A loud sound was heard from the stilt house beside the Hartono family home. It was the sound of two lovers spending time together, as they always did. Yes, they were Roni and Ayu, who were enjoying their final moments in their hometown. Whenever they missed each other, the house of Roni’s late parents became a special place for them to share time together.
“Dear, are you really leaving me tomorrow?” Ayu asked, making sure whether Roni would truly go to the city to continue his studies.
“Yes, Dear. I have to go. It was my late Father’s wish,” Roni answered firmly. “Don’t worry, once I achieve everything I dream of, I will return and marry you. In the city, I can gain knowledge and look for job opportunities. That will help me become a better man, someone who can be accepted by your family.”
Ayu sighed softly. “Alright, if that is your decision. I will always wait for you. Don’t forget your promise. Tonight, I want to stay at your house. Let this be our temporary farewell,” she said, her eyes filled with tears. She could not hold back the sadness of Roni leaving to chase his dreams in the big city.
“I am doing this for us too, Ayu,” Roni said gently while holding Ayu’s hand.
That night, they slept together on the bed that had witnessed many beautiful memories of theirs. Ayu did not care if her parents looked for her at home. The most important thing for her was being together with Roni—the man she deeply loved, who would soon leave her.
The next morning, Roni, who had prepared everything, said goodbye to Ayu. In this village, he had no one else besides Ayu. Both of his parents had passed away several months ago, and now he was truly alone. Going to the city was a new chapter in his life, and he promised he would return once he became successful.
“My dear, be careful, okay? Don’t forget to send me letters. Take care of your health there—because there will be no Ayu to take care of you,” Ayu said, tears slowly flowing from her eyes. The warm night they spent together was not enough to erase the pain of separation.
“I will always remember your words. Take good care of yourself. I promise I will come back. Wait for me,” Roni said firmly before getting on the pedicab that would take him to the train station.
As the pedicab moved forward, Roni looked at the stretch of rice fields in his village. It was hard for him to believe that this would be his last day in that memory-filled place. But he knew, as someone who was now alone, he did not have many choices. Without any inheritance from his parents, he had to go to the city to continue school and seek a better future.
After a long journey by train, Roni finally arrived in the big city. As he stepped down at the station, he took out a piece of paper containing the address of the university he was heading to.
“Turns out it’s quite far from here. I thought it was closer,” he muttered to himself. He began looking for a taxi.
A driver approached him. “Where are you going, Sir?” the driver asked politely.
Roni handed over the paper. “I want to go to this address, Sir. I don’t know the way because I’m from a village.”
The driver read the address and smiled. “Oh, you want to register at this university? My child also studies there. But do you already have a place to stay? Any family here?”
“Unfortunately no, Sir. I came alone and plan to look for a boarding house near the campus,” Roni replied.
“I see. But boarding houses around here are expensive, Son,” said the driver.
“I will look for a cheap one, Sir. It’s okay if it’s a bit far from the campus,” Roni replied confidently.
They chatted along the way. Roni introduced himself, and the driver gave tips on staying safe in the big city. Not long after, they arrived in front of the grand campus.
“Sir, this is all the money I have. If it’s not enough, I will pay you later,” Roni said while handing over the money.
“It’s enough, Son. Take good care of yourself. This city is different from the village. Be careful,” the driver advised before leaving.
Roni stared at the large campus in awe, then decided to look for a boarding house before registering. He searched for hours, but everything was too expensive.
“Oh my God, it’s so expensive. If I live here, I won’t be able to afford food,” he grumbled.
He kept walking, hoping to find a more affordable place. In a narrow alley, he accidentally crossed paths with a group of street youths. When he turned around to leave, they had already seen him.
“Hey, where are you going? Come hang out with us,” one of them shouted.
“I’m just passing by, sorry. I took the wrong way,” Roni answered politely, trying to avoid them.
But they blocked his path. “Wait a minute. You’re from a village, right? Entering the city has a fee. Hand over your money, and we’ll let you go,” one of them said.
“I’m sorry, I don’t have much money. Only enough for boarding rent and food,” Roni explained.
“Stop making excuses. Hand it over now!” they urged.
With no other choice, Roni ran. “Catch him!” they shouted.
Roni ran through narrow alleys. His breath was heavy, and because he did not know the area, he eventually got lost. He saw a house and immediately went inside to hide.
“Damn, this city is scarier than I thought,” he muttered.
Suddenly, a woman’s voice startled him. “Hey! What are you doing here? Trying to steal?”
Roni immediately explained. “No, Miss. I was running from criminals who were chasing me. If you don’t believe me, I will leave right now.”
The woman looked at his panicked face. “You’re not from here, are you? From a village?”
“Yes, that’s right. How did you know?” Roni asked.
“Just a guess,” she replied with a faint smile.
Roni introduced himself. “My name is Roni, Miss. I’m looking for a boarding house, but I haven’t found one. They’re all expensive.”
The woman listened carefully. “Oh, you’re looking for a place to stay? This is a boarding house, but it’s currently full. Maybe next week someone will move out.”
“Then I have to look for another place. It’s getting late,” Roni said as he turned around.
“Wait,” she said, stopping Roni. “If you want, you can stay at my house for now. There’s an empty room. This city isn’t safe, especially for newcomers.”
“Really, Miss? Are you sure it’s not a problem?” Roni asked hesitantly.
“It’s fine. Come with me,” she offered.
Roni followed her inside. The woman introduced herself. “This is my private house. The boarding rooms are behind it. You can stay here for now. Call me Mbak Maya.”
“Thank you very much, Mbak Maya. But… won’t your husband mind?” Roni asked.
Maya smiled faintly. “I’ve been a widow for a long time, Roni. Don’t worry—I live alone, I am a widow Roni.”
Roni nodded gratefully. “Alright, Mbak Maya. Thank you once again.”