Chapter 1
The Chrome of Morning Glory
I remember that time. It was nineties. Yeah it happened in mid nineties for specifically. I was young man who is just passed senior high school. Little bit happy at that time. I was really boring post graduation at that time. Had a lot of vacant time. I didn’t talk to my friends. They busy did their own business or something important for them. Damn, i regreted not participated in graduation party. I couldn’t believe it that’s the last time. Everyday at that time, i almost didn’t do anything. Just playing electronic games like super nintendo or playstation sometimes. One day, i realized that i forgot to ask my friend about games walkthrough. So, i tried to ask him by go to his home. That activity gave me an idea. It’s really brilliant idea. Why i didn’t use that reason to met my friend for a long time while i bored ? from that activity too, i have an idea again to give my special boxes. I have three special boxes. They shall be happy if i gave this to them each boxes. So, i take my three boxes to give that to my three fellow friends in that morning. That would be great. My fellas are Tony, Josh, & Jane. I always chatted with them when i was at high school. They really nice to me and sometimes we watch movie together. First home i will see is Tony’s house. I chose Tony’s house because his home was the nearest from my home. “knock knock” that’s what i said. Somebody open the door and said “who’s there ? ” I said “It’s me, John”. Tony said “Oh, hey John. How are you ?” I said “i am good. Damn, it’s been a long time.” Tony said “c’mon man. It’s just one month post graduation. That’s not a long time. By the way, come here , get in my house.” I got into his house and we talked in living room. I drank a tea in that place. Really nice tea. We talked about lot of things at that time. I asked him about game’s walkthrough that i had played in super nintendo. He gave me a lot of useful information about that. Then, he asked me “what is that ?” He pointed at those boxes. I said “oh, that 3 boxes that i’m going to give that to you, Josh , & Jane. Here’s yours.” “you don’t have to give that, it’s precious” said Tony with confused face. Then i said , “yes i have give that box to you. I’ll give those remaining boxes to other people too. That’s box is like souvenir because i don’t attend prom party. So, please take it.” He opened the box and he looked surprised after he opened that box. He said “where do you get this stuff ? it’s hard to get this thing. This thing will be useful in my study later.” I said “i get that thing from somewhere. It’s a good vintage place. Unfortunately, the place is destroyed. ” Tony said “damn that place is gone. That place must be really nice so this thing is sold in there. It’s hard to get this thing in ordinary store.” , he ask “do you want to go home after this?” I answer “no, i’m still here to drink this tea. By the way, what study are you going to take? ” Tony proudly say “i’m going to study in business management. You? ” I forgot what i said in that part of conversation. What i remember in that time we talked a lot of interesting things about future and past life. But, the most memorable i remember what we talked is his extreme mindset and from that conversation i give him a nickname “pop man”. His mind is like a teenager. “honestly, i don’t really like the purpose of education, John. School is just a manifesto to get a connection. School doesn’t occur because of self purpose but it occurs because there’s a specific or subliminal purpose which depends on people’s mind. You know that, right John? ” ask Tony with intonation like wiseman with slightly sarcasm. I response seriously “yeah i know that but that’s excessive. If that’s your opinion then what about student without purpose go to school? At least, why are they lazy at school? Let’s say they go to school just for fulfill their parent obsession. ” after that, i drink my tea just for pull myself together. “my opinion? They should be dead, John. They don’t deserve to live in this earth. Your statement maybe make me numb but i think as far as i see there’s no one lazy go to school, John. Maybe they’re lazy because of school’s lesson but that’s not make them lazy go to school. They still go to school because there’s a people and they social with them. Do chit-chat, kind of things. C’mon John, they’re not anti-social. I told you John, school is a place to get motivation to make your purpose realized.” I curious why he’s like a wise man right now at that time. So, i asked him “ damn, i can’t believe it you’re such a wise man right now. Are you high? What make you think like that?” “i don’t know. I’m a smoker now. Maybe because that habit now i changed. Smoke make me think abstract” Tony said that with funny face, “since graduation from high school, everything is free. You can do anything you like without think it’s risk. Do you feel like that? ” I answered “i don’t know but i think i don’t feel like that. That’s too crazy for me. I bored to do anything right now. I hardly hang out with friends right now.” “that’s because you were an anti social in high school. That’s why you don’t have any friends.” Said Tony then he laugh, “you don’t aware that school is meaningless without certain purpose. That purpose must be realized in high school, man. So, in this holiday we should be having fun after make purpose realized in high school, not alone like you. In this holiday, i almost everyday go to club and there’s no prohibit me. I feel fulfilled and i’m freeman. That’s your pain, poor John.” I reacted fretful with said “c’mon, don’t be such a jerk, i’m not like that. I know you’re prom king and star in high school. That’s why you have a lot of friends. Me? I’m just an ordinary young man. I messed up in high school.” “i know, that’s why i become your friend. If you don’t have any friends maybe you’d do suicide.” Said Tony with kidding intonation. “screw you, Ton” said me with kidding intonation. “ok. I think it’s time to get out from your house. I already finish drink your tea, someday i’ll buy your tea.” “ok, you must buy 200$ in a gram” said Tony with kidding intonation. After that conversation, Tony direct me to outside and we said see ya. That’s conversation is slightly meaningful for a friend who was a jerk in high school. Who knows he could talk like that. Then, i went to Josh’s home. Josh is a good friend who closes to me. He’s my class companion. His house is around 8 blocks from Tony’s house. Finally, i arrived in his house. In that places, i want to ask about super nintendo game’s walkthrough because i really stucked in that game. I knocked Josh’s house. Then, there’s an old man maybe his grandfather opened the door. “who are you?” ask that old man “is josh here? I’m his friend” said me “oh, you’re his friend, it’s really rare josh’s friends come to his house. Wait a minute, i’ll call him and please get in.” said the old man. When i was in, i looked aroud and it’s clean in there. That’s opposite of Tony’s house. But, i thought that’s made sense because Tony lived alone while Josh lived with his family. I sat again in living room and wait for Josh to come here. When i waited Josh, i thought about what i do after all this finished. It’s really rare to do activity like this. Then, 20 minutes later Josh came. Josh said “damn, why don’t you call first when you want to come here? What make you come here?” I said “sorry if it sounds abrupt. I have a lot of leisure time. So, that’s why i do this now. I want ask about game walkthrough.” “what game walkthrough? ” he asked. Then, he told me about that game walkthrough. His information made me know what i do when i play that game later. After he explained that, i gave him a box, the second boxes. “hmm... what’s this? ” asked Josh i said “open it. I think it’s suitable for your need.” He opened it and his face looked surprised after that. I slightly smile see his reaction. i asked “what do you think? ” Josh curiously said “i don’t know how do you get this but this thing is hard to get. This thing shouldn’t be given easily.” I said “i don’t like that thing. So, i rather give it to someone who need it.” “well, whatever. So, what do you do in this holiday? ” said Josh “i don’t do anything. I’m like a guy who lose a job.” Said me try to make friendly condition not serious or melodramatic condition. “it sounds like you really love high school. Post graduation you still don’t do anything. At least, you should hang out with friends.” Said Josh. I said “not really, i hang out with friends. Now i hang out with friend. Go to my friend’s house, give this box. I’ve just been to Tony’s house too.” “wow, that’s impressive John. Why don’t you like that when in high school? I think you should be have lot of friends if you do like this in high school.” I said “not really, i already like this but they’re not realize what i did in high school.” “maybe they don’t realize it or maybe they don’t care about your existence.” said Josh. I ask “what make you say like that?” “i think high school is just a shitty place. High school is the worst moment in my life. Everybody says high school is the best but me? It’s the worst. But, i know. It’s relative. Everything is relative. You should know that John. My point of view is people who said high school is the best is stupid who don’t want get suffered. They don’t want to work. They just want to get money free like from their parent’s money. They see problem is just a problem not a challenge. ” said Josh. I said “i think your reaction is excessive. Not all students like that in high school. Fortunately, you just meet students like your opinion in high school.” “i don’t know but that’s just my opinion. Everything it’s right whether it’s right or wrong.” said Josh and he laugh after that. Then, he went from the living room and said “do you want tea or coffee? ” I said “tea but less sugar.” , he said “ok.” Few minutes later, he came with a tea and a coffee. He drank that coffee and i drank my tea. Conversation began again after quiet time. “So, what do you do after do this?” asked Josh I said “well, i’m gonna give this last box to my another friend.” “to whom?” asked Josh I said “to Jane.” “Jane? Who’s Jane?” asked Josh curiously I said “Jane Chadwick.” “Jane Chadwick? Are you kidding right? She’s even not our friends. I’ve never seen you with her.” Said Josh. I said “i’m serious Josh. I’m going to go to her house to give this last box. She will like it. ” Josh with palm face said “John, you know that if there’s a stranger come to her house. She will think that this stranger is psychopath that want to kill her or destroy her house, she won’t let you in.” I said “i’ve talked to her. At least, i talked to her once in art club.” Josh said “ok, whatever, that’s your rights. But, my advice is you should talked to her a lot in high school if you liked her or maybe you loved her. Not talked to her after graduation. You’re in wrong side, man. It’s too late.” I said “you know, i don’t give a damn about your opinion wiseman. I believe there’s still a hope. There’s no “too late” in this life. I almost forget, i don’t love her but maybe i like her. Bye.” I leave the living room and he said “ok. Be careful when you go to there. There’s a murder around Jane’s house block. There’s a possibility the murderer still in there. Police still searching the murderer.” I said “damn, relax. I won’t be killed by a murderer. I won’t be dead.” After that, i left Josh’s house and went to Jane’s house. It’s really far from Josh’s house, around ten blocks. The last box was really precious. It’s really hard to find this thing for Jane. The hardest thing to search was the last box. Although it’s far, but it made me uplifting. I don’t care about how far it is. The most important is optimism and believe today is the great day to say that to Jane. Finally, i arrived at Jane’s house. I knock the door. Someone opened the door. It was Jane. I knew it. It was right moment to say it. “who are you?” said Jane I said “don’t you remember? ” i’m John, man from art club” She thought a while then her face expressed like just remember someone face. She said “oh yes. I remember you now, John from art club. What make you come here? ” I said “i want to give this box to you. This box is a souvenir because i didn’t attend prom night or graduation party around weeks ago.” “oh thanks, John. It seems you look tired. Why don’t you stay in here for a while? Come here, please in.” Said her to me. I came in and once again, i sat in living room. That’s nice place. “here’s drink.” She said to me. I looked the drink. It’s water. I drank it. It made me fresh again. Then, she went out from the living room and she took the box. I thought she opened it in her room or somewhere else. Few minutes later, she came here and sat in living room too. I asked her “so have you seen inside that box? ” She answered “yes, i have. That’s sweet John. ” That word made me sure to said it now. It made me believe that this is the right time to say it. So, i made a confession. “ok. I want to say it but uh.....” “what is it ? John” asked Jane “i want to confess that i like you Jane. I like you since the first time i met you in first senior year but i don’t know how to talk. Maybe because i was too nervous and too focus in my career. I felt that i have to focus on my career first but now i really messed up and my career fall down. I don’t know how to fix it. I lost my career and my friends. I confuse and i don’t know. Just so you know, i interested with you not just sexually but platonicaly too. You do great things in art and i like your art.” At the same time, after i said that her face changed became pale like just saw disturbing picture. She said to me “hmm.... John, i don’t know where to start this conversation but i want to say to you that i already have boyfriend, John and even i’d not have boyfriend, i think can’t be with you. You’re too abstract for me. You’re the most complex man that i’ve ever met. I don’t know what do you say. Almost. You just like an alien who come to this earth and have a odd wide knowledge. I’m sorry, John.” After she said like that. I didn’t know what to say. I felt little upset although honestly i already know that this would be happen too. I regret this. This last box should be destroyed not give that thing to her. But this already happened. I have to let it go. This the last time i talked to her. Here’s what i said “i know that now you don’t like me or maybe you treated me like a freak. But, i’m the most admirer about you. More than your boyfriend. I’m your admirer althought you’re in bad and good condition. It’s time to me to go and thanks for the water. See ya Jane.” After that, i left Jane’s house. Around the block, i looked a man run with panic. Accidentaly, i crush him and something touched my stomach. I didn’t know what it is but the man said it loud “GET OFF FROM ME!!” and suddenly i heard a gun shot very loud. I didn’t where’s the bullet direction and i saw a blood on the street. The blood really closed to me. Then i realized that i just got shot. Right in my stomach. Damn, i’m bleeding. I don’t know what to do. I fall off and lying on the street. I don’t know what’s the next. Am i live or die?
The End.
