"The monthly rent... Since it's not expensive and I think the money Dad sends is enough, it's best if you don't help," I replied.
"Huh, why is that?" Uncle Ramlan again felt strange about my refusal to help.
"The landlady said I only have to pay Rp. 10,000 per month for the electricity. As for the boarding house itself, I'm just told to move in," I said, hiding that the rent for the room I'd be occupying was also Rp. 10,000.
"Really, Ryan?" Uncle Ramlan couldn't believe it.
"That's right, Uncle, the landlady said that. Originally, the room I was going to occupy wasn't for rent because it was intended to be used as a storage room. But because I really wanted to move in, the landlady allowed me to move in without rent, just pay the monthly electricity bill," I explained.
"Wow, that landlady is very kind. Is the room that will be used as a storage room big and livable?" Uncle Ramlan asked again.
"It's not bad, Uncle. It's quite comfortable to live in," I replied.
"Okay, then, Uncle Ramlan will help pay the electricity bill every month," said Uncle Ramlan. This time, I didn't dare refuse, worried that he might change his mind and not allow me to board.
Two days after I asked for permission to board, Uncle Ramlan took me to the boarding house I was referring to. Initially, I was offered a bed and mattress because he saw there wasn't one in the room. However, I found an excuse to decline, opting to sleep on a mat.
Uncle Ramlan persisted, and after finding a way to refuse, I finally accepted a small mattress without a bed, just a mat.
I've been living in that boarding house for two weeks. While it's not as luxurious and well-equipped as Uncle Ramlan's house, I truly feel at home there, even though I do everything myself.
To get to school, as usual, I take public transportation, which costs Rp. The 200 rupiah that always passed by on the main road in front of the alley to enter the boarding house, while the city bus only cost 100 rupiah one way.
Before I knew it, I'd been going to school for a whole quarter without realizing it, sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon, as the school decided to alternate between A1 and A2 classes at the vocational school.
Next to my boarding house were eight terraced houses, all occupied by families. A very kind family lived right next to and connected to mine.
Our neighborly relationship was so good that I was treated like their younger brother and their son's uncle. I told my father about my boarding house in the village while I was on vacation the first quarter of last month, and both my parents agreed.
As usual that afternoon, Sugeng and I were chatting engrossedly while helping my neighbor skewer satay meat to sell from a pushcart around the neighborhood. Sometimes, my neighbor even pushed his cart into the heart of town. This was a routine he did every evening after sunset until late at night.
Perhaps Sugeng's family and I were close because we lived side by side, but judging by the attitudes and social interactions of the other neighbors, it was clearly not due to the distance, but rather their generally indifferent nature toward other neighbors, a fact of life in the city at that time.
"How's school going, Ryan?" Sugeng asked, starting the conversation on his front porch.
"It's going well, Brother. How's your business?" I asked back, helping him skewer the satay meat in a bucket.
"Thank God, until yesterday, I always came home with an empty cart, and I hope this satay sells out tonight." Sugeng replied.
"Amen," I said with a smile.
"How long have you and your family been living and renting in this city?" I continued.
"Almost four years. We used to farm when we lived in a village in East Java. Because the income wasn't enough to meet our family's needs, we tried moving to this city, and thank God, our lives have improved a bit," Sugeng replied.
"Yes, my parents also farm in the village. My mother farms while my father works as a rubber tapping agent on a friend's plantation. My father's income is actually very limited, but he was determined to send me to school in this city," I said.
"Wow, you're lucky, Ryan, to have parents like that. Even though they're struggling, they always try to give their best for their son. Never disappoint them; you must make them proud someday!" Sugeng reminded me, patting my shoulder.
"Yes, Brother."
"Come on, try the satay! I'll get you some sauce."
"Thanks, Brother. I just ate. I fell asleep after school this afternoon, so I'll eat later in the afternoon," I declined.
The satay meat was all skewered, and it was getting late, and reddish light was visible through the clouds. Soon, night would fall. I excused myself to go back to my boarding house and tidy up the mattress and all my other scattered belongings.
****
That afternoon, after school, I didn't go straight to my boarding house. I stopped by the post office to exchange the money order I received from my parents in the village. I received Rp. 30,000 from the money order. Before leaving, I sat for a moment on one of the chairs in the waiting area of the main post office.
I opened an envelope containing a letter from my father and read it, "Dear Ryan Alfiandy, I can only send you Rp. 30,000 because your income this month has decreased significantly due to the rainy season in our village. I hope you can save more after paying your tuition fees this month. I will send you more money in the middle of this month. Hopefully, there will be no obstacles like the frequent rain last month, so you can work fully and earn your usual income..." I paused for a moment, my heart suddenly saddened...