My name is Maira
- Short message -
December 2019
The clock was showing at three in the afternoon when I had just finished compiling the report, and was gathering data for the tender at the ministry.
I decided to look at my phone, because from now on, I put on a silent tone.
There was a message coming in from my instagram messenger, I opened it.
"How are you" the short message read.
I opened the profile picture, and immediately felt a faint smile on the corner of my lips.
I can't lie that I was quite surprised by the message, maybe not the message, but who the sender was.
I chose to ignore the message and return to my work.
After I finished my work and went back to sounding, I heard a message coming in.
"No bales" he wrote again.
I grabbed my phone, and started typing in a reply, but soon I deleted it.
***
September 2008
I was busy with a pile of clothes on my bed.
I try to choose clothes that are suitable for my special day today.
I then decided to wear a blue shirt and white pants.
My name is Maira, and I'm 18 years old.
Today is the day I have been waiting for for the last two months.
The first day I officially became a student of the Faculty of Economics at one of the private universities in Jogja.
The first day I was a college kid, I was dropped off at college, by my only brother, his name was Alan.
Kak alan himself is a Student of Communication Science of Gajahmada University, or he used to abbreviate physiom UGM.
This year is the third year at UGM.
"Maira, manhunt", cried alan from outside.
"Yes for a moment" I replied from inside the room.
I then rushed over before alan became even more angry.
I stopped for a while into the kitchen as soon as I saw the beautiful woman, whom I used to call my mother cutting vegetables.
I hugged her, kissed her hand and left for college.
"It's a long time" said brother alan while grumbling.
I did not reply, and immediately sat behind my new motorcycle, which my brother was riding.
I'm still not very good at carrying this bike, so for a while brother alan will take me, and pick me up to go to campus.
Once on campus, the campus already looks crowded by students passing by in the morning.
"Maira", shouted a female voice from a distance.
It turned out to be the voice of Dita, my group friend when I went through orientation, I then ran towards her.
"What class are you in" she asked when I was around.
"Class D, if you" I replied to Dita.
"Sama, I'm also D class", yelled in excitement.
I then invited him to our first class, which is the introduction class economics, which is located on the second floor of the third building.
Once we get to class, the class already contains approximately twenty students.
Me and Dita then look for a seat that is still empty.
"Hi, it's an empty chair no yes", asked the newly arrived woman, and greeted us, shortly after we found the seat row still empty.
"It's empty" I replied, inviting him to sit down.
The newly seated girl immediately introduced herself, who turned out to be named ayu.
"Know me maira, this is my friend dita" I said, introducing myself and dita to ayu.
we shook hands and exchanged stories about our origins.
"Wo here", yelled ayu as soon as she saw the curly-haired guy, and pretty cute, look into the classroom.
"Wo knows this maira same dita" said ayu introduced us when the guy was sitting next to ayu.
"Bowo", he said, then he shook my hand and was.
"We used to be a group when ospek" said ayu.
Before long, the lecturer went into the classroom and started to open our first class lecture.
We carefully listened to the explanation from the lecturer, and noted his direction.
Once the class was over, ayu offered me and joined her and bowo to go to the campus cafeteria.
Me and dita agreed, we then followed ayu towards the canteen.
*
The days on campus went very quickly, without feeling it had entered the end of semester one.
We just finished our midterms.
"Where to go on vacation" asked Dita.
"No idea where you're going" I replied, asking Dita again.
"I want to go home to semarang, do not come", ask dita.
"By", I shouted enthusiastically.
"I'm the same bowo come too" said ayu.
We made a trip plan and prepared.
We agreed to leave in two days, our transportation is mio dita motorbike, and honda beat belongs to bowo.
"Ra if you minjem your brother's car can not", asked dita, when we just got out of the building, and headed towards the parking lot.
"Capek know ride the bike far" said dita again.
"Who's driving", I asked.
"Kak alan", answered with a big smile.
"Where do you want him" I told dita.
"Come try in the crap first", pinta dita.
"Yes" I replied.
We also split after the conversation, because I went straight home, with my vario motorbike, which I was good at driving.
My house, twenty minutes from campus, is not far, but not close.
Dita, ayu and bowo return to their boarding house, which is located behind the campus.
*
Once I got home, I immediately looked for my beloved brother, whom I met if there was a button.
I knocked on his door, but there was no answer.
When I opened the door, the figure of the woman I used to call mother patted me on the back of the shoulder.
"Again to the cafe, again online the same girlfriend in Surabaya" said my mother to me.
I walked straight to the kitchen, then looked for my favorite drink in the fridge.
A smile immediately adorned my face, as I found a considerable stock of fragrant bud tea in the refrigerator.
"Until what time mom says", I asked as I walked towards the mother who was sitting at the dinner table.
"At least go home" replied the mother.
Before long, I heard the sound of the fence being opened, and I immediately ran towards the exit.
I saw her trying to open the gate, and I approached to help her.
"What do you want" asked alan a little bit sniffly at me.
"But his brother is evil" I replied in protest.
"Yes sorry, because if you do good there must be shrimp behind it" said kak alan.
I followed alan's brother who walked into the house, then he said hello, approached the mother, and kissed the mother's hand.
He sat on the sofa in the living room, and turned on the television.
I then sat down beside alan, and offered him a bottle of cold sweet tea that I had been holding since.
"Kak wednesday setirin to semarang ya", I asked kak alan, trying to sound as sweet as possible.
"Semarang", he replied a little taut with a question mark on his face, looking at me.
"In what order" he asked again.
"Main at home, semester break", I replied, smiling sweetly.
"It is not that you have promised to go home for the holidays this semester" said kak alan.
I then remembered the promise I made to Uti last week.
"Geez forget brother" I said surprised.
"What a dong" I said again.
"If the promise must be in diapin loh ra" said the mother.
"But I promise you the same thing" Mom answered.
"But you promise the same thing first" answered alan.
I called Dita to apologize for having to cancel our appointment.
***
