from her hand. The next, a toilet slipper, made from plastic, completed her quite uncanny appearance in that noon. Kugy walked out and faced the world steadily. In outside, there was Eko who shocked and suddenly burst out of laugh at her eccentric style. “Gy, u seems like a mental, new comer of mental, coooooool.”Eko shouted while taking camera from his backpack. “Ready… one, two, three, pose!” Directly kugy humped both of her arms like a body builder athlete. “Good. I’ll print 5R and display on mading in college.” He smiled complacently. “Huh, make it be 10R, magazine standard!” “You serve to much with a mental, see her face! Looks so happy.” Noni pointed on Kugy who in looking at her face on rear view. Realizing how strange her appearance was. She started chuckling. Eko started being uneasy to see Kugy like that, “Gy, you know how I respect on each liter of my gasoline, and I couldn’t turn off my car because it will strike. But, I will allow you to change your style and be willing on it for five minutes.”Said Eko by stressing on it.In fact, he just knew what will be Kugy’s choice. “It’s better to buy me a drink than wasting 5 minutes of your gasoline for waiting me dressing. A laborer is easily tired.Let’s!” Kugy’s answer finished the controversy on that noon. That yellow Fiat 124S, kited along the wet street on Bandung. * So many passengers had passed that company since last ten minutes but they hadn’t found who they wanted to pick up. Noni and Kugy started being uneasy. “Are you sure he took train on 5 p.m.? Why hasn’t he appeared yet?”Kugyasked while seeing around again and again. “I’m sure he did. The problem now is I don’t recognize his face.” “HAH!” Kugy and Noni shouted almost in same time. “Why don’t you bring a nameplate or whatever?” Noni cursed. Eko made a wry face, “It’sleft, Non.” “OMG! If you told me, I could bring a paper and pen.” Noni grumbled. “Calm down..! My cousin has a unique face. It is… hmmm…” “When is your last meeting?”Kugy asked. “It is, when I was in elementary school.”Eko answered while a bit burbling. Kugy and Noni spontaneously saw each other. Noni decided to continue grumbling and Kugy walked to the front station hurriedly. From a far, Kugy turned her body and asked, “Ko, who’s your cousin name?” “Keenan.” “KEENAN.” Coincided with it, a group of people appeared blocked both sight.Kugy hoped that she should not be wrong in hearing. “Keenan… Keenan.”She repeated while kept walking. Not far from that, someone felt his name called. Keenan felt that it came from the girl in front of him. Keenan watched carefully. He felt in bones that never met this girl the whole of his life. Actually, he had never met a person with strange appearance as her. In doubtful, Keenan came closer, made balance his step with thin feet which stepping in big space and hurriedly. “Excuse me!” Kugy stopped suddenly, stupefied and looked at the guy who suddenly appeared and stood in front of her. Keenan looked and saw at that girl once more. A small girl as high as his chin, with a strange style seemed like a student of junior high school, with hair just like someone who got a shock from electricity and both of her eyes were glaring like threatening. “What’s up?” asked Kugy with a loud voice, she wanna seem like in tempered. Crucially Keenan tried to hide his risibility of Kugi’s action. He was facing a kitten which wanted to seem like a tiger. “Nothing, I am wrong in recognizing somebody. I think you are … emm, so sorry.” Keenan confused how to tell. But, inside of his heart, he won’t ever forget that face. Finally Kugy nodded slowly and continued walking. She walked to inquiry desk as her plan before. She could breathe freely while that person disappeared from her sight.The boy she met was the most handsome guy she had ever met since Therrius shop in comic candy-candy. However, I have to be careful with all strangers who acting over intimate, she whispered. It was better to be focus on Eko’s cousin who is sopiteous.She motivated herself. She tried to forget what is happened just now.