World Marriage
CHAPTER 1

"Bored" said it always in my ears. Sometimes I wonder how the world is busy raising prices on each price tag of goods on display. I see the world is getting older with the sun rising and falling rhythmically. But I rarely find the care growing among humans around me. Instead of taking the time to help each other, these people prefer to dissolve into their jobs that seem boring.

"What do the people in the tie do and what do career women pursue with their shoes so high?" I muttered as I sat in front of the supermarket at the end of the day clutching a can of soda.

That question has been going on for years. Oh sorry, busy grumbling makes me forget to introduce myself. I'm Yuzuru Alviana but call me Yuzu. Most of you would think that I am from Japan and have a beautiful face. But sorry to disappoint, I am from Indonesia and yes, I am beautiful.

I was born in the middle of Jakarta with an old building that never collapsed. I spent my whole day thinking of ways that the inhabitants of this city could pay attention to each other. Not without reason, since my hair was still braided in two with a ribbon and drank warm milk from a bottle, I have often seen an old grandmother who was robbed while walking alone as well as my female neighbor who was beaten by her husband while drunk. Thinking about other people's problems is futile.

"I have to be something in life for others to listen to me" I said in my heart. Therefore I am diligent in learning so that it can be realized. I learned to play PC more often than I did running around with my peers when I was eight. And I barely even had any friends in SD because I was too busy making out with my favorite book that I always read during break time.

Do you think I'm a genius? Hem ... I guess not. I just modeled my mother's attitude to always read books and pluck her fingers on the keyboard. As others know, young children prefer to model adults without knowing their true intentions. So did little Yuzu.

Ah yes, I have a myriad of stories in my life. And what I'm about to tell you is not about me, but about the change that mocked me with its beauty.

"Yuzu, wake up! Haven't you heard your alarm sound since?"

That's the first sentence I'll hear at the beginning of each day.

"Yes, I woke up earlier, Mom."

And it was a lie that made a rowdy sound slowly calm down.

"You're how, isn't this your first day of school. The other kids are busy taking care of this special day but look at you."

"Oh come on, Mom. This is not the first thing. And what's so special about today?"

"Of course it's special, you'll be a student after 12 years as a student."

"Then what? Oh, are you planning on taking me to college for this special first day?"

"Are you not ashamed. I understand if you're still a kid in SD or High School, but what is this."

"Yes. Maybe I'd be ashamed to ask for something like this if Mom ever dropped me off when I was in Elementary School and ... "

"Enough. I'm late, finish your breakfast and leave. I'm going home late tonight. Don't make a fuss, okay."

The angel passed. Unfortunately I wasn't surprised about the expression just now. You know, my angel-like mother was always busy with her work and almost never came home under 10 p.m.

But that's not what I want. I want my family to be as complete and whole as ever. Wait, first? Actually my family's been a mess ever since I was born. Fortunately, it did not make me depressed because I have friends who always accompany me.

****

"Ah Yuzu, you want to go to University B. That means we can't be with you" said a friend who has been with me for three years.

"really. Why don't you go to Q University with us?"

"sorry. I think my head will smoke if I argue with my mother," I replied in a soft tone while holding back the disappointment that mother decided my future without my consent.

"Yes it's okay. Hope you find a good new friend."

My hope is also like that and because when I was in High School I was an exemplary student who was known by almost every school citizen, I think it would be easy to adapt in a new place.

***

Tara .. I was always right when I guessed the multiple choice answer and got a perfect score on each exam turned out to be wrong in guessing my own fate.

It has been seven months since I first entered the prestigious University B. During that time, I tried to adapt as best I could to the environment and the people around me. Now I have some friends who are more familiarly called friends. My best friends are Dara, Azka, Christi, Yesa, and me.

We are all students who got the highest ipk in the initial semester. And we make other students envious of our harmonious closeness. However, with all that we did not become arrogant at all. Instead, my friends and I joined a student organization and tried to help other students.

All the students were very nice to me. They followed my steps and did everything I said. My life feels so cold like a young leaf growing on the tallest stem.

But all of these sweet things don't last forever. At the beginning of the fourth semester, I had a little argument with Christi about trivialities. We hugged and I thought everything was better.

The reason is, I was wrong. I fell ill for a few days and couldn't get out of the house. When I went back in, it all moved away from me as if I was just a transparent, invisible spirit. I know Christi well, though I know this change must be the result of my best friend. But I'd rather be left out than start a split. Since then, my hard times have begun. I was ostracized and lived alone among the thousands of people behind the walls of college.

I remember walking home alone I always looked at the sprouted sprouts while muttering, "You and I are the same. We're a precious life but we're in the wrong place."

Well, the change of date made my life harder. My mom was still chasing a raise while my dad was busy making out with his new wife-to-be. Exactly, I'm totally alone. The lecturers also just go in to give lecture material and just go out. Never mind, I don't like to blame others and my feelings are something I have to endure on my own.

I live like an unwanted piece of trash. I stopped talking to my mom and it was amazing that she didn't notice my change in attitude at all. The sadness stuck in my throat and slowly choked me. Finally I decided to soak in a tub of warm water and then I took a knife and cut off my veins. For a few moments I saw the water turn red and I imagined something fun that had passed before I lost consciousness.