Library War: Love and War

I stumbled upon something interesting, again. The genre-well, the story progression-hit me at the first sight. I always fall for some comedy-romance that don’t put focus on the romance itself, but the main story-how they develop really good and have something that used as the main story rather than romance as the base one. Yep, I’m into things that have romance put don’t put it at the top of the story-instead, they are focusing on other things that more serious (like a war condition) or funny (like a special matter at school or babysitting *ups, I feel like mentioning other title). In this case, this “Library War: Love and War” story is mainly focused about the Seika 31 era thingy in Japan (2019 in our dicitionary) when the government has declared the “Media Security” or stuff, mainly about government that think the generation should be secured from the improper media that might turn them into “good-for-nothing” generation, harsh, uneducated, and, you know what I’m trying to say.

Then they have this “Media Improvement Committee” that totally with the rules, they demand for a better quality of media for generations in that age. And sadly, they would not hesitate to do rough stuff to persuade and “take” what it takes to “save” the generations-by any means, strictly prohibit people’s right to read any kind of books and being selective, they would take books forcibly from the bookstores when they think that those books are ‘problematic’ and ‘the material is improper to be read’-and make a better future. They think. And maybe this sounds quite good, if those committees don’t start to touch other matters that actually don’t need to be banned or stuff, but just because there are one line that sounds provoking people to be ‘bad’ or teasing the government (well, it’s our rights too, right?) when it doesn’t even sound like one, they started to get into things that make people feel bothersome. They would take all books just because the author has something to do with government, or too fictional that can make people think insane. Well, that might happens, but still, this committee is way too far from their jurisdiction, sometimes.

And time is not that tough. There are people who care about the freedom to read anything they want and to gain informations from anywhere they like and these people are fighting to defend themselves from the forceful Media Improvement Committee and freely lend books, media, and passing informations for those who are seeking informations. These people defend under the name of “Library Force”, the Library is where the forceful committee doesn’t have any right to touch their materials, and the Library has their right to defend themselves from the committee when they get rough, and then they have “Library Defense Force”. This force doesn’t work to fight the committee, but they only defend themselves in order to keep the Library safe and sound, and thus, they have rights to hold weapons. And there’s this “Task Force”, an elite force in the Library Defense Force that work more specifically and more hard than the regular “Defense Force”. They also have to work as the Librarians, which make this force a bit ‘special’ than the usual defense force. They have to know how to fight and how to be librarians.

Okay, so the story begins with this girl, Iku Kasahara. She’s tall, mid-twenties, huge, perhaps. And she’s kinna strong. She has this dream to join the Defense Force because in High School, someone from the Defense Force has done something that made her see him as a prince-though she totally forgot about his face, his voice-and rescue her from the Media Improvement Committee from taking her favorite book that she’s been waiting for 10 years long. Then, with her passion, she joined the Defense Force secretly because her parents don’t like her doing things that is not ‘girlish’, since Iku herself is quite tomboy but girlie in other part, but from how she survives, she is indeed strong and quite like a man.

Her story revolves around how she do her job as a Task Force member. Yep, her supervisor, Atsushi Dojo (he play a very big role here), and Komaki-I don’t know his surname, with their supervisor, Genda, suggested to the Chief Commander (I forgot his name!) that she and Tezuka, the super perfect guy that will team up with her and Dojo and Komaki, he’s *quite* handsome but cold, praise Dojo so much, genius, but at the beginning, very rough to Iku because he couldn’t get the point why someone -a woman!- that is not as capable as him can be tasked as a Task Force member. But he gets it why along the story, and being cuter each chapter, will be put in the Task Force.

How things turn out in this story is very nice, to me. The development is great, not fast but not too slow. Iku has this bad relationship with Dojo and they fight a lot, but Dojo and herself show affection to each other, realize it or not, and indeed, Dojo is caring to her. And yes, like other typical romance story, things turn out to be good.

But my main point is, the story is not about Iku and Dojo’s relationship. It’s mainly about the story of the era where you have to fight to read something, and I always love books more than anything. I don’t mind buying books I have read and don’t open the cover for ages to make it safe. I close my bookshelves and I despise people who can’t see the preciousness of books. I do believe that life also comes from books, and books have souls. Yes, sound fictional, but I treat my books as my body, so I do love anything that discuss about protecting and praising books. Glad someone is kind enough to take this theme and turn it into a manga and anime.

Yes, the story about Iku and her Task Force, her supervisor, her friends, and her life to safe books for people who also care about it came from light-novels from Japan by Hiro Arikawa. 

He has written 4 series, and actually, only the first one that use the name “Toshokan Sensou”. The others are Toshokan Nairan, Toshokan Kiki, and Toshokan Kakumei (still finding the meaning and the English version of the novels). In Japan itself, they have published the story under two mangaka, so apparently, there are two mangas that came with the same story, but the different is, one is more ‘shoujo’ -for girls- and the other one is more ‘shounen’ -for boys-although the romance story is still in there. I like the shoujo one more, since they have came out in my country, and I have a better image of the story, and better excitement, from the shoujo version, Toshokan Senso: Love and War while the shounen one is Toshokan Senso: Spitfire!

They also have this anime came out in 2008, and I just knew it nowadays-since I just met the title very new-and guess what? The anime is a BOOM. I love the artwork but sadly, I can’t download all of them (my internet connection suddenly turned low). But I do aim to download them all. I love the anime just by seeing the first eps and OVA.

So please don’t mind to keep in touch with my blog, since I’m going to write things about my interests, and these kind of things are also my deepest interest.

Tell me if you’re a fan of this series!

Jangan Pisahkan Kami!

Salah satu topik hangat yang cukup menjadi perdebatan di kalangan siswa SMAN 3 Bandung angkatan 2013 adalah masalah "Pemisahan Kelas". Ya, masalah ini sudah cukup menjadi rutinitas sekolah di tingkat menengah pertama bahkan sekolah dasar. Saya pun baru mulai memikirkannya di SMA ini. Angkatan kami yang menggunakan sistem SKS pada awal semester dua sudah dipecah lagi, padahal konkritnya, sebuah kelas seharusnya utuh hingga pergantian tahun ajaran. Nyatanya, kami baru mulai menjalin kedekatan, dan tiba-tiba dipisah kembali.

Di kelas baru pun, saya sempat merasakan ketidaknyamanan luar biasa, karena beberapa hal, seperti:

1. Saya bukan orang asli Bandung, sehingga belum ada yang benar-benar kenal.
   
2. Yang berasal dari kelas sebelumnya juga tidak terlalu banyak.
   
3. Saya baru masuk setelah dua hari izin sakit.
   
   

Berdasarkan beberapa pertimbangan itu, saya sempat merasa kecewa karena minggu pertama saya terasa begitu membosankan, hingga saya nyaris terus bergaul dengan teman-teman dari kelas terdahulu.

Dan tanpa saya sadari, kelas saya saat ini menjadi salah satu kelas terbaik yang pernah saya tempati, sudah bisa menyeimbangi posisi kelas 9F di hati saya. Tipikal kelas yang saya tempati biasanya selalu ribut, terkadang sulit untuk merasa respect kepada guru yang tidak bisa membuat kami merasa respect, kritis dan aktif. Tipe kelas yang sedari dulu selalu saya tempati.

Kami bahkan punya nama kelas yang cukup kece, Simaung. Kami bahkan sudah membuat jersey kelas yang tidak kalah kece. Semakin banyak ke-kece-an di kelas kami yang membuat saya semakin jatuh hati dan semakin menyayangkan bila kami harus dipisah, lagi.

Dan sekarang sudah mendekati akhir kelas satu, akhir tahun ajaran 2010/2011. Satu-satunya hal yang membuat saya stress: Masalah Pemecahan Kelas.

Awalnya, saya mendengar ada beberapa kelas yang mengalami masalah kelas dan tidak nyaman, meski rumornya, sekarang masalah tersebut sudah berkurang dan keakraban masing-masing kelas sudah mulai terjalin. Meski saya terlihat sangat biasa, tapi perlu ditekankan lagi bahwa Masalah Pemecahan Kelas

ini menjadi hal yang cukup menekan saya selama beberapa minggu terakhir.

Beberapa alasan yang seharusnya kita pertimbangkan mengenai mengapa kelas seharusnya tidak dipecah lagi adalah berikut:

1. Kita adalah siswa SMA yang tidak perlu lagi didikte dan dibantu lagi oleh pihak sekolah dalam menjalin keharmonisan kelas. Keselarasan dan kekompakan kelas hanya bisa dan sekali lagi, hanya bisa, diciptakan oleh penghuninya sendiri, tidak peduli bagaimana guru ikut campur. Bukan berarti kelas yang asyik karena di kelas tersebut ada anak-anak yang hobi melawak, sehingga kondisi kelas terasa selalu menyenangkan. Bukan, kondisi kelas yang harmonis sekali lagi bergantung pada penghuninya, baik mayoritas maupun minoritas.
   
   
2. Pemikiran bahwa berada di kelas yang terlihat kompak dan ramai akan jauh lebih mengasyikkan dari kelas yang saat ini menurut saya sangat salah, karena sekali lagi, kelas yang ramai hanya bisa diciptakan karena penghuninya yang berkeinginan untuk menciptakan kondisi seperti itu. Bukan jaminan bila kita masuk ke dalam kelas yang menurut pandangan kita sangat seru, maka kelas itu akan sama harmonisnya dan kompaknya dengan kita tidak masuk. Peranan setiap penghuni sangat berpengaruh dalam menciptakan kondisi kelas, dan kelas yang menurut kita menyenangkan belum tentu cocok dengan diri kita, karena sekali lagi, tergantung dari kita yang menciptakan kondisi.
   
   
3. Pemisahan kelas menandakan bahwa kita hanya bisa lari dari masalah kelas yang kurang harmonis, dan tanpa usaha untuk menyesuaikan diri, kita lebih memilih untuk diacak kembali. Padahal, kelas yang kompak dan harmonis membutuhkan waktu dan proses dalam usaha meraih kondisi tersebut. Mungkin ada kelas yang cepat meraih kondisi yang kompak karena penghuninya menginginkan hal tersebut, ada juga yang lambat karena penghuninya masih berusaha membuka diri dan membutuhkan titik di mana mereka semua dapat terbuka satu sama lain.
   
   
4. Kelas yang harmonis tidak selamanya harmonis dan kompak. Ada kalanya di saat kita sudah terbiasa satu sama lain, kekesalan yang sempat terpendam memuncak dan mulai muncul perasaan kesal satu sama lain. Di saat seperti inilah yang menjadi puncak di mana kita bisa merasakan suka-duka dari berkeluarga di kelas. Semakin banyak masalah yang dihadapi, semakin banyak penyelesaian yang dihasilkan, semakin kuat pula ikatan warganya. Analogikan saja seperti keluarga, tidak selamanya senang dan bahagia, tapi dengan adanya masalah, suatu keluarga pun akan semakin kuat ikatan batinnya.
   
   
5. Bila kita merasa iri dengan keharmonisan kelas lain, pikirkanlah cara agar Kita bisa menciptakan kondisi kelas yang lebih mengasyikkan dari kelas tersebut, bukan malah terpuruk dan merasa tidak betah. Bila merasa berbeda, Ubah menjadi yang lebih baik. Bila merasa kurang aktif, Berusaha menjadi lebih aktif. Bila merasa kurang ramai, Kondisikan kelas menjadi lebih mengasyikkan. Kita tidak bisa bergantung pada orang lain untuk menciptakan sesuatu yang kita inginkan, Kita yang membuat apa yang kita inginkan!
   
   
6. Beberapa pemikiran yang mengatakan bahwa kalau kelas tidak dipecah, maka kita tidak akan bisa akrab dengan satu angkatan, menurut saya pemikiran yang kurang tepat untuk anak SMA. Bung, Kita bukan anak kecil lagi! Di saat masa sekolah dan gejolak remaja memuncak di masa SMA, sudah saatnya kita mulai meresapi maksud dari keluarga di sekolah. Apa keuntungan dari berteman dengan semuanya, tapi tidak ada satupun di antara mereka yang kita benar-benar merasa nyaman, yang menerima kita sepenuhnya, dan sudah melewati suka-duka bersama? Ujung-ujungnya, pemisahan kelas secara rutin hanya akan menciptakan pribadi yang individualis, tidak peduli dengan rekannya, karena sekolah sudah mengkondisikan kita untuk berdiri sendiri, berinteraksi sendiri. Memang baik berteman dengan semua, tapi akan lebih menyenangkan bila kita bisa benar-benar dekat dengan warga kelas, sehingga setidaknya, ada komunitas yang benar-benar menerima dan mengerti kita, layaknya sahabat dan keluarga.
   
   
7. Kalau masih ada yang merasa ingin dipisah, mari kita lihat mayoritas dan minoritas, dalam artian bahwa, dalam suatu negara, keinginan mayoritas tetap diikuti dengan menjamin hak asasi kelompok minoritas. Bagi mereka yang begitu ingin memisahkan diri dari kelas dan ternyata termasuk kelompok minoritas, seharusnya bisa memikirkan juga efek dari memaksakan kehendak yang sudah berlawanan dengan mayoritas. Toh, meski misalnya, kelompok mayoritas yang mendapat suara, hak minoritas akan tetap terjamin, karena kehidupan sekolah layaknya suatu negara. Jangan lupa pula, di saat kita memikirkan hak kita sebagai mayoritas, ada poin-poin penting di atas yang perlu kita usahakan dan pikirkan lagi sebagai kewajiban kita sebagai warga, bukan mayoritas atau minoritas.
   
   
8. Dan berjuta alasan lain mengapa kelas sebaiknya tidak dipisah.
   
   

Yang ingin saya tekankan sekali di sini adalah:

Kita yang menciptakan apa yang kita inginkan, bukan guru, sekolah, atau orangtua. Berhenti melihat dan berusaha menjadi bagian sesuatu dan mulailah MENCIPTAKAN kondisi yang kita inginkan. Kondisi kelas atau kondisi apapun bergantung kepada PENGHUNInya, bukan guru, sekolah, atau orangtua. Jangan mengeluh dan berhenti merasa iri, karena belum tentu apa yang kita harapkan sesuai dengan apa yang kita rasakan, karena sekali lagi, USAHA DAN PROSES MEMPENGARUHI HASIL.

Semoga hal di atas membawa manfaat bagi murid sekolah siapapun yang membaca dan menjadi renungan kita untuk memikirkan hal-hal bahwa kita bukan lagi anak kecil.

Ya, mungkin terkesan berlebihan karena saya membahas hal semacam ini, tapi sekali lagi, ini usaha saya untuk mencapai apa yang saya impikan, begitu juga dengan yang seharusnya kalian lakukan.

Thanks before for your great attention, and please consider these stuffs better,

Good night.

 

Sincerely,

Dina Puspita Sari

Putaran Duniaku

"Love is one of the most ridicule topics to be discussed, yet so refreshing and marvelous. Talking about it seems like dreaming, and none of them are not a fairy tale, for each."

After these super devastating weeks, I actually have the chance to renew my blog and write something on it again. And as we see, here, I shared my newest file to be read by you guys.

It started as my task from my Bahasa Teacher. She asked us to make a short-story, which is one of my weaknesses on writing. I repeat, writing short-story is my weakness. I never know how to write such a great story in such a little space, yet I always try to explain every moment in detail.

That is why, my short-story, titled as "Putaran Duniaku" is 15 pages length. Such a long story for a short-story. Some of my friends need time to read it, but overall, they said, it was nice. I don't know if they do like described-kind of short-story, but some of them do.

So, here, I'll let you guys check on it too :)

Putaran Duniaku

Regards,

Dina

Today with Father

Today with Father,

It's Friday and he'd come this morning.

When I woke up, he suddenly stood there, asked me to wake up.

We were going to have a breakfast in his favorite place, Lontong Sayur Padang.

Shoot, I just read a message from my classmate, that our basketball match is going to be held today, this morning too.

I didn't have much time, so we both rushed to have breakfast.

My Father, who drove from Jakarta to Bandung before Shubuh, and happily saw me, suddenly has to drive me to school.

I didn't think I could understand how his feelings that time.

Tired, mad, want to cry?

Maybe.

But he smiled anyway.


 

Today with Father,

The match was cancelled, because our team was late. I felt it was the committee's stupidity fault to let us know in last minutes.

And today was a holiday!

My Father just laughed when my friends greeted him, told me that our opponent won without match. Unfair? Yes.

My Father asked me whether I am going home with him or not, and I said that I will have a group work in my friend's house.

Again, I left him, yet he smiled.


 

Today without Father,

I went to my friend's house for about three until four hours, yet what we did was not that much.

But I was quite satisfied.

My Father asked whether I am going to have lunch with him, and in the minute when I was going to say yes, my friend told me that her mum already cooked.

Then I said sorry to him, and told him that after lunch, I will come right away to his lunch place.

And I did.


 

Today with Father,

I was so full that I let him ate alone, and I ate cakes which I bought near the lunch place.

It was so peaceful that I tried to rewind the time again and again.

After lunch, we decided to go back home and straight to the hotel where he is going to have a workshop for 3 days there.

I joined him too.


 

Today with Father,

We arrived at the hotel, and we both satisfied with the room. The environment was also nice, and I felt like I wanted to sleep all 3 days.

I forgot about where we went after arrived there.

But I was so happy.


 

Today with Father,

I needed to go to school for extra classes, and my Father had his workshop, so both of us need to go.

All I ever thought at school is about the weekend that I am going to spend with my Father.

I was happy.

I even went to buy my favorite food first before headed to the hotel.

And when I arrived there, he still hasn't finished yet.

It's fine, I can take a nap.


 

Today with Father,

I had a performance this night, my first one.

And my Father had his dinner with his friends.

Yet he chose to accompany me. How stupid I was that I let him waited for more than three hours because my turn didn't show up.

After I finished, he looked at me proudly, even though my play was suck.

I couldn't stop looking at him, seeking for forgiveness, because in the end, his friends already left the dinner place,

And in the end, I had a dinner with my Father.

It was nice, though.


 

Today with Father,

My Father woke up early and went to the gym, when I was still sleeping. It was so tiring.

After that, we had breakfast together, and I have to admit that the hotel's food is great.

I was being left alone when my Father had to attend the workshop.

All I did that day were sleeping, eating cakes, working my homework, and watching television, sometimes.

My Father went back to room for praying, and he looked exhausted.

So I tried to sound as little as possible.

At night, he asked me to have dinner together with his friends, when I just ate my order for late lunch.

And the order was super large portion, I even asked him to help me with it.

Because he knew I was so full, he let me stayed at the room and he went to have a dinner with his friends.

Have fun, Father.


 

Today with Father,

It's Monday, and the government made this day as a public holiday because tomorrow is national holiday.

It was kind of waste, to just work for a day then holiday again.

My Father still had his workshop, and I was still waiting patiently.

I watched, ate, sometimes slept, studied, and watched again.

He finished his whole workshop at 3p.m., and we decided to go out for refreshing at 4.

From a discussion with Mom, we then decided to buy a camera.

At first, Father didn't want to buy one, he just asked me to just have a sight-seeing.

Then I said, why do we even have to go if we are not intending to buy one?

I mean, it will be more hurt if we have planned not to buy it than accidentally don't buy it, right?

And I thought that, if Father doesn't really want to buy one, then we don't have to. I'm fine, I think.

But suddenly, he agreed, because he wanted to go outside.


 

Today with Father,

At the camera shop, we didn't find the camera that my Father's friend suggested.

We found one of the two options, but Father thought it's too expensive. I didn't care that much, since I am not a pro, so we didn't really need a great camera.

The other option was out of stock, but they have a higher level than that option, which is still a little bit cheaper than the first option, but the gap is not as big as both first options, so it was still expensive.

I thought Father wasn't going to buy the camera, so I told him that it is up to him.

Suddenly, he called his friend, asked for suggestion, and later, he decided to buy the new option that has replaced one of the first options.

I thought it was fine, since it's still cheaper.

And suddenly, the employee told us that the lens is not the usual type of lens for camera, so if we want to use a same kind of lens like the more expensive camera, we have to add more until it was more expensive than the one that we said it was expensive.

I thought Father wouldn't buy it, because what's the point of buying a cheaper one when it gets more expensive?

And he still bought the camera which is actually cheaper, but because we changed the lens, it's more expensive.

I was shocked.

Not only that, when we chose the bag, I thought he might choose the smaller and cheaper one, instead, he bought the bigger, more stylish, and more expensive one.

Started from our low budget to buy a camera, Father suddenly gave his maximum to buy the best one.

I gave him four thumbs up.

We went to the hotel with happy faces, well his was happier.

After that, we had dinner together with his friends, the last dinner.


 

Today with Father,

It's the last day to stay at the hotel, and we woke quite late today.

As usual, Father went to the gym, I watched television, and we had breakfast quite late too.

After that, we watched "WipeOut" until the Bell-Boy came, and we checked-out.

I think I need one more day to stay. Just one more.


 

Today with Father,

After checked-out, we went to one of my nearly-like-relatives' house.

We had lunch and chats.

I didn't remember really much,

But I did regret a thing.

That I didn't sit next to my Father all the time.


 

Today with Father,

We went straight to a supermarket to buy a locking case for the camera to keep it from humidity.

After that, we went to the bookstore to find my brother's present,

But then, Father told me that he can give one of his presents to my brother as a present from me.

I felt happy at first, but now I do regret a thing.

The fact that I didn't let myself to just buy the present that I was planning on giving to my brother.


 

Today with Father,

We bought tahu brintik after that, and we headed straight home.

Father was planning on going back to Jakarta after Ashar,

But I forbad him. I told him to take a nap first, so he will be fresh in his way to Jakarta.

I just wanted to make him stay longer.


 

Today with Father,

When Father took a nap, I slept outside of his room, on the living room.

I didn't sleep actually, because I was spying on him.

I was so afraid that he might go back to Jakarta without saying goodbye to me or hug me.

My tears were heavy enough to be held back, but I did.


 

Today with Father,

It's nearly Maghrib and the land lady came to tell that if I receive a paper for building tax, I should not pay and just give the paper to the land lady.

When she and her brother asked whether my father was here or not, I told them yes but he was having a rest, because he will drive on night road.

They then went off, and my Father has waked up. I was shocked and afraid.

He asked me why I didn't wake him up, and I answered that I am afraid his rest will be disturbed.

He then prayed and asked me whether I need to buy something again.

I told him that I think I need to buy an inhaler, since I couldn't inhale really clear.

But mostly, it was to spend more time with my Father,


 

Today with Father,

We went to the nearest medicine shop, and bought some medicines.

When he drove me home, I cried quietly, because the more I thought about when he was leaving, the sadder I got.

He then told me to be tough and hug me.

It was raining when I went outside and sent him off.

But shoot,

I didn't hug him.

I cried more.


 

Today without Father,

I cried quietly in my room, regretting the time that I didn't spend with him.

And I texted him, that I didn't have a chance to hug him.

I felt really guilty not to hug him, yet he hugged me.

And then I wrote this.


 

It has always been like this. When it's only hours before my parents go back, suddenly there's a switch being on, realizing me that there are only several hours left with my parents.

I suddenly felt stressed and I kept thinking about what it will be like when they already go back to Kalimantan which is so far away from me,

And I forgot about those several hours left with them.

And when the already went back, I kept thinking about last hours I spent with them, and I regret that I didn't spend those hours with them fully, because I kept thinking about when they leave.


 

And those thoughts, again, fly in my mind.

Thoughts about, what if my parents got an accident after visiting me, and I will never be able to meet them again?

What if my parents got accident when they are going to meet me, and I will never be able to meet them again?

And those thoughts keep coming on their every visit, and they grow stronger each day, which made me more frustrated,

What if because of this insane intuition, I made all of my thoughts come true?

What if because of this thought that keeps growing stronger every day, it came true?

What can I do without them?

Then I will never forgive myself for thinking such kind of thoughts.

I will never ever let myself happy for letting those thoughts becoming true.

I will never forgive myself for taking my happiness away from me.


 

Please Allah, keep them safe, forever and always.


 


 

Dina.

Untuk Mereka yang Menunggu

“A father is a fellow who has replaced the currency in his wallet with the snapshots of his kids.”

Di dunia ini, tidak ada yang sama dengan yang manusia harapkan. Atau perkirakan. Manusia bukanlah makhluk serba tahu yang mampu memprediksikan hal-hal yang dianggapnya benar.

Anggapan semacam itu wajar terlintas dalam pikiran anak remaja seumuran saya atau kamu yang saat ini sedang berada di ambang gejolak emosinya. Pikiran kita selalu terasa yang paling benar, dan tentu saja, milik orangtua lah yang tersalah. Terkadang banyak remaja yang berpikiran, "Mengapa orangtuaku tidak bisa mengerti keinginanku?"

Atau kebalikannya. Orangtua seringkali menghela napas setiap kali berargumen dengan anak-anaknya, saya dan kamu. Mereka, para orang dewasa yang sedang berada di puncak keletihannya, setiap saat berusaha untuk menarik anak-anaknya lebih dekat lagi. Lebih banyak orangtua akan berpikiran, "Mengapa anak-anakku tak mengerti bahwa aku tahu yang terbaik untuknya?" selagi menarik anak-anak mereka yang berusaha kabur.

Tulisan ini, tidak dengan maksud menyulut pro dan kontra antara kedua belah pihak di dalam keluarga. Tulisan ini, sekedar pengingat bagi diri saya dan kamu yang saat ini hanya berperan sebagai anak. Tidak ada niat menggurui, hanya berbagi.

Suatu sore, dengan hujan yang cukup deras, saya berada di atas angkot, menunggu hingga sang supir memutuskan untuk berangkat. Keadaan di dalam angkot sangat lembap, tapi masih jauh lebih baik dari kedinginan di luar sana.

Di tengah rasa mengantuk yang luar biasa, saya harus tetap siaga dengan penumpang baru, dengan alasan keselamatan dan lain-lain. Tiba-tiba, naik seorang bapak-bapak paruh baya berbaju batik, tanpa tas atau jaket.

Beliau hanya membawa sebuah kotak yang tidak saya ketahui isinya dan ditutupi oleh koran. Sang bapak, dengan wajahnya yang tampak letih namun antusias, menyeka air-air di atas koran yang membungkus kotak tersebut, terlalu bersemangat hingga saya heran melihatnya.

Kotak itu tidak terlihat istimewa, warnanya kuning, dan saat saya melihatnya, kotak itu langsung mengingatkan saya pada kotak konsumsi yang biasa dibagikan dalam acara-acara formal.

Saya lalu menatap bapak itu lagi. Wajahnya masih menunjukkan kecemasan dan antusias yang tinggi, sambil tangannya dengan tekun mengeringkan koran yang membasahi kotak tersebut.

Seketika itu saya terdiam. Mungkinkan bapak ini membawakan kotak itu untuk dimakan bersama dengan keluarganya? Atau ada sesuatu di dalamnya yang membuat beliau begitu menghargai kotak tersebut, hingga rela membasahi korannya?

Kebanyakan orang akan berpikir bahwa beliau adalah pria kantoran yang terburu-buru untuk pulang dan kembali ke kantor lagi. Tapi, dalam benak saya, yang terlintas adalah sosok ayah saya. Mungkinkah beliau pernah melakukan hal yang sama? Membawakan sesuatu yang sangat saya sukai dengan penuh semangat? Apa yang ayah saya harapkan saat membawakan barang itu pada saya? Ucapan terima kasih kah? Pelukan kah? Atau senyuman saya kah?

Lalu saya termenung lagi. Apa yang saat itu saya berikan pada ayah saya saat beliau membawakan barang yang saya sukai? Merebutnya kah? Kabur begitu saja? Atau malah memaki beliau karena membawakan yang tidak saya sukai?

Menurut saya:

"A father is someone who wished to be greeted with hugs and kisses from his children; and when he doesn't, he will still come to his children and give them kisses and hugs."

Saya yakin, tidak ada ayah, atau orangtua, yang tidak menginginkan kasih sayang dari anak-anak mereka, ekspektasi dari mereka, saya dan kamu. Dan bila mereka tidak mendapatkannya, mereka akan tetap melimpahkan kasih sayangnya pada saya dan kamu, memikirkan saya dan kamu setiap detiknya, dan mencintai saya dan kamu setiap saatnya.

Saya percaya itu.

Mari renungkan bersama.

Seperti kata para ayah, “Untuk mereka yang menunggu.”

Chapter One - Clame Bous

"If I fall asleep with a pen in my hand, don't remove it - I might be writing in my dreams."  ~Terri Guillemets

Saya sudah berjalan di atas jalan ini sejak beberapa tahun lalu, saat gaya bahasa yang masih seperti "itu" hingga seperti "ini", sudah saya rasakan. Sayangnya, tidak ada keberanian dan keinginan untuk menunjukkannya, setidaknya dalam bentuk formal.

Setelah memasuki zaman SMA yang baru ini, saya menyadari bahwa memiliki bakat itu tidak mudah, karena kebanyakan orang terlahir dengan bakat mereka, sementara ada beberapa orang yang merasa bahwa tanpa bakat, hal yang dikerjakan tidak akan bernyawa. Saya termasuk yang percaya akan hal tersebut, tapi saya juga yakin bahwa bakat bisa dimunculkan bila kita memiliki kemauan dan kepercayaan.

Karena itu, saya mencoba untuk *officially* mengunduh salah satu karangan yang sedang saya dalami, dan mengharapkan ada dari mereka di luar sana yang secara tidak sengaja membacanya. Karya dan Seni adalah sesuatu yang harusnya bisa dibagi. Dan itu yang saya yakini.


Dengan ini, bagi yang tertarik untuk membaca salah satu karya saya, silahkan unduh di link di bawah ini:

Chapter One

Err... I think I am brave enough :)


Thank you,
Dina