On a quiet morning, with dew still clinging to the leaves and sunlight slowly spilling over the city of Bandung, Kaivan rose from his bed, each step heavy with reluctance. This morning, like all the others, he prepared himself to face another day of pressure at school.
"Heading to school, Mom," he said softly. His tone sounded casual, but within him, a storm churned that he could never put into words. His mother, busy preparing breakfast, only nodded without looking back, treating it as nothing more than routine.
As he approached the school gates, familiar voices reached his ears. Not warm greetings, nor friendly chatter, but jeers dripping with venom. A group of students, notorious for stirring up trouble, stood waiting like predators for their prey.
"Hey, Kaivan, the ungrateful orphan! How's it feel to be parentless, huh? Must be nice, no rules, no one bossing you around!"
One of them sneered, his smirk sharp as a blade, his gaze filled with mockery. The words froze Kaivan's steps in place.
He remained silent, too tense to respond. His body stiffened, head bowed low as he tried to ignore them. But the insults only multiplied. They moved closer, surrounding him in a tightening circle. In the distance, Kaivan spotted Tania—his former friend, once someone he had cherished—laughing lightly, her presence making the sting cut even deeper. She was the mastermind behind his social downfall.
"Look at him! Can't even talk back! Must be fun, huh, Kaivan? Living without responsibility. No one cares if you succeed or fail!" another boy jeered, his grin cruel.
Though Kaivan stayed quiet, pain swelled inside his chest. He had grown used to this torment, but familiarity didn't dull its edge. Shame and helplessness surged through him, crashing like relentless waves.
Then, before the next insult could escape their lips, a firm, commanding voice shattered the air.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Everyone turned, Kaivan included. There stood Radit, his posture relaxed yet brimming with authority. His right hand rested casually in his pocket, while his left gripped the strap of his bag slung over his shoulder. His eyes, sharp and unwavering, cut through the crowd like steel.
The aura radiating from Radit alone was enough to say he wasn't someone to be taken lightly.
The group of bullies froze instantly. His presence swept over them like a sudden gust of cold wind. They all knew—Radit wasn't the kind of person they could handle easily. Still, one of them, unwilling to lose face, forced a chuckle to cover his nerves.
"Ah, we're just messing around," he said with a shrug. "Just wanted to chat with this orphan a bit. Fun, you know? Finding out what it's like to live without a dad."
Radit's eyes narrowed, his gaze as sharp as a blade. He took a slow step forward, each movement brimming with confidence.
"Chat, huh?" His voice was low, but it carried enough weight to make the boy falter. "Then why don't you include me in the conversation? I've got time."
The sharp challenge in Radit's voice seemed to thicken the very air around them. Unease flickered across the bullies' faces. One of them shifted as if to step away, while the others remained frozen, uncertain of what to do.
"C-Chill, Dit. We're just messing around…" stammered the boy who had mocked Kaivan. But before he could finish his excuse, Radit moved.
It was almost too fast to follow—his fist slammed into the boy's face with a solid, echoing crack. The impact sent the bully stumbling backward, clutching his reddened cheek in shock. Gasps erupted from the others, panic flashing in their eyes, yet none dared to step forward.
Radit stood tall, his gaze sweeping across the group like a blade of ice. His voice was low, edged with menace. "I don't care if you're joking or not. If you want to play around, try me instead."
No one answered. They exchanged frantic glances, then one of them grabbed the arm of the boy who had been hit, urging him away. Wordless, they retreated in haste, vanishing down the corridor without a fight.
From a distance, Tania, who had been laughing moments ago, now stood motionless. Her eyes lingered on Radit, filled with confusion. Why? she wondered. Why would Radit—the one who never seemed to care about anyone—suddenly step in for Kaivan? The question gnawed at her, unanswered.
For Kaivan, that morning marked a shift. For the first time, someone had stood up for him. He couldn't find the words to express the swell of gratitude in his chest, but he knew he would never forget this moment.
Under the bright blue sky, birds scattering across the air, Kaivan turned to Radit. His voice was little more than a whisper, yet it carried a heavy weight. "Thank you, Radit."
Radit responded with his usual inscrutable smirk, somewhere between sincerity and his laid-back indifference. "Don't mention it. Sometimes, they're just too damn annoying." He scratched the back of his neck, his hand rough with old scars, his tone casual despite the storm that had just passed.
They walked on toward class, side by side, silence settling over them—not heavy, but strangely comfortable. Yet in Kaivan's mind, curiosity sprouted. Radit was showing a different side of himself lately, something deeper, more complex.
Sunlight streamed through the canopy of leaves, scattering across the path they tread. The normally busy walkway felt hushed, filled only by the rhythm of their footsteps.
Kaivan drew in a careful breath, mustering his courage. His voice was soft, carried by the morning breeze. "Radit," he called, hesitating. "What really happened when Mr. Levan came to your house?"
Radit glanced over his shoulder, one brow raised, eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing the intent behind the question. "Levan?" he repeated flatly.
Kaivan nodded quickly, slowing his pace to match. "Yeah, about the pickpocket incident," he pressed, his tone edged with urgency. "Why did he come to see you?"
Radit let out a faint chuckle, more like a sigh. His lips curved faintly, tinged with a distant warmth. "Oh, that," he muttered, almost to himself. His shoulders rolled back as he straightened. "He went on about how I saved him," he said, his voice light, though a subtle tremor lingered beneath. "Honestly, he made it sound way bigger than it was. I didn't even know what to say at the time, so I just… kept quiet."
Kaivan frowned, sensing there was more to it. "And he really wanted to repay you?"
Radit nodded slowly, one hand tucked in his pocket. "He said he'll cover my schooling—all the way to college," he admitted. His tone remained flat, but the faint disbelief in his eyes betrayed the weight of the offer. A short laugh slipped out. "Crazy, huh?"
"So… you're going to college?" Kaivan asked, eyes wide with genuine excitement. It was rare for Radit to talk about his future, and this was a glimpse Kaivan didn't want to miss.
Radit shrugged, his voice carrying its usual ease. "Who knows? Honestly, I'd rather work. But hey, if it's free, why not?"
Kaivan smiled faintly, the kind of smile born from quiet understanding. Beneath Radit's offhand words, he found something unexpectedly inspiring. That morning, so ordinary on the surface, felt like the beginning of something greater.